Chapter 1
The Northern Grand Duke sought to raise a child that could inherit his title.
Of course, the title itself was a mere formality—what truly mattered was selecting a commander capable of ruling over the northern regions.
A mere title alone would never suffice to lead the northern army, nor would it be enough to stand against monsters and the barbarian tribes.
"... He's fainted again?"
"Yes. They say he collapsed from overexerting himself while using magic."
Tina Radiant, the third daughter of the grand duke's family, answered politely. While her youngest sibling's talent was already proven, he was simply too frail to withstand even the flow of mana. No matter how much effort he put in, he had yet to overcome the limitations he was born with.
"I've told him countless times to take care of himself, but he just won't listen."
"He probably doesn't want to stay the way he is. Maybe he thought he should at least try to do something?"
"And if he ends up dying? Who would be to blame then? Not every problem can be solved by will alone."
The head of the Grand Duke Radiant family, Zair Radiant, let out a regretful sigh and his expression twisted. He had struggled so hard to have a youngest son—who could have known he would be this weak?
Ever since childhood, he had collapsed frequently, and in more serious cases, he had even coughed up blood. By now, even being able to walk slowly was seen as a miracle.
"I know all that... But I just wish you'd try to understand Alter's feelings a little."
"Even if I understand him, nothing will change. Your brother can't do anything. He can't eat properly, can barely use any strength. Am I just supposed to leave him alone?"
"Father, even so, it's not like he can do nothing."
"Alter must do nothing. If he wants to live even a little longer, he has no other choice!"
"..."
Tina seemed to hesitate for a moment before closing her mouth. As much as she wanted to defend Alter's actions, she couldn't argue against her father's words—her brother, Alter Radiant, could barely even keep himself alive.
"His talent for magic is remarkable, and if he wishes to learn, I'd support him as much as he'd like. But that's not the point—he could die at any moment. Is it worth risking that for magic?"
"For now, his family can protect him, but eventually he'll have to live on his own. Wouldn't it be better to have learned magic then..."
"That's why I arranged a marriage with the duke's family. Isn't the capital better than this sort of place? With the duke's connections, you could get medicine or hire clergy. My only goal right now is to save your brother!"
Zair's voice grew heated with concern for his youngest son. He hadn't allowed him to leave the estate, excluding him even from basic training. He prayed only that his son's frail life would not be snuffed out. Still, knowing he couldn't protect him forever, he had to look for new ways.
"I understand what you mean. But I can't help but worry. That young lady over there... Well..."
"Are you trying to say she has a bad personality?"
"I wouldn't exactly say she's great. Even if I ignored the fact that she's a knight, there are rumors she's hot-tempered and rowdy."
Tina was not pleased with the idea of her brother's fiancé. Although she was the duke's daughter, her conduct and personality were known to be quite unruly. If her little brother married her, Tina feared he'd be tormented for the rest of his life.
"They know it, and so do we. Since each side lacks something, we overlook things and move forward quietly."
"In terms of title, you outrank them, father. I'd hardly say we're lacking in authority or wealth, either."
"The Illenat duke's family is a real powerhouse in the capital. They still represent a key faction, and they've never openly defied the imperial family. With their kind of influence, the title itself doesn't matter."
"I just wonder if they'll treat him well. They might look down on him for his frailty."
"Isn't this a political marriage between the grand duke's and the duke's families? If they're rude, they're the only ones at a loss."
Zair already understood the broad terms and interests involved. The Illenat duke likely wanted to expand his influence beyond the capital, while Zair was seeking an ally among the capital's nobles. Since both of their children had clear shortcomings, there wouldn't be much complaint even in a political marriage.
"Even more than that... I just worry if Alter can endure it all. He'll have to go to a strange place and marry someone."
"Your brother should know by now. He's weak, not foolish."
"... When do you plan to send him?"
"Soon. He might get better if he stays in a good place for a while."
"Then I'll be next, I suppose."
Tina was already scheduled to have a betrothal ceremony with a marquis's child—a strictly political marriage considering only the benefit of her family, unlike her youngest brother's. Although not without complaints, she figured it was at least tolerable thanks to her fiancé's decent looks and respectful demeanor.
"You'll both end up living in the capital. It might be troublesome, but... please look after your brother. Explain everything well to your fiancé, too."
"You don't need to ask. I was planning to look out for him anyway. If he's marrying that kind of young lady, I can't just leave him alone."
As always, Tina was keenly aware of her little brother. If only he'd been healthy, he might have become a great magician that shook the empire. But now, he had lost all confidence, left only to work on himself quietly in a withdrawn manner.
'My poor brother... I wish things would get even a little better for him...'
* * *
Instinctively, he opened his eyes, finding the scenery had changed. Just moments ago, he had tried to use magic, if only for an instant. And yet, his vision had gone dark in a flash, his body filled with a sense of internal chaos.
'I used just this much mana, and still...'
The youngest son of the Grand Duke Radiant's house, Alter Radiant, suddenly grasped reality anew. Originally, the character known as Alter Radiant was supposed to die, leading the protagonist to naturally call off the engagement. But Alter Radiant was still alive and moving—and I had now taken over his body.
