When the children of the Taylor family reach adulthood, it’s already a well-known fact that a blood storm rages within the family.
No one could become the head of the family without seeing blood.
Even those born as the only child could fail to become the head, and if there are siblings, someone was bound to die.
This twisted family was the Empire’s only ducal house, so maintaining that status until now must be the result of this brutal ability-centricism.
Of course, there were those who thought negatively about it.
However, in the end, not becoming the head was the problem.
If those who held such thoughts had become heads, perhaps something would have changed, but since this tradition has persisted until now…
It seems it’s time for a little change.
Even if I were to become the head, I wouldn’t think that such confusion should continue in the future Taylor line.
Let me recall what I experienced. Would someone else, not me, be able to endure it?
If siblings like Yuria caused trouble for someone again, it would just be the ruin of a single person’s life.
If I let it end like this instead of cutting it off, the bad blood would continue to flow.
Isn’t breaking this vicious cycle something that would truly be accomplished by my becoming the head?
What I gained from my meeting with the crown prince was silence.
It meant that there would be no unexpected interference in my fight with Yuria, so at least I wouldn’t need to worry about anything else.
All that remains is to ascend to the head position. As I wandered in thoughts like that, a familiar voice could be heard beside me.
“Oh, it seems you came all the way here to see me?”
Looking up, it was Miragen. Leaning against the wall, she waved her hand and, with a smile, came toward me, shrugging her shoulders.
It seemed like the restrictions were finally lifted.
It had been over two weeks since we met in the south, so the timing was right.
I slowly opened my mouth as Miragen approached.
“I see you were waiting for me. Sorry it took so long to get here.”
“I wasn’t waiting. We just ran into each other. I wasn’t waiting out front like last time, it’s truly just a coincidence this time.”
So, you do admit you were waiting last time.
It looked like her words might be genuine this time.
I seemed to recall her saying that if I came to the imperial palace, she’d have something to repay me with, but today seemed pretty busy.
I didn’t have much time to talk with Miragen.
Smiling at her expectant gaze, I carefully brushed aside the hair that had fallen onto my shoulders and replied.
“Looks like we won’t be able to stay together today. I have someone I need to meet.”
“…Anyone who hears that would think I was right about expecting something. I knew it would be like this.”
“If you thought that, then I’m glad. But it seems your true feelings don’t reflect that.”
Her protruding lips revealed Miragen’s inner thoughts clearly. Since she still wasn’t good at lying, I smiled slightly and walked ahead.
Grumbling but still following me, Miragen returned her expression to normal and spoke up again.
She opened it.
“So, who are you meeting? I heard you met with your older brother today.”
“Well, it’s not someone special. It’s someone I had to meet eventually.”
The nonchalant answer seemed to spark curiosity in Miragen.
Her narrowed eyes suggested she was contemplating who this necessary person might be, prompting me to strike first before she could figure it out.
“I’m going to meet my father. You know who the Head of House Taylor is, right?”
At that, her steps halted.
A moment seemed to freeze as Miragen’s gaze landed on my still form.
It was a far cry from the laughter that had danced in her eyes earlier.
Naturally, hearing the name of the Head of House would elicit such a response.
Meeting the Head of House at this time could only mean one thing.
“…Are you about to start now? I had hoped the rumors I’d heard before were just nonsense.”
“It was bound to happen eventually. Well, asking the Lady of the House to become the Head of House now… would be crossing too many lines, wouldn’t it?”
Miragen isn’t a fool.
She likely understands the implications of me meeting my father, and she probably knows exactly what could happen this summer.
The name of the Head of House Taylor carries such weight.
It’s the time when all the born children reach adulthood, and the current Head of House is aging.
When the name of the Head of House comes up during such a time, it surely has a lot to do with blood.
“You can either support or oppose this. His Highness the Crown Prince has stated he will overlook whatever happens.”
“That’s an easy thing to say. You do know I’m a princess, right?”
“I do. So I also know you have no choice but to consider our family.”
I didn’t want to force her into a choice.
Initially, I approached her with a clear purpose in mind, but somewhere along the line, my relationship with her began evolving beyond that purpose.
There’s really no need to exploit this relationship.
Miragen gazed at me silently for a moment before letting out a deep sigh and stepping forward. I followed her for a brief while.
Without a word, Miragen walked for some time until she reached the entrance to the Imperial Palace, where she stopped again.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Well…”
“In such cases, if you just ask for help, I could certainly assist you. Like I said earlier, you know I’m a princess, right?”
I knew she was right.
If she openly supported me, it could trigger a significant shift in this situation.
However, with the nobles already siding with Yuria, it’s uncertain how they might retaliate against Miragen just for supporting me.
After all, within the Imperial Family, Miragen had already become somewhat of a liability.
Even if the nobles decided to attack Miragen, it wouldn’t mean much to them.
The connections I forged with Miragen were intended for support in such circumstances, yet I felt a strange hesitation.
It was meant to receive help in such a situation, but for some reason, I hesitated.
Now, perhaps because so much has changed.
