Alraune followed the Northern Grand Duke and finally stood before Uriel's gravestone.

This was his first time offering condolences to Uriel, but he didn't linger long.

He had no wish to be attached to the dead; it was for the living that he had come all the way here himself.

"Are you sure just assigning a single guide is enough?"

"That's right. If there are too many people, it'll only complicate things."

Alraune stopped at the castle gate and looked at Zair.Zair's eyes remained cold and stern.

Perhaps, from the perspective of the Northern Grand Duke, it was uncomfortable to send an outsider outside the frontlines.

"There's a real risk you could die... and yet you still want to go without any troops?"

"Do you think I'd go so far as to lose my life? Still, I'm called the Great Mage. I should be able to return within a few days."

"... I'll have patrol teams go out regularly. If anything happens, run toward the direction of the castle. The soldiers will be able to respond immediately."

"I won't forget your words. I'll take my leave, then."

Alraune gave his respects to Zair and turned away immediately.

Erze, who had been casting sidelong glances at Zair, belatedly followed Alraune.

Zair, even as he worried about their safety, could only return to the keep.

"Ah... This is so different from what I expected."

"So in other words... he was someone worthy of being Uriel's partner, huh?"

"I hate to admit it, but it seems Uriel had a good eye after all."

Erze muttered slowly while activating the brand.

According to his expectations, the Northern Grand Duke should've been an ignoramus who relied only on authority, or a petty man who sought only his own gain.

But the Northern Grand Duke was astonishingly coolheaded, just a human overwhelmed by regret and sorrow.

"He may not have said it aloud, but the Northern Grand Duke must also be grieving. He thought she died giving birth, but who would have guessed the Frost Witch was involved?"

"If he'd brought her here, he should have protected her. What's the point in regretting it now?"

"It's precisely because of that regret that he sent Alter Radiant to the capital. If Uriel couldn't adapt to the north and died, what could be more bitter than that?"

"..."

Erze could not rebut, only staring intently at the brand.The mark engraved by the Frost Witch still pointed north.

How much farther would they have to go like this before they could find the Frost Witch?

"It's eerily quiet today. Not a good omen."

"What's so ominous about it?"

"Right before we arrived at the fortress, the snowfall was brutal. And the cold was relentless. So why has the snow stopped and the chill eased now?"

Alraune had already predicted the Frost Witch's movements.

If it was the Frost Witch, she surely would've sensed his presence.

Thus, she was probably tidying the environment around and preparing for battle with him.

"The Frost Witch is still far away. But are you saying she's changing the weather here too?"

"The Frost Witch can control the snow. If she can make it snow, she can stop it too."

"Then wouldn't it make more sense for her to attack us right now?"

"Even the Frost Witch can't go against the laws of nature. No matter how skilled she is in magic, she can't rule over the climate of the northern region."

Alraune walked only on level ground, guided by the brand and their guide.

Even if the Frost Witch could interfere with the weather in some small area, excessive interference was impossible.

The Frost Witch herself was just a part of nature, so how could she possibly rule nature itself?

"Even so, does she really need to make the weather nicer for us? She could just leave it as is."

"She's probably trying to use the blizzard to store her strength. If I read her actions in reverse... it means she fears fighting me."

Even as Alraune answered calmly, he was attentively sensing the magic power around him.

There was no telling when or where the Frost Witch might appear.

Of course, he had the brand, but careless relaxation would only bring disaster.

"And you said yourself, the Frost Witch would have to pay the price for the curse. Since she cast it on Uriel and it transferred to her child, she'd bear the price for both. That means the Frost Witch must be weakened."

"So that's why she's gathering her strength? Because it's too much for her alone?"

"She could just stay hidden. She should probably avoid fighting me."

"I really don't want to stay in a place like this..."

"She can't hide forever. If she wants to erase the brand, she'll have no choice but to appear before us."

Alraune was certain he would encounter the Frost Witch.

He had to find a way to break the curse, and the Frost Witch must have found the engraved brand to be troublesome.

The real question was whether it would conclude as a short battle or be drawn out into a long fight.

'Either way, it doesn't matter. While you've been eroded by the curse, I've advanced even further... Do you dare think you can face me?'

* * *

Alter continued through the silence with Brillie.

Strictly speaking, the turmoil inside the mansion was being kept under control by the Duke Illenat.

The Duke Illenat's fury soared so high that no one dared to speak out.

"How dare you pull such a stunt? You—the one who would inherit my title—making a disgrace of yourself!"

Cadeon's eyes were wild as he roared in anger.

His son was nothing special, but at least he wasn't lacking compared to others.

That's why Cadeon thought he could hand down his duchy to him without trouble, and never imagined the family's reputation would be tarnished.But now even that hope was shattered, and an irreversible reality had crashed down on him.

