Former Fake Becomes Grand Duke of the North

True to his word, a few minutes after his departure, Viscount Holtz sent a servant to lead Lina and Mika to the rooms prepared for them. They had spent the last several days traveling from Guld Manor, and they needed to clean themselves up before they dined with Dad and the others. I headed back to my room in order to change into a fresh outfit. Once I was ready, I directed a servant to lead me to the rooms set aside for Lina and Mika, so I could escort them to the dining room.

It turned out that I didn’t have to go far. The area of the castle set aside for guests was full, because of the banquet, so Viscount Holtz had rooms prepared in the area of the castle set aside for the Grand Duke and his immediate family members. I guessed the Viscount decided to err on the side of caution to avoid offending the future grand duchess. Dad called Lina his future daughter in law after all.

Actually, I wondered about that. Just how much did Viscount and Viscountess Holtz know about my true identity? They had been there, alongside Baron Kirch, when Dad revealed his plan to have me act as the fake heir to House Kaltbrand. However, now that I knew that I was the real heir to House Kaltbrand, had Dad informed them of the truth? The Viscount and the Viscountess obeyed my commands and treated me with the respect due to my position, but that could have been because of Dad’s orders. I would have to ask him about it later on.

Lina and Mika finished getting ready soon after I arrived. They took my arms and I escorted them both to the dining room. This wasn’t the first time I had done something like this. Back at Guld Manor, before I ran away, I sometimes escorted the two of them to the few social events we were allowed to attend. Nostalgia filled me as I thought about those times.

Aside from the servants, Dad was the only person in the dining room when we arrived. He had been sitting, but stood up as we entered.

“Ah, Wulfe.” He said, smiling. “Welcome.”

“Dad,” I said, gesturing to Lina and Mika, “I know that you’ve already met, but let me introduce Lady Lina Guld and Lady Mika Guld.”

Lina and Mika bowed to Dad.

“Ah, yes.” He said in a dry voice. “Lady Lina Guld. It’s not everyday someone threatens me to my face while wearing a smile.”

I stiffened, before turning to look at Lina. She wore an innocent expression.

“It was hardly a threat.” She said, speaking in a faux innocent voice. “I merely said that if you didn’t let go of Wulfram and return him to us, then any and all trade between the Riverlands and the Barrens would cease.”

I stared at Lina with wide eyes. The Barrens imported most of its food from the Riverlands, the breadbasket of the Reichwald Empire. Cutting off trade between the two regions would condemn the people of the Barrens to a slow death by starvation. Not only that, but as the eldest daughter of House Guld, Lina had the means to follow through on her threat.

“You threatened to starve the Barrens for me?” I asked.

As horrified as I was by her hard stance, I was also touched by it.

“Of course.” Lina said, as if stating the obvious.

“Your… beloved was under the misunderstanding that I am some kind of villainous cad.” Dad said. Thankfully, he seemed more amused than angry about Lina’s threat.

“You are big and scary.” I pointed out.

Dad chuckled at that.

“Where are my manners?” He asked. “Everyone, sit. We’re still waiting on Father and Sophie, though they shouldn’t be more than a few minutes.”

The three of us sat down. At first I intended to sit on Dad’s right side, but Lina and Mika pulled me to sit with them. I ended up in between the two.

“I take it the three of you resolved matters between yourselves.” Dad said.

I nodded.

“Yes. I told Lina and Mika the truth.”

“Good. That will make things easier going forward. However, let me clarify one thing.” Dad gave Lina a hard look. “The next time you try to use your family’s position to threaten me, I will declare a territorial war and take what I need from the Riverlands.”

He released a bit of his pressure towards the end, to emphasize his point. Mika’s face paled. Lina managed to maintain her composure, but even she was shaken. I released my own pressure to push back against Dad’s.

“Don’t threaten Lina in front of me ever again, Dad.” I said in an even voice. “Otherwise, I’ll make you regret it.”

Dad looked at me and the two of us glared at each for several seconds. In the end, Dad held up his hands in surrender.