Yuria moved more urgently than I expected, revealing many gaps.
Right now, I could turn the tide without anyone’s help.
Receiving help would make things much easier, though.
I could easily gain more benefits than I thought and move forward effortlessly.
“It’s fine.”
I intend to be a fool once again.
I didn’t need Miragen’s help after all.
At first, that was the case, but now I didn’t want to harm Miragen in any way.
Even though others might not see me as a fool for not seizing the immediate benefits before me,
They might be disappointed to see me hesitating again, despite saying I would be ruthless.
“Being silent is enough.”
Because that’s the path I wish to take.
It was enough for me to be the only one to get hurt and suffer.
However, it couldn’t be the same for others.
Even if it’s difficult, there’s still enough possibility.
Miragen frowned at my brightly smiling face.
It seemed quite frustrating for her to see me refuse until the very end.
But I think it can’t be helped.
Even if I were speaking with Adele or Adrian right now, it would just be enough to remain silent.
Haah. Miragen let out a small sigh and messed up her hair haphazardly.
She squeezed her eyes shut and then opened them, gazing at me intently while her lips moved slightly.
“Don’t regret it. I’ll really stay quiet.”
“Sure. Next time I become a duke, I’ll come to the Imperial Palace then.”
“Can you do it?”
I stared back at Miragen, grinning as I replied.
“Of course, I can.”
#
The reason for wanting to gain the support of the North, the Imperial Family, and the Order was simple.
So that when I became the Head of the Family, I wouldn’t be met with suspicious gazes.
If a person with weak power becomes the Head of the Family, those below always tend to doubt them.
And it was to awaken Yuria’s awareness of my support base.
When I gained the backing of those three powers, I think even Yuria wouldn’t be able to take me lightly.
That’s why I’m trying to directly intervene with Father now.
However, seeing as that doesn’t work, Yuria might be moving more urgently.
In any case, Father’s position is indeed precarious.
While the Head of the Family remains indifferent, Yuria has accomplished quite a bit.
She’s drawn most of the Central Nobles to her side and has taken control of Duke Taylor’s domain entirely.
Meaning there’s no place within this territory that she cannot move freely.
Perhaps now, the name of the Head of the Family is just a facade at this point.
A time when the status of the Lady of the House and the Head of the Family has become similar.
Of course, if Yuria remains the Head of the Family, it would be a natural phenomenon, but I was her competitor.
I wasn’t weak like before, and I had the potential to pressure her with an even greater force.
There was a possibility of applying pressure.
Of course, I had no intention of making such moves openly.
Intervening in the name of Taylor elsewhere was not a good idea.
My standing could become obscure, and even if I obtained the name of the Head of the House, I might not be able to play the role of a noble center like before.
…Indeed, intervention is unnecessary. That was the reason I requested tacit approval from the Imperial Family.
If they intervene, while it might benefit me in the moment, it would also set a precedent for the Imperial Family to involve themselves with Taylor in the future.
This is something I have to resolve myself.
Straightening my wrinkled shirt collar, I slowly walked forward.
It had been quite a while since I dressed neatly.
Rather than comfortable clothes, I wore a sophisticated outfit befitting a noble.
Now, I was not meeting my father in the name of my son.
I was meeting as a member of Taylor, someone qualified to be the Head of the House.
The sound of my heels clicked on the cobblestone path.
Walking under the dimly lit Night Sky, I passed by numerous people and walked down the brilliantly illuminated street.
[Today, His Excellency the Duke’s schedule is not particularly complicated. He will handle state affairs until noon and then head out to his usual restaurant in the evening. As you know, His Excellency the Duke has a preferred place he always visits.]
The schedule of my father sent by Renold was something I already remembered to some extent.
It was only natural since I had been there a few times in my previous life.
A place that, for a duke to visit, was rather shabby.
Having been there many times, I knew the layout in detail.
No one would expect the Head of House Taylor to come here.
Perhaps my father thought of it as a sanctuary, but in this situation, I couldn’t let him rest peacefully.
Click—
The echoing footsteps resonated in the empty pupils.
As I took a step toward the dark basement, a small tavern appeared with barely a couple of tables illuminated by a faint light.
The bartender’s gaze, busy wiping glasses, brushed past me.
However, what caught my attention more was the gaze of an old man staring at me.
“…So this is where you were.”
The creaking of an old wooden board sounded with every step I took.
With each step closer, my heart pounded louder.
I had met my father many times in various lives, but this was the first time I was meeting him under these circumstances.
He was the Head of the House, I was the usurper.
No matter how nicely it’s wrapped, the etiquette between parent and child in this position is bound to disappear.
My father’s gaze turned toward me as he set down a large glass.
With cold Eyes that resembled Yuria’s, yet were different from my mother’s, he smirked.
It felt as if all the tension that had been lingering was completely washed away.
If I was going to accomplish something, wouldn’t today be the day?
“I have something to discuss. I came to talk about it today, but I don’t know if you have the time.”
I quietly added this to the old man who was still silently gazing at me.
“Father.”
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