Chapter 105: The Duke’s Demands

Duke Oscar maintained a remarkably calm expression, his golden-crimson eyes unreadable as he stared down at his seventh son.

The sheer weight of the silence in the office was suffocating, yet the master of the Western Continent’s Northern Region did not immediately explode into anger or dismiss the proposition.

Instead, Oscar slowly leaned back against the edge of his mahogany desk, folding his massive arms across his chest.

"Craig... do you truly understand the exact nature of what you are requesting from me right now?" Duke Oscar asked, his deep voice smooth, quiet, and loaded with implicit warning.

Craig nodded smoothly, a calm, polite smile remaining fixed on his face.

"Naturally, Your Grace," Craig answered without a single hint of hesitation.

"Under the ironclad laws established by our ancestors, every dragon egg laid within the sacred grounds of the Temple of Dragons is considered the absolute, non-negotiable property of the Darkstar Ducal Family as a collective whole.

By decree, no unhatched eggs may ever leave the sanctum until they have naturally hatched and undergone the formal Dragon Calling Ceremony under the direct supervision of the Elders."

Craig paused, his sharp eyes gleaming with calculating intelligence. "By requesting to transfer Soul Dreamer’s entire unhatched clutch directly to the Myrain Viscounty, I am, in effect, asking you to grant me absolute, private ownership of those dragon eggs before they have ever drawn breath."

"That is precisely what you are asking," Duke Oscar questioned, his voice dropping into a dangerously sharp register. "And yet... fully aware of the ancestral decrees and the weight of your words, you still dare to stand before me and make such an outrageous request?"

Craig executed a brief, impeccable bow, his tone remaining respectful and completely composed. "I sincerely apologize if my petition carries even the slightest thread of disrespect toward the legacy of our Family, Father. Such insolence was never my intention. However, I am pragmatic.

In exchange for having this request fulfilled and securing the absolute loyalty and permanent presence of my 5th-Tier dragon, I am fully prepared to pay whatever price or fulfill whatever mandate you deem fit to demand of me."

Duke Oscar observed his seventh child in absolute silence for a long, drawn-out minute.

He studied Craig’s flawless posture, the unyielding confidence in his aura, and the complete lack of fear in his golden-crimson eyes.

Slowly, the Crimson Duke turned away.

He walked steadily toward the massive, arched stained-glass window at the far side of his office, placing both of his broad hands behind his back.

From this lofty vantage point, the entire sprawling expanse of the flourishing City of Dragons unfolded below them.

A breathtaking metropolis of towering obsidian spires, bustling high-grade trade avenues, and flying wyverns soaring gracefully through the sunlit clouds.

Oscar looked out over his domain and exhaled a long, heavy sigh that seemed to carry the weight of decades.

"You have made me exceptionally proud, Craig," Duke Oscar spoke softly, his back still turned to his son.

"From the moment you shattered every recorded history during the Dragon’s Calling Ceremony by bonding with three top-tier dragons simultaneously, to your staggering, unprecedented ascension into the Sword Runner class in a matter of days... you have proven yourself to be a genius among geniuses within our bloodline."

The Crimson Duke turned his head slightly, looking at Craig over his shoulder.

"And because of your extraordinary accomplishments and the sheer potential you represent for the future of House Darkstar... I am inclined to be lenient today. I will grant your request and bestow absolute ownership of Soul Dreamer’s egg clutch upon you."

Hearing those words, Craig’s smile widened slightly.

He immediately lowered his head into a deep, formal bow. "You have my deepest gratitude, Your Grace. I—"

"Do not thank me just yet, my boy," Duke Oscar interrupted sharply, turning around completely to face him, his eyes locking onto Craig with absolute authority.

"I said I would grant your request, but I never stated it would come free. There is a strict, binding condition attached to my permission."

Craig straightened his frame, his expression shifting from gratitude to absolute, disciplined focus.

"The will of the Crimson Duke is my command," Craig declared firmly, his voice echoing through the quiet office.

"Whatever condition Your Grace sees fit to impose, I shall obey without fail."

Duke Oscar nodded slowly, satisfied with his son’s immediate submission to authority.

He walked back toward his desk, resting his hand against the high back of his throne-like chair as he began his explanation.

"Over the course of this past month, while you were busy stabilizing your Viscounty, significant political shifts have been taking place at the highest levels of the continent," Oscar revealed, his tone turning serious and analytical.

"Formal betrothal inquiries have arrived at the Crimson Castle. First, the Veraxes Ducal Family formally petitioned our house, seeking to establish a permanent, high-level strategic partnership with the Darkstar Family through a binding political marriage involving their heiress."

Oscar paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he delivered the real complication.

"However, they are no longer the sole contenders. Just four days ago, the Goldenfyre Ducal Family—the supreme rulers of the Central Region—officially stepped into the fray.

They, too, have formally submitted a high-level proposal to forge an absolute alliance with House Darkstar through political matrimony."

The Crimson Duke crossed his arms, his deep voice carrying an unquestionable weight.

"Since you are the seventh successor, the youngest rising star, and the single most eligible bachelor within our bloodline whose fame currently dominates the continent... you are the one who will be entering this marriage.

And as the head of this family, I am placing the final decision entirely in your hands."

Duke Oscar stepped closer, his imposing aura flaring softly.

"I am well aware that you are already quite familiar with Lady Alyse von Veraxes of the Veraxes Ducal Family, given your recent secret correspondence and shared interests."

A cold, knowing smirk touched the Crimson Duke’s lips.

"However, in exchange for receiving private ownership of Soul Dreamer’s dragon eggs and breaking ancestral precedent for your personal gain... you will also get to thoroughly know the young mistress of the Goldenfyre Ducal Family."

Oscar stared down at Craig, sealing the bargain with absolute finality.

"In exchange for your dragon eggs, you must choose between these two noble beauties and make one of them your official wife," Duke Oscar declared.

"And to ensure you have all the necessary variables to make a proper choice... Lady Susan au Goldenfyre, the young mistress of the Goldenfyre Ducal Family will be paying a personal visit to your Myrain Viscounty in a few days’ time."