Chapter 47 – Heirs

The silence that followed Ren’s revelation was heavier than any scream.

Wisteria and Versalles still gleamed in his hands—their icy and blazing auras entwining into an invisible edge that crushed everyone present beneath its weight.

The guards had collapsed to their knees. Clementine trembled, clinging to Rei’s arm, while the officials of the town hall bowed their heads in terror.

No one dared to breathe.

Even Rem had arrived, her child in her arms, witnessing this improvised trial.

For the first time in years, the four heirs of House Sinclair stood together in the same hall.

Ren stepped forward, his voice cutting through the silence like a sentence.

“I’ll ask you one last time… and I want a straight answer. Where did they take Mother?”

Rei tried to keep his composure, though his pale face betrayed him.

“Do you think I’ll be intimidated by your fake titles and your so-called ‘magical’ adventurer swords?”

Clementine tugged on his arm, her voice shaking with rage.

“That sword—” she pointed at Versalles “—it’s one of a kind. They say it belonged to the ‘Hero of the Sword.’ And that hero died years ago!”

Her voice rose to a scream that reverberated against the walls.

“Why do you have that sword? Where did you steal it from? Heretic!”

Ren’s face hardened, hatred pooling in his eyes like a storm.

“Enough games! My patience wears thin!”

Clementine twisted her lips into a crooked smile before letting the poison slip.

“Do what you want—it’s too late. Emilia Sinclair will be executed for high treason and heresy.”

The blood drained from Rei’s face.

“What…? My love, you told me they were only stripping her title for us…”

She released him like a filthy rag, revealing her true colors at last.

“This was supposed to be simple. I’d claim all her lands… I never imagined your brother would be a threat.”

Ren gripped the hilt of his katana tightly. The flame of Versalles faded from his hand, but Wisteria still trembled, steeped in lethal frost.

“I suppose that’s all the information I need from you two… traitors.” His voice fell like judgment itself.

Rei staggered back, dragging Clementine with him.

“C-come now, Ren, little brother… you wouldn’t hurt us, right? What would Mother think?”

“Hypocrite.” Ren’s eyes burned with restrained fury. “Father was a good man, and you murdered him without mercy. And now Mother faces the same fate… all because of your selfishness.”

He slid his katana back into its sheath, and in a single motion, shifted into the stance of the Aseina. Frost escaped his breath in a white cloud.

“But don’t worry… I’ll grant you a quick, painless death.”

Everyone held their breath. There was no escape for Rei or Clementine.

“Aseina Style…!” The icy pressure surged around Ren.

At that very moment, a small figure leapt between him and his prey. Rin spread her arms wide, blocking his stance.

“Ren-nii, don’t do it!”

The entire hall froze. No one expected the youngest Sinclair to stand in the path of her brother’s blade.

“If you kill him… you’ll be just like him.” Her voice trembled, but her eyes shone with unbreakable resolve. “You’ll spill Sinclair blood over an empty title.”

Ren faltered, fury still clawing at his insides.

“But, Rin! Because of those bastards… Father and Mother—!”

She shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Do you remember when we had nothing, when poverty suffocated us? Mother always said her greatest treasure was her children… And Father used to remind us that no matter how harsh the land, it would always bless us with a tomorrow.”

Rin raised her voice—clear, firm, and unshaken—so that everyone could hear.

“Those are the principles of the Sinclairs. Not ambition. Not betrayal. Family and hope!”

Her words pierced through Ren’s armor like an unseen blade. She was right. If he spilled more blood here, it would only waste time—time he could be using to save their mother.

Slowly, Ren lowered his katana and let out a frosty sigh.

Rin then turned to Rei and Clementine.

“As for the two of you…” her voice hardened until it was as cold as Ren’s own. “Your plan has already been exposed. From this moment on, I will take command of Lumius in the name of Emilia Sinclair.”

She raised her hand firmly.

“Guards! Escort Rei Sinclair and his fiancée, Clementine Camus, to a cell. Their fate will be decided: exile… or life in prison.”

Still trembling, the guards rushed to obey. They seized the pair without resistance.

“Rin! You can’t do this to me! I’m your older brother—I command you!” Rei’s voice cracked as he was dragged away.

“You damn brat! This isn’t over!” Clementine spat, kicking wildly before vanishing through the door.

Silence returned to the hall, broken only by Rin’s muffled sobs. Rem rushed to embrace her.

“It was hard…” Rin trembled in her sister’s arms.

“You did the right thing, Rin.” Rem stroked her hair gently. “Mother would be proud of you.”

Ren didn’t want to admit it, but his little sister had grown. In that moment, she was the very image of Emilia Sinclair.

“I’ll trust your judgment, Rin.” His words carried weight like iron. “After all… the people depend on you now.”

She nodded firmly, though tears still glistened in her eyes.

“I… I’ll follow Mother’s path until you bring her back, nii-san.”

Ren gave her one last look—pride and melancholy mixing in his eyes—before turning toward the door.

“I hope it isn’t too late… I’m heading to Luxaris at once.”

Without waiting for his sisters’ reply, he strode forward. His gaze crossed once more with that of the traitor—now nothing more than a common prisoner. The contempt in Ren’s eyes was sentence enough.

He left the town hall and made his way into the forest, where no one could follow. There, under the silence of the trees, he stopped.

With a flick of his katana, he opened a portal to the enemy capital.

How could Opera have missed this…?
Do I have an infiltrator among my ranks?
Or has Lucifer already foreseen my every move…?

The thoughts stabbed at him in the dark, but he cast them aside for a single purpose.

Mother needs me. Before anything else… I must reach the prison of Luxaris.

With a firm step, Ren vanished into the portal.