Chapter 3: Chapter 3 The Day of Triumph
Contrary to the bustling atmosphere on the streets and alleys of Yanjing, the Count's mansion was shrouded in silence.
There were no grand banquets, no celebratory ceremonies, not even a simple reception.
Upon leaving the dock, even the meticulously prepared ceremony of a thousand soldiers drawn from the expedition fleet to march into the city for the citizens' inspection was canceled, leaving only the deputy in charge to hold the fort. When the Count hurried back to his mansion, he declined visitors, citing the need for some private time to comfort his wife who had longed for his return.
Although this excuse disappointed many who had gone to great lengths to flatter the new hero of the Empire, it immediately gained unanimous support.
Meanwhile, inside the grand mansion of the Count, the triumphant hero of the Imperial Navy was locking eyes with his own flesh and blood.
His gaze was profound, melancholic, and complex.
If it weren't for his unwavering faith in his wife's fidelity... Count Raymond's initial reaction upon seeing the child before him was: Is this really my offspring?
Because the appearance of this child was vastly different from his own!
The men of the Rolin family were renowned for their robust and masculine image! The standard image of a Rolin man should be tall, burly, with a broad chest, muscular arms, square face, straight nose – the epitome of a heroic man!
At least that was how Count Raymond himself was. He was tall and imposing, and his appearance was outstanding among the nobility of the Empire, earning him the reputation of a distinguished gentleman even in his youth.
But the little one in front of him...
Though he was only three years old, for the Rolin family, which was known for producing heroic men, he seemed too fair and frail... Hmm... It was said that the child had fallen seriously ill a month ago, perhaps that was why he appeared weaker.
And the future heir to the earldom, at the tender age of three, looked at his father with indifference. He did not cry out loudly and vigorously like other children his age, much to the Count's dissatisfaction. According to tradition, the louder a child cried, the healthier they were!
The child in front of him was just too quiet. He sat on the bed, hands resting on his knees, staring at his father with a mixture of curiosity and scrutiny.
The Count was convinced that he must have been mistaken.
How could the gaze of a three-year-old child hold such complex emotions?!
While the Count was feeling frustrated, Du Wei's feelings were undoubtedly more complicated than his.
The beautiful and mature Countess, with her motherly heart and the actions she had taken a month ago, had successfully softened Du Wei's heart.
But this sudden appearance of a "father"...
Humph, where did he come from?!
"Is he... still unable to speak?" The Count's expression was very serious. He glanced at his wife, only to see tears welling up in her eyes. His heart softened involuntarily, as he remembered his three-year absence at sea, leaving his wife alone at home, even during her pregnancy when she needed her husband's comfort the most. He couldn't blame this poor woman. His tone softened slightly: "Alright, dear, the child can't speak yet, but we'll hire the most knowledgeable teachers in the Empire to teach him. He'll speak eventually. It's just that his body is too weak. Our Rolin family has always been established in the Empire through military achievements, and naturally, my son will follow in my footsteps and become an Imperial General. But he can't do that if he's so weak... Hmm, he's already three years old. I think it's time to consider finding him a tutor. With his weak body, a few years of training will make him strong... How about Alpha? He's my most loyal captain of the guard, highly skilled in combat, and fiercely loyal to the family. I think we can start Alpha teaching Du Wei some basic combat techniques next month."
Hearing that her unfortunate son would undergo training at such a young age, tears welled up in the beautiful eyes of the Countess. "But... he's still so young."
"It's precisely because his body is so weak that we need to start strengthening him early! Otherwise, how will he inherit the military achievements of our Rolin family?" The Count was firm on this point and made a decision with a wave of his hand.
The next day, after meeting with His Majesty the Emperor in the palace and receiving the third Imperial First Class Medal of Valor personally awarded by the Emperor during the celebration ceremony, His Majesty publicly announced the promotion of the renowned Count Raymond to the position of Deputy President of the Imperial Command, making him the second most important figure among the Empire's military officials.
After conversing with His Majesty in a private room for a while, Count Raymond took the initiative to renounce his title of Admiral of the Imperial Navy, relinquishing his military authority. He then came out of the palace, once again refusing the congratulations of his colleagues and countless banquet invitations, even politely declining invitations from several high-ranking clergy at the Temple of the Goddess of Light, before hastily returning home.
It was no secret in Yanjing that the son of Count Raymond of the Rolin family was an imbecile.
Seeing the faint melancholy on the Count's face even during the awards ceremony, many of his friendly colleagues couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for him. Of course, some political adversaries couldn't hide their schadenfreude either.
Back at home, the Count once again faced his son, but this time, there was no beautiful Countess by his side. Standing beside him was Alpha, the faithful captain of the guard who had followed him for nearly twenty years. Alpha was an Imperial First-Class Swordsman, wielding the "Flame Flowing Sword," recognized as one of the top swordsmen in Yanjing.
For some reason, Count Raymond couldn't shake the feeling that he didn't quite like his son. He sensed something more than mere blankness in the boy's eyes—a subtle resistance. But perhaps he was overthinking it. What could a three-year-old possibly understand? Moreover, having been away on military campaigns, he had never even held his son before. It was only natural for the child to feel unfamiliar with him.
The Captain of the Guard first knelt before Duwei's bed, following the standard protocol of a noble family servant. Then, he lifted Duwei into his arms and removed his clothes, meticulously examining him from head to toe. Duwei struggled during the process, clearly uncomfortable with being handled by a man in such a manner, but he was no match for the strength of an Imperial First-Class Swordsman.
"Ah..." Alpha sighed heavily as he set the heir to the count down, then bowed to the count before rising to his feet. His expression was grave as he addressed the count. "My lord, I..."
"Alpha, you're the person I trust most. Speak freely," the count sighed.
"Master Duwei's constitution is very fragile, and he seems to have some congenital deficiencies. His bones are thin, and his heartbeat is irregular. With such a physique, he's even weaker than the average person. If he is to learn martial arts in the future, I'm afraid..." Alpha hesitated, then continued, "I'm afraid he won't achieve much."
"What do you suggest then?"
"I believe learning combat may not be the best choice for the young master. Perhaps we should see if he has any talents in other areas."
As Alpha finished speaking, the count's expression grew grim.
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