Alden continued, his tone serious. “The Queen then ordered that if your mother were to marry into the Easvil family, she would lose her royal lineage. She and any descendants would no longer be able to hold any royal title. That’s why we’ve never spoken about your royal lineage, Julian.”
Julian’s eyes widened in shock. “So that’s why it was kept a secret… all this time?”
“Exactly,” Alden replied, his voice steady. “We wanted to protect you from the Queen’s wrath and the complications that come with such a title.”
Alden nodded solemnly. “And that’s the reason she hates us. She felt betrayed not once, but twice, first by your grandfather for choosing your grandmother over her, and then again when your mother chose to marry me and become part of the Easvil family. The Queen believes we’ve taken everything from her.”
Julian clenched his fists, a mix of anger and sadness swirling within him. “But it’s not fair!”
Alden placed a hand on Julian’s shoulder, offering comfort. “I know, son. You have the potential to change things. Your strength and courage can redefine our family’s legacy, but remember, be mindful of the past. It’s important to understand where the hatred comes from, but don’t let it consume you.”
Julian sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Love really is complicated, isn’t it, Father?”
Alden nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Yes, it is, love can give birth to hatred, a hatred so deep that can never be forgotten”
He paused for a moment, looking at Julian with pride. “You’ve defended our family’s honor in the halls today. Perhaps it’s time for me to step down and let you take the lead.”
Julian shook his head, urgency in his voice. “Let’s talk about that later, Father. There’s no rush to change the family leadership.”
After their heartfelt conversation, Julian and Alden returned to the grand dining hall, where a feast awaited them. They enjoyed delicious dishes, the flavors rich and varied, filling the air with tempting aromas.
Once the meal was finished, they retreated to their chambers. Julian changed into comfortable clothes, feeling the weight of the day finally lifting. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, ready to face whatever the dawn would bring.
In a dimly lit chamber not far from Julian and Alden, the Duke of Norish and his son sat with the Duke of Ethwer. Tension hung in the air as they plotted against the Easvil family.
The Duke of Norish leaned forward, his voice low and conspiratorial. “We must do something. We cannot let the Easvil family claim the honor of leading the army again.”
The Duke of Ethwer nodded in agreement, a smirk creeping across his face. “Absolutely. We must find a way to cripple them before they can even begin to prepare. If we strike first, we can catch them off guard.”
Norish’s eyes gleamed with a dangerous excitement. “Let’s split our forces and lure them into a trap. If we work together, we can overwhelm them.”
Ethwer chuckled darkly, “They will never see it coming.”
Nearby, Marcus, the son of Duke of Norish, listened intently as sweat formed on his brow. He felt a mix of fear and loyalty, knowing that his father’s ambition could lead to serious consequences for the Easvil family, and possibly for him as well. Marcus was torn, unsure whether to support his father’s schemes or to warn Julian of the impending danger.
Marcus’s unease deepened as he spoke up, his voice barely above a whisper. “But what if the king finds out? Won’t he execute our whole family for treason if we attack another duke’s family?”
The Duke of Norish laughed heartily, dismissing Marcus’s concerns. “Young Marcus, you don’t understand the power dynamics at play here. The queen despises the Easvil family. If we succeed in crippling them, she will protect us. The king would think twice before going against two dukes and the queen.”
Duke Ethwer leaned back, a sly grin spreading across his face. “Exactly! We have the queen’s support. She’ll shield us from any consequences. We’ll have our chance to shine, and the Easvil family will finally be put in their place.”
Both dukes exchanged knowing glances, their minds already racing with plans of betrayal. Marcus felt a knot of dread tightening in his stomach as he realized the depths of their scheming.
He could only hope that their plans wouldn’t lead to disaster for everyone involved, including himself. “Let’s get started,” Duke Ethwer said, and the two dukes nodded in agreement, ready to set their treacherous plans into motion.
Julian woke up the next day feeling refreshed and ready to start his day. He decided to check in with the system, a familiar companion that had been with him through many challenges.
“System,” he called out, and a digital voice replied, “Yes, host?”
“I haven’t talked to you in a while,” Julian remarked, stretching as he sat up in bed.
“It seems you’ve been busy lately,” the system responded.
Curious about his progress, Julian asked, “How many points did I get from Eleanor?”
The system replied, “Host, you received 4,000 base points. With the 10x first-time bonus, the 2x higher realm bonus, and the 100x blood-related bonus, your total points are as follows.”
Suddenly, a window popped up in front of Julian, displaying the following:
============================================
TOTAL POINT CALCULATION
Base Points : 4000
First-Time Bonus (10x) : 40000
Higher Realm Bonus (2x) : 8,000
Blood-Related Bonus (100x): 400000
Total Points: 452000
============================================
Julian’s eyes widened as he took in the total. The points accumulated were impressive, and he felt a surge of excitement at the possibilities ahead.
Julian got up, feeling a surge of energy from his conversation with the system and his recent point gains. Deciding to stretch his legs and get a look at the camp, he headed out to stroll through the training grounds where the Easvil army was stationed.
The camp was already alive with activity despite the early hour. Soldiers were honing their skills, sparring in pairs, or practicing formations under the watchful eyes of their commanders. The sounds of clashing metal and focused shouts filled the air, creating a rhythm that energized Julian as he walked among them.
Many soldiers recognized him, giving respectful nods, and some even paused momentarily, clearly honored by the young duke’s presence.
Julian nodded back, observing their dedication with pride. He felt a renewed sense of purpose, knowing that this army would soon march with him into battle.
