Chapter 3
O4L“Seeing how angry you are, I understand how foolish I’ve been. I’ll engrave your advice in my heart, so I never forget it.”ibB
OCAV“…Is that all?”f0BtAgG
vBynvH“Yes. So now you may rejoice.”tk5
dWN“What?”96Oh
uhEgAt Lucian’s unexpected words, the grand duke furrowed his brow.PyUGD
QGJtERejoice, all of a sudden?4k4Z
lys“I’ve heard that a father scolds and reprimands his son’s foolish actions because there is love. Until now, I felt hurt because you never once showed even a shred of anger toward me, but I see now that I was wrong.”4zO
mKz4“…”h9iJGh1
Emk1CHb“So then, isn’t now the time to rejoice? I’m a son who returned from the dead. You got angry at me—so don’t hold back anymore; at the very least, you could take my hand. We’re family, what would be so wrong with even shedding a tear?”hh3
57CN8aRAt such bold words, the grand duke looked at Lucian in astonishment.auOv
Wwr80wEven the head butler Edwin, who had remained silent until now, opened his mouth wide.DUBoeyP
6UDL3pThough Lucian had spoken courteously, the real meaning was clear.PpcMb
UTlxZAfter leaving him abandoned for so long, was a rebuke the only thing he had for his son, who had barely returned alive?UMUx
fVoAnd at the same time, if all he could do was rebuke him, then he had no right to call himself a father.o0dUbwb
pL5HOj‘Please let this work.’k7FOc
TMZlvwLucian kept his face as calm as possible while swallowing hard.hBMpG
szs8vHe had dared to slap the grand duke—the feared head of the family—with words.qi39W7P
xK1lAWith any other noble, such remarks would have been enough to send him to a monastery without hesitation.2O9WyL
nKH1CRaBut the Sigmund Valdeck he knew would react differently.jLdiw
ifBHe always said he preferred a wild dog that bites over a rat that merely watches the wind.Wjz8
QT2Lm“Haha.”ZL5V
McQBkaAfter twenty seconds that felt like two hours of silence, what came from the grand duke’s mouth wasn’t a roar, but a disbelieving laugh.ClbI
Q6gmrsHe seemed stunned—but more than that, intrigued by how unexpected it all was.NgHIavP
i8FtMEo‘It worked!’R7VZF
yN1gRealizing his gamble had paid off, a sigh of relief escaped inside him.1Rn8
BOIThe grand duke studied Lucian’s face from every angle and muttered.7KYwWe
Sax“So you’re even capable of saying something like that.”UFIgsih
5xGlaQ“People change. And if someone comes back alive after standing at death’s door and doesn’t change, then he couldn’t be called human.”8Lp
HmWV5d“Then, are you also planning to stop hiding in your room like a rat?”oJfJV
tTuz“After over a year of confinement, I’m sick of it. I think it’s about time I let it go. More than that, right now…”b2Rsq
30Y7obLucian paused and rolled up his sleeve.fBD
fuYB7IoThe arm was so thin and fleshless, it looked no different from that of an invalid.DHXfZP
G4T“My first goal is to regain weight. With a body like this, I couldn’t even lift a sword.”Qvep43
i88bb8U“A sword? You, a sword?”AbJU
jxOfc“I don’t know if I’ll ever wield a sword in my life, but someone who can’t even take care of his own body—what else could he do? A man should at least be able to protect himself.”UK4VGw
0HJ7G“Ahem.”AbzQc0l
iCp9JThe grand duke leaned slightly back and cleared his throat.atxrc
Vg9The corners of his eyes raised in the slightest frown.OscYTn
bnMyAt a glance, it seemed like a displeased expression, but Lucian knew better.qMZKyC
s2s3CThat was the face he made when he was trying hard not to smile.KQ8
4M5l5t“You talk quite prettily.”At2juJ
PqOVE9i“I’m just speaking what I truly feel.”nRqCP2Y
WFgcXT8“Whether it’s sincerity or mere bluster will be revealed later. Go.”JhN7
8VdeFu“Yes.”mxBC
FRetzYLucian bowed deeply and left the office.MU5mH7
WrLO4After walking a few steps away, the long-held sigh of relief finally burst out.3rIbOdW
kZFvoWg‘More or less, I made it through.’djvt2
FleR3He had managed to change the pitiful image of the half-abandoned son.eygWzK
thCXaRToday, he had shown a different side, so at least the intent to discard him must have subsided.PxPzM5B
V6kZBut that was only a temporary fix.gynwy0
H3J6QIf he didn’t show long-term results, he’d just be seen as someone who talked a good game.hRNyg
Y2w7IChBefore that happened, he’d have to present a convincing achievement to the grand duke.tVDWa
8WfE‘Well, it won’t be that hard.’TTYLnae
qD5aHe had survived as a mercenary in a chaotic time full of death and slaughter.9gfS
3FJEarning a few merits as a noble young master was nothing in comparison.FPlIoN
ClLZIcrLucian returned to his room, hiding a slight smile on his lips, thinking about how he would boldly declare his ambitions in this new life.IFn
Zlr2e***sPehs
Td3lr9T“Hmm…”DwN
P4scGrand Duke Sigmund stroked his beard again and again in silence.ytca
