Chapter 2: A Good-for-Nothing

In stark contrast to the boiling atmosphere in the streets and alleys of the imperial capital, the count's mansion was enveloped in a deathly silence. There was no grand banquet, no celebration ceremony, not even a simple wine reception. After leaving the wharf, even the ceremony of the one thousand soldiers, originally prepared and drawn from the expeditionary fleet, lining up to enter the city and be inspected by the citizens was left under the supervision of the deputy. After hurrying back to the mansion, the count declined all visitors. The excuse given was that the count, who had been on the battlefield for several years, needed some private time to soothe the lonely heart of his beloved wife at home. Although this disappointed many people who had painstakingly prepared to flatter the empire's new hero, this high-sounding excuse was immediately supported by everyone.

At this moment, in the luxurious mansion of the count's residence, the triumphant hero of the imperial navy was facing his own biological son. His gaze was deep, melancholy, and complex. If he didn't firmly believe in his wife's virtue... The first thought that came to Count Raymond's mind when he first saw the child in front of him was: Is this really my offspring? Because the child's appearance was really quite different from his own! The men of the Rollin family had always been known for their imposing and sturdy masculine images! For the standard image of a man from the Rollin family, he should be tall and burly, with a broad chest, thick arms, a square face, a straight nose, and an imposing and heroic look.

At least Count Raymond himself was like that. He was tall and robust, and his appearance was extremely outstanding among the imperial noble circle. When he was young, he was a famous manly man in the imperial noble circle. But this little fellow in front of him... Although he was only three years old, for the Rollin family, which was renowned for producing sturdy men, he was really too fair, thin, and weak... Well... It was said that this child had been seriously ill a month ago. Perhaps that was why his body was a bit weaker.

And the three-year-old future heir to the count, Dwayne Rollin, looked at his father indifferently. He didn't cry loudly and vigorously like children of the same age, which made the count very dissatisfied. According to tradition, the louder a child cried, the stronger he was supposed to be! This child in front of him was a bit too quiet. He just sat on the bed with his hands on his knees, looking up at him, as if with curiosity, and also as if with scrutiny. The count thought he must be mistaken. How could the eyes of a three-year-old child have such complex emotions?!

While the count was feeling depressed, Dwayne Rollin's mood was undoubtedly even more complex than his. The beautiful and mature countess, with her motherly heart and her actions a month ago, had successfully softened Dwayne's heart. But this "father" who suddenly appeared... Humph, where did he come from!

"He... still really can't speak?" The count's expression was serious. He glanced at his wife beside him. Only when he saw the tears in his wife's eyes did his heart soften. Remembering that he had gone to sea and been away for three years, neglecting his wife at home, and that even when his wife was in labor and most in need of her husband's comfort, he hadn't been by her side, and that the only son had become like this, he couldn't really blame this poor woman. His tone became a bit gentler: "Alright, my dear. Just because the child can't speak, we'll invite the most erudite teacher in the empire to teach him. He will surely speak eventually. But his body is too weak. Our Rollin family has always been based in the empire with military merits. My son will naturally inherit my path and become an imperial general in the future. Being so weak won't do... Hmm, he's already three years old. I think it's time to consider finding him an enlightenment teacher. With a few years of training, his weak body will naturally become stronger... What do you think of Alpha? He is my most loyal captain of the guards. He has high martial arts skills and is loyal to the family. I think starting from next month, Alpha can begin to teach Dwayne some basic exercise methods."

Hearing that her poor son had to start training at such a young age, tears welled up in the beautiful eyes of the countess: "But... he's still so young."

"Just because his body is too weak, we need to exercise his physique even earlier! Otherwise, how can he inherit the military merits of our Rollin family!" The count, who had been on the battlefield for many years, was quite firm on this point and made the decision with a wave of his hand.

The next day, after paying an audience to the emperor in the imperial palace and receiving the third Imperial First Class Heroic Medal personally presented by the emperor during the celebration ceremony, the emperor publicly announced the promotion of Count Raymond, who had outstanding military achievements, to the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial High Command. This made him already the second-highest-ranking military official in the empire.

After having a conversation with the emperor in a private room for a while, Count Raymond took the initiative to propose removing his title as a First Class General of the Imperial Navy and handing over his military power. Then, after leaving the imperial palace, he once again refused the congratulations from his colleagues and countless banquet invitations. He even politely declined the invitations from several high-ranking priests of the Temple of the Goddess of Light before hurrying back home.

That the son of Count Raymond of the Rollin family was an idiot was no longer a secret in the imperial capital. Seeing the trace of melancholy that still lingered on the count's face even during the medal-awarding ceremony, many colleagues who were friendly with the Rollin family couldn't help but feel a bit of sympathy for him. Of course, it was inevitable that some political opponents secretly gloated.

At home, the count once again faced his son. The difference was that this time, the beautiful countess was not by his side. Standing beside him was Alpha, his loyal captain of the guards who had been with him for nearly twenty years. Alpha was a First Class Swordsman of the empire, and his "Flowing Flame Sword" technique was recognized as one of the top few masters of swordsmanship in the imperial capital.