The Viridescent Crown - Chapter 2

After the death of his parents, because he was a minor his uncle took the position of regent.

And, being conceited as if he were a duke, little by little he turned the duke’s property into that of Baron Lindbergh’s.

The baron become a count, and in the end, he even forces Yustaf to marry his daughter.

He then tries to assassinate him, but with the help of a loyal vassal, Yustaf survives.

‘Even though the vassal dies.’

With that thought, Ran looked behind at the knight following them a few steps away.

‘Wow, he’s completely glaring at me.’

If he could shoot with his eyes, he would’ve already killed Ran.

Ross Wilde.

If things went as they did in the novel, he would die.

‘I have to stop it.’

Ran thought so and spoke softly to Yustaf,

“Yustaf.”

“Yes, sister.”

Ran sensed sarcasm whenever he called her sister so politely.

‘Although I don’t hate being called sister.’

This subtle feeling.

“I’m on your side.”

Yustaf did not pause, nor reply to the words she spoke directly.

“I want you to know that.”

Regardless of whether he does or not, Ran continued to speak. There was not much time left until they reached the carriage.

“It seems that your uncle intends to make me the head of the house.”

After listening to this, for the first time Yustaf slowed down his steps. Ran smiled and looked back at him.

“I’ll become the head.”

“And?”

Ran’s smile deepened at his subsequent question.

“I won’t let your uncle put a finger on the duchy. And when you come of age, I’ll give everything back to you intact.”

Ran said so.

The two arrived at the carriages, and were going to ride in their respective ones. The fact that they didn’t ride in the same carriage showed the distance between the two.

With slightly bent knees, bowing politely to her brother, Ran whispered low a greeting.

“May you overcome the blue flames.”

This is the greeting to the head of Lazia.

Yustaf did not bat an eyelash but replied low,

“May you be protected by the flames.”

* * *

Yustaf gently rubbed his temple.

“What did that fox say?”

When asked by his knight, Yustaf replied low,

“That she’s on my side.”

“Eh.”

Ross clicked his tongue violently.

“She said that herself?”

“Yes.”

“She’s worse than a fox then.”

“Is that so.”

“That’s right.”

Ross frowned and wanted to say more, but Yustaf was lost in thought.

Ran Romea de Lazia.

Of course, he didn’t forget the bullying as a child.

But when he fell from the tree.

From then on, something changed. They sent letters and pocket money without fail.

And she was the only family to come to the academy.

‘I thought you were trying to look good on me, the next head.’

Just as her mother bewitched his father with her beauty, she’s trying to make herself look good.

With shiny, soft, wheat coloured hair and dark green eyes like trees in summer.

You can’t see it in the north, the appearance of ripe fruits and smell of sunlight is certainly rare.

He fiddled with the ring around his neck.

This was the symbol of the head of Lazia, the blue flame.

This ring, sealed with the spirit of the flame, burns a person if it is worn by someone other than the head.

The person wearing the ring can borrow the power of the spirit.

This is a greeting to the head

—May you overcome the blue flames.

Benevolence was the reason.

“But Ross, I’m still not of age. I’m not old enough to take the position of head.”

“Isn’t this an emergency right now.”

“Yes, but if my uncle insists on a regent.”

Ross frowned at the words.

“You mean that raccoon?”

“I could see him drooling. That’s probably why he approached Ran earlier.”

That’s what Ran herself said.

Holding back malicious words, Yustaf recalled her again.

‘What should I do.’

“There are too few options.”

As he said so, Yustaf smiled bitterly letting go of his hand touching the ring.

“It would be best to drive a wedge between Ran and my uncle.”

Ross nodded at the words

“I think that would be best.”

Ran checked her appearance.

The black mourning dress made her look pale.

Ran grabbed the lace veil with her hand.

The spider web of lace half covered her face.

‘This way, they won’t be able to see my expression.’

Standing at the door of the conference room, Ran collected her thoughts for the last time.

The meeting would start soon, the agenda was going to be the matter of the next head of the household.

‘I can do it.’

Throwing away her uncle’s claim to regency, all she needed was confidence to rise up to be the next head. Ran was the only one.

‘Blue flame.’

She could wear the blue flame.

‘Of course I’m not 100% sure.’

The spirits here have names.

Just as humans have their own names, so do spirits, and their names are hidden.

That’s because if you know it’s name, you can control the spirit.

And she is the original author.

Of course, she knew that name of the blue flame. So, she can wear the ring and can call it’s name.

Then she won’t burn herself.

The owner of the blue flame.

It also means the Lazia family’s household head. It was a method that no one could dispute.

‘Although I may fall down in the future due to the problem of blood lineage, as long as I’m in charge for the time being. The most important thing right now is to be recognised!’

