"No, Grandpa Gideon. I'm gladed to see you."

The old butler's eyes moist and softened, his lips curling into a faint smile.

"Ha ha. I know. Then do not be nervous. My Lady wished to come herself, but urgent matters kept her. Instead, she sent me—with the Blood Hawks, no less."

"The Blood Hawks?" Eric repeated, his heart stirring with pride.

Of course. The elite private guard of the William Family. The Elite A-rank hunters, clad in uniforms with the family emblem W over crossed swords.

Every student in the Academy must have seen them at the gates.

Eric, let a puffed out his chest.

"So Mother sent the Blood Hawks to escort you? Magnificent. Now no one can belittle me as heir of the William Family. Let's see their faces now. Leon the dog, Michael the commoner… ha!"

He laughed in true evil way openly, imageing in the image of his classmates' with full of envy towards him.

Gideon sighed by seeing this side of his young master as he started massaging his forehead with gloved fingers.

"Young Master, perhaps you should not let such… thoughts run so wild."

"Sigh ... .Young master let go inside and sit, I will tell you the purpose of my sudden visit."

Eric ignored him, striding toward the sofa with grand arrogance, sitting down as though he were already head of the family. He crossed his legs, gestured with one hand like a monarch granting audience.

"Well then, Grandpa Gideon, what message did Father and Mother send? Surely it must be very confidential or something of great importance to visiting here to deliver yourself grandpa."

Gideon's lips curled into a subtle smile seeing how this kid who is full of Arrogance has started to usinghis brain . As his eyes gleamed knowingly there must be something going in sudden change on their young master in the Academy.

"Yes, Young Master. The Lord and Lady did send something… important."

With slow stance grace, he reached into his coat, withdrawing a crystal orb which shimmered faintly light glow with mana.

Eric's heartbeat quickened.

Father… and Mother? Both of them sent something together?

For the first time in his life after awakening is class, his arrogance faltered, replaced with a prickle of unease.

The crystal orb in Gideon's hand pulsed faintly with white light, veins of mana rippling across its smooth surface.

He take out the crystal and placed it gently on the low tea table as his had practiced this movement countless times and then he poured a thread of his own mana into it.

The orb flared.

Vrrrmmmm—

A three-dimensional holographic projection screen shimmered into above the table. The light partical itself seemed to harden, as if the sheer weight of authority emerging from the image pressed down on the room.

Then a face appeared it was sharp, angular, utterly commanding with black hair slicked back, golden eyes glowing faintly with pressure, clad in a dark military uniform embroidered with the crest of the William Family show the glory of their family history.

Denish William, Head of the William Family. One of the continent's SS-rank hunters.

Eric instantly stiffened.

"...Father."

Even through a recording, Denish's presence was suffocating. It was not merely the aura of power than put pressure in him but also the sheer weight of expectation, of legacy of their family that had been passed down.

Then his voice could be heard, when it came, was deep and absolute like the man as seen up and down this life.

"Eric. I hope you are not causing trouble in the Academy."

The words cut sharper than any blade.

Eric flinched. His mind instantly scrambled to recall every minor incident of the last three months. The duels. The posturing. That humiliating loss in the rankings.

No, no, he can't know about that… right?

Denish's eyes narrowed slightly in the recording.

"It has been three months since you entered the Academy. I have reviewed the first-year rankings."

Eric's heart stopped.

Shit. He knows.

"Third place… behind a commoner and the Lionheart's cub."

Eric's eyes look downward, unable to meet his father's gaze and even if it was only a hologram he could feel the killing gaze of his father. Shame prickled his neck like a thousand needles.

But then—Denish's next words made him blink.

"I am not disappointed because you rank below a commoner. What disappoints me… is that you rank below the Lionheart lad."

"Eh?"

Eric's head shot up. He had expected rage about Michael. The humiliation of William losing to nobody. But his father—his father didn't care about Michael at all?!

Denish's voice was like steel.

"The Lionheart family has been our rival for generations. To lose to them is unacceptable. Eric, in the midterms, I expect results. You must surpass this lad Leon Lionheart. You must crush him. This is your last warning."

Eric's fists clenched on his knees. He felt the sting of shame, but also… fire.

Father doesn't care about Michael… only Leon. That means the commoner doesn't matter. Yes… yes! My target isn't Michael. It's that damned Leon!

His clench his fist as well as his chest swelled with pride and determination that he would definitely beat Leon in the midterms exam. This something he had to now or never.

But before his pride could fully inflate, a new voice interrupted. Sweet, melodic, playful.

"Ara~ Ara~ Don't be so harsh on our handsome little boy."

Eric froze. His blood ran cold.

"…Mother."

From behind Denish, another figure leaned into view. A woman who looked no older than her twenties radiant silver hair, flawless skin, eyes as bright as polished gems. Somiya Veylan William, his mother.

Her smile was like sunshine. To Eric, it was also the guillotine.

"Eric, darling, if you're being scolded, I'll punish your father later. Tonight, no dessert for him~."

Denish's face twisted instantly.

"W-wife! That's too much! How can you take away dessert?!"

