Chapter 25 25 Bloodlines And Bargains: The Cost Of Legitimacy

By sheer lineage alone, the Grimaldi name held more history than even the Imperial family.

And in noble society, history mattered.

It gave legitimacy. It gave prestige. Even a fallen house like Grimaldi was still respected among the aristocracy—not for its power, but for the authority its name alone commanded.

That, and the fact that they were harmless. Weak enough to pose no threat, yet useful enough to elevate one’s own house by intermarriage.

By contrast, Jordy’s maternal lineage—the Hexen Baronry—was an entirely different matter.

A family of merchants. Commoners, no matter how much wealth they had.

Their noble title was barely three generations old, an infant compared to the Grimaldis’ centuries of rule. And how had they earned it? Not through bloodshed, not through valor, but by buying it.

During the war against the rebels, the Hexen family had provided massive war funds to the Empire in exchange for a barony. No matter how large the sum, money was still just money. It could not replace the prestige of an ancient bloodline, nor could it silence the whispers of those who looked down on them.

At best, the Hexens had secured their place. At worst, they were little more than upstarts—merchants who had clawed their way into nobility with coin instead of steel.

Three generations might have been enough time to stabilize their status, but it was far too short to erase their past as traders.

A stigma that clung to them still.

William exhaled lightly, his lips curling into a faint smirk. So that was why Jordy had always been so desperate to bring him down.

Even with Hern’s blood in his veins, Jordy could never escape the shadow of his mother’s origins. He would always be seen as the merchant’s grandson, a noble only by technicality.

Meanwhile, William—an illegitimate afterthought—had been born of untainted noble lineage.

Jordy must have despised that.

A coveted treasure resting in the hands of someone who did not even want it.

Unfair, wasn’t it?

William thought idly about how amusing that was, but amusement didn’t mean leniency.

Jordy’s inferiority complex might have been a valid reason in his own mind, but it was no excuse for his actions.

William owed him nothing.

The Grand Duke, who had been watching William’s expression, clicked his tongue before letting out a long sigh.

“If Jordy keeps provoking you, you are free to retaliate. But if your fights escalate to the point that it shames our house…”

William met his gaze, unflinching.

“That will not happen.”

“Let me finish.”

The Grand Duke’s tone dropped slightly, his voice edged with something that almost sounded like warning.

“If that happens, then regardless of who is right or wrong, I will take Jordy’s side.”

William’s eyes narrowed.

“…What?”

What did he just say?

William stood frozen for a moment, his mind struggling to process the Grand Duke’s words.

Across the room, the Grand Duke let out a cold chuckle, his piercing gaze locked onto his son’s dumbfounded expression.

“Why do you look so surprised?” His voice was calm, almost amused. “Jordy may be impulsive and reckless, but he has, at the very least, made efforts for the family’s benefit. That’s more than I can say for you, who have done nothing but idle away for the past year.”

William’s expression did not change, but his fingers curled slightly at his sides.

“As head of this house, it is only natural for me to favor the one who contributes, no matter how small that contribution may be. Do not waste time feeling wronged.”

It was a statement so blatantly biased that it was almost laughable.

William’s brow twitched slightly before his mind caught onto something. The meaning behind his father’s words became clear, and he narrowed his eyes.

“If I understand correctly… you are saying that if I prove to be of greater value to the family, you will take my side instead?”

The Grand Duke’s lips curled ever so slightly.

“You’ve understood well.” He leaned back, his eyes gleaming with a quiet challenge. “If you wish to stand by my side, then prove your worth. Show me you can be of use to this house. If you choose to remain stagnant, then do not expect my protection.”

William swallowed a quiet scoff.

So that was his game.

He wants to light a fire under me.

The Grand Duke’s declaration of support for Jordy had been half a lie. If William truly intended to remain the same idle, reclusive figure he had been before, then yes, his father would likely favor Jordy by default. But if William proved himself capable, the Grand Duke would have no reason to discard him so easily.

In the end, it was nothing more than a provocation—a deliberate push to see how far William could go now that he had started moving forward.

Something is shifting.

William had a feeling this meant the competition for succession was starting to take a definitive shape. His father wouldn’t be pushing him like this unless things were beginning to solidify.

It was a sign.

A sign that this was his final chance.

“That will be all,” the Grand Duke said, dismissing him with a flick of his fingers. “Keep in mind, a blade left in its sheath for too long will rust before it ever sees battle.”

William understood the implication well enough.

Still, he did not leave.

Instead, he met the Grand Duke’s gaze head-on and spoke.

“And if I have already accomplished something of worth for this family… what then?”

A flicker of interest crossed the Grand Duke’s face.

“What?”

William remained composed, his voice steady.

“I ask, Your Grace, what you would do if I had already performed a great service for our house?”

The Grand Duke’s brow furrowed slightly. What was he talking about?

“You’ve barely stepped outside once in the past week. And yet, you speak of accomplishment?” He exhaled sharply. “Don’t make a fool of yourself. Achievements aren’t so easily claimed. If you think I’ll entertain some vague rumor—”

“Logran Marquisate has been making moves in our territory,” William interrupted. His voice was calm, but the words sent a jolt through the air. “Through the underworld, they’ve been distributing narcotics.”

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