章節 59: Chapter 59
'The true heir of the Corleone family,' Dani thought bitterly. It was a title he had once envied, thinking it could one day be his. But reality was cruel—Ulrich stood far above him, in a place Dani could never hope to reach, no matter how hard he tried.
"Let's go. I'm eager to introduce you all to Father," Ulrich said, turning to leave with his followers.
"Yes, Master," they replied in unison, following him as they headed toward the mansion.
Dani bit his lip as he watched them go. The true heir had returned, and once again, he would be compared to his brother. But this time, there was one key difference.
'That illegitimate bastard,' Dani seethed internally.
The one who had driven him into this corner, the rising star of the Corleone family—Dani knew that his older brother, Ulrich, wouldn't leave Sylas alone. Ulrich, who was obsessed with talented individuals, would either claim Sylas as his own or, if that failed, ensure that no one else could have him. Dani was certain of that.
'But Sylas won't fall in line with Ulrich's plans,' Dani thought, a twisted smile forming on his lips. For the first time, the thought that Ulrich might finally face a setback gave him some grim satisfaction.
Upon Ulrich's return home during the Academy's break, the count prepared a light celebration, excited to welcome his eldest son back.
"Welcome, Ulrich! Did you learn much at the Academy?" Count Bill greeted him warmly.
"I've broadened my horizons quite a bit, though I still have much to learn," Ulrich replied humbly.
"Oh ho!" the count chuckled, his eyes sparkling with pride. Ulrich always downplayed his achievements, but if he was willing to admit that his knowledge had expanded, he must have learned a great deal indeed.
The count was eager to hear more, but he said, "I'd love to hear all about it, but first, we must introduce you to the rest of the family. Come in."
At the count's signal, Sylas, who had been waiting outside, stepped into the room and bowed slightly in greeting to Ulrich.
"It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time, brother. I'm Sylas."
"I've heard about you in the letters. I'm glad to finally meet you in person," Ulrich replied with a smile, extending his hand.
"I'm truly happy to have such a dependable older brother," Sylas said, taking Ulrich's hand.
The two smiled at each other, and seeing this warm exchange brought a satisfied smile to the count's face.
'Yes, this is how family should be. If only Dani could be more like his brother,' the count thought, his mind briefly shifting to his second son, whose standing had noticeably declined since Ulrich's return. But for Sylas, the situation was rather amusing. He knew Ulrich's friendliness was nothing more than a facade.
'He's not genuinely happy about having a new family member. What he really wants is to recruit me if I prove useful, or destroy me if I'm not,' Sylas thought.
Ulrich Corleone was far from the ideal chivalrous knight the family prided itself on. In truth, he was more of a Machiavellian figure, a strategist for chaotic times. He was ruthless when it came to recruiting talented people, and if he couldn't have them under his control, he'd break them so that no one else could use them either. Yet, despite all of this, he carefully maintained a flawless public image.
'He's a snake in knight's clothing,' Sylas thought, recalling how Ulrich had manipulated him in his previous life. This time, Sylas was determined to repay Ulrich for everything he had endured.
Oblivious to Sylas's thoughts, Ulrich maintained his sincere expression and said, "I've heard that Sir Toby has become your knight."
"Yes, it happened somewhat by chance," Sylas replied.
"He's an exceptionally strong knight. I was worried about where that strength might lead him, but I'm glad to see him on a good path," Ulrich said with a nod. A moment later, as if remembering something, he clapped his hands.
"Ah, that reminds me, Father. I have people I'd like to introduce to you."
"People to introduce?" the count asked, intrigued.
"I gathered them during my time in the capital. Two of them are elsewhere at the moment, but I'll introduce one of them now," Ulrich said, gesturing behind him.
A knight in black armor stepped forward. His face was hidden behind a helmet, and he bowed deeply.
"I am Ray Winslow."
"...?" The count tilted his head slightly. The voice coming from within the helmet didn't sound quite right. It wasn't the deep, resonant tone one would expect from a grown man, but rather the voice of someone who hadn't yet gone through puberty, like a young boy.
"Well, Sir Ray, I am Bill Corleone. I appreciate the greeting, but would you kindly remove your helmet?" the count requested. After all, it was considered rude to keep one's helmet on during a formal introduction.
Before Ray could respond, Ulrich stepped in. "Please allow me to explain, Father. There's a special reason why the helmet cannot be removed right now."
"A reason? What sort of reason could prevent him from removing his helmet?" the count asked, now more curious than ever.
"It's not that he won't remove it, but rather that he can't, at least not until after a light sparring match. After that, he will," Ulrich said with a playful smile.
"I don't understand what you mean," the count said, frowning in confusion.
Ulrich turned his gaze to Sylas. "Sylas, would it be possible to arrange a friendly duel between Sir Toby and Sir Ray? After all, it's customary for knights to test each other's strength when they meet."
Sylas noticed that Ray didn't react to Ulrich's words, neither confirming nor denying the suggestion. Nonetheless, Sylas nodded.
"That sounds good to me. I've been curious about Sir Ray's abilities as well. Toby!" Sylas called out.
Toby, who had been waiting nearby, immediately entered the room. He exchanged a quick glance with Ray, both nodding in acknowledgement.
Such duels weren't uncommon, as they often served to show off the strength of a lord's knights or as part of a subtle power struggle between lords themselves.
"I look forward to sparring with you, Sir Ray," Toby said politely.
"And I look forward to it as well," Ray replied, his voice still strangely high-pitched, causing Toby to tilt his head in confusion before heading toward the dueling grounds.
As they walked, Toby leaned closer to Sylas and whispered, "My lord, how hard should I go?"
"What do you mean?" Sylas asked, amused.
"I mean, with Sir Ray. He doesn't seem like an arrogant brat like Gino, so I'd feel a bit bad about beating him too badly," Toby explained with a grin.
Sylas chuckled at Toby's confidence. Given Toby's strength, it was reasonable for him to expect an easy victory. However, Sylas knew better.
"Fight with everything you've got," Sylas said.
"What, you mean go all out?" Toby asked, taken aback.
"If you hold back, you'll lose," Sylas said, his tone serious.
"Come on, you're joking, right?" Toby said, waving his hand dismissively.
Sylas scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Honestly, I'm not sure myself. What do you think is stronger—the blood of giants or the lineage of spirits?"
"...!" Toby's face froze as he realized the implication.
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