Lord of Caldera

Chapter 123

"Today, we celebrate two victories. First, those vile elves have come to us begging for negotiations!" he proclaimed.

Cheers erupted among the soldiers, relief flooding them as they realized they might not need to shed blood after all. The commanders shared similar sentiments, sensing the opportunity to claim magical artifacts without costly losses.

"So, the count's gamble has paid off. We'll secure the magical artifacts and keep our forces intact," they mused silently, congratulating themselves on bringing reinforcements.

As everyone reveled in the prospect of profit without losses, the count raised his voice again.

"But there is more cause for celebration! Today, I have gained an heir!" he announced.

This revelation left everyone stunned. While they had been briefed about the negotiations, this was the first anyone had heard of an heir. Savoring their surprise, the count turned towards Sylas, beckoning his "daughter" forward.

"Come, my daughter!" he called.

"Yes, Father," Rey replied, stepping onto the platform, causing the crowd's shock to deepen.

Could it be that he has chosen Sylas's knight as his heir?

Facing Rey, who knelt before him, the count's voice rang out.

"Do you swear to become my daughter?"

"I swear."

"Will you bear the responsibilities of the heir to this house?"

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"I will bear them gladly."

"Then, you are no longer Rey Winslow but Rey Hernig, my heir and daughter! Rise and declare your name!"

Standing tall, Rey addressed the assembled onlookers.

"Are you two really that dense? Can't you see what His Excellency is aiming for?"

"What?" Walter asked, baffled.

"No matter what titles she holds, Sir Rey is still an outsider. She's been appointed heir by the count, but she has no birthright within the family. In other words, she can be replaced at any time."

Birthright meant inherited privileges from birth, like the rights to inheritance or succession based on bloodline. Rey, however, had none of these. While formally recognized as an heir, her title could easily be stripped away if the count chose to withdraw it.

"She's not even a native of the Hernig family. With no influence within the household, the count could remove her as heir without much trouble."

"But he made such a public announcement..."

"Who's going to argue if he decides to change heirs later?" Damien asked pointedly.

Walter fell silent, realizing Damien was right. Even if Sylas and the Winslow family took issue with the change, it wouldn't amount to much. With the Corleone family being so distant, any drastic intervention would be seen as outright invasion, not legitimate succession.

"When the count eventually passes, Rey will inherit the Hernig estate," Damien continued, "but that also means she'll be bound to him until then."

"True," the others muttered in understanding.

Damien's explanation painted the arrangement in a new light: far from a gift, it was a leash that kept Rey — and Sylas by extension — tightly bound to the count. The count retained the upper hand, despite appearances. As the realization settled in, Walter's expression darkened.

"But what if the count were to, well... have an unfortunate accident?" he ventured hesitantly.

Silence fell as the men glanced uneasily at one another. Speculating on the count's death was a dangerous topic. After a tense pause, they seemed to reach a mutual understanding.

"Let's leave it at that," one muttered.

"Yes, we've said enough," another agreed, and they parted ways in silence. Watching them go, Damien murmured to himself, "If, by some chance, His Excellency did die unexpectedly, then Rey would take the entire Hernig estate, and Sylas would reap the rewards through her."

For now, all Damien could do was pray fervently that Count Valdemar would live long and healthy, sparing them from such a turn of events.

Within the ranks of soldiers heading to the negotiation, two unusual figures stood out: a male elf in an iron cage and Eldira, seated atop a horse near Sylas with her head covered by a hood. Her appearance had been disguised so that from a distance, she didn't appear elven.