044
The higher the privileged class, the more they dislike to associate with those below them. Even in the lower class districts, there is a distinction between neighborhoods that are barely living and those that are extremely poor. The Custoria family, one of the most prestigious families in the empire, was no exception.
The Kustoria family’s mansion was located in the outskirts of the capital city of Akbaran. There was not even a road connecting the mansion to it, as if they had not even considered traveling by land. The area around the mansion was an awkwardly red wasteland.
The aerial vehicle we were in reached the top of the mansion. In the center of the mansion seen from the aerial vehicle was a garden and a fountain. Only inside the mansion, there were green plants and water, making it look like an oasis in the desert.
The scale of the mansion consisted of only four large buildings, and there were so many small annexes that it was difficult to even count them.
“I only visit my parents’ house once every two months. I spent my childhood here, but I never became attached to it.”
Captain Heilas said, looking down through the window.
OMG.
At the bottom of the aerial vehicle, the balancing injection device was moving carefully. The altitude gradually decreased.
There were several air vehicles that arrived at the mansion’s airfield before us.
“These are the people who came to see you. Some of them are my brothers and sisters.”
“I memorized all their faces and names.”
I felt the vibration of the landing and answered. Our air vehicle also settled into the airfield.
Creak.
The doors of the air vehicle opened upwards.
Captain of the Guard, no, I guess I should call you Heilas from now on. Our relationship doesn’t end with superior and subordinate.
Anyway, Heilas got out of the air vehicle first. I followed him.
“Ah, the master has arrived. Is the child next to you your new nephew?”
A man who looked like Heilas greeted us. He had the same facial features, but he looked fragile. I knew him.
‘Arthur Custoria.’
He is Heilas’ older brother. And he was also the one who took the position of the head of the household from his younger brother who was ten years younger than him. Hmm, maybe that’s a bit too much.
It is said that Heilas pushed his brother out and was recognized as the head of the household. I also heard the story in advance.
“It’s been a while, brother.”
Heilas’s speech was polite, but his attitude was arrogant. He looked at his brother with cold eyes. The hierarchy was clear.
Arthur’s gaze stopped at me. I took a step forward to say hello.
“Luka… … This is Custoria.”
It felt awkward to have such a grand surname attached to my name. Arthur must have noticed my mood and laughed.
“Yes, I guess we’ll be seeing each other often from now on. You’re the same age as my youngest son, so I hope you get along well.”
There was a polite exchange of words. Arthur entered the mansion first. I followed Heilas’s lead and greeted two of Heilas’ sisters at the airport. They were like aunts to me.
There were still four more left. There were seven siblings of Heilas. They were the ones who were currently at the forefront of House Custoria.
I felt tired already. The people here were observing each other, spouting words they didn’t mean.
“They say the rest are still coming. Luca, go into the mansion and rest for now. I’m sure they’ve prepared a room for you as well.”
We headed to the main building of the mansion. I just moved my eyes and watched the people coming and going.
The manor’s hierarchy was divided into three main levels: members of the Custorian family, servants engaged in simple tasks, and vassals and retainers of the middle rank.
The vassals of noble families were mostly lower class people whose abilities were recognized or nobles of lower rank than the family. They assisted the master family in their respective fields. They had a higher status than servants, but were not members of the family.
‘If they have the skills and luck, they can become part of the family through adoption or as sons-in-law.’
The eyes and expressions of the vassals looking at me were filled with envy and jealousy. I had achieved the position they desired.
“Follow me, young master.”
A servant who seemed to be a middle manager led me to my room. The word “Master” tickled my ears.
“You can call me anytime if you need anything.”
Even the servant’s polite attitude was unfamiliar to me.
I looked around ‘my room’. It was a room that felt like a military family. There were decorative spears and swords hanging on the walls. The furniture looked like wood at first glance, but when I knocked on the desk, a holographic interface came up. I opened the closet and found that the inside was a thorough state-of-the-art system.
Knock, knock.
I stared at the fireplace. It wasn’t a hologram, it was real wood burning. The warmth that warmed the room was coming from the fireplace.
“That’s funny.”
Even though they had all the latest heating and cooling equipment, they were using a fireplace.
It was an incredibly cumbersome method. Above the fireplace was a smoke exhaust device shaped like a chimney.
It’s ironic that the new technology of this age of interstellar travel is imitating styles from a distant past.
‘I guess this is luxury and show off.’
It is inefficient and unnecessary. That is why only nobles can do it. If you think about it carefully, it is not incomprehensible. Even the Royal Guard occasionally has this kind of ostentatious tradition of force. In a way, inefficient display was the privilege of the strong.
I looked around the room and stood in front of the window. It was a large glass window, large enough for two people to pass through.
I had my formal greeting at dinner. Until then, I had time to myself.
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
Because it was an unfamiliar place, it was difficult to accurately determine the form of the sound. All I could feel was that she was a light woman.
Squeak.
The door opened. A familiar girl stepped in. There were only a few members of the Custoria family who were familiar to me.
