When Duke Drew Dawnriver first received reports claiming that Riven had completely accepted his fabricated identity and now genuinely believed himself to be a child of House Dawnriver, he naturally assumed that there had to be some sort of catch.
After all, how could a person simply forget the life they had once lived and wholeheartedly embrace an entirely different one?
So, even after reading countless reports from both Lucius and the Imperial Anatomist over the past two and a half years, a part of him remained unconvinced.
Yet now, seeing the boy standing before him with his own eyes, even Drew found himself struggling to find fault with the results.
Riven looked exactly as one would expect the heir of an ancient noble house to look.
His posture was flawless, his manners impeccable.
Every movement that he made was deliberate, every gesture refined, while even the forty-five-degree bow he had offered moments earlier had been executed with a precision that many noble children twice his age failed to achieve.
Also, unlike most children his age, there wasn’t the slightest hint of nervousness in the boy’s eyes, nor did he fidget beneath the attention of so many powerful figures.
Instead, he stood perfectly still with a calm confidence that seemed entirely natural, while his body, painstakingly reshaped through years of Section Carving, had been refined into something that bordered on perfection.
At least superficially... Drew could accept him as an heir of House Dawnriver.
Of course, appearances alone meant very little, as behind his composed expression, the Duke felt absolutely no affection towards the child standing before him.
If anything, hearing Riven address him as "Father" stirred a faint sense of disgust within his heart.
The word simply did not belong to the boy.
However, Drew understood that objecting to it now would only interfere with years of carefully constructed conditioning, and so he allowed the address to pass without comment.
To him, Riven was neither family nor a son, nor was he ever going to become one.
He was merely a political instrument.
A carefully crafted piece that would one day expose the Emperor’s schemes, unite dissatisfied nobles beneath House Dawnriver’s banner, and provide the justification necessary to begin a rebellion.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
"I will be taking you into high noble society, boy."
The Duke informed, as he calmly folded both hands behind his back.
"In due time, you will enter the Imperial Academy under the name of House Dawnriver.
From this day onward, understand that your life no longer belongs to you.
It belongs to me.
So if I were you, I would choose your next words carefully, because if you swear your loyalty to me today, I can promise you only hardship in return.
You will inherit my enemies.
You will shoulder my burdens.
You will be forced to solve problems that should never belong to someone your age.
And in return you will get nothing of particular worth.
Yes, you shall possess the Dawnriver name and every resource my House can offer.
However...
Your life will never again be your own."
The Duke warned, his voice remaining calm throughout.
However, despite his warning, Riven did not display the slightest of hesitation as he gently lowered his head once more.
"A child’s life is already a gift from his father.
I see nothing wrong with you wishing to decide how that gift is used."
He replied, as listening to those words, Drew inwardly winced once again at being addressed as "Father."
Nevertheless, he kept the feeling hidden behind an expressionless face.
"Very well, then allow me to test your loyalty."
The Duke said, after several quiet seconds, as he extended one hand towards the guard standing behind him.
"Your dagger."
He ordered, as without asking a single question, the guard immediately unsheathed the weapon hanging from his waist before respectfully placing it into the Duke’s waiting palm.
*Shine*
Drew briefly examined the polished blade before raising his eyes towards Riven once again.
"You claimed that you would do anything I asked of you..."
He began as—
"Yes, Father."
Riven answered without hesitation.
"If you wished for it, I would cut off my own arm."
He added, as a faint smile appeared upon the Duke’s face.
"No.
I have no interest in your arm."
He replied, as he casually turned before extending the dagger towards Riven, so that its handle faced the boy.
"If your loyalty is truly as absolute as you claim...
Then take this dagger...
And cut off the doctor’s head."
The Duke said, his gaze shifting towards the Imperial Anatomist, as absolute silence immediately descended upon the laboratory.
"Go on.
Prove to me that your devotion is genuine.
Kill the very man responsible for creating the perfect body you now possess."
The Duke repeated, as all color drained from the Imperial Anatomist’s face at that moment.
"My Lord... is this some sort of elaborate joke?
Or perhaps a test?
I... I don’t understand."
The Imperial Anatomist asked, as an unmistakable note of nervousness crept into his voice.
Even now, he refused to believe that the Duke truly intended to have him executed.
Afterall, after everything he had accomplished for House Dawnriver....
After decades of unwavering service...
Surely this was not the ultimate reward he would receive?
However, despite his mumbling protests, Drew never so much as glanced in his direction.
"Guards.
Seize the doctor and put him on his knees."
He ordered, as without the slightest hesitation, both guards stepped forward.
Before the Imperial Anatomist could even react, one of them seized his arms and wrenched them behind his back while the other kicked the back of his knees, forcing him violently onto the cold stone floor.
"Ah—!"
The old man cried out, as pain shot through his aging joints.
A second later, one guard gripped his hair before yanking his head backwards, exposing his throat completely, while the other tightened his hold upon both of his arms, leaving him utterly incapable of resisting.
As only then did Drew slowly shift his gaze back towards Riven.
"I don’t have all day, boy, nor will life ever grant you this much time to make decisions of this importance.
So choose carefully.
Either take this dagger and slit that man’s throat where he kneels, or say goodbye to me and the name of House Dawnriver forever, because the moment I walk out of this laboratory, the opportunity to become my son shall disappear along with me."
The Duke said, as he extended the dagger towards Riven once more before silently waiting for the boy to make his choice.