The corridors of the Valdric palace stretched endlessly.
Pale morning light spilled through the tall windows, falling across faded tapestries and cracked marble busts. Dust floated in the air like drifting ghosts. The silence was thick — reverent, almost sacred — and only the sound of Aiden's footsteps broke it.
He felt small here.
Every step echoed, reminding him of what he shouldn't be.
A stranger in another man's skin.
The maid walked ahead of him in perfect stillness. Every so often, she'd glance back, as if making sure he was still following — or perhaps to check if the "Young Master" had lost his mind.
Young Master.
The words didn't fit him. They didn't fit Aiden Cross, the college dropout who used to live on instant noodles and energy drinks. But the reflection in the polished marble — that pale-haired noble with golden eyes — carried the weight of it.
At last, they reached a pair of enormous oak doors carved with the twin-headed eagle of Valdric. Two guards stood beside them, motionless. Their white uniforms gleamed faintly, trimmed in silver, the sigil of Valdric stitched upon their chests.
Even now, even after the empire had fallen, its symbols endured.
The maid bowed deeply. "The Duke awaits you inside, my lord."
Aiden swallowed. "Right. Thanks."
She withdrew in silence. The guards opened the doors.
The dining hall was vast — its high ceiling supported by arches of white marble. A chandelier of crystal hung like frozen rain, scattering sunlight into a thousand fragments. A long table stretched across the room, lined with silver plates and empty chairs.
At its far end sat a man.
The Duke. The current lord of this territory
He was tall, broad-shouldered, and stern-faced, dressed in a blue military coat that spoke of authority rather than luxury. His hair was streaked were blond , his jaw set like stone. But his eyes — cold blue, sharp as a blade — studied Aiden with something between suspicion and… pity.
"So you're awake," the Duke said.
His voice was deep, measured — the kind that had commanded armies once. "I was told you collapsed again last night. You gave the servants quite a scare."
Aiden stiffened. "I— I'm fine," he said, unsure if his voice belonged to him or this body. "Just… needed rest."
"Rest." The Duke's gaze lingered. "You've done little else these past few months."
He motioned for Aiden to sit. Aiden obeyed. The chair was cold beneath him, the table too grand, the silence oppressive.
Silverware clinked softly as servants entered to lay dishes of bread, fruit, and tea. Everything smelled faintly of smoke and spice, though Aiden's stomach was too tight to eat.
The Duke folded his hands.
"You've been different lately," he said, his tone unreadable. "Less… reckless. Perhaps that's a good thing. The House of Valdric can't afford more rumors."
Aiden blinked. "Rumors?"
The Duke leaned back slightly, his gaze narrowing. "That they are trying to reclaim their former glory or better to say , they are planning a military uprising " .
The words hit him like a slap.
This was indeed valdric household but after the collapse of empire which means after the surrender scene of the game ending and also judging by all this it means atleast 40 to 50 years has passed since it's collapse
So that was it. He wasn't Maximus illegitimate brother , nor some distant relative . He was the current heir to valdric — which means maximus descendant
And this duke or should I say the original owner father is wearing a blue military uniform which means he is atleast a general in Durvane Empire, the same empire which contributed the most to Valdric Empire collapse
His throat went dry , So that means valdric is now a subordinate to their former enemy
Seriously , What the hell is happening ? Valdric which i thought collapsed suddenly became a duke household and a subordinate to their mortal enemies
The Duke continued, oblivious to Aiden's spiraling thoughts. "You are fortunate I still keep this household intact. The world outside no longer honors our name. The Valdric banner is a relic — a ghost waving over ruins. Most would rather burn it than bow to it."
Aiden clenched his fists under the table.
The Duke's tone softened slightly. " so let go of your ambition and look forward to serve her majesty and be grateful to her , that she gave us title and honor despite what we did ."
Aiden forced a nod
The man studied him again, as if weighing something. "Do you remember what day it is?"
He hesitated. "...a sunny day ? "
A faint smile tugged at the Duke's mouth — humorless, sharp. " idiot , it's the day of your awakening and today you are supposed to awaken mana ."
The words dropped like lead.
After the awakening of mana which happens in prequel of the game , the children born after that era could awaken talent to cultivate mana but sadly maximus generation was born before that
The Duke rose. "Finish your meal. Then go to city center to awaken your mana and remember to not do anything reckless again ."
Before Aiden could answer, the man was gone.
Right next to dining hall was the garden , duke pushed glass door and stepped in the garden
Aiden followed behind
The courtyard of the Valdric estate was breathtaking — and tragic.
Statues of angels stood cracked and headless, their wings chipped away. The fountains were dry, the water long gone. Grass grew wild where once soldiers marched in perfect formation.
The Duke stood by the old fountain, his hands behind his back.
When Aiden approached, the man spoke without turning.
"This palace," he said quietly, "was once called the Heart of the World. Every ruler on the continent envied it even many from other continents , Its marble came from the western quarries of Selenheim, its chandeliers from the artisans of the South. But all the gold in the world could not stop the artillery bombardment."
He turned.
"Do you know why Emperor maximus von valdric, your grandfather surrendered ?"
Aiden's breath hitched.
He now knew that he was maximus grandson — or at least, that means in front of him is leon from the game.
But Aiden didn't speak. The Duke or leon eyes demanded silence.
"Because he thought surrender could buy forgiveness," the Duke said bitterly. "Because he believed the world would spare his son for his surrender. But mercy is not a currency, boy. It's a weapon — and it was used against him."
The words cut deeper than they should have.
Maybe because Aiden remembered the cutscene too clearly — Maximus, kneeling before the foreign general, the sky ash-gray above him. The silent acceptance in his eyes.
And the child watching from the window, too young to understand why his father smiled as they took him away.
The Duke's expression softened, almost imperceptibly. "You resemble him, you know. My father , Only… smaller. Weaker, perhaps. But there's still a spark."
He paused. "Do not waste it."
Aiden couldn't speak. His throat felt tight, his heart aching with a grief that wasn't his.
The Duke began to walk away, his boots echoing across the cracked stones. "One day, you will have to decide whether to continue your grandfather legacy or mine ."
And then he was gone, leaving Aiden alone among the ruins.
The wind stirred the fallen leaves. Somewhere distant, a bell tolled again — the same sound that had greeted him that morning.
Aiden closed his eyes, his hand curling into a fist.
If this was a dream, it was too real.
If this was the game, then someone had rewritten its script.
He looked up at the gray sky and sighed