Ascendant Path of a Lustful Vampire

Chapter 552: The Aristide Family (1)

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-The Aristide Manor-

The Noble Aristide family had lived in the Capital for generations. Long before the Acherons unified the entire region into an Empire, the Aristides already existed and were loyal servants of the Acheron Kingdom— as the Capital was called at the time.

They provided as much support as possible when the Acherons began their conquest of the Empire, supplying manpower, Mages, and Mage-Knights, and, of course, funding the war effort with their vast wealth.

In fact, it was a man named Julian Du Aristide who gave the Acheron King of the time the idea that led to the unification’s success. Loyal to the crown, Julian Du Aristide was confided in by the then Acheron King about a desire for unification and how unlikely it was to succeed, considering their location at the very center of the region and surrounded by the other Kingdoms.

And then, Julian got an idea: What if they sowed discord among the other kingdoms and fostered strife? Once everyone was at war with someone, they—the Acheron Empire—would try to remain a mediator, acting like peacekeepers for the conflict but trying their best to stay out of it to conserve their resources.

Julian stressed that it wasn’t going to be easy and that their attempts to stay out of the conflicts might not go all that smoothly, and they might have to suffer some losses. But he also believed it was the best chance of success.

Once the other nations had used up their coffers and lost so many able-bodied fighters, then the Acherons, with the staunch support of the Aristide family, could then go after the remains, and by the time their influence was spread far enough, there’d be no one to stop them.

The actualization of this plan went on for decades, but the result was as Julian had hoped. And for his efforts, his family was blessed beyond measure. They were even offered their own Duchy to govern, but the Aristides preferred to remain where they were. They accepted a territory within the Capital and made it their home, continuing to prosper.

Over the generations, the Aristide family remained close to the Acherons—who were now the Imperial family and rulers of the entire region—and commanded a vast level of influence.

And now, we arrive at the present day;

The current head of the Aristide Family was named Julian Du Aristide II. He was the only Aristide to bear the name after their brilliant ancestor, which was the greatest evidence that they hoped for great things in his future.

The name ’Julian’ had become very revered in the Aristide family, and until the current head, no Aristide had been so brave as to name their child for fear of the pressure it would carry.

And they were right to be cautious because Julian II wasn’t living up to his predecessor’s infamy. He wasn’t as cunning and didn’t come up with grand ideas. He wasn’t particularly brilliant at Magic either and didn’t have talent for being a Mage-Knight even though he did attend and graduate from Lochxen.

Now, of course, Julian wasn’t completely terrible. The Aristide family hadn’t collapsed while he was head. They didn’t become better or worse... just the same.

Julian II had an elder sister, Victoire Du Aristide, and she was phenomenal. She was the greatest magical talent the Aristide family had ever had at the time. Julian could remember how many times, growing up, he had heard lamentations that Victoire wasn’t born male.

The Aristide Family was staunchly patriarchal, and only a man could become the head of the family. If their current head didn’t have a male heir, the next Male in line in the family would take the role of head of the family. It had happened about three times in their family’s history.

Because of this rule, Julian II, despite being worse than his sister in every aspect, became the head of the family—something he was happy and practically giddy about—while his sister continued to bring glory to the family; she served in the Empire’s Military, helped to squash many dissents, and basically made the family look good.

Ever since Julian II took over as Patriarch, he had developed a complex. Though no one ever dared to mention his sister being better than him—within earshot anyway—he remained convinced that she would take his seat eventually. He just couldn’t shake the feeling.

So he had kids to secure his seat. Seven of them with three separate consorts.

And they were all girls; beautiful, blond-haired ladies boasting great Magical talent unlike their father, and more like their Aunt.

His daughters’ talents were satisfactory to Julian II, but why, he lamented, why could one of them not have been a male?!

His lineage was in danger as none of his daughters could ever inherit his seat. The same tradition that had allowed him to take the seat despite his sister being more talented was now coming to bite him in the ass!

He tried more times but could never quite sire another child. Julian’s disappointment was never hidden, and it didn’t take long for his daughters to become aware that their father didn’t love them, and so they soon gravitated towards their Aunt.

"Good riddance," Julian II had scoffed.

In his heart of hearts, Julian accepted that his daughters would learn more from Victoire than from him.

"At the very least," Julian thought with a savage grin, "Victoire can get them used to the idea of not leading the family. She has much experience in this regard."

Right after that thought and the flash of amusement that followed, Julian began to worry more about the future of his lineage. He considered adopting a boy but knew the Aristide family Elders would never stand for such. It had to be a child—a male child—with Aristide blood who took over the family. There was no alternative.

"There are many able-bodied male Aristides who can take over after you," an Aristide Elder said in a hard voice,

"Your part is to produce a male heir, of your own blood, and if you can’t, rest assured that the Aristide family won’t fall into disrepair when you eventually pass on."

In his anger, Julian considered having the traditions changed; As much as he was disappointed that he had all girls, Julian was open to at least having his blood on the Patriarchal seat rather than nothing at all.

Alas, the idea never caught on with the Family. No matter how he argued for it, the Elders resisted.

"If you are so much of a valiant fighter for women’s rights, how about we give your seat to your sister?" Asked a cheeky Elder, a woman with a lined face that showed she was either in her final years of lifespan or had long stopped bothering about maintaining her youth.

"How would you do that?" Julian II had asked in a voice, "I’m already on the seat. It is mine!"

"Oh, but by this amendment to statutes and tradition, it won’t be your seat but hers," the Elder said, still cheeky.

"Changes in laws are for future occurrences and not to change the past," Julian countered.

"Oh, but if your argument is for fairness and the empowerment and support for the strength of Aristide women—something that has never been in dispute, by the way—then we should write all wrongs. Time should not stop us from correcting ’injustice’, should it?" The Elder retorted.

"You’re making no sense!" Julian flared up.

"And you’re raving!" The Elder snapped, even louder still, "The Elder Council doesn’t convene to cover up your inadequacy! Do not think of yourself as an advocate for women’s right to power when all you truly care about is your selfish claim to the Patriarch seat even after your death.

We know how you treat those precious daughters you’ve been blessed with. The fact that they cannot inherit your seat is no excuse for your neglect!

You considered adoption before your own daughters!

And you dare pretend to ’fight for them’ now when you are left with no other recourse? Pathetic!"

"You go too far..." Julian began, but the Elder cut in.

"Your daughters are incredible. They’ve taken after Victoire rather than your pathetic self—thank the gods!—and have accepted what many of us Aristide women have long accepted: there is more to live for than the seat of Head of the Family.

Their worth is not tied to it as yours is."

Julian stared, his mouth open, but he could produce no sound and said nothing.

The Elder kept her eyes on him until she was sure her words had sunk into his head, and then she said calmly, but her tone was still harsh.

"If you are willing to surrender your seat to Victoire, then we can discuss and even accept this amendment to family statutes and tradition. But of course, this would mean your daughters would not take over after you, either because the one who would replace Victoire would be her own heir and not yours.

If you are willing to make this sacrifice and prematurely end your lineage’s claim to the position of Patriarch, then I swear to you, I shall personally support and fight for the acceptance of your request.

Well?"

The other Elders shifted, but no one spoke, and all eyes were on Julian, who glared for a minute, and then his shoulders sagged.

"I," he said through gritted teeth, "withdraw my request."