The Terminally Ill Young Master is the Mad Dog of the Underworld - Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Learning of Mother’s Tragedy

“Ah, that is…”

After fidgeting with his lips for a while, Peter spoke as if he had made up his mind.

“After all you’ve done for someone like me, young master, I can’t be disloyal.”

“That’s right. It would be shameless.”

“The truth is…”

Peter continued.

“When you first asked, I thought you might be deliberately avoiding it.”

“Why would I?”

I asked back in bewilderment.

“Is it that serious?”

“Yes.”

Peter’s face turned sorrowful.

“This is far more significant than I thought.”

If that was the case, I needed to uncover these hidden circumstances even more.

Only then could I determine if I had any maternal relatives who could support me and if so, why none of my maternal grandfather or uncles had offered any help.

‘If that tragedy consumed my mother’s family…’

Settling that debt of gratitude could become an opportunity to turn misfortune into a blessing, strengthening my honor and legitimacy as an heir.

An impressive achievement, a story widely circulated among people – these would become the jewels and justification to illuminate me, Allenvert Grunewald, in the succession battle.

Why wouldn’t it?

‘In the underworld, when a boss dies, it’s natural for the second and third in command to gather the remaining forces and wage war under the pretext of revenge.’

Honor belongs to those who seek vengeance. This principle was no different in noble society.

“I only entered service as a servant after ‘that incident,’ so I don’t know the exact details, but…”

The very story that had forced Allenvert into seclusion was finally about to be revealed through Peter’s lips.

***

“As you know, your mother was Lady Lusatia, the fourth wife of Duke Grunewald.”

“Lusatia Grunewald…”

I spoke that unfamiliar name aloud. Though my mind might have forgotten, my body seemed to remember – I could feel my fingertips trembling slightly.

Is this trembling from longing, Allenvert?

“Lady Lusatia’s maiden name was Eisenach.”

“That’s an unusual name?”

I tilted my head. The pronunciation felt quite foreign.

“She was the daughter of a tribal chief of the Mountain People.”

Recalling all the slurs I’d heard about my bloodline, I asked.

“So they’re people who live in the mountains?”

“Yes.”

“A migrant tribe that lives in the mountains. So that’s why they were called barbarians.”

“…I apologize, but that is what people tend to call them.”

“What are you apologizing for? You’re just telling me what they’re called.”

Peter slightly bowed his head before continuing.

“The Mountain People are, as their name suggests, minority tribes who live along the great mountain range that crosses the kingdom.”

“Given that they’re called barbarians, I doubt they lived peacefully.”

“They mainly sustain themselves through raiding, hunting, slash-and-burn farming, and trade.”

I nodded.

“Living in the mountains, they must naturally have excellent physical strength and know how to use the terrain. I imagine their children are trained as warriors from childhood, learning to handle spears and shoot arrows?”

Peter asked with an astonished face.

“…How did you know?”

“You think I haven’t done any research before? It’s obvious. In short, they’re a warrior tribe.”

“They’re known throughout the kingdom as exceptional warriors. Despite not being Elves or Vampires, they’re said to be born with remarkable cardiovascular endurance and extraordinary physical abilities.”

“They weren’t Elves?”

“They’re pure humans.”

I stroked my sharp jawline while speaking.

“I thought they might be Elves since I’m so handsome.”

“Ahem. That’s just because the Fourth Lady was particularly beautiful…”

“Turns out I was lucky. But have you seen my mother with your own eyes?”

“No, I’ve only heard stories.”

“I asked because you were acting like you’d seen her. So?”

“Yes. Anyway, because of their different lifestyle and customs, their superior combat abilities, and above all, their history of raiding throughout the duchy, the people of Grunewald have always intensely disliked the Mountain People.”

“So that’s why my siblings dislike me.”

From these people’s perspective, it made sense.

How annoying must it have been to have the daughter of a migrant tribe known for constant raiding become a duchess, and then have to revere her son as a young master?

“…You don’t seem particularly angry or upset.”

“Why should I be? It makes sense.”

Peter looked at me like I was some oddity as I shrugged.

“But just how bad were these Mountain People’s misdeeds?”

“Besides being mountain bandits, they were even river pirates – that says it all.”

“River pirates? While living in the mountains?”

“Our Duchy of Grunewald has a major river that connects to the sea. Transporting overseas goods through the river is an important business.”

“Ah, I see.”

I exclaimed in understanding.

“So they must have set up camp in the mountains and appeared at strategic points along the river.”

“Yes, exactly. They would lie in wait in small boats and surround larger vessels at narrow points. They’d throw grappling hooks to board ships and engage in close combat – even skilled mercenaries and regular troops would often fall to them.”

“That’s quite impressive?”

I clapped my hands.

“Excellent. The term ‘warrior tribe’ really suits them. No wonder I’m good at fighting.”

Of course, that wasn’t the real reason, but it made for a good story.

“…Ahem.”

Blood is thicker than water – Peter seemed unsure how to react to my praise of these migrants.

“Anyway, I heard they were extremely difficult to suppress for various reasons.”

