Reincarnated as the third son of the Duke

The servant hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, his voice trembling.

"The Third Prince's servants have been using Sir Aizen's name to their advantage. Once word got out that the duel had taken place under the Swordmaster's supervision, the knights have begun to take an interest. Some even went directly to Sir Aizen to confirm the story… and, well… he did."

Joshua felt his breath hitch.

"My lord? My lord!"

A strangled gasp left his lips as he collapsed, foaming at the mouth.

Elsewhere, inside William's quarters, the atmosphere was far more relaxed.

"My lord, I just received word that the Fourth Prince has collapsed," Hans reported. "Do you have any idea what might have caused it?"

William smirked as he sipped his tea, the rich aroma filling his senses. The luxury of such fine tea had been something beyond his reach in his previous life.

"He probably couldn't handle reality and fainted," William said lightly. "Honestly, I'm surprised it took this long. He was already on the verge of a breakdown yesterday."

Hans tilted his head. "Still, it's strange. Why did he insist on using a real sword? If anything, a wooden sword would have worked in his favor."

"There's a huge difference between wooden swords and real ones," William explained. "Tell me, which do you think is scarier—someone swinging a wooden blade at you or a sharpened steel sword?"

"The real sword, obviously."

"Exactly. He picked a real sword to intimidate me, but he forgot that the blade would make him just as nervous."

Had Joshua used a wooden sword, he would have felt far less pressure. Without the fear of being cut, he might have fought more steadily, countering William's attacks with a clearer head. In that case, given their physical differences, William would have struggled more.

But instead, Joshua had played himself. His own fear of the blade had shackled him, leaving him wide open.

"In the end, he made things easy for me. That match would have likely ended in a draw if he had used a wooden sword. But thanks to his poor decision-making, I won outright."

Hans nodded in understanding—until a realization struck him.

"But my lord… wasn't that your first time handling a real sword?"

William's fingers paused over his teacup for the briefest second before he smoothly responded, "I suppose I just adapted quickly."

He had, after all, once experienced the sensation of a blade skimming past his eyebrow. The distance of a handspan meant little to him.

Of course, he couldn't exactly explain all that, so he simply left it at that.

"In any case, things should be quiet for a while." William leaned back in his chair, satisfied. "My useless brothers will be too busy dealing with their own troubles to bother with me."

Jordi, the Second Prince, had already suffered financial ruin due to the scandal with the twin siblings. Even if his mother's wealthy family provided him with funds, the process of receiving money would take time. Until then, he would have to lay low.

Joshua, meanwhile, was in an even worse position. Though William was the weakest candidate in terms of backing, Joshua's position wasn't particularly solid either. Now that he had suffered a public humiliation, he would be too preoccupied managing internal unrest to retaliate.

There's still one more person to deal with… William mused. But considering his personality, he—

Bang!

The door swung open violently, shattering William's train of thought.

"My lord!"

Hugo strode in, his forehead glistening with sweat, as if he had rushed all the way here.

William raised an eyebrow. "What is it now? Did Joshua throw another tantrum?"

"No, my lord. I received a message from our men. The House of Logran will be visiting in one week."

"...What?"

"They requested a meeting at the manufacturing site in the Vestrean territory. How should we proceed?"

William calmly set down his teacup and rose from his chair.

"First things first," he said, adjusting his sleeves. "We need to inform my father."

Duke Sigmund von Hern listened to William's report with a faint smirk.

"Interesting," the duke muttered.

Vestrean was the closest territory to their lands, yet it had been long overshadowed by the great city of Kelheim, left with only scraps of trade. Though physically near, it was an isolated place, neglected in importance.

And yet, the Logran family had chosen it as the meeting location.

"Well, this is amusing," the duke mused. "I can't tell if they're simply bold or if they think so little of Hern that they dare step this close to our borders. It may not be the lion's den, but they've certainly placed themselves within its reach."

"They likely assume that the city is beneath your notice," William said. "A place with no strategic or economic value isn't worth the duke's time, after all."

The duke chuckled. "To be fair, I didn't even think about it until you brought it up just now. It is an interesting blind spot."

His amusement faded, and his gaze sharpened as he met William's eyes.

"But tell me—why are you reporting this to me? Didn't I already grant you full authority to handle these matters?"

William responded without hesitation.

"I require strength."

The duke raised an eyebrow. "Strength?"

"Just because a beast is caught in a trap doesn't mean I have the tools to finish the hunt," William said.

"Ah. So you're here because I have those tools," the duke mused. His expression darkened slightly.

"That is a logical approach," he admitted. "If you borrow my power, you will have no trouble finishing off the prey."

William's eyes gleamed. "Then—"

"But," the duke cut in, "do you truly think people will call it your hunt?"

William fell silent.

Seeing no response, the duke pressed further.

"A true hunter earns recognition only when he captures his prey with his own hands. You could plan the greatest hunt in history, but if you fail to land the final blow yourself, you will remain just another dependent student—one who has yet to stand on his own."

Silence settled over the room.