Blair’s invitation was out of the ordinary, prompting Adolf to rush over, his intuition telling him something was amiss. “What’s going on?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.
“Just… I’ve been so preoccupied with family matters that I thought I might have neglected you,” Blair replied, his tone evasive.
“What’s this about neglect? By the way, family matters? Has something happened at home?”
At Adolf’s question, Blair hesitated for a moment before answering weakly. “Odelliana is staying here,” he revealed.
“Odelliana? Oh, the younger sister with the leg trouble…? I thought she was hiding out in the Hirschberg Forest?” Adolf replied, his voice filled with surprise.
“She was severely abused by the servants there,” Blair explained, his tone somber. “I drove all of them away… so now that there’s no one to take care of Odelliana, my father has called her to the capital.”
“Then isn’t that a reason to be happy? It’s a moment of family reunion after being apart for so long.”
“It’s a bit more complicated than that.”
Blair let out a deep sigh and leaned back in his chair. Adolf took out a cigar leaf from his pocket, rolled it up, and handed it to Blair, even lighting it himself. As Blair gazed at the hazy smoke, his expression was unusual enough to make the seriousness on Adolf’s face replace any trace of a smile.
“My sister told me to meet you to seek advice on independence,” Blair finally said.
“Independence? Blair, are you planning to become independent? Well, it is about time. But why?” Adolf asked, his curiosity piqued.
“The moment Odelliana mentioned your name, I got chills,” Blair admitted. “I felt like she knew about the affairs in Eisenwald.”
Eisenwald was a small city belonging to the Duke of Schaller’s territory, located near the border with the Duke of Grüsewald’s land. Recently, this city had caused Adolf considerable worry due to a major crime incident, resulting in the execution of the lord’s family, leaving the position vacant.
“Are you saying your sister knew I had proposed the lordship of Eisenwald to you?” Adolf asked, his tone filled with surprise.
“It’s not that she knew; it’s more of a feeling,” Blair replied. “It’s as if she was subtly encouraging me towards independence in Eisenwald… The timing and situation just seem too coincidental.”
“Must be a coincidence,” Adolf insisted. “The proposal for the lordship was a closely guarded secret known only to us.”
“Is that so?” Blair questioned, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“Yeah, just a coincidence,” Adolf replied, dismissing Blair’s concerns. “Anyway, if you’re considering leaving your family and becoming independent, I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to accept my offer now.”
Adolf grinned, as if there were no need for serious contemplation. He threw an arm around Blair’s shoulder. “Think it over. Being a lord is no easy task, but with your abilities, I think you could handle it well.”
Blair remained silent, contemplating.
“You know that those who aren’t heirs must live off the grace granted by the head of the family,” Adolf continued. “But who knows if your brother will provide you with enough to live comfortably after he inherits the title? From what I see, Hermann isn’t a merciful man.”
Only the eldest son can become an heir, Blair reminded himself. The inheritance rights are guaranteed solely to the firstborn heir. Once Hermann takes over the family headship, he would have to rely on Hermann’s compassion for survival. If Hermann did grant him any support, he would be fortunate; if he cast him out empty-handed, he would have no grounds to complain.
Aside from his own predicament, Blair also considered Odelliana, whose path to marriage was effectively blocked due to her leg disability. She needed someone to take responsibility for her. However, would Hermann truly take in his sister, who had nowhere else to go? If their parents had abandoned her simply because of her flaws, the chances of him showing any compassion toward Odelliana were slim.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, the fog that had clouded Blair’s head began to clear. If I become a lord… I could take Odelliana into my household and continue to take responsibility for her life.
“My offer is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you,” Adolf coaxed, his voice filled with enthusiasm. “As the lord of a fief, you would live a much more abundant life than now. You could hunt, sail on the lake, fish, and live leisurely. If that life becomes boring, you could come up to Revelhorn and engage in social activities. The life of a middle lord isn’t as harsh as it seems. It’s quite romantic, actually. And above all, the lordship is inherited through generations unless significant problems arise. You understand, right?”
Adolf continued to tempt Blair, painting a picture of a luxurious and fulfilling life. “Think it over,” he urged. “If you decide, I will do my utmost to help you prepare for your independence.”
