THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

The transformation was astonishing. Once, David had been the young noble who would rely on her protection, the one she was sworn to defend at any cost. She had trained her entire life to be his shadow, his protector. But as she watched him now, a bittersweet pang dawned on her—David no longer needed her shield. He had surpassed her, not only in strength but in sheer presence.

David, a Master Swordsman, had defeated Shuan, a second-stage King-ranked swordsman, with grace and ease that left Angelica both in awe and apprehension. No one else in the history of the human empire had shown such power and mastery at such a young age. He was breaking records, defying expectations, and stepping into a realm few had ever reached.

Rumours in the empire would spread like wildfire if the world knew, marking him as one of the strongest beings alive—a warrior capable of standing toe-to-toe with even a third-stage King-ranked swordsman. And she? She was left trailing behind, her strength a shadow of his.

Clenching her fists tightly, Angelica made a silent vow. She would not simply be a bystander, admiring him from afar. No, she would grow stronger, push beyond her limits. She would cease to be just his shadow, a mere protector in his journey. She would rise to become his equal, someone he could lean on, someone who could stand at his side with pride. And perhaps, one day, he would acknowledge her feelings, her loyalty, her love. Until then, she would give her all to reach him.

Her gaze flicked across the room to the Elders, gathered in their ceremonial positions. Among them stood her Elder Lady, stern and composed, her attention focused on the proceedings. Angelica\'s thoughts drifted back to the intricate plan David had orchestrated with for the Elder Lady. Shuan\'s carriage had been discovered abandoned, the scene staged with a lifeless monster lying beside it and a traumatized, kidnapped woman who was ready to testify against Shuan.

The setup was flawless. By painting Shuan as having "disappeared without a trace," David had effectively bypassed the need for a formal hearing—a clever move to sidestep the protocols required for punishing a noble. Even the overseer of the land and the Queen\'s court official had been circumvented by David\'s cunning plan. The gears of justice, usually slow and cumbersome, had been outmanoeuvred by his intelligence.

Angelica\'s admiration deepened, mingling with a hint of trepidation. David was not just a swordsman; he was a strategist, a mind as sharp as his blade. He was someone capable of bending the rules of the nobility to his will, orchestrating outcomes as if the world were a chessboard and he its master. A chill ran down her spine as she realized the full extent of his capabilities—he was brilliant, ruthless when necessary, and entirely unpredictable.

As David knelt before the Earl, Angelica held her breath, captivated by the moment. Elder Tyron, with careful precision, approached carrying a small crimson pillow, upon which rested a green crystal. The Earl\'s hand reached out, taking the crystal with an air of reverence, holding it high for the audience to see. The hall fell silent as he turned his gaze to David.

"David De Gor," the Earl announced, his voice firm and filled with pride, "for such outstanding feats, you have proven yourself worthy."

The hall erupted in murmurs of approval, with nobles and commoners alike nodding, some even clapping. The Earl continued, his voice laced with approval, "And as such, you are granted access to the De Gor treasury vault. You may choose one item as a mark of your achievements."

A murmur of awe rippled through the crowd. Access to the De Gor treasury was a privilege rarely bestowed. The vault held artifacts of immense power and value, relics of the De Gor legacy that only the most accomplished or trusted were allowed to touch.

David inclined his head respectfully, and as the Earl extended the green crystal toward him, he reached out to accept it. The moment the crystal touched his skin, a brilliant green light flashed. The crystal shattered in his hand, releasing a swirling cloud of emerald mist that coiled around his body, wrapping him in its ethereal embrace. The energy seeped into him, flowing through his veins, merging with his very essence.

David closed his eyes as he felt the foreign energy settle within him—a power he hadn\'t known before, ancient and potent, like the very lifeblood of the De Gor lineage flowing into him. It wasn\'t simply a gift; it was a connection, a bond to the history and strength of his family line. As the green mist dissipated, he opened his eyes, and for a brief moment, they glowed with a strange, otherworldly light, a glimpse of the power now locked within him.

The Earl raised his hand, signaling for silence as he addressed David once more. "Receive your role," he declared, his voice solemn.

The hall filled with applause, louder and more fervent this time. Nobles whispered excitedly, exchanging theories and predictions about the new power bestowed upon David. Commoners watched in awe, captivated by the grandeur and ceremony of the moment.