"Father, I've already had a child. So—"

"Shut your mouth! Did you think I'd allow it just because you had a child? How on earth do you expect to lead this family, being that thoughtless?"

Cadeon rebuked them harshly, glaring at the pair.

His eldest son had suddenly brought an infant home and claimed the child as his own.

On top of that, there was even a commoner girl beside him, so Cadeon could only become more enraged.

"You got involved with a commoner and had a baby? Damn you! You intend to ruin this family!"

"I'll take full responsibility. I'll work harder than ever—"

"And that's your excuse? Who would possibly accept you? What could some noble swayed by a commoner possibly do—?"

Cadeon, overcome with despair, shook his head with vehemence.

Like this, he couldn't pass his title and wealth to Batelle.

Had he not had a child, Cadeon could have found some way to cover it up, but now he couldn't think of any method.

Though Batelle was the son of the legal wife and Cadeon had intended to follow custom, even that had become meaningless in this situation.

"You have insulted my family and ancestors. To ruin your life over a single woman... I can't even bear to look at you! Get out—now!"

"Father, what do you mean...?"

"Rover! As of this moment, this man is not my son. Throw him out immediately!"

"..."

Even after hearing the order, Rover couldn't bring himself to move.

Even if Batelle had given his heart to a woman of common birth, he was unquestionably the Duke Illenat's eldest son.

Could a mere butler such as himself really cast Batelle out?

"Rover, what are you doing? I said throw him out immediately!"

"... Understood."

Reluctantly, Rover stepped forward toward Batelle.

At the same time, the waiting soldiers surged in all at once.

Batelle, startled, could only look at Cadeon.

"Father! You can't do this! I'm still your eldest son!"

"That's exactly why. Did you really think I'd allow you anything just because you're the eldest? How foolish you are..."

"Father, wait a moment... Let go! I said let go!"

"Huaaaang..."

The infant in Batelle's arms, startled, began to cry.

But Cadeon showed not a trace of sympathy, turning away coldly.

The soldiers grabbed Batelle and the mother of his child and proceeded silently toward the mansion's main gate.

"Father! Are you really going to abandon me like this? For the baby's sake at least... Father!"

"... Useless. What could I ever ask a man like you to do?"

Grimacing, Cadeon attempted to climb the stairs.

His gaze met Alter's for a brief moment, but there was nothing more to say.

Brillie was also standing by, making the entire situation all the more embarrassing.

'Brillie at least went out herself and proved her ability...'

Cadeon, without meaning to, compared his eldest son and daughter as he headed upstairs.

Alter hesitated for a moment, then looked over at Brillie.

"Lady Brillie. I think it would be best if we stay low for a while."

"Well... He can't be in a good mood. I'll keep quiet, but I don't know what'll happen next."

"He'll accept it eventually, even if it takes time. After all, they did have a child."

Alter answered calmly, foreseeing what was to come.

He had foreseen all of this, really.

He had long ago warned Batelle about his commoner lover, but by then it was already too late.

Knowing it couldn't be undone, Alter had only tried to ease Batelle's sense of rivalry.

"With things as they are, word will get out—I suppose he'll have no choice but to accept it."

"But handing over the title... Anyway, it's better if we move somewhere else."

Alter took a glance around, then went directly outside the mansion.

Brillie followed and quietly began to circle around the mansion.

"... That was a sensitive topic to bring up."

"It is. But sooner or later, someone would have brought it up."

"Then let me just ask—will I succeed my father as duke?"

Brillie had been quietly pondering the matter of succession.

She hadn't really coveted her father's title or wealth up to now.

But the situation had changed, especially with her marriage to Alter on the horizon.

"I can't say it'll happen 'for sure', but it seems likely."

"Hm... But my younger sibling could inherit it too, right?"

"If we're judging by ability and birth order, lady Brillie is ahead. And you were given a new title recently, too."

Alter already knew what Brillie would decide.

Brillie preferred to win things with her own strength, rather than relying on others.

For that reason, she'd be prepared to give up the title and wealth of the Ducal House to her half-sibling.

"My father will ultimately decide... but as you say, it could turn out that way."

"I could be wrong. That's just my guess."

"What do you think, Alter? Would you like me to become Duke Illenat?"

Brillie stopped and asked seriously.

Alter hesitated for a second, then spoke with calm resolve.

"As I've said before, I want to respect your judgment, lady Brillie. It's not something I should interfere with."

"... Then I might just do as I want. I suppose I should respect your judgment too, right?"

Brillie smiled softly, making her decision firm.

Until she'd gotten engaged, she'd tended to throw herself into things thoughtlessly—but now, she couldn't anymore.

Now that she had something to protect, wasn't it only natural to desire more?

'I don't want to see you struggle. So... I must become Duke Illenat myself.'

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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