Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage Chapter 882: Family Traditions – Noble Etiquette III

CH882 Family Traditions – Noble Etiquette III

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One side of Alex’s response made it seem as though he was accepting that both he and Aiden were in the wrong. But listening to his words more carefully, it became clear that he was doing far more than that.

Alex smiled, his expression poignant with meaning.

While his own mistake under Earl Mathias’s accusation could be chalked up to ignorance, that did not erase the fact that even if Drake had allowed Aiden to ’speak freely’, there were still certain rules of etiquette that Aiden was expected to follow—and he had indeed broken them.

Earl Mathias had unknowingly acknowledged this by putting forth his argument.

That was why Alex had so readily accepted that both of them were at fault.

Though Alex had admitted to committing an offence, his circumstances and intentions meant that, at most, he would likely receive a slap on the wrist—especially since he had ultimately not gone through with the attack.

Aiden, on the other hand, had used the leeway granted to him to speak beyond his station. His own words had made it clear that he knew exactly what he was doing, as he had practically admitted as much himself.

Not to mention, his offence was of a far greater magnitude than Alex’s.

If the two of them were to be punished, Aiden would inevitably receive the harsher punishment.

The people present quickly realised that this was likely why Alex had been so quick to accept the seemingly mutually destructive outcome.

But there was another layer to his response that the sharper minds among them noticed.

Alex had effectively placed the severity of their punishments in the hands of the person offended by both young men—the Patriarch, Earl Drake Fury himself.

This was important for more than the obvious reason that Drake was unlikely to overly punish his own son.

More importantly, it placed—or rather, reminded everyone, especially Earl Mathias and his son—that ultimate authority rested with the Clan Patriarch, Earl Drake Fury.

It was a masterful series of moves within a clan where martial might held supreme.

One of the first to understand all of this was none other than Earl Mathias himself.

He realised that he and his son had lost the opportunity to gain the upper hand.

So, before Earl Drake Fury could capitalise on the situation, Mathias turned toward him with a soft, genial laugh.

"I can see why the Patriarch cares so fondly for Young Lord Alex. He is quite the individual." Earl Mathias said, deliberately addressing Alex as a fellow member of the Fury family rather than as a lower noble.

"Since Young Lord Alex has returned, the original agenda of this meeting is no longer necessary. I propose that we properly celebrate his return instead."

Earl Mathias attempted to close the matter there and move past what had just occurred.

By changing the nature of the gathering—from a formal clan council to a more familiar celebration—and shifting its focus away from the original agenda, Earl Mathias sought to sweep both Alex’s and Aiden’s transgressions under the rug.

’Old ginger is certainly spicier.’ Alex’s eyes flashed as he gazed at the older Earl.

’Looks like your old age isn’t for nothing. You certainly know when to push forward and when to retreat.’

Yet the smile remained on Alex’s lips.

At first glance, it seemed as though Alex had lost the most if things concluded like this on Earl Mathias’s prompt.

But that was not the case.

In reality, Earl Mathias’s concession had established—or rather, re-established—Earl Drake’s superiority over him within the Clan’s hierarchy.

Since Mathias Fury had become an Earl like Drake, there were undoubtedly elements within the Clan who believed that Mathias could eventually replace the Mad Earl as Clan Head.

Some of them were likely being led by Aiden himself.

This seemingly simple exchange had just put a dent in those efforts.

Alex glanced at Aiden from the corner of his eye.

The young man had already regained his composure.

’He’s not simple either. I may have won this round because of the element of surprise from my sudden return, but he’ll be much more prepared for me from now on.’

Alex’s eyes flashed with a vicious light.

’Should I bury him now?’

He had not exhausted his means of attacking Aiden. And perhaps not even those of attacking Mathias himself.

The original agenda of the Elder Council meeting seemed to have been the pressure being placed on the lesser Fury noble houses by hostile nobles and aristocrats across the empire.

Yet instead of discussing how the Fury Clan could retaliate against these hostile houses as a unified force, Aiden—a scion of the Fury bloodline—had turned inward and criticised his own Patriarch.

Given the opportunity, Alex could easily frame that political choice as Aiden bending the knee to outsiders in order to oppose the leader of his own clan.

The Fury bloodline was steeped in rebellion, but family remained immensely important to them.

