Red Star and Dead Star [1]

"Twins, your grace! Your wife has birthed twins!"

Along with the loud crying of newborn babies, a voice filled with excitement exclaimed loudly as a tall man clad in all black burst into the room.

"Quickly! Let me see my children!" The man anxiously said, only to be stopped by a tired looking woman laying on the bed.

"So now that I have given birth to three healthy sons for you, you decide to forget my existence. I see. So this is how the great Duke Camdyn Grant Glasphire treats his wife." The woman brushed her sweaty snow colored hair back as the last glow from the healer's fingers died down.

"Ah, Ivana, I-"

Despite having just given birth, the woman was quite spirited, choosing to argue with her husband instead of resting like the healer asked her to.

"Guu~"

As the servants shook their heads helplessly, already being used to this sight, I felt my body move slightly, revealing a chubby hand of an infant to my sight.

"Enough of that. I have no energy to care for your excuses. Just let me see my children and be done with it." The woman called Ivana waved her hand carelessly while her husband just stared at her with his mouth agape.

At that moment, I felt myself being picked up by one of the wet nurses and handed over to the woman. "My lady, this is the second young lord."

"Second, huh. Not long ago, I was still the commander of my kingdom's naval force, proclaiming to never marry in my entire life. Before I knew it, I had already given birth to three kids. And for a stinking duke from a foreign land no less." Ivana snorted, finding the situation humorous. "Ah, whatever. Life is indeed a complicated thing."

Despite her rough words, the arms which held my body were gentle and warm. The deep crimson eyes which gazed at me softly brought a feeling which suffocated my chest.

"I trust that you'll be keeping your side of the deal, sir Duke. Well, even if you renege, I have no plans on going back on it so you don't really have a choice. I will still name my second son as I see fit." Feeling the small hand gripping tightly on her finger brought a smile on her lips. "See here, second child of mine-"

"In honor of my grandparents who hailed from the Empire of Vast Seas, I name thee Cain Julius Belov Glasphire."

I didn't know if it was a hallucination but, there was something great radiating from this woman. A valiant spirit like a golden light surrounded her. It was as if she was a legendary warrior from ancient tales.

Zizizip!

A streak of light passed, bringing a static sound which caused the surrounding images to crumble.

I felt myself being jerked backwards, as if there was a chord tied around my waist leading to a suction hole.

"My lady! The beasts have broken through the second line of defense!" A knight ran into the hall followed by a troubled steward.

When the image of the surroundings was restored, I found myself in a new location.

"Tch! Why must an accident happen now of all times, just when Camdyn, that idiot, isnt here?" Ivana clicked her tongue.

Supposedly, after the Duke of the White Sword was called to guard the western borders after an internal strife broke out in the neighboring Kingdom of Rhodes, the Duchess would be left in the the territory to oversee the Autumn Festival.

In an occasion where nobles from nearby territories would visit, it is imperative that everything proceeds smoothly but, despite it not being the season for beast tides, a breach on the border of the Artemio Forest occured.

"It was as if it was premeditated."

With a sharp glint in her eyes, her voice lowered in suspicion. This entire situation reeked of a conspiracy.

"Captain Harrell. I will entrust to you the safety of Velluda. I will man the borders myself." Ivana commanded as she grabbed her prized sword hanging on the wall. "And head steward-"

Turning to look towards the steward, she spoke with a somber tone. "Please take account of all the guests who came from outside the territory. Be it noble or commoner, search them all."

Upon hearing her words, the steward's expression turned increasingly grave. "Understood, my lady."

"But, my lady! The Duke commanded me to protect the territory before he left! Please leave the beasts to me! It is far too dangerous for someone of your stature to head into battle personally. I will ensure-"

"Captain Harrell, before I married that nincompoop, Camdyn, I used to be the commander of Moroz's naval fleet with a private army amounting of thirty warships two thousand men. You should know that, right?" Ivana glowered. "So saying that something of this scale being dangerous for me, aren't you looking down on me too much?"

"My lady, I dare not!"

"Alright. Then that settles it." With a derisive snort, she turned around and strode off. "I'll trouble you to look after my children."

"Julius, why is elder brother taking so long? He told us he'd play hide and seek with us but we've been here for ages!" A childish voice whispered from beside me.

At this point, it was already clear to me that I was seeing the memories of the person who went by the name of Julius.

"Stay quiet, June. Now's not the time." The similarly childish voice of Julius said sternly. It seemed that he had already exuded a steady demeanor from a very young age, in contrast to his twin who was the epitome of childish innocence.

"Young lord! You must'nt!"

Suddenly, the heavy oak doors leading to the hall burst open.

"Mother! Please allow me to fight alongside you!" At last, the awaited elder brother, Clovis Leigh, who was only thirteen years of age at this time, revealed himself.

"Julius, what's happening out there? I just heard brother's voice!" June squeezed from behind Julius, trying to peek into the crack of the closet's doors.

"Stay still, June. We need to keep out of sight." Julius reached out a hand to force his brother to stop moving. Who knew that their chosen hiding spot would accidentally lead to them overhearing a serious conversation?

"Please forgive me, my lady! I wasn't able to stop him!" A flustered maid bowed repeatedly.

"Huh?" Ivana, who was just about to head out, paused. "Are you stupid? What fight? With your stick body, you can barely even lift a sword. You don't even amount to a meat shield in a battle. It would be a one hit kill for you."

"I-" If Leigh's confidence was a balloon, Ivana's words served as the nail which popped it.

"Just stay here obediently until I return. It won't take long." Standing lifelessly on the doorway, the eldest son watched his mothers figure riding away on top of her steed. Helplessly, he could only stay put and trust his mother's word.

But, in actuality, it was only three days later when the Duchess returned.

In the form of ashes in an urn.