Chapter 45
The eldest son, Nikolaos, and the second son, Juppe, are far from being elite soldiers. The eldest is an imperial bureaucrat, while the second is a regular officer.
Being a regular officer does not mean one cannot succeed. However, Juppe has served for over ten years without achieving any notable accomplishments. His future is practically set in stone.
If Juppe were truly a talented soldier, he would have already built a record of achievements and received multiple military merit medals. Based on that, he should be holding an important position in a high-ranking or special forces unit.
"Nikolaos was born with thin nerve bundles. A congenital weakness of the nervous system is something even the Empire’s technology cannot overcome."
Giselle spoke about the eldest son. This was information I hadn’t known. It was something only the family would be aware of.
"If his nervous system is weak, he wouldn’t be able to use high-output prosthetics. Even if he wanted to be a soldier, he couldn't."
Even for a rear-echelon position, a minimum level of combat capability is required. If someone is born with a weak nervous system, there’s no future for them as a soldier.
"Juppe was never suited to be a soldier. But since they couldn’t send both the first and second sons into bureaucracy, they forced him into the military somehow."
Juppe became a soldier for the sake of the family's honor. Nobles don’t get to live their lives according to their own will. Their careers are determined by the family’s intentions and interests. Even their spouses and lives are dictated by it.
"But the fact that both of them are wary of me means they have ambitions of becoming the family head, right?"
"That’s right. Nikolaos is the eldest and a highly competent bureaucrat. So he believes he is qualified to become the head of the family. In reality, he has already secured the support of many relatives and vassals. And Juppe, despite being the second son, thinks that since he is a soldier, he can take the position in his brother’s stead. Conservative relatives, though they acknowledged his slight lack of ability, supported him because of his military status."
"They each have their own flaws as candidates for family head. That means even I, despite the weakness of being an adopted son, have a chance."
In truth, I have no chance. I became an adopted son through a transaction. Even the cold-headed Hemillas would feel the pull of blood ties, so he would never consider me as the next family head.
"Right now, if they belong to the Custoria family, they’re probably scrutinizing and analyzing your career history in detail. And objectively speaking, you are an outstanding soldier. You have a very high chance of achieving success in the military. Many relatives, especially among the elders, value military ability and honor over blood ties."
From the way she spoke, it seemed Giselle also held me in high regard. It was better for me to believe that as well.
"Should I be wary of an assassination attempt?"
I asked without hesitation. This was an important matter. If the possibility existed, I needed to prepare for it.
"I can't guarantee there won't be one, but the likelihood is very low. If they get caught, not only their status but even their lives would be at risk. If they were to attempt an assassination, they would have to be absolutely meticulous in their preparations."
To kill me, they would need to bring in someone of considerable skill.
"Then for now, they'll try to crush me through other means."
"They'll try to humiliate you, especially by targeting your origins. Given Father's personality, even though he personally brought you in, he won't go out of his way to protect you."
I had to overcome the insults and attacks from my competitors on my own. Hemillas expected nothing less from me.
"I like it."
"What?"
"I mean the competitive nature of this family. For an orphan like me, this is exactly the kind of family I always longed for."
This wasn't arrogance or bravado. I truly believed it.
At the orphanage, I had no real rivals to compete with. It wasn’t until I arrived at the Imperial Guard training camp that I encountered true competition. And now, even in the training camp, there was no one left who could match me—except, perhaps, Ilay Carthica.
The way competition played out might be different, but the Custoria family had plenty of people eager to trample me underfoot. I would fight back with everything I had. And in the end, I would be the one standing victorious.
Just imagining their expressions as they lay defeated at my feet sent a thrilling shiver down my spine.
Yes, I was quite a twisted person. The harder someone tried to suppress me, the more violently I surged upward.
"…Are you enjoying this right now?"
Seeing my smile, Giselle spoke as if she couldn’t comprehend it. Not that I expected her to understand me.
"Giselle, let me ask you something. So far, you've only spoken about your two brothers. What about you? Do you have no intention of becoming the family head?"
I looked straight into her eyes. Even if she lied, her emotions would show through them.
"I don’t see any reason to share that with you."
Giselle spoke coldly, just as she had when we first met. My smile only deepened.
"I have no intention of becoming the head of the family. The name Custoria alone is enough for me. But if someone tries to trample me, I won’t just sit back and let it happen. What happens after that? It’s none of my concern. If the opportunity comes, take it, Giselle Custoria. That’s my advice to you as your older brother."
For the record, I was older than Giselle.
At first, she looked dumbfounded by the word "brother," but soon after, she laughed. Her bright laughter was rare, making it all the more valuable to witness.
"If that time comes, will you support me?"
"I made a promise. As long as you don’t stand against me, I have no reason to hate or harm you."
Hearing my words, Giselle stood up from her chair and extended her hand toward me.
"Then I'll consider you an ally and act accordingly. I look forward to working with you, Luka Oraboni."
I widened my eyes slightly before letting out a chuckle. Then, still seated, I took her hand and shook it.
"Oraboni?"
"This will be the first and last time I call you that."
"Good. I don’t care much for sentimental things either."
Deng, deng.
The antique wall clock chimed elegantly.
It was now dinnertime.
* * *
Even nobles don’t dine extravagantly every single day. Today, however, was an occasion where many members of the Custoria family had gathered. And this was the event where I would be introduced. Since it was a special day, a banquet was being held.
A long dining table, large enough to seat at least sixty people, stretched out in a straight line—so long that voices from one end could barely reach the other.
Behind the table, more than twice as many servants as there were seated guests moved about, attending to the meal. The number of dishes already laid out was overwhelming, yet plates continued to be brought in without pause.