Within the Clan, rebelling against an unfavourable decision or challenging poor leadership was not only acceptable, but sometimes even encouraged.

However, seeking the aid of outsiders to undermine the Clan’s authority—or acting against the Clan for the benefit of outsiders—was an entirely different matter.

That was a line even the most rebellious Fury would think twice before crossing.

In the lesser case, it could mean the death of a person’s reputation in the eyes of their fellow Furys. In graver cases, it could lead to the person’s literal death.

Either outcome would be favourable to Alex, as it would crush both Aiden and his father Mathias’s ambitions within the family—effectively cutting out a potential cancer before it could grow into something harmful.

However, when Alex looked around at those present, he realised that he had lost the opportunity to act.

Making a move now would do him more harm than good, and he would end up wasting a powerful card.

Besides, he could sense the warning stare from Drake, seemingly telling him not to act any further.

’Seems I have no choice but to graciously accept the victory as it is.’

Alex sighed inwardly.

While the youth was disappointed with the result, the others present looked at him with complex expressions, most of them filled with acceptance and admiration.

For the most part, they genuinely celebrated his return.

Even the other Elder Council members—Gordon, Megan and Vincent—who had made no moves but had clearly enjoyed the show, looked at him with expressions of acknowledgement.

Gordon even went so far as to wear a smirk of challenge as he eyed the youth.

Alex smoothly looked away from the man. He would have to be an idiot to actually respond to the challenge of a powerful Saint.

Instead, he nodded toward Megan and Vincent.

His gaze toward the former was particularly complex, as she would soon find herself at the centre of one of his goals during this return trip.

Meanwhile, outside the hall, the Silver Fangs watched through the open doors and nodded in awe at Alex’s political manoeuvring, while the members of his expedition party merely smiled wryly.

’The Silver Tongue strikes again.’

Eventually, the meeting came to an abrupt close, and the attendees dispersed.

In the carriage leaving the Ashen Castle, Aiden hung his head before his father.

Mathias watched the streets of the City of Ashes stream past the carriage window.

Unable to bear the silence any longer, Aiden finally spoke, his voice tinged with shame.

"I am sorry, Father. Because of me, you had to bow to that brute."

Mathias turned away from the window and looked at his son.

He subtly shook his head.

"You are not to blame. Your failure today is my fault, it seems." Mathias said.

"Father...?"

Aiden looked up in surprise.

"When I sent you to learn the ways of the nobility outside our clan, it seems I gave you the impression that I was against the ways of our clan. Let me be clear, son— I am not."

Aiden stared at his father in shock.

Mathias glanced out the window.

For a moment, he caught sight of a mother helping her child to his feet after he had fallen. He watched as the mother and child laughed about the incident, their voices fading as the carriage drifted away.

Only then did he turn back to his son.

"While I do believe our clan is backward in many ways, and has much to learn from the other nobles of the empire, that does not mean I believe everything they do is better than our ways." Mathias said.

"I had high expectations for you, Aiden. I sent you to learn their ways, expecting you to combine them with ours and create something better for our clan. I never expected you to come to look down on our ways so much."

He leaned upon his walking stick slightly.

"Listen carefully, Aiden. You do not have the right to look down on Drake. As far as Patriarchs go within our clan, he is currently the best man for the position—even better than I could be."

Aiden’s eyes widened.

"Put away your disdain and arrogance toward our ways. Embrace them. Accept them. Evolve them. That is the only way you will truly become better than Drake."

Mathias’s gaze hardened.

"Until then, you have neither the right nor the qualification to look down on the man."

He paused. Then said, "You do not even possess the right to look down on his son."

"Father, you—"

"Keep quiet and listen."

Mathias cut him off before he could finish.

"The sophistication and sophistry of the outside nobles, combined with the boldness and militancy of our ways..."

His eyes narrowed.

"That boy displays the blend I expected from you."

Aiden was left stunned by his father’s words.

Mathias shook his head, a hint of pity passing through his eyes.

Then he left his son with one final warning.

"If you continue to look at our clan with arrogance and disdain in your heart, especially while continuing your sycophancy toward the outside nobles you associate with, you will only make a mockery of yourself before the very nobles you flatter and the clansmen you disdain."

He stared directly into Aiden’s eyes.

"That boy will surpass you so completely that you will not even be able to stand in his shadow."

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