Chapter 88: The Weight of a Name

“Must we endure such outrageous remarks!”

“We cannot possibly accept such an ignorant and vulgar individual!”

“He must be charged with contempt of the nobility!”

The assembly hall erupted in an instant. While most wore expressions of displeasure at Ethan’s words, the voices of those aligned with Annabelle were particularly loud.

Observing their reactions swiftly with his enhanced Esper vision, Bliss poured oil on the fire.

“I believe I’m quite alright with it.”

“Lord Bliss Moore!”

Annabelle shrieked her son’s name hysterically, yet Bliss delivered words that struck the assembly hall with even greater shock.

“Perhaps I should seek a habitable nation on another continent.”

“…!!”

“W-what are you saying! Where would the next head of the Moore family go!”

“You’ll be apprehended by the Imperial Army before you can even leave the Empire!”

Bliss merely pulled at the corners of his mouth, offering a faint smile.

“It seems you’ve forgotten what my abilities entail.”

“…….”

The assembly hall, moments before filled with heated shouts, was now enveloped in silence. Bliss’s ability was Shadow. Though his ultimate skill, Psychic Shadow, often overshadowed it, Shadow was inherently specialized in concealing both himself and others.

He possessed this rare S-rank ability, earning him the reputation as the Aitoolia Empire’s strongest Esper. Furthermore, he was the next in line to lead the Moore family and a Colonel in the Antares Unit.

Countless secrets of both the Aitoolia Empire and the Moore family resided solely within Bliss Moore’s mind.

The idea of him vanishing without a trace to defect to another country was staggering. Merely the mention of such a conversation in this very room could send the entire Moore family hurtling towards ruin.

Though Sawol was tinkering with the machines, ensuring no evidence would remain, the elders and nobles, oblivious to this, blanched. Their eyes darted stealthily, each wondering if someone was recording the proceedings.

Ethan inwardly clicked his tongue at the tragicomedy unfolding from their mutual distrust.

“Ahem… Everyone, please calm yourselves. At this rate, we might not reach a conclusion all day.”

At that moment, an elder who had been silently observing the commotion cleared his throat, subtly redirecting the conversation.

“Haha… While the expression was certainly vehement, Lord Bliss’s resolute will has been clearly conveyed.”

Bliss let out a long sigh, as if to ensure everyone heard it, and rested his chin on the armrest of his chair. They likely had various scenarios planned for such situations, but Ethan’s and his own ‘defection’ must have been an unforeseen variable.

It was evident they were stalling for time, circling around the topic without directly addressing it.

“My partner can never be anyone other than Ethan Prescott. I will not take a second wife for the sake of an heir, either. Is there not a family law that Marquis Douglas Moore himself passed?”

“…!!”

The law in question was an amendment to the family’s succession structure, originally drafted by Marquis Douglas for Bliss’s father, Seth Moore, and Henry Grace. When it could not be utilized then, it was elevated to a formal family law.

“Th-that law was established to prevent the royal family from interfering in the Moore family’s marriages!”

The faces of the elders and older nobles furrowed as they recalled the controversy of that time. Those who stood by the Marchioness, the very woman who had rendered the newly enacted family law obsolete, now subtly watched her for a reaction.

Yet, Annabelle merely smiled with an air of defiance.

“I don’t recall anyone ever saying that I was unsuitable for the Moore family. There are Espers among you here, aren’t there? The common thread among those who have taken a Guide as their legitimate spouse within the family is that they have married a female Guide from a family of at least respectable standing.”

“Let’s draw up a contract, then. In accordance with the amended family law, I will adopt a child of outstanding caliber from a family bearing the Moore bloodline.”

A murmur rippled through the room.

The flow of air within the assembly shifted, agitated. It was an extraordinary opportunity for any distant branch of the Moore lineage; if they had a child with outstanding qualities, they could achieve an immense leap in status.

Eyes darted around, busily calculating whether their own families had such a child, or if one might be born.

As the prospect of placing their own daughters beside Bliss Moore grew increasingly uncertain, the elder and head of the Constantine family grimaced.

As Annabelle feigned composure, invisibly clenching her fists, the head of the Elder Council stepped forward.

“However, the situation is entirely different now, Lord Bliss. This time, it’s neither a royal ‘White’ bloodline nor even a commoner. This individual lacks proper memories, making it impossible to verify their origins. While a guarantor is mentioned, I hear even they are merely an Esper of common birth. We can only interpret this as the royal family either looking down on the Moore family or attempting to strongly keep us in check.”

It was a valid point. Even if the current King Genoa had imposed conditions, his willingness to entertain Bliss’s audacious demand stemmed from his approval of Ethan Prescott’s title as a ‘partner with reputation but no backing.’

