Chapter 134: Mudblood Heir
That made the insult weaker than the people saying it wanted.
Lady Mirena heard it clearly. She did not scold her men. Instead, her eyes moved over Lucard with a calculating look. For now, she said nothing. A simple insult was useful, but it was still too small.
Prince Caelan appeared on the steps of the Crown Rest House with Aldric beside him. The prince wore formal travel clothes with a small golden lion clasp at his shoulder. He did not look like a boy complaining about a road anymore. He looked like the emperor’s son.
The court lowered itself.
"Rise," Caelan said.
Everyone stood.
Aldric stepped forward with a document in his hand.
"By imperial recognition, House Vardros is acknowledged as an old noble house under royal attention. Until Young Lord Jake Vardros reaches the proper age to assume full leadership, Lucard Vardros is recognized as acting head and heir-protector of House Vardros."
A murmur moved through the court.
It was soft, but sharp.
Baron Ravencroft’s face tightened.
The Karswell representative looked as if he had swallowed a bad coin.
Robi smiled slowly.
Celia’s eyes brightened with satisfaction.
Mirena’s face did not change, but the heat around her body rose slightly.
Aldric continued, "This recognition grants Lucard Vardros legal authority to represent House Vardros in matters of property, contracts, retainers, defense, and noble dealings until further imperial review. Any unlawful attempt to harm, seize, manipulate, or force Young Lord Jake Vardros through private action will be treated as a violation of imperial order."
That line struck the court harder than the title.
Several people understood at once.
The emperor was protecting Jake without saying why.
Lucard stood calmly while every eye turned toward him.
A fallen bastard son.
A mudblood.
A boy who had killed too many people in too few days.
Now he had imperial words behind his name.
Aldric looked at him. "Lucard Vardros, step forward."
Lucard walked forward. He stopped at the center of the court.
Prince Caelan looked down at him from the steps. For a brief moment, the prince’s eyes showed amusement, as if he remembered the conversation from last night.
"Do you accept this duty before the imperial witness?" Caelan asked.
Lucard lowered his head slightly.
"I accept."
"Then carry it properly," Caelan said. "The emperor has given House Vardros time. Do not waste it."
Lucard looked up.
"I do not waste blood or time."
The court went quiet.
Aldric’s eyes narrowed very slightly.
Caelan almost smiled, but he held it back.
"Good," the prince said.
The announcement ended soon after. But the consequences had only begun.
As people left the court, whispers followed Lucard like flies.
"Acting head?"
"Vardros?"
"Was he not the bastard one?"
"A mudblood became an acting head?"
"I heard Velkhur called him that."
"A mudblood acting as heir-protector."
The whispers moved from one mouth to another.
Lady Mirena watched it happen. Then her eyes sharpened. She finally spoke softly to the Velkhur mage beside her.
"Let the title spread."
The mage lowered his head. "My lady?"
"Mudblood Heir," Mirena said quietly. "That is what he is now. A fallen half-blood boy carrying the word heir because the emperor placed it behind his name. It will travel well. By tonight, taverns will say it. By next week, nearby cities will know about it. By next month, the capital can laugh at it."
The mage understood and smiled.
Mirena’s eyes stayed on Lucard. "If the emperor wants to raise him, we will first make the world remember where he crawled from."
The insult was useful because it sounded simple.
That was how noble poison worked. Not all attacks came with fire. Some came as names repeated by servants, merchants, guards, and drunk men. If a title entered enough mouths, it became harder to wash away.
’Mudblood Heir.’
The name began after the imperial announcement.
Velkhur gave it as an insult.
But fate had a cruel sense of humor.
Some said it with mockery. Some said it with fear. Some said it because they wanted to see whether Lucard would turn and cut them open in the royal courtyard. He did not. He walked back toward Jenny and Jake with the same calm face.
Jake looked angry enough to shout.
Lucard spoke before he could.
"Do not fight a name."
Jake looked up at him. "But they are insulting you."
"Yes."
"Does it not make you angry?"
Lucard looked toward the whispering nobles. "A name is only an insult when the person carrying it bows under it."
