Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

Alaric lifted his hand from Yskaela’s belly and asked while looking at her. ”Have you thought of a name for the child?”

Yskaela nodded with a gentle smile. ”If it’s a boy, his name will be Caelum, and if it’s a girl, she will be called Diana Grace. What do you think?”

Alaric repeated the names as he envisioned himself holding a tiny baby. ”Those are good names.”

Yskaela held his hand. ”To tell you the truth, I have thought of those names a long time ago. When I became the ruler of Veronica, I knew that this day would come so I came up with some names during my free time.”

Alaric chuckled at her words.

Suddenly, he thought of something important and asked. ”What do you want to do once the child is born?”

Hearing this, Yskaela thought for a moment before she responded. ”I will bring our child with us to explore the vast world. As for the empire, I will entrust it to my faithful ministers and vassals.”

Alaric frowned. ”Can we trust those people?”

He had encountered numerous betrayals so he knew how fickle the human heart was.

Yskaela shook her head and replied. ”I will ask the grand commander to stay here and watch over the empire while we are gone. Once the right time comes, our child will return to take the throne.”

The two discussed their plans.

At one point, the two climbed onto the bed and shared a passionate moment.

...

The next morning, Alaric woke to find himself lying next to Yskaela.

His wife was still sleeping so he didn’t disturb her. He quietly climbed off the bed and brewed a cup of coffee for himself.

Holding the cup of freshly brewed coffee, he looked outside the window, deep in thought.

Since Yskaela plans to bring our child on the journey with us, leaving the Carefree Duke alive might pose some issues.

The man had a treacherous heart. Initially, Alaric planned on bringing him along and turning him into his loyal dog, but the situation was different now.

He couldn’t trust someone like Namgung Ilsun to be in the same place as his child.

Suddenly, his eyes turned cold. A fearsome wave of killing intent subconsciously leaked out, awakening Yskaela from her sleep.

With a confused expression, she looked at him and asked. ”What happened?”

Realizing his mistake, Alaric quickly controlled his emotions. He turned his head and smiled at her. ”It’s nothing. I just thought of something unimportant.”

Yskaela furrowed her eyebrows, discontented by his response. ”Alaric, we are already husband and wife. We should not hide things from each other.”

Alaric put down the cup of coffee and beckoned to her as he sat on the stool.

Understanding his intentions, Yskaela stood up and sat on the stool next to him. ”Now tell me.”

Alaric’s face became serious. ”The Carefree Duke. I don’t trust that guy.”

”I know that he helped you rebuild this country, but he secretly cultivated an army to rebel against you. If not for Lord Bellator, he might have already conquered Veronica.” His voice turned grave at this point.

Yskaela frowned and fell into silence.

To her, the Carefree Duke wasn’t just an important pillar of the nation. He was like a father figure to her. He was her mentor when she was still young.

She couldn’t bring herself to kill him.

Looking at her hesitant face, Alaric sighed and held her hand. ”Yskaela, that man might kill our child. We cannot leave him alive.”

Yskaela took a deep breath. She lifted her head and nodded with a determined expression. ”For the sake of our child’s safety.”

She stood up and said. ”Can you take care of him for me?”

Alaric nodded and responded with confidence. ”Of course.”

...

A few days later, in the Carefree Duke’s mansion.

”Father, are you really going to submit to the new emperor?” In front of Namgung Ilsun was a middle-aged couple.

The man wore a military uniform, stalwart and ferocious. He was the remaining son of Namgung Ilsun, a General of Veronica, and a warrior in the Unfettered realm. With Namgung Jae-wan dead, he was now the heir of House Namgung. His name was Namgung Ri.

As for the woman, she was the wife of Namgung Ri, a descendant of a martial household. Although she wasn’t as strong as her husband, she was already a Heroic realm warrior.

The couple heard that their father was preparing to submit to the newly crowned emperor, Alaric Silversword.

They came here to stop him.

How could they allow their father to submit to the person responsible for their son’s death? They couldn’t stomach the thought of it.

Namgung Ilsun glared at his son and daughter-in-law. ”What do the two of you even know?!”

The couple was absent when Bellator came to attack their estate. If they had seen his strength with their own eyes, they wouldn’t dare utter these words.

Furious, the Carefree Duke smashed the wall with a punch, scaring the couple into silence.

”Do you think I am doing this because I want to?!” He bellowed, his body trembling.

”That bastard has a warrior stronger than I am under his command and he has the support of Astania!”

Just as he was about to slap his foolish son, he suddenly sensed a powerful aura approaching their location at a very high speed.

This aura...

His pupils contracted when he sensed the familiar aura.

”He is here!” He muttered, his voice trembling with unease.

”F-Father...” Namgung Ri felt unsettled when he saw his father’s uneasy expression.

Namgung Ilsun’s face darkened as he looked through the window. He gestured at his son to keep quiet as he mumbled.

”Why is that guy coming to my mansion?”

He felt a wave of trepidation.

”You two follow me to greet the guest.” He beckoned to the couple with a grim look.

”When that person comes, just stay quiet and leave the talking to me. Do you understand?”

”Yes, father!”