It was a gloomy late afternoon.
A dry wind blew a tiny leaf across a soldier's face, landing just above her worn leather scarf. Though it irritated her vision, she made no effort to remove it.
Because the unrest in her heart, growing since morning, far outweighed the annoyance of a mere leaf.
Arlos Haiden, the aging patriarch of the Haiden family, had finally succumbed to the passage of time.
A man once regarded as both illustrious and formidable, a figure who commanded respect and instilled fear in equal measure.
He had led one of the most elite mercenary groups during the Fourth Great Divine War . At the same time, he built a commercial empire as the founder of Salibex Enterprises, one of the first logistics companies established in the island nation of Saigon.
Now, at last, has passed away.
Yet, the young soldier's unease didn't came from his passing.
It came from what was unfolding before her very eyes.
A young woman with piercing blue eyes stood tall and proud, her posture regal, her presence radiating defiance. She faced a man who mirrored her features, though his demeanor was anything but noble.
He grinned, clearly amused by her resistance.
"Ah, Sister Anarita, it's been so long since we last met," he said, spreading his arms wide in mock embrace. "And yet, you still greet me with such hostility. Come on, sis, let bygones be bygones . Don't you love your twin brother, huh?"
Anarita sneered, her voice laced with venom.
"Luko, shut that filthy mouth and get lost. This family doesn't need another useless son. Do the world a favor—swallow some ribfrog shit and die. That would be your greatest contribution."
Luko clutched his chest, pretending to be wounded.
"Oh, sis... I didn't know you felt that way about me. Tragic. Really tragic." He mock-sobbed, then broke into a chuckle, locking eyes with his fuming sister.
"Ahh,don't worry, lil sis" he said. "I won't be around for long. The elders have summoned me."
He paused. "I'm sure you know why."
Anarita's gaze turned cold. She knew .
The property division.
The Haiden family, once among the most prosperous of the noble houses, saw its influence begin to wane as soon as the patriarch fell ill.
Over time, both the family's commercial enterprise and its once-formidable mercenary group became riddled with corruption and bloated with arrogant, ineffective leadership.
Ironically, it was the patriarch's earlier decisions that continued to sustain the family's wealth. His investments—buying key plots near the Saigon central port, acquiring mineral-rich lands north of the Ardent Peaks, and leasing out royal land grants on the mainland (awarded by the Queen for his wartime service)—generated substantial income.
The revenue from these holdings alone had been more than enough to fund the rich and flamboyant lifestyle required to maintain the family's noble standing.
Traditionally, any family patriarch declared a will in which the family's assets were divided among the most promising young members after his passing. Each would receive control over a portion of the family's holdings, with the expectation that they grow their domain, increase influence, and expand wealth. After a period—determined by the elders—their progress would be reviewed. The heir who demonstrated the most significant growth and capability would then be granted control over the entire family estate, including the assets of their siblings, and be officially named the new patriarch. That individual would then have the authority to redistribute responsibilities as they see fit.
The current crisis within the Haiden family comes from the absence of such a will. The patriarch passed without leaving behind any formal declaration, triggering widespread unrest among both the elders and the heirs.
According to the rules, the elders should now mediate the distribution of assets. however in this case, they are opportunistic and self-serving—each one hoping to carve out a larger piece of the legacy for themselves. The result has been a tense standoff between the elders and the three heirs.
Anarita steadied herself. Her mind was a running train of thoughts . She had no intention of letting this opportunity slip through her fingers.
Though the younger of the twins, Anarita had always stood out. From a young age, she had demonstrated keen intellect and fierce determination—qualities same as her father. After earning her master's degree of architecture from the University of Saigon, she formed a strategic alliance through marriage with Mark Claus, the sole heir of the Claus family—one of the kingdom's most influential lineages. The Claus family held special status as Royal Builders and maintained strong ties with the Iron Bank of Aechlies.
With their financial backing and royal favor, Anarita found herself well-positioned to secure lucrative contracts and national projects.
Though the Claus family welcomed her warmly, Anarita always sensed a subtle disdain for her Haiden origins—a disdain born from the family's decline. Now, she saw her chance to change that. If she could secure the plots near Saigon's central port ,which were seeing great growth due to increase in trading routes, she could develop her own projects on Haiden land, cementing her legacy. With the city's rapid, unprecedented growth, control over those plots would translate to extraordinary influence and wealth.
But she wasn't the only one with ambitions.
Her twin, Luko, had long set his sights on the same assets. Despite his mocking demeanor and flamboyant arrogance, he was nothing short of dangerous.
From an early age, Luko exhibited exceptional martial prowess. He became a five-time champion of the brutal Steel Fist Tournament—an unbroken record. After graduating from the School of Saigon, he was offered a place at the prestigious National Defence Academy, where he quickly rose to national prominence. By his third semester, he had been named a Major Enforcer in the Defence Corps—the youngest in Saigon's history.
His achievements earned him the admiration of nobles across nation, many of whom sought to align themselves with the rising star.
So when Luko unexpectedly renounced any claim to the patriarchal seat, shock rippled through both the Haiden family and the aristocracy at large. He was the only male heir deemed capable of leading. Anarita, though powerful, had technically married into another house—making her claim controversial.
And so, the family now found itself in limbo. With the patriarch gone, no will declared, and the two most capable heirs disqualified in the eyes of tradition, the succession teetered on the edge of chaos.
The family had a third heir—unproven, unpopular, and burdened with a reputation as the bastard son.
Rai was born of an affair, though the patriarch eventually legitimized the union by marrying his mother. While she was, by all accounts, the woman he loved most, the same affection was never extended by the rest of the family. To them, she and her son remained outsiders. In the patriarch's absence, Rai was openly referred to as the bastard son.
His mother passed away shortly after his fourth birthday, struck by a sudden illness that no healer could cure. Her death left Rai truly alone. The patriarch, once attentive, grew distant and cold, and the family withdrew what little acceptance they had ever offered.
Though Rai retained his noble status, he was given only the bare minimum of support—enough to survive, but never enough to thrive. Isolated and neglected, he grew into a bratty and arrogant youth, his behavior unchecked due to being a noble's heir
As whispers of his illegitimacy spread throughout the aristocracy, his early years became increasingly difficult. Scorned by peers, ridiculed behind closed doors, Rai became a figure of pity to some and contempt to many.
Now, in the aftermath of the patriarch's death, with both Anarita and Luko disqualified in the eyes of tradition, the family finds itself cornered. By process of elimination, Rai is the only remaining heir eligible for succession.
But the elders have plans of their own.