“Fine, fine.” He said. “I understand.”

He retracted his pressure, and Lina gave me a grateful smile. I resisted the urge to sigh with relief. After I found out that I was the real heir to House Kaltbrand, I knew that there would be some friction between my birth family and my adopted family. However, I never expected it to be this bad. Dad and Lina were outright threatening each other, while poor Mika was shaking in fear. I knew that things would only get worse from here.

As soon as I had that thought, I heard thunderous footsteps approaching the dining room. It sounded as if some kind of giant was marching his way towards us. However, I knew it was something far worse.

“Here comes your mother.” Dad muttered under his breath, before turning towards Mika. “Lady Mika, may I ask you for a favor?”

She stared at him, trembling like a rabbit facing a bear, her face as white as a sheet.

“While not many know this, Sophie has a weakness for anything cute and adorable.” Dad said with complete sincerity. “If you greet her first, I’m sure that things will be much smoother going forward.”

Mika swallowed before replying.

“You’ll owe me a favor for this?” She asked.

I resisted the urge to chuckle. Even when she was scared out of her mind and facing Grand Duke Kaltbrand himself, Mika still responded like a Guld. A favor from the Reichwald Empire’s only grand duke was no small thing.

“Yes.” He looked towards the door of the dining room. “You should make your choice soon. Sophie is almost here.”

Mika nodded, before she stood up and faced the door to the dining room. I joined her and put my hand on her shoulder to offer my support. She glanced back and gave me a thankful smile, before facing the door once more. A few seconds later, it slammed opened and Mom entered the dining room.

“Where are they?” she said. “If they think that they can come here and take my bo-…”

Mom cut herself off when she caught sight of Mika.

“I greet you, Knight Commander Bardin,” she said, bowing to Mom, “Sword of the North and the Iron Countess of Bardin. I am Lady Mika Guld. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

Mom didn’t respond right away and continued to stare at Mika. Through my hand on her shoulder, I felt Mika trembling. Despite this, she maintained her composure.

“Anselm,” Mom said, pointing at Mika, “I want one.” She looked at Dad. “Can we keep her?”

I blinked at her in surprise and Mika started.

“No, Sophie.” Dad said, wearing an amused smile on his face. “We can’t keep Lady Mika. That would be kidnapping. I doubt her family would appreciate that.”

Mom let out an exaggerated sigh.

“Very well.” She said. “In that case, we’ll have to make one ourselves.” She wore a resolute expression on her face. “After we get married, we’re having a daughter.”

Even Dad seemed surprised by this.

“Are you serious?” He asked.

“Of course I am.” Mom said, giving him a scornful look. “I would never joke about something like this. Wulfe is old enough that a younger sibling or two wouldn’t be a threat to his position.”

I decided to intervene before this conversation delved into topics I would rather not think about. While I wasn’t ignorant of relations between men and women, that didn’t mean I wanted to think about my parents doing it.

“Mom,” I said, “May I introduce you to Lady Lina Guld?”

Lina stood up and bowed to mom.

“I greet you, Knight Commander Bardin,” she said, “My future mother in law.”

Mom’s expression iced over and a chill that had nothing to do with the temperature filled the room.

“That’s a rather bold declaration.” She said in a cold voice. “What makes you think I would ever accept someone like you as my daughter in law?”

Lina’s expression remained polite, though the look in her eyes grew sharper.

“Your acceptance of my marriage with your son would be a blessing.” She said. “However, it is unnecessary. Wulfram already promised to marry me. He’s not the kind of person to break a promise just because you refuse to accept reality.”

Mom studied Lina for several seconds, before she looked at me.

“This is the woman you’ve decided to spend the rest of your life with, Wulfe?” She asked. “I can’t tell if you have poor discernment or poor taste.”

This was much worse than I expected. At least Dad and Lina maintained some semblance of civility. Mom and Lina looked like they were ready to declare war on each other.