'So the original owner of this body is already dead, and I'm the one managing it now?'
Alter, roughly understanding the chain of events, tilted his head. In the original story, Alter Radiant was only briefly mentioned in the early chapters. His death brought changes to the protagonist—a condition required to start the story itself.
'But the protagonist isn't what matters right now.'
Struggling, Alter pushed himself up and clutched the left side of his chest. His heartbeat was irregular, and his muscles were stiff. Even the slightest movement was burdensome; he couldn't help but be acutely aware of his condition.
'Can a body really be this weak? How is this even possible?'
Even before attempting magic, his health had been dire. Walking was manageable, but his legs would tremble if he tried to run. Even the faintest cold made him break out in goosebumps, and the skin-tingling chill felt as if his flesh was freezing. How could anyone survive with a body like this?
'... Am I only alive because of my mana?'
Alter incidentally came to understand a certain principle. A normal body would rely on bones and muscles for support when performing actions. But his body was so weak that his bones and muscles couldn't function as intended. That was why an immense amount of mana was compensating, supporting his bones and muscles directly.
'So this is what exceptional talent can do, huh.'
Alter managed to slip out of bed and stand upright. His whole body creaked, but he could still manage for now. He had only tried casting magic on a whim—who could have guessed it would make him faint right away?
'With this body, I can't do anything. Breathing is about all I can manage.'
Only then did Alter begin to consider his own future. Since he was alive, he wouldn't end up breaking off the engagement with the protagonist. If things continued like this, he would inevitably be forced to marry her.
'I have to break off the engagement... but how do I convince them?'
After thinking for a moment, Alter soon simplified his thoughts. The Northern Grand Duke was pushing a political marriage for both his own safety and the sake of the family. If he just changed the process, wouldn't that be enough?
'Better this than getting married to the protagonist. I definitely don't want to compete with all those overachievers.'
* * *
Before dinner, Zair found himself facing Alter. Alter had already arrived at the dining hall, coincidentally with the eldest son and second sister. Now that an accident had happened, Zair had no choice but to scold Alter for it.
"I must have told you repeatedly: do not use magic. You'll only shorten your own life."
"Yes, I apologize for worrying you."
Alter answered politely, glancing around. He'd already gotten an earful from the other family members. Apparently, Alter Radiant received a good deal of attention and affection from his family.
"... There's something I wish to say. May I have a moment?"
"It's fine now. Speak freely."
"I wish to break off my engagement."
"Hm?"
"..."
The eldest son and second daughter reacted immediately, while Zair remained silent. Alter was frail in body, but not in judgment; he clearly had a reason for wanting to bring up dissolving the engagement.
"... There's nothing to gain from breaking off the engagement now. You could only move comfortably if married to a duke's family. Surely, you understand?"
"I'm not saying I don't want to marry. But to change my betrothed, I need to break off the current engagement first, don't I?"
"Are you saying you wish to marry into another noble family?"
"Yes. I believe that would be better."
Political marriages between nobles had long been a tradition throughout the empire. Bloodlines weren't to be tangled, so it was always necessary to contact new noble families. Thus, Alter was sure to marry a noble, but had now made a plausible case for avoiding the protagonist.
"There's nothing higher than the duke's but the imperial family itself. Or is there another reason?"
"The imperial family would be a great burden on you as well, father. There would be more to worry about, and the imperial family might start interfering. In that sense, the duke's family is a little easier to deal with, though that doesn't eliminate the difficulties."
"I can't say you're wrong. But there's value in it. If they're a powerful family, it benefits us as well. That's why I chose the duke's family, even if it's a bit troublesome."
Zair took Alter's answer seriously. He could have asserted his authority, but preferred not to do so. Instead, he needed to fully understand the reasoning behind the desire for a broken engagement and address any oversights.
"The Illenat duke is extremely ambitious. That's why he built a faction, and why he bows deeply to the imperial family. If we became in-laws like this, you could end up under his thumb, father."
"..."
Zair gazed at Alter in silence. It was a concern that had plagued him even before pushing for the political alliance. In the web of connections, ensure that only he didn't benefit—he was obliged to give commensurate consideration to the other party as well. And with his family's future on the line, he had to deliberate with the utmost care.
"If I must stay in the capital, the duke's family is the best on paper. But that's only in terms of conditions. In practice, various inconveniences could arise."
"There will always be minor hassles. But it's surely better than any other noble family. Where else would you find a family as wealthy as the duke's?"
"Is it because my father, siblings, and I are wealthy that we live in the North? No—it's because of our responsibilities and duties that we protect the empire's frontier. Being wealthy does not necessarily mean we are happy."
Zair pondered for a moment and then gave a wry laugh. Alter, despite his frail health, had survived in the northern regions all this time. He had only looked at the blizzards through the window, never joining a single battle. But given his condition, Zair was simply thankful he had even survived this long.
"... So, what you really want is to marry into a lesser house?"
"As long as it's a family you can deal with comfortably, father, that will be enough. All I need to do is stay in the capital, isn't that right?"
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Well, bringing up the divorce was fast...
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】