In the house, Raymond, Jack, and Karl stared at each other with wide eyes, none of them speaking first, while the butler, Hans, remained nearby.
"So, he really is my biological father..." Karl pressed his lips together, not uttering those two words.
Jack nodded affirmatively, took a glass of wine and had a sip, a hint of displeasure on his face as he glanced at Raymond.
"Yes, Karl. Although I don't want to admit it..."
"Raymond is indeed your biological father. You can tell just by looking at your hair color, the seven-point resemblance in your features, and your surname."
Karl glanced at Raymond, who looked excited and was scrutinizing him from head to toe in surprise.
Karl's lips parted slightly; he wanted to say something but fell silent.
He had lived with Jack for many years and had asked him about his father.
However, Jack was very displeased and didn't want to talk about it at all.
From Jack's expression and resistance, he roughly guessed that the father he had never met might not be a good person.
Therefore, he had long since given up on the father he never knew in his heart.
But now, his biological father had suddenly shown up at his door and wanted to acknowledge him.
At least for a short while, he couldn't accept it; he had no emotional foundation with the other party.
Moreover, his biological father hadn't fulfilled his duty to raise him, so was he supposed to just call him "Father" now?
Sorry, he really couldn't bring himself to say it, even if the other party was a noble.
Raymond looked at Karl's slightly boyish face and saw that he remained silent, understanding the child's thoughts.
"Child... I don't expect you to forgive me, acknowledge me, or call me Father."
"Truth be told, I owe too much to you and Alyssa. I'm not a good father, let alone a good husband."
"I only hope to leave you everything I have before I die from this illness, to make up for my debt."
Listening to the other's sincere words, Karl's heart was touched.
He looked at Raymond's gaunt face and sunken eyes.
"Mr. Raymond... What illness do you have?" Karl frowned and suddenly asked.
Regarding Raymond's strong desire for him to inherit everything, he didn't jump at it, so he asked about the inheritance requirements instead.
Compared to those insignificant riches and even titles, he was more concerned about the condition of this father he had never met.
Faced with Karl's unexpected question, showing no intention of discussing inheritance,
Raymond was stunned and, after a brief pause, finally told him about his illness.
"The Pale Sickness. According to the physicians, it's not contagious. It mainly affects the blood-producing function. It's a chronic disease and incurable."
Raymond was very calm as he relayed the physician's analysis of his condition, with no fear of death on his face.
Hearing the name of the illness, Karl leaned on his elbow against his cheek and thought for a moment.
Pale Sickness? Affects blood-producing function... isn't that leukemia?
In modern times, it could be treated; it's not an incurable disease at all. But the background of this magical world is the Middle Ages. What do you have to cure it with...
Seeing Karl still deep in thought, Raymond smiled gently, "Child, don't be upset about this. Even a professor from the Oxenfurt Academy said there's no cure for the Pale Sickness."
"Now, I just hope you will inherit everything, so that the name El doesn't vanish from history. Cough... Cough!"
Karl came to and curled his lip, not agreeing with the statement that there was no cure, but he didn't argue with Raymond to his face.
After all, based on his past life experience, he wasn't a properly educated person on the surface, let alone something as risky as a Witcher.
If he mentioned things like djinns, they were like legendary magical creatures.
Presumably, Jack and the others would think he had read too many fairy tales.
You know, the Witcher world isn't just a medieval setting; it also has Chaos magic and lake fairies.
Furthermore, there are other spirits, like djinns that can grant wishes, and there are even clearly gods.
If ordinary medicine or even potions couldn't cure Raymond's illness,
then he would go find a lake fairy, a djinn. Simple leukemia—he refused to believe they couldn't cure it!
Even if chronic leukemia is left untreated, a patient can sustain it for about five years, which is enough time to find a cure.
"Mr. Raymond... What do you need me to do?"
Raymond saw that Karl kept calling him "sir" and knew in his heart that Karl still felt a strong sense of alienation from him, but he wasn't bothered by it.
He smiled calmly and slowly said, "Child, strictly speaking, you are my eldest son, but the law of Temeria doesn't see it that way."
"If you want to inherit the title, you first need to be legitimized, to be changed from a bastard son into a regular heir."
"Just acknowledging your identity would only allow you to inherit the property I have purchased or acquired, not the title or family lands."
"Therefore, you need to obtain a charter from the High Priestess of the Temple of Melitele, Nenneke, or from King Foltest."
"It would be best to get permission from two people simultaneously, so that others will rarely use your illegitimate status to pressure you."
After hearing Raymond's description of the requirements, Karl was speechless for a while.
Damn, what kind of Middle Ages is this? This inheritance system is just crap.
The Temple of Melitele is the most widespread and oldest temple on the Continent, and the current High Priestess of the temple is Nenneke.
Melitele's teachings are based on love and tolerance. If he honestly told Nenneke about his and Raymond's situation, he was sure he could get permission from the other side.
But dealing with Foltest wouldn't be easy. Legitimizing a bastard wasn't something a king just handed out, let alone one who wasn't even legitimate.
He wanted the other party to grant a charter, but he was afraid political interests would be unavoidable.
Thinking this, Karl looked troubled. The last thing he wanted was political dealings with the king.
"Karl, actually, this matter isn't as complicated as you think..."
Jack finished the remaining ale in his glass, wiped the residue from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, and quietly said to Karl.
"Your mother was adopted by me from the temple, and Nenneke looked after her for a while. The priestesses at the temple might still have some memory of your mother."
"Now, all you need is permission from His Majesty the King."
"Yes, His Majesty's charter doesn't necessarily require special favors." Raymond nodded and took the initiative to say.
"If you perform a deed worthy of praise, His Majesty will also reward you for your merits, and you can take the opportunity to ask for the charter."
"In two months, there will be a tournament in Vizima, the capital of Temeria."
"If you perform well, His Majesty will take notice. If you want to compete in the tournament, it's time to start training now."
"Jack used to be a mercenary; he should have taught you the basics of swordsmanship, which should save you a lot of time now."