“You have truly become a member of the Custoria family, Luca.”
Giselle Custoria said. She had her dark blue hair tied back. Whenever she moved her hair, it seemed as if the night sky was swaying.
“I didn’t know I would be named Custoria so quickly.”
I said indifferently.
Giselle sat down on the chair, resting her arms on the table and resting her cheeks on it. She avoided my gaze for a moment and glanced at me. She looked a little embarrassed.
“Thank you for what happened last time… I didn’t even greet you properly.”
“Because there was no rush. And words of gratitude would be more appropriate for Felix Eigen.”
I saved Giselle from a terrorist kidnapping plot. Barbara was strangely obsessed with Giselle.
“Felix also went to look for me separately. He didn’t recognize me.”
Giselle smiled bitterly. Her heart seemed heavy because of Felix’s inability to recover.
“You should be grateful, but you don’t have to feel guilty. Felix was only doing his job as a guard.”
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“Are you comforting me?”
“I’m not trying to comfort you, I’m just telling you the truth. I’m not a very affectionate person.”
“I already know your personality well. It’s like a blue flame. It seems cold, but in reality, it burns more harshly and hotly than a red flame.”
Hmm, as expected from someone who has studied, his expressions are unique. I shrugged.
Giselle’s attitude has changed. The prickly feeling has disappeared a lot. Of course. Anyway, I saved her at the risk of my life. No matter how noble, a person in his right mind knows how to be grateful.
‘Giselle doesn’t know about the guard’s plan. She doesn’t know that Father, Heilas, has used her as bait.’
If Giselle finds out the truth, she will be deeply hurt. Even Barbara’s curse was planned by her superiors. Perhaps Giselle’s difficult situation was not a coincidence, but a pre-determined plan.
Heilas was a great captain, but he was a cruel father. But I understand Heilas. Thanks to the confusion that made even the identification of the enemy unclear, Barbara was able to become a member of a terrorist group.
“… … And I apologize for my behavior back then. I was emotional at the time. No, even saying that is an excuse. I didn’t act the way I should have as a member of the Custoria family.”
The arrogant and proud girl slowly bowed her head to express her gratitude and apology.
To be honest, I didn’t feel too bad. I was being treated fairly. Human to human, regardless of my origins.
“It’s natural for an ordinary person to panic in that situation. Don’t worry about it.”
I said briefly. Giselle closed her eyes slightly and exhaled.
“Thank you for saying that. Luca, do you remember what you said back then? That you would support me if you became a member of Custoria?”
I knew that what I was going to say from now on would be the main topic. There was a reason I had been so humble up until now.
This is exactly what a noble lady of the empire should be like. She should know how to take care of her own share and interests. I like it.
“Well, it’s not a lie. You’re the only person from the Custoria family I’ve ever really talked to, aside from the Captain of the Guard, and I think you’re someone I can talk to with a degree of understanding.”
The word father still doesn’t come out easily. Immediately after hearing the word ‘deal’, Giselle thought for a moment and then tapped the table.
Wheeing
A holographic lens opened in the center of the table. Giselle linked her terminal to the hologram on the table. She displayed the faces of the Custoria family members one by one as holograms.
“Your father probably told you very little about the Custoria family. He always wants his children to achieve something on their own.”
“Surely, you’re not the kind of person who takes care of everything from A to Z.”
“I’ll share some information with you. Think of it as a way to repay you for what you did last time.”
I waited for Giselle’s explanation.
“Luka, the people you should be most careful of are my two older brothers. The first and second. They must be feeling a great sense of crisis because of your appearance.”
“A sense of crisis? I’m just a quantum?”
“That’s not true. Right now, you’re the only one of my father’s children who has the qualifications to be an elite soldier. Even if you’re not related by blood, you’re still in a position to be wary of. No matter what anyone says, Custoria is a military family.”
I recalled the information about Heilas’ two biological sons.
The eldest son, Nikolaos Custoria. He graduated from the Kratzia Academy and was on the path to becoming a bureaucrat. Judging from his past history, he was quite an elite. From the Custoria family’s perspective, the only flaw was that he was not a soldier.
The second son, Jupe Custoria. He is a military officer who graduated from a regular military academy. He is not part of a special force like the Royal Guard, and although he has been an officer for 10 years, he has not shown any special ability. He is just an ordinary officer of noble birth who can be found anywhere.
The eldest son was twenty years older than me, and the second son was thirteen years older. In a normal household, a much younger adopted son would not be perceived as a threat.
However, Custoria is a military family. A very prestigious family at that. They must continue to produce elite soldiers.
“The other children are too young to take the second aptitude test. Of all your father’s children, you are the one with the highest potential as a soldier, Luca.”
“Your noble nature is worrying for nothing.”
I chuckled. But Giselle’s expression was very serious.
“Everyone is suspicious that your father brought you here to make you his successor.”
I remembered Heila’s words.
‘It will be a refreshing stimulus in many ways. For my children too.’
Is that what it meant? I guess I was properly stimulated.
