After a long, exhausting journey, they finally arrived at the capital of Marquis Alaric’s territory and entered without issue. As they wandered through the bustling streets, the imposing silhouette of the Marquis’s castle came into view. The structure stood distinct from the rest of the city, its grandeur impossible to ignore.

The castle was unique in its design. Unlike typical fortresses, it was more than just a military stronghold—it was a self-contained city within the city. Within its walls were houses, shops, and a population composed of far more than soldiers. It functioned as a community of its own, vibrant and full of life.

This unconventional layout was born from history. The castle had been constructed centuries ago, its walls imbued with ancient magical formations and built from enchanted materials. Altering it was impossible. As the years passed and the population grew, people began settling outside the castle walls, drawn by its reputation for safety. Eventually, those outside the castle built their own walls for protection, forming the strange layered city that exists today.

As Lyria and Edric approached the castle gates, the guards immediately recognized them. Lyria’s insignia marked her authority, and Edric’s appearance, despite slight changes, was familiar to them. Though his hair was now tightly tied back to control its unpredictable nature—a precaution given his lack of full mastery—Edric had spent months living in the castle. He was not easily forgotten. The guards bowed respectfully, allowing the pair to pass without hesitation.

...

Lyria and Edric moved swiftly toward the Marquis’s private chambers inside the grand halls. The heavy oak doors creaked open, revealing a dimly lit room filled with the faint scent of ink and parchment. Documents were scattered across the expansive desk, and Marquis Alaric Weinbacher sat behind it, his sharp eyes lifting as their presence filled the room.

The Marquis was a man consumed by the war in Daekwind territory. Every hour, he issued commands and corresponded with allies and enemies alike. Despite his workload, the news of Edric’s return had reached him earlier. For this, he had temporarily set aside his duties to hear them out.

Lyria stepped forward gracefully and bowed slightly. “My lord,” she began, her voice calm and measured. “I apologize for the disturbance. Edric, in his eagerness to see his newborn child, left without authorization. He is here to offer his apologies.”

Edric stood silently behind her, his expression unreadable. Though his rank as a Golden Knight placed him above such formalities, he had chosen to come. To him, an apology was a minor inconvenience—insignificant compared to the importance of preserving his secret.

Breaking through to the Golden rank at the unprecedented age of sixteen was not something he could explain. If word of his rapid ascension spread, it would undoubtedly attract unwanted attention. The fear of being hunted by higher-ranked knights—or even Ultra-rank knights from the Flicker Empire—was ever-present.

Edric had even considered faking his own death and adopting a new identity to ensure the secret remained buried forever. For now, though, the act of making amends was a small price to pay for the silence he desperately needed.

The Marquis leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable as his eyes flicked between Edric and Lyria. After a long, tense pause, he finally spoke, his voice calm but imbued with an unmistakable authority.

“Edric,” he began, “if you felt such urgency to see the child, you should have come to me directly. Running off without informing anyone was reckless. It put not only you but the entire family at unnecessary risk.”

Edric clenched his jaw, biting back the words that sprang to mind. He had asked for permission to leave—only to be summarily denied. Still, voicing his frustration now would only escalate the situation into unnecessary drama, and that was the last thing he needed. Instead, he kept his silence, his expression carefully neutral.

The Marquis shifted his sharp gaze to Lyria, his eyes narrowing as though to emphasize the gravity of the matter. “That said,” he continued, his tone softening slightly, “I understand the bond a father feels toward his child. This time, I will not hold it against him.”

Edric bowed his head, silently accepting the words without protest.

Lyria, sensing the atmosphere beginning to ease, allowed a small breath of relief to escape her lips. “Thank you, my lord,” she said smoothly, inclining her head. “Edric will not act so impulsively again.”

The Marquis leaned forward then, his elbows resting on the desk as his piercing gaze focused entirely on Edric. For a moment, his expression seemed to shift—curiosity flickering behind the stern exterior.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“I understand your reasons for leaving,” he said, his voice now slower, more deliberate. “But there is one thing that remains unclear to me.”

“How did you manage it? How did someone—an ordinary man, who was not even a knight—escape from this castle without raising so much as a whisper? It defies all logic.”

Edric held the Marquis’s gaze steadily, his composure unshaken despite the probing question. He took a slow, deliberate breath before replying, his voice calm but resolute.

“My lord,” he said, the weight of his words filling the room, “I am no longer an ordinary man. I made my breakthrough a week ago. I am a knight now.”

