Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 141

141.

“This is the last one!”

At Olivia’s words, I swung the wooden practice sword with all my might.

I had been in the training grounds since early morning, learning very basic movements like downward strikes and slashes.

“Hoo-ooo!”

Wiping the sweat from my face, I put down the wooden practice sword.

“You worked hard.”

Olivia approached and said kindly.

I smiled gently.

“Thank you.”

A servant approached and handed me a towel made of soft cloth, saying,

“Your Highness, Duke James has arrived at the palace.”

Olivia’s eyes widened.

“Father?”

The servant turned to Olivia and bowed his head.

“Yes. He arrived a little while ago and asked if you would like to have lunch together with Your Highness and the Young Lady.”

I answered immediately.

“Of course. Prepare for lunch with the Duke.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The servant disappeared quickly, and I turned to Olivia.

“Let’s go. We can’t keep the Duke waiting for long.”

Olivia nodded.

I moved with a slightly quickened pace.

Today’s training consisted only of basic content, but it was quite exhausting.

Even though I had used the Breath of Wind technique [a method to circulate energy and recover stamina] to relieve the fatigue in my body, the unfamiliar movements still put some strain on my body.

My palms were also aching as if they would tear, but I didn’t show it in front of Olivia.

Soon after arriving at the palace, I said to Olivia,

“I’ll change my clothes for a moment and go to the dining hall.”

I instructed the palace servant.

“Escort the Young Lady.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Lady Olivia greeted me and followed the servant to the reception room.

I also hurried to the bathroom on the second floor.

* * *

When I went down to the dining hall, Duke James and Olivia were already waiting.

I greeted them briefly and sat down.

“I didn’t expect the Duke’s visit, so the preparations are inadequate.”

At my apology, Duke James smiled gently and said,

“Not at all. I am grateful for Your Highness’s hospitality. I am the one who should apologize for visiting so suddenly and causing trouble.”

At Duke James’s smooth reply, I smiled and offered him food.

It was a peaceful meal.

“How was the training? Olivia is an excellent knight, but teaching is a different area, so I was very worried and came to see.”

Revealing his purpose for visiting and expressing his concern, Duke James’s words made me smile brightly.

“Not at all. The Young Lady has been kind enough to teach me, so I think I’m already finding swordsmanship fun.”

I shrugged my shoulders and added playfully,

“Of course, it is difficult though.”

For a while, Duke James and I continued to talk about light topics. There was no need to have heavy conversations during mealtime.

When the tea I enjoyed was served after the meal, Duke James brought up the main topic.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes, Duke.”

“I believe you have received the report from the main family regarding the expedition preparations.”

“Yes. The White family is providing a lot of support this time as well. His Majesty will surely not forget the Duke’s contributions. As the commander, I am personally very grateful to the Duke.”

Duke James invested more wealth, soldiers, and knights in this expedition than in the first one.

Because Olivia, the next head of the family, was going with them.

‘He has clearly chosen me among the many princes, so it’s fair to say he’s my political partner.’

He had made a proposal to me, which was no different from a political marriage, in front of all the nobles, so he was clearly a noble who stood on my side.

Duke James is the first noble among the central nobles, excluding the western lords, to have clearly sided with me.

Thanks to him, my position has greatly improved.

The White family is a meritorious family, and with Olivia’s presence, they have risen to become the best prestigious family in the empire, producing two Sword Masters [elite swordsmen] in their generation.

If we still look at the overall power and history, the Atran family is ahead, but the White family is by no means easy to deal with.

‘The White family has nothing to lose in history either. Weren’t they a royal family just over a dozen years ago?’

I took a sip of tea and continued.

“I will definitely repay the Duke’s grace.”

It was the same as giving Duke James my own confirmation.

You and I are political partners.

Duke James understood the meaning of my words and opened his mouth.

“Over a dozen years ago, I made a huge choice regarding the fate of my family.”

Duke James brought up the fact that he had handed over the entire kingdom to my father.

The atmosphere suddenly became heavy.

It could have been a somewhat humiliating topic for Duke James personally.

Many kingdoms and families resisted my father’s conquest war and disappeared after being destroyed. Some of them had no choice but to swear allegiance forcibly.

Immediately, the head of the Atran family, Beregon, and the head of the Riverhill family, Austin, also sided with my father after being defeated by him.

Of course, they did not go as far as the destruction of their families by having the heads of the families directly challenge my father.

Still, unlike Duke James, they did not go to my father first and offer their families without resisting even once.

Why was Duke James’s reputation low in the center?

It was because of his past of easily surrendering to my father.

Some even ridiculed Duke James as a king who betrayed his country.

‘Of course, they didn’t do that openly in front of him.’

In many ways, Duke James’s position was unique.

The reason why he had less presence than Beregon, Austin, and Duke Yan, even though he was a duke, was because of that past and because Duke James himself had never spoken out loudly.

Such Duke James was fully showing off his presence for the first time since the founding of the country.

It was through me.

“Many people pointed fingers at me, but I have never regretted my choice even once.”

