Became The Son Of The Final Boss [EN]: Chapter 182

182.

I had assumed the Great War conference would primarily address the Southern Union’s provocation, but my impending marriage overshadowed everything.

‘Recently, Duke James’s influence has been growing. After a period of quiet, Duke James has begun to assert his presence in the Great War, and many nobles are now taking notice of him.’

Returning to the Crown Prince’s Palace, I retreated to my bedroom, lost in thought.

There were countless matters demanding my attention, but I desperately needed time to calmly collect my thoughts.

Before the Empire’s founding, the White family held royal status.

The White royal family, whose territory centered around the present-day capital and its environs, yielded their sovereignty as my father’s power expanded.

At that time, Duke James was the king, and many questioned his decision.

‘He possesses an unparalleled ability to discern the prevailing winds of change.’

“Your Highness, Duke James requests an audience.”

“Duke James?”

I rose to my feet, surprised.

“Escort him to the office.”

I hurried out, taken aback by Duke James’s unexpected visit.

I encountered Duke James just as he arrived at the office door.

“Duke!”

Duke James turned and offered a gentle smile.

“Your Highness.”

“What brings you here?”

“I came to speak with Your Highness on a few matters. I apologize for the suddenness of my visit.”

“Not at all. Please, come in.”

As I reached for the office door, I proposed to Duke James.

“Would you be amenable to a conversation during a walk?”

“Certainly, I would welcome that.”

I nodded and strolled with Duke James towards the Crown Prince’s Palace garden.

I dismissed the attending servants, and we walked side by side.

Once we were sufficiently secluded, Duke James began.

“I, too, was surprised by His Majesty’s announcement at the Great War today.”

As expected, the topic was my marriage to Olivia.

I responded calmly.

“Indeed. I anticipated the primary focus would be the Southern Union, but my marriage to the Young Lady unexpectedly became the central issue.”

“The reason I suggested the marriage to Your Highness is because I am attuned to the shifting tides.”

I listened to Duke James as we continued our walk.

“Many opposed relinquishing the kingdom. They argued that our national strength was sufficient to resist His Majesty, who was merely expanding his influence in the provinces at the time. Superficially, that was a valid point. The kingdom’s foundation was solid, the White royal family boasted numerous talented individuals, and the people were fiercely loyal.”

Duke James directly referenced the past.

I remained silent, allowing him to continue.

“On the day I first met His Majesty, I ceded the country based solely on my own assessment, disregarding the opinions of others. Because His Majesty represented an unstoppable force.”

I inquired cautiously.

“Are you suggesting this marriage to the Young Lady because you perceive my growing influence as an inevitable trend?”

“Precisely. I prioritize the preservation of the family above all else. Even at the cost of some honor, it is acceptable. If we survive, even lost honor can eventually be reclaimed as glory. Ceding the country may have seemed foolish at the time, but now the White family is revered as the guardian family of the Empire.”

His words offered insight into his character. He is not one to defy the prevailing current.

He valued the family’s survival above all else, even at the cost of what they possessed.

Nobles abhor the loss of honor as much as death itself, but Duke James is not bound by such conventions.

“They say the Warring States period is over, but the continent remains in a state of constant instability. A family that rises to prominence today may be reduced to ashes tomorrow. The Sword Master families of the North enjoyed a glorious history, but they could not withstand His Majesty’s wrath and have vanished into the annals of history.”

Duke James’s assertion that the Warring States period was not truly over gave me an unsettling feeling.

“His Majesty will ultimately unify the continent. The external enemy is not the primary concern. The true danger lies within.”

Duke James’s voice sharpened.

“Everyone appears to be cowed by His Majesty’s power, but the pride of the established families does not easily crumble. Their ambition can be so audacious that they pursue seemingly impossible goals. For instance, the next head of the Aetran family seeks to supplant the imperial family’s surname.”

“Duke.”

It was a matter I had discussed with Ted, but the Aetran family’s rebellious intentions were not to be spoken of lightly.

Even without eavesdroppers, such information, if leaked to Beregon, could be used to launch a counterattack, exploiting our suspicions as justification.

The rebellious intentions of Mitchell, and the inclinations of Duke Beregon, Duke Austin, and certain aristocratic nobles, remain mere conjecture without concrete evidence.

Attacking an opponent based solely on speculation is a perilous political strategy.

Duke James offered a faint smile.

“The internal enemy will inevitably create problems, and a war dwarfing the Warring States period will engulf the Empire. But in the meantime, Your Highness has grown stronger.”

Duke James fixed his gaze upon me.

“Everyone is astonished by Your Highness’s progress, but I perceive another trend within it. Duke Beregon, Duke Austin, and Duke Yan, whose position is ambiguous, will ultimately align with Duke Beregon and Austin.”

Duke James concluded.

“The White family’s perspective differs from that of the aristocratic nobles. We foresee His Majesty’s trajectory followed by Your Highness’s, and the White family will solidify its reputation as the preeminent family in the Empire under Your Highness’s leadership.”

* * *

Today, which felt unlike any other, Olivia arrived at the Crown Prince’s Palace for her training as usual.

