A Heart-to-Heart in the Cabin

The oil lamps inside the cabin flickered, and silence began to fall. Suddenly, Sodoma broke the silence.

"Lord Victor, do you have time to listen to my story?"

"Yes, of course, I have plenty of time."

Sodoma began to tell Victor his story.

"Actually, I'm a very perceptive person. When my father was introducing me just now, I noticed something, and you must have noticed something, right?"

Victor nodded, Sodoma smiled wryly, "Yes, I was not given a surname. Although I am the eldest son of Viscount Sonanda, I do not have a noble status."

Victor sighed inwardly. Just as he had guessed, this situation was rare. Even in ordinary noble families, illegitimate children could be given status. Some nobles even had court ladies whose children were also considered heirs.

"My mother was a prostitute, and my father was a libertine. Although he had a noble status, he loved the sea and longed for it. He lived like a sailor."

When he had nothing to do, he would drink and gamble, just like any other sailor. That's how I came into being.

After my mother became pregnant, she attempted to become a noblewoman by virtue of my father's status, so she gave birth to me, intending to find my father when I was older.

Unfortunately, she was accidentally beaten to death by a drunken customer, and I almost starved to death until her body was discovered, and my existence was exposed.

My father was young at the time, and his behavior became a laughingstock among the nobles of Suffolk County. He was also driven out of the estate by my enraged grandfather.

Sodoma looked somewhat sad. "Even so, my father found me after he learned of my existence."

He implored Count Black to take us in, and coincidentally, Count Black was building Coastal Defense Fleet at the time. He was a suitable candidate in every way, and after years of hard work, he became the Count's right-hand man in the Coastal Defense Fleet.

"Later, when my grandfather was dying, he sent someone to bring him home and pass on the title to him. After all, he was already the deputy commander of the Coastal Defense Fleet, deeply trusted by the Count, and held a high position and great power. The original scandal was also avoided by other nobles."

However, my grandfather did not agree to me becoming a member of the Hawthorn family, and even when my father threatened him not to inherit the title, he did not get my grandfather's promise.

My father, Sonanda, originally intended to refuse the inheritance, and at worst give the title to his uncle, but Count Black found him and persuaded him to accept the title.

Count Black is our benefactor, so my father naturally wouldn't refuse. Besides, the Count suggested that my father use his noble status and family influence to help me become an independent nobleman, Count would support him.

So my father kept working hard, and three years ago he was almost done accumulating merit, but then, as you know, things happened!

Victor understood what Sodoma meant. "The Civil War!"

Sodoma nodded. "Actually, at first the Count did not want us to get involved. He wanted my father and the Hawthorn family to stay out of it and remain neutral as the deputy commander of the Eastern Coastal Joint Fleet."

But neither my father nor I wanted it to be this way. Count Black had been incredibly kind to us, father and son. I spent my childhood at Great Oak Castle, and it was Lord Bull who provided me with my early education. They did not discriminate against me because of my non-noble status, and I am very grateful to them."

Victor knew that Bull was the son of Count Black who died young, and the father of his student Brando. It seemed that Viscount Sonanda and his son were indeed loyal followers of Count Black.

Perhaps he had talked too much, Sodoma took out an iron wine jug from his waist and took a sip; it was probably the same type as Viscount Sonanda's.

"After that, we were defeated. The military achievements my father accumulated for me could only be used to make up for the punishment that the Hawthorn family suffered because of the Civil War."

He lost all the military achievements he had accumulated over nearly twenty years. After that, I often saw him drinking alone. I really wanted to tell him that I didn't need to be an aristocrat, and that I could be proud to be his son.

But I couldn't bring myself to say it. To say it would make it seem like all my father's previous efforts had been in vain.

Sodoma continued drinking, as if he wanted the alcohol to dispel his unhappiness.

"After that, my father and I stopped communicating. This lasted for two years. During this time, I completely abandoned the aristocratic etiquette I had learned and lived like a vulgar sailor and soldier."

I intended to disappoint my father, but he seemed to understand why I did it, and instead felt even more guilty towards me, which was truly heartbreaking.

Sodoma put down the wine jug, propped his head up with his hand, lowered his head, and spoke somewhat slowly.

"In addition, Lord Black is in poor health, Young Master Brando, so the entire Great Oak Territory is in a precarious state."

Even if my father and I tried our best to help the Count, the most we could do was to wipe out pirates and crack down on smugglers. At that time, my father and I were very confused.

However, not long ago, it seemed that things took a turn for the better. He happily approached me and said that Count Black had found a good solution. This time, not only would there be no problem with the succession of the Great Oak Territory, but I would also be able to obtain the title smoothly.

I didn't quite understand what the method was, but my father just told me to lead the troops well and that I would find out when the time came.

Only today, after meeting you, did I understand what Lord Blake was really up to!

Victor understood why Sodoma was so confused. He said, "What do you think of this plan? I may not be a big shot, but I have a lot of confidence in Count Colt and in winning the Civil War."

Sodoma suddenly laughed. "Actually, Lord Victor, I knew about you before. After all, you led your family from baron to viscount at such a young age. For someone like me who aspires to become an independent nobleman, you are a very dazzling figure."

"You flatter me. I only rose to the rank of nobility because of the protection of my family and the help of benefactors. It wouldn't have been so easy for me to do so on my own."

Sodoma nodded after listening. "Indeed, just as the rumors say, you are a humble person."