"Can I kill him?"
Vaan questioned with a serious look on his face.
That was how annoyed he was.
That bastard dared to eye his Elara, it didn't matter if it was because of the influence Elara had or whether he actually liked her a lot, just Elric trying to take his Elara away from him was enough for Vaan to treat him as a mortal enemy.
And how did Vaan deal with his enemy?
He killed them when he had the chance. Only a dead enemy was the enemy Vaan liked, he didn't want any bastard coming after him from behind, therefore, Vaan didn't leave any lose ends.
He was a thorough man.
This 'threat' named Elric, Vaan wanted him gone for good.
However,
"Are you out of your mind?" Astra questioned as she glanced at her son with a ridiculous look on her face.
She couldn't believe what her son was saying.
"You know that man is eyeing on my fiancée," Vaan replied.
"…"
Astra however, didn't say anything and continued to stare at him.
Feeling the need to explain himself further and give more justification, Vaan continued, "He even ordered others to bully her and turned her into an outcast to manipulate her into thinking that he is her only friend. He psychologically abused my fiancée, how am I supposed to stay silent after learning all that?"
Even though he had taken out some of his anger on those fools who had challenged him and had figured out that Lirael was the one who sent those three to him, Vaan's mind was still occupied with Elric.
Just recalling that bastard's face was enough to fill him with anger.
"You talk as if you were any different."
Suddenly, Astra commented.
"…huh?" Vaan's expression changed.
He then looked into Astra's eyes and she continued,
"Manipulated her? Psychologically abused her? What do you think opened up the path for him to do that?
I heard a person is more susceptible to these tricks when she is harassed both physically and mentally.
Who could have possibly done that I wonder?
Who could have pushed her away when she only wanted the best for him? Who could have used her before throwing her away and repeating the same action again and again? Who could have screamed at her with hatred so apparent that it would shake her very soul?
Hmmm? Do you recall someone like that? Someone who did all these horrible things to my cute pupil? Whoever it is, he really sounds like a horrible person, doesn't he?
To the point where one would even think that Elric might be a better option for Elara, no? At the very least, he seemed to be there for her when she really needed him."
Astra spoke, her eyes as cold as eyes and Vaan had no words.
His mother was right.
The previous him was the one who created this situation.
These past few weeks he spent in this world, he had become so attached to Elara that he completely forgot that before him, another person lived as him. Even he hated the previous Vaan for the things he had done, however, what he seemed to have missed was that in others' eyes,
Previous Vaan was him.
He may have tried to make it up to Elara and has even succeeded in it to some extent given how Elara was actively taking leads in some cases and was willing to get close to him, willing to open up to him much more than before, however, the same couldn't be said for others.
For Astra, Elric, and others in the Vesta House, he was still the man who abused Elara.
Elric's plans weren't wrong, rather, they were based on the fact that he was the one who abused Elara, and while it was not Vaan's mistake, in the end, the fact was that he now lived as Vaan.
Along with his exceptional Magic Talent, Bloodline, memories, and other things, he also inherited the bad decisions the previous Vaan had taken. Their responsibility, their consequences, he had to be the one to tackle them.
Vaan couldn't just continue with, 'the previous Vaan is dead' move anymore.
He needed to completely inherit previous Vaan's actions and take his place.
He now needed to become the real Vaan.
"This will be the last time I am ignoring your slip of tongue, Vaan."
Realizing that Vaan had realized what she was trying to say, Astra continued. S
"The Vesta Family may allow the Prospective Heirs to have a go at each other using whatever trick they seem fine with, there is one limit to that rule.
No Vesta Blood, especially the Direct Descendants, should die in these foolish children's games.
Once this rule is broken and a Vesta descendant is reported to have died, my personal forces would take action and investigate the cause.
And if even a slight link of the case can be connected to another child of the Vesta Family, that child will be executed, no matter the background he holds."
Astra then looked into Vaan's eyes and,
"Even if he is the only son of the current Family Head."
Vaan's expression turned solemn.
He wasn't a fool, he could tell that this was a threat, a clear, blatant threat, a threat coming from his own mother.
"The Vesta Family has a rich history of more than 5000 years, Vaan. I do not want to known as the woman who started the downfall of the family because she loved her son.
In the Battle of Heirs, you can play with your siblings however you want, you can use any trick you have, no matter how dirty or you can simply overwhelm them with absolute talent, however,
Once the Battle of Heirs is over and the head is selected,
All Vesta Siblings must come together and serve the new Head without any foolish thoughts in their heads.
The Battle of Heirs should not continue after it has officially ended. The Vesta Family cannot be divided after each generation, not when it already has enemies surrounding it, waiting for the chance to devour it as a whole.
Is that clear?"
Astra spoke with a clear look on her face.
This time, Vaan didn't just stay silent,
"Isn't that situation too ideal? It almost sounds like a fantasy. How can one simply forget their rivalry and serve the other with no secondary thoughts in their mind? That simply goes against the human nature, doesn't it?
Let's just take Mother's example, I highly doubt Uncle Draven and Aunt Risia are completely loyal to you. Heck, they even try to openly go against you in open court and try to challenge your authority every single day.
Honestly, with how they act, I highly doubt that they would be of any help when we actually need them."
Vaan countered.
Astra, however, shook her head,
"They challenged my authority, I agree, their target, however, was never me."
"It was me…" Vaan commented.
"Well, it was not you to be exact either.
Their target was the Family Head position, or more accurately, the Family Head position after I step away.
What they participate in is not the Battle of Heirs of my time, as I said, that one is already over, they are only participating in the new Battle of Heirs, the Battle of their children.
The two things are extremely different things, keep that in your mind.
And as for whether they would be of help or not, do not forget, the two of them are 7th Circle Mages, they would be a lot more help than you would be."
Astra spat, her words were harsh, maybe because she wanted Vaan to understand the importance of Family Unity.
She noticed her child's aggressive tendencies before and although he is changing and acting more rationally these days, he does slip up quite often.
Just like how he beat up those three mages yesterday. Those poor mages were out for the next 2 years, that was how brutally Vaan had beaten them up.
Astra's head ached when she thought about all this.
This Battle of Heirs, honestly, she pitied other Prospective Heirs taking part in it.
Her son was too ruthless. She wondered where he got that violent temper from.
"That is only because I am still quite young.
Give me a few decades and just see the new heights the Vesta Family will witness with me as the Family Head.
I am telling you this right now,
But your son will bring a new era in the Vesta Family history.
Consider this a spoiler."
Vaan spoke with a confident look on his face.
"You have a lot to learn before that. So get off your high horses."
"I have you to teach me."
"I don't teach arrogant fools."
"Oh c'mon, won't you teach your pupil's future husband so he could become a great person in the future and make your pupil happy?"
"You are shameless…" Astra commented.
"One of the qualities of Greatness is shamelessness."
"…" Astra didn't know what to say.
This boy was too good with words.
In the end, she just sighed, then, with a serious look on her face, she spoke up,
"For now, stop thinking about useless things and focus on the upcoming Elemental Clash.
Don't forget,
I allowed you to train Elara because you begged me to,
But if I don't see any results..."
"Please leave that to me, Mother.
This Elemental Clash,
I promise it would be fun."