Eric buried his face in his palms. Oh gods, she's doing this on camera…

"Mother…" he groaned under his breath.

But Somiya only winked at the projection, her voice lilting with warmth.

"Don't listen to him too much, my sweet Eric. Live as you like, don't let pressure weigh you down."

For a moment, Eric's chest softened. He couldn't deny—her words were like balm to his bruised pride. But before he could sigh in relief, Denish shoved his way back into frame, glaring.

"Wife, enough. Let me finish."

"Now… to the true matter. Eric, we have decided. You will be engaged to the daughter of the Crimson Family."

The room fell silent.

Eric blinked once. Twice.

"…What?"

Denish's voice was calm, decisive.

"With the Crimson Family as allies, united by blood, the William Family will step into an even greater era of power. This is also your grandfather's wish. You will return for vacation, and the engagement will be formalized then."

The recording flickered. Denish's face hardened once more.

"Do not create trouble until then. That is all."

Flick.

The orb dimmed. The room fell quiet.

The heavy silence in the private room pressed down like a mountain.

Eric sat slouched on the sofa, staring blankly at the dead crystal. His heart was still thundering from the words engagement with the Crimson Family.

He muttered to himself.

"…An engagement. Just like that. Without even asking me…"

His jaw tightened. The sting of helplessness gnawed at him. He hated it. He hated being treated like a pawn.

He lifted his gaze toward Gideon, the only man in this world he trusted to give him a straight answer.

"…Grandpa Gideon."

The old butler straightened slightly, his hands folded neatly behind his back, his eyes calm as the still surface of a lake.

Eric exhaled sharply, rubbing at his face.

"…What do you think about this? This… engagement nonsense."

Gideon's eyes softened for a brief moment. His voice, when he spoke, was steady and low, filled with the weight of more than a century of wisdom.

"From the standpoint of the William Family, it is a wise move."

Eric's heart sank, but Gideon did not stop.

"The Crimson Family and ours have stood beside one another for generations. Though we are a sword family and they are a mage family, together our strengths complement each other. Their magical knowledge and artifacts, paired with our martial might, would make the bond unbreakable. Politically, it is sound. Strategically, it is advantageous."

He paused. His eyes, sharp yet kind, fell on Eric.

"But…"

Eric perked up.

Gideon's tone softened, almost like a grandfather speaking to a child.

"…in the end, it is not the William Family who must share a life with the Crimson daughter. It is you, Young Master. This is your path, your choices, must be yours to bear. No matter how strong a political alliance, it will crumble if it is built upon a heart that rejects it."

Eric's throat tightened. For a second, he almost lost his composure.

Grandpa Gideon…

The butler stepped closer, placing one gloved hand gently upon Eric's shoulder. His voice carried both steel and warmth.

"You carry the weight of our family, yes. But you are also Eric William, not merely the heir. Never forget that distinction."

The words struck deep. Eric closed his eyes, the fire inside him igniting fully.

"…Then I won't accept it," he whispered. His eyes snapped open, blazing with defiance.

"This is my life. Not Father's, not Mother's, not Grandfather's. Mine. If they think they can arrange my fate like moving pieces on a board— they're wrong."

He rose to his feet, his cloak swishing around him, fists clenched tight.

"Send my message, Grandpa Gideon. Tell them I refuse this engagement."

He strode toward the door, each step heavy with determination.

Bang!

The door slammed shut behind him.

For a long moment, Gideon stood alone in the quiet room, his hand still resting where Eric's shoulder had been.

Then, slowly, the old butler's lips curved into the faintest smile.

"…At last. The young master has begun to grow."

________

Aside from Eric and his family meeting something else is going around in the Academy.

In Front of the Academy Law Protector Hall

Two second-year students stood near the inquiry desk, their uniforms rumpled, their faces pale. One boy kept tugging nervously at his sleeve; the other swallowed so hard it was audible in the empty hall.

Across from them sat an Academy Inspector, a stern man with sharp eyes and graying temples. His quill scratched slowly against parchment, recording every word. He didn't rush them. He just waited, letting the silence grind down their nerves.

Finally, he spoke. His tone was calm, but there was an edge that cut like a blade.

"So… you're claiming the Chief of the Disciplinary Committee himself, Michael Wilson, demanded protection fees from you?"

The first student stiffened. "Y-yes, sir. He… he told us if we didn't pay, bad things might happen."

The inspector's quill paused mid-stroke. His gaze lifted, sharp and unreadable.

The second student nodded quickly, his voice trembling. "It's true! He even threatened us. Said he'd use his position to… to make sure we regretted refusing."

The inspector leaned back in his chair, studying them both. His silence stretched, heavy enough that sweat began to bead on the students' brows.

Then, very slowly, he set his quill down. His eyes narrowed.

"…If what you say is true," he said, his voice low and deliberate, "then even the Students Union Council will not protect him."

The words hung in the hall like a death sentence.

The two students exchanged nervous, guilty glances—yet neither dared take them back but they have an unknown smile which shows that they given mission which is now accomplished.

(To be Continue)

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.