Ancient Empire Calendar Year 1809
14 years had passed in the blink of an eye since Ricardo's birth.
The last Emperor of the Ancient Empire had not been idle for the past 14 years.
He had spent his days training himself in aura, mana, sword, and magic.
At the age of 14, he had become an unofficial High-Rank Low-Rank Warrior and Mage.
Seliarnevre had registered her son Ricardo as a Mid-Rank High-Rank in order to trap the other heir candidates and make them make mistakes during the war.
The other heir candidates were either Mid-Rank or Mid-Rank High-Rank.
They were all at a level that could be considered equal. If word of Ricardo's transition to High-Rank had spread, all the heir candidates would have worked together to eliminate Ricardo.
In the Kislavein Dynasty, when a child turns 14, they celebrate their first and last birthday in their entire lives because they would be taking their first steps into adulthood.
Seliarnevre prepared a grand party by spending a lot of gold.
The leaders of the Great Dynasties and their family members, the Wives and Concubines of the Kislavein Harem, and most importantly, the Dynasty Lord would be at this party.
Ricardo's mind was overflowing with thoughts as he prepared for his birthday.
"I stopped celebrating birthdays in my previous life when I was in my twenties; I think it's been 60 years. It's a strange feeling. On the other hand, this will be the first time I meet my father in this life. What kind of father wouldn't come to see his child even once since his birth? Even my father in my previous life, Emperor IV Clovis, was an incompetent man, but he cared about his children. Oh, it's annoying."
The maid Margareth, who was dressing Ricardo, whose anger was evident on his face, was surprised to see the expression on her young lord's face. "Today is his birthday, but why is he angry?" She couldn't resist and asked:
"Young lord, may I ask you a question with your forgiveness?"
Ricardo, who was deep in thought, was suddenly startled by Margareth's words. Margareth became even more curious about what her master was thinking so deeply. Margareth had been serving Ricardo since the 30 assassin incident. Even though they hadn't shown it to anyone in the years they had spent together, they had become like siblings, so Ricardo thought it would be no problem to tell Margareth what was on his mind.
"I was thinking about my father, Margareth. Why has he never come to see my mother even once in 14 years, let alone me?"
Margareth didn't know how to answer this question, but she didn't want to lie. After all, in the Kislavein Dynasty, where emotions only invite death, everyone had to be tough, cruel, ruthless, and most importantly, emotionless. Margareth decided to answer the question truthfully, even if it hurt her, as she helped her lord put on his clothes.
"Because your father, the Dynasty Lord IV Orsman, doesn't show any interest in any of his children. He doesn't love his children. He doesn't even look at their faces until their birthdays."
Although Ricardo didn't show it, his anger increased exponentially. "What kind of father is this? Even if I spent more than half my life on the battlefield, I loved all my children equally, regardless of which wife they were born to." These words kept running through his mind. He removed Margareth's hands from him and looked into his servant's eyes. When Margareth saw her lord's angry expression, she thought, "Did I go too far?" However, it didn't turn out as she expected. Ricardo sat down, scratched his head, and took a deep breath.
"Calling such an insensitive and uncaring man 'father' is disgusting."
Margareth seemed to have achieved her goal. Ricardo stood up and ordered Margareth to help him put on his clothes. While Margareth was putting on her lord's luxurious and magnificent clothes, which were hard to wear but brought out all the elegance of a nobleman, Ricardo tried to calm himself down and understand his father.
He kept thinking and thinking about why his father was like this, then he realized something.
"I wonder if the reason he distances himself from his children is this: if we think logically, his children are being assassinated and killed. The survivors kill each other for the throne, and in the end, when the surviving child becomes strong enough, he kills his father. Is that why he avoids his children, shying away from forming bonds with them? Or is he just an insensitive bastard?"
While Ricardo was busy putting on his clothes, he saw a pair of eyes watching him. His aura was familiar. Then he realized who this voyeur was and sighed.
"Again, huh?"
Margareth was surprised and couldn't understand what was going on.
"Is there a problem, my young lord?"
Ricardo looked towards the door and called out softly.
