The Duke’s study

  “Madame Luise, what it is that you wished so urgently to discuss with me about?” the Duke had asked as the woman had marched to him with no regard for any other appointments he might have had.

  A common arrogance among those whose skills allowed them to work directly for the Lorens and on that front Madame Luise was irreplaceable.

  “It’s about your ward” she had the nerve to say

  “Ward? I don’t have a ward” the Duke denied it, even if he knew she was referring to Veronique, he was aware his wish for the girl to be treated as his own wasn’t always respected, but to do so in directly in his face was an insult

  “Sir, as much as you want to keep pretending otherwise that kid doesn’t have an ounce of Aurelia’s blood in her” Madame Luise had said as a matter of fact then pointed out “that red hair doesn’t lie”

  “Neither does Alexander, but I don’t see you referring to him as a ward” the Duke said back calling out on the woman’s apparent oversight

  “With all the due respect sir, Alexander is still a full blood noble and he proved himself to be more then suitable to be your successor, he’s not soiled with impurity” the woman responded fully exposing her bias

  “Are you insinuating valor is purely made from blood? Veronique isn’t less because of her origins neither she’s at fault for the circumstances” the Duke had never believed in such no sense and while he was proud of his lineage he never looked down on those around him

  “Didn’t you remove her yourself from being a candidate?” Madame Luise countered with smug smile

  “On the contrary I see no problem in giving her another chance if she can prove to me to be suitable heir” the Duke bluffed if only to wipe it off from her face, in truth he believed it was better for Veronique if she wasn’t ever put back in such position.

  “The King will be displeased to hear such thing” Madame Luise looked as if she had ate something foul

  “Let him be, even a Lorens has no power over the affairs of my family” the Duke truthfully said, the King directly meddling with the Aurelia’s affairs would create too much tension between the nobles, even the commoners would be agitated.

  “It doesn’t matter, having her as your heir wouldn’t last regardless” Madame Luise proudly declared

  “What do you know that I am unaware of?” the Duke inquired knowing he was missing an important piece of this puzzle

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  “Your ward’s skill assessment was quite unusual, not only does she possess a passive gifting her with plenty of mana but she also has a strong offensive fire skill, she would be a powerful asset if provided with the correct training” the woman informed him and added with barely hidden glee “You have to send her to the care of the Royal Knights at once”

  “The law indicates that those of age who can proficiently use high end offensive skills must be drafted to the Royal Knights, Veronique is neither of age or has proficiently in any skills so you have no place to make such demands” the Duke was quick to dismiss such request

  “Don’t you see how such thing will solve all your problem? the other nobles are laughing behind your back for keeping that girl there and having her pretend to be your daughter” Madame Luise tried to reason with him but her arguments were weak

  “If all they can do is laugh behind my back then so be it, I will show them with facts why the Aurelia is the most powerful noble house of Luminance” the Duke wouldn’t bend

  “I see you are still blinded by love” Madame Luise had the gall to say “what a shame”

  “Blind?!” Alfred was immediately outraged, he rose to his feet slamming his hands on the desk and started shouting “Did you forget what I did to follow the King’s command?! Did I complain?! Or pulled my weight to even try to stop it from happening?!”

  “Was it because you are a loyal servant of the King, or the act of revenge of a betrayed lover?” Madame Luise’s words might as well have stabbed him

  “How dare you?! I would have preferred to let go them both over watching them hang!” his voice was outright booming from the rage “Now you are asking me to sacrifice their child for what?! Reputation?! Have our values already rotted so deeply?!”

  “How are you sure we aren’t already rotting?”

  “Very well, I won’t push on this matter anymore, but even you won’t be able to stop Veronique from being enlisted by the time she comes of age” Madame Luise decided to back down “Her offense skill is Fireball, her fate is already set”

  “…I ask nothing less, was this all?” the Duke sat back down still looking shaken

  “Even if you are against sending Veronique away, you will still need to have her trained in the practical use of skills” Madame Luise started explaining “Her passive, Siphon, is giving her more mana then she can handle, such thing combined with her fire affinity is causing the outbursts”

  “Is there an alternative?” he inquired

  “Siphon gathers lose mana from other recipients it would be nullified if you kept her isolated” Madame Luise gave him one then took it away “but I am sure you will agree that such thing would prove detrimental to Veronique in the long run”

  “if that’s all you are dismissed” the Duke wanted this woman gone, he needed to think.

  “I apologize for my rude words, it wasn’t my intention to offend or put doubt on your character” Madame Luise apologized at once, following it with a deep bow.

  The Duke watched her in silence, before taking a few moments to close his eyes and breathe deeply.

  Once he opened them again he had completely regained his composure.

  “I shouldn’t have raised my voice, I know Madame Luise only has Luminance’s best interests in mind” and apologized himself for his own outburst “but some lines mustn’t be crossed and we don’t even have a real need to expand to truly justify it, all this forced enlistment is doing is making sure people turn away from skills all together while we still need them to succeed”

  “I will communicate those words to the King, but may I give one last word of advice?” Madame Luise politely asked

  “You may” the Duke allowed it

  “Lady Rhea seems quite attached to Veronique, I fear such thing could put an hamper on her otherwise bright future” the woman has said at once

  “You fears are noted” the Duke acknowledged the words, his mind already putting together a path going forward before Madame Luise even stepped outside his office.