Chapter 70

I looked at Blizen. His head gradually lowered.

As if I were back in the days of Yoo Hye-min.

It felt as if sparks were flying from my eyes.

"Don't bow your head! You haven't done anything wrong!"

"……"

"The environment is never the child's fault."

"……"

"Just because your parents don't value you, it doesn't mean you are not valuable."

"……"

"Being born is a miracle, a very special and precious existence."

I didn't know who I was talking to. Was it Blizen? Was it Yoo Hye-min?

The only thing clear was that there was not a single lie in those words.

"Y-Yeah. Blizen. You are very precious—"

Just as the crazy Noarizen was about to make another meaningless noise, I stepped on the back of his hand.

Noarizen roared.

"You, you—!"

No matter how much he was beaten, he was still a grown man.

He seemed to think that even in his current state, he could overpower a ten-year-old like me.

'What are the guards for?'

The jurisdiction still has Grandfather, Father, and the terrifying twins.

And I have a monster.

'Just calling Lagon would make him foam at the mouth…!'

Just try to move a finger.

As I glared at Noarizen, Blizen spoke.

"Stop shouting."

Noarizen and I flinched.

His voice was as sharp and chilling as Grandfather's or Father's.

"B-Blizen, how can you call this insolent girl—!"

"Father, you always blamed me for everything, even though you said you loved me."

"W-What?"

"She told me that nothing was my fault."

"You can't take responsibility! She's not the one responsible for you, Blizen! You can't just say things like that! Blizen!"

"Is responsibility to a child to abuse them?"

I could understand how good a son Blizen had been to Noarizen all this time.

Noarizen's expression of disbelief at this one retort was proof enough.

Blizen said to the stammering Noarizen.

"When I clung to Father's love, I couldn't see it, but now that I've let go, I can finally see it."

"Blizen?"

"How shallow and worthless that love was."

"A-Ah, son."

"…So."

Blizen looked at Noarizen, who was trembling, with a cold eye.

"Just as Father always abandoned me in the face of desire, this time I will abandon Father."

Thud!

Noarizen looked at Blizen as if struck by lightning.

That scum probably thought Blizen would save him.

How despicable it is to demand love from a child when you haven't properly loved them.

Blizen said in a flat voice.

"Goodbye."

"Blizen!"

Noarizen shouted, so I grabbed Blizen's hand.

"Let's go."

"…Okay."

I couldn't hold back my temper and kicked Noarizen again before leaving.

Blizen smiled, the corners of his mouth turning up.

.

.

Noarizen was moved to the ducal palace in the morning.

Bound tightly to a large tree.

Getting hit by stones from the people on the street.

And exactly a fortnight later.

The news that Noarizen had committed suicide spread to the Astra manor.

It was said that when he died, his hair had turned white like an old man.

It was clear how much he had suffered during those two weeks.

* * *

Noarizen's matter was over.

Blizen had been living in our jurisdiction during this time.

I got up early in the morning and came out of the room like a sick chicken.

"Ugh…."

Mornings are so hard.

When I was younger, I used to jump out of bed in the morning.

'If I'm tired at ten, how tired will I be at twenty?'

What about thirty, forty?

Just getting up early and going to work deserves respect. Really….

Blizen was already out in the courtyard.

I greeted Blizen first.

"Hi. Big brother Blizen."

"Hey. You're up early."

"Mm-hmm."

I was about to pass by when I said, "Ah," and grabbed Blizen.

"Arm."

I checked Blizen's arm every day.

Blizen extended his arm habitually.

I carefully rolled up his sleeve.

'Hmm. It's much better.'

"Apply the ointment regularly. The wound will heal faster, and you won't think about that bad guy."

It's better to forget Noarizen quickly.

Blizen chuckled.

"But I might still think about it."

"Why?!"

"Because his name is the adorable Noarizen, and yours is Blizen."

"…."

Blizen patted my head and walked past.

I stood there, staring at his back.

Aunt Ilsa was kind, gentle, and capable… but her eye for men and naming sense was terrible.

Then, someone put their hand on my head again.

I turned my head to see Father.

"Father."

"Why are you looking at Blizen like that?"

Father asked affectionately, looking at Blizen's back with me.

'Hmm…'

I was about to tell him about Blizen's matter but shook my head.

"No."

It's not like it would matter if I told him.

It's not like we're going to change his name.

"Let's have breakfast!"

"…Okay."

I held Father's hand and headed to the dining room.

After the storm passed, the ducal palace began to clean up.

First, all of Noarizen's assets were confiscated.

There was no money left, but there was one incredible thing.

'The <Teleport> blessing stone.'

The <Teleport> blessing stones were all kept by Noarizen.

There was one with Count Talos, but it was also recovered.

It was like having four ridiculous treasures, each worth a mansion.

More importantly, there was a notebook stored in the Ilsa jurisdiction's treasury.

It was….

'A notebook that describes how to extract blessings from people.'

The direct descendants were in an uproar.

"If such a thing exists, it must be truly incredible!"

If they could extract various blessings, they could create the world's best magical army.

Everyone had their eyes on it, but the one who would inherit it was, of course, Blizen.

So, it was natural that Blizen became the eye of the storm at the Astra manor.

* * *

The Astra ducal palace banquet hall.

The banquet hall had been newly renovated after several years.

The ceiling was adorned with a magnificent chandelier studded with countless diamonds.

A massive table that could accommodate all the direct descendants of Astra.

Six hexagonal pillars intricately adorned with gold patterns.

