Terminally-Ill Genius Dark Knight

Chapter 207

207. The head of the Rovelia Family [2]

Although nobles can sometimes be cruel, the path to reaching their threshold of stimulation is simpler compared to ordinary commoners. What does this mean?

Simply put, it means that a situation like the current one is a significant shock to these so-called nobles.

Families where blood splatters and tongues are cut off during sparring, with bodies rolling on the ground, are almost non-existent, except for dark families like the Reinhaver.

Therefore, the scene before their eyes is truly unbelievable.

However, Yung, who is in charge of the duel, cannot declare a halt to the match. There are two reasons.

First, there is no reason to stop.

No matter how Vortex von Rovelia is in danger may it seem, Nox did not use any special techniques. This is something Yung, as a former knight, can confidently assert.

Nox simply asked if the use of mana was prohibited in a wooden sword duel, and upon being told there were no such restrictions, he enveloped his sword with mana like an aura and struck. Yung never anticipated such an outcome.

Yung couldn’t help but feel a chill run down his spine.

His bloodshot eyes were fixated on the boy’s movements, desperate to keep up.

That's….

Is this the true talent of the dark family, Reinhaver, renowned for its swordsmanship, unmatched by anyone?

The absurd scene left the audience speechless.

At that moment, Nox moved.

Slowly yet swiftly, he closed the distance to his opponent. Like a snake, his movements were smooth, occasionally instilling deep fear. Naturally, the one gripped by the greatest fear was none other than Vortex von Rovelia.

“Eueup..eup”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying. Have nobles these days not even learned how to speak properly?”

Nox’s eyes turned cold. His lavender eyes, now icy, continuously read his opponent’s movements, delivering repeated blows to Vortex, who was trying to escape and step down from the hexagonal ring.

He stabs, slashes, or even breaks bones to immobilize him.

When the screams from the broken bones drowned out the voices of the audience, Nox indifferently grabbed Vortex by the hair, lifted him up, and declared.

“Imperial Knight. I’ve heard there are those who gossip behind my back, saying a dark family member like me has risen to such a position. But isn’t it laughable? While I was climbing to this position, all you could do was chew me out from behind.”

At that moment, Nox’s gaze completely changed from the playful one he had earlier. Nox had already anticipated this situation, where he would be restrained, and that there would be those who would mock and ignore his maid.

That’s why, as a knight, he clashed swords to show them.

Why did he have no choice but to rise to this position?

Why, among so many nobles, was he the only one qualified to serve her?

“It’s because all of you are trash.”

Though his words were harsh, they weren’t wrong. With the first Prince Louis ascension to the throne was certain, the fact that there were few who supported Emperor Penelope didn’t need to be mentioned.

Many among those gathered here were likely rotting away.

Moreover, they were probably pondering what kind of person the Emperor and her newly appointed knight were, how to deal with them, and whether they should initiate a regime change.

This duel was Nox’s answer to that.

Anyone who can rise to this position can stand where I stand. The Princess did not rise to her current position by mere luck.

Those without ability. It would be wise for them to hold their tongues to save their own lives.

Meanwhile, the Emperor began to clap with a noble smile.

“Truly befitting of the Emperor’s knight. Though your methods are somewhat excessive… that very aspect is the strength and weakness of 'my knight.’ The outcome has already been decided. Yung von Carlos, declare the victor and hand over the Rovelia family to Nox von Reinhaver.”

“Ah… Yes, Your Majesty! The winner of the match is Nox von Reinhaver, the Emperor’s knight and the next head of the Reinhaver family!”

Nox listened, momentarily lost in thought, then knelt before the Emperor, fulfilling his duty as a subject. The Emperor spoke.

“What is it? It seems you have a request.”

“The family I have acquired, of course, it’s mine, right?”

“…Hmm.”

As if understanding his meaning, she smiled faintly. Nox then continued, addressing someone who had been watching the entire match from behind. It was something Zitri could never have imagined.

“I wish for the Rovelia family I have acquired to return to its rightful place. Zitri de Rovelia. No, I should now call her Zitri von Rovelia.”

Nox smiled as he spoke.

“I hope that all authority as the head of the family will be returned to my maid, the rightful heir.”

**********

Zitri de Rovelia.

As a child, I was always mentioned as the next head of the family. After all, I was the only child, and I received all the love from my father, Doren, the head of the family, and my mother. It was only natural.

Doren de Rovelia.

My father had a solid standing within the family, and most of the vassals shared his vision.

He worked hard to open granaries and save countless villagers. Whenever problems arose, he pondered for the sake of the villagers and refrained from actions that could significantly impact their lives, such as war.

That was the beginning of the incident.

— Because your father and mother were too good of people. I had no choice but to do this. I won’t ask for forgiveness. There’s no reason to from the beginning.