Everyone will probably be shocked and turned upside down, but if we aim for that gap, it will happen somehow.

Ran thought so, took a deep breath and lightly put her hand on the door handle.

With that alone, the huge door opened quietly.

“Forgive me for being late.”

As Ran greeted gently, the vassals rose up.

There are three families that serve the duke as loyal vassals.

Wilde.

Lance.

Illuminati.

The heads of all three families were here.

Even if they serve, in this era where territorial wars was not as common as before, only the formalities remained.

‘In other words, the Duke of Lazia put the second and third vassals into the knights order or executive administration.’

Then stood their uncle Baron Lindbergh, alongside those in other major positions.

Originally, he should also be one who serves the duke’s family, but he quietly avoided the oath of allegiance under the pretext of being an uncle.

“We gathered early.”

Yustaf said so and pulled out a chair.

Ran sat in the seat, nodding lightly to him under the black veil.

Then when Yustaf sat down, all the gathered people sat in their seats.

And then, “Ahem.” Baron Lindbergh coughed, attracting people’s attention.

“Why don’t we get straight to the agenda? Isn’t there only one reason why we’re all gathered here?”

Although Yustaf or Ran hasn’t spoken yet, some of them frowned in their minds as they tried to lead the meeting by speaking first.

But Yustaf nodded with saying much.

“That would be good.”

Baron Lindbergh bowed his head with a sorrowful face and said,

“I am saddened by the departure of my brother, his wife and my young nephew. But the Duke’s house is still alive. I have both my niece and nephew still left.”

He cleared his throat again and said,

“But Yustaf is still underage, so I think of course the head should be Ran.”

Then Baron Lance said, frowning.

“Although Ran has inherited the duke’s last name, she is not of the duke’s lineage. Yet how do you think she should be the head?”

“What! It is the will of the lord who registered Ran!”

Baron Lindbergh raised the authority of the former duke of Lazia. When Baron Lance was about to say something more, Ran slightly raised her hand.

The table became quiet.

She got up from her seat and spoke slowly.

“I know a lot of people are concerned about me becoming the head of the household. But it is also true that Yustaf is still not of age.”

Ran turned to Yustaf. His face looked blurry because of the veil.

“So I am going to hold the position as temporary head just for two years, until Yustaf comes of age.”

Temporary head.

There was a slight murmur at the sound of those words.

“As soon as Yustaf comes of age, I will pass on the head of the household to him. And, if anyone says it is a problem because of my lineage.”

Ran breathed in lightly and said to Yustaf,

“Could you lend me the ring for a moment?”

A cold silence filled the room.

Yustaf looked at Ran for a moment, slowly took off his necklace and handed it to her.

Baron Lindbergh looked at the symbol of the head with greed in his eyes.

Blue flame.

If you can’t wear that, you can’t be the true head.

Ran took the ring off the necklace. The blue jewel sparkled.

Without hesitation she put the blue flame on her finger.

In a flash, a blue flame burst out.

“No!”

“Oh no!”

Some flinched and bit back. Some of them rose from their seats.

Yustaf also unconsciously grabbed her wrist.

‘Istarif! Settle down!’

Ran shouted loudly in her heart. The flame that seemed to devour her was sucked back into the ring.

Silence filled the room.

Ran felt her hand tremble and raised it for everyone to see.

The blue flame sparkled on her finger. Everyone looked at it in astonishment.

Yustaf’s blue eyes also shook greatly.

Everyone seemed to hold their breath.

“That doesn’t make sense!”

It was Baron Lindbergh who cried out.

“What doesn’t make sense, uncle.”

Ran replied calmly.

“The ring is, that ring, if you’re not of blood you can’t wear it. You can’t wear it unless you’re the head!”

“That’s correct. You cannot wear it unless you’re the head. So wouldn’t it mean I’ve been recognised as the temporary head. As the person who will safely pass on the position to the next head.”

“That…”

Lindbergh’s voice trembled.

Even if Ran becomes the head, if she doesn’t have her own strength she will be shaken.

So he can control her as much as he can. She could even marry his son.

Or he could marry her himself, because the blood isn’t mixed.

But as long she becomes the owner of that ring, Ran has acquired the authority to not be shaken according to his will.

‘No, not yet.’

Lindbergh bit his lip.

She is just a little girl.

If it turns out she is overwhelmed by holding the position of head and lacks the qualities, she will have no one to lean on.

Moreover, the duke’s debt is a mountain.

That girl doesn’t know, it was he who introduced the duchess to the loan shark. Besides, he’s own a debt himself.

Lindbergh said with dry lips.

“I see. I acknowledge that Ran has been recognised by the blue flame.”

Didn’t he choose to be on her side anyway?

It’s only a little bit of a turn. Lindbergh regained his composure.

“Is there anyone here who has any disagreements?”