Reincarnated as the third son of the Duke

Chapter 4 : A Duke's Judgment

...Wait. Speaking of which, why hasn't my family come to see me?

A noble's son staying locked in his room for over a year should have been a major concern.

At the very least, his father—Duke Sigmund Hern—should have intervened.

William knew what kind of man he was.

A rigid, uncompromising figure.

A man utterly devoted to the Emperor, who held duty and discipline above all else.

If William had truly spent a year hiding away, his father should have dragged him out by force.

So why hadn't he?

Duke Sigmund Hern was known for his martial prowess as well as his rigid discipline.

He had little patience for weak-willed soldiers and was ruthless toward those who whined.

And yet, his own son had locked himself away in a room for over a year, and he had done nothing?

That doesn't add up.

The more William thought about it, the stranger it seemed.

He was still lost in thought when his body started to falter.

He hadn't walked far, yet this pathetic excuse for a body was already exhausted.

William let out a quiet sigh. He was just about to return to his room when—

"Third Young Master."

A voice called out to him from behind.

Turning his head, William found an elderly butler standing before him, bowing politely.

It had been a long time since he'd seen this man's face, but he recognized him immediately.

Edwin, the Head Steward.

William instinctively tensed.

Once, this man had been sent as a hostage to an enemy house.

Yet, he had somehow gained the Duke's trust over the years and risen to a position of immense influence.

Rumors said that he wielded enough power to have a say in the matter of succession.

William himself had once seen the Duke's other children visibly uneasy in Edwin's presence.

"It has been some time," William said evenly. "I hope you have been well."

"...Yes. Though I must admit, my body feels a little heavier these days," Edwin replied, casting a subtle glance at Hans.

William met the butler's gaze and silently asked, Do you know why he's here?

But Hans—clearly terrified—remained frozen on the spot.

Useless.

With no other choice, William decided to rely on his instincts.

"May I ask what brings you here, Head Steward? I don't recall you visiting me recently. Did something happen in the family?"

Locking himself away was a protest, a desperate bid for attention.

For over a year, he had isolated himself in his chambers, waiting for the Duke to come to him.

And when that failed, he took a near-lethal dose of sleeping draught, trying to push things further.

Of course, he had miscalculated.

The human body changes over time.

A lethal dose for a healthy man is very different from one for a frail, bedridden one.

After a year of physical neglect, his body was already at its limit.

If he had miscalculated even slightly, he would have truly died.

So this was why, in William's past life, the third son had been recorded as having died from "an accident."

What an absolute disaster.

William let out a slow breath, barely resisting the urge to curse aloud.

This body's original owner had been even more pathetic than he had expected.

The Duke of Hern wasn't just any noble.

He was the Emperor's most trusted confidant, a towering figure in the political battlefield where wolves and hidden blades lurked in every shadow.

Of course, his gaze toward his own sons would be just as cold and calculating.

If he had to prune the weaklings from his bloodline, he would do so without hesitation.

And yet, here was his own son, throwing a childish tantrum for over a year.

How did this idiot even make it to sixteen?

"Very well," the Duke said. "You got what you wanted. I summoned you here. If you have anything to say, speak now."

His tone was eerily indifferent.

At first, it sounded like he intended to let things continue as they were.

But William knew better.

Something about his words felt... final.

The worst-case scenario came to mind.

What if the Duke had already decided to discard him?

It wasn't uncommon for nobles to send useless heirs off to distant territories or force them into monasteries.

And if that happened—William's chance at this new life would be completely ruined.

No choice, then.

There was only one option left.

If he wanted to survive, he had to face this head-on.

Slowly, William straightened his posture.

Raising his head, he met the Duke's piercing gaze without flinching.

And then, he spoke.