Chapter 296 - Between Love and Power
Nathan Evenhart:
It was late at night, and I was sitting at my desk, reviewing the holiday assignment our professors had given us.
"I don't think there's anything missing," Chloe said. She was sitting beside me, going through her own assignments. Since we were in the same class, she and I shared the burden of studying together. I focused on what I was good at, and she did the same, so we could always help each other with any doubts.
"This break was insane because of the whole event… they could've gone easy on us," I muttered while organizing my study materials.
"It's partly our fault for leaving everything for the last few days…" Chloe replied.
I had to admit she was right. The office fell into silence as we exchanged glances.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Aren't you worried about the future? When we finish the academy… we'll have a lot of responsibilities together as Duke and Duchess," she said.
I noticed she seemed a little nervous.
"We'll be together, won't we?" I said, trying to reassure her. "Besides, even my aunt doesn't handle everything alone. We'll have other people to help us, including her."
My cousin rested her head on my shoulder.
"That's true…" she sighed in relief. "But knowing that you'll be with me… that comforts me a little."
"Knowing I'll be by your side… comforts me too," I replied.
A silence settled in the room. I looked down and saw her face completely red.
"Sometimes… you say some really sweet things…" she murmured, looking at me, clearly embarrassed.
"Only sometimes?" I asked, laughing.
She leaned in and gave me a quick kiss on the lips before resting her head back on my shoulder. I was caught off guard, but I gently wrapped my arms around her. I could feel the warmth of her body and even hear her heartbeat racing.
Chloe suddenly got up, and just as I was about to say something, she sat on my lap and rested her head against my shoulder again.
"I like being like this with you…" she said. "Hold me…"
At that moment, I realized that my own heart was pounding just as fast. But I did exactly as she asked and embraced her.
"We're both so quiet…" I said, feeling her body pressed against mine.
"It's the situation…"
She looked up at me, and at that moment, our faces were inches apart.
"Nate… feel my heart," she said, taking my hand and placing it there.
"I think I'm feeling something else…" I said, realizing my hand was on her chest.
Her face turned an even deeper shade of red.
"Idiot… I just wanted to show you how nervous I am," she scolded. "But… you can keep touching there too…"
She leaned in, closing her eyes, ready to kiss me. I felt my heartbeat racing even faster as I moved closer to her lips.
'Bam'—the door swung open.
"Oh, I was looking for you two. We need to discuss what was decided in the meeting I had about healing potions…" my aunt entered, her eyes on a document. But she stopped mid-sentence when she saw us.
Chloe and I turned to her, completely caught off guard.
It was only then that I realized how this situation must have looked—I was sitting with Chloe on my lap, one hand still on her 'heart'.
My aunt's lips curled into a knowing smile.
"Mom… it's not what you think!" Chloe blurted out.
"Alright, I'll leave you two alone while you make the next Evenhart heir," Aunt Margie said, closing the door.
Chloe stared at me, her face burning red, before lowering her head onto my chest.
"I think… we should get out of the office before she gets too excited and starts telling stories to your mother…" Chloe murmured.
"I agree…"
***
"Young master, your professor Adrihna has already received the new batch of hair dye and will leave it in your room," Martha informed me.
I was getting ready for the academy, running a bit late after staying up talking with my mother and aunt about the healing potion agreement… and also because I had to convince them that I wasn't trying to give them a grandchild with Chloe.
"Thanks, Martha," I replied, grabbing a piece of toast from the tray and running back to my room with it in my mouth to fetch my storage bracelet.
Martha followed me as usual.
"Your luggage, including clothes, materials, and books, has also been sent to your room. It's important to organize them in the wardrobe to prevent them from getting mixed up."
I nodded, opening the drawer beside my bed and grabbing my high noble's storage bracelet with ten slots. Most bracelets only had five, but each slot was large enough to store more than just a small object.
I checked the contents: Cursed Blade, knives, a healing potion, two regular swords, an emergency outfit… everything was in order.
Food items were tricky. Regular storage bracelets couldn't store them, and even high noble ones were limited to just one food item at a time. That was why healing potions, which were water-based, were always prioritized in that single food storage slot. There was likely some magical limitation related to the preservation of "living" items.
