The Duke went to the exclusive chamber reserved for members of the Angeras family. His guards barred entry to all, allowing only those summoned by the Duke to pass.
Mason was the first to arrive. Upon entering, he stood by the door with his head lowered.
"My Lord, you summoned me?" asked the Grandmaster of the Angeras Knights.
"Who was that?" the Duke barked, rage simmering in his voice.
Mason looked confused. "My Lord, the identity of that individual… it appears to be Young Master Estefan."
The Duke, furious, hurled a vase at Mason. It struck his armor, shattering and soaking the floor but doing no damage. "Impossible!" the Duke shouted. "That boy has spent his entire life doing nothing. How could he suddenly grow strong enough to defeat a knight? Hah!"
Mason stood silently, like a child being reprimanded by a stern parent.
After pacing for a moment, the Duke composed himself. "I want you to find out who this person really is and in the meantime bring me the real Estefan."
"I will send my men to fetch the young master," Mason said with his head lowered.
But the Duke walked up to him and placed a firm hand on the Grandmaster's pauldron. With an expression devoid of emotion, he crushed the armor with his bare hand. Mason made no sound, but the steel groaned under the pressure and bent into his flesh.
"No - No.. I mean I will go and see if the young master is there, by myself" Mason stammered but the Duke's grip tightened. "I'll bring the young master personally… He - He should definitely be in the manor."
The Duke released him. "Good, go and bring him swiftly. Meanwhile, I'll see to the impostor myself and make him reveal the truth by myself." the Duke walked back to his seat as he began to wait.
Mason exited the room while holding his shoulder. His guards tried to assist, but he brushed them away. "Back off. Prepare the carriage. Now!" He ordered his men while holding his shoulder.
Mason slowly removed the mangled pauldron as after removing it, what he saw was a purpling shoulder beneath as he felt the pain but he was able to tolerate it since he was after all a Grandmaster.
Back in the chamber, the Duke paced until a knock came. "Enter." He said as he expected the arrival of many other officials that he had to give some lectures.
"It's been a while, Father." Came an unexpected voice which he has never heard at all.
The Duke turned and they both stood at an equal height as they faced each other directly and while one wore the regalia of a Duke the other was topless and unbothered, they locked their eyes.
The Duke sat. "Do not call me that." He said with disgust. "I definitely have three sons but you are not one of them because the one who you are trying to impersonate can barely move around by himself."
"Glad to know you stayed faithful to your second wife. Since you confirm that you only have three sons, one with my mother and two with that woman." Estefan said, strolling over and sitting opposite him. "At least you don't whore around like other nobles… except the part where you did abandon your first wife and son."
The Duke remained silent. "Not only do you impersonate my son." He finally said, "but now you spread lies about me as well."
Estefan sighed and chuckled, running a hand across his brow. "You must be joking. I display my strength before you and this is your welcome?"
"Because you are a fake." The Duke repeated. "I've sent for my son, my real son. He's probably asleep in the manor as we speak so soon your filthy lies will crumble… soon enough."
"Disappointing." Estefan said, throwing his legs onto the table. "I came to reclaim what's mine. I'm your eldest son, and by law, your heir as well or does the great Duke of Angeras family plan to bend his precious family's laws just because his firstborn isn't born of a noblewoman? Considering his second wife is after all from the Royal family."
The Duke rubbed his temples. "Why should I follow tradition when my firstborn wastes his life doing nothing?"
Estefan leaned forward. "So you think Carnel is better? That degenerate spends more time with whores than with his own wife. What value does he bring to this house? To the Duchy? Unless you expect him to find the best women in the city to fuck around with for the soldiers and other people in the Palace which he most likely will do." He smirked while saying those words.
"At least he isn't lazy." The Duke replied coldly.
"Oh, please." Estefan scoffed. "I literally displayed power no knight here could match. If anything, I'd understand if you favored Carius like at least he's trying something with that celibacy path of his. But Carnel? He's a stain in this family and you know it as well."
"Enough," the Duke growled. "You're not Estefan. The real Estefan is a failure."
"And you are an old fool." Estefan said, laughing with bitter amusement. "You just don't want to admit I'm strong because you fear what it means, for you and for your title. You fear I'll claim what's rightfully mine, and your relationship with the King will sour over it.."
The Duke scoffed, "I don't need to care about what the King feels about my family."
But Estefan interrupted his father and said, "If you did then you would have made me your heir by now." The Duke laughed but Estefan continued, "I am here to make my demand.. Give me what rightfully belongs to me or else I will take it by force and oh I will also be killing those who had a hand in the murder of my mother."
Estefan stood back up and looked his father right in the eyes, he did not speak but simply walked out of the room.
The Duke leaned back against his seat as he knew deep down who that person was and what kind of things would happen now over his succession. "It will get bloody."
[To be Continued]