My Family in the Novel?

"You do realize you're directly denying an imperial order, right?" the duke asked, needing clarification to ensure he hadn't misinterpreted Adrian's words.

The absurdity of the situation was still processing in his mind, and he wondered if Adrian had fully comprehended the gravity of his actions or if he had even read the letter at all.

"Yes, I know what I said, Father," Adrian replied confidently.

"And besides, you may call it a royal or imperial order, but it's not like it has any effect on me or anything, right?"

"In a sense, yes, but politically it might," the duke responded, his tone serious. Adrian's status as the hero carried immense significance, not just as a symbol of the goddess's power, but also as a conduit for her will. He was the bridge between humanity and the divine, tasked not only with saving the world but also with unifying humanity to combat the greater evil.

As the hero, Adrian wielded unparalleled authority.

Whichever country held him also held sway over his authority, gaining access to the potential rally of kingdoms and unified forces he could command.

Adrian's existence alone had the power to unite nations under his banner, making him a formidable political asset in addition to his role as a savior.

"Well, all the more reason to say no to it. I doubt the church would willingly let me leave this place," Adrian remarked, his tone resolute.

He understood the complexities of his situation, recognizing that his departure would likely be met with resistance from the church, which held significant influence over his affairs.

"That might be true, but that doesn't mean there isn't a way. With the empire's backing and your will alone, none can suppress your decision," the duke countered, offering a different perspective.

Despite Adrian's close ties to the church, there were loopholes that could potentially allow him to leave and join the empire if he so desired.

The church and the holy kingdom were obligated to support the hero, but they couldn't outright control his actions.

"My decision is firm, Father. I would like to stay here. Besides, going back to the empire doesn't really benefit me, right? Going there would only provide me with more problems," Adrian explained, outlining his rationale.

It was clear that he had carefully considered his options and weighed the potential consequences, ultimately deciding that remaining where he was offered the best course of action for him.

Indeed, despite the empire's military superiority, it had its own vulnerabilities in terms of influence.

The holy nation held considerable sway over political and religious matters, surpassing the empire in this regard.

Should Adrian choose to align himself with another nation, particularly one that opposed the holy kingdom, it would undoubtedly strain his relationship with the influential power.

Adrian's bond with Elena was already firmly established, and he had devised plans to navigate the complexities of his relationships with her and the other girls.

His ultimate goal was to legitimize their marriages without encountering any obstacles.

He was confident that the pope, as the closest representative to the goddess, held the authority to sanction his unions, regardless of any objections stemming from the unconventional nature of their relationships.

Especially the complications regarding Aria, marrying one's sister isn't exactly approved by any other nation.

Adrian doubted that anyone could challenge the pope's decision regarding his marriages to the girls, despite the doubts and criticisms surrounding their relationships.

As the highest authority within the church and the embodiment of divine will, the pope's word held immense weight, and Adrian trusted that his intentions would be respected and honored.

"I see..." the duke finally relented, acknowledging Adrian's unwavering determination.

From Adrian's resolute demeanor, it was evident that he was serious about his decision.

To shift the focus, the duke reached for another letter, catching Adrian's attention once more.

However, this time, Adrian couldn't help but feel a twinge of confusion.

Why hadn't the duke simply handed him both letters together? The need for secrecy puzzled him.

"This is a letter from someone just as important as His Majesty himself. They instructed me to deliver it to you after you've read the emperor's letter," the duke explained as he passed the letter to Adrian.

Adrian accepted the letter, his curiosity piqued by its mysterious origins. The duke's omission of the sender's identity only heightened Adrian's intrigue.

As he examined the letter, he couldn't help but notice its unusual presentation.

Wrapped in a pale pink hue and sealed with delicate rose petals, it exuded an air of extravagance that seemed out of place for official correspondence.

Despite bearing the royal insignia, Adrian found himself perplexed by the sender's choice to embellish the letter in such a manner.

The unexpected flourish left him pondering the motives behind the sender's actions. Who could be behind this elaborate gesture, and what message did they wish to convey?

Adrian couldn't shake off the suspicion that the sender of the letter was none other than the princess herself.

As the only individual with authority comparable to the emperor's, she possessed the influence to request a private communication from the duke.

Adrian mulled over the potential reasons behind the princess's secretive correspondence, but he couldn't underestimate her intellect or cunning nature.

Recalling what he knew of the princess, Adrian couldn't afford to take the letter lightly.

She was renowned for her intelligence, surpassing even esteemed figures like Euphemia or master manipulators like Schwi and the duke of Heiron.

Her calculated approach to interactions meant that she could easily feign vulnerability before swiftly striking her opponents down with precision.

Adrian understood the danger of underestimating her.

Just as Adrian prepared to open the letter, the duke intervened, preventing him from doing so.

"The sender asked me for you to open it in a private place," the duke explained, gesturing towards a more discreet setting.

Adrian nodded in understanding. Despite being within the confines of his own home, he couldn't ignore the sensation that they were being watched.

With the presence of unseen eyes lurking outside, it was prudent to heed the sender's request for privacy.

Adrian's instincts told him that whatever the princess had to say, it was best kept away from prying eyes and ears.

Despite the magical enchantments in place to prevent spying, Adrian couldn't shake the feeling that the church had found ways to observe them.

