Julian walked up to the bed and sat beside the Duke, trying to be some sort of emotional or physical anchor to help him feel better with just his presence.

He learned that just being there, even without speaking, can help a lot.

But then all of a sudden, the Duke dropped his head on Julian’s body shocking him.

What was the meaning of this?

He was freaked out but he couldn’t push the Duke away, not when he was in such a vulnerable state and had trusted him to be a shoulder he could lean on. Well, a thigh to lean on.

And so, he stayed still...

"Are you... Not going to ask me how I did that?" He asked but the Duke answered,

"What does it matter?"

Julian closed his eyes, hearing the hurt in the Duke’s voice.

Yeah, it probably doesn’t matter much now.

The Viremount Empire was large, stemming from the victorious conquest of the former founders.

It was developed in both technology, alchemy, and magic. It was a prosperous place, so seeing a little magic trick or two wasn’t considered suspicious... But when those magic tricks end up doing something the laws of the world consider forbidden... They are referred to as black magic, which is strictly forbidden.

As tempting as it was to venture into this dark unknown, alchemists and mages tend not to because it was easy to get corrupted to the point of no return.

So, when Julian told the Duke he would let him see his wife once, the first thing that came to his mind was black magic, something sinister, but even then, he still took the deal... That was how desperate he was.

He didn’t care if his own soul fell into ruin afterwards. He just wanted one chance. One last chance to see, and apologize to his wife for not being the husband that could save her, for not being by her side even as she took her last breath.

Julian read the history of the continent many times in the imperial library, and knowing there were all sorts of bizarre and crazy inventions from the magic and alchemy towers, he felt he could bring out the toys and items the system provided without being thoroughly questioned.

If he were ever questioned, he had just the plan to slip away.

Now, watching the Duke as he wailed over the memory of his wife, he couldn’t help but feel something well up inside him.

He reached for the Duke’s head and stroked him, hoping that would at least relieve him a bit.

To think he’d see such a big man crying on him like a child.

Guess age doesn’t define emotions.

At this moment, the system Chimed, displaying a congratulations message in front of him.

>[Congratulations, you have successfully cleared a hidden piece.]

Julian looked at the purple screen displayed before him. Was there a hidden piece in helping the Duke see his wife again?

Well, it didn’t matter if the reward was good.

>[You have been rewarded with 100 SP and an opportunity to look into the Duke’s past. Will you accept? (Y/N)]

Julian paused.

Look into the Duke’s past? Was that even possible?

He looked down at the Duke, who had quieted down a little, and then twisted his lips. Well, there was harm in looking at his past. It would help him understand the Duke better.

’Alright, I accept.’ he thought, tapping on (Y)

A bright light shone over him, enveloping him until there was nothing more. And then, the memories began to fill his head, as if he were watching a movie.

...

Duke Alaric was one of two Dukes in the Viremount Empire.

Only two?

One might wonder why there were only two when the Empire was so large.

Unofficially known, it was to keep the noble factions under the control of the imperials for a really long time. And what better way to do it than to decrease the level of power the nobles possess?

One very secure way was to put an imperial into one of those positions.

Duke Alaric wasn’t just any Duke, mind you, he was a Duke bestowed the title of Grand Duke.

So, in formal events, he is introduced as, Grand Duke Alaric Lucien Blackspire.

The Duchy was renamed after his appointment, and the way to tie that knot and solidify his position was to marry him to the daughter of the previous Duke, who had no heirs, but just one daughter.

Now, many will wonder, ’Does the Emperor not fear that the Duke of the North will raise an army and try to usurp the throne?’

There were so many concerns, even before Duke Alaric threw away his imperial title—Prince Lucien Viremount and became Grand Duke Lucien Blackspire of the Alaric Duchy.

As a black-skinned royal, he was ridiculed in the palace, but not for long. Because anyone who tried to bully him or talk behind his back either disappeared without a trace or was never able to speak again.

Usually, an Emperor does not simply leave his brother be just because he promises never to interfere with his succession and the throne. They are usually cut off to offset any future dangers.

But the current Emperor back then and Duke Alaric was what one would call... inseparable.

In a simple sentence, the Duke was a precious family to the Emperor.

The Emperor, Aurelian Viremount... Alaric, adored his brother, even if his mother was from the South and later ended up giving him one of his names and naming the Duchy after him. Alaric.

Gossip at that time said the Emperor simply wanted to claim the North and that was why he did that, but was it truly the North he wanted to claim?

Emperor Aurelian wanted his brother to have everything, but his brother never asked for anything.

It was a relationship where one wanted the other to depend on him and the other wanted to be independent... Away from the crown of royalty, and so he began knight training.

He took lessons from the skilled Duke after earning his recognition, and during his training, he met the daughter of the Duke, Bellanora. She was a young lady with striking features—raven black hair, purple eyes that seemed more beautiful than the blue sky itself, and beautiful pale skin that made even winter jealous.

Lucien fell in love at first sight and made a request to his father, wishing to be betrothed to the Duke’s daughter, but unfortunately, the Duke’s daughter had already been betrothed to another.

The son of the second Duke of the Empire.