My Kingdom Building Done Right Chapter 369

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[ … words ]

The sound of merrymaking echoed in the cavern where the first Aslanians resided.

At the moment, Vlad was seated right beside Leone, holding a mug of fruit juice. The ones present were celebrating Vlad, for their Great Chieftain had acknowledged him as his next vassal.

Then again, even though they were being merry, Leone had sent out a gag order that the news of Vlad pledging allegiance to him would not leave the cavern until the time was right.

The young chieftain had even ordered guards to reinforce the entrance and prevent anyone from coming in.

Leone then asked Jason to pay Natalia a visit and let her know that Vlad would stay the night with Leone. Those words ought to be enough to let her understand that her younger brother had succeeded in his mission.

An hour later, when the celebration had died down a bit, Leone stood with the ceremonial sword in hand.

In front of him, Vlad knelt like a knight, his head lowered and ready to accept his liege’s vassalship.

Leone slowly raised the sword.

The cavern gradually fell silent as he rested the flat of its blade upon Vlad’s right shoulder.

The teenage boy remained kneeling before him while doing so, calming his wildly beating heart.

Leone looked down at the young heir of the Warclaw Tribe, fully knowing the risks involved in making him his vassal. Still, he insisted on shouldering this burden. In his eyes, Vlad’s potential was worth all the trouble.

He believed the teenager before him would take the Aslan Tribe to greater heights despite his tender age.

But before anything, Leone asked him a question. Some of the spectators even held their breath, interested in his answer.

“Vlad of the Warclaw Tribe,” Leone said in a solemn tone. “Do you understand that once we start, there will be no turning back?”

“Yes, Great Chieftain,” Vlad answered.

By calling Leone his Great Chieftain in front of everyone, Vlad had already declared where his allegiance stood.

Seeing that his resolve was firm, Leone finally rested the blade of his sword on the teenager’s right shoulder.

“Do you swear to defend this land and protect everyone who wishes to seek shelter beneath our banner?” Leone asked.

Vlad didn’t hesitate to respond. “I swear.”

“Do you swear to uphold the laws of our realm and place the future of our people above your own pride?”

“I swear.”

“Do you swear to speak the truth before me, to offer counsel without deceit, even when the truth is something I do not wish to hear?”

Vlad’s expression became serious. “I swear.”

Leone continued. “Do you swear to stand beside me in times of prosperity and in times of ruin, never abandoning your duty even if the entire world stands against us?”

Vlad immediately raised his head in response. There, Leone saw his gaze ‌burning with determination. Then, he heard the answer that he knew Vlad would say.

“I swear.”

Leone slowly moved the ceremonial sword from Vlad’s right shoulder to his left.

At that moment, the cavern seemed to grow quieter.

“Then hear my final question, Vlad of the Warclaw Tribe,” Leone said. “Do you swear to devote your strength, your wisdom, and your very life to the dream we shall build together, even if it means going to war against your father, your family, and the Warclaw Tribe?”

This question was unfair. Even Leone knew this wasn’t something he should ask someone who had pledged allegiance to him.

After all, Vlad grew up in the Warclaw Tribe. With that in mind, he would never do anything to betray his father, his family, and his people.

Leone knew, and yet, he still asked this question, wanting to know how Vlad would answer his question.

For the first time since the ceremony began, the teenage boy’s body shuddered.

The determination that had filled his eyes moments ago slowly faded as Leone’s final words echoed inside his mind.

Vlad slowly lowered his head at the thought. The question was something he couldn’t answer right away.

The cavern remained completely silent.

No one rushed him.

Nor did anyone whisper.

Even the people eagerly watching the ceremony understood the weight behind the question their chieftain had asked.

Vlad was not simply being asked whether he was willing to give his life for Leone’s dream.

Instead, he was being asked what he would do if that dream one day stood against the people who had raised him.

Against his father.

Against his brothers and sister.

Against the tribe where he had been born.

At some point, his hands slowly clenched into fists.

For a brief moment, memories flashed inside his mind.

Memories of the time he had spent growing up in the Warclaw Tribe. The happy times, the sad times, and even the bitter times when others treated him like a child who couldn’t possibly know any better.

Even so, he asked himself this question.

If there really came a time when the Aslan Tribe and the Warclaw Tribe waged war against each other, could he truly raise his weapon against his family and the tribe where he grew up?

Vlad’s heart trembled at the idea. The mere thought of fighting against his own family made him close his eyes in anguish.

Leone watched the teenage boy in silence.

He didn’t interrupt him.

He didn’t pressure him to answer.

Because there was no correct answer to this question.

At least…

There wasn’t one that was easy to give.

Several minutes passed after that, but no one broke the silence. Everyone waited for the teenage boy to give his reply and tell everyone his honest thoughts.

“Great Chieftain…” Vlad said, his voice softer than before. “If one day the Warclaw Tribe becomes your enemy… I don’t know if I can raise my weapon against them.”

The people inside the cavern remained silent.

No one chastised him, no one interrupted him, and no one looked down on him. After all, if they were in his place, they would have given the same answer.

However, Vlad wasn’t finished just yet. He took a deep breath, and then continued what he had to say.

“They are my family,” Vlad stated. “The Warclaw Tribe is where I was born. It is where I grew up. And no matter what happens in the future, I cannot pretend that those people mean nothing to me.”

Leone’s expression remained solemn, waiting for Vlad to finish what he had to say.

“If such a day ever comes… then I will do everything in my power to prevent that war from happening,” Vlad said, his voice getting firmer.

“I will speak with my father.”

“I will speak with my family.”

“I will speak with every member of the Warclaw Tribe that is willing to listen.”

“I will do everything I can to make them understand the future that we are trying to build.”

Slowly, Vlad raised his head and looked at Leone. At that moment, his eyes didn’t look like the eyes of a child. Instead, they looked like the eyes of a warrior who was willing to charge into the battlefield, even if it meant that he would perish in battle.

“If a day ever comes where the Warclaw Tribe and the Aslan Tribe stand on opposite sides of the battlefield… then I will stand between them before I allow either side to destroy the other.”

“I will use everything I have.”

“My strength.”

“My wisdom.”

“My voice.”

“And even my life.”

“All to prevent the people I love from becoming enemies.”

He then took a deep breath before speaking once more.

“I hereby swear that if that day really comes, when both sides charge at each other with the intention to kill, I will be the first to lay down my life to put a stop to everything.”

The teenage boy’s words trembled in the end.

Even so, his words were earnest and unshakable. He meant it when he said he would do his best to stop a war between the Warclaw Tribe and the Aslan Tribe from happening.

Even if it was the last thing he did in this world.