Roman was not shocked when Duke Jacob assigned him the responsibility of managing the dukedom's day-to-day affairs. In truth, he had already been preparing for this moment. Handling the people's lives, their hunger, their future—it was something he wanted to take into his own hands.
After leaving the palace, he wandered through the streets, his cloak swaying lightly in the wind. The familiar shopkeeper bowed respectfully as Roman entered.
"About the children's meals," Roman said.
The shopkeeper hesitated, rubbing his hands nervously. "Young master, the bills have been—"
"Give me the bills." Roman's tone was firm yet calm.
Finally, the shopkeeper handed them over. Roman paid in full, then added extra coins.
"See that the children have food daily. No excuses."
"Yes, young master."
Roman left the shop and made his way toward the river , the calm surface reflecting the twilight sky. Yet, as he stared into its depths, a memory surfaced—his past life as Ronald, the king.
The river then was not calm. It had run red with blood, littered with the countless bodies of men he had slain himself. The stench of death clung to him even now. His grip tightened.
"Brother!"
A soft, innocent voice broke the grim vision. The little girl he had met before was standing there again, her smile fragile but bright.
"Because of you," she said, "we can eat properly now. Before, we were starving. Thank you for everything."
Roman knelt down. "What's your name, little princess?"
Her smile faltered. "I don't have one. My parents… sold me before giving me a name. I've been nameless since birth."
The words pierced Roman like a blade. For a moment, he was silent. Then, softly, he said:
"Then let me give you one. From today, you are Martha. Do you like it?"
Her eyes widened, filling with tears before lighting up with joy. "Martha… my name is Martha!" She jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly, then kissed his cheek.
Roman chuckled and lifted her onto his back. "Come on, Martha. Let's get you and your friends some proper clothes."
The group of children gathered, their laughter ringing through the streets as Roman bought them new clothes and other necessities. When he worried about their housing, he returned to the shopkeeper.
"Would you mind keeping the children here for a while? I'll cover the rent until I arrange a proper place for them."
The shopkeeper nodded. "As you wish, young master."
Roman waved farewell to the children, then returned to the palace. The sound of clashing steel led him to the training grounds. Selena was there, honing her swordsmanship with precision and elegance.
As soon as she noticed him, she smirked. "Done playing caretaker for children?"
Roman rolled his eyes. "Creepy. Are you stalking your younger brother, big sister?"
Selena laughed. "Oh? A sharp tongue as well as twin blades. Then… how about a duel, little brother?" She slid a sword toward him.
Roman picked it up, smiling faintly. "How could I refuse the youngest Swordmaster in the kingdom?"
They stepped into the ring. The moment the duel began, Selena exploded forward with throttle magic, her blade slicing close enough to shear a strand of Roman's hair. He ducked, parried, and their swords clashed again and again, ringing across the courtyard.
The duel dragged on for ten minutes, neither yielding an inch. Sweat drenched Roman's brow; his body, though strong, was still unrefined compared to Selena's.
Selena grinned. "What do you say, brother? Shall we add magic to the duel?"
Roman, though exhausted, gritted his teeth. "If that's the case…"
He poured his mana into his sword. Golden light fused with the shadowy black aura that surged from deep within him. The blade crackled with unstable power as he swung it forward.
The arc of mana shot across the ring, colliding with Selena's sword. Her blade shattered into two pieces, the force pushing her back.
The courtyard went silent. Selena looked at the broken remains of her weapon, stunned—but her lips curled into a hidden smile.
"Not bad, little brother," she whispered. "I'm glad you didn't disappoint me."
Roman, panting heavily, dropped onto the ground to catch his breath.
"This family…" he muttered, half laughing, half weary. "Full of chaos."
At that moment, the shadow system stirred within him.
—Tomorrow, the dungeon key will appear. Prepare yourself.
Roman closed his eyes, lying under the night sky, a tired smile tugging at his lips.