Gun of Ashes

”The Stuart family’s rise during the Radiant War ultimately boils down to the handover involving a bastard child.”

Yawei flipped through the thick book. This nameless tome chronicled the history of the Stuart family, its pages yellowed with age and featuring handwriting from different times, suggesting it was penned by various chroniclers across eras.

”Back then, the Gaulunaro people launched an unannounced attack on the south and besieged Stuart Castle, defended by Michelle Stuart at the time.”

The legend of the Stuart family began at that very moment.

”The Old Count, already advanced in years, succumbed to illness within the castle after numerous battles. But before his death, he transferred the title to his son, Navis Stuart... What happened next is known to everyone: the Stuart family surged forward vigorously, defeating one formidable enemy after another.”

As if emerging from the dust of history, Yawei coughed several times, continuing to narrate the sealed story in this somewhat eerie atmosphere.

Outside, the cold wind howled, while the fireplace’s flames burned quietly, illuminating the listeners — it was an atmosphere well-suited for storytelling.

”However, like many stories, things were not smooth sailing. In reality, after Navis inherited the title of Count Stuart, the family encountered an enemy.”

”Baskerville?”

Lorenzo leaned back on the sofa, suddenly remembering this family, also a southern nobility, but eroded in the history of the Radiant War, only appearing in history books.

Was there a grudge between Baskerville and Stuart?

”Yes, this is a very distant story. Even the library books wouldn’t record this, and of course, I hope you won’t reveal anything externally.”

Yawei spoke with a bit of warning, as the family’s internal history often differed from that known outside. If you were to bring out their books, you’d discover many unspeakable secrets and scandals.

”It all starts with that Michelle Count. The Stuart family wasn’t flourishing in numbers, and in his era, Michelle was the sole Stuart. He never married and had no descendants. According to the Inheritance Law, most of his assets would be passed on to his only nephew, Madre Baskerville, upon his death.”

”I guess that distant nephew would probably treat the Old Count like a biological father.”

Lorenzo laughed as he spoke, as if mocking the hypocritical aristocratic system, since marriage alliances were the best form of bonding. Ingwig’s nobility were all somewhat related. Once the Old Count died, the Stuart family would fade into history, and he would be the biggest beneficiary.

”Indeed, during the Old Count’s lifetime, he constantly stayed by his side. But something unexpected happened. According to records, during the Gaulunaro siege of the castle, he led the knights to escape, abandoning the people on the estate and the Old Count.”

The historical text reflected in Yawei’s cloudy eyes condemned Madre’s actions.

”He assumed the Old Count was dead and he would gain everything, but before his death, the Old Count passed the title to his son, Navis.”

”Wait a minute, wasn’t he supposed to be unmarried for life?”

Lorenzo interrupted. So, who was this sudden heir?

”Could you please have some patience?”

Yawei was quite displeased with Lorenzo interrupting him.

”That is indeed a point of contention, but Count Navis possessed the succession deed and will signed by the Old Count. His name was on the family tree among many other proofs, including letters the Old Count wrote about Navis’s origins.”

It was truly a casually, yet solemnly written letter.

”The letter stated Navis Stuart was the child he had with a maid.”

”So, he’s a bastard child?”

Lorenzo remembered that bastards had no right to inherit.

”Not exactly. At the end of his life, he married that maid, legitimizing her... even though their marriage lasted less than a day.”

Yawei always felt the Old Count was a tough character when he read this part, not calculatingly ruthless but rather someone who didn’t care about his posthumous reputation.

”And so, Count Navis became the legitimate heir, forcibly ousting the intended heir, Madre.”

”He wouldn’t take this lying down. Upon learning the reason, Madre claimed Donas was a fraud, not the Old Count’s child, nor even a bastard.”

Yawei spoke of that long-past dispute.

”He said he saw Navis in the estate, just a ridiculous attendant, and that his father was an ordinary farmer.”

”This was a fraud, a ludicrous commoner usurping a noble’s identity.”

As the pages turned, the ancient book, through Yawei’s mouth, narrated the past, while Lorenzo and Selyu remained silent, listening quietly.

”This caused a major stir. If proven true, Navis would be hanged, but everyone from the estate claimed he was indeed the Count’s child. Even the Priest came forward to testify, saying he presided over that hasty wedding.”

This was an unsolvable puzzle. At that time, Madre was no longer at the castle; only those who were bestowed know what happened, but clearly, they wouldn’t have any goodwill towards the fleeing Madre.

”So, who exactly was lying?”

Selyu suddenly asked, being a Stuart heir herself, having heard this story many times and knowing the doubts surrounding it all.