"That is…"
Seven looked up with his left eye that was now shimmering gold.
At the same time, he raised his wrist backward, revealing the four-leaf clover tattoo just below the single white ring.
At first, he was skeptical. He was not sure if the clover was truly a gift from being a transmigrator, but his encounter with the Goddess where the trait activation followed right after could not have been a coincidence.
The original protagonist never obtained the clover. He never died and only relied on second-long foresight for almost seven thousand chapters.
Thus even Seven was surprised when it happened.
He needed justification.
So he believed that as long as the Archduke knew about this power, he could not ignore it.
Because, this power, the power of Euryphaessa... was also the power of Hart's Founder.
"I'm not sure what to call it."
Seven added in a sarcastic tone, hiding the fact that he actually understood what 'Præscientia' was.
"If you don't mind, Father..."
He covered his left eye with his fingers, parting his middle and ring finger to reveal the golden glow once again.
"...Maybe you can help me name it."
Seven lowered his hand and cursed himself inwardly, thinking how cringy it might have looked to the Archduke. But to his surprise, the Archduke just stared at him and seemed to be lost in thought.
'That power…'
The Archduke's mind raced.
The energy of Goddess Euryphaessa— the very goddess who watched not just over the Duchy or the Kingdom of Othrelis, but the entire continent.
A power that brought honor to the name Hart through its founder.
But.
Something did not add up.
According to the household records kept by the previous Archdukes, this power should only be unlocked by a descendant— someone bearing the Hart bloodline— who managed to tame the founder's sword:
Black Rose.
The unspillable sword above the founding Hart's grave.
Every Archduke had tried at least once in their lifetime to pull it from its resting place above the founder's grave, hoping to wield the legendary power it held.
'...So does this mean this child is destined to inherit the throne?'
The Archduke wondered.
But he quickly pushed the thought aside.
Though he appeared fine, his health was hanging by a thread. The previous Archdukes would likely have accepted Seven as the rightful heir the moment such power was revealed.
But then again, Ethan was not like them.
He would refuse to pass the throne to someone who had not even reached the age of fifteen— the formal succession, much less the burden of the family's legacy.
Haah…
He exhaled slowly, finally looking at Seven properly.
He had already planned to pass the throne to Atreus, but now that seemed unlikely. He could not admit it outright, so for now he would remain head of the family, even if every breath was a struggle.
"Elysian…"
The Archduke whispered to the empty air.
"...Father?"
Noticing the sudden shift in the Archduke's expression, Seven called out but the Archduke simply turned and walked toward the window.
"That… is the power of Euryphaessa. The Goddess of Radiance."
"The Goddess of… Radiance?"
"That's right."
He stopped just a step short of the windowpane, gazing out at the flurry of snow beyond. It was his habit to stand beside a window whenever he was troubled, as if the falling snow helped him think.
"Euryphaessa, the one who oversees the continent, once forged a pact with Lord Photineas, founder of the Hart Household. Since then, she has remained the guiding divinity of our bloodline.
"But after Lord Photineas passed, she never appeared again."
His voice lingered in the stillness of the throne hall.
"I cannot say why that is. But… it seems now, through you, she is reaching out once more."
He remained unmoving the whole time he spoke as though telling a fairytale to a child.
But Seven did not take it as a tale. He listened carefully, then asked:
"Then, Father… I'm curious about one thing."
The Archduke said nothing, but he turned to face his son.
Seven met his eyes.
"That Goddess of Divinity... is she stronger than you?"
The words hung in the air.
For a moment, the Archduke said nothing. Then, instinctively, his hand drifted to the hilt of his sword.
Yes, he had once fought the Archmage Maxvlque to a near-standstill but only because he held back, wary of destroying the entire island of Oth with a single misstep. His fourth daughter had been trapped on the far side of it and her presence had made him cautious.
He frowned.
Haah…
A quiet breath escaped his lips as he pushed the thought away, grounding himself in the present.
He had not considered it before. But perhaps if it was a God… perhaps if he were pushed beyond his limit, to the very edge of life itself, it might break the final seal.
It might open the Seventh Gate.
"I… don't know."
And with that, zaen rippled from his body and restored the flow of energy to the throne hall, which had until then sat quiet and still.
Step.
He stepped forward.
"Because I've never fought a god before."
Seven flinched.
'Fudge…'
He cursed silently not because he was in trouble, but because he just heard the best answer he could possibly receive.
'Never fought a god before…?'
Step.
"...Youngest."
"...?!!"
The Archduke now stood before him once more.
But this time, his presence did not feel like an overwhelming tower. There was something gentler in the way he stood especially as he reached out and lightly patted Seven's head.
"That was a good question.
"Thanks to your innocent curiosity, I was given a meaningful topic to reflect on. I… believe summoning you first was the right decision."
He smiled.
"But let me ask you something in return. That power… how do you plan to use it?"
Seven did not hesitate to answer.
"I… want to use this power for the sake of the family."
Again, he answered quickly as he believed that hesitation would only expose the lie.
Or so he thought.
"For the family? AHAHAHA!! What an amusing lie!"
The Archduke did not buy it.
"Youngest. Tell me the truth."
Seven clenched his fist.
He wanted to live this life. Not just because it resembled the world of his favorite novel, but because now, this was where he truly existed.
"...I want to use this power for myself."
The Archduke did not respond.
Step.
Instead, he stared at him for a moment then walked past him and returned to his throne.
"The summons is over. You may leave."
Seven turned toward the throne and placed a palm over his chest.
"As you command, Father."
Though deep inside, he thought for reasons as to why the Archduke suddenly changed his composure right after his reply.
Still, it was not like he could ask about it outright.
Thus he turned on his heel.
Step.
But just as he did…
"Don't worry. I'll be keeping a close eye on you from now on."