Back To The Empire

"Is everything ready?"

Eugene mounts on his horse. Yesterday before the said departure, Eugene was called by Duke Del Viltaria to help open a big portal. Eugene with Casimin follow their father's order and the three of them create a huge portal that surprises everyone. After all, creating a portal will consume a lot of mana so it wasn't that used much unlike teleportation.

But everyone must arrive together.

Duke Del Viltaria, knowing that his two sons are strong enough and have an abundant amount of mana suggested creating a huge portal together so they can arrive at the empire in an instant.

Eugene had no objection because why not?

He doesn't want to stay in a ruined kingdom and he is too lazy to travel for a long time so he agreed with the Duke. Now they all line up, riding their horses while the remaining soldiers will march as they entered the empire.

Grand Duke Karsten, Duke Del Viltaria, and Marquis Shradinza are on the front line.

While he, Casimin, Rasiel, and Kaizer are on the second.

Oh, right, the second prince is also present with his royal armies but since the second prince locks himself up in a room and refuses to socialize, a relationship wasn't built that much. Anyways, no one is at a loss and the four pillar families are on the neutral status.

Rasiel: "I can finally go home! I miss my dad so much!"

Eugene looks behind from his peripheral vision and saw that Timber's stepbrother is staring at him blankly. This man, since arriving at the warzone would not get close to him but would always watch his move. What's more? Eugene has shown his strength and this lunatic would probably not dare to fight him head-on.

Unless he's plotting other means to vent his anger.

"Wife, as my reward I would request for your marriage in front of the emperor."

Eugene didn't speak.

——In Rozan's Household, everyone is busy to welcome the arrival of the eldest master.

It was officially announced that the soldiers will arrive today so Count Rozans order the servants to prepare for a big dinner. However, contrary to the liveliness of Count Ronzans and the servants in the mansion. Timber who is staying in her mother's room is still crying while holding his sick mother's hand.

He also heard that the soldiers will return today and knew that Eugene would be there.

Though expectant, Timber close his red eyes and clench his fist. The day when the Shradinza army depart, his mother collapse so he wasn't able to see Eugene for the last time. He thought it was fine, his mother is more important because he knew that his friend is strong and he will come back after the war.

Eugene is strong...he is different.

Watching his mother's deteriorating health, he is helpless.

His father has been hiring a lot of doctors and even magicians to check on his mother but no one can understand his mother's disease. A church personal even came into the mansion to bless his mother but nothing still change and his mother is still the same, slowly becoming thinner and weaker, unable to get up from the bed.

He doesn't know what to do.

How come his mother who is so strong can be reduced to this situation?

"Son..."

Timber was startled and raised his gaze asking with a hoarse voice, "What's the matter, mother?"

Countess Fiona open her mouth and said in a slow manner...

"D-Don't come near your brother. P-Promise me you will never get close to your brother again."

Timber pursed his lips.

"Mom, my relationship with my brother is not good, what are you expecting?"

Countess Fiona closes her eyes and just grabs her son's hand who is holding hers: "Timber, don't blame mom for destroying your relationship with your brother. I'm doing this for your sake. Your brother might have blamed me for taking you away, but I'm confident he won't hurt you. Even so, you mustn't trust him. Don't trust anyone in this mansion even your father."

"M-Mom what are you saying, don't talk like that."

Countess Fiona gritted her teeth.

"Son, I've been living for thirty-four years and I realize that love is an illusion. It doesn't exist."

"M-Mom..."

"Listen to me Timber. Don't believe anyone who will say they love you."

Timber's tears couldn't be stopped.

"In this world, people have no love. They just disguise it. All they have is obsessions and possessiveness. Once they feel like they like this certain person, it doesn't matter if it's a sibling or a cousin, even if you are a mother or a father, they will come and get it. People are so sick that even a child is taken. That's why I don't believe in god, I don't believe that he blessed this land."

Countess Fiona looks at her son in tears.

"When I give birth to you, I swear to myself that I will protect you from the filth of this world. But I'm not strong. In the end, I have fallen victim to this world."

Timber shook his head.

"Mom is the best. How can you say that?"

Countess Fiona's lips tremble.

"Timber, my biggest regret is bringing you to this place. So If I could have a second chance, when I give birth to you, I would never step into this family again."

Timber's pupils dilated.

"Mom what are you talking about!"

Countess Fiona burst out, and her cries resound throughout the room which makes Timber's heart ache and he feels like dying with his mother.

"Timber...your brother has been coveting you and your father is aware."

Timber froze and his eyes widen: ''Huh?"

"If I die, you don't need to bury me or attend my funeral. You must run away, go far away."

Timber suddenly feels dizzy.

The amount of information that his mother has been telling him is just too much and everything is what he didn't expect. Countess Fiona knew how his son will be impacted once she revealed the truth so she couldn't help but feel angry and helpless that she will soon leave her son alone. She regretted that she raised Timber to be so innocent that he can't distinguish what is kindness and kindness with bad intentions.

——"How is it?"

Vincent held the letter and smiled: "It's confirmed, the army will arrive today so everyone is busy decorating the streets to welcome the soldiers."

Euric purses his lips, "Do you think Eugene hated me?"

Vincent sighed, "Eldest Master, it's not your fault. Besides, if Eugene doesn't want to with his personality he would make a fuss just to refuse. He is probably willing for you because you're his precious brother, so don't blame yourself too much and think you're being useless."

Euric's eyelashes tremble: "Still, I wasn't confident to face him."

