Chapter 209. The Revulsion (3)
That evening, the news that Caron and Leo's Coming of Age Ceremonies would be held together had spread throughout Azureocean Castle. And for the first time in a long while, the entire Ducal Family of Leston gathered for dinner.
The atmosphere during dinner was warmer than expected. The usual tension from Caron's uncles had eased, and most importantly...
"Haha, Caron, I brought some macarons from the most famous shop in the capital. Do they suit your taste?" Camila asked.
"As expected, Aunt Camila, your taste is impeccable. These melt in my mouth," Caron answered.
"If you want more, just ask. Leo, what are you doing? Those aren't your macarons," Camila snapped.
"...Mother, I have a mouth too, you know," Leo said.
The change in the atmosphere was thanks to Camila, Leo's mother and Halo's second daughter-in-law, who had previously been the most antagonistic toward Caron in Azureocean Castle.
Just a few months ago, she had looked ready to devour Caron alive, but now, things were different. Even after dinner had long ended, she lingered in the banquet hall, showering Caron with praise.
"Caron, please take good care of my son," Camila said.
"Of course, Aunt Camila. Leo and I are practically brothers, aren't we?" Caron replied.
"Thank you so much for saying that. Leo, shouldn't you thank Caron?" Camila suggested. Her voice was filled with warmth and sincerity.
And Caron had already guessed why Camila's attitude had changed so drastically. He thought, Such an honest person.
She had to have heard that Caron had no interest in the competition for succession. Or perhaps her husband, Uncle Raphael, had given her a stern talking-to.
Either way, it's a relief. I was getting tired of her, Caron thought.
Camila had always been a nuisance, constantly getting on Caron's nerves. But now that she had changed her tune and was treating him so amiably, Caron found it rather pleasant.
"Aunt Camila," Caron called.
"Yes, dear?" Camila answered.
"I've always liked how honest you are," Caron remarked.
"When I look back at my behavior, I feel truly sorry. I regret not being kinder to you," Camila replied.
"Oh, I've already forgotten about all that," Caron said.
"You have such a generous heart! No wonder the elders adore you," Camila praised him once again.
"Speaking of which, would it be all right if I continued looking after Leo in the future?" Caron asked.
"Oh my, I was just about to ask you to take care of Leo. You'll continue to take good care of our Leo, right?" Camila asked.
"Of course, no need to worry. I'll make sure to turn him into a decent man," Caron answered.
Camila clapped her hands in delight, clearly pleased. Then, as if suddenly realizing something, she stood up and said, "Oh dear, I must be off. I shouldn't be interfering with the young ones' tea time. Enjoy your time together."
With that, Camila swiftly left the banquet hall, leaving only Caron, Caron's cousins, and Revelio behind.
"Don't you think Aunt Camila's attitude has changed a lot?" Hugo asked as he stirred his sorbet with a spoon.
Leon nodded in agreement, then answered, "She's finally accepted reality."
"What reality?" Hugo asked.
"That there's nothing to gain from going against a mad dog. Aunt Camila is quite obsessive, you know? She just realized that it's better to stay on Caron's good side than to be his enemy," Leon explained. Her assessment was spot-on.
Her words made Leo lower his head in embarrassment, while Caron couldn't help but chuckle.
"I like Aunt Camila," he said.
"But she gave you the hardest time," Leo replied.
"At least she doesn't hide anything. I'd take someone like her over those who pretend to be kind while hiding a rotten core," Caron explained.
He casually pulled a bottle of liquor from his pouch of dimensional space. After taking a sip, he turned his head slightly to Revelio, then asked, "Would you like a drink too, Prince?"
"I'll pass. It wouldn't do for a guest to indulge," Revelio answered.
"Fair point. That's very noble of you. Is that what won over our dear Leon's heart?" Caron asked, then smiled as he glanced at Leon.
Just moments ago, during dinner, Leon had dropped a bombshell.
"Sister, were you serious about what you said earlier?" Caron asked.
"...Well, I felt bad for him," Leon answered.
"Weren't you the one getting drunk and throwing a fit because you didn't want to marry the prince? When did that change?" Caron asked.
"Hey! Get your facts straight. You're the one who caused the commotion," Leon snapped.
Leon raised her voice, clearly feeling wronged, but quickly glanced at Revelio and sat back down. With a sigh, she added, "Besides, it's just an engagement. Nothing's set in stone. It was only a verbal agreement. An engagement can be broken at any time."
"If word gets out that you were engaged and then dumped, you'll have trouble finding a husband," Caron said.
"That's exactly what I'm hoping for," Leon replied.
"Wow, that's... strategic," Caron remarked.
Leon's bombshell had been her engagement to Revelio. Though she had broken off a previous engagement not long ago, this time was different. The most important thing was that this time, it was Leon's choice—no one had forced her hand.
Thanks to that, Revelio had secured his safety at Azureocean Castle without much trouble.