And amid the cheers, Angelica felt a surge of emotion welling within her—a mixture of pride, admiration, and a fierce resolve. She had witnessed David\'s transformation, seen him rise from a young noble to a force that defied tradition and shattered expectations. And now, she had made her own promise: she would stand beside him, not as his shadow, but as his equal. She would be strong enough for him to rely on, to trust without reservation. And perhaps, one day, he would look at her with the same depth of feeling that she held for him.

For now, she could only watch, but her journey had just begun.

Out of nowhere, a shimmering blue window materialized before David, its digital text filling his vision.

"[CONGRATULATIONS FOR RECEIVING AN AETHERHART]"

the system proclaimed, its tone jubilant.

David\'s brows knitted together in bewilderment as he read the next line:

"[You have received your role: Chronomancer of the Tapestry]"

Chronomancer of the Tapestry?

.net

The title echoed in his mind, enigmatic and unsettling. What did it mean? His thoughts were immediately interrupted by flashing red warnings that pulsed across the system screen.

"[WARNING]"

"[WARNING]"

"[WARNING]"

Again?

David grumbled internally, exasperation mingling with unease. The last time the system had erupted in alarms was when he\'d suffered a severe mental shock. But this was different—this felt otherworldly.

Suddenly, the world around him shifted. Time seemed to stretch, elongating like pulled taffy. Every heartbeat echoed louder, each sound drawn out to a deep, eerie hum. David glanced around, alarmed, and noticed the crowd behind him. Nobles and commoners alike began to fade, their bodies blurring into ghostly outlines as though they were mere shadows being erased by the encroaching void.

A ripple of dread coursed through him. Instinctively, he reached for the power of

Nightveil Embrace

, preparing to summon its dark energy to anchor himself in this disorienting moment. But before he could act, a low, resonant voice rumbled from behind him.

"Fascinating."

David spun around, heart pounding, and froze. Where the Earl and the Elders had once stood, an entirely different figure now loomed. It was a humanoid shape, yet it radiated with pure, blinding light. Twin eyes blazed like miniature suns, locking onto David with a knowing intensity that sent a chill through him. The being\'s face, though formless, began to crack, revealing a grin like an endless void—a grin that felt as if it was devouring time itself.

"So, we finally meet,"

the entity intoned, its voice a low whisper that carried the weight of countless ages.

David\'s throat tightened. The being\'s presence was overwhelming, as if the fabric of reality itself trembled under its gaze. It was an existence beyond comprehension, a force he couldn\'t even begin to fathom. Just as he opened his mouth to speak—or perhaps to scream—a golden light burst across his vision.

"[Authority has been used]"

the system chimed, its usual text now gleaming with an unearthly radiance.

The entity tilted its head, expression unreadable. Then, it sighed, its tone laced with disappointment.

"Such a shame,"

it murmured, as if lamenting a missed opportunity. Slowly, the figure began to dissipate, time seeming to rewind in its wake. Its form unravelled like smoke caught in a backward gust, leaving nothing but an echo in the space it once occupied.

In the blink of an eye, the world snapped back to normal. The crowd reappeared, their faces unperturbed, oblivious to the spectral encounter that had just taken place. David, still trembling, stood motionless, trying to process the bizarre encounter.

A firm hand rested on his shoulder, grounding him. He looked up to see the Earl, his face filled with paternal concern. "Are you all right, my son?" the Earl asked, his tone gentle, yet steady.

David inhaled sharply, forcing his composure to return.

Steady yourself,

he reminded himself, pushing down the whirlwind of emotions raging within. He couldn\'t afford to appear shaken, not here, not now.

"Don\'t worry, my lord," David replied, his voice calm though his mind was still reeling. "I am… simply overwhelmed with happiness."

The Earl regarded him for a moment, then patted him on the back with a proud smile. "Very well. Then follow me," he instructed, gesturing behind the throne.

As David walked beside the Earl, his mind remained half-lost in the encounter, haunted by the lingering impression of that entity—the way it looked at him, as though it saw every strand of his existence, every beat of his life. He had no idea what "Chronomancer of the Tapestry" truly entailed, but he felt, deep within, that whatever lay ahead was both wondrous and perilous.

This was only the beginning.

****

A/N: For a noble to be executed, they had to be taken to court within the specific county the offence was made and the Lord of the land together with a queen\'s official had to be in hearing of the trial against the noble