Chapter 597 – The Brothers Arrive.

“I didn’t think we would get such a good view of the gate.”

Roland looked out into the distance where a large gate had been built. Such places were usually considered strategic military locations, but this one seemed to have been developed as a kind of tourist attraction.

“I suppose you wouldn’t know.”

Arthur said as he walked a few steps ahead and gestured for Roland and Mary to follow.

“This whole terrace was constructed for that purpose.”

Roland raised an eyebrow.

“I see, are they making it a spectacle?”

Arthur paused and looked toward the other viewing platforms that extended into the distance. Several buildings appeared to have been placed in carefully chosen positions to give people a clear view of those passing through the gate. Now that Roland was here, it was obvious that this had been done with intention.

“Indeed. It’s a way to show the prestige of the Valerian house. Not many can afford to use a high-tier teleportation gate. When one of the noble heirs returns, the family wants the entire city to see it. They want people to witness the power and wealth of those who command such magic.”

Roland nodded. Although the gate was probably not used often and might seem like a waste of resources, it still served a clear purpose. It stood as a symbol of the Valerian lineage, a statement that they possessed enough wealth and influence to build a gate wherever they pleased.

They stood on one of the viewing platforms overlooking the gate, positioned farther away from the main plaza. Other noble families had already reserved the closer platforms, but they hadn’t wanted to be too close anyway. Arthur still seemed uneasy about his brothers and preferred not to be seen by them when they arrived.

“I don’t see Brother Ivan anywhere, but maybe that’s for the best…”

Before long, they settled into the restaurant attached to the platform and took the opportunity to sip some tea. Arthur glanced around, searching for the familiar flash of Ivan’s red hair, but saw no sign of him. It was clear he hadn’t come to greet his brothers, and the reason didn’t need much explanation.

“After his mistake, I reckon he doesn’t want to see someone he once considered beneath him in worth arriving.”

Roland said, now standing near the edge of the terrace.

Arthur gave a quiet nod.

“That’s probably it.”

The time for the arrival was drawing near. Roland straightened his posture and fell silent, slipping into the composed demeanor expected of a knight. Moments later, the gate began to exude magical energy. There was movement near its base as a group of armored men assembled to welcome whoever was about to arrive.

In the distance, the Runic patterns glowed across the stone platform. Runic was the primary magical language used for these constructs, and because of that, Roland was starting to understand what to look for when interacting with the gates. Although it was not easy, he felt confident that he could take control of the gate if they ever needed to escape. Watching it activate now would only help him speed up that process if the situation ever arose.

Arthur’s hands tightened around his teacup, and even Mary, who was usually unreadable, narrowed her eyes. The gate erupted in its usual water-like energy, forming a pathway, and finally people began to appear. Some of the onlookers gasped, raising their voices in surprise. Children pointed and laughed as the first figures stepped through.

Just as it had been when Arthur arrived, the first to emerge were personal mounted soldiers. The horses they rode looked unusual, larger than normal, with strange gems embedded in their foreheads. It was clear these were not ordinary mounts but magical beasts, each comparable in strength to a tier two class holder.

‘So it was true, he has a fondness for magic.’

Roland kept the thought to himself as a large number of soldiers and magical beasts continued to cross through. Eventually, a carriage similar to Arthur’s appeared. This one was covered in glyphs and sigils, radiating magical power that matched the forces around it.

“Brother Tybalt’s forces leave quite an impression, don’t they?”

“Indeed.”

Roland replied, glancing back at the readings. Mana from the gate still lingered in the air, but even despite it, he could sense that nearly everyone in the group carried a significant amount of magical energy. Tybalt Valerian was affiliated with a magical academy and had reportedly graduated at the top of his class. He had a clear preference for magic users and was known for surrounding himself with individuals who possessed mana-based classes.

“Our Lord’s carriage was much better.”

Mary spoke in an irritated tone, as if she didn’t want her lord to fall behind his brother. The two were close in age, with Tybalt being older by just a year. Roland didn’t know the exact nature of their relationship, but it was clear that Arthur wasn’t pleased to see the man who had just stepped out of the carriage. The newcomer appeared elegant and refined, yet there was something undeniably vain about him.

Tybalt Valerian descended from his carriage with profound grace, moving as though he had rehearsed each step for this very moment. He was slightly taller and far more slender than Arthur. His features were striking, almost like a portrait rather than a real man, and his limbs were long and poised. His robe flowed in a cascade of azure silk with intricate silver embroidery. What caught Roland’s attention most was his hair, which shimmered under the morning sun in shifting shades of blue, almost glowing with light.

‘Could it be because of his mana? Perhaps he was a water mage.’

The sight reminded Roland of Lucille, who specialized in ice magic. Mages with strong elemental affinities often experienced physical changes. Blue hair, blue eyes, or even bark-like skin were not uncommon. Some families even established lineages to preserve these affinities across generations. Now that he had seen this fourth brother, Roland could tell that Arthur and the others didn’t share the same mothers. This was true for all of the brothers and explained why their struggle to become the sole heir was so intense.

All of them shared the same father, a man their mothers desperately curried favor with. Only one of the brothers could become the next duke, and this drove them into constant conflict. To many, the noble lords were figures to be envied, but to Roland, they evoked only pity. Each of them longed for their father’s recognition and were pushed by both circumstance and their own mothers to turn against one another. Once a new duke was chosen, the others would either be forced to leave the island forever or submit to his rule, or perhaps even perish.

“He seems to like the attention.”

Tybalt paused at the base of the stairs leading from the gate, allowing the crowd to absorb the full spectacle of his arrival. His entourage formed a semicircle behind him, armed and armored in a mix of ceremonial and practical gear. Mages, knights, and magical beasts moved in tight formation. Although most of them would be sent to the outer castle district, their presence here was clearly intended to display his prestige.

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Tybalt raised one hand, not to greet the crowd, but to quiet the applause that had begun to ripple through the noble viewing platforms. His pale blue eyes scanned the terraces. He did not linger, but Roland noticed the brief moment when Tybalt’s gaze reached their section. His expression remained unchanged, but there was a flicker of recognition, quickly replaced by indifference.

“He saw us…”

Arthur exhaled slowly, clearly affected by the way his brother brushed past them without a word. Tybalt returned to his carriage and then continued, his large entourage following as he made his way toward one of the grander mansions. A crowd began to form behind him, eager to speak with one of the top three contenders for the ducal seat. It was a stark contrast to the silence and disinterest that had surrounded them just the day before.

“My brother is quite popular, isn’t he?”