Chapter 92: Military Obligation

Zishan’s brows pulled together.

Elinox looked toward Ernest.

The Crown Marshal continued, "That doesn’t prove why you were the one sent. I don’t have the circumstances of your enlistment in front of me yet. However, Houses of sufficient rank have obligations to the Kingdom. During wartime, military contribution is one of them.

"A Marquess House can’t enjoy its position while refusing every military responsibility whenever the Kingdom needs manpower. Depending on the order issued, a House may have to provide eligible members for service."

Zishan looked back at the family list. "There are several people there who could’ve gone instead of me."

"Perhaps," Ernest replied.

Zishan frowned. "Then yet again, why me?"

Ernest did not rush the explanation. After a moment of silence, he finally said, "That’s a very valid question. But you should remember that you’re an adopted one, at least on paper. If you were a legally recognized son, your service could count toward the House’s obligation."

Zishan’s eyes slowly moved back to him. "Even if I’m adopted?"

"Yes. Adoption recognized under noble law gives you standing within the House. You carry the name, receive protection from the House, and may represent it under certain obligations."

Zishan looked at the registry again. The biological heirs were all alive. He was the only one marked dead.

"That’s... convenient," he said, but his tone became flat.

Elinox’s expression became more serious.

Ernest nodded once.

Zishan thought about it. He was adopted and was sent into military service. The actual children remained alive and away from the battlefield, at least according to the records in front of them.

Then House Walker declared him dead on the same day he had been deployed.

He looked toward the Crown Marshal.

"If I really died there, what would happen?"

"Your service would still count toward the House’s military obligation. Officially, House Walker would have lost one of its recognized sons in service to the Kingdom."

Zishan’s jaw tightened. "Would people praise them for it?"

"There would be sympathy. Recognition as well. As far as everyone else was concerned, House Walker sent one of its sons to war and lost him there."

Zishan stared at the registry again. "Even though I’m adopted?"

"Legally, that wouldn’t change what you represented."

"Fuck."

Elinox did not correct his language. The Crown Marshal also did not seem to care.

Zishan leaned into the chair and looked at the ceiling. His life in Cyrune had already been ridiculous enough.

He woke up on a battlefield with no memories. He received a System. He even almost died several times, while he gained Levels faster than normal people. And he somehow ended up befriending one of the strongest people in the Kingdom.

Now, he had discovered that he was the adopted son of a Marquess House that had already buried him on paper before the battlefield even had the chance to kill him.

’This body’s original owner really had a shit life.’

[The Host’s current life has not been particularly peaceful either.]

’You don’t have to remind me.’

Ernest closed part of the record and looked at him. "There’s something else you need to understand."

Zishan sat straighter. "There’s more?"

"Yes," Ernest replied. "If you return to the capital openly, House Walker will count you as a problem."

Zishan frowned. "Because their dead son came back?"

"Exactly."

Ernest rested one arm against the desk.

"Imagine what other noble Houses would see. House Walker sends an adopted son into military service. Its biological heirs remain safe. The adopted son is declared deceased before the military even confirms his death. Then, that same son returns alive."

Zishan’s expression changed. "People would ask questions."

"They would ask a lot of questions, I bet," Ernest replied, folding his arms over his chest.

"Like why they thought I was dead and why they declared I was dead before confirming I was..."

"Yes."

"And a question like why I was sent instead of their actual children."

Ernest nodded.

Zishan became quiet for a while.

Elinox spoke, "House Walker’s reputation could suffer even before anyone proves they intended to harm him."

Ernest agreed as he nodded. "Noble Houses care about reputation more than most people realize. The circumstances alone are enough to draw attention."

Zishan looked toward him. "Humiliating sounds mild."

"For a Marquess House? It isn’t."

Ernest continued, "Military families would take it especially seriously. Many of them have sent their own sons and daughters to war, and some never returned. Once people start examining your enlistment and the timing of that death declaration, House Walker will have a great deal to explain."

He paused.

"Your adoption was never completely secret. If questions spread through the capital, the House won’t be able to dismiss them easily." Ernest’s expression hardened. "And if this was deliberate, then more than one person inside that household probably knew."

Zishan remained silent.

There were people in Olmost who had lost sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters because of the war.

That alone made the situation feel much uglier than before.

Ernest then added, "And if somebody proves the death declaration was intentional, the matter becomes worse. Declaring a living noble son dead while he remains in active military service isn’t something people will ignore."

"What would happen to the Marquess?"

"That depends on who authorized it and why."

"So he could say somebody else did it."

"He could."

"Would that work?"

"If he has proof."

Zishan rubbed his chin.

Elinox looked at him. "You’re thinking."

"Of course, I’m thinking."

"Your face looks dangerous when you do that."

Zishan gave her an offended look as though he wasn’t talking to a High General with the presence of a Crown Marshal. "What kind of insult is that?"

"It’s an observation."

Ernest coughed, almost laughing.

Zishan ignored both of them and returned to the problem. "Let’s say Marquess Walker really did this. Why declare me dead before I actually died? Wouldn’t it be safer to wait until someone confirmed it?"

Ernest’s brows furrowed. "Yes, that’s right."

Zishan stopped.

That answer bothered him more than all the others. "So if they did it early..."