Turning

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Chapter 342

Upon close inspection, Pruelle, the firstborn of the Tain Ducal house, was quite distinct from other young nobles in both appearance and temperament. Most of the noble youth Yuder had seen so far had extraordinary looks like Kiolle, Aishes, or Lenore, but often had less impressive personalities. Even in rare cases like Revlin Shand Apeto, where the character was miraculously good, their appearance was as smooth as porcelain dolls, allowing one to guess their noble lineage.

However, Pruelle was relatively ordinary, possessing features that could have led to the misconception that he was just a common young man, if not for his family's characteristic red hair and eyes. His clear freckles on the bridge of his nose and a seemingly sincere smile added to that image.

But Yuder read a slight tension in Pruelle's smile, rigid and anxious. Although he seemed to manage his expression well, like the child of a noble family should, maintaining composure for a long time in front of a piercing gaze was not an easy task. Such control typically developed over time.

A bold and secretive youth who had come alone, claiming that he wanted to inquire about joining the Cavalry. What was his intention?

Yuder quietly opened his mouth towards Pruelle, who was watching him as intently as Yuder was observing him.

“You said you came because you want to join the Cavalry?”

“Yes. I want to know how to join the Cavalry, like Apeto's third son.”

At the mention of Revlin, who was in the capital, Yuder's eyebrows momentarily furrowed and then relaxed. Pruelle continued, trying not to miss the slight change in Yuder's expression.

“I am also an Awakener, just like him. I've been hiding it in my family, but after watching Apeto's third son, I think I don't need to hide anymore.”

“Then why didn't you contact us in the capital but come now?”

“I had to wait for the appropriate time. If I had suddenly visited the Cavalry in the capital, I would have been suspected, but here, even my father would not find it strange.”

Pruelle mentioned that he had spent a brief time in Tainu as a child. He had occasionally made sudden visits to Tainu, so Duke Tain and Baron Willhem would think of this incident as an extension of that, he added.

“It’s not strange to suddenly become interested when I hear that the hero of the western border, the Cavalry, is here while I’m in town. Moreover, if the person who defeated the giant monster alone is taking a rest alone, anyone would want to meet him.”

His words were consistent. But somehow, Yuder felt that was not all there was to it. He stared into Pruelle's dark eyes, curious about the tension hidden behind the sorrowful smile.

“I understand what you're saying. But if you want to reveal that you're an Awakener, you don't necessarily have to join the Cavalry. It's hard to understand why you want to come here, leaving your family behind.”

“If it's because I'm the first-born, you don't have to think it’s strange.”

Pruelle answered frankly, lifting the corners of his lips.

“If I reveal that I'm an Awakener, I will immediately lose my qualification to succeed. Maybe I'll even be ostracized for life. I may be hiding it well now, but there's no guarantee I won't be found out, right? I never wanted to succeed the Duke in the first place.”

The bold statement momentarily chilled the surrounding air. Yuder looked into Pruelle's eyes and confirmed that he was speaking the truth.

"You really have no interest in the duke's position?"

"If I were to join the Cavalry, sure, it would turn the family upside down. Father and Mother would be angry too. But that's just it. Now is the most suitable time to break free since I'm not the heir, but merely the first son."

"So... you're saying you want to join the Cavalry instead of inheriting the family because you have no desire to inherit the family title?"

"Much more direct than what I heard from Baron Willhem. Yes, that's exactly it."

"You're speaking very dangerously. Don't you think that if that happens, there will be numerous disputes over the heir's position, just like in Lord Revlin's time?"

The relationship between the Cavalry, commanded by the Emperor's brother Kishiar, and the four major ducal houses had always been an unbridgeable gap. The temporary membership of Revlin Shand Apeto had solidified this fact, resulting from the quarrels between the Apeto family and Kishiar. Of course, in Revlin's time, it was an incident deliberately provoked as part of a scheme to destroy the Apeto family, so the subsequent disputes were also part of a premeditated plan. But this time was different.

As the first son of another house, Pruelle's will in this matter could not ignore political problems. Pruelle would not be ignorant of this fact, but the reason for his insistence on entering a place akin to the family's enemy seemed to be something more.

'...No. Perhaps he targeted that aspect from the beginning?'

Yuder looked at Pruelle anew. The tension hidden behind his smile had deepened a little more than before.

The insight sparked in his mind through years of experience.

"You don't just want to get out of the family..."

Pruelle maintained his silence at Yuder's words.

"Is it perhaps because you mentioned Lord Revlin first?"

"Yes. I told you. After witnessing that incident, I was motivated to think I could do it too."

The young man, who finally erased his smile as he interrupted Yuder's words, looked cold and listless, as if the cheerful first impression had been a lie.

"Based on my observations of a series of events that have occurred, I concluded that His Majesty the Emperor made a deal with Duke Peletta and the Cavalry involving Apeto's third son. So, if Apeto has changed as it has now, I want to make the same deal."

Yuder felt the need to slightly revise his initial impression of Pruelle. He was far from ordinary. Hidden beneath his seemingly average appearance was a remarkably clear judgment.

"...It doesn't seem like something I should decide on. You'll have to come back when the Commander is here."

"I thought you would answer that way."

Pruelle didn't press Yuder to make a decision immediately.

"When will Duke Peletta return?"

"He should return by today."

"Would it be alright if I come to see him late at night?"

"I will convey your request, but I cannot give a definitive answer."

"That's fine. Even that much is good. If he grants me an audience, we'll have a more detailed discussion then."

Pruelle nodded his head.

"I'm glad I came to see you first. I was curious not only about the hero of Great Sarain Forest but also about who would share accommodation with Duke Peletta."

Yuder paused momentarily. There was no hint of the disdain in Pruelle's eyes that one might see in Baron Willhem or other Western nobles.

"...So, have you judged what kind of person I am?"

"At the very least, it doesn't look like you are the type to bow down to authority and spread your legs, as I had heard. Even when I introduced myself as the first son of the Tain Ducal house, you weren't surprised at all. Your tone is polite now, but your eyes look as if you could kill me whenever you want. There's no reason for someone frightened by my status or pitiful power to do that."

"..."

"There are many things in the world you can't understand unless you see them for yourself. My father will probably never know in his lifetime."

Rising from his seat, Pruelle smiled again and extended his hand.

"I won't ask you to believe in my intentions immediately, but please convey my message to Duke Peletta. I'd at least like to meet him."

Yuder looked down at the hand but did not take it. Instead, he spoke.

"I realize I haven't yet heard what your ability is."

"You're very cautious. I suppose that's expected from a Cavalry member who has met various Awakened individuals."

Pruelle withdrew his hand, answering with a smiling face.

"But there's no need to worry. My ability is transformation."

"...Into what exactly?"

"I can transform into anyone I've met."

In the blink of an eye, as Yuder opened his eyes after closing them briefly, he saw that Pruelle's form had changed to that of Baron Willhem.

"See? It's precise, right?"

The voice, the clothes, everything was indistinguishable from Baron Willhem that he had seen earlier. Upon closing and reopening his eyes, Baron Willhem reverted back to the young man with golden-red hair. The change was so swift, it felt as though he'd dreamed it.

"..."

"I can't maintain it for long. To change perfectly, a lot of concentration is required. But it's quite useful when I want to hide and go somewhere, like this time."

The fact that Pruelle answered so candidly must have been a demonstration of the trust he was extending to Yuder. Yuder gazed at him for a long while before nodding.

"I see. You possess a rare ability."

"Thanks for the compliment. Since my desire to leave my family and join the Cavalry is sincere, I find myself happier than I thought to receive such praise."

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