### Chapter: 252
Aria Balheim.
Kraush’s mother, a woman with emotional flaws stemming from her excessive ambition.
Motherly love? Nah, she only has a one-way ticket to climb higher for her own sake.
This isn’t a recent issue; Aria Balheim had been broken for a long time.
Kraush didn’t think deeply about Aria.
If it was his younger self, he might have missed her, but now? Not really.
As long as she didn’t obstruct his path, he’d just let her be.
But now, Aria Balheim was stirring up trouble in a way Kraush never anticipated.
And it was all because of his engagement.
Originally, Kraush was set to be engaged to Bianca Hardenhartz.
But surprise, surprise! The Empire of Ephania sent an engagement proposal to Kraush, and Aria jumped at it.
Who wouldn’t? It was a golden opportunity to have direct family ties with the Ephania Imperial Family.
There was absolutely no reason for her to pass that up.
Small fry like the Hardenhartz engagement? She couldn’t care less.
It was just a token match arranged for the sake of family harmony.
It was an engagement that meant absolutely nothing.
However, Aria made one critical mistake.
She didn’t consider the feelings of those involved.
“Lady Aria, are you alright?”
“What’s wrong?”
While enjoying tea as usual, Aria glanced at Valkyrie, the leader of the Balheim knights.
Valkyrie lowered her head, cautiously asking,
“I’m worried that Kraush might get angry about the engagement.”
“Well, it’s actually a good thing for him. It’s a chance to connect with the Imperial Family.”
Aria smiled, as if it was all good news.
“And the conditions aren’t bad either. Sending the Fourth Princess, Sizelry Ephania, to Balheim means Kraush won’t have much reason to be tied down to the Empire.”
Now, they did say any kids born from this pairing would be educated in the Empire, but still, you couldn’t argue with those conditions.
“From Starlon’s viewpoint, it’s not bad either. They could ease the tensions they’ve been having with the Empire by aligning Balheim with them.”
“Couldn’t Starlon worry about Balheim’s influence leaking into the Empire?”
“Isn’t that what Charlotte is here for?”
Aria took a sip of tea with a smirk that looked more devoid of emotion than ever.
“Even if it got canceled once, the First Prince of Starlon still has no engagement partner. If Charlotte became queen, that’d secure Balheim as the bridge between the Empire and Starlon.”
If things go well, they’d have the chance to control both an Empire and a Kingdom from one family.
Not a bad opportunity for Balheim at all.
That’s why even though Aria was pushing aggressively, the upper echelons of Balheim were going along with her plans.
“Of course, there are some issues here and there, but that’s just how life works. It can’t be perfect, right?”
If you get caught up worrying about minor issues, you can’t make any big moves.
That’s the wisdom Aria gained through her experiences.
“So, don’t worry. Kraush, that kid is ultimately still my child.”
With that thought, Aria took another sip from her teacup.
However, she was dead wrong about one thing.
Kraush was, indeed, her child.
He resembled her quite a bit too, with inherited intuition running through his veins.
But what she failed to grasp was that Kraush was far more reckless than she could imagine.
“Kr, Kraush! You can’t do this!”
“This recklessness…!”
Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside.
Hearing it, Aria turned toward the door.
“I knew they’d come quickly, but I didn’t expect it this fast.”
If it was like him, it was just like him.
Bang!
Just as anticipated, the door swung open.
There stood Kraush, naturally.
He looked significantly matured since their last meeting.
With sharp features reminiscent of Aria, he scanned the surroundings irritably.
And the moment their eyes met, Aria flashed a warm smile.
“My son, it’s been a while since you came to see your mother!”
“Yes, I had no intention of doing so, but thanks to you, I had to drop by after you stirred up another mess.”
“Oh my, mess? What’re you talking about?”
Kraush’s shamelessness was quite the revelation here.
He trudged forward and pulled a chair out right in front of Aria, settling down into it with a noticeable flair.
He nonchalantly crossed his legs and leaned back against the chair.
“What on earth made you do this?”
He was canceling the engagement with Hardenhartz and accepting the engagement from the Ephania Imperial Family.
There’s no way Aria did this on her own; the upper management of Balheim probably backed her up.
