Chapter 212: Duke Erik

Duke Erik was considered a War Hero. Unlike Cortana, who was bestowed the title of Hero through a series of tests and was handpicked amongst a thousand candidates, Duke Erik's title was bestowed to him due to his achievements during the war.

He had the chance to leave the city, but he chose to stay. He chose to fight for their city… no, for the whole western continent.

It was the climax of the war with the minions of the Demon God. While the Hero of Freiden was fighting the Demon God, Duke Erik and the others were fighting with his minions. It was a long and arduous battle.

But Duke Erik showed his courage and valor by leading only two hundred experts to battle against the tens of thousand minions that the Demon God had summoned all throughout the continent.

They fought a seemingly endless war for years. They protected every city they could. And in the end, when the Hero of Freiden was finally able to defeat the Demon God, there were only 12 of them left against a horde of thousands.

Duke Erik was ready to die. But fate…

...fate was generous.

Right as the 12 of them were about to rush towards their death, the minions all just suddenly turned into ashes, signaling the defeat of the Demon God… signaling the end of the war.

And so, the 12 of them returned as War Heroes, including Commander-in-chief Logan.

They were bestowed the title by the King himself, but since Duke Erik was a noble and originally belonged to the family of a Marquis, the King gifted him the rank of Duke.

Duke Erik now had a direct relation with the Royal Family. But the first thing he did, however, was not to lavish and to take advantage of his newfound title, no. Instead, he rebuilt the city of his family, The City of Quinn.

He built the city for those that were affected and devastated by hundreds of years of war. So that they could live freely with no fear of losing their lives. A city that he would protect.

He built the city so that her sister could find her way back home.

Duke Erik… always puts himself last.

But now, that War Hero, strong and brave, was currently being reprimanded by his wife.

Viel and the group were now in the guest hall and currently seated at a large dining table, but all of them could not help but keep quiet as Duke Erik's wife pierced through the other side of the door and into their ears… and this has been going on for more than an hour now.

Duke Erik's wife, Natalia, went wild as soon as she heard Charlotte mentioning Viel… mentioning that he is Duke Erik's son.

And so, Duke Erik and Charlotte's emotional reunion truly became… emotional.

"What do you mean he's not your child!?", Natalia's loud voice almost shook the door as if it wanted to barge inside and pull Viel out of the castle. "Tell me, which woman was it!? Was it that Easterner you said that you met in the bar before you met me!?"

"No, wait… Don't tell me this was after we were already married!?"

"What!? No!", Duke Erik's shout also seeped through the cracks of the door, not as loud as his wife's voice, however. "Charlotte, please… tell my wife that the boy isn't my son!"

"I haven't even been to Choryu, let alone this Taizhou City!", Duke Erik continued to plead his case, "Please, you have to believe me!"

Charlotte, who was trying to alleviate the situation, didn't really know what to say. She was so convinced that Viel was her brother's son, but now that his brother was denying it with all his might… maybe Viel really was just a stranger?

No, that was impossible. No matter how you looked at it, Viel… was definitely one of them. Is his brother lying?

"See!? Even your sister is quiet and could not believe that you are denying it until now even though the evidence is here and clear!", Natalia's voice once again shook the entire castle, "Do you dare lie to me again!?"

"N… no! I am not lying!"

"..."

The group inside the guest hall could not help but look at each other as Duke Erik and his wife's exchange continued to enter through their ears.

"I think I might have caused trouble", Viel said as he let out an awkward chuckle.

Hearing Viel's words, Sofia could not help but be in shock. For once, Viel was finally aware of his silly actions, she thought as she fixed her spectacles. This all started when he greeted Duke Erik and called him his father.

And even though he said he was joking afterward, Natalia was no longer hearing any of it.

It took another half an hour before the heated discussion outside subsided and the door of the guest hall opened.

Duke Erik was the first to enter, his eyes completely devoid of any life and his lips were moving on their own as if muttering an ancient mantra. Natalia's eyes, however, were still full of color as her shoulders went up and down, obviously catching her breath from all the words that she spewed towards her husband.

But still, she was a lot calmer than before. However, as soon as her eyes reached Viel, her eyebrows once again knitted as she took her seat.

"It's impossible that this boy is not related to your family", she said as she stared at Viel's eyes.

"L… let's talk about this again later", Duke Erik stuttered as he quickly waved his hand, gesturing for the servants to bring in the food, "I am sure our guests are famished".

But as soon as the servants had finished placing all of the dishes on the table and left, Natalia once again opened her mouth.

"You… were born in Taizhou?", she said as she looked at Viel straight in the eyes.

"...Yes?", Viel could not help but slightly look to the side as he was unable to take the fierce gaze that Natalia was giving him.

"S… see!?", Duke Erik lightly slammed his palm on the table due to his excitement, "I have never even stepped foot in Choryu!", he then repeated one of his alibis.

Hearing her husband's words, Natalia once again stared straight at Viel's eyes.

Charlotte's mind, on the other hand, was now feeling a lot more complicated. Viel has to be related to them! She bellowed repeatedly in her mind.

It wasn't just that he looked similar to them. But the very first time she met Viel years ago, she felt a certain connection towards him. She was remaining distant now since Sofia was always by Viel's side, but even now, she felt a certain closeness to Viel.

"But if he is not your son and he is not your sister's son…", Natalia placed her hand on her chin, "...Is it possible that your father had another family besides--"

"No!", Charlotte quickly waved her hand, "Father is not capable of doing that!", she said, her voice a bit agitated.

Natalia could not help but release a long sigh as she quickly apologized, "Then do you know anyone else in your family?"

"Because it's impossible that the boy is not related to the both of you", she continued, "Look at him, he's like a small replica of Charlotte. Add to the fact that he's a boy and still looks like your sister"

"Hm…", Duke Erik squinted his eyes as he once again took a good look at Viel. He really did look like Charlotte when she was younger, except for the fact that his face somewhat shared a similarity to the people of the East.

Small eyes, a small and somewhat sharp face…

"Wait…", Duke Erik then let out a muffled voice, "...Are you sure he's not your son with an Easterner, Charlotte?"

"Seriously, that again?", Charlotte could not help but let out a frustrated sigh, "I would know if I got pregnant, brother", she then chuckled. Even if she somewhat miraculously gave birth unknowingly, the only time that would have happened was when after she had an accident.

But even then, she was only unconscious for a day. And she wasn't a loose girl, just a foolish one. The only relationship that she had where she offered her body was with Li Zhao, who played her like a fool.

"What kind of stupid question is that, Charles?", Natalia also let out a sigh as she looked at her husband with eyes of disappointment.

"That…", Duke Erik could only shake his head in defeat. He really did not know what to think anymore. Since Viel was born in Taizhou, and Charlotte was also in Taizhou, it is too much to pass off as just a coincidence. But why would his sister even lie about something like this?

Was she ashamed that Viel didn't have a father... and left him alone in the streets?

No. Duke Erik quickly shook his head. He may have not seen Charlotte for a long time, but he was sure that her sister was not capable of abandoning her own child.

The others, who thought that they could eat already, once again all stared at each other. They already had their spoons in their hands, but they just couldn't eat as the three were still arguing.

Even Viel, who would normally not care and just eat on his own could not help but sigh as the three continued to argue with each other.

But after a few seconds, they instantly stopped talking as soon as Viel opened his mouth.

"Miss Charlotte…", he said as he stood up from his seat, "I…

...am your son"

"!!!"