The Youngest Son of the Northern Grand Duke Wants to Break Off the Engagement

A man with gray hair cascading down was quickly scanning through a report. Then, after glancing at the sample brought from the scene, he soon leaned in for a closer look. It had been left at room temperature while frozen, yet the ice's form had not collapsed. In other words, it was a freezing spell of considerable level, and would not easily thaw.

'It was frozen quickly. That's why the body didn't have time to react.'

The man observed only the sample and deduced various facts: the speed at which the target was frozen, the circumstances of the attack, the concentration of magic power within the spell, and the relationship between its precision and cohesion. It was undoubtedly a highly refined spell, and it must have executed its target with pure cold alone.

'With conventional methods, you have to manifest ice with cold, then attack... but this one used the cold itself.'

Normally in magic, one converts one's magic power within the body into a certain element and constructs a shape from it. Of course, there are methods of using just the elemental property, but without form, it quickly dissipates. That's why people usually use those elements to shape weapons like arrows or spears and use them for attack spells. But this mage unleashed cold without shaping or controlling it, and even so, it held overwhelming power within.

'A truly terrifying talent. I don't think I've ever seen a mage like this...'

Impressed by the level of mastery, the man quickly turned the pages of the report. Now he was past fifty, yet his gaze was set on an indefinite future. There had been many mages called above average, but not a single one who could be deemed a genius. But at this very moment, he felt as if he had found the genius of geniuses.

'I think I heard that he's a noble... Hm?'

Alraune, the only Great Mage in the Agnes Empire, searched through the report and soon found the sentence he wanted. The caster of this spell was Alter Radiant—the youngest son of the Radiant ducal family. It was a house with the highest rank among the nobility, so it was natural that a child of the northern grand duke was staying in the capital.

'Why did he come to the capital? There must be some reason... Ah...'

Alraune found additional information and unconsciously frowned. Alter Radiant was betrothed to the second daughter of House Illenat and was assumed to be residing in the capital for this reason. As if it wasn't already troublesome dealing with the child of a grand duke, he hadn't expected him to be linked to a powerful family as well.

'Not an easy target. In that environment, he must lack for nothing.'

Alraune closed the report, falling into contemplation. If he were just an ordinary noble's child, there might have been a way to persuade him somehow. But Alter Radiant was far beyond that standard, and even the title of Great Mage would have no sway over him. In the end, all he could do was hope that Alter Radiant would willingly choose to become a mage.

'Still, I have to try to meet him. It would be a waste to let this go.'

As a great mage and a seeker of magic power, he couldn't just leave such rare talent unattended. If raised properly, he would become a mage who would shake the world, and with a little luck, might even inherit the title of great mage. He had no successor, which was becoming an inconvenience, so with that level of skill, he might as well accept him as a disciple.

'I need to leave a successor if I'm ever to retire, after all.'

* * *

Alter, as always, was quietly taking a walk around the mansion grounds. Brillie was off at knight order duties, and the Duke of Illenat would be in the office at work. The eldest son of House Illenat was probably busy dealing with his commoner lover.

'Looks like the nosebleeds have stopped.'

Until not long ago, he'd been experiencing periodic bleeding. Only recently had he managed to return to his original state, and only then could Brillie be at ease.

'If I use magic a few more times, I really might die.'

Alter ridiculed himself, but took the matter quite seriously. The power of his spells was overwhelming, and even a pureblood vampire couldn't withstand that cold. Naturally, the burden on his physical body was even greater.

'It would be a shame to die now. I haven't even reached twenty yet.'

At some point, Alter had grown attached to his own life. No matter how sickly he was, no matter if he could do nothing on his own—he was still alive and breathing. So he shunned death and strove to improve his condition by any means.

'Gold prices are still rising. The pureblood vampire is dead... and the crown prince should be making a move soon.'

Basking in the warm sunlight, Alter slowly came to a stop. Most things were going according to plan, but some were becoming variables. As time passed, he'd inevitably diverge from the original story, and might even face unforeseen outcomes.

'I need to finish certain things before the engagement is broken...'

Chasing off drowsiness, Alter belatedly noticed someone. Cadeon was walking out the mansion gate and now approaching him. He should have been busy with work—why had he suddenly appeared?

"You always take your walk about this time, don't you? Don't you get bored walking alone?"

"There's nothing boring about it. It's just a walk, after all."

"Would you give me the honor of joining me today?"

"I don't mind. As long as you're not too busy."

"There are busy times, and there are leisurely ones. That's just life, don't you think?"

Cadeon answered calmly and strode off first. Alter followed, cautiously glancing at him.

"How is your health?"

"Much improved. Thanks to your concern."

