Chapter 9 (Edited)

It's been two months since we moved into my grandparents' manor. Rumors about my mother and Arthur's divorce spread like wildfire, each whisper fueling speculation. Some said there was a third party involved, while others claimed that Arthur had been abusing her.

I don't know who started these rumors, but one thing is certain: they will help me ruin Arthur's reputation. As one of the richest noblemen and a well-known merchant in the kingdom, it won't be easy to bring him down.

With the support of my grandparents, I'm planning to slowly dismantle every aspect of Arthur's business. The truth is, his dealings are anything but clean. He has connections in the underworld, where shady and illegal deals are made. Although he knows how to cover his tracks well enough that no one suspects him, my grandparents have the influence needed to gather the evidence we need.

My grandfather hails from a family of knights and once served as a captain. He married my grandmother, the only heir to a former duke. She is a descendant of Anya Williams, sister to the hero Aria Williams, who fought alongside Hayden Reggian. The bond between our family and the legendary heroes exceeds my expectations.

The more I learn about my lineage, the easier my revenge seems. But I know better than to rush; I want to savor every moment of Arthur's descent into misery. As for Claudius—he's just a child. The things he's done so far seem almost childish to me. I refuse to stoop to his level; I won't take revenge on a mere seven-year-old.

"Are you excited to learn the Admon way of swordsmanship?" my grandfather asked as we strolled through the hallway. Outside the window, knights trained in their swordplay. Although I already possess Hayden's formidable combat skills, which include her renowned swordsmanship, I know I must play the part of a novice to keep my abilities hidden.

I smiled brightly at him, gazing out at the training grounds. "Yes, Grandpa!"

Grandpa patted my head as we walked. "The Admon style is a tradition that can only be passed down to those of our bloodline—like your mother and uncle. You, my dear grandson, are an Admon, so be proud!"

"Uhm, Grandpa?" I hesitated, wanting to ask a favor.

He turned to me, curiosity sparkling in his eyes. "Yes, my dear grandchild?"

"Can I ask you a favor?" I ventured.

"Of course!" he laughed, his voice warm and inviting. "Ask me whatever you want! I'll do my best to make it happen."

I brightened my smile, feigning the innocence of childhood. "Can you help me change my last name? I want to be an Admon, just like Mom!"

Grandfather paused, a glimmer of surprise in his eyes, but then he chuckled heartily. "Of course! I'd be delighted to help with that!" A wave of relief washed over me; I didn't want any trace of Arthur in my life, especially not his last name.

"Rest assured, soon you will be Oliver Admon!" he declared. I hugged him tightly, overwhelmed by gratitude. I had never experienced such warmth before, and it made me feel truly happy.

When we arrived at the private training grounds, it was just the two of us. Before we began, he handed me a wooden sword. "This sword is special—it has been passed down through our ancestors for generations. Do you know why it's so important?"

As I studied the sword, I felt an inexplicable aura surrounding it. I shook my head, eager for my grandfather to explain.

"During the war against the demons, your great-great-great-great-grandmother was a knight who fought bravely for our kingdom. She was close friends with Hayden Reggian, the legendary hero. Before she set off on her own adventures with her lover, Aria, she asked Hayden for a memento, and in return, Hayden gifted her this wooden sword, imbued with magic to withstand the test of time."

My grandfather then had me warm up before I ran five laps around the training ground. I had done similar exercises back at the Ashford manor, so the laps were no challenge.

Once we finished running, he taught me the proper sword stance. I was delighted when he praised me for mastering it on the first try. He then had me swing the wooden sword five hundred times, ensuring I maintained my form.

By the time we wrapped up our training, the afternoon sun cast long shadows on the ground. Grandpa suggested I change my clothes since we were due to meet my uncle soon.

As I headed to the dining room, I encountered my mother.

"Mother!" I called, rushing to hug her. She turned and smiled, her fingers gently caressing my cheeks.

"How was training? Was it difficult?" she asked.

I shook my head, beaming. "It was fun! Oh, and I asked Grandpa for a favor." I could see her curiosity piqued.

"What did you ask him?"

"I told him I wanted to change my last name to Admon, just like yours." Her eyes glistened with tears as she paused, then she enveloped me in a warm embrace.

When we arrived in the dining room, a man was sitting at the table beside my grandmother. He looked at my mother, concern etched on his face.

"Sister, I heard everything from Mom and Dad. Don't worry—I'll make him pay!" His fists were clenched as if he were ready to throw a punch.

My mother smiled gently, shaking her head. "It's okay, brother. You don't need to concern yourself with someone like him."

Even though she reassured him, I knew that both my grandfather and uncle were determined to find a way to punish Arthur. It seemed we all shared the same goal: to bring that man down.

"Is this my niece? She's so cute!" My mother's face lit up as she pointed at the little girl sitting beside my uncle, who shared my mother's red hair and emerald eyes.

Uncle nodded proudly. "Yes, this is Anastasia Admon. She's a shy child but already five years old."

He gently patted Anastasia's hair, and she looked up, blushing. "G-greetings to Aunt Arabella and Brother Oliver…" she stammered, her gaze dropping shyly.

"Wow! Such a cute child! Don't you think so, Oliver?" my mother chimed in.

I nodded enthusiastically. "Mother is right—Anastasia is adorable!" I smiled back at her, and my mother caressed my face.

"From now on, treat Anastasia as your little sister, okay?" my mother said, and I nodded eagerly. The thought of having a sister filled me with joy.

"You'll be my little sister now, Anastasia! So feel free to rely on your brother, okay?" I said with a warm smile. She looked up at me and nodded shyly, a smile breaking through her embarrassment.

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Sorry for the delay in posting; we lost our internet connection, but it's been fixed now! I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Oh, and just to clarify, I named Oliver's mother Arabella and his uncle Devin in this chapter. I thought it would be fun for Oliver to have a sister who treats him kindly, unlike Claudius. What do you all think?

As a small compensation for the missed post yesterday, I plan to post another chapter later! I'll make sure it's more exciting, so stay tuned!