Raon's mind raced as quickly as his eyes darted around.
This is dangerous…
Although Wrath and Rimmer often told him he lacked tact, he clearly understood the current situation was perilous. Making the wrong choice here would undoubtedly lead to exhausting consequences later.
—This is interesting!
Wrath stroked his thick chin with intrigue.
—Your fate could change depending on who you call first!
He wagged his tail, seemingly amused by Raon's predicament.
—If you can't decide, you can call me master! They'll understand if it's me!
Please, just shut up.
Raon swatted Wrath's chin away and turned his gaze to Sylvia.
"Raon. Mom!"
Sylvia mouthed the word mom as if teaching him to speak, just like she did twenty years ago.
Why is she acting like this?
Shaking his head, he looked to his right.
"No! Aunt comes first! This was decided a year ago!"
Aries shouted that she wouldn't yield, placing her hand on her sword hilt. She looked ready to behead anyone who interfered.
They wouldn't actually fight, would they…?
Raon swallowed dryly and shifted his gaze to the left front.
"Doesn't 'uncle' sound the best? It's perfect for loosening the tongue when saying it for the first time."
Balder waved his bear-like thick arms while looking this way.
"Ugh…"
Raon's urgent expression soured.
Why is that bear butting in?
He used to be desperate to eat me, then gradually became nicer, and now he wants me to call him uncle. Even Denier, who was somewhat considerate, was staying quiet.
I'm not sure if he's thick-skinned or just stupid… He's so simple it's hard to understand.
Let's ignore that side.
Raon erased the broadly smiling Balder from his mind and turned his gaze to the platform. Glenn was looking down at him with colder eyes than ever before. The chilling aura emanating from him felt like an ice blade piercing his heart.
If I call him grandfather, he looks like he'll kill me…?
(Or… if I don't call him grandfather, he looks like he'll kill me…?)
In a normal situation, it would be natural to call grandfather first, but Glenn's eyes were so coldly frozen that Raon's lips wouldn't part.
"Raon. It's okay!"
"Forget everything else, just call him grandfather!"
"Grandfather should absolutely be first!"
Sheryl, Rimmer, and Roenn shouted for him to call grandfather first, but Glenn's expression darkened even more. Just meeting his gaze sent chills down Raon's spine.
"What's going on here?"
"I-I don't know either…"
"Well, it's the first time a branch family member has risen to the direct line."
"Who will Raon… no, Lord Raon call first?"
"Of course, he'll call Lady Sylvia 'mom.' Parents come first, after all."
"No, Lady Aries said she's been waiting for a long time, so aunt should be the priority."
"Usually, grandfather would be the top priority, but I-I don't think I could call him that…"
The people attending the banquet held their breath, anticipating who Raon would address first. Raon surveyed the four people once more.
First, ignore the bear.
He erased Balder from his sight as if he didn't exist.
Aries is out too.
Aries was the most broad-minded person among those close to him. She was definitely not the type to get upset if she wasn't called first, especially since she'd already heard him call her aunt a few times.
So it's between mom and grandfather…
In truth, he was afraid to even mention the title grandfather, but seeing Rimmer, Sheryl, and Roenn's reactions, he couldn't ignore it. It would be best to use those two.
Excluding Aries and Balder, he saw a way to escape.
"Phew."
Raon made his decision and calmed his rapidly beating heart.
"Mom."
He called mom first, firmly grasping Sylvia's hand beside him.
"Raon!"
"Ah…"
"Ugh!"
At that moment, Sylvia beamed as if she could fly to the heavens, while Glenn's expression turned as fierce as if he were facing the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance or Derus.
"Oh no!"
"We're… doomed…"
"Heh heh heh…"
Sheryl, Rimmer, and Roenn stepped back, slapping their foreheads. Fear began to tremble in their eyes.
But Raon wasn't finished speaking.
"Mom, shouldn't you greet 'grandfather' first?"
Raon raised Sylvia's hand, pointing towards Glenn.
"Now that you're back in the direct line, calling grandfather 'father' should be your first priority, right?"
He called Glenn grandfather as naturally as if he hadn't been racking his brains until now.
"Ah! That's right! I became part of the direct line first."
Sylvia clapped her hands and nodded.
"Father. It's been a long time since I've greeted you."
She carefully bent her knees, holding the hem of her dress.
"Grandfather. I'll greet you again as well. I am Raon Zieghart."
Raon bowed, placing his hand on his chest.
This should do it, right?
This way, Sylvia would be satisfied, Glenn wouldn't have much to nitpick, and Aries would understand. It might seem like someone was left out, but there was no need to worry about that.
—What is this!
Wrath rushed in with furrowed brows.
—Using your mother to escape a crisis, you cunning brat!
He swung his round fist, seemingly angry that the outcome he wanted didn't occur.
Looks like it worked out well.
Seeing Wrath call him cunning, it seemed to have been effective.
"Kuhehuk!"
Just as Raon was about to raise his head with a satisfied smile, a choking sound erupted from the platform.
"This old man's eyes are rolling back!"
"Head of House! Breathe! Breathe!"
"You can't ascend now! You have to see the kids get married! Don't go!"
Looking up, he saw Rimmer, Chad, and Sheryl clinging to Glenn, pounding his chest and massaging his limbs.
"Huh…?"
Raon's mouth gaped open as he saw Glenn's head tilted back like a puppet with cut strings.
What's going on?
Perhaps due to fatigue, Glenn started to look blurry, just like when he used his Soul Sword on the Five Demons' leaders. He looked like he might disappear soon.
"Heh heh heh!"
Roenn let out a hollow laugh as if he didn't know what to make of the situation either.
What is this?
Raon blinked blankly at the increasingly pale Glenn.
Did I make a mistake…?