The patriarch's nephew!!!
Alexi Haiden could put a claim on the seat, which was not common but is accepted by the family rules.
His father and the patriarch's elder brother, Honko Haiden, had everything. Talent, power, and wealth. But there was one thing he never earned, the one thing that made all the difference.
Respect.
Even with all the resources at his disposal and loyal allies rallying behind him, it was his younger brother who ultimately claimed the patriarch's seat. The same people who once supported Honko's claim turned their backs when the time came.
Now, he was determined to set things right—through his son, Alexi Haiden.
And as if the gods themselves willed it, the situation was finally in his favor. Two of the direct heirs were now disqualified from succession, while the third—an outsider in the family's eyes—was hated and distrusted.
There would never be a better opportunity.
Wasting no time, Honko rallied the elders, securing their support with promises of land and favors—enticements designed to cement their power within the family and raise their standing in the aristocracy.
As he conversed with noble guests paying their respects to the late patriarch, a soldier approached. He wore a blue scarf wrapped tightly around his head. The soldier bowed low, then glanced upward to signal the urgency of his message.
Honko, sensing the need for privacy, excused himself and walked a short distance away. The soldier followed.
"The twins have arrived," the soldier said quietly.
Honko gave a small nod, then whispered a few instructions before sending the man off.
Turning back to the crowd, he raised his voice with courteous grace.
"My dear guests, you must be weary from today's events. Please, take some rest before the final rites resume. The rituals will take some time to prepare. Meanwhile, enjoy a warm cup of khada, specially brewed in honor of your presence."
He bowed slightly, gesturing to nearby caretakers to guide the guests to their chambers.
Then he turned down the corridor toward his personal room. At the far end of the hallway, a broken wooden beam jutted from the roof above his door, a reminiscent of his childhood.
He remembered his younger brother swinging from that beam, banging on the door in defiance, laughing as he stirred his elder brother's wrath.
"Ah... bitter-sweet memories. What use are they," Honko muttered to himself, "except to make the soft-hearted hesitate when danger lurks?" He scoffed. "The old me might have grieved. Now, I only wish I'd strangled him back then. Would've spared me years of humiliation and regret."
***
Across the estate, Luko glanced over his shoulder and said flatly, "I'm leaving, sister. I don't intend to spend a second more here than necessary. I just hope I get what I want,without any interference."
He looked at her, bowed slightly, and turned to leave.
Anarita shifted her gaze to the inner entrance. A towering roof rose ahead, supported by four ancient stone pillars. Each was inscribed with sacred chants of the Old Monks, long, winding texts imbued with holy magic. Acquiring such pillars had cost the Haiden family a fortune, but they served more than aesthetic value. These pillars stood as silent sentinels, shielding the estate from tier-three magical attacks, an unseen but potent defense.
She began to walk forward when she noticed a soldier wearing a blue scarf, marking him as a member of the internal corps, approaching Luko. He bowed, leaned in, and whispered something.
Luko grinned faintly when the soldier finished. He raised a hand, halting the man from walking toward his sister, and approached Anarita himself.
"Guess what?" he said, voice tinged with amusement. "Uncle Honko's invited us to his chambers. Just the two of us. What do you say?"
Anarita raised an eyebrow but quickly returned to her composed demeanor. She had expected this, though not so soon. Honko's haste made things clearer, he was eager to seize control. Good. Desperation was leverage.
A smirk flickered in her mind. If Honko was moving fast, then they had the upper hand. She'd just need to ensure her twin brother didn't try to outmaneuver her when it came time to claim her share.
She walked ahead without a word. Luko followed, a slight bounce in his step.
***
In Honko's Chamber...
The hallway lights dimmed as Honko entered his room. He handed his overcoat to a servant, then requested a bottle of aged red wine.
Seated at a table draped in spotted leopard hide, he poured himself a glass. The rich sweetness lingered on his tongue, but his thoughts tasted of worry.
The twins posed a serious threat.
He had plans to deal with the bastard son, but the twins' power and unpredictability made them dangerous. The kind of danger that could unravel everything.
A knock broke his concentration.
"Enter," he said.
A man in black overalls stepped in, a curved dagger strapped to his belt. He knelt on one knee and made a fist with his right hand on his chest in a formal salute.
"My lord," he began, "news from the Western Regiment. We've tracked a Nightangel residing in the capital. At first, her actions were unremarkable, but recently, a general of the 41st Navy Corps was seen visiting her. We've confirmed a forbidden relationship between them, and a child born of that union. Orders?"
Honko's expression darkened subtly.
A forbidden union between a high-ranking military officer and a Nightangel could shift political tides if played correctly. Blackmail, leverage, even as a favour card for another kingdom.
"Tell them to stand down for now. No further surveillance," he said. "But bring me every detail about the general, his family, connections, affiliations."
The man bowed. "Also, your son has returned from the eastern front. He'll arrive by nightfall."
"Good," Honko replied with a thin smile. "He'll be pleased with what's coming."
****
Meanwhile, in the Mourning Hall...
Rai stood before a towering granite statue of the late Patriarch. The sculpture's intricate detailing captured the man's rigid nobility and steely gaze. Even in stone, his presence demanded submission.
"Do you think they buried his honor with him?" Rai asked.
Jake, seated behind him, responded dryly, "Or maybe he never had any. Just a well-fitted mask."
Rai turned. "Do you trust them?"
Jake looked at the statue, then back at Rai. "No. Honestly, I don't even trust you. I'm just here for the food and money."
Rai chuckled. Classic Jake.
Jake had always been by his side. When Rai was younger, his father assigned Jake as a bodyguard. Rai protested back then, as Jake was small, awkward, and weak. But complaints faded as trouble grew. When noble brats picked fights with Rai, Jake fought back, fists flailing, more loyal than skilled. He spent more time in punishment than in class. The teachers hated him, but the Patriarch's orders were clear: Jake was to stay.
They parted ways after school. Rai joined the prestigious Collengen University of Technology, just a step below Saigon University. Jake left the city.
Rai heard nothing from him for years. Then, one day after graduation, a letter arrived.
Jake was coming.
Rai spotted him in the crowd after the ceremony, and stared.
The frail boy was gone. In his place stood a lean, scarred man with hard muscle and even harder eyes. The old curious eyes had vanished, replaced by a cold void that unsettled Rai. But only for a moment.
"JAKE!" he shouted, pulling him into a hug.
Jake staggered in surprise, then returned the embrace.
"All these years, where the hell were you, asshole?!"