34 Reason.. (1/2)

Count Oliver was puzzled about which Family Ozul was talking about. He tilted his head a little to show his confusion.

”Tell me about the Abilon family.”- Ozul just said in the dull tone.

Even Raven wondered why Ozul wanted to know about some Abilon Family. She lived in the village before. So, her knowledge of the kingdom was limited.

”Hm. The Abilon Family, the Family of one of the Dukes in our Silverbird Kingdom?”- Count Oliver was even more perplexed as to why Ozul wanted to know about them.

But it did not have anything to do with him so, Count Oliver began to describe what he knew about the Abilon Family.

”I think that Family has kept their status for centuries now. Each generation had produced at least one capable Mage that can hold the position of a Duke.”-

Ozul did not intervene, and every now and then, he would nod his head a little.

”But in the previous generation, there were two such geniuses!”- Count Oliver continued,

”Alas, one of them died like ten years ago.”- Oliver said with another sigh. He always admired talented people.

'Ten years ago... it could be my 'father'... but why and how would he just die? Is it related to why at least one of my part is with the Church now?'-

Ozul began to think of a few possibilities as he was also born just about ten years ago. Such timing can't be a coincidence.

Count Oliver noticed that Ozul wanted more explanation, so he began to describe;

”Ten years ago, Edward Abilon was the Duke while his younger brother did not have any important position. Edward was, of course, the stronger between the two.”- He continued;

”Everything was going smooth for the Family. But all of a sudden, misfortunes befell on Edward Abilon.”-

”Misfortunes?”- Ozul wanted to know what kind of misfortunes Oliver was talking about.

Count Oliver did not know why Ozul wanted to know about the recent history so much, but he explained nonetheless;

”First of all was the death of his most favorite concubine. I think her name was... Sylvia Ashfall?”-

”Syliva...Ashfall. That was her name, huh.”- Ozul muttered, but only Raven could hear him.

She did not fail to notice Ozul's distinctive tone when he said the name. But she decided to ask later. It was not the time nor the place to ask such personal questions.

Count Oliver did not hear Ozul as he began to count all the misfortunes of Edward Abilon ten years ago.

”The second would be the death of the baby inside Syliva Ashfall's belly, Edward's first and the only child. I think there were complications during the delivery.”

'He declared me dead, huh.'- Ozul thought while he did not flinch hearing the news of his own 'death'.

”The third will be, of course, how he lost all his cultivation together with his mind before he...well, died.”

”And now the younger brother of Edward Abilon is the Duke, am I right?”- Ozul finished the rest of the story after putting the pieces together.

”Haha... You are right; His name is Edwin Abilon. Everyone calls him Duke Edwin tho. He is also the other genius of the previous generation that attained Rank-8.”-

Count Oliver awkwardly spoke since Ozul's earlier inquiry meant something else. Those were just unspoken words that everyone knew, but no one dared to speak out loud.

”Also, since Duke Edwin secured the position of the Duke, their Family is on the rise! No one knows how they could improve so much in just a matter of a few years.”- Count Oliver added this last part.

Ozul only had one last question;

”Is he in your faction?”- It will make things easier for Ozul if he were.

”Ah, It's a pity, but no. He is more like a neutral party. Duke Edward has close ties with the Royal Family; he doesn't need to join a faction.”

Count Oliver answered while shaking his head a little. Ozul learned all the information he wanted to.

So, he just took his leave after receiving the compensation together with the reward from the mission after he handed over the wooden box.

As Ozul walked back home together with Raven, he was in deep thoughts;

'No wonder they forgot about me—as they are not even alive to think.'

'Earlier the Count confirmed that most probably Edwin was behind the death of my 'father'.'

Edwin was also a Rank-8 Mage; it goes without saying that he would be jealous of Edward due to his position as a Duke.

'Sigh...Couldn't even kill him myself. Well, Edwin sold my part to the Church of Light. I can kill him...'- Ozul sighed, thinking of how his 'Uncle' was now in possession of his 'part'.

Raven kept stealing glances at Ozul and noticed his weird behavior on the way back home.