Duke James accompanied her and requested to observe my Spirit Swordsmanship.

I struggled to meet Olivia’s gaze, my face inexplicably flushed, but I readily agreed to Duke James’s request.

“The training ground is quite impressive.”

I nodded in response to Duke James’s comment.

“Yes.”

Olivia spoke normally, in contrast to my awkwardness.

“Today, I will instruct you on counterattacks. They hold significant importance in swordsmanship.”

Olivia’s detailed explanation continued, but I found it difficult to concentrate.

My heart raced at the thought of actually marrying her.

“Your Highness.”

Duke James stepped forward.

“Yes? Ah, yes. Duke.”

Olivia noticed my lack of focus and asked with concern.

“Is something amiss?”

“No. Nothing.”

She must have heard about the events at the Great War yesterday, but am I the only one so emotionally affected?

Just as several questions began to form in my mind, Duke James accepted a wooden sword from Olivia and said.

“Would you grant me the opportunity to witness Your Highness’s skills?”

“Are you suggesting a sparring match?”

I asked in surprise, and Duke James nodded.

“I cannot compare to His Majesty, and Olivia executes the White family’s swordsmanship with greater finesse, but I possess some knowledge of swordsmanship, and a sparring match would greatly benefit Your Highness.”

I accepted without hesitation.

“I would be honored to spar with Duke James.”

“I would also like to see Captain Gale present.”

I instructed the servants to summon Gale.

While Duke James warmed up, Gale and the knights hurried in.

Suddenly, a crowd of spectators had gathered.

Everyone watched Duke James with curious eyes.

They knew him as one of the four great dukes, a Sword Master [a master swordsman who has reached the pinnacle of skill and can manipulate aura], and a renowned figure, but few had witnessed his abilities firsthand.

“I have fought with all my might only once since surpassing my limits and entering the realm of a superhuman. That was when I faced His Majesty. Until then, I believed myself to be among the strongest on the continent.”

Someone swallowed audibly, others focused intently, and one knight visibly trembled with excitement.

And the rapidly spreading rumor brought Lillian to the training ground.

“It was the same when I met Duke Beregon. We were both Masters, but there was a clear disparity between us.”

Duke James held the wooden sword diagonally.

It was the signal to begin.

I summoned the spirits.

The summoning of Sylphid [a wind spirit] elicited gasps from the onlookers.

Witnessing a top-tier spirit is an incredibly rare experience.

‘Using Spirit Swordsmanship [a fighting style that combines swordsmanship with the power of spirits] poorly will be ineffective against Duke James.’

Duke James is the strongest opponent I have faced, aside from my father.

“Duke Beregon won his battle with Eric, but a difference still exists between him and me. Yet, he continues to grow stronger despite his age.”

Duke James’s words seemed intended only for my ears.

He appeared to be blocking the sound from reaching the spectators, given the sensitivity of the topic.

I nodded.

“Let us begin.”

Duke James imbued the wooden sword with Aura [a manifestation of inner energy].

Exclamations erupted from the crowd.

Imbuing a wooden sword with Aura is no easy feat.

Sylphid darted towards Duke James with fierce speed.

I will give it my all.

‘Even my best efforts will not injure Duke James. The gap between us is currently too vast.’

Is he not a swordsman comparable to my father?

I launched my attack without hesitation.

As Sylphid unleashed the Chain of Wind, the airflow within the training ground seemed to shift entirely.

Over a dozen Chains of Wind surged towards Duke James simultaneously.

At the same time, Krill [an earth spirit] shook the ground.

The intention was to bind Duke James’s feet with the Roar of the Earth.

The most crucial aspect of fighting a Sword Master is not the Aura Blade [a blade made of aura].

‘If I cannot anticipate his movements, I will be unable to catch Duke James’s shadow and will be defeated.’

팟-! 팟-!

Duke James’s movements were remarkably fluid.

Olivia was skilled, but Duke James displayed a higher level of mastery.

He lightly swung his sword.

콰아아앙-! 쾅-!

As Duke James deflected the Chains of Wind aimed at his body, the impact reverberated back to me.

I bit my lip.

I unleashed the newly acquired Glacier Gale and simultaneously deployed the Scattering Water Droplets.

A frigid wind and dozens of water droplets targeted Duke James.

Duke James adjusted his grip on the sword and unleashed a pure white Aura Blade.

콰아아아앙-! 쾅-!

The water droplets were torn apart, and the cold wind dissipated in the intense heat of the Aura Blade.

I immediately activated the Flow of Wind and Earth.

‘If I allow him distance, it is over.’

An explosive force emanated from Duke James’s body.

“크윽!”

I could not suppress a groan.

I was finally grasping the power of a Sword Master who commands space.

‘I must break these mana webs.’

Duke James manipulated the surrounding mana with his own power, exerting pressure on me.

The mana hole [a point where mana gathers] rotated rapidly and flowed towards Sylphid.

Sylphid tore through the mana binding her and unleashed the Flame Wind with Ignis [a fire spirit].

고오오오오-!

A smile formed on Duke James’s face.