Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 1461: Chapter 39: Hill’s Slight Guilty Conscience (Alliance Hierarch Bonus for Yueying7)

After returning to Stelter Castle, Lind obediently sat beside Ellie, listening to his sister’s account, and saw his parents whose eyes were almost glowing, celebrating his sister’s promising future.

He only felt that his heart seemed to be gnawed by something... growing emptier.

Lind also knew that his future finally had a slightly better path, at least he could start his road to becoming a mage, which was better than before.

Being a magical swordsman wasn’t bad; he actually enjoyed it... Perhaps it was the days of being trained sword by sword with his mother from a young age, which had already become a part of him.

But, a magical swordsman, the past days were still manageable, with a decent path... but ever since Aesces turned towards the crystalline energy world, it essentially meant being a guard or part of the city defense forces... having magic power could unleash crystalline energy equipment, and daily life could be spent nimbly handling petty theft.

So, as the second son of such great nobility, if he had this capability, he would often be sent into the Imperial Defense Force or the Imperial Guard Office. Although he wouldn’t receive much inheritance, if his parents were fond of him a bit, and before the formal split, they gave him some more, it would still be decent.

However... his father had already blocked both paths.

And Mother Helena, even if she loved him dearly, couldn’t hinder the future of the other two children because of him.

He once thought, the only thing he could fight for was Helena’s money... yet, upon realizing Ellie’s needs, Helena didn’t hesitate, never even considering what Lind would do without these resources, having little to inherit from the Stelter Family.

Ellie has a Hall of Abundance, after all! And he, until now, still doesn’t know what he might have!

A small piece of land? A low aristocratic title... and then barely enough resources to survive?

From now on, he could only watch his brother and sister shine brightly, while he shrinks in a corner waiting for those occasional favors?

Lind was confused at the time... Then what’s the meaning of his mother’s so-called favoritism towards him?

A few kisses?

Lind didn’t know if it was his secret encouragement of Ellie to make trouble that alerted his parents, but what amused him was, upon discovering his intent to stir up trouble, these two then began to consider his future.

Even this, he had to rely on Ellie.

Otherwise, his future might just be another Joshua.

But, if nothing else, Joshua was only a distant relative of his father, practically a companion reader!

Yet he is the legitimate son of Count Stelter!

Could it be that, like Joshua, if the future little son of Count Stelter could still cause mischief, yet his daughter was only three years old?

Lind didn’t know if he was being too unsatisfied, but facing the mad roar in his heart, he merely, silently laughed, his expression unusually happy... After all, he could still become a mage.

It’s better than before, right?

Even if in the future, he has to rely on Ellie to survive, well... he could survive after all.

With Ellie’s temperament, she shouldn’t let him end up like those mages who were sent to investigate Great Sage Belfran and never appeared again, right?

Lind laughed with eyes that curled... only a glimmer of light exposed his inner thoughts.

However, The Count and Countess were celebrating their daughter’s bright future completely oblivious to his confusion as a bystander... If not for Lind, how could Count Stelter send out those extraordinarily precious magical curios?

According to common sense, these things should have belonged to Ditte!

But their eldest son has always been protective of his younger siblings, so he doesn’t mind these high expenses.

After all, Ditte is the one who witnessed firsthand the difficult path the Stelter Family took to reach today without support.

The days growing in the fire and blood of the army broadened Ditte’s mind... After seeing and experiencing much, many trivial matters wouldn’t concern him anymore.

His vision is relatively long-term, only hoping the family can become stronger, so if one day he can take the position of the earl or climb higher, he wouldn’t be torn between the pressures from various great families and the demands of the King, sitting on pins and needles.

The Earl indeed had to leave the army, but Helena’s health is merely a passable excuse... As a magical swordsman, she might look sickly, as if enduring through days, but surely lives longer than those healthy ordinary people.

Just tired, but... thinking about the gifts the Earl presented to the Great Sage, could the Countess be unwilling to endure?

The Count merely realized that if he didn’t leave, he might not be able to leave at all.

The King is mediocre, but has too many sons, and each son’s family background is stronger than the other... only him, with no one behind him.

Though it’s by this, he could sit in this position, but once the strife among those princes heats up, wouldn’t he first be burnt to ashes?

Compared to the ordinary and happy life the pair of children lead in Basia Castle, the days of the eldest son Ditte are truly hard.

Only, in many people’s eyes, he is fighting for his future... Others want this opportunity but don’t have it!

