Independent

Ellendise was quiet for a few moments. Then she smiled.

"Yes... I am your daughter, Father." She knew at that moment that the Count had meant well. However, it still doesn't excuse the fact that he was willing to risk her life to confirm the contents of the prophecy.

"Father, I am to believe that you and Uncle Rufus know the identity of the Archduke as the next candidate for the position of Tower Master?"

"Yes." The Count said, he cleared his throat. He seemed to be somewhat embarrassed. "That child...Ah.. forgive me, Ellen. As he is the Emperor's younger brother, there is very little I can do. Rufus...could do something about it but he has shown that he doesn't want to get involved in the matters of the royal family... The Archduke's visit was not his choice but because your Aunt was dying, he was forced to invite him."

The Count took a step back as if to give her some space to register the information.

"Agnus... is a very problematic child." He continued. "But there is no doubt that he is one of the most brilliant mages that has ever existed in the history of the Harchen Empire. That child is also very talented in swordsmanship. It is a pity that he lacks sympathy. He has always been quite selfish. Even Emperor Arden has a hard time keeping him in check." The Count waved his hand dismissively.

"I don't mean to ramble Ellen but I am saying this because regardless if I interfered or not, you would have found a way to attract his attention. You...my daughter are too brilliant. Perhaps it is because you have lived another life in another world...Either way, I have caught a glimpse of your and Valrug's inventions. Am I correct to assume that these were machinations from your previous world?"

Ellendise sighed. They were going completely off topic now. "Father, if you are interested in those inventions, I would not mind sharing them with you because once I am older, I plan to establish my own shop. Big brother Nitense would inherit the county someday and as a woman, that is entirely impossible for me. That is why... I wish to become independent once I have reached my coming of age."

A noble's coming of age ceremony was held on their sixteenth birthday. This was a big event and a huge milestone in a noble's life because this will allow them to qualifications to enter the palace and even gain access to many high-profile locations within the Empire. Furthermore, as an adult, there are undoubtedly a lot of things that won't be restricted.

The transition from child to adult would happen for three days. The first day would be the baptism in which the noble child would receive blessings from the Goddess Statue of one of the temples.

The second day would be household registration and magic appraisal. You could say that it is the empire's way of checking for potentially skilled individuals within the nobility as well as ensuring which family they are in allegiance with.

On the last day, a banquet would be held which was the most important part of the coming of age ceremony because this would be the first appearance of a noble as an adult in high society.

The reason why Ellendise wants to be independent was that when a noble's child commits a crime or felony, depending on the severity of the crime, this could cause the whole family to suffer or be implicated. Cutting herself off from her family name would keep her family safe in the event that one of her plans causes problems in the future.

This kind of thing was not uncommon but it was still quite shameful, to say the least, especially for a woman.

The Count didn't seem as surprised as she was expecting.

"I see." He murmured solemnly as though he has long prepared for it. He must have noticed the confusion on her face so the Count began to explain himself.

"You remind me of Rufus, Ellen... When he was your age, he was just as brilliant. I might have been the older brother but I am not arrogant enough to say that I was most fitted to become Count." The Count reminisced about the past. Yes... Rufus, his younger brother held so much potential and ambition but because he did not want to cause a dispute between them, he chose to forsake his right to inheritance and ensured that the County would not land on his hands.

The Count became a little sentimental.

"Rufus... has achieved a lot of things that even earned him a medal of valor from the Emperor. I was not naive. I was aware of his brilliance. But before I could even forsake my right, Rufus has cut himself off from the family... Just like you, he asked Father to grant him permission to become independent. Father didn't stop him. He might have been disappointed but he wanted Rufus to be happy... I also wanted him to be happy."

Then the Count looked at Ellen. "Like you, Rufus used many ways to hide his abilities and intelligence just so that I wouldn't feel inferior or that Father and the others would not be suspicious."

Ellendise listened attentively to this.

"But Ellen... I don't wish for you to be like my brother who had to hide his potential just for the sake of others."

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