Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 29

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Heir? I Wouldn’t Know, But I’m About to Heal — Episode 29

Something about my brother…… felt different.

“I thank our esteemed guests for gracing us with their presence, and the heirs who will lead this realm forward. Today, I…….”

Lion continued in the most ordinary way imaginable, stripped of any distinctive flourish.
His pitch and tone were perfectly level.
It might even have struck one as tedious.
And yet…….

‘Why is this happening?’

Ricshel kept his expression neutral while studying Lion intently, as if trying to see through him.
Something about him commanded attention.
Not his words—but the man himself!
The other nobles seemed to feel it too.

“Lion…… doesn’t something about his presence draw the eye?”
“I’m not the only one feeling it then? How shall I put it. The man seems ordinary, and yet…….”

Those nobles with no stake in the power struggle murmured among themselves in hushed tones.
Then one of the younger ladies—one with a discerning eye—seemed to arrive at something, and spoke up a touch louder.

“Now that I think of it…… that attire……!”
“Ah! I see it now—there’s an elegance hidden within the simplicity. It’s not the garment that shines, but the person wearing it that’s elevated!”
“Indeed! The clothing of a true aristocrat is clearly cut from different cloth!”
“……!”

Ricshel now saw it too, turning to study Lion anew.
In truth, every gesture from his brother radiated grace and dignity.
Beneath the glittering chandelier, the Formal Attire gleamed with a subtle luminescence, and the jewelry—precisely placed and perfectly chosen—elevated Lion’s bearing another notch entirely.
For all its richness, it projected no ostentation, lending him a depth that commanded respect.

“Who designed this piece?”
“I’ve heard that none of the tailors I know were commissioned for it…….”

The whispers swelled.
What had begun as conversation among a few young ladies now drew the attention of fashion-conscious gentlemen and matrons alike, all seized by curiosity.
Ricshel swept his gaze across the gathering, noting carefully which nobles showed no outward interest.
Those who betrayed indifference on the surface had their own schemes at work.

‘They’re likely those trying to forge connections with the House.’

Once the speech of thanks concluded, his brother would likely find himself surrounded by the eager hands of fashion-minded nobles.
At least the scoundrels with darker designs would have no opening to approach him that way.

“That boy’s used his head.”

Patrick, who had been silent until now, muttered low with something like approval.
Surely not……!

“Did my brother calculate all of this?”
“Can’t say for certain, but you’ve seen how sharp his instincts are.”
“Ah!”

Ricshel marveled at Lion’s foresight.
All the while, Lion’s speech continued on.

“……From tomorrow onwards, you’re free to enjoy yourselves as you please until the next day. I’d like to express my gratitude once more for traveling such a distance to be here, and with that, I’ll take my leave. That concludes my remarks.”

Clap-clap-clap-clap!

Applause erupted from every corner of the hall.
As Lion’s speech ended, the conductor of the orchestra raised his baton sharply, signaling the true beginning of the party.

“Pardon us.”

Servants circulated through the venue carrying trays laden with spirits and finger foods.
Each table was already laden with delicacies beyond count.
A lavish feast and fine wines befitting a grand celebration.
Observing the scene, Lion descended from the dais and made his way back to where his grandfather and Ricshel stood.

“That was truly remarkable, sir! Did you perhaps practice beforehand?”
“Hm? No, I just kept it simple.”

Years of corporate experience had honed skills that now served him well.
He was fortunate to have attended a few seminars and upper-class gatherings, so he harbored no anxiety.
If anything, he felt more at ease than then.
No one foolish enough to heckle the young lord of Asteri House would be present.

“To possess such composure…… it’s remarkable.”
“Thank you for the praise.”

Without needless pressure, anxiety naturally dissolved.
His ease appeared to impress Ricshel.
Patrick, meanwhile, concealed his own delight at Lion’s polished social presence.
Such composure was not something everyone could muster.
Especially not without Mana.
A mage’s Mana helped maintain not only power but also a lake-like serenity of mind.
Much like a knight’s Aura.
Yet his grandson had fulfilled his duties with such confidence despite possessing neither.
It was impossible not to feel pride.

‘Indeed. Our house’s bloodline runs true.’

As the two Asteri members formed a shared understanding through Lion’s performance, Lion himself grew flustered and scratched his head awkwardly.
Fortunately, the moment passed quickly.
The chefs of Asteri House began arriving with dishes one after another, arranging the meal.
Soon after, Patrick nodded in genuine satisfaction as he brought food to his lips.

“……The food tastes particularly fine today.”
“Yes. The head chef appears to have taken great care.”

Lion scratched his cheek briefly, then began eating quietly.
True to his grandfather’s praise, the meal was exceptionally good.

* * *

After a satisfying meal.
As Lion wiped his mouth with a napkin, he suddenly recalled what Patrick had said before the speech.

“Grandfather, you said you had something to ask me?”

When Lion spoke, Patrick set down his fork briefly and answered.

“Yes. I wanted to ask what you plan to bring to the Ceremony.”

Ah, so that was what he was curious about.
In the Maze of Mysteries’ ceremony, it was said that what you gained could differ depending on the items you brought with you.
Those who brought a grimoire would gain new knowledge related to its contents, while those who brought a staff would obtain another offensive spell, and so on.
Most mages would naturally expect as much, but since he wasn’t a mage, it was understandable that he might wonder.

“I’m planning to bring a potion I’ve made myself.”

After all, he had no magical talent.
And bringing anything else would be… well, it’d be lower grade.

‘Even if my formal attire is four-star, it’s just Andrea’s work with a necktie thrown on top, so I’ve no idea what they’d give me for it.’

So he’d decided on a potion.

“That’s right. There’s no need to bring anything grandiose. The Maze will look at your abilities and teach you only what you need.”