Jenny looked at him quietly.
Peter’s expression changed with understanding.
Lucard continued, "Let them spread it."
Jake blinked. "Let them?"
"Yes," Lucard said. "Soon, they will say Mudblood Heir and remember that the mud was deep enough to bury them. Blood is deadly when you bleed enough."
Jenny’s eyes widened slightly.
Jake slowly smiled.
Across the court, Lady Mirena watched him leave. Her mage leaned close. "My lady, the words are already moving."
"Good," Mirena said.
But her face was colder than before. Because Lucard had not looked wounded. And insults were only useful when they reached flesh.
Before noon, Aldric sent the formal message to Robi Marovain.
The captured Rank Four Velkhur knight was to be handed over to imperial custody.
Robi read the notice in his office and laughed without humor.
Celia stood beside him. "They are taking him?"
"Yes," Robi said. "Politely. Which means completely."
"What about Lucard’s method?"
Robi tapped the notice with his metal fingers. "Too late for now."
Celia frowned. "Lucard will not like this."
"No," Robi said. "He will not."
A short time later, imperial guards entered the lower prison under the Marovain shop. The silent Rank Four knight was brought out in chains, he was pale but alive. Varen watched from the doorway with empty eyes. Robi stood at the top of the stairs and gave no protest. To refuse royal order would be foolish. To show anger would be wasteful.
The prisoner was placed in an imperial carriage before the gathered witnesses.
Velkhur did not cheer.
Marovain did not smile.
Both sides understood that the throne had taken a useful piece from the board.
Lucard heard the news after returning to Silver Ash House.
He stood near the window while Jenny spoke with Peter and Jake in the next room. A Marovain messenger had delivered the information carefully, then left quickly, as if he did not want to be nearby when Lucard reacted.
Lucard did not show anger. Inside his blood, five tiny eggs slept. One planned door had closed. That did not matter.
Closed doors only forced smarter hands to use windows.
Lucard looked toward the northern part of the city, where the imperial party prepared to leave with the prisoner, the decree, and many secrets they thought still belonged to them.
His faint smile returned.
"Mudblood Heir," he said softly.
The insult tasted strange. Then his smile deepened.
"Good. Let them remember it."
.
.
.
.
The outside world had started whispering Lucard’s new insult.
"Mudblood Heir."
The name moved through Gravehold’s streets like dirty water, but inside the house, no one dared say it too loudly.
A name was only useful if it changed something. This one changed nothing except making enemies easier to hear.
That evening, Jenny called Brant Ashwolf and Lysa into the main hall.
Peter stood near the door. Two Marovain guards waited outside the hall, far enough not to hear everything but close enough to enter if needed. Jake sat beside Jenny, trying to look like a proper young lord.
Lucard stood near the wine table with a calm face, one hand resting lightly on a bottle of red wine.
Brant Ashwolf entered first.
He looked much better than before. His face was still thin from sickness, but his eyes were clear, and his steps were steady. He wore clean leather armor without the Ash Wolf badge showing too brightly.
Lysa followed behind him. Her dark red hair was tied high, and she looked both nervous and determined. Every time her eyes moved near Lucard, guilt and gratitude fought inside them.
Brant stopped before Jenny and lowered himself to one knee.
Lysa followed him at once.
"My lady," Brant said, his voice deep and rough. "I, Brant Ashwolf, leader of the Ash Wolf Mercenary Company, ask House Vardros to accept our service."
Jenny looked at him for a long moment.
She had been softer before everything happened. She had once wanted only a safe road, a warm room, and a chance for Jake to live quietly. That Jenny was still inside her, but she was no longer alone. The daughter of House Vardros had started to understand that kindness without strength only invited sharper teeth.
"Your family helped House Vardros in the past," Jenny said. "Because of that, I will not treat Ash Wolf like strangers."
Brant lowered his head deeper. "Thank you, my lady."
"But old kindness does not erase new danger," Jenny continued. "Your people were divided. Some followed Merrick. Some did not know what was happening. Some may still be loyal to his memory. I cannot allow anyone near Jake unless I know where their loyalty stands."