This was why merchants still needed wagons, even if they were wealthy enough to own storage bracelets. And it wasn't like high nobles could carry multiple special bracelets—the three kingdoms strictly controlled their distribution.
The annual production was limited to just a few dozen, and each high noble could only own one 10-slot storage bracelet, while their family could purchase up to three per year, assigning them to servants.
"You're getting your shirt dirty, young master," Martha warned, handing me a napkin.
"Thanks," I muttered, finishing my toast and rushing down the stairs.
"Finally," Chloe said, impatient.
Kinue, Chloe, and Cylla were waiting for me on the reception room sofa.
I checked my uniform. No crumbs.
"I didn't forget anything. We can go."
My mother and Aunt Margie appeared in the hallway leading from the dining room.
"Kids, I'll be here until next weekend, so no skipping classes," my aunt teased.
"Mom, we always come back," Chloe replied.
"Well… you never know. What if the three of you decide on a… couples' weekend?"
Both girls immediately turned bright red.
A maid approached.
"The carriage is ready for the young masters' departure."
My aunt nodded, and I soon saw my mother pull Kinue and Chloe aside, whispering something that made both of them turn an even deeper shade of red.
"Nate, take good care of our girls at the academy," Aunt Margie said, laughing.
"You can count on me."
She ruffled my hair affectionately.
"Your problem with hiding your true lineage is about to end."
That caught me off guard. Every time I asked, the answer was always the same: It's not the right time.
"Seriously?"
"Yes, but don't ask me anything else. This will be resolved soon." She winked, mysteriously.
A wave of relief washed over me.
This was a serious problem. My mother, Kinue, and I were never supposed to exist. There was an ancient law prohibiting marriages between the political nobility of different kingdoms. This law existed to prevent secret alliances that could destabilize the balance between the three kingdoms and incite rebellions or forced unifications.
Take my human kingdom, for example—it was divided between the Royal Capital and eight duchies, each wielding significant individual power. If a duchy formed ties with another kingdom, it could be seen as a threat to sovereignty.
For Kinue and my mother, the situation was simpler. They were commoners, and with the right administrative processes, a marriage could be legally recognized—especially in Apsalon, a neutral city built for interspecies coexistence. When I married Kinue, the formal registration would be done there.
The problem… was me.
Being a superior High Half-Elf and a High Noble of the human realm, heir to a duchy. That put me in an unacceptable diplomatic position. Being tied to the nobility of two kingdoms at once was a serious violation of the Alliance laws.
The punishment for this? I honestly had no idea. There had never been a case like mine before. But, in theory, it could be considered treason, leading to my imprisonment until a council of the three kingdoms decided my fate.
To avoid a diplomatic disaster, my professor Adrihna was personally handling the process, and even the Elven King was involved, as my very existence posed a risk to his kingdom's reputation. The Human Kingdom could suspect a conspiracy to infiltrate their nobility, and the Demi-Human Kingdom might see this as a secret alliance to weaken them.
My situation was… delicate.
"Nate," my mother called, pulling me aside.
"Take good care of your girls."
"Of course…"
Then she narrowed her eyes, suddenly serious.
"And control yourself. I want grandchildren, but… be gentle."
"Mom…" I tried to protest, but this was way too embarrassing.
"Just make sure you do it in your apartment. Don't get carried away and start doing it in other places at the academy," she said, giving me a pat on the back.
Mom… we are going to have a serious talk later…
Kinue and Chloe approached, both blushing.
"Don't worry, Nate… Aunt Katie already explained how we should… handle you when the time comes…" Chloe said, her face even redder.
"I promise to do my best," Kinue added, clearly nervous.
I turned to my mother, suspicious.
Mom! What did you put in their heads?!
We said our goodbyes at the mansion, promising to return over the weekend.
As I looked down, I noticed Cylla huffing, her expression clearly irritated.
Great… looks like she heard everything.
As soon as we entered the carriage, two identical girls were already there.
"Good morning, young masters," Natty and Catty greeted in unison—the daughters of Hugo and Martha, who also studied at the academy.
"Looks like we're riding together today. Our schedules matched up this time," Natty said as everyone took their seats.
