813 – Buds Under an Old Tree – 3

Of the five dukes, the most recent to become a duke was Hyeonhyeon-gong. The fact that Duke Hyeonmyeong was a drunkard has not changed since then, but the emperor at the time highly regarded Duke Hyeonmyeong’s abilities and bestowed him with the title of ‘Hyeonmyeong’.

There must have been a lot of conflict while naming Hyeonhyeon. I wonder if it is right to use the title of wisdom on such a person. A sigh, wondering how such a person came from Gyeong Gyeong-gong.

At the same time, I think there may have been some feelings of hope that he would show a dignity worthy of the name Hyeon-hyeon. In the end, Hyeonjae-gong was Hyeonjae-gong until the moment the emperor retreated due to circumstances.

In any case, if the last duke during the reign of Sang Sang was Duke Hyeonmyeong, the first duke during the reign of the current emperor was Duke Yeomyeong.

“Congratulations, brother.”

As soon as I heard the imperial family’s announcement, I sent a message to my brother, who became the new Duke of Wolken. Luckily, my hands were faster than others, so I wasn’t on the phone with anyone else.

“It may be a bit unexpected, but you will lead the Dukedom of Wolken admirably. Isn’t he already the equivalent of a duke?”

I poured out all kinds of good words to my brother who was on the other side of the communication port.

Publicly, he is the new duke of the empire, and privately, he is Mar’s older brother her her. I am willing to pour out as many compliments and support as I can.

– Thank you, youngest brother-in-law. I received congratulations from my brother-in-law before Barenti like this.

Brother let out a small laugh – Lord Dawn touched the back of his neck with his right hand. It seems like the burden of being a duke on his shoulders his feels heavy.

I feel sorry for my brother, but this is the most appropriate response. The Duke is the pinnacle of the Empire’s nobility. Even though you have reached such a position, if you feel more joy than burden, doesn’t that mean you are a person who is prone to accidents? A person who puts his duties before his rights his to his role is a true noble.

– But like my brother-in-law said, it’s so sudden that I’m embarrassed. I wish I had had time to prepare.

“My father-in-law was also very generous. He mentioned it during the New Year’s wedding, so it was barely over a week─”

– I heard it yesterday.

?

“Yes?”

My head instantly stiffened at my brother’s words.

I heard it yesterday. What? I heard you were going to become a duke yesterday?

– After dinner last night, he suddenly called me into my room and said that from tomorrow you will be a duke. How absurd it was.

The expression on my brother’s face, as he laughed again, was full of bitterness. Looking at it now, even that smile was extremely awkward.

‘Crazy.’

Thanks to this, I was left speechless. Although my father-in-law demanded that I keep quiet about this matter, I had no idea that he would also keep it quiet from his son, the next duke. I wonder if the scope of this is too wide.

‘I woke up and found myself a duke.’

It reminded me of the time when I inherited the earldom of Tyglehen.

He was also burdened when he became one of the thirty imperial hundreds rather than one of the five dukes. Even though he had been informed in advance by his father, he was extremely embarrassed. Even though he had a long preparation period, he was confused when he finally took over.

Maybe that’s why I can’t even imagine his brother’s burden and embarrassment. I would only be able to understand my feelings if they were multiplied tens or hundreds of times.

– But I’m glad it’s something I’ve been preparing for a long time. Because I thought it was only a matter of time before I inherited the Dukedom.

“Is that so?”

– Okay. Of course, I didn’t think I would inherit it in one day.

My brother’s tearful laughter did not stop.

Still, like my brother said, I can’t tell you how fortunate I am because it’s something I’ve been preparing for for a long time. The father-in-law had passed his real power to his older brother his, and he was active only when he had to show the duke’s face his. In reality, the Duke was already like an older brother. That’s probably why the sudden transfer of the operational command was less shocking.

…Is it less? It should be right.

– I’m just a little worried. My father was a man who ruled under the name of Sanghyeol for decades. Will I be able to completely fill his void?

I closed my mouth again at my brother’s words, which felt a different kind of bitterness than before.

It is difficult for anyone to replace a giant that has reigned for decades. Comforting with empty words is actually poisonous to your brother.

– Anyway, thank you for the congratulations, brother-in-law! We’ll hold a celebration as soon as possible, so make sure to come!

“Of course. I will prepare a gift that will satisfy you.”

– Hehe, if you bring a pedi, it’s enough as a gift.

Fortunately, my brother’s agony was short-lived.

No, it’s not that the agony was short, but the time it took me to calm down was quick. The fact that my brother became a duke is a truth that must be obeyed.

It seems that my father-in-law decided to keep quiet.

“Oh, your brother is a duke?”

“Yes. Now you can call me Dawn-gong.”

Even Mar, the youngest child whom my father-in-law loved more than anyone else, did not hear anything about the transfer of the Dukedom.

Confusing. The transfer of the dukedom is important, but is it something worth hiding from your family? Rather, shouldn’t the family know?

‘I guess you all had an idea.’

It was a complicated feeling, but it was my father-in-law’s decision, not anyone else’s. There was a reason for everything, so you probably kept it quiet. Since he was one of the oldest dukes, he must have had a meaning that a mere child could not fathom.

“It seemed like you were embarrassed, too. But you’re a capable and sincere person, so I’m sure you’ll adapt quickly.”

