Benjamin walked toward his office, the Financial Advisor following closely behind.
"Sir, are you sure about this?" the advisor asked hesitantly.
"Well, there's nothing we can do about it." Benjamin replied without stopping. "It's pointless when especially considering the Duke doesn't care about his eldest son. Not when the other two are the nephews of the King."
The advisor cleared his throat before lowering his voice. "But... you told me not to report about the late lady's account, the one where we've been placing the yearly funds?"
"Keep it that way." Benjamin said, stopping in his tracks and turning to face him. "That money is her savings. She never used it. She wanted to keep it for her son as it was a twenty years worth of savings."
"Six million and two hundred forty thousand sesra in total." The advisor recited.
Benjamin placed a hand on the young man's shoulder. "Change the account to Estefan's name. He can access it only once he reaches adulthood. His father has already abandoned him in favor of his step brothers. This is the least we can do to give him a chance after he gets kicked out."
"As you wish, sir." The advisor bowed. "I'll make sure the Duke never finds out. Six million isn't a big enough sum to be noticed by him anyway."
As the advisor left, Benjamin stared at the floor. "Let's just hope the kid lives long enough to see adulthood." He muttered, entering his office. "This is the least I could do for you, young lady."
Meanwhile, Estefan had drunk the Potion of Acceptance. At first, his body felt warm, then cold, and finally nothing. He stood up, stared at his hands and saw no change.
He picked up another vial labeled "Potion of Fire." He drank it, still nothing happened.
Then "Potion of Darkness." Again, no reaction from his body.
Over the course of several hours, he drank nearly 50 potions. Still no visible change until the "Potion of Strength." That one began a slow, physical transformation. At first it was subtle, but over time, his muscles, bones, and skin hardened and strengthened. Especially in his sleep, his body began reshaping itself.
The next day, he continued. By the end, he had consumed nearly 200 vials of different potions.
"How did Mama make all of this?" he whispered in awe. His entire life, he had only seen her cleaning, cooking, and hunting. Yet somehow she had brewed hundreds of powerful magical potions in secret. His heart swelled with gratitude. "Power to survive," he said aloud, then left the room to begin training.
As his mother had instructed in a note, Estefan knew the potions alone weren't enough. He had to train. His body needed to grow into its powers. He could not afford laziness. He must cultivate since the seeds have been planted.
So each day, he ventured into the forest, running, hunting, lifting logs, testing his strength in silence. He treated the woods like his personal gym and battlefield. When the monthly rations or weekly cleaners arrived at the manor, he hid in his room, keeping the illusion that he was wasting away in grief.
The reports matched the illusion. At first, the Duke received regular updates, but with no visible change in Estefan, interest waned as everyone began to think that the boy was after all a boy.
Five Years Later,
At the main palace of the Angeras family, a grand celebration was underway. Carnel Angeras, the Duke's second son, had been accepted into the prestigious Royal Academy at the capital of Ikarus.
Lady Cornelia, the Duke's second wife and sister to the King, proudly boasted of her son's academic success. The guests, nobles and sycophants alike, surrounded her with praise since she was after all the sister to the King so everyone wanted to be closer to her.
The Duke stood on the second-floor balcony, a golden chalice in hand, quietly observing the show. He took a sip of wine, unimpressed.
"Duke Gerin." Marquis Vapund approached. "You seem to be enjoying your son's success."
The Duke didn't answer. His gaze remained fixed below but the Marquis didn't want to end their conversation like that and stood beside the Duke. They both had a long conversation which for some reason ended with the Duke leaving the party venue and walking towards his office.
He kicked the door open and marched his way towards the table where he slammed both his arms down. He was annoyed for some reason and he then called for his guards.
After the guards arrived in his office, the Duke gave out the order to summon Benjamin. The old man was at the venue enjoying some meat fritters.
He was informed that the Duke wanted to see him right now, the old man paused before he could take a bite and placed it down before rushing towards the Duke's office.
"You called, my lord?" the old man asked, bowing politely.
"It's been five years." The Duke said, tapping his fingers on the desk. "That brat's still alive. Not only that, he hasn't left his room once. Is he a corpse or just a parasite?"
"Perhaps he's still grieving, my lord." Benjamin offered.
"Grief?" the Duke scoffed and slammed his hand on the desk. "Five years ago he wanted to act like a man. Then let him act like one. Grief is for children."
The Duke leaned back. "He's out of the chance for becoming my heir. Not that the other two are exceptional, but at least they have support due to their mother and her annoying family. If Estefan keeps this up, he's no longer part of this family."
Benjamin bit his tongue but dared to speak again, "Maybe give him a little more time. He might surprise us."
"Fine." The Duke waved his hand. "You will handle his reports, inform me about him but only if there's actual progress. If not, then when he turns twenty... I'm kicking him out."
The bitterness in his voice left no room for debate. Whatever the Marquis had said to him tonight, it had struck a nerve.
[To be Continued]