A silence thicker than stone walls descended upon the chamber. The Marquis’s sharp eyes widened ever so slightly, the rare expression of genuine surprise breaking through his normally stoic demeanor.

“You’ve… broken through?” he repeated, his voice carrying an uncharacteristic note of astonishment. It was as though he needed to hear the words again to believe them. “To become a knight…?”

Edric nodded, his expression calm. “Yes, my lord. The breakthrough came after months of effort. I had been teetering on the edge for some time.”

In Marquis's view, Edric’s achievement defied logic. Over the months, he had observed him closely. Not once had he seen Edric partake in knight training—not even the most basic drills. For someone to break through without rigorous practice was nothing short of ridiculous. No, it was more than that. It suggested a level of knight talent that bordered on the Mythic.

Lyria, too, had achieved her breakthrough at a young age, but her case was entirely different. She was known as a relentless worker, dedicating countless hours to her training and refining her technique with unwavering determination. On the other hand, Edric spent most of his time in the library, immersed in books about mages and magical theory—a pursuit the Marquis had dismissed as a hobby. After all, Edric’s aptitude for magic was so poor that pursuing it seemed like a waste of time.

Over the past few months, the Marquis had grown increasingly frustrated with Edric. He’d written him off as lazy, squandering his potential by refusing to train, wield a sword, or engage in any activity that would strengthen him as a knight. The Marquis hadn’t expected Edric to achieve a breakthrough until well past his twenty-fifth year.

Running a hand through his hair, the Marquis let out a slow breath, as if trying to steady himself. His gaze softened, though disbelief still lingered in his tone. “I’ve been watching you these past months, Edric,” he admitted. “You spent your days buried in books while I grew increasingly frustrated. It seemed like you were wasting your time—neglecting your training and refusing to hone your skills. And yet…” His voice faltered, a note of awe slipping through. “Despite all of that, you’ve broken through!”

Edric inclined his head slightly, a faint smile flickering across his face. “My breakthrough came shortly after I had an epiphany while reading a book on the internal energy of knights,” he explained. “It was nothing more than a stroke of good luck that worked in my favor.”

The Marquis stared at him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. “Luck, you say…” he murmured, his voice trailing off as his thoughts churned.

Yet, in his mind, he dismissed the explanation almost immediately. He had experienced his fair share of epiphanies over the years—moments of clarity that had promised great leaps in understanding. And still, none had ever propelled him into a breakthrough. Epiphanies were often exaggerated in the tales of knights and legends. They were not the miraculous catalysts people made them out to be.

“In any event,” the Marquis said, his tone shifting to one of stern concern, “from now on, you must seek permission before leaving the castle. Many people would want to kill you, Edric. This is not just about your safety—it’s about the future of our family.”

Edric could see the genuine worry in the Marquis’s eyes, though it did little to lighten his mood.

“And as for your punishment,” the Marquis continued, his expression hardening, “you are to double your efforts in fulfilling your role in enriching the family.”

Edric’s lips twitched, but he said nothing rude.

He understood the underlying message. With talent like his—possibly mythic from Marquis's perspective—his value wasn’t just in his strength but in the potential of his bloodline. Any child he fathered had a faint chance to inherit an extraordinary knight talent, and the Marquis was all too aware of this. Edric suspected he’d have been confined and treated as little more than a tool to produce future generations of prodigies if it wasn't for Lyria's backing. Fortunately, such measures weren’t feasible under the current circumstances.

“I understand,” Edric said with a resigned sigh. “I’ll do what I can to revitalize the family.”

A satisfied smile spread across the Marquis’s face. “Good. Rest well tonight—tomorrow morning, two girls will be sent to your room.”

Beside him, Lyria remained silent but offered no resistance to the Marquis’s decree. In truth, she agreed with the idea of strengthening the family’s talent pool, even if the methods left something to be desired.

The meeting concluded, and the pair left the room.

Lyria soon departed the castle to attend to her own affairs, while Edric returned to his quarters.

...

Seated on the edge of his bed, Edric’s mind wandered. Now that he had reached the rank of Golden Knight, he enjoyed far greater freedom than before. He was already formulating plans to sneak out again—this time, to explore the world beyond the castle walls. The ongoing war in the Darkwind family territory intrigued him, and he yearned to see it up close.

As for whether Marquis Alaric would be furious at his disappearance? Edric couldn’t bring himself to care.

While he refrained from complaining openly, the truth was clear: the Marquis saw him as little more than a tool for the family’s future. A “baby-making machine,” as Edric had bitterly thought more than once. For that reason, he had no qualms about defying the man’s authority or enraging him when necessary.