Yet, if every noble successor could achieve what Ditte has, Count Stelter wouldn’t continuously hear praises of ’having successors’.

So, The Count and Countess absolutely couldn’t imagine what the youngest son, who received so much, could be unsatisfied with.

After congratulating Ellie, Lind was finally taken by the Count to meet Yanos... from now on, he was a mage apprentice.

Lind also had a fulfilling day.

Especially after chatting with Alexis, a distant cousin who returned upon hearing the news, along with Mother Helena—in the lush little garden.

Everyone saw Lind return to his room with a satisfied smile, and he threw himself onto his soft, luxurious bed... Twelve layers of silk sheets made him exceedingly comfortable.

Indeed, his room was the most luxurious in the castle, with silky carpets underfoot.

Yet, what was the point of all this?

Enjoy life for twenty years, and then spend a hundred years reminiscing?

No, perhaps he’d be too stifled to live that long, even if logically he should.

Before Lind drifted into slumber, a sweet smile appeared on his face... If he had to be a watchdog, he’d choose to do it himself.

Hill wasn’t particularly surprised that some prying eyes appeared outside his residence again.

But this time, they were cautious and barely dared to approach within three kilometers, which was fine.

Those accustomed to the uninhibited gaze of the Undead Tribe wouldn’t care about such trifles.

However, Hill really found it odd... Count Stelter was a soldier!

Could it be that less than a day had passed and so many people already knew the truth?

Or was Lind’s action ability surprisingly swift?

Hill placed his crystal cup down and turned northward... How did this child become so misguided?

Although his parents and siblings each had their own selfish motives, they were quite good to him!

Was he expecting others to sacrifice their interests to fulfill him?

Even in the old world he came from, where brotherhood was like one’s own flesh and blood, if that flesh was too diseased, wouldn’t it be simply cut off?

Let alone in this noble society... the primogeniture system has been in place for tens of thousands of years!

How did he develop such a spoiled temperament where everyone had to cater to him in such a society?

Hill was completely perplexed.

If he truly thought that the military achievements of his noble family influenced his future, shouldn’t he be able to leave the family?

Of course, this world’s treatment of running away from home is harsh; even if feelings remain, he’d receive not a cent... But isn’t it the future he desires?

If he believes in his mage aptitude, he could entirely take his pocket money and leave the family... Hill didn’t think he wouldn’t... and start at the bottom in a Magic Tower!

Though the Aesces world’s rules are complex and strict, they don’t completely shut off paths for these younger sons; it’s just requiring them to give up luxury and strive for themselves.

People always have to be responsible for their choices.

If unwilling to forgo the benefits from the family, of course, he must serve the family’s interests!

At the Ishmael household, that Lucimar is already an intermediate mage, yet still pretends to be silly for the family, doesn’t he?

Does Lind think becoming a mage allows him to act as he pleases?

Hill furrowed his brows, then shook his head... Forget it, why even think about how this child developed such a bad habit!

After all, he wouldn’t choose to carefully avoid troubles like he did a few days ago.

Hill stood up and gazed at his beautiful garden... In the winding streams, faint lights occasionally shimmer under the moonlight.

By the marble walls, colorful windbell grass gently danced in the breeze.

The night sea breeze was relatively gentle, just enough to carry the scent of jasmine flowers on the walls to his nose.

Under the moonlight, the entire garden appeared in a light silver-blue hue, dreamily beautiful.

Hill softly smiled: ”Purwell, how do you feel now?”

”Ah~ List has so many tasks every day!” The Little Whale’s voice was a bit weary, ”I really miss him now!”

”What are you talking about?” Hill chuckled, ”What you are completing now should be the least effort-intensive part of his daily routine吧?

It’s just directing puppets to work, and every day I’m the one telling you what to do, you don’t even need to tally it yourself!”

”That’s why I miss him!” Purwell retorted, ”Do you think your directions are reasonable?

I finished directing the puppets only to find out you were just mindlessly toying with me!”

Hill tilted his head slightly, his golden hair lightly floating to his chest: ”How can you say I’m toying with you? Isn’t cleaning up a normal job?”

”But there’s obviously a cleaning array in the house!” Purwell shouted, ”Why do you insist on having the puppets sweep every time?”

Hmm... because if you can’t see the action of cleaning, it just always feels like there’s dirt somewhere?

Hill thought, feeling a bit guilty.