"Lady Leon, thank you once again," Revelio said as he rose from his seat and bowed politely toward Leon.
Leon waved her hand dismissively and replied, "We didn't even sign a contract. It was just a verbal agreement to get engaged. Caron will take care of it later.
"Wow, so you're dumping this on me again? Leon, do you even have a conscience...?" Caron asked.
Caron could tell that Leon didn't actually dislike Revelio as much as she let on. Leon had always been the type to speak her mind. If she truly hated him, she would have made that clear by now. Judging by her attitude, it seemed she could even have a slight fondness for Revelio.
But Caron didn't understand what in the world she saw in that lunatic. He thought, Women are impossible to understand.
Adina had taken a liking to Leo, and now Leon seemed to be warming up to Revelio. Understanding a sword's temperament could be easier than figuring out a woman's heart.
"Revelio is talented, ambitious, and good-looking. Owner, in many ways, he's better than you," Guillotine pointed out.
No, that's not true, Caron replied.
He decided to ignore Guillotine's nonsense and casually lifted his bottle of liquor. He said with a grin, "Revelio, you should be grateful to us."
"Don't worry. I'll pay you back with interest," Revelio replied confidently.
"Do you even know what I'm going to ask for?" Caron asked.
"Even if you ask for the throne, I'll give it to you," Revelio answered. He didn't back down for a second.
Caron waved his hand lazily in Revelio's direction before turning to Hugo with a question. "Hugo, you've had your Coming of Age Ceremony before, right? How does it go?"
Hugo shrugged and answered, "It's simple. You go to the North Sea and go into the water. That's it."
"Go into the freezing sea? Sounds like a great way to die," Caron said.
"You don't actually have to go deep. The family's Guardian Dragon has set a trial there. It's more like an illusion spell," Hugo explained.
"Ah, kind of like the Awakening Ceremony?" Caron asked.
"Exactly. Just like the Pledge Stone that you shattered," Hugo answered.
"Hmm, got it," Caron replied.
If it was a trial created by a dragon, it was bound to hold some kind of special power. Caron figured he could even encounter Gratia, the guardian dragon he had met in the Plains of Rest.
"So basically, you're saying that I don't need any advice, right?" Caron confirmed.
"Our youngest one catches on quick, doesn't he?" Hugo replied.
"Of course," Caron answered.
"But then again, I wonder why you can't ever understand how we feel," Hugo said.
"That's not true, I know exactly how you feel, Hugo. You don't want to get beaten up by your youngest cousin, right?" Caron asked.
"...You little brat," Hugo answered.
Caron easily brushed aside Hugo's playful protest and took another sip of his drink, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.
An illusion spell, huh? he thought.
He'd heard that completing the Coming of Age Ceremony would lead to growth. And if that was the case, perhaps reaching 8-Star wasn't out of reach.
Between obtaining the Glacier Crystal that could save the World Tree, the chance to grow stronger through the Coming of Age Ceremony, and even Cain Latorre's tomb...
This is going to be interesting, Caron thought.
But the greater the reward, the tougher the journey was bound to be. Caron had a feeling that this journey wouldn't be an easy one either.
***
"I never expected my nephews to accept Caron's early Coming of Age Ceremony so easily. Perhaps they've finally matured, don't you think?" First Elder Yung said as he shared a drink with Halo in the latter's office.
"That's unlikely. They're probably just trying to shift some responsibility onto Caron's shoulders. Dales and Raphael have finally realized that they can't get their hands on Caron anymore," Halo replied.
"A formidable one is always formidable," Yung said.
"I agree," Halo replied with a nod.
Yung, the First Elder, was also Halo's older brother. He was the eldest son who had willingly disappeared from the family's history, relinquishing the symbolic title of heir to Halo and leaving Azureocean Castle at a young age.
Halo had been the second son of the previous Duke, while Yung had been the first. Yet Yung had given up his rightful position for one reason only—to secure legitimacy for Halo.
Yung Leston had wanted the Ducal Family of Leston to prosper even more. That was the kind of man he was, one who prioritized the glory of his family over personal ambition, thinking only of the family's future.
He had hoped that Halo, hailed as the greatest genius in the family's history, would secure his place as the rightful heir and lead the family to even greater heights.
To ensure that, Yung had chosen to become the hidden son of the Ducal Family of Leston.
It was a testament to how utterly devoted Yung Leston was to the family's glory.
"I knew you were supporting Dales from behind the scenes, Yung," Halo said, his tone quiet but firm. "But what made you change your mind so suddenly?"
Yung gave a bitter smile and nodded, then replied, "Do I look like such a fool to you? Well, perhaps I did. When Caron first came to Azureocean Castle, I hadn't yet seen his true nature. Back then, I still doubted the prophecy that had been passed down through generations."