“Enough.” I said. “I would appreciate it if you two tried to get along instead of insulting each other all day long.”

Both Lina and Mom seemed offended by my words.

“What are you talking about?” Lina asked. “I made an effort to be polite. She’s the one who started insulting me.”

“You want me to treat her like a welcome guest?” Mom asked. “After the way she barged in here and started threatening your father?”

I resisted the urge to sigh. If things were this bad, how much worse would things get after Lina and I married one another? I heard tales of newlywed wives not getting along with their mother in laws, but I always thought those stories were exaggerated. However, I now realized that maybe they weren’t.

Thankfully, I was saved from answering either of their questions with the arrival of Count Wirner, my grandfather. He entered the dining room and stopped when he noticed the tense atmosphere.

“Am I interrupting something?” Count Wirner asked, glancing between Lina and Mom.

“No, Father.” Dad said, wearing a strained smile. “You arrived just in time. We were just about to start. Please, sit.”

Count Wirner sat down at the table. Lina and Mom followed his example and sat down as well, each one letting out a harrumph. I sagged in relief. A part of me feared that they would keep arguing with each other. Thankfully, it didn’t come to that. Mika patted me on the arm and gave me a sympathetic look. I gave her a grateful smile, before the two of us joined the others and sat down as well.

What followed was one of the most stressful luncheons I ever had the misfortune to sit through. We didn’t discuss anything serious while we ate and stuck to polite topics. However, that didn’t stop Lina and Mom from trading barbed comments with each other. It was like being caught between two she-wolves battling for dominance. It got to the point where I lost my appetite altogether. Dad wasn’t any help at all. In fact, he seemed amused by my predicament.

At least Count Wirner and Mika got along quite well. The two of them ignored Lina and Mom, and talked about a variety of topics with one another. They almost looked like a grandfather doting on his granddaughter.

By the time we finished eating and the servants cleared everything away, I wanted to take a walk in the western gardens to clear my head.

“Now then,” Dad said, after the servants left, “Shall we get down to business?”

The atmosphere in the dining room grew heavy.

“However, before we begin,” Dad said. “I’m going to have to ask Lady Lina and Lady Mika to leave. What we’re about to discuss involves the succession of House Kaltbrand. It isn’t fit for the ears of outsiders.”

I reached for Lina’s hand and grasped it in mine.

“No.” I said. “They’re not leaving.”

Dad’s expression grew sharp.

“When I made the decision to come north,” Lina said, “I did so with the intention to help Wulfram.” She gave me a sideways glance. “While the situation is different from what I expected, that hasn’t changed. Of course, if you insist, I shall leave. However, you would be making a grave error.”

Dad studied the two of us, before glancing at Mika.

“And you?” He asked.

Mika took my other hand.

“I’m staying with Big Brother Wulfram.” She said.

Dad thought about it for a moment, before he nodded acquiescence.

“Very well.” He said. “They can stay.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. That was too easy. If he wanted to exclude Lina and Mika, he would have just thrown them out. He wouldn’t have made a show of it. Was it some kind of test on his part?

“Anselm!” Mom protested. “You can’t be serious. They just arrived and you want to include them in House Kaltbrand’s internal dealings?”

“As his fiancée, Wulfram’s position as heir to House Kaltbrand affects me as well.” Lina pointed out.

Mom gave her a withering look.

“While I’m not opposed to your inclusion,” Count Wirner said, wearing a thoughtful expression on his face, “I don’t see the point. What can you contribute by staying here? Lady Lina? Lady Mika?”

“We can give you the identity of your enemy.” Lina said. “One of them at least. Does the name ‘Volkhard’ mean anything to you?”

Mom, Dad, and I leaned forward and focused on Lina, like predators that had caught sight of their prey.

“You know Volkhard?” I asked.

Lina nodded, unperturbed at having everyone’s attention.

“Yes.” She said. “I met with him just before I received His Grace’s invitation to come to Kaltbrand Castle.” She looked me right in the eyes. “However, we also know him by another name, Wulfram. He is Walter.”