He was the kind of ruler who would rather issue another ‘White’ marriage decree than witness the formidable Moore family consolidate power by uniting with another influential house.

However, the elder’s argument only held true as long as Genoa occupied the throne.

“Once His Highness First Prince Herace ascends the throne, no noble will dare to disparage the Moore family. I fail to comprehend why you harbor such concerns.”

At his words, Annabelle’s retainers, who supported Second Prince Devon, flinched and averted their gaze. Ethan’s lips curved upward.

Were they truly so oblivious? They expressed outrage that the royal family would issue a marriage decree to a commoner, ostensibly to weaken the Moore family’s influence. Yet, their own ambition to enthrone Prince Devon and expand their power within the Moore family would undoubtedly fracture it from within.

It was clear they were attempting to mask their avarice with a pretext riddled with contradictions, but those blinded by greed themselves failed to perceive it.

And, indeed, would Devon Green, once on the throne, truly leave the Moore family untouched?

The seat beside Bliss offered an excellent vantage point for observation, had the head elder not started spouting nonsense.

“What if we change the guarantor?”

Ethan’s eyes sharpened.

“That won’t do. It would be disrespectful to the person who saved Ethan, and furthermore, the Marquis himself holds him in high regard.”

“The Marquis… Your Excellency?”

“What possible connection could Marquis Douglas have with that person?”

“To be precise, I hear he saved Sir Henry Grace from a terrible fate.”

“…!!”

Annabelle’s face paled. A myriad of thoughts seemed to flash through her mind—the reasons for the repeated assassination failures, what more Marquis Douglas knew—but she clearly discerned her son’s warning.

‘If they touched Ethan’s guarantor, he would thoroughly delve into Henry Grace’s death.’

“If all you do is refuse, can this even be called a meeting? You will face opposition from all the elders and retainers.”

“It is our role, after all, to advise so that the head of the family’s authority is used appropriately.”

Annabelle’s crony incited the retainers.

“To force such a grandiose term as ‘the head of the family’s authority’ into the process of an Esper taking their Guide as a partner… I don’t even find it worth engaging with.”

“Lord Bliss, I certainly understand your sentiments. But please consider the gravitas of the Moore family. Even if you take Ethan Prescott as your partner, if he has no family to support him, the name ‘Moore’ will simply devour him.”

The last to speak was a retainer who had maintained a calm neutrality throughout the meeting. His words were not unfounded.

Even with a leader and a partner of equal strength guiding the immense Moore family from the forefront, the situation would be fraught with difficulty. A powerless partner, however, would only shift the entire burden onto the family head, leaving them vulnerable to being swept away by various forces.

“In that case, how about creating a background for him?”

“…Are you suggesting he be adopted into a noble family?”

‘This is how it was bound to unfold,’ Ethan mused. Even if he offered them something enticing regarding succession during this meeting, the maximum concession they would likely make was Ethan Prescott’s adoption into a noble family.

Ethan let out a soft sigh, then spoke.

“I do not wish to abandon the Prescott name.”

“Look here, your surname would be changed to that of a noble.”

“As you’ve pointed out, I have no memories beyond my name. Should my memories never return, then my name is all that will remain, isn’t it? To demand that even this sole remnant be erased… well, I don’t particularly have any desire to join the Moore family.”

“Bliss, why don’t you truly become a Prescott?”

“Th-that man! Does he even comprehend how dangerous those words are right now!”

Ethan lowered his gaze, then shifted his eyes. Meeting Bliss’s gaze, he gave a subtle nod.

‘Marquis Douglas had promised to come to Ashilton for the Spring Blossom Festival and resolve this issue,’ Ethan thought.

‘To blind them and buy time, it would be better to indulge them moderately rather than refuse everything outright.’

“What about keeping the guarantor as is, but finding local lords from other regions who are not blood relatives of the Moore family?”

A flush of excitement spread across the elders’ faces.

“That’s an excellent idea. A lord from an autonomous region who conducts business with the Moore family would be even better.”

Opinions poured forth as if they had been waiting for this very suggestion. Even Annabelle’s pale face regained some color.

Ethan turned his head, drawn by a stinging gaze, and met her eyes. She was attempting to maintain a calm expression, yet the satisfaction and sense of victory glinting in her eyes were impossible to conceal.

“Investigate their circumstances and compile a report of the desired families.”

‘Even if they had families in mind, they couldn’t immediately push them forward when asked to research and select them,’ Ethan surmised.

‘For now, they would likely believe things were unfolding as they wished and wouldn’t resort to assassination.’

Bliss conceded, retreating with an air of resignation. Ethan tilted his teacup, draining the last sip.

He would soon see what kind of noble adoptive parents they would bring forward.

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