"There's nothing to thank me for. It happened in my house, so as head, it's my duty to resolve it."

"... You must have been quite worried on my account."

"I wouldn't say I wasn't. What face would I show the northern grand duke if you were hurt? You're to marry my daughter, after all. There can't be any trouble."

Despite the words, Alter couldn't erase his doubt. By now, he should clearly be planning to break off the engagement. So why was he mentioning his marriage to Brillie now?

"Aren't you just trying to secure the sun?"

"I haven't given up yet. But... I'm not thinking only of the sun."

"Does this have something to do with the water you mentioned last time?"

"That's right. For a flower to grow, it must be watered while buried in the earth. So I can't just keep my eyes on the sun."

"..."

Alter swallowed his silence and cautiously averted his gaze. Even this answer had strayed from what he expected. But it made sense for the head of a household to consider such perspectives.

"Just as I have a flower I wish to nurture, your father is no different. The way we raise them is all that differs."

"..."

"So, while you're here, I hope you'll feel comfortable. That way, I can save face with your father."

Cadeon, as head of the House of Illenat, was promoting a political marriage with the northern grand duke. That meant the prestige of the house was at stake with this union, and he had to show due courtesy to his daughter's fiancé. Even if he was considering breaking the engagement, the marriage was still officially scheduled, so he couldn't afford to start any rumors.

"Is what you say related to me regaining my health?"

"Of course. If my daughter's betrothed becomes healthy, there's nothing more I'd wish for."

"If so, may I request a favor?"

"Go ahead."

"I would like to receive treatment directly from a Holy Apostle... would you be able to arrange a meeting?"

A Holy Apostle was someone encompassing both clergy and holy knights of the Semerune Order. They were essentially considered direct paladins of the Holy See, having proven both their spiritual qualifications and abilities. If anyone could reach the greatest heights of sacred art, it would be a Holy Apostle, and surely they would be able to help treat Alter's body.

"Hmm... I see. I've considered that myself. The northern grand duke apparently gave up because he couldn't bring one in, right?"

"Yes. That's what I heard as well."

"Understood. I'll try to arrange a meeting."

Cadeon agreed readily, as if it was nothing special. It would have taken Alter alone considerable time and resources to arrange such a meeting. But with the strength of a powerful family, it was no challenge at all.

'Yes. I'll try my best. Maybe then... my thoughts will change a little, too?'

Cadeon had long pursued power, but recently, he was looking at other things: his daughter earning a title approaching Sword Saint, a force to check the crown prince, and the potential of his daughter's betrothed. That was why he had started to let go of his obsession with the sun and instead look to clear waters and fertile soil.

'Alter Radiant. If you could be that clear water for me... is there any need to break off the engagement?'

* * *

Alraune formally requested a meeting with Alter Radiant as a great mage. Before long, he received a letter in reply from Alter Radiant. Satisfied with the answer, Alraune visited the mansion of House Illenat.

"I am Alraune Lebhardin. Although I am called a great mage, I hope you can treat me as just another mage."

"I am Alter Radiant, youngest son of the Radiant ducal house."

The two found seats in the reception room and exchanged light greetings. Alter could more or less guess why the great mage wished to meet him. But as he still could not learn magic, there was only one answer he could give for now.

"Thank you for your time. As you are a child of the ducal house, I thought it would be difficult to meet you."

"Not at all. It is I who am honored to meet the great mage."

"Haha... 'Honored', you say. That's too much. I'm merely a mage. Even the title of great mage is nothing but a nickname for an odd talent, don't you think?"

"But it's not a title just anyone can get. Just as the greatest swordsman of the Empire is addressed as Sword Saint, the title of great mage is given to the greatest mage, is it not?"

"All mages walk the same path—how can we discuss superiority or inferiority? That's why I call it an odd talent."

"..."

Only then did Alter realize what Alraune meant. The title of great mage was meaningless, nothing more than a label bestowed by the imperial family. So rather than obsessing over that title, he meant to focus on the true role of a mage.

"Since you must be busy, Lord Alter, I'll get to the point. By chance, I ended up investigating a monster struck down by your spell. I presume, as it was an unusual case, that the opinion of a great mage was required. Through that, I became determined to meet you in person."

"..."

"Now that I have, I'll state my purpose directly. I wish to take you as my official disciple. I already have no shortage of disciples, but you must be an exception. May I ask... do you have any intention of inheriting the title of great mage?"

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Alraune is a no nonsense mage. I like that.
Also, I like how Duke Cadeon treats Alter, although Alter is sickly he doesn't look down on him. There are a lot of novels where nobles treat the MC like shit just for shit and giggles...
Also, Alter still doesn't realize how buttefly effect works...
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