"I know you're behind the door, Marilin. Come here right now. Don't run away."
The door opened and Marilin, the daughter of Eduardo, Ricardo's Guard and Master, entered. The two had first met at Richard's funeral. When Eduardo's father became Ricardo's master and guard instead of Richard, the two had met frequently after the funeral.
Marilin had long dark blood-red hair and eyes, a slim body, slightly full breasts, and a very beautiful face. This beautiful girl, who could make any man her age follow her, had never been able to make Ricardo fall in love with her no matter what she had done in the past years, but this had made her even more ambitious. Whenever Ricardo changed his clothes a few times, she would wait for an opportunity to peep. Ricardo's muscular body would drive other men crazy, and his handsomeness, which would make women faint, ignited Marilin's desires. Marilin would jump into lava and even fight monsters to see Ricardo's body.
Ricardo got angry and raised his voice a little.
"Man, don't you have any shame? How many times has this happened, Marilin? Didn't I tell you that if you do this again, I will punish you and not forgive you?"
Marilin didn't know what to say in the face of this harsh reaction. She bowed her head and said with a slightly bitter expression.
"Young Lord, why don't you accept me? We've been together since childhood and—"
Ricardo spread his aura and scared Marilin. This was a sign for her not to prolong the conversation. Marilin started to purse her lips; she was about to cry. She bowed her head.
"Good day, my Young Lord. With your permission."
She turned around and walked away from the room. Margareth, who witnessed this scene, broke her silence.
"Young Lord, forgive me, but why are you so harsh on Marilin?"
Ricardo could not ignore this audacity from his servant. With a harsh tone of voice and an angry expression, while choking Margareth with mana,
"Margareth, you are exceeding your limits. Did you think that I was equal to you because I was a little polite to you? Don't get on my nerves. I forgive you for old times' sake, but this WILL BE THE END."
Ricardo broke the spell. Margareth fell to the ground, out of breath. She looked at Ricardo with fearful eyes. She had forgotten that the boy she saw as her brother was a Kislavein. She stood up, bowed her head, her voice trembling and timid, stuttering a little.
"For... forgive me... my lord... me..."
Margareth didn't even dare look Ricardo in the eye. When Ricardo realized that he was exaggerating, he made sure that no one was nearby and put his hand on Margareth's shoulder.
"Look, Margareth, I care about you, but sometimes you forget that you are a maid. I am afraid that one day I will stain my hands with your blood because of this. Do you understand?"
With these words, Margareth calmed down, straightened her waist, composed herself, bowed her head, and, as a servant should, obediently said,
"I understand, my Young Lord. I will never disappoint you again."
Ricardo smiled slightly.
"Good, now continue dressing me."
While Margareth was putting on Ricardo's clothes, the two headed towards the hall. As they walked, Marco stopped them and bowed his head, leaning his left hand over his heart, greeting Ricardo. Margareth bowed her head and body in accordance with the rules so that a Kislavein would not bow to a servant. In this way, Marco would not be in the position of bowing to a servant who had only greeted his lord.
Ricardo raised his left hand for both of them to stand up. When Marco and Margareth raised their heads, Ricardo got to the point without further ado.
"Tell me, Marco, what is it?"
Since Marco did not like to prolong the conversation, he got to the point directly.
"My lord, my sister."
Ricardo understood the situation in an instant. He sighed and signaled Margareth to leave, then took Marco to a place where they could be alone and continued their conversation there.
"I know what you're going to say, but my mind won't change. I won't take your sister as a wife. On the other hand, there's no guarantee that I'll win the war of succession. Besides, even if I did, I wouldn't consider taking Marilin as a wife anyway."
Marco said,
"But why, my lord? Marilin is a very beautiful girl, and she's head over heels in love with you. Why don't you want her?"
Ricardo didn't know how to end this. He couldn't just say, "I don't want Marilin because you are my descendants," without being labeled crazy or breaking Marilin's heart any further. He had to put an end to this. If Ricardo said he was in love with someone, there was also the fact that the Dynasty Lords could practice polygamy. With no other choice, he thought of a different way.