I sucked in a breath when I heard that. That explained everything, and clarified a few things that hadn’t made sense before. Volkhard was Walter, which meant the enemy that had been interfering with House Kaltbrand’s succession was Prince Dirk Reichwald, the man I considered my uncle. I had hoped that it wouldn’t be the case, though it appears that my hopes were in vain.

“Who’s Walter?” Mom asked with a frown.

“Prince Dirk Reichwald’s left hand man.” I said. “I met him a few times when Prince Dirk and his family visited Guld Manor.”

Everyone’s expression turned unsightly.

“I think you should tell us everything you know, Lady Lina.” Dad said.

Lina nodded and told us about her meeting with Walter, or Volkhard rather. Mika chimed in every now and again, but Lina did most of the talking. When she finished, no one said anything for several seconds.

“If Volkhard was willing to show his face to you, Lina,” I said, breaking the silence, “Then he was willing to risk letting us know about Prince Dirk’s involvement in House Kaltbrand’s affairs. Either they don’t care anymore, or they think that they’ve won and it doesn’t matter.”

Dad snorted.

“How arrogant of them.” He said.

“So their plan is to claim that House Kaltbrand lied to the imperial family and use that as an excuse to interfere with House Kaltbrand’s succession?” Mom asked, frowning.

Lina nodded.

“That was what Volkhard said, yes.” She said. “My guess is that they plan on revealing the ‘truth’ of Wulfram’s birth in front of as many people as possible, to increase the number of witnesses.”

“Except it is the truth.” Count Wirner said, looking at Mom for confirmation. “Wulfe is Anselm’s son.”

Mom and Dad nodded.

“Yes.” Dad said. “We made our own plans to refute the rumors surrounding Wulfe by bringing in a high priest from Haven, but our enemies decided to help by doing it for us.” He grinned. “They even brought the same person I had in mind.”

“Then what do we have to worry about?” Count Wirner asked. “Once the truth is revealed, this Prince Dirk will have no excuse to interfere with House Kaltbrand’s succession.”

“As if I would let him, even if he had an excuse.” Dad said, a sharp look in his eyes.

I frowned and shook my head.

“It can’t be that easy.” I said. “If Prince Dirk is involved, then that means his son is involved as well. I know Prince Leopold. We’re rivals, of a sort. He is meticulous, thorough, and wouldn’t leave things up to chance. He would prepare for the possibility that I am the true heir to House Kaltbrand, just in case.”

Lina nodded.

“Yes,” she said, “That occurred to me as well, after you told me the truth. Volkhard called you an obstacle. If their first plan to get rid of you doesn’t work, they’ll resort to other means.”

I grimaced. That could mean any number of things, including assassination. By the looks on everyone’s faces, the same thought occurred to them as well.

“They’ll have to go through me first.” Mom said. She looked like she wanted to kill someone.

“I have a question.” Mika said, speaking for the first time since this meeting began.

We all looked at her.

“How do you determine who is qualified to become the heir to House Kaltbrand?” she asked.

“Simple,” Dad said, “Any member of the House Kaltbrand born into the main family can become the heir. If none are available, then a noble from one of the collateral families who is not the heir to their own family.”

Mika frowned.

“Then I think I know what Uncle Dirk and Prince Leopold plan to do.” She said. “I don’t think they’ll try to kill Big Brother Wulfram. They don’t need to. He isn’t a member of House Kaltbrand.”

My eyes widened at her words, and I realized that she was right.

“Of course Wulfe qualifies.” Mom said with a scoff. “He may be illegitimate, but he is still a Kaltbrand. There have been several instances in the past where an illegitimate child inherits House Kaltbrand. Besides, once Anselm and I marry, Wulfe’s illegitimate status won’t matter anymore.”

“No, she’s right.” I said, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Legally, I am a member of House Guld. The Emperor himself approved of my adoption. If we look at it from that perspective, I’m not qualified to be the heir of House Kaltbrand.”