CHAPTER 14…………………………………………..
Adrian had two sons.
The bond between the eldest, Cerdicas, and the younger, Alexandros, was deep.
“About that Ariana who was supposedly rescued from the slums—do you think this time it’s real?”
The two young lords stood before Moltke’s grave.
It seemed Adrian had already been there; a single flower, likely a chrysanthemum left by the duke, had been placed there.
The relationship between the three—father and sons—had always been distant.
The two princes had no particular complaints about that fact.
“They say she looks just like Mother did when she was young.”
Cerdicas replied lightly.
It’s already been four years since I last saw Mother’s face. I don’t remember it clearly anymore.
When Moltke took her own life, Cerdicas had been five and Alexandros four.
Her golden hair, said to have shone like sunlight, and her lovely pink eyes.
Even in her homeland, the Kingdom of Sterlitz, Moltke had been famous in her childhood for being exceptionally cute.
Cerdicas, already bothered by thoughts of Ariana, had asked a favor of his friend Perez, who lived in the capital.
Though still young, the two brothers already possessed transcendent-level skills, making it difficult to find suitable sparring partners other than each other.
Their friendship with Perez had begun through sword-training duels.
“I’m asking you—if by chance my little sister ever catches your eye, could you help her in my stead? Ariana must be confused, not knowing anything. Both Alexandros and I have to go to the Kingdom of Sterlitz to commemorate Mother, so we can’t stay by her side.”
Cerdicas placed the chrysanthemum down and lowered his head, hands clasped, as if paying formal respects.
Alexandros, with a calm expression, followed by placing the chrysanthemum he had prepared in tribute.
My brother is said to have inherited Father’s blood most strongly.
Alexandros thought this as he looked at Cerdicas’s back.
Cerdicas had inherited Adrian’s black hair and the red eyes of Grand Duke Schwaben.
Alexandros had inherited Adrian’s black hair and Moltke’s pink eyes.
Despite his young age, Cerdicas already wielded mana freely and had long surpassed the level of a sword master.
He was not only acknowledged within Berkshire but was considered a promising talent across the entire continent.
On top of that, he strongly resembled Adrian—famous for being the most handsome man in Berkshire—and was already making the hearts of many young noble ladies flutter.
“Ariana is probably really our biological sister. The nanny who saw her up close said she resembles us a lot.”
“If she was rescued from the slums, she wouldn’t know anything about Berkshire’s atmosphere or traditions… I wonder if Ariana even knows how important it is to request a dignity allowance from the family head during the Title Bestowal Ceremony.”
Servants received wages.
In the same way, anyone who was a member of Berkshire received a monthly dignity allowance from the grand duke simply for existing.
Because you were paid just for existing, it was called an “existence-level” allowance.
The Title Bestowal Ceremony was a culture unique to Berkshire.
When a direct descendant of Berkshire reached around four to six years of age, they were first sent into the “Dragon’s Room” for a paternity test to confirm blood relations.
If they were not a true child, everyone would know immediately.
If they came out alive, it meant their bloodline had been proven, and they were granted the middle name “von.”
They were also given their first personal bank account.
Berkshire was famous for thoroughly educating children in finance from an early age.
How a child used their existence-level dignity allowance was entirely up to them.
A child could start a business or invest.
If they particularly loved delicious food, they could spend money to hire a high-priced chef.
They could save up and buy buildings, or purchase stocks on the market.
Even if they failed at whatever they attempted, a Berkshire child was never blamed.
A few failures were instead encouraged.
As long as they stood back up.
Berkshire children received full support until adulthood.
And their final report card was checked at the Coming-of-Age Ceremony.
The balance of their account and the total assets they had built were reviewed.
At the coming-of-age ceremony, the grand duke comprehensively evaluated the child’s abilities and decided how much Berkshire equity they would inherit.
In this way, only three direct descendants currently held inherited shares.
The eldest son, Adrian; the second son, Guntner; and the third son, Hamilax.
“Do you think Ariana will even understand what money is? What shares are? What inheritance means?”
In any case, Adrian’s children—the eldest line—were not receiving much attention in the succession struggle.
By marrying Moltke against the wishes of the family head, Schwaben, Adrian had essentially been treated as a cast-off child.
Naturally, Adrian’s children had long since fallen out of Schwaben’s favor as well.
At present, the situation could be seen as a contest between Schwaben’s second son, Guntner, and third son, Hamilax.
“About how Second Uncle recently inherited the shipbuilding company—doesn’t that mean the family head has decided to pass Berkshire to Uncle Guntner?”
“Since Father, the eldest son, has no interest in the position of successor, he’s probably trying to give the second son a chance according to the order of succession. Uncle Guntner already owns a construction company and a securities firm, and for the family head to hand over even the shipbuilding company he was most obsessed with… I can almost hear Aunt Raollette clutching the back of her neck in frustration.”
Second son Guntner was incompetent.
Stupid, to a degree that couldn’t even be compared to Adrian.
Third son Hamilax wasn’t much different.
If not for the business acumen of Hamilax’s wife, Raollette, Guntner would have been an almost guaranteed successor.
Schwaben had four children: three sons and one daughter.
They were now approaching the coming-of-age ceremony of Schwaben’s youngest daughter, Arpe.
“What company do you think Aunt Arpe will inherit? The jewelry company, perhaps?”
“She founded a perfume company while still a minor and achieved notable results. She’ll probably inherit either a hotel company or the jewelry company.”
“Those two are among the most profitable Berkshire affiliates. She’ll surpass Father’s 1% stake right away.”
“Probably around 1.3% in total. It can’t be helped. But Alexandros, why do you seem so regretful? Did you secretly want to inherit Berkshire someday?”
“Of course I find swords more interesting than numbers, but sometimes it still leaves a bad taste. According to the original inheritance principles, Father should have inherited everything. Honestly, isn’t he considered the most capable successor of them all?”
“Then place your hopes on Ariana. If that child produces remarkable results, the family head’s view of Father might change.”
The monthly dignity allowance was Berkshire’s unique way of making children determine their own worth.
“How Ariana passes the family head’s first test might even determine our own fates.”
No matter how closely related by blood, everyone feared Schwaben.
So much so that they dared not call him Grandfather, addressing him only as the family head.
“How much do you think Ariana will ask for as her dignity allowance? Even one gold coin would probably feel enormous to her. What if she just thinks of it as a grandfather giving ordinary pocket money to his granddaughter and asks for one silver?”
“Then that will simply be the size of her vessel.”
Whether the child asked for an astronomical amount or a pitifully small one, the grand duke would listen to all the reasons and then evaluate the child’s capabilities.
It was a process Cerdicas and Alexandros had already experienced.
They had to present a concrete plan detailing exactly how they would use the dignity allowance and how they would prove their abilities as members of Berkshire.
Schwaben was a frugal family head who refused to waste even a single coin.
Half-baked logic would never persuade the grand duke.
Cerdicas had requested 50 gold, saying he wanted to train specialists to handle monster carcasses and contribute to his father’s military company’s weapons development.
Alexandros, the younger brother, had been granted 30 gold, stating he would use it as a peace fund to prevent war.
“I honestly don’t have any expectations for Ariana, Brother.”
At Alexandros’s words, Cerdicas simply shrugged.
