Compensation θ ~ I might be late for reincarnation, but since I was born as the talented eldest son of a prestigious noble, I might be on the winning side.

Golden eyes were looking at my direction.

In front of me, the class was still going on. Nevertheless, like a double exposure, a different image began to flow.

What was projected was a tapestry.

Covering the entire wall, it was a familiar scene, but it had not yet faded. A lush forest woven with vibrant colors and a cool lake peeking through the trees.

As I gazed at the beautiful landscape, I heard an unsettling conversation.

“A child has been kidnapped again.”

“Which house this time?”

A man in knight attire was informing a middle-aged man of some incident.

“It’s the Clarke family. They set fire to the house, and while the housekeepers were busy with extinguishing it, they took the opportunity.”

Children have been attacked, and there are missing persons. Despite strengthening search and vigilance, the kidnappers’ audacity escalated, and their methods became increasingly malicious.

“Fear of a great famine has led to crimes such as skyrocketing food prices, hoarding, and looting across the entire continent, and there is growing unrest with the looming war. Amid the already uneasy state of affairs, child abductions have been occurring one after another within the country. Those targeted may be individuals with the ‘Blessing of Spirits,’ with strong Kilyam blood.”

The footage changed, and this time, the image of a young man with a serious expression was displayed.

“Aurelia, who was bedridden, has been attacked. I’m going to help her right away.”

“Wait. These series of abductions are organized. If you go out, you’ll become a perfect target.”

“Even though my fiancée has been kidnapped, are you telling me to cower in safety inside the castle? It’s futile to stop me. Even if I’m disinherited, I don’t care.”

Ignoring the pleas of those around him, the young man, accompanied by armed individuals, rushed out of the castle.

“Once again, a message has arrived at King William’s court, saying that another young daughter of a branch family has been kidnapped. It was a despicable trap. Crown Prince Alexander, who went to rescue her, was captured by the waiting kidnappers, becoming a hostage along with other family members.”

“An unidentified armed group is demanding the surrender of Gemini Bridge Fortress with the hostages as shields. Their coat of arms is unidentifiable, but from the quality of their equipment, negotiation tactics, and coordination, they seem more like a trained military force than mere outlaws.”

“As if adding to the tension, a large-scale disaster occurred outside the Glass Region. As a result, the pressure from the territorial lords has rapidly increased, and everyone is prepared for an imminent war.”

“Belfast Kingdom is on the move. They are advancing towards us, joining the feudal lords’ forces in the name of suppressing the rebels who sought refuge in Kilyam Kingdom.”

Double images and voices.

It’s like having commentary at an inconvenient time. Thanks to my ‘parallel thinking,’ I can process different audio inputs separately. But if I keep doing this, I’m going to get dizzy.

“King William made a difficult decision. He sought assistance from Belfast Kingdom, and as conditions for Kilyam Kingdom’s submission, including the rescue of all victims, sovereignty, religious freedom, restraint on the territorial lords, and the restoration of logistics and military withdrawal, Kilyam Kingdom came under the umbrella of the sovereign state.”

Finally, the abnormal situation is lifted.

I breathe a sigh of relief. I can’t see the golden eyes anywhere in my field of vision. What a pest. What are you up to in the middle of the day?

“At the same time as the kingdom’s submission, Lord Alexander will assume the position of the 10th head. Kilyam Kingdom has been abolished, and the Kilyam family has been ennobled as a ducal family, and the marriage of the princess to the king was allowed.”

I see.

In a positive light, one could say they attempted reconciliation through a marriage policy. However, considering the circumstances under which they came under, it’s hard not to see it as a forceful takeover or coup.

“The kingdom held a grand and extravagant wedding. The princess, who was married off, reportedly wished to continue living in the capital near the royal family’s direct domain. However, Lord Alexander adamantly refused, and the newlyweds began their new life in Glassbridge.”

The first conflict with the royal family probably occurred at this time.

The kidnapping of the Kilyam family, the intrusion of armed forces into the territory, and the advance of the feudal lords’ army, it all seemed too well orchestrated.

King William had no choice but to submit to Belfast Kingdom, even if he had doubts or even if he was certain of the real mastermind. The situation at the time left no other option.

Despite the second major eruption of the Ignis Volcano, Kilyam Kingdom had an abundance of food. They had seen how the people who had experienced severe hunger after the first eruption perceived it.

As a result, the situation was resolved swiftly. Almost all the kidnapped children returned safely. But if the Belfast royal family had orchestrated the entire plot, it was a very cunning move.

With the great eruption and the subsequent troublesome disasters, Lord Alexander’s rule faced many challenges. It was likely that the marriage had significant political intentions.

Ironically, from the next generation onward, natural disasters that befall the Glass region seemed to vanish.

The Kilyam family continued to prosper as generations passed, with the 11th head of family, Daniel, the 12th head of family, Jude, and the 13th head of family, Dylan, all succeeding as nobles in the kingdom.

“It will be time for another political marriage when Lord Grayson, the 14th head of family, takes the helm. As part of the dowry, a portion of the royal demesne near the capital city will be granted as a separate domain, where they will establish a new residence to welcome the royal princess.”

The cycle of matrimonial policies repeats itself, but this time, it comes with the addition of a fief.

It becomes evident that the purpose is to separate the head of the Kilyam family from the Glass region and integrate them into the royal family.

“Lord Grayson and the former princess, his wife, are harmonious and blessed with six children. However, the one who had the covenant was only the youngest, Lord Riley. And the only child born between the 15th generation head, Lord Riley, and a branch family woman is the 16th generation head, Lord Elliott, also known as Lord Lyon’s father.”

Approximately 300 years since the era of the Three Heroes.

They were known as the last generation, the people who had taken root from the pioneering era. They had bathed in the blessings of the spirits for many years, so their belief in the spirits was very strong.

In contrast, the people who had moved from outside after coming under Belfast Kingdom’s rule didn’t feel the spirits as intimately. The influence of the kingdom was more pronounced in customs, culture, and even faith. They wished for the establishment of temples dedicated to various gods.

In recent generations, it was rumored that even the main branch of the ducal family had shifted its focus toward the central government. Especially my father.

I’ve heard that the branch family is concerned about the weakening of the Covenant with the spirits and engages in many endogamous marriages. Yet, despite this, the head of the main family, crucially, my father, chose to marry the daughter of the Spinning Earl family, which has close ties to the royal family.

According to reports, my parents had a love marriage. My father, Elliott, disliked arranged marriages with relatives, and he fell in romantic love with my mother that he met at a ball hosted by the royal family.

My father, who was quite handsome, had been popular in high society since he was young. He seemed to enjoy living glamorously, and I heard he actively participated in events such as theater gatherings, evening parties, boat trips, and hunting gatherings.

As for how the estate was managed?

According to my own research, my father spends most of the year staying in the royal capital and the manor of the branch estate, actively participating in social activities. It seems that the estate management is mostly delegated to a steward.

The steward is the Morris family, which has been assisting the main family for generations. The branch family members were furious and frustrated as the Covenant holders were absent from the estate.

As it turned out, I was the first to be born, and I was extremely sick to the point they thought I was going to die young. After the childbirth, my mother left me and returned to the royal villa in the capital city to give birth to the other two children.

My siblings were in good health, but the prospects for the covenant were bleak for both of them.

The branch family members were in a dilemma about what to do with the next family head, and it seems they pressured my father to take a concubine from relatives.

However, there was a sudden turn of events. My spirit mark manifested, and the strategy changed.

And now, my family is keeping a close eye on my surroundings to ensure that there is no influence of the royal family anywhere near me.