“Even if we tried to attack directly, the terrain would have halved the knights’ effectiveness. Even elite troops would have been blind in those mountains.”

The situation was clear even without seeing it.

‘Plus, if they were like that, they must have had significant influence in the underworld too. They would have been troublesome enemies in many ways.’

Think about it. Good at fighting but with strange customs and appearance that made it hard to fit in? Such people would be found in abundance in the underworld.

Moreover, with harsh mountains as their home, they would naturally lack resources and need to trade to survive. So what would they do?

‘They must have traded through black markets. That means they would have had to establish roots in the underworld.’

Though still speculation, I concluded this was highly plausible.

“Eventually, the Duchy of Grunewald felt the need to find a turning point in this uncomfortable coexistence with the Mountain People.”

Peter spoke rather eloquently. His sophisticated vocabulary clearly indicated he was repeating someone else’s words.

“Twenty years ago, His Grace the Duke sought friendship with the Mountain People by taking the tribal chief’s daughter as his own, aiming to prevent their aggression and stabilize the duchy’s outskirts.”

“A political marriage.”

It was a rational choice. Since my mother was known for her beauty, I dare say my father’s nostrils might have flared with pride?

Making such irreverent thoughts about the head of the family, I urged Peter to continue.

“Right, I understand up to here. But why am I in this state now? Surely they would have tried various approaches – integration efforts, giving them official positions, employing them as mercenaries… They must have tried everything to maintain good relations. Did it not work out?”

“It worked quite well. Above all, you, young master, were the symbol of that reconciliation.”

“Why me?”

“You were born as the fruit of harmony between House Grunewald and the House of Eisenach ‘King of the Mountain People’. Moreover, they say you were beautiful and kind as a child, especially beloved.”

“I see. And then?”

“While people only thought of the Mountain People as fierce and ruthless barbarians, imagine their surprise when you, carrying their blood, turned out to be more beautiful and gentle than anyone? It completely changed their perception.”

“Oh.”

I exclaimed.

“Now that I hear it, it makes sense. So I was Grunewald’s treasure, jewel, precious young lord.”

“…Well, yes, that’s true.”

Peter’s face looked uncomfortable.

“Got a problem with that?”

“No, sir.”

“Continue the story.”

The twist that had reduced Allenvert to this state hadn’t come up yet.

“It happened seven years ago. Your maternal grandfather, the chief of House Eisenach, was coincidentally caught up in a rebellion by subordinate tribes and died.”

“Wow, a rebellion? Didn’t see that coming.”

“It was that sudden. After the chief was poisoned, civil war broke out between House Eisenach and other houses.”

“House Eisenach must have lost.”

“Yes. They say the outcome was determined the moment they lost their leader and were ambushed.”

“That makes sense.”

It must have been a carefully planned surprise attack.

“From Father’s perspective, things must have gotten incredibly complicated.”

“Indeed. House Eisenach, which symbolized harmony between House Grunewald and the Mountain People, was destroyed and driven out.”

An unprecedented situation – the duchess’s family suffering complete annihilation.

But at the same time, it was an internal matter within the larger Mountain People collective.

It would have been difficult to intervene rashly.

There must be countless complex circumstances that one couldn’t understand just from hearing the story.

“What happened after that?”

“A proposal came to the head of our house. If he would take the new tribal chief’s daughter as a wife, they would send a thousand soldiers and countless precious treasures.”

“They must have been desperate to establish legitimacy. It wouldn’t have been strange to use this incident as grounds to punish them for attacking ‘the duke’s in-laws.'”

“I don’t know the details, but that’s what I heard.”

For the young and inexperienced Peter, understanding beyond this would be difficult.

“Father wouldn’t have agreed to such a request.”

“Huh? That’s right. How did you know?”

“If he had, I would have been dragged away by them and dead by now, wouldn’t I?”

“Ah. That’s true.”

Their true intention must have been to replace the Fourth Lady with their own daughter.

If that had been accepted, from their perspective, there would have been no need to keep alive the son of a divorced duchess and grandson of the former chief.

“If I were in place of Father, I wouldn’t have had any reason to accept their demands either.”

Though Peter already knew the outcome, he asked as if curious about my thoughts.

“Why is that?”

“Isn’t it a request without merit or benefit? Above all, those who overthrew the duke’s in-laws through rebellion are the ones in dire straits.”

“You’re right. As you said, they gave us justification to wage war if we wanted…”

“Just Father’s refusal alone would have pushed them to the edge.”

They must have been scared shitless, I’d wager.

“If war broke out, they’d be ruined, right? They had no justification, and the former chief’s forces still remained.”

“Ah, I understand now.”

“Are you a compulsive liar? Your face clearly shows you don’t understand.”

Peter sheepishly scratched his neck.

“Hehe, actually I’m not quite sure.”

“I wasn’t expecting you to understand anyway. Regardless, I can roughly guess what Father’s intentions were.”

Peter stuck out his tongue.

“I have no idea at all.”

“Think about it. What would you have done in that situation?”

