Chapter 86

“That’s all there is to the will? He left all the property and the title to that bastard? What about me? What about my mother?”

“Young master.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

Rufus ignored the old butler’s attempt to stop him. Furious to the point of shaking, he shouted in a voice cracking apart, making no effort to hide his rage toward Edmund.

“I’m my father’s real son! Not some filthy bastard like that!”

“If it were me, I’d choose my words more carefully.”

That was when Edmund spoke, his mind fixed on a single thought. At the same time, every gaze in the conference room turned toward him. As he slowly looked at Rufus, his eyes gleamed colder than ever.

“The man standing in front of you right now isn’t a bastard, but the Duke of Libert.”

The flush that had colored Rufus’s face drained away, leaving it pale. Gritting his teeth as he glared at Edmund, he snapped back, “That’s only an acting duke. Your authority is limited to one year. If you don’t produce an heir, then in a year you’ll….”

“Isn’t it you who’s standing at the edge of a cliff right now, if we’re talking about a year from now?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“According to the will, from this moment on, all authority of the family is in my hands. That includes the discretion to decide whether you remain in this estate or are cast out without a penny.”

At the unexpected statement, cold sweat spread across Rufus’s temples. His tightly clenched fists trembled.

“I… I can’t accept this. Father wasn’t in his right mind. Someone must have taken advantage of that and manipulated things.”

“You refuse to accept it.”

“Yes. Never.”

“Then that would be treason.”

“…What?”

“Denying a document notarized by representatives of the royal court is a crime that denies the authority of the king.”

Only then did Rufus fall silent. Edmund didn’t stop there and flicked a glance toward the lawyer.

“For the sake of a suspicious eldest son, would you confirm the notarization process of the will once more?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The lawyer bowed properly, then fixed Rufus with a stern gaze.

“This will was authenticated by two legal representatives dispatched from the Kingdom of Genoa, in accordance with the wishes of the late William Charles Libert. At the time of drafting, a cognitive assessment was conducted in the presence of the attending physician, and the results were sealed as a separate document. All materials can be reviewed here.”

“That’s enough.”

Isabelle, who had been sitting without moving, finally intervened, pressing a hand to her forehead. Her expression said she’d heard more than enough.

“Rufus, that’s enough of this disturbance.”

“But Mother….”

“Have some dignity. Shouting without decorum is something only the base do.”

After restraining her panting son with gentle words, Isabelle turned her now icy gaze on Edmund.

“Will you forgive my son’s rudeness? He was dearly loved by his father, so I suppose his disappointment runs deep.”

Then she addressed the executor.

“If the reading of the will is complete, we’ll be taking our leave.”

“Yes, madam. You may do so.”

“Rufus, come along.”

Rufus looked like he still had much to say, but he followed his mother as she pushed her chair back and stood. Edmund watched the duchess closely as she composed her expression despite hearing a result far from what she’d expected. She could no longer be called the duchess now.

“Your Grace.”

When the conference room door closed, the lawyer spoke carefully.

“If there are any future objections regarding the will, we’ll review them on our end and notify you. And….”

He took out a folder and handed it to Edmund.

“In accordance with the will read today, all financial and administrative authority of House Libert has been delegated to Your Grace effective immediately. However, since your role is limited to that of acting duke, there are several clauses you should review personally.”

Instead of answering, Edmund accepted the documents bearing his father’s seal. Along with the will, the notarized papers listed additional provisions.

「Clause 5: Regarding the Heir’s Authority.

The heir may exercise all customary authority of the house.

However, the sale or transfer of any part or the entirety of the fief is strictly prohibited,

as is the arbitrary amendment of any succession-related document contrary to this will,

or the delegation or transfer of the title to another person.

Violation of this provision shall immediately result in the revocation of the heir’s status,

and the property and title of the House of Libert shall revert to the Royal House of Genoa.」

A short laugh escaped him. They were clauses his father had added, wary that Edmund might try to exploit a loophole. It wasn’t surprising. If he were the one leaving a will, he would have sealed every gap as well.

“The succession process will begin this afternoon. The kingdom’s court will also send an official notice shortly.”

“Do so.”

“Then we’ll take our leave.”

The legal representatives offered their farewells and left the conference room. Only Edmund and the old butler remained in the aged space.

Edmund stared silently at the seal his father had stamped onto the document. The dark red wax looked like dried blood. Like a mark etched into the body that no amount of struggling could erase.

“Congratulations.”

The butler, who had kept silent until now, finally offered his congratulations.

“His Grace always regarded you as his heir. I believed this day would come someday.”

“Is this really something to be congratulated for?”

“You and the young madam are on good terms. A child should come soon enough, so your position is practically secured.”

It was something he could say only because he didn’t know the marriage to Blair was a sham. A deep fatigue washed over Edmund as he replied quietly.

“I want to be alone.”

“Yes. I’ll take my leave.”

The old butler nodded and slipped out of the conference room without a sound. At last, Edmund was alone. In the crushing silence, he looked at the red trace his father had left behind.

Acting duke. Somehow, it felt laughable. It suited someone like him perfectly. A man who never belonged anywhere, merely occupying another’s place for a time. Wasn’t it fitting? His identity had been unstable all his life, so the title of acting duke didn’t feel all that strange.

William Libert had distrusted him to the very end. Even in death, he wanted to test the bastard son who had spent his life proving his own worth. The will he left behind wasn’t a final act of affection, but a carefully calculated shackle.

If there was one misstep his father made, it was failing to realize that Edmund had no interest in the title itself. To him, succession was nothing more than a tool. A seat borrowed briefly for a purpose. In that sense, perhaps becoming the acting duke was better.

What Edmund truly wanted was the downfall of House Libert. To shatter this loathsome family, expose Isabelle’s crimes to the world, and show Rufus just how empty and fleeting the name of Libert really was. That was the only mission left to him.

Since he viewed the title as a tool, marriage and Blair were no different… but when had that boundary begun to blur?

“When the time comes, will you let me go?”

Anyone who wasn’t a fool would recognize the intent carried in that trembling voice. The woman wanted his heart. She wanted him to promise a future and whisper love.

He couldn’t understand it. If sincerity could be proven with just a few words, liars wouldn’t exist in this world. Edmund couldn’t grasp why it mattered so much….

“I won’t let you go.”

He needed Blair. He wanted her desperately. The anxiety consuming him, the compulsion to prove his own worthlessness, could be shaken off completely when he buried himself in the woman’s soft skin. A life that had never been accepted anywhere felt, at least for a moment, real within that sweet embrace. The sensation was like an addiction, and Edmund now found it hard to imagine a life without her.

If all it took to bind her to his side were a few words, then that much he could easily give. The moment he reached that conclusion, everything became clear. He only needed to say what Blair wanted to hear and move as she wished. He could do that as much as necessary, as long as it kept the woman with him.

Edmund rose from his seat at once. He left the conference room and strode forward without hesitation. The long shadow cast across the stone floor moved along with his steps.