I listened to Duke James’s words silently.

“It’s the same this time. I always prioritize the survival and prosperity of my family. That’s because I believe that’s the role of the head of the family.”

Duke James came to a conclusion.

“Please allow Olivia to teach Your Highness not just the simple basics of swordsmanship, but also the White family’s Secret Swordsmanship.”

Duke James bet everything on me.

* * *

I did not give Duke James an immediate answer.

“Gale, honestly, I know what it means to pass on Secret Swordsmanship, but I don’t really feel it.”

After Duke James and Olivia left after the meal, I was talking to Gale.

I told him the story that happened in the dining hall and asked Gale for my thoughts without hiding anything.

“Duke James has bet the fate of the White family on me. But is there really a need to pass on Secret Swordsmanship? Isn’t it enough that he proposed a political marriage to me?”

Gale pondered for a moment before opening his mouth.

“Certainly, Your Highness is different from others. Your Highness showed the previous head of the family’s Spirit Arts Book [a book containing secret techniques to enhance spiritual power] to Soris, didn’t you?”

At Gale’s words, recalling an old memory, I nodded.

“That’s right. I did. But that’s because I didn’t understand the Spirit Arts Book well and I didn’t have a teacher, so I thought it would be much faster to learn if Soris looked at it and explained it to me.”

“Your Highness, what I can guarantee is that if all the spiritists on the continent were in the same situation, they would never have shown the Spirit Arts Book to Soris.”

My eyes narrowed.

Gale’s words continued.

“The basics of a prestigious family are Secret Swordsmanship, Spirit Arts, and Magic. They are called Secret because they are never shared with outsiders, and they have become prestigious families because they have thoroughly protected that Secret.”

I remembered Soris being moved at the time.

“The fact that Duke James wants to teach you Secret Swordsmanship means that you are not just a simple political partner or want to become the Emperor’s in-law, but it is no different from accepting you as a member of the White family.”

“Is it really necessary to go that far? If Olivia and I get together anyway, the White family will be with my destiny.”

“It seems to be intertwined with the succession issue.”

At Gale’s words, my eyes widened.

“Are you already thinking that far? We’re not even married yet? And if I become Emperor and have children, they will naturally be descendants of the Imperial family, not descendants of the White family.”

“Perhaps they will choose someone among the descendants who is pushed back in the line of succession and entrust the White family to them.”

I exclaimed, “Ah!”

Duke James has only three daughters, and he intends to put one of Olivia’s bloodlines, who is the most talented and has risen to Sword Master, as his successor.

“If Lady Olivia gets together with Your Highness, the position of successor to the White family will become vacant again. You can’t be the head of the family and the Crown Princess at the same time.”

I finally understood Duke James’s proposal completely.

“Teaching me swordsmanship is a device to accept each other as members of the family since I can’t enter the White family as a son-in-law?”

Gale nodded.

“That’s what I think.”

Even knowing Duke James’s intentions, I didn’t feel bad.

He made a bold decision that broke common sense for the sake of the family’s interests and survival while riding the tide of the Crown Prince.

Isn’t he really someone to be admired?

“I should accept Duke James’s proposal. In many ways, it’s not easy to find someone as good as the Young Lady.”

“Since you personally like the Young Lady, the matter with the White family is a very good thing.”

I couldn’t answer for a moment.

I felt embarrassed because it seemed like Gale had also noticed my feelings.

“I never imagined that this day would come while serving Your Highness. But I am happier than ever as you have become a full adult, met your partner, and gradually gained the dignity of the Crown Prince.”

“Gale.”

“His Majesty has also given you teachings on Spirit Swordsmanship, so please devote yourself to it. The previous head of the family only wanted Your Highness’s happiness.”

I couldn’t say anything.

Unlike others, Gale was the one who prioritized my happiness the most.

Ken also had personal goals, and so did David and Riorden. Not to mention Soris and the western lords.

They wanted to fulfill their dreams through me, and I gained their loyalty with the determination to fulfill those dreams in my own way.

“I feel relieved that Your Highness seems happier since meeting the Young Lady. Now you will also do a great job in the Eastern Expedition.”

I choked up without realizing it.

“Thank you, Gale. Gale, you are spending your whole life by my side because of your connection with my mother. I really appreciate it.”

“It is a vow I made myself. I also deeply sympathize with the dreams that Your Highness will unfold.”

Knock-knock!

A knock was heard.

I suppressed my emotions and answered.

“Come in.”

“Your Highness, urgent news has arrived from the capital.”

It was Ken.

“Urgent news?”

At Ken’s urgent expression, I quickly asked.

“What’s wrong?”

“The Pyreon Kingdom army attacked and occupied Kailaha.”

“Kailaha?”

Not only I but also Gale couldn’t hide our shock.

“It is one of the key locations in the Pyreon Kingdom. His Majesty conquered it in the last expedition, but it was destroyed by a surprise attack from the Pyreon Kingdom.”

I quickly got up.

“I’m going to the capital.”