True enough. Grandfather had brought a Basic Magic grimoire to his ceremony, but that didn’t mean he’d been given knowledge of basic magic usage.

‘Still, it’d be better to bring something good, wouldn’t it?’

The highest-grade potion Lion had made was the Mental Fatigue Recovery Potion he’d given to Patrick and Silvia, but since he lacked materials, he decided to pull out a few of the better ones from among the many potions in his inventory.

Satisfied with Lion’s answer, Patrick nodded and spoke again.

“And there’s one more thing I wanted to ask.”

Unlike his previous question, his expression had turned serious.

“Are you interested in politics or the position of heir?”
“Pardon? No?”

Lion answered immediately, his face twisted in distaste.
Just thinking about it was horrifying!

“I’ll ask once more. Are you certain?”
“Absolutely. There’s no chance of that.”

Politics—wasn’t that the most tedious and disagreeable word in existence?
And our lovely brother Ricshel was doing just fine in the heir position. Why would I?
Meanwhile.
Patrick, who had fallen silent in thought after Lion’s answer, now turned his head and posed a question to Ricshel.

“Can you treat your brother the same as you would yourself?”
“I can swear it upon the honor and name of our house.”

Ricshel answered just as readily.
He was confident that no one, whoever they might be, would ever lay a hand on his brother.
Why else would he have endured such grueling education until now?
To protect his house, his family.
With his coming-of-age ceremony only a few years away, he was already throwing himself into his studies with renewed fervor.
Perhaps, if fortune smiled, he might even reach the fifth circle before too long.
Patrick let out a soft laugh at the light in their eyes, each reflecting a different conviction.
A problem he had worried about—however faintly—had resolved itself far more simply than he’d dared hope.
To be honest, he wanted to stand up right then and there and boast about it to everyone.
‘Our house is this tightly bound!’ ‘That succession problem you lot keep wracking your brains over? We’ve solved it with a family bond you won’t find anywhere else in the world!’
He especially wanted to tell those two imperial princes visible in the distance.
The two brothers, seated in the finest spots on the opposite side of the second level, occupied their places without exchanging a single word.
The eldest seemed at ease, but occasionally he caught him glancing sidelong at the second prince before him, suggesting he wasn’t entirely comfortable.

‘And…’

Patrick’s gaze shifted slightly toward the Second Imperial Prince.
His pallid face bore an expression that seemed melancholic.
He couldn’t even finish his food properly, which might have seemed pitiable enough, but beneath the curtain of his bangs, his eyes glinted with a faint, unmistakable killing intent.

‘The First Imperial Prince hasn’t noticed a thing.’

In any case, the imperial family wasn’t worth his attention right now.

Whoosh.

Patrick turned his head toward another table.
Where members of the Swordmaster Clan should have been seated, only the clan head sat alone.
A young woman honed sharp as tempered steel—a blade of ice given human form.
He’d heard that after the previous clan head passed away, his granddaughter inherited the position.
In a house that had left no explicit heir and died, in a martial house no less, the consequences were predictable.
Most people didn’t know, but the brutality had been severe enough to nearly extinguish the clan’s bloodline.
Fortunately, just before he would have had to intervene personally, the kin-slaying masquerading as a Succession Ceremony came to an end.

‘All because of a single lady who’d been the quietest of them all.’

And that wasn’t all.
This new clan head had shouldered all that blood and raised the house from its ashes.
Perhaps because of it, no noble dared approach her despite her beauty.
Even she herself seemed to show little interest in such matters.
In any case, the clan was still busy with internal affairs and wouldn’t reach out to him.
As for the priests—they despised such lavish venues, so there was no need to concern himself with them for now.
Having finished his calculations, Patrick answered at precisely the right moment.

“Very well. From now on, Lion, you’ll live as you wish, as a direct member of Asteri House.”
“Ha, and what if I cause trouble?”

Patrick let out a soft chuckle.
Trouble? Those fools could barely handle their own affairs.

“If you wish to cause trouble, then do so.”
“…….”

Lion fell silent at Patrick’s audacious reply.

“Cause trouble as you please. Only…….”
“Only……?”
“Don’t get hurt. If you do, I won’t let you off easy.”

What kind of threat was that—’get hurt and I’ll kill you’?
Lion had had no intention of causing trouble anyway, but after hearing that, he found himself wanting to live even more peacefully.
By the time the meal and dessert courses had drawn to a close…….

“Bothersome fools are coming.”
“Indeed.”

The nobles, having finished their meal, began creeping cautiously toward their table.

“I’ll step aside for now.”
“Go.”
“I’ll handle them quickly and come fetch you, brother.”

Wait—weren’t these guests? Could he really use the word “handle” for them?
In no time, his grandfather and younger brother vanished from sight, swallowed by the crowd.

‘They certainly have their hands full.’

Lion decided to find a quiet corner, take a wine glass, and wait.
The speech had dwelt considerably on his attire, and he suspected that a few curious onlookers might approach him once they had a chance.
And yet.

“Excuse me, Lion? Good evening. I am from the Marquis Delphin’s household…….”
“Lion! I’ve been wanting to speak with you since the speech. Would you mind if we talked for a moment?”
“……What?”

Contrary to Lion’s expectations, the moment he stepped away, a flood of nobles descended upon him.
Their eyes shone with an unmistakable gleam as they bombarded him with questions about his Formal Attire.

‘So this is what a four-star effect looks like?’

What Lion had failed to realize was that the Formal Attire set transcended the aesthetic sensibilities of ordinary nobility by a vast distance.
And what of those nobles with a particular passion for fashion?

“Could you perhaps tell us the name of your designer?”
“Please, even just a hint……!”

They were beside themselves.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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