“Where are you going?”

“Where am I going? I can’t stand dealing with you anymore, so I’m leaving.”

“Why?! I only said I wanted to become a Duke when you asked if I wanted to!”

“Tsk tsk, you idiot. What use is someone as dumb and clueless as you?”

Why… Vale was left flustered, not knowing what to do, as Feldarn spoke briefly.

“The question I asked you was an important one for your life. Yet you answered it nonchalantly, like you were saying you wanted to bake bread in the morning, and then you said it was your true feeling? Yeah, you probably do want to become a Duke. You want to keep living the way you are, enjoying everything without doing any work, wasting money and power. When you make a mess, someone else will clean it up. If you cause trouble, someone else will solve it. That’s the kind of person you are.”

The insult was harsher than before. Although Vale was still young, he had a strong sense of pride, and his face turned red with anger. However, Feldern was faster.

“Do you think I’ll suffer if I leave and ignore you? Not at all. In fact, it’s faster if you ruin this family. A 10-year-old who hasn’t made any effort, living recklessly for three days, now suddenly wants to become a Duke? No way. It’d be better to give it to a random beggar on the street.”

“Sir!”

“I’ll say it again.”

Feldarn coldly looked down at him. Vale felt the anger that had been boiling in him start to subside as he looked into Feldarn’s cold eyes.

“You’re beyond saving. I’d rather bite my tongue and die than waste time on someone like you. So, let’s never see each other again.”

“Take care,” Feldarn said, finishing his words before turning to leave. Vale stared blankly at his retreating back.

When the door closed, Vale, left alone in the room, fell to his knees. Looking at the floor, he tightly clenched his fists, his eyes slowly closing.

---

“How do you think it went?”

“What do you mean? That guy’s trash.”

Feldarn spoke calmly, throwing insults at Vale in front of his father. Vesilon laughed cheerfully at the response.

He had entrusted his son to Feldarn because he knew his friend’s personality. Other teachers had been overwhelmed by the weight of the Saffeldrick family and couldn’t handle Vale, so someone who could suppress him was needed.

Feldarn had been excellent at negotiating with professors since university. He was also outstanding in economics and business studies. Even as a student, he had been invited to teach at other universities, and the Emperor personally offered him the position of head of the Treasury due to his remarkable talent.

A genius with both personality and skill. Vesilon had been very happy when Feldarn agreed to take care of his son.

Now, even Feldarn was shaking his head. It was both unfortunate and, in a way, admirable how Vale’s stubbornness and unchanging character had persisted.

“Who does he take after? Was he like this when he was young?”

“Not at all. He takes after my wife.”

“Why the Duchess?”

“Lord Odilvia said she was famous for being incredibly stubborn when she was young. She wouldn’t listen to anyone, and they were worried she would still be the same when she grew up.”

“Tsk.”

Feldarn clicked his tongue in a pitying manner, and Vesilon smiled wryly, taking a sip of his drink. He finished the sweet yet bitter wine, his expression softening.

“Feldarn.”

“What?”

“What do you think about our son? Do you think he’ll study properly?”

“I’ve told you, he’s trash.”

“Still, he’s the heir of our family. My wife’s health isn’t good, so we won’t be having more children, and I don’t want to burden her. So, this child is my only hope.”

Feldarn quietly took a sip of his drink, while Vesilon let out a small chuckle.

“I still think this wild kid will end up leading this family one day. I’m saying this as a father, but he has some potential.”

“If you don’t think your child is worth it, that’s a problem too.”

Feldarn paused, holding the drink in his hand as his gaze lifted to meet Vesilon’s strange expression. His brows furrowed instinctively.

“Ah, come on!”

“Help me.”

“Help you with what? Just give up. It’s easier that way.”

“I can’t give up on raising my child. Would you give up if your kids turned out to be wild?”

“Unfortunately, since he’s from the Aztein family, he was born with a natural genius mind, so I don’t have to worry.”

“Now, that’s just cruel.”

Vesilon chuckled, resting his chin on his hand.

Although we didn’t know each other since childhood, we’ve been friends for 15 years. Despite his arrogance, meeting Feldarn, who is proud and noble, as a friend might be one of the greatest strokes of luck in my life. After he became the head of the Aztein family, the richest in the continent, he seemed to shine even more than before.

I’m just someone with the name Saffeldrick; apart from that, I’m nothing. On the other hand, Feldarn proved his worth through his own abilities. Because of that, I could say anything to him, and I trusted him enough to leave everything in his hands.

“I’m counting on you.”

“…”

That’s why I could make such a face. A face directed at a friend who is unexpectedly weak to requests.

Feldarn, who had been silently staring at his drink, frowned.

“Hey, Vesilon.”

“What?”

“If I help you, what did you say you’d do for me in return?”

“You said you’d help me with whatever I wanted, within reason.”

“Not that. Let’s make it something else.”

“What?”

Feldarn nodded slightly.

“If something happens to me and my children or grandchildren need to reach out to your family, I want you to promise you’ll never refuse and always help, no matter what it is. That’s what I mean.”

“What are you saying?”

“Exactly what I said. If you agree, I’ll fix that kid Vale’s attitude for him. What do you think?”

Vesilon stared at Feldern, who was offering this suggestion. It was typical of him to throw out unexpected proposals, but he never thought he would ask for a future favor involving his own descendants as compensation.

Vesilon, who had been looking at Feldarn seriously, smiled and nodded.

“As long as he doesn’t commit treason, I’ll help you as much as I can. Even if it’s not me, if it’s Vale or his children… I’ll make sure my descendants understand and pass down my words. Does that work?”

“Even if he commits treason, you’ll still help?”

“Is there something wrong with falling together? Ah! I’ll help you escape the Empire alive, but I can’t defend you.”

Laughing with a hint of drunkenness, Vesilon blurted it out. Maybe hanging around Feldarn had made him naturally adopt some of his character.

Feldarn, who had been silent for a while, finally put his drink down and spoke up.

“I’ll educate him my way. No complaints, right?”

“Beat him up. I don’t care. Just don’t kill him. Of course, it’d be a problem if he ends up crippled.”

“Do you think I’m crazy? I won’t go that far. I’ll stop right before that.”

How far is “before he becomes crippled”? Vesilon felt the itch to see the training firsthand, but he held his tongue.

“I trust you.”

As always, Vesilon simply trusted Feldarn, his friend.