It was clear she had charmed them all into submission.
“It’s all for your benefit, dear.”
“There’s nothing good about this for me. This is all to make you and the family look good.”
Even with Kraush’s mocking tone, Aria’s expression didn’t budge.
“Kraush, everything you enjoy now is thanks to Balheim.”
“Yeah, but all that got me was being locked up in Green Pine Hall.”
“What I mean is, the reputation you’ve built up is possible because of Balheim.”
Kraush squinted subtly.
He couldn’t deny how it was all linked to his name.
His whole life had been laced with the Balheim name.
And that reputation was worth more than its weight in gold.
Yet, despite that, he had endured being treated like trash during his “broke” days because of Balheim.
At Balheim, results were everything.
If you didn’t deliver, they would be ruthless.
That might have struck a nerve with Kraush from Aria’s statement.
“The events at Green Pine Hall were to let you escape some of the pressures of Balheim.
Looking at it now it clearly influenced your growth, didn’t it?”
And Aria wasn’t even aware of the truth.
She had no idea that Kraush had experienced reincarnation.
She had utterly no knowledge of the struggles Kraush faced in the Balheim box.
That all she saw now was Kraush as he towered above, a success story.
She didn’t consider the deeply entrenched feelings of insecurity in him.
Aria had a natural knack for reading people.
And Kraush had inherited that ability too.
Thus, Kraush had gotten good at hiding his true feelings from perceptive types like her.
He had been forced to do that during his “broke” days, so many times.
“Haha.”
Kraush let out a short laugh.
The moment Aria noticed the meaning behind that laugh, the fury in Kraush’s eyes was palpable.
“Don’t throw around nonsense.”
The surprise on Aria’s face morphed into silence.
“For me, Balheim holds no weight at all.”
“…Son, the world doesn’t work that way. Once you shed the Balheim name, all the favors you’ve enjoyed will vanish.”
“Yeah, quite a bit will indeed disappear.”
Of course, there are some who were favorably inclined just due to Balheim.
If Balheim kicked him out, he’d face certain setbacks.
But.
“The connections I’ve built? They won’t just vanish.”
Kraush’s relationships were mostly with people who didn’t care about the Balheim name.
“Besides, all I’ve got around me are people just like me.”
Even if Balheim’s support vanished, the relationships he had built wouldn’t fade.
Would Kraush fear losing the favor of Balheim?
He scoffed at the thought.
“And soon, Balheim will be the one pleading for me to stay.”
In an instant, black flames surged around Kraush.
“Kraush Balheim!”
Panicked, Valkyrie reached out to restrain him.
But Kraush was faster.
He had already reached master-level physical abilities.
Aria’s hair fluttered in the heat of the moment.
She stared straight at the fist pointed at her neck.
“Son, don’t even think of throwing a punch at Mama.”
She spoke calmly, fully aware Kraush wouldn’t dare attack her.
That’s just how steady Aria was.
“Don’t kid yourself; that was aimed at Balheim as a whole.
Touch me, and I’ll turn your family upside down. If you don’t want to die, you better back off.”
Who could dare speak like this to Balheim?
Even Valkyrie’s face turned pale, hearing those threats.
“Guess I’ll be heading out. As for the Imperial engagement and all your nonsense, just keep it to yourself.”
With that, Kraush turned and walked out.
Watching the scene, Aria lifted her teacup once more.
“Son, the reason you’re acting all emotional is that of the Hardenhartz girl.”
At her questioning, Kraush paused momentarily.
“Don’t worry. The engagement offered by the Ephania Imperial Family doesn’t mention anything about canceling your existing engagement. Their primary interest lies in a child between you and the Fourth Princess. They’re not concerned with minor issues.”
She wouldn’t admit it, but she would never dismiss the Imperial engagement.
“It’s not a minor issue.”
Kraush replied, looking back at Aria.
“That’s about my fiancée.”
Don’t trivialize Bianca’s situation.
Kraush set that warning and dashed out.
With the fiery Kraush gone, Aria put down her teacup and turned toward the window.
There, the scenic garden of Balheim lay spread out before her.
“Goodness, whose stubbornness did he inherit?”
The mistress of Balheim muttered to herself.
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