Meanwhile, inside the marquis' office—
Fiora sat upright with a porcelain teacup resting between her fingers. Across from her, Marquis Jasper Domitius drank in silence, his posture was straight and his movements precise.
"How is your father?" Jasper asked without looking at her.
"He is well, Your Grace."
The conversation ended there. Only the faint clink of porcelain echoed in the room.
Fiora kept her composure, but her thoughts churned. Waiting for Edsel made her uneasy, four days had passed. Deep down, she doubted he had succeeded in forming his second circle. She had no reason to believe he could accomplish something that demanded such focus and discipline.
Yet what unsettled her more was her own irritation.
Why was she angry?
Because she had worried about him? Because of the rumors about him and a maid?
She clicked her tongue inwardly and steadied herself. This was unlike her.
Her gaze drifted toward Jasper. This was only the second time she had spoken with him privately. The first had been when Edsel disappeared without explanation. Now, sitting before the Northern Army Commander, the man known for commanding battlefields with ruthless precision, she finally understood why his words always carried a chill.
"Did my son speak to you during your stay?" Jasper asked suddenly.
Fiora was caught off guard by the question. "Huh? Umm, no, I have not even seen him at all since I arrived."
She was confused about why he would ask such a thing. Edsel had been avoiding her for no apparent reason, which was true and also a bit frustrating to admit.
Elena, who was standing behind them without saying a word, was busy smiling inside her head. This was a good opportunity for Fiora to bring up the affair and the rumors about Edsel and Mia.
"My lord," Elena started to speak.
Jasper noticed Elena trying to address him, but he continued drinking his tea without answering her.
Elena felt the pressure immediately. She did not understand if she was allowed to speak or not in this situation. The silence from the Marquis was crushing.
"My lord, what about your first son?" Fiora interrupted suddenly to ease the tension that had built up in the room.
"You mean Xander?" Jasper responded while setting down his cup. "My successor." He sighed deeply while looking away.
Fiora had never seen that kind of reaction from a father before. At least she had heard about Xander's good deeds and accomplishments. Why was the Marquis not satisfied with his heir?
Before she could think further, a sudden wave of killing intent brushed against the door.
Fiora stiffened.
It was brief but unmistakable. She glanced at Jasper, searching for a reaction but he remained as composed as ever, as though nothing had changed.
Knock knock.
"Come in," Jasper answered while straightening his posture.
The door swung open, and Hans walked inside. He looked normal despite the earlier events, although his shirt was a little messy and disheveled.
"The young master has arrived," Hans announced while stepping aside.
Edsel stepped in.
He was properly dressed, his posture was straight. He placed a hand over his chest and bowed slightly.
"Greetings, Father."
"Mmm." Jasper's voice was indifferent. "Have you abandoned your test?"
"No, Father."
Jasper's eyes sharpened. "Whatever method you used, understand this, I will know. If you relied on an artifact or external aid to form your circle, you fail. Show me something worthy."
Fiora stared at Edsel.
The killing intent she sensed earlier, it had come from him. Something about his presence felt denser, heavier than before. Had something happened?
Edsel's gaze shifted toward her, and he smiled.
Her heart skipped unexpectedly. Annoyed at herself, she quickly looked away, masking it with a cold expression.
"Well then, let me show you my own circle," Edsel announced confidently.
His chest started glowing as a single circle appeared and began rolling around his core. Then, a second circle materialized and started rolling alongside the first one.
Fiora and Elena's eyes widened at the sight of him revealing a second circle so easily.
"How is that possible?" Fiora muttered under her breath while staring at him in disbelief.
Jasper, on the other hand, did not react immediately. He simply stared at his son without any hesitation in his expression."I sense no artifact," he said evenly. "How did you—"
"This isn't all," Edsel interrupted with a faint smile. "Observe what I achieved after refining the second circle."
A third circle formed on his chest and began rolling together with the other two.
"How is that possible!" Fiora exclaimed while getting up from her seat without even realizing that she had stood up. She was completely shocked by what she was witnessing.
Jasper finally reacted to the display. He hesitated for a moment while studying his son carefully. He had never seen anyone accomplish a third circle in only five days at the age of sixteen. How could someone who had never trained properly before accomplish such a feat? He wanted to know more about what had happened, but he quickly masked his expression and returned to his usual cold demeanor.
"I see that you have accomplished this feat," Jasper said while nodding slowly. "Although I do not sense any artifact on you, which is strange for someone like you considering your past behavior."
Edsel held his father's stare. "I simply chose to change."
Then his tone shifted slightly.
"And you made a promise."
Jasper leaned back in his chair. "Are you certain about dissolving this engagement? Your fiancée is talented, a second-circle swordmage. Together, the two of you could strengthen each other and expand influence within noble society."
"I'm aware," Edsel replied. "That's precisely why I agreed to end it. I am not the man she wishes to marry." His voice remained steady. "Her heart belongs elsewhere. To Edwin."
Fiora hesitated while staring at Edsel. He was already giving up on her for the sake of her own happiness, and she felt guilty about the entire situation. Elena, on the other hand, was happy about the outcome and could barely contain her excitement.
"I see," Jasper murmured. "Edwin… that child." A faint smile touched his lips, though his eyes remained fixed on Edsel.
To think the son he had dismissed would reach the third circle before many of his peers, perhaps even rivaling Edwin himself.
Interesting.
Edsel could sense his father's long-standing fixation on Edwin Perrin. Whether admiration or rivalry, he could not yet tell, but it did not matter.
He had achieved his first objective.
"And while we are discussing promises," Edsel continued, "I would like to request a reward."
Jasper raised a brow. "You may ask."
Edsel's smile deepened. "I wish to be named your successor. Just like my elder brother."
"You? Successor?" Jasper stared at him for a moment, and then he burst out laughing. "Pwahahahah!"
The whole room started freezing up immediately. The sheer force of the laughter expanded outward and created a powerful wind that blew away everything in the entire office. The butler Hans remained calm and still throughout the outburst, and Edsel also stood his ground without moving. Elena and Fiora, on the other hand, covered their ears while struggling to breathe under the pressure.
The laughter stopped abruptly, and the room returned to silence.
"I will overlook your arrogance this once," he said coldly. "You are far too late to speak of succession. Your past actions have stained your reputation. One breakthrough does not erase that."
His eyes bore into Edsel.
"Achieving the third circle does not qualify you to replace Xander."
Edsel had expected this.
Jasper had already invested everything into the eldest son of the Domitius house.
"I will say this," Jasper continued. "If you conduct yourself properly at the academy and accomplish deeds worthy of recognition, I will reward you accordingly. But abandon any thoughts of becoming my successor."
Edsel lowered his head slightly in acknowledgment.
"I understand."
Yet as he looked up again, his gaze lingered on the seat his father occupied.
Seeing his father sitting there with such greater authority made him want it even more. He would have to kill his brother Xander first, and then when he was strong enough, he would get rid of his own father as well.