Reincarnated as the third son of the Duke-Chapter 49 - The Birth of Felicia Breitner

49 The Birth of Felicia Breitner

Regret clawed at his heart with merciless fingers. He had been given countless opportunities, time and time again, yet he had let them slip through his fingers.

By the time he realized his mistake, it was too late.

"The final record of the Sword Saint Aizen would have been this—an old man who did nothing in his twilight years before dying quietly," Aizen said, his voice resolute.

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But then…

Aizen turned to William, lowering his head until his forehead touched the ground.

"You have changed that fate, Third Prince."

Silence followed his words.

"I am truly grateful," Aizen continued, his voice unwavering. "Because of you, this old man will be able to leave behind his final mark before he departs."

No one spoke.

No one dared to break the solemn moment as Aizen remained bowed, offering the deepest gratitude a Sword Saint could give.

At last, Aizen lifted himself from the ground, moving carefully as he turned his gaze toward Felicia. She still looked disoriented, her expression clouded with confusion.

"What is your name?" Aizen asked.

"F-Felicia," she stammered.

"You have no surname?"

Felicia hesitated.

"I do not ask to pry into your origins," Aizen clarified. "The steps we must take depend on your lineage. If you are a commoner… then I will take you in as my adopted daughter."

Felicia’s eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat.

One of the rarest paths for a commoner to ascend into nobility was adoption into an aristocratic household.

The process itself was simple, but few noble families were willing to do it. Many viewed the very notion of introducing common blood into their lineage as disgraceful.

They claimed their bloodlines were pure. So even if they had an illegitimate child, they would sooner adopt a distant relative as an heir rather than acknowledge their own flesh and blood.

William recalled countless instances of this in his past life and let out a wry smile.

Even if the child bore their blood, wasn’t it natural for any human to want to pass down their legacy to their own offspring? Yet these nobles would rather hand it over to distant relatives they barely knew.

It was a logic he would never understand.

"Tell me again—do you have no surname?"

"My mother did not have one," Felicia answered hesitantly. "And… I was not given my father’s."

"Who is your father?"

"...The current head of House Logran."

Aizen let out a quiet, displeased hum.

William frowned as well.

Finally, Felicia’s story was beginning to make sense.

The way illegitimate children were treated varied wildly.

Some were lucky, raised as full members of noble houses. Others were acknowledged but kept at a distance. And in the worst cases, they were considered stains upon a family’s honor—sometimes even killed as soon as they were born.

Most found themselves in a strange limbo, given certain privileges but always kept separate from the true heirs.

But Felicia’s case?

It was barely better than the worst fate imaginable.

She had been forced to take part in drug trafficking, surrounded by filth. She had been made to serve the very siblings who likely resented her existence.

There was no mistake.

Her treatment had been an act of cruelty, deliberate in every way.

"So that’s the kind of man he is," William muttered, his voice laced with disdain.

From where he stood, Grand Duke Sigmund let out a quiet scoff.

"A pathetic excuse of a man," the Grand Duke said coldly. There was no need to specify who he was referring to.

Aizen nodded ever so slightly, as if in agreement. Then, he turned back to Felicia.

"From this moment forth, your name is Felicia Breitner."

Felicia’s breath hitched, her eyes widening once more.

"You will have much to learn," Aizen continued. "Swordsmanship, etiquette—everything that a noble must know. Be prepared. You will not have a moment to rest for a long while."

Felicia fell to her knees, struggling to even voice her gratitude.

Sigmund clapped his hands together, stepping forward with a pleased expression.

"Congratulations, Sir Aizen. It seems you have finally found your successor."

"That will be for her to determine," Aizen replied.

"Don’t be so modest," Sigmund countered, his tone amused. "Even as a fledgling, she possesses an instinct for battle that surpasses most veteran warriors. Give her the proper guidance, and she will absorb it all like a sponge."

Aizen simply smiled, saying nothing.

William, listening quietly, mulled over the new information he had gained.

She can see mana.

With that ability, Felicia could predict an opponent’s movements before they even struck.

That explained her almost supernatural combat instincts.

More than that…

If she could perceive mana within the body, she could perfectly grasp any technique demonstrated before her.

As long as she had a master to show her the way, she would learn at a rate far beyond that of ordinary disciples.

With her innate talent and Aizen’s teachings, she would undoubtedly grow into a warrior worthy of the title Sword Saint before Aizen’s time was up.

For the first time, William fully understood why Aizen had bowed his head to him.

"You have my congratulations once again, Sir Aizen," Sigmund said lightly. "This has been a historic moment to witness, but I imagine you will be quite busy with your new daughter’s education and formal adoption."

With that, the discussion drew to a close.

"That would be best. Once my urgent matters are settled, I will visit you with my daughter."

Grand Duke Sigmund cast a glance at William and his companions, a subtle cue for them to step outside and allow the two men a private moment.

William nodded, signaling to the others to follow. Just as he turned to leave, a voice rang out.

"My lord!"

Felicia’s voice carried through the hall as she abruptly dropped to one knee.

Before she could say another word, Aizen’s hand shot out, gripping her shoulder.

"Enough," he said firmly.

Felicia blinked in confusion. "What…?"

"You are no knight," Aizen stated. "You have only just become the daughter of a noble house. Swearing loyalty to a lord when you hold no title yourself is meaningless."

Her breath hitched, stunned by the weight of his words.

"Serving a lord requires qualification," Aizen continued. "A vow of loyalty is something you will give once you have become a knight in your own right."

Felicia’s hands clenched, her emotions wavering between frustration and understanding.

William, watching her carefully, let out a small chuckle.

"I will wait," he said simply.

That was all it took. Felicia’s eyes steadied with newfound resolve. She bowed her head deeply, accepting his words.

She did not rise from her kneeling position until William had left the room.