A moment of bitter confession followed as he continued, "The Pledge Stone has been shattered, and Demon Kings are reappearing across the continent. The prophecies I once doubted... they're all coming true."
"Yung," Halo said after a brief pause. "May I speak frankly?"
"Of course, go ahead," Yung said.
"Until now, I thought you had lost your mind. Supporting Dales, opposing Caron—I assumed it was just the result of old age clouding your judgment," Halo stated.
It was a blunt accusation, yet Yung accepted it without protest.
"As you know, I've always believed that the eldest son should inherit the family to maintain stability. Even now, I don't think that belief is entirely wrong. The circumstances have simply... changed," Yung explained.
"I have never doubted that you care for the family more than anyone," Halo replied sincerely.
Yung was the man who had left the family to ensure his younger brother became the perfect heir. Halo knew better than anyone that Yung's heart still beat solely for the Ducal Family of Leston.
"But things are different now. Caron... That boy will be the one to save the family when the coming calamity arrives," Yung continued.
"So, you've finally realized that," Halo said, his tone carrying a trace of rebuke.
Yung responded with a somber nod and another bitter smile, then said, "Time clouds an old man's eyes, but now... I feel more clear-headed than I have in years."
"Well, that's a relief. If you hadn't come to your senses, I was considering sending you into exile in the North Sea," Halo said.
"...That temper of yours hasn't changed," Yung replied. His lips curled into a faint smile as he recalled Halo's younger days.
The Halo of the past had been vastly different from the composed and dignified man he had become.
In his youth, Halo had been no different from Caron—reckless, fierce, and wild. He was the unruly second son of the duchy who had turned the empire upside down. He was a madman who had been called a mad dog alongside his younger sister, Sabina.
But after becoming the head of the family and growing older, Halo had mellowed considerably.
"Every time you and Sir Cain turned the capital upside down, Father lost a handful of hair," Yung said with a faint smile. "That memory suddenly came back to me."
"Yung, if you're reminiscing about the past, perhaps your time is drawing near," Halo replied with a smirk.
"Perhaps so," Yung said with a nod as he took the glass Halo handed him, and took a sip of the whiskey. His gaze drifted toward the window, where Azureocean Castle shimmered under the evening light—a symbol of prosperity and power.
"If Caron succeeds in his Coming of Age Ceremony... Do you think he'll reach 8-Star?" Yung asked quietly.
"I believe he will," Halo answered with certainty.
"The modified mana cultivation technique seems to suit Caron well," Yung said.
"It seems he gained some kind of blessing from the Plains of Rest. The ancestral cultivation method had been passed down to the tiger clan. It seems Caron refined it by building upon that foundation," Halo explained.
"...In that case, the tiger clan is like our kin now," Yung murmured thoughtfully.
"Their chieftain is scheduled to visit Azureocean Castle soon," Halo added.
"We should prepare to greet them properly," Yung said, his tone growing serious. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "But, once the ceremony is over... Caron will become even more of a monster. Can you handle that?"
Halo sighed deeply and downed his drink, then with a wry smile, he said, "Caron's already beyond my control."
"That's true," Yung agreed.
"Yung, you know as well as I do," Halo continued. "This generation of children will step into the Demon Realm. And Caron... He will probably be the one to lead them."
Everyone born into the Ducal Family of Leston dreamed of conquering the Demon Realm. It was an ancient wish passed down since the days of their ancestors.
And the one who shattered the Pledge Stone was destined to fulfill that mission.
Halo's gaze followed Yung's as they both looked out the window. He said, "We must clear the path for them. Even if it costs us our lives."
"Head of the house, remember this one thing," Yung said softly, turning to face Halo with a solemn expression. "If the time comes when lives must be sacrificed... It should be the elders who go first. That's what we exist for, is it not?"
"Of course," Halo replied.
The elders were the hidden blades of the Ducal Family of Leston.
The ones residing in Azureocean Castle were only a fraction of their true strength, however. The most powerful of the older generation had concealed their identities and scattered across the continent, biding their time.
They lived in silence for one reason only—to prepare for the inevitable war that would one day come.
When that moment arrived, Halo was planning to summon them without hesitation.
"Sabina must be thrilled," Yung said with a chuckle. "She was Caron and Leo's first teacher, after all."
"When I mentioned that their ceremonies were approaching, she was practically jumping for joy," Halo replied, his expression softening.
"Should we remind the boys to bring some liquor for her?" Yung asked.
"I'm sure Caron has already thought of that," Halo said with a knowing smile.
"Of course," Yung murmured, smiling as well.
Halo raised his glass once more and said, "We just need to watch over them now."
Caron and Leo would gain much from this Coming of Age Ceremony.
Halo wasn't sure where that growth would lead them, but he had faith in his grandsons.
"They'll do just fine," he murmured softly before taking another sip.
***
Time flowed steadily, and before long, the day arrived for Caron and Leo to depart for the North Sea.