While they might not be able to hear everything, they likely had methods of deciphering the events within the room, perhaps by reading lips or detecting subtle cues.

As Adrian concealed the letter within his jacket, he met the duke's gaze directly.

With his golden blonde hair and crimson red eyes, the duke bore a striking resemblance to Aria, who sat nearby and smiled when she noticed Adrian's stare.

She seemed like a female version of the duke, and Adrian couldn't help but remark on the similarity.

"We really don't look alike," Adrian commented, his smile reflecting the observation.

The duke paused, his hand hovering over his teacup as Adrian's words sank in. There was a fleeting hint of sadness in his eyes as he responded, "That is true... You look more like your mother than me."

The mention of Adrian's mother brought a somber air to the room.

Yet despite the somber atmosphere, a surge of boiling energy pulsed through Adrian, igniting a fierce determination within him.

Foosh…!

In a sudden flash, a beam of light shot past the duke's head, narrowly missing him.

If the duke hadn't instinctively turned his head to the side, the consequences would have been dire—a gaping hole where his head once stood.

Adrian stood before him; his finger pointed directly at the duke.

Though his lips curled into a smile, there was a fiery anger smoldering in his eyes, casting a shadow over the room.

…..

Ahh, what have I done?

I lamented inwardly, grappling with a torrent of conflicting emotions.

What was I thinking? No…

Why did I even do that in the first place?"

As I stood there, my finger still pointed at the duke's head, I wrestled with the urge to unleash another beam of light against that all-too-perfect face. Despite knowing the folly of my actions, I couldn't help but feel consumed by anger and frustration.

'Haha... I knew what I was doing was both wrong, dangerous, and stupid' I admitted to myself.

Yet, the overpowering surge of rage was too potent to ignore.

Why should I hold back?

Why should I temper my emotions when all I wanted was to unleash my fury upon him?

Despite all of this being the emotions and memories influenced by the past Adrian… as we were becoming one, I can feel it as well.

The anger swirling within me threatened to overflow.

I wanted to lash out, to unleash a barrage of blows upon him. I wanted to break his leg, to beat him down, to exact vengeance for the pain he had caused.

'That is true... You look more like your mother than me' his words echoed in my mind, igniting a fresh wave of fury.

The audacity! How dare he speak of my mother with such feigned sadness, as if he had any right to invoke her memory in this way.

Haha, the audacity this son of a bitch has, I seethed silently, struggling to contain the boiling tempest within me.

The mere mention of my mother sent a surge of raw emotion coursing through my veins, fueling my desire to kill this man in front of me.

Memories surged within me real time.

It was a relentless cycle of disdain and bitterness that echoed throughout my childhood, every mention of my mother veiled in contempt.

His words sliced through the air like knives, leaving wounds that festered with confusion and hurt.

"You're mother? You don't need to know of that wench!" The venom in his voice was palpable, a constant reminder of his resentment towards her.

"She's already dead," he would spit out dismissively, as if her demise justified his animosity.

"That ragrat is probably selling herself to the streets right now," he would sneer, reducing her to nothing more than a prostitute he met by accident.

"Why do you want to know a dead person's name?" His refusal to acknowledge her existence stung like betrayal, leaving me grasping at fragments of a past I could barely grasp.

"She was the biggest mistake of my life, you're lucky to be alive by my side, boy," his words hung heavy in the air, suffocating any hope of understanding or reconciliation.

I can still recall the chilling intensity of his gaze as he uttered those cruel words, his anger casting a shadow over my innocence.

He rarely spoke of her, and when he did, it was always with disdain.

Yet now, a flicker of sorrow danced across his features, a subtle shift in his demeanor that left me reeling with confusion, and anger.

Why the sudden change?

Why the unexpected display of emotion?

Did he think that by invoking feelings of loss and longing, he could sway me to his side?

The weight of betrayal hung heavy in the air, mingling with the metallic scent of anger that permeated the room.

"Hahaha, the hypocrisy of this son of a bitch..." My words dripped with venom, each syllable laced with the seething resentment I harbored towards the man who dared to call himself my father.

'Was I always this emotional?'

Unconsciously, my hand clenched around something solid and weighty, the room awash in a radiant golden glow.

The grip tightened around the hilt of my sword, its presence materializing in my grasp with an ominous aura that spoke not of peace, but of righteous anger.

[Warning...!]

[Warning...!]

[User currently under mental ailment!]

[Reasons unknown!]

[Warning: user's soul is shaking.]

System messages flashed incessantly at my side, their urgency a futile attempt to reign in the storm of emotions raging within me.

Despite the warnings, I found myself unable to quell the tempest brewing in my heart. This might have been Adrian's burden to bear, but now, as I stood in his shoes, it became my own cross to carry.

'What if dad did this to mom?'

The thought of it only ignited my anger….

Adrian, timid and frail in his youth, had been powerless to confront the aloof tyranny of his father.

But now, as I stood in his place, I couldn't help but wonder—could I not exact justice with my newfound strength?

The idea of vengeance danced tantalizingly on the edge of my consciousness.

Could I not simply kill this bastard?

[Authority: Sword of Light: Active (Activated)]

Before I knew it my sword was already aiming at his neck…

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