From the seating arrangement, I could discern the hierarchy among the relatives. Hemillas and his direct family sat at the foremost positions. Most honorably, I was included among them.
Next in order were Hemillas’s siblings, nieces, and nephews. Further down the table sat more distant cousins and relatives. At the very end, a few vassals were also seated.
"So, you’re Luka. I’ve heard a lot about you."
It had been a long time since I last heard such a gentle-sounding voice from a middle-aged woman. No—had I ever heard one before? The middle-aged women I had known were all nothing but tenacious and relentless.
‘Eva Custoria.’
My adoptive mother. It wasn’t until dinner began that I finally saw her face in person. On the surface, she appeared warm and amiable.
‘Eva dislikes me. Not that I’m surprised.’
If you listen carefully, Eva’s voice wasn’t just dry—it carried a sharp edge, like thorns. To her, I was nothing more than a threat to her biological sons. There was no way she would welcome me.
But there was nothing to be disappointed about. I had never expected a warm mother figure in the first place. Being treated with hostility was a hundred times better than being pitied, no doubt about it.
"Welcome to the family, Luka. I’m the eldest, Nikolaos, and this here is the second son, Juppe."
A well-groomed man, Nikolaos, placed a hand over his chest as he introduced himself. Though he was a bureaucrat, his gaze was as sharp and cold as a soldier’s. At first glance, he didn’t appear weak or sickly. He was probably conscious of being seen as frail and made an effort to conceal it.
Juppe, whom Nikolaos introduced next, had the typical look of an imperial officer. He had a solid, imposing build, and his uniform was adorned with the standard medals that any long-serving officer would have received.
Juppe didn’t seem pleased that Nikolaos had introduced him instead of letting him speak for himself.
Originally, Nikolaos and Juppe had been rivals. It was no surprise they didn’t get along.
"I've always wanted a brother in the military. Today, that wish came true. Good to meet you, Luka."
Juppe extended his hand toward me. His words were a blatant slight against Nikolaos. It was clear the two had not formed an alliance.
How amusing. This was getting interesting.
The more the atmosphere heated up, the more the long-standing fractures within the family were laid bare, like old scars turning red.
"I’ve also always wanted a reliable older brother."
Flattery I didn’t even mean slipped naturally from my mouth. My social skills had improved quite a bit—well done, Luka.
Next, the younger siblings introduced themselves. To summarize Hemillas’s children, there was the eldest son, Nikolaos, the second son, Juppe, then me and Giselle in the older age group. Below us were two younger boys and one daughter.
After we had all exchanged basic introductions, Eva intervened to stop more people from approaching. Those who had been about to greet me quietly returned to their seats.
"…Now, let me introduce the newest member of the Custoria family—Lukaus Custoria."
Standing behind me, Eva placed her hands on my shoulders and smiled warmly. She was a woman well-versed in pretense and performance.
Lukaus was the new name I had been given. Luka had sounded too much like a name from the lower districts.
My original name was now just a nickname, but I didn’t mind. Whether it was Luka or Lukaus, what did a name really matter?
Clap, clap, clap.
Applause erupted from all around. I carefully studied their faces. The further they were from power, the less interest they showed in me. They likely didn’t care who became the family head.
The vassals, on the other hand, were the ones paying the most attention to me. They were in a position where choosing the right side was crucial. Some of them probably saw me as an opportunity for advancement—whether by supporting me or by opposing me.
"Praise be to the Guardian of Humanity, the Father of the Nation, and the First Emperor of the Empire, His Majesty Dino Accretia."
Hemillas murmured in a prayer-like manner. It was, in a way, a form of prayer.
Before the banquet officially began, everyone clasped their hands together and closed their eyes. The moment they reopened them, the meal commenced.
Clatter.
The sound of utensils moving filled the air.
I could feel Juppe's gaze fixed on me. His eyes stopped at my hands.
‘Looks like he’s looking for something to criticize.’
He wanted to see how I handled my utensils. Noble dining had its own set of etiquette, and table manners were a part of that.
Of course, I had studied proper table manners beforehand. If I simply followed the rules quietly, I could easily disappoint Juppe’s expectations.
But a better idea crossed my mind. Avoiding conflict was never my style.
I stabbed a piece of meat with my knife and shoved it into my mouth, chewing greedily. Juppe spoke up as if he had been waiting for this moment.
"Luka."
I picked up a poultry leg with my hand and feigned an innocent expression.
"Yes? What is it, Juppe Hyung-nim? Ah, the food is delicious."
As I spoke, my eyes darted around. Nikolaos simply smiled in silence. Juppe, however, was itching to call me out.
Just as I expected. The real threat was Nikolaos. Juppe was an idiot.
"Luka, I didn’t want to start things off like this, but…"
Juppe put on a greasy smile, drawing out his words to make sure all eyes were on us.
"…I feel I should correct your table manners. That’s an elder brother’s responsibility, after all. And as fellow soldiers… I don’t know how you’ve lived until now, but you should at least observe the basics. It’s about respecting the father who acknowledged you and, ultimately, the honor of the Custoria family—"
I cut him off.
"I think I’m doing a better job of honoring the Custoria name than someone who has served for ten years without even earning a Cross Blade Medal. Even as a cadet, I’ve already been awarded a military merit medal. I’d say that matters a lot more than some table manners."
I waved the poultry leg in my hand and grinned. Some of the relatives burst into laughter before hastily covering their mouths.
Juppe’s face turned bright red in an instant, as if boiling water had been poured over him. He couldn’t even control his emotions. It was almost embarrassing to think he shared Hemillas’s bloodline.
"Y-You, how dare you…!"
He never expected me to talk back and retaliate. He was utterly lost for words.