Chapter 221. The Child By The Pond (1)

Translator: Lili

Weekly Chapter 1/6

Kiehlermann Henriad knew himself better than anyone. During the five years he spent in politics, crushing and eliminating the old aristocracy, he nurtured an insatiable hunger for honor.

Even as he understood better than anyone that ‘blue blood’ was a myth, he couldn’t escape his longing for it. He alternated between despising himself for this obsession and being utterly consumed by it.

“Father.”

It was his son, Aaron Henriad, whose talents finally freed Kiehlermann from that yearning.

Aaron, with his jet-black, lustrous hair and stunningly beautiful face, was a prodigy. He could read and comprehend text at twice the speed of children his age, and his ability to learn anything was extraordinary.

From an early age, Aaron Henriad embodied all of Kiehlermann’s expectations, both in appearance and intellect. Declaring him as his successor, Kiehlermann found great satisfaction in his son.

Yet the talent that truly fulfilled Kiehlermann’s ambitions wasn’t Aaron’s intelligence or beauty—it was something else entirely. Aaron, who bore a striking resemblance to Kiehlermann’s wife from their arranged marriage, had the gift of magic.

For Kiehlermann, this was a monumental advantage, both personally and politically.

Even during the age of monarchies, the best way for a commoner to stand equal with nobles was by becoming an exceptional mage. In Euspolia, where magic was a cornerstone of society, an individual capable of mastering advanced magic was regarded as a noble being, regardless of their origins.

Kiehlermann sent Aaron to a mage training academy. There, his son surpassed all others and became the most accomplished mage of his generation. After graduation, Aaron became Kiehlermann’s most significant political asset.

Life seemed to smile on Kiehlermann. Even the political conflicts with the old aristocrats began to shift in Kiehlermann’s favor. Everything was going smoothly.

But then…

Kiehlermann opened and closed his aged eyes. Now an old man, he had not only won his political battles but had also become the most powerful man in Euspolia. No one could push him out of power until his death.

Born into a humble family, he had risen to the pinnacle. The old saying, ‘The chair makes the man,’ no longer sounded like mockery—it had become a legend. Kiehlermann was the very embodiment of a perfect victory.

And yet, as the victor, he found himself tormented by something he could not let go. He had no wife, no son, no daughter-in-law. His only heir was his grandson, the sole remaining member of his family.

That grandson was none other than Daria Henriad, the man currently causing all manner of chaos in Logwin with his unpredictable behavior while ostensibly investigating Garnelly Mailey.

Kiehlermann sighed deeply, his gaze falling on a poisonous plant by the window. He remembered the first time he met his grandson. It was about ten years after Aaron Henriad had relocated.

To the north of Euspolia lay a mountainous region where snow covered the land for most of the year.

The summers were brief, and the winters long. The forests there were eerily quiet. While teeming with wildlife, the nearest village was more than two hours away on foot, and even the villagers rarely ventured into the woods for fear of getting lost.

Few people wanted to die in those snow-covered forests—unless, of course, they were criminals, outlaws, or those with lives worse than death.

The government knew that many wanted criminals fled to those woods, but no special warnings were issued to the villagers. Even the Chief Security Officer regarded it as a minor issue.

It had been common knowledge since the days of the absolute monarchy: criminals sought refuge in the uninhabited wilderness. It was an age-old fact that the locals found tiresome, but familiar.

However, Kiehlermann, then the leader of the anti-aristocratic faction embroiled in political strife, couldn’t dismiss this information when he came across it by chance.

Taking a rare break, he ventured into the woods, walking endlessly. Snow from the branches covered his coat, turning it white, and despite his high-quality boots, his feet grew numb from the cold.

Still, he wasn’t worried about losing his way. A thick column of black smoke rose like a great flag from his destination, reaching up to the clouds.

Kiehlermann trudged through the snow, parting branches as he made his way toward the smoke.

The closer he got, the more the clean, crisp forest air gave way to an acrid, empty stench that made his heart pound painfully.

‘This is unnecessary. It’s common for criminals to hide in these woods.’

Kiehlermann muttered to himself, trying to rationalize his actions. But he couldn’t ignore the Chief Security Officer’s remark that no bodies of the escaped criminals had ever been found. ‘With a what if…?’ in his mind, he ventured into the woods.