"Marco, when and where did your sister fall in love with me?"
Marco answered.
"She fell in love with you after being affected by your speech at our grandfather's funeral."
Ricardo was slowly getting Marco to the level he wanted.
"Exactly. See, this girl is at a funeral. Do you think that's normal? What kind of child falls in love with someone just because they gave an impressive speech at a relative's funeral?"
Marco was disturbed by where Ricardo was trying to take the subject.
"My lord, even if you don't like it, I cannot accept you calling my sister crazy or anything else."
Ricardo tried to fix the situation.
"Calm down, Marco. I'm not saying Marilin is crazy. I just think her feelings are not right. Maybe she needed someone to hold on to after her grandfather, my Master Richard, died."
Marco didn't want to continue this conversation any longer and changed the subject.
"My lord, the time is approaching. The guests will start to arrive slowly. If you wish, let's go to the hall."
As the duo headed towards the hall, the guests were slowly starting to gather. The large hall was completely filled within an hour.
Everyone was focused on Ricardo, who had managed to survive until he was 14, and his mother Seliarnevre, who had protected him from all kinds of assassins for 14 years. Everyone was greeting the Young Lord and his Mother in turn.
When it was nine o'clock at night, the doors opened and in walked the 65th Dynasty Lord of the Kislavein Dynasty, IV Orsman Kislavein — tall, large, broad-shouldered, with long hair down to his neck — with all his grandeur, entering the hall. One of the Warriors with him shouted loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"THE 65TH LORD OF THE KISLAVEIN DYNASTY, IV ORSMAN KISLAVEIN, THE RULER OF THE WESTERN LANDS AND THE ONE TRUE LORD, HAS ARRIVED."
When the Dynasty Lord entered the Hall, all the men knelt down and bowed their heads so that they could only see their lord's feet. Since the women could not kneel because of the clothes they were wearing, they held the ends of their skirts with their hands and bowed their heads to their chests.
In his previous life, Ricardo had only knelt in front of his father, and in his later years, he had always made others kneel. Now, because of his position, he knelt once more. At that moment, the Emperor completely forgot his past. At that moment, he made a promise: he would never kneel to anyone again — not even to his father, nor to anyone more powerful than him. For this, he would become stronger than anyone in the world.
Orsman sat on his throne made of Bloodstone, specially for him in the Hall, and looked around the hall. Then he raised his hand. Everyone raised their heads and looked at their lord. This was the first time father and son met eyes. Orsman stood up. Everyone understood that Orsman was going to speak. Deathly silence fell over the hall.
"Today we celebrate the 14th birthday of my son Ricardo Kislavein. Come here, my son."
Ricardo knelt before his father Orsman. Orsman took the sword from the warrior next to him, went down the steps, and gave the sword to his son.
"A sword worthy of an Heir Candidate was forged by our best blacksmith, Jaxenguard. Use it well and wash this sword with the blood of your enemies."
Ricardo took the sword and continued these words, which are tradition.
"I am grateful for your gift, Dynasty Lord. I will wash this sword with the blood of my enemies."
Orsman asked his son:
"My son, at the age of 14, you have taken your first step into adulthood, and now you must choose your fate. Will you leave the Dynasty? Will you withdraw from the Inheritance and serve the Dynasty? Or will you fight for the Position of Heir and shed the blood of your brothers? Decide right here. You have had 14 long years to think. I hope you have made your decision."
The moment everyone was waiting for had come. What would Ricardo's decision be? Ricardo looked at his father; his determination and courage were visible on every feature of his face.
"I will fight for the Inheritance. You are the Dynasty Lord's Heir. Your successor, the next Dynasty Lord, will be me."
Everyone started to applaud Ricardo's courage. Orsman was not disappointed; he was pleased.
"Then rise, Heir Candidate, and show yourself to all of the Kislavein Dynasty."
Ricardo stood up and turned around to face the crowd. Among them were enemies with whom he would fight tooth and nail, and comrades with whom he would fight shoulder to shoulder, and on that day, the War of the Heirs began.