Vortex rationalized it after brutally killing my father and mother.

The reason he didn’t kill me was that I, as a child, bore no responsibility for this situation. He feared the fierce backlash from the villagers, who loved their lord’s only daughter, if I were to die.

So he spared me.

Then, he sent me to the Reinhaver family as a maid, while within the family.

In other words, while I was away from the family my father had built, he continued to spread bad rumors about me to tarnish my reputation.

Uncle Vortex’s goal was always the family, and it had nothing to do with me. Even so, I could do nothing. I wanted to run away, I rather grit my teeth and die, but I couldn’t.

Then I met Nox von Reinhaver.

At first, I was disappointed by the rumors of him being a ruffian, but it didn’t take long for me to realize that he had to use such a reputation to survive in his environment.

I realized.

Like me, or perhaps in an even more difficult situation, he continued to strive to survive amidst danger.

When he believed he had become strong enough, Nox finally took action. He must have trained his sword hundreds, thousands of times, envisioning hundreds of paths in his mind to reach his current position.

And he continued to risk his life.

But it wasn’t just in battles against demons.

Young Master Nox reached this position by constantly fighting against himself. There was nothing he relied on but his own efforts. Ultimately, what made him grow was nothing other than his own desperation.

But I couldn’t do that.

I came to the Reinhaver family to survive, but even that wasn’t my choice.

What did I do to revive the Rovelia family?

I spent my days in idleness, reminiscing about my father and mother.

But…

Nox told me.

This position was originally mine, and I am merely reclaiming what is rightfully mine.

How could that be?

I already know what kind of people nobles are.

When Theo first made that proposal to me and asked for Nox’s surveillance?

If I did well, he would return the family to me, but in reality, it was no different from expressing his intent to subjugate the Rovelia family under Reinhaver.

Such is the nature of noble society.

Justice is mostly determined by those in power.

Even when a new nation is established and the ruler changes, it ultimately leads to corruption.

Yet, reforms from below never properly materialize.

The empire ruled by Esteban at its end was one that pushed the wealth gap to the extreme, leading to polarization.

To be precise, it was the actions of his second son, Louis, who had lost his grip on power.

So, when I saw the young master declare he would return the family to me like magic, I was speechless for a long time. Even as he stood up and approached me, I could do nothing.

My frozen feet. It was as if they were telling me that if I avoided this situation, I had no right to lead the family. My slightly flushed white neck and reddened eyes turned to my master, Nox von Reinhaver.

The once-called ruffian now stood with confident shoulders. He had grown over 180 cm, a full span taller than me, whose growth had already stopped. He would grow even more.

That chest was warmer than anyone else's….

I paused, reminiscing, and let out a hiccup only I could hear.

In the midst of this.

Finally, my small, no… now fully grown, matured young master stood before me.

Soon, he declared.

“Zitri von Rovelia. From now on, you are the next head of the Rovelia family.”

My heart pounded as if it would burst.

The family my parents worked so hard to protect, my everything.

I never thought I would regain the Rovelia family so easily. But it was also undeniably bewildering. What kind of emotion is this?

I’m not sure.

But at that moment, I already knew the best decision I could make. That much was certain. What was the best I could do for this young master.

And how it would change my life from now on.

So I smiled.

The nobles would no longer look down on me.

They would treat me as an equal.

But.

“Thank you, Young Master, but… I must decline.”

“What?”

Nox narrowed his eyes and asked again, his gaze filled with doubt.

But at this moment, I was certain.

Returning to the family now and inheriting my father and mother’s will?

Of course, it would be good. Not bad.

I could reconnect with good people, and might even achieve more.

I could become wealthier, fill the granaries with more grain, and save the villagers.

I could bring in Professor Lars’s newly developed artifacts, improve the territory’s facilities, and even develop the family into one of the top families.

Of course, this is all assuming everything goes well.

But throughout all these processes, I couldn’t help but think.

That time, what if Young Master Nox isn’t by my side?

Then…..

Would this life have any meaning?

If the young master I love so dearly isn’t by my side, I cannot be happy, even if I achieve all that wealth and glory. I must admit it now.

Like the accidental but warm embrace from last night, I…

At this moment, I have no choice but to choose to stay by Young Master Nox’s side and follow him.

“I wish to follow you, Young Master. Not the Reinhaver family, but you, Young Master, from now on. Can we postpone the matter of the family for later?”

So I said.

Not because I don’t want to shoulder my responsibilities, but because I want to see how far this man will go to achieve what he desires. At the same time, I want to show him, the one I love dearly, that I will be there wherever he stops, even if it’s in the cold winter with bared teeth.

Even if the place he stops is,

A cold, barren winter, this will not change.