1c67qEven though it had just happened, he still couldn’t fully believe it.Md9AXm
yVXHe never imagined that that useless son would show up so boldly.FChF
ZQt“Did you see that?”QWiuTzy
gwFN“What do you mean?”MsbvXW
xyB6F“That guy, looking me straight in the eyes while he talked.”M3arMgt
TkKu7“Yes. He didn’t hesitate even for a moment.”h0uJ9
4hReAbJust a year ago, he was a boy whose eyes would dart around like he was swimming in them.Dyd
yeAHe couldn’t even hold eye contact; he would only mumble with resentment.S3ohi
9YmhAnd if anyone raised their voice, instead of responding, he whimpered like a wounded stray dog.BHDZ9Iv
iU2bA worthless brat, full of complaints, unable to even defend his own stance.4CfmgMA
QHFAnd now he said he’d offer his neck and declared his goals with such firmness?3uOW
GRdxHk“I thought the only thing he inherited from his mother was her face.”Dr6Fm
Rm14X“The third young master is also Your Excellency’s son. That blood can’t just vanish.”Hlhcw
kAb“Don’t jump to conclusions. He might’ve just talked pretty.”DQ3oV1
7NgIKm“Before, he couldn’t even do that. Something in his heart has certainly changed.”5uW6ixQ
ud6vOAn uncontainable smile crept onto the grand duke’s lips.p4Ommwt
l8i45Even if he had been half-abandoned, he was still a Valdeck seed.LQNs
wUN3p8As a father, how could he not be glad to see his son grow?nzfWH8d
X85tJoEven more so, when it was the son of the woman he had once loved again.Lw2o5u
SWw3z4“Even so, it’s too soon to trust him completely. There’s still a chance it’s all just words.”I3VTU
CtwuL“Do you plan to test him?”xt7niDL
xvW“It’s not exactly a test. Just give him a generous allowance. The same one he received before he locked himself away.”NScrgt
926zSince Lucian had fallen from grace with the grand duke, the family’s support had been practically cut off.afnVE
tU1Excluding food expenses and servant wages, he hadn’t had a single coin for personal use.uJA3
URJrYP3This meant resuming that support.Cb7BiC
VA6IFOn the surface, it looked like a reward, but to Edwin’s eyes, it was one of the hardest trials.jDZ2aX
JetjTIt was like telling someone who was just beginning to step outside to manage a large sum of money.0rsdc
emBcmdIf he lost his head and spent it recklessly, or wasted it on nonsense, even the last shred of hope would vanish.ssv
KVkaHf“Understood. But there’s a small problem.”JGm
zyrOK4“A problem?”gZTaz
fmj“Part of the funds assigned to the third young master are being diverted elsewhere.”mwpW7q2
ZI2fCThe grand duke’s eyebrows twitched.ufL5ug
MoKKThat wasn’t an order he had given.4Wov6Z
P3qWhich meant someone had been secretly embezzling family money.JFXaA7j
gQdP1qE“Who would dare?”MoKwr
FAB4Q“It appears to be the work of the second young master.”ULuKm56
5wxN4“What? The second?”Eg5Mz
QRSr1W“For him, that amount is mere pocket change. It’s likely just harassment toward the third.”B1Vmpig
jhpV1“Harassment? More like pure pettiness. That damned inferiority complex of his.”iq6h9X
QfIRNThe grand duke clicked his tongue briefly as he thought about his second son.eF6tCeu
0fYOzmHe wasn’t incapable, but he had always been narrow-minded—that was his major flaw.rPXEz
jwvEHe knew there were bad feelings toward the third due to their maternal sides, but he didn’t imagine it would go this far.5tIMX
OyPRi“Should we take action?”tIlB
omI9h“Leave it.”LMIVo
ys6rqThe grand duke shook his head as if there was nothing to consider.ecK9iMd
qWY1m“This sort of petty matter should be dealt with by the third himself. If he can’t even handle that, then his depth will be obvious.”T1V
4FwMW“Isn’t that a bit harsh? He has no faction, not even a single man he can trust.”Llljs5
SxR“That’s the consequence of his own actions. Who else can he blame? It’s the price of living without ever coming to his senses.”oKzZe
y6p4d8If he had properly managed those around him, they wouldn’t have even gotten close enough to sink their fangs into him.PFedqP
CNCo0It was all the result of having completely abandoned external affairs for a year—so he also had to deal with the consequences on his own.tlw0
yE7DY“Perfect timing. Let’s see how the third handles this.”E5dHM
CQWwIf he couldn’t even manage this and came back to whine in front of him, his expectations would vanish completely.Ks8qbmt
GiLjHBut if—going beyond all expectation—he resolved it flawlessly…B2WOlY
jgC‘Then reinstating him as a candidate for succession wouldn’t be impossible either.’biGxLJ
YVgaMcWith that thought concluded, Grand Duke Sigmund reached again for the stack of documents he had set aside.Hdv7
aW8qCJust from having the third son on his mind, he was already wasting too much time, and he still had a mountain of work to get through.KBTeHS
vVrhJQv***2KVcnr