"Excited for the excursion? I hope I end up in your group as a senior," Catty added.
The carriage door closed.
"Can you tell me what the Inverted Tower Dungeon is like?" I asked, curious.
"Girls, don't tell him," Kinue laughed. "It has to be a surprise."
"She's right, young master. When the time comes, you'll see with your own eyes what a dungeon filled with monsters and treasures is like," Catty said with a mysterious smile.
"Hey! You're only saying that to make me even more curious!" I complained.
The two of them laughed.
"Anticipation is a form of torture too," they answered in unison, their eyes gleaming mischievously.
Of course… the twin tormentors always take things in that direction…
Agnes Asalon:
"Exactly," I reply, not breaking eye contact. "I want you to tell me about the current status of your relationship with Syvis Rhiannon."
"Mother, we've talked about this plenty of times already…" Duncan protested.
"Repeat it. Repetition helps notice overlooked details. Start from the beginning—your very first interaction with her at the academy."
He sighed, deep in thought.
"She and Melina grew close because they shared a dormitory. Both were raised with political responsibilities, but deep down, they realized they were just girls carrying the same burdens. That created a genuine friendship."
Charles, seated beside me, added, "But Syvis seems more naive than Melina."
"Yes, which is why it will be easy to manipulate her. She needs someone to listen to her grievances and pretend to understand her struggles… someone handsome like you," I teased Duncan, who blushed.
"What did you think of her? What was your first impression?"
"I thought she was incredibly beautiful…" he admitted. "Our first interaction was on Pink Chocolate Day when I accompanied Melina to a noble's luncheon. After that, I would see her in meetings or during training, where she was always with Saint Tiffania or that niece of the headmistress."
I nodded, satisfied.
I had already set certain things in motion, even subtly pushing Melina to get closer to Princess Syvis. I couldn't directly encourage Melina—she was too naive, too innocent. And I preferred to keep her that way.
But as a sweet, naive girl, she would love to help her brother get closer to a friend if she knew he was interested in her…
"Syvis will always be surrounded by protectors, despite her rebellious nature. However, she set a rule to gain more freedom, which makes your approach easier," I explained.
Duncan frowned.
"I don't understand this blind devotion elves have toward their royal family."
I sighed, walking toward the window.
"For us, raised in human culture, it's complicated to grasp. But to these elves, the royal family is far more than just rulers. They are part of their religion. This isn't something an elf would openly discuss—their culture is deeply hidden. But they revere their royal family to the point of worship."
Charles added, "Elves will do anything for their rulers. They will give their very lives if necessary to protect the royal family. That level of influence is far beyond anything we have."
"That's why making her fall in love is essential. Your child with Syvis will be a sacred heir to the elves. If he orders a war, they will follow. With the Archduke's death, Syvis is the sole heir to the throne, and that power must fall into our hands. Now tell me, Duncan—what are you?"
He lifted his gaze, unwavering.
"I am a king."
"Not just that. You will be an Emperor and the father of a sacred heir."
Duncan nodded. "Understood, Mother."
Charles stood up.
"You are my heir, a king with magical talent and the most powerful familiar in the world. You just need to follow the plan your mother has laid out."
Duncan nodded.
"Understood. I will pack my things for the trip to Apsalon."
After he left, I watched Charles adjusting his jewelry.
"I don't like this," he murmured. "It makes us look weak. We are a family of kings. Chosen among all to rule."
I sat on the bed.
"The elves are different. We need to set aside our pride and take advantage of this unique opportunity. The Archduke's death removed a political obstacle, leaving only Syvis Rhiannon as the sole heir to that kingdom and the representative of their religion. Fate has favored the Asalon family, with the heiress being a woman perfect to unite with our firstborn. We are merely helping Duncan to win over Syvis."
Charles sighed, relaxing beside me.
I looked up at the map of the continent on the ceiling, a reminder of what was destined to be ours. Something my family had longed for since the death of the Founding Emperor. Dividing the empire had been a mistake. For centuries, our family had sought to restore the empire, and I could feel that my son was destined for it. He would not rule just the three kingdoms—he would rule the entire continent.