Vincent knew because the day when the army depart, the eldest master went crazy to the point he hurt the marchioness. They were actually surprised when they heard what the Marchioness said. She begs the Marquis to keep her son and the Marquis who love his wife so much takes the second son instead.

It's the rumor that is circulating around to the point it reaches the public ears.

Euric who knew it didn't bother to clarify until he was summoned to the palace to talk with the emperor. It is also when that happens that Marchioness realizes her mistake.

What she did degrade her son's qualifications.

So today when it was officially announced that the army will go back, Marchioness Celisha lock herself in her room while crying. She does that not because she couldn't face his second son out of guilt but because her second son is now the only one who is qualified to be a Marquis which makes her unable to face her eldest son for the wrong decision she made.

Back to the Marquis Office. Euric and Vincent are talking about the preparations for the celebration when their family army comes back.

However, in the middle of their conversation, the door of the office swung open, revealing Eullian.

"Big brother! Second brother and Father is coming back!"

"Refrain from shouting Eullian."

Eullian entered the office with a big smile and said, "Second brother will be back, I want to give him a gift, brother can you give me my allowance for next month?"

Euric suddenly feels helpless.

"No, but I'll give you my allowance this month."

Eullian squealed and run towards his brother, giving him a neck hug.

"Brother you're the best!"

——The army passed by the portal and immediately arrived at the fort. The soldiers who are guarding the entrance were surprised and immediately shout that the army is back.

When they report that the army is ready to march inside, everyone stood on the side.

"To the glory of the empire!"

The people line up near the fort entrance and throw flowers when the soldiers arrive.

Since it's the empire's victory the public is so lively as if they're in a festival. The people shout until the army parted ways. Eugene who goes back to the Shradinza Household suddenly feels bored. He and his father weren't really together during the five years of war so the Marquis, seeing his grown-up son, he do not know what to do or even say making the atmosphere awkward.

"The Marquis and second young master have arrived with the soldiers!"

The gate of the Shradinza estate opened.

The servants line up and bow, in the entrance stood Euric, Eullian, and Eunice, together with Simon, Vincent, and Raphael. The marchioness is nowhere to be seen.

"Father! Second Brother!"

Eunice who is finally ten years old rushes towards them.

Eugene who treasure his little sister was surprised and immediately bend down, hugging the little princess who almost stumbled on her feet, making him worried.

Eunice hug her brother's neck "Second brother!"

Actually, she couldn't remember much about her father and second brother but his big brother always tell her about the second brother, telling her not to forget so she recognize Eugene.

"My little princess grown up?"

Eunice nodded her head proudly, let go of her brother, then flip her hair: "I'm a lady now!"

Eugene chuckled.

Eullian who is watching his twin and little sister's interaction fidgets, thinking if he can go too without being rejected. However, before Eullian can step forward, Euric walks towards Eugene with red eyes, looking at his little brother who is already an adult.

"Eugene..."

Eugene stood up and patted Eunice's head, telling her to go to their father, then look at his eldest brother and nodded.

"Brother, it's been a while. Do I not get a hug?" he said while opening his arms.

Euric immediately rushed forward and hug his little brother tightly.

"Eugene, brother is sorry to you."

Eugene sighs: "Have you been blaming yourself?"

Euric didn't speak but Eugene who knew his brother's personality is aware of it. Thinking that his brother has been taking the blame for five years, he couldn't help but feel distressed. However, he didn't regret his decision.

He finally saves his brother from misfortune.

He participates in a war and wins glory for the Shradinza Household.

His role finally ends.

From now on, he would only watch Shradinza Household from afar, watch over his siblings from the distance and just protect them in the dark. He can't be with them anymore because he's not Eullian's twin and he is just his big brother's step-siblings. He had no place in Shradinza Household and he also had no place in the Del Viltaria family.

It's better if his presence won't be here.

——Del Viltaria Dukedom.

When Kaizer and the Grand Duke arrived, Excellency Daimon, the head butler, and Khalil stood at the entrance of the palace, welcoming their arrival.

The servants who are bowing would peek, wondering how the eldest master would react to this illegitimate son who suddenly appears while they're on their way. Unfortunately, Kaizer just ignores everyone like the air and steps inside the palace while Grand Duke Karsten is busy pawning over his younger son.

"Welcome young master and your Excellency Grand Duke."

Kaizer snort and turn around.

"Old man, hand over the title to me, I need to make my wife the grand duchess."

Everyone gasps and their jaw drops from what they heard.

Grand Duke Karsten is used to his son's rudeness and Excellency Daimon just fake a cough, watching his stinky grandson who just came back, ask for the Grand Duke's title.

"Old man, did you hear me?"

Khalil who is in his father's arms flinch when he met his brother's dark and deep eyes.

"If you don't hand over your title, I will kill---"

Grand Duke Kasrten cut his son's word and said, "Alright. Don't talk."

Kaizer hum and turn around, "I'm tired and I want to rest. Father, before letting go of your title, bring back my wife to live in the duchy. After that, you and your son can go out of my palace."

Grand Duke Kasrten's lip twitched.

Being thrown out by his own son should be a big matter but he actually doesn't care because if his son becomes the grand duke then he doesn't have to work and face the stupid emperor!

Isn't that great?

Thinking of his retirement, Grand Duke Karsten look at his adoptive father expectantly and said: "Father, your grandson is throwing me out of the palace, can you take me and Khalil in your dukedom to live?"

Excellency Daimon look at his adoptive son with wide eyes and said, "You are so shamele---"

"If you don't agree, I'll take Khalil to live with me in the Trevita Palace."

Hearing that his cute grandson would be taken away by his cheap adoptive son, Excellency Daimon is in dilemma.