Earl Ster worried about this because he truly was an upstanding man... and had only children born in wedlock.
His eldest son, Dieter, took after him. He had become a professional warrior at a young age... As long as a child had talent and worked hard, nobles always had ways to help them advance. It was only a question of whether they were willing to pay.
His second son, Linde... He had failed his youngest son most of all. Linde had the aptitude to become a mage, but he could only let him take the path of a Magic Swordsman.
Earl Ster had no choice. Helping his daughter become an Official Mage had exhausted every connection and favor the Ster Family possessed... and that hadn't even secured her a place at a proper mage institution. They had merely paid a great deal to hire a level-six mage to teach her for three years.
If Ailiterman hadn't been clever and resourceful enough to wring all the knowledge she could from those three years, how could she have become an Official Mage at just sixteen?
But if the student had been his son, no mage would have come even if the Ster Family had offered twice as much... unless he sent Linde to another country.
And everyone knew what that would mean.
Earl Ster wanted his family to stand or fall with the Kingdom of Damboro, not be branded traitors by their own people and exiled to the desert Wilds!
Earl Ster's ears twitched... Those were Joshua's running footsteps, but he didn't sound panicked. There was even a hint of joy in his haste.
The earl put down his pen and let out a long breath, then raised both hands and patted his cheeks... By the time Joshua knocked twice and pushed