Reincarnated as the third son of the Duke-Chapter 72 - Lessons in Power and Purpose

72 Lessons in Power and Purpose

Sigmund groaned and pressed his hands against his face.

The very last thing he wanted to hear.

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Upon returning home, William found that his status had shifted dramatically.

His position had already been rising at an astonishing pace.

But now?

Now, it was unshakable.

No one—not even Tristan—could deny it.

The once wary servants now bowed even deeper as he passed. The knights, once indifferent, now actively sought his favor.

Even Hans and Hugo—his closest subordinates—had risen in standing as a result.

"It’s hilarious," Hans said with a grin. "All these people who used to look down on me now can’t even meet my eyes. Feels like all those years of frustration just washed away."

"Not everything about this change is pleasant," William pointed out. "I assume the favors and requests have started flooding in?"

"Of course. But I’ve turned every single one of them down," Hans said proudly. "Taking handouts from people like that? That’s how you get yourself killed."

William nodded approvingly.

Hans had handled his newfound influence well.

Unlike most, he wasn’t blinded by ambition. Perhaps it was because he had seen too much of the filth that lurked behind political power.

For William, that was a relief.

If Hans continued growing at this pace, he could become a reliable aide in the future.

Not at the level of Duke Sigmund or Chamberlain Edwin, of course.

But even a lesser confidant was valuable.

A ruler didn’t just need knights and administrators—he needed people who could handle the small, unseen matters.

And Hans had that potential.

Unlike Hans, however, Hugo’s focus was elsewhere.

Rather than dwelling on his newfound status, he was wholly dedicated to training.

"One day," Hugo said, "I’ll be fighting at your side, Young Master. I have to keep my skills sharp. The only thing that bothers me is that my swordsmanship is… lacking."

"It can’t be helped," William said. "You can only learn the Lion’s Sword after officially becoming a knight. For now, you’ll have to make do with what you know."

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Unlike the Lionheart Sword, which was reserved for direct bloodline descendants, the Lion’s Sword was open to all knights of the house.

But even so, no matter how loyal one was…

A man could not learn it unless he was a knight.

That was the only condition.

William himself found it a bit regrettable.

But soon, Hugo’s time would come.

He would rise.

He would earn his knighthood.

And for now—The best thing he could do was prepare.

William needed to do the same.

After making a round through the estate, he set off toward one destination.

His goal?

To find Swordmaster Aizen.

Because soon—He would march onto the battlefield once again.

"I apologize for the inconvenience."

"There’s no need. Felicia has etiquette lessons today, so I had little else to do."

Though Swordmaster Aizen had recently taken on a disciple, that did not mean he was unwilling to instruct others.

No matter how talented a student was, a human body could not train twenty-four hours a day.

And in Felicia’s case, her time was further divided—she wasn’t just learning swordsmanship, but also noble etiquette.

"If anything, I welcome the distraction," Aizen said with a chuckle. "To think I’d have the opportunity to assist the Third Young Master in my spare time. If you ever truly need me, I’d gladly carve time out of my schedule to be here."

There was no sarcasm in his tone—only sincerity.

Ever since William had introduced him to Felicia, Aizen had felt a deep sense of gratitude toward him.

At times, it seemed the swordmaster regarded him with even greater appreciation than he would a savior.

"I appreciate your words, Sir Aizen," William said. "How is Felicia doing these days?"

"Her passion for etiquette matches her passion for the sword," Aizen replied, though there was a slight hint of sadness in his voice. "Though… I fear her motivation is different."

William nodded, understanding at once.

"She pursues swordsmanship out of pure enjoyment," he said. "But etiquette? That stems from the wounds of her past."

Aizen let out a sigh, his expression darkening.

"Indeed. It’s as if she’s desperate to prove herself, to erase the treatment she once endured. It pains me to see it."

"It’s unavoidable," William said quietly. "The fact that she once served as my brother’s attendant tells you everything about how she was treated in that house. Her unseen scars run deep."

Aizen’s lips curled into a cold smile.

"Then I will ensure that those fools regret ever casting her aside. When the time comes, I will make them weep tears of blood."

"If they witness her true potential firsthand, perhaps she will find some peace," William said.

"Hah, I look forward to it."

For all their talk of noble duty and legacy, the Marquisate had discarded one of the greatest sword prodigies in history.

Not only as a father or a mentor, but as a swordsman, Aizen had every reason to deliver retribution upon those fools.

Still, he shook his head and let out a low chuckle.

"We’ve wandered off topic," he mused. "Now then, show me what you’ve learned. Let me see the Lionheart Sword."

"Understood."

William took a step forward and executed the full sequence of the Lionheart Sword’s forms.

He was still in the early stages of training, and Aizen would have ordinarily spent more time refining his fundamentals.

But there was no need.

William’s foundations were already solid.

Even if Aizen did not correct him, William would have trained himself regardless.

And given that half of a sword’s effectiveness came from mastering its basics, William had already won half the battle.

Now, there was only one issue left to address.

"...I’m finished," William said as he lowered his blade.

Aizen remained silent for a long moment, watching with critical eyes.

Then, with a deep sigh, he spoke.

"You, Third Young Master, are blessed. Your mana is pure, your strength is extraordinary, and your awareness in battle is exceptional."

"Uh… thank you?" William said, caught off guard by the sudden praise.

"The Lionheart Sword suits you well," Aizen continued. "It is a technique focused on power. While it possesses its share of finesse, its true strength lies in raw destruction."