y2VVDnAfter returning so gallantly, Lucian ended up spending the entire day bedridden.JnFx
sdsp0He had moved his body after a long period of inactivity, with his stamina at rock bottom—and on top of that, had faced the aura of the grand duke head-on.K2w58
gYB‘This really is an absurdly weak body.’pZV
3ibvFlWith stamina like this, what could he even do moving forward?hD9
tNSxyzHe had planned to do it anyway, but now physical strengthening had become urgent.Sz9K6c
Q0MaecFortunately, the necessary support for preparations arrived without delay the very next day.Dgb5qUV
hrYn5“Y– Young master… what did you do yesterday? Did you use magic or something?”PER3Sh
pco0el“What are you going on about now? If I knew how to use magic, do you think I’d be here groaning?”NSlmvM5
yDNhL“I say that because His Excellency reinstated the support he’d cut off for a year, and he did it in just one day.”JQ1z38
g1vYnLoSo that was what was happening—the grand duke had started giving him his allowance again.8yh
KSauOAnd what was so extraordinary about a noble young master receiving his money again?ziwl
CseiEtLucian chuckled under his breath, but when he took the documents and saw the figure, his smile vanished immediately.Gig4mo
WG8c2“This is the third son’s allowance—not my allowance?”2NcO
SQWK4v“Yes.”8cU
yVS“They gave me a whole year’s worth at once?”OWhFJK
EZkQhz“Not at all. That’s just one month’s share.”reRq
WNjVt“I used to get this much?”Igh
I2A“This much? The other young masters receive far more than this.”aLEcPal
2g0Gm“This is insane!”WRQvbwa
mH9cZMHe was left speechless by how absurd it was.a9Paz
Ppc79wUHe knew that House Valdeck, being a grand duchy and the family of the emperor’s right-hand man, had to be rich.F39d8Re
fG70hgBut to give this kind of amount as a mere monthly allowance to a third son?n4zj1
GejSokWith this money, he could hire a massive mercenary company for half a month—and still have plenty left over.VKJ2aw9
FsnB‘It’s not like having a lot of money is bad… but it’s still depressing.’vID
5664iuSo this was what it really meant to be a great noble?LX2M
PwKsWhile feeling a mixture of bitterness and satisfaction over the colossal sum—IUqYIF
nTJQRdH‘Wait this amount, couldn’t I not only strengthen my body, but even remake my constitution?’n6q
BaOSuddenly, his eyes flew wide open.I6c
6L5xgi2An innate constitution can’t be changed at the root.NNC
cVr41That’s why, those with true talent are even born with a body that suits it.7siJ2e
piyIt’s an old theory from a thousand years ago, but even now it’s considered a solid truth—constitution is everything for a warrior.y38B
sqa1KHowever, that theory would be completely overturned six years later.7Hd
GvFFH‘When the Alchemist Guild developed Nectar.’qCUsx
J0lNENectar—the drink of the gods.x2AKqh
hhVBecause of such a grandiose name, it was initially met with criticism for its pretentiousness.HYlfyni
9OGLJBut once its effects became known, all the complaints and ridicule vanished.ELdlwOg
YK00Because the effects of Nectar were just as extraordinary as its name.uocz
ImfRiXkAn elixir capable of turning even the most talentless person into someone with potential.zqLFJ
c6bOIf a medicine like that wasn’t called Nectar, then what should it be called?kyNDNL
GcMWith the invention of Nectar, the Alchemist Guild, which had been in decline, shot straight to the center of the Empire.TAp
sZmMgrTheir power became so great that even the emperor had to tread carefully, using Nectar reserve quotas as a political weapon.4YS
of926fTruly absolute power.4YJMB8
VtS04t4‘Even if it only lasted three springtimes.’aKGVwX3
LSlD32It wasn’t long before the chaos era began—and the Alchemist Guild paid the price for its arrogance.fs8ePq
hsyl1PIn a world ruled by power versus power, the guild was destroyed, the alchemists slaughtered, and most of the Nectar production process was lost.tjV
idtXT6All that remained were incomplete fragments of the formula, missing crucial points.XSsIzt
Qz73Most people considered those fragments useless and discarded them.4KfaXpd
vkPRQAfter all, once a medicine is mixed improperly, it becomes poison.z87
mtkTrying to recreate an elixir based on an incomplete recipe was sheer folly.8xhI
ZXRLZKBut, as always, some people died chasing those foolish dreams—and a few lucky ones managed to recreate Nectar, even if imperfectly.MSr
mmiJQgAnd Lucian, in his past life, had belonged to that second group.kmfoL
AXAsNDY“Hans, get ready. We’re going out.”YI5
MigyyzN“But you’re not fully recovered yet! Where are we going?”tUP8I
gGwi“To the herb shop.”5Z7bxMG
7q1rmc“What? The herb shop?”uwa7Z
lHuHans stared at Lucian with a dumbfounded expression.LyOx
yyVUNypA noble young master going to a humble herb shop? For what?bFY
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