Chapter 502 – Not The Best Ending?

“The family estate shall always be open to you, should you ever find the need for respite. Perhaps, during your stay, you might entertain the notion of sparring with my sons?”

“Your sons?”

“Indeed. They are in need of further training, and a seasoned mage such as yourself could impart invaluable lessons upon them.”

“I shall give it thought, Lord Marshal, but I’m not much of a combat teacher.”

The conversation between Roland and his father continued for a few more minutes. The man seemed quite different than he remembered him. Back when he was between the ages of five and ten, Wentworth was quite distant and the family dinners with him around steadily decreased in time.

‘Is he the type that opens up to people only if they are of a certain rank or strength?’

His father was aware that he had helped Lucienne and that the three Baskerville knights had probably died due to his involvement. This was perhaps enough to earn him some level of respect in his father’s eyes. Wentworth Arden seemed to be the kind of man who valued strength and loyalty above all else, and Roland’s recent actions had apparently earned him favor, albeit through a tangled web of misunderstandings.

However, as the conversation drifted through more pleasantries, Roland couldn’t shake the unease growing in the pit of his stomach. His father’s sudden warmth felt temporary and if he discovered the truth about Roland’s real identity, things would quickly turn sour. Roland had already seen Robert hauled away by the knights, and if he wasn’t careful, he would be the next to feel his father’s wrath. So, he subtly tried steering the conversation in a different direction.

“Speaking of your sons, what are your intentions with the young Robert?”

The question shifted the tone of the conversation immediately. Wentworth’s posture straightened his previously calm demeanor going cold. He remained silent for a moment, eyes narrowing as if he were weighing the importance of Roland’s inquiry.

“My intentions?”

Wentworth paused for a moment to gather his thoughts and soon after responded in a rather cold tone.

“Robert is my son, but he is also a noble of the Arden family. His actions, reckless as they are, reflect upon our name, and I will not allow him to tarnish it further. Once we return, he will have to reflect on his actions…”

Roland halted his response, realizing he had just touched on a deeply personal matter. The tension between Robert and Wentworth was clear, but he knew better than to press too hard. Instead, he took a more neutral approach.

“I understand your concerns, Lord Marshal. But Robert’s spirit is strong. He was somewhat naive but his heart was in the right place.”

Wentworth raised an eyebrow, and the shift in his demeanor was noticeable. Roland didn’t want his brother to be locked away at the Arden estate, but things seemed to be heading in that direction. The entire arrangement between the two nobles appeared to be leading to Robert being held captive until Lucille eloped with another noble. It was even plausible they would pressure her into it, using Robert as a bargaining chip. If she refused to marry, he could be imprisoned for quite some time.

“You believe you know what’s best for my son, Professor Wayland?”

Roland wanted to press the issue but knew his words would fall on deaf ears. His father was a notoriously stubborn man, and though Roland had earned some of his recognition, it was best not to push his luck. Robert’s situation was unfortunate, but trying to sway this immovable man would likely only make things worse for both of them.

“Of course not, Lord Marshal. I would never presume to know what’s best for your son. I merely wished to express my concern for him – his spirit is resilient, but he is still young. His intentions, while rash, stem from a place of affection. I’m sure that with some of your guidance, he will channel that energy in a way that honors your family name.”

Wentworth remained silent, his eyes narrowing as he weighed Roland’s words. For a moment, Roland thought his father would dismiss him entirely, but then the older man leaned back slightly, his expression softening.

“Your words speak with a certain understanding of the issue but these are matters of my house and will be handled by my house.”

Roland nodded and took this as a chance to end this conversation. While he wanted to prod about what his father was up to and what his intentions were, he was still nothing more than an outsider. Wentworth was aware that he interacted with both his children and probably knew some of their issues but it didn’t seem that he was willing to hear him list them out.

“I understand Lord Marshal, I won’t bring it up again.”

“…”

For a moment, it seemed like Wentworth wanted to say something but held himself back. It was as if he wanted to ask about something but decided that it was improper to do so.

“Let’s put my son’s affairs aside. There are more pressing matters at hand.”

Wentworth said, breaking the brief silence, and went into the next topic.

“My son, though gifted in his own right, could never hope to best a trained knight of such strength. Professor, how did you come to accomplish such a feat? And what is the true nature of this imposing armor?”

Roland steadied himself, this was one of the issues he was worried about, his Power Armor. While Wentworth was not there from the start he had seen the large armor his son crawled out from. He knew there was no way that Robert would be able to defeat a Knight Commander in a fair fight. The rules in the duel were strict but allowed the use of magical equipment on both sides.

“Lord Marshal, I know what you wish to ask of me but I can’t relinquish the secrets of the Institute.”

“I see…”

One of Wentworth’s misunderstandings was that Roland was merely acting on orders from the Arch-Magus of the Institute. Although his father held a high position, he wasn’t above her authority. His father seemed cautious whenever her name was mentioned, making it convenient for Roland to use her as a shield to deflect any troubling questions that might reveal his true identity. Since his father didn’t seem eager to speak with her directly, it was only natural that he refrained from pressing the issue further.

“The Institute’s secrets are closely guarded, I understand that. I only asked because it is rare to see such… effective magic used in the form of armor capable of dispatching a tier 3 knight. I’m sure even the royal family would be interested in such technology if it were to become widely available.”

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