Peter fell into deep thought.

“I would have led an army to attack them? Since they dared kill the Duke of Grunewald’s father-in-law…”

“War is a burden for any ruler.”

In most cases, war could only be a last resort. I knew well how much nobles detested all-out war.

“While we have the justification of avenging our in-laws, from their perspective, it could be seen as external interference in internal affairs.”

“Ah, could it be seen that way?”

“If I were in the usurper’s position, I would have tried to frame it that way somehow.”

“That would be their only option if they didn’t want to die.”

“Hmmmm.”

After wracking his uncooperative brain, Peter offered a simple observation.

“Young master, politics sure is complicated.”

I responded as if teaching him a lesson.

“That’s why Father chose silence and refusal. Sometimes doing nothing can be the best tactic. Father completely seized control just by sitting there and saying a few words.”

Peter’s brows twitched.

“That’s profound. I could never follow such strategic maneuvering.”

“Of course not. It’s a battle between seasoned serpents.”

“You’re amazing too, young master. How can you guess such intricate circumstances?”

“It’s not that impressive.”

After all, these were just my speculations.

“If I were to guess further, the traitors were probably desperate for Father’s acknowledgment. Perhaps they offered several times more than their initial proposal?”

“Ah!”

Peter slapped his knee.

“I don’t know the details, but I heard the new chief sent his youngest daughter as a hostage instead of his eldest as a wife, along with massive wealth and mercenaries.”

“See? Father achieved an incredible victory without firing a single arrow.”

I commented.

“The usurper had to accept weakening their power and becoming more subordinate to the duchy to gain recognition of their authority. They paid too high a price for a mere symbolic throne.”

His calculations were truly cold yet profound.

“What an impressive man.”

I couldn’t help but admire the capabilities of the father I hadn’t yet met. However…

“After that incident, I guess he crossed a river of no return with my mother.”

Peter replied.

“Despite her father’s death and her family’s destruction, Lady Lusatia felt deeply betrayed by her husband who recognized her enemies rather than seeking revenge.”

“Anyone would have felt the same.”

A son-in-law who overlooked his father-in-law’s death – how could that still be called a marriage?

“She’s been living in seclusion for seven years, barely eating, refusing to see her husband and child.”

“…I see.”

This is the ruthlessness of politics. A ruler sometimes must shed their human face.

In that sense, Father is an excellent leader as both head of house and duke. Didn’t he gain enormous benefits just by sacrificing Mother and me?

‘…But as a husband and father, you’ve failed, Duke Grunewald.’

I closed my eyes and tried to understand Mother’s heart.

Father’s political judgement was surely appropriate.

Knowing this, Mother chose seclusion instead of rebellion or divorce despite her anger.

After all, a hasty divorce would have endangered not just her but me as well.

‘Even if she understood it intellectually, the wound in her heart must have been impossible to heal.’

If isolation was her choice as a result, how could a child blame their mother?

…But Allenvert might have resented his mother and hated his father. Such is the human heart.

“That must be when I started my seclusion too.”

“…Shortly after that incident, you were diagnosed with a terminal illness. That was the final blow.”

‘His maternal family was destroyed in an instant, his mother went into seclusion refusing to see him, and then he received a terminal diagnosis on top of that.’

It was suffocating just hearing about it. How could a noble boy raised with such love possibly overcome all these tragedies?

“Now I understand why I had secluded myself for so long.”

“It was such a massive tragedy that even the servants dared not speak of it. Moreover, several servants who carelessly gossiped about it were severely punished by the head butler and expelled.”

“I see.”

The story was far more significant than I had imagined.

“That’s why visiting my mother wasn’t a simple matter.”

The story felt uncomfortably familiar, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

‘Allenvert, there was nothing you could have done during those events.’

Allenvert was just a young boy, raised like a flower in a greenhouse. No wonder he fell into despair and became mentally ill.

‘You gave up competing with your siblings, abandoned your training, and chose a path of no return. It’s been seven years already.’

However, I wouldn’t consider that time wasted. Seventeen is far too young to lament that it’s too late.

“Peter.”

Noticing the change in my voice, Peter straightened his posture.

“Yes, young master?”

“I want to thank you. Thanks to you revealing the truth, I’ve also strengthened my resolve.”

“…Do you intend to seek revenge?”

“How else could I become the head of House Grunewald? Who would follow a son who couldn’t avenge his mother? I won’t become a king without honor.”

Peter didn’t seem particularly surprised by my words. Perhaps the idea seemed too far-fetched or too grand to fully grasp.

“The end of the path I seek is far beyond your imagination. And somewhere along that path, the milestone of Mother’s revenge surely awaits me.”

I don’t know how long it will take to reach that milestone. And precisely because of that…

“First, I want to meet Mother and help heal her mental wound.”

That must have been what Allenvert wanted most. But that wasn’t the only reason.

‘This terminal condition might be related to my maternal bloodline.’

Breaking free from the fate of being terminal – that was the first shackle I needed to remove before embarking on this long journey.

———–