Anyway, I patted Mar, who was confused, and said the most positive things I could.

An era where dawn, not iron blood, reigns. A new era of Dukeing that will last for decades to come. As a person welcoming this new era, it is wise to applaud with a smiling face rather than a perplexed face. Although the person involved may feel distressed and burdened, we, the people around us, should congratulate him with a pure heart.

How frustrating would it be if people around you were whispering when you were so upset yourself? It must feel like people in the world are doubting your abilities.

“Of course, it won’t be easy to fill the void left by my father-in-law. As my father-in-law’s presence was strong, people will have high expectations from him.”

“I guess so…”

“But Duke of Valor, the Duke of Ulken in the pre-war era, was also a strong pillar. When Duke of Bravery passed away, there were many concerns about whether my father-in-law would be able to fill the void.”

Duke Valor, the 17th Duke of Wolken. As his name suggests, he boasted tremendous bravery and was a warrior who belonged to the strongest line of the empire at the time.

His son, Cheolhyeolgong, successfully took on the title of Brave Mangong. There is nothing that my father-in-law couldn’t do as my older brother.

“As a warrior, he is not even close to my toes. However, his administrative skills and ability to deal with people are superior to mine. Isn’t that enough? What you need to rule is not a strong knight, but a wise bureaucrat.”

Moreover, my father-in-law did not retire simply because he wanted to rest. He trusted his brother and passed it on.

The process was somewhat urgent and bizarre, but I believed it anyway.

“Oh, he asked me to bring a pedi to the celebration. He said he would treat it as a gift.”

“I think I will not only go for a pedi, but I will also go for a pedi.”

The corners of my mouth went up reflexively at those words.

That is correct. Nar, a precious treasure obtained from Zereno. It is speculated that Gnar, who is already showing off his presence strongly, will be born next month or the month after. You can show your brother not only a pedi but also a pedicure as a gift.

You won’t prepare a celebration for the Duke’s ascension overnight. When the heat of the New Year’s wedding ceremony cools down and the warmth of spring approaches, not the coldness of winter. At that time, a celebration banquet will be held for Duke Dawn.

“Pedi looks a lot like me, so I guess Nar looks like her mom?”

“Hehe, then your father and brother will be happy too. Maybe your father won’t let go of Nar from his arms.”

“It’s scary because it really seems like that.”

She is her father-in-law who is passionately in love with Mar, her youngest and eldest child. If a grandchild who looks exactly like Mar is born, she may disappear into hiding, keeping her in her arms.

That’s a problem. Since you are retired, there will be no answer if you decide to hide in a quiet place.

‘Let me keep holding you.’

Our Narr. When I go to my grandfather’s house, I just stay in my father’s arms.

***

Duke Ulken has changed. This is the first duke change in a long time since the Duke of Chenes was changed from Duke of Gyeonggi to Duke of Wise.

‘How many times have I done this?’

Suddenly, I remembered how many dukes passed by while I was a duke under the name Majong.

The Dukes of Nuren, the Dukes of Barenti, the Dukes of Ossiden, and the Dukes of Salon. While the Catovan duchy held on steadily, several dukes in the four ducal families repeatedly disappeared and ascended to the throne.

‘Did you say he was the 19th Duke of Wolken?’

The Duke of Serbet is still the 11th generation. While I was in my position, the other dukes really changed a lot.

It was bitter. It was unavoidable since the lifespans of humans and elves were different, but even the Iron Blood Lord stepped down due to old age. I hear that he reigned for a long time even though he came to the throne later than me.

‘Then I am.’

How long was the 100 years I spent as a duke? How burdensome would it be if Maria had to shoulder the presence I had built up?

Carl said that the new Duke Ulken—Duke Dawn—Duke was feeling the pressure. He said he felt responsible for the gap in his predecessor.

We, Mary, must bear a burden that is several times greater than that. She is the child who will one day become the 12th Duke of Servet.

‘It’s been too long.’

Before I knew it, my hands were shaking slightly. The greater the presence of previous generations, the greater the burden on future generations. Even if I step down immediately, the burden that future generations will have to bear will be significant, and if we wait until Mary grows up, it will become even heavier.

It is difficult. What on earth should I do with this? What can we do to ease Maria’s burden even a little?

‘It would be great if there was someone in the middle to coordinate it.’

I sighed softly. The person who will inherit my duchy and fill the void, and who will pass it on to Maria when she grows up. If there is such a person, this worry will disappear.

But unfortunately, there is no one who can take on such an important responsibility. Aside from the fact that there are few people capable enough to fill my void, the only members of the Catoban Duke family are me and my three children.

No. Should I consider my wife Karl to be Catoban as well?

‘Me too, what on earth was I thinking?’

A sigh followed by a chuckle. How can one think of a knife in this situation?

Of course, Karl is capable enough to succeed me, and he has the character to shoulder the burden of dukedom for the children and be willing to hand it over to Maria when she grows up. She is the only person he can trust and entrust to the Duchy of Catovan and the Duchy of Servet. He is a nobleman with ties to the Catovan duchy through marriage.

In order to inherit the family name and title, there were cases where a son-in-law, rather than a daughter, inherited the title, or a husband received his wife’s title his …

‘Huh?’

Without realizing it, I shook my shoulders.

Why… The more I think about it, the more it seems okay?