'Wow, it's really magnificent. As expected…'

I widened my eyes at the grandeur of the banquet hall.

'As expected, the greatest financial power on the continent.'

The banquet hall was noisy with the chatter of the blood relatives.

At that moment, Uncle Sylvain, the fifth son, asked Grandfather in a subtle voice.

"What will happen to Blizen now?"

Grandfather stopped his hand, which was holding a knife, and glanced at Uncle Sylvain.

Uncle Sylvain, whose eyes met Grandfather's, awkwardly laughed and said.

"Blizen is still young to live without parents."

"So."

"I discussed with my wife, and we feel it's a pity to leave our nephew alone. What if I take Blizen in—"

Uncle Decons, who had been glaring at Uncle Sylvain for taking the lead, suddenly interjected.

"We would be better. We only have Riantin. We've always wanted Riantin to have a sibling."

"Then you should try harder tonight."

Uncle Sylvain quietly muttered.

"Sylvain!"

"Can someone who thinks Riantin is the best in the world raise Blizen without discrimination?"

The two of them began to argue, and others joined in.

Baldric, feigning a hearty laugh, spoke in the loudest voice.

"What are you all saying? Blizen's mother, Ilsa, and I are half-siblings. It's only natural that I raise him."

Even Aunt Bastina joined the fray.

"If Blizen is to become my half-sibling, it can only be with Serene."

To them, Blizen was a mouthwatering prize.

This incredible ability.

The <Teleport> blessing stone.

A notebook that describes how to extract blessings.

If they took Blizen, all of this would be in their grasp.

The argument grew louder and more intense.

'This is chaos again.'

I shook my head and focused on my meal.

Aunt Basil, Dione's mother, mediated.

"The most important thing is the child's heart. What if Blizen decides?"

It was a good suggestion.

'At least Blizen will have a guardian, and that's better.'

A teenager with treasures would be a huge target for the second generation.

Grandfather nodded slightly and said.

"Blizen, you choose."

Everyone in the banquet hall focused their attention on Blizen.

The third generation, who were eating, also raised their heads to look at Blizen.

Blizen, who had been listening to the second generation's arguments with his head bowed, slowly spoke.

"I want to go to the Diamond jurisdiction."

"…!"

"…!"

"…!"

Everyone's mouths dropped open in surprise.

'Huh?'

Uncle Decons, whose mouth opened wide, finally managed to speak.

"B-Blizen. The Diamond jurisdiction has three children. Even Balzac and Joshua are adopted."

"Right! There's no mistress, so no one will take care of you."

Uncle Baldric also chimed in.

"Balzac and Joshua are already a handful. We don't have the energy to raise another."

"Everything we're saying is for your benefit, Blizen."

Grandfather put down his crystal glass with a loud thud.

The banquet hall instantly fell silent.

"Among your children, is there anyone who ranks higher than Arilott, who grew up without a mother?"

"…."

"…."

"…."

"From the way Balzac and Joshua were raised, there's no doubt about Diamond's ability."

With the topic of rank, everyone became silent, unable to say a word.

Grandfather turned his head to look at Father.

"Diamond, what do you think?"

"I…"

Father looked at me and the twins.

We exchanged glances.

I nodded slightly, and the twins shrugged.

"If that's what you want."

"Okay."

The twins' opinions were in agreement, so I looked at Father.

"We're fine with it."

Father turned his gaze to Blizen.

His expression seemed calm, but after spending quite a long time with Blizen, both Father and I could tell he was a bit nervous.

Father said to Grandfather.

"I'll take him. That guy."

Blizen's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Then Blizen will be taken care of by Diamond—"

Just as Grandfather was about to summarize, Father added.

"While taking him, please change Blizen's name."

'Huh? No way.'

I realized immediately upon hearing it. It seems Blizen did too.

Father had heard everything Blizen and I said in the courtyard.

The fact that as long as Blizen used that name, he would be reminded of Noarizen.

'You knew, didn't you?'

Grandfather glanced at Father.

"It's your child, so it's not something to ask me. Do as you please."

"Then the new name will be Rishmond."

I, the twins, and even Blizen were surprised and looked at Father.

'We all know what Rishmond means.'

Uncle Rishan, the twins' biological father.

Father, Diamond.

'The combination of the two is Rishmond.'

Balzac and Joshua were still 'half-siblings of Father' by blood.

So, in a strict sense, I and the twins were closer to Blizen.

That's why Father gave Blizen the name 'Rishmond.'

'So he wouldn't feel out of place among us.'

I find Father incredibly cool when he's unexpectedly affectionate, despite not looking like it.

Grandfather stared at Father intently.

Then….

"Okay."

The answer came.

The permission was granted. I and the twins looked at Blizen, no, Rishmond.

"Please take care of me, Big Brother Rishmond."

"Trimming Arilott's nails is my job."

"I'll read books to you."

Rishmond's eyes twinkled, and he burst into laughter.

It was the first genuine smile I had ever seen from him.

This way, I gained another big brother.

Unlike the twins, he was a normal big brother.

* * *

…Or so I thought.

I looked at the four men standing in front of me with their arms crossed, with a cloudy expression.

"What is it?"

I asked, but the four men remained silent with their mouths tightly shut.

I closed my eyes and pressed my temples, saying.

"Tell me. Why did you get into a fight again?"

Including Rishmond this time?

Balzac shouted, looking genuinely wronged.

"A twenty-three-year-old guy sent you a marriage proposal! He's crazy