Everyone at the Drumline Castle knew the legend of how the she-brown-snake saved the Patriarch's life.
The man was facing a powerful opponent in the Flaming Realms's Betrothal Contest.
The opponent's Special Ability allowed him to shape shift, turning into a humanoid demon-like scary monster.
The Patriarch did everything but could not even injure the thing, let alone hope to kill it and get out of the Colosseum.
That's when he remembered his useless Replica. The she-brown-snake was small and he had never used her in a battle since she was weak.
But at the moment, the thin she-brown-snake found her way into the opponent's ear, screwing everything inside his head.
With that, the Patriarch survived the powerful opponent, received a beautiful wife and a place to call his home. His realm.
... And no friend of his remained in slavery after that.
'Oh gods!'
Edmund had decided to visit his memories about Klex so he could ignore the pain.
The pain was stubborn though. It remained, almost as if it was increasing instead.
This made Edmund continue his dive into his memories, until the pain gradually subsided.
That's when he opened his eyes to take in three figures walking toward the bed he was lying on.
"You don't want to answer me, eh?"
This voice prompted Edmund to direct his gaze on a man in blue robes, something grey in colour and wool-like in nature originating from his chin to rest on his belly.
'Damn!'
Edmund didn't expect his father to be an old man, mean and gaunt. Nor did he expect him to have lost one of his eyes.
Ever since he woke up, he had been imagining the Patriarch as a middle aged guy with a somewhat muscular body. No wonder the old geezer survived the contest with the help of a snake.
Before Edmund could reach more conclusions, his memories proved him wrong. The betrothal contest had been held 20 years ago. That means the Patriarch was in his forties back then.
His memories were not over. This time, they frightened him by revealing the truth about the Patriarch's right eye.
He lost it during the contest. One of the many reasons he replaced Edmund with Kyron so the loss of his eye would not be for nothing.
Not wanting the Patriarch to think he was disobeying him, Edmund opened his mouth to answer his question.
"It's not I don't want to answer. The slap was... painful. I couldn't focus on what was going on."
"Painful, you say?"
Edmund nodded his head, trying hard not to collapse under the Patriarch's intense aura. He also avoided looking at his missing eye which was covered by a black cloth.
"Do you know how it was painful when you vanquished my beloved Replica?"
"Father, I'm sorry!"
The women a step behind the Patriarch exchanged glances when Edmund said the word father. What was so strange about it?
'I'll probably know it soon or later!'
As Edmund thought that, his gaze wavered a little, shifting to those women behind... or beside the Patriarch.
The one on left looked like she was in her forties, her green eyes filled with a motherly admiration and concern.
'It's mom!'
On the other side, a beauty adorning an extravagant red dress that hugged all her curves was standing with a mischievous smile, her cleavage a sign that her breasts were enormous and still young. Her black hair looked more silky and soft than the Patriarch's silver hair.
'Kyron's mom.'
"What makes you call me father all of a sudden? Didn't you say you hate me for keeping you far from the castle?"
"Why did you keep me there?"
Edmund knew the reason why his name had to be given to Kyron. The reason why the whole castle needed to hide his real identity. That it was for the whole castle's well being. However, he didn't understand why the cave. Wouldn't he have played the role of Kyron while at the castle?
The patriarch let out a cracking laughter, glancing at his wives from time to time.
The pressure from his aura reduced a little, coming back with much intensity when his expression became serious again.
"Did you kill Klex to have your revenge then?"
Edmund felt like if he said yes, his life would end that instant. Why would he say that anyways? He Killed the snake defending himself, right?
"No! Not revenge!"
He then pointed at Kyron who was still bowing.
"He had sent her to me so she could harm me."
The Patriarch shifted his gaze toward Kyron who trembled and spoke without raising his gaze.
"He had left the cave. I wanted to stop him from entering the cas..."
A thundering sound didn't allow him to finish. Now, it was time for the red-dressed woman to have a concerned look.
Time for Edmund to feel happy that his enemy was also in pain. Much much more pain than him because, for him, the slap had not been that violent.
"Why did you take her out of the castle in the first place? Didn't I warn you never to walk around with Klex?"
The red-dressed woman answered for Kyron. "Don't be harsh on the kid, Zeal! Flaming Realms Betrothal Contest Round 2 is coming. He was trying to get familiar with Klex so maybe she would help him win the contest, too."
Edmund's memories were quick to give him explanation. The Patriarch won the First Round Contest. Four more outstanding candidates were selected.
Once 20, their sons would crash in the second round to determine the future consort of the Flaming Princess. Another reason Kyron had to replace the weakling Edmund.
Meanwhile, the Patriarch had immediately flinched his head to give his younger wife a bombastic side eye, his voice, as cold as it could be, shutting her up.
"Shut up, Dahlia!"
The woman stared at her son, trying to hide anger on her face from the Patriarch.
Just like that, the Patriarch's pressuring aura returned to Edmund once again.
'This is bad! Too bad'
"Why did you leave the cave in the first place? There would have been no need to defend yourself if you had remained there."
Edmund knew his answer would likely earn him another slap. Did he have any other choice? It was his only chance, right?
"I was on my way here to tell you I want my blue robes back!"
Everyone, especially Kyron and his mother, were struck by his words. Who would not?
The moment Edmund saw that everyone was wearing blue robes except him (a disgrace to his family), the red-dressed woman (a maid who seduced the Patriarch and got pregnant in the process) and Gillian (a maid assigned to serve Edmund), he had instantly felt that something was odd.
His memories, being so generous as they were, they had him covered. Blue was a colour for the slaves' attire in the Flaming Realms.
When the Patriarch won the contest and got a chance to own his own clan, he named it Blue Family. A gesture to honour the attire he and his parents, he and his friends wore their entire lives.
Kyron and his mom were also part of the Blue Family so they should have been adorning blue robes too.
But because Kyron and Edmund were hard to differentiate, Dahlia's attire remained red, her son's too. Now that Edmund was considered Kyron, his attire had to be red.
The Patriarch stared at Edmund as if he was some kind of an annoying house fly. As if he was an idiot he wanted to punch.
"Do you know the meaning of having your name back?"
Of course Edmund knew it. He would have to attend the second round of the legendary Betrothal Contest, win and teach the Flaming Princess a lesson under the bed covers. As simple as that.
He nodded!
Patriarch chuckled.
"Son, I was disappointed when I learned you were born weak. I don't know if it's still only disappointment to know that your brain is like a chicken's."
If it was the real Edmund, the Patriarch's words would be true. But it was not. The guy was Kagern McHegan. A superstar known for his crazy fights with bulls and lions. That's why Edmund suggested something that everyone didn't expect.
"I can prove that I'm not weak. That I'm not empty-minded like you all think."
The Patriarch didn't even bother to ask how. He probably didn't have more time to waste on him.
It didn't stop Edmund from telling them how. He knew showing them what a god of drums he was on earth was useless at this point.
That's why he chose his next words carefully. The words which frightened the woman with motherly concern in her eyes. The words which made Gillian tremble and Kyron snort.
...The words which made the Patriarch laugh uncontrollably.
"Let me face Kyron in a fight. The results would tell you if I really deserve my blue attire back or not."