11 The Challenge (1)

A Life and Death Battle.

Exactly as the name portrayed, the battle was about fighting until one of the opponents surrendered, and not just surrendering.

The person who surrendered to the other must die at the hands of that opponent.

In a way, the succession battle in the Langston family was the same. The only difference between the two battles was that the succession battle was every day in the Langston family after the descendants reach the age of succession, but the Life and Death battle only last for a day, meaning that one of the opponents must meet their death within a day.

The Langston children were not stupid to initiate this battle. It was like an unspoken agreement between them. The Life and Death battle was indeed the fastest way to clear out their opponents for the heir position, but one must have a good reason that will be accepted and not forced by both parties.

Besides that, the Langston siblings were very careful with one another. The older siblings hardly interacted with each other, and so, the life and death battle was gradually forgotten, or not given that much attention.

The seat of the Grand duke's heir was their ultimate goal.

Though the older siblings did not bother to initiate challenges, that did not mean they were blind to their younger siblings' ambitions. As long as their younger siblings were in war with themselves, their opponents for the heir position would reduce little by little without them lifting a finger.

The Fifth madam was aware of this fact. She knew the older children looked down on her son as a worthless opponent, but she was happy about that for now.

Among the traditions of the succession battle in the Langston family, there was something that every child who reaches their age of succession does. Once a child clocked eight years old, they have a battle with the sibling that was closest to them in terms of age.

That was the reason why there was a battle between her son and the fourth young lady. It was a succession battle that only lasted for a day, and the only battle that death between the opponents was not allowed.

Though there was such rule, fifth madam encouraged her son to kill the fourth young lady. She couldn't let such chance of killing a weak opponent slip through her fingers. If any of the wives were in her position, they would have done the same.

Who in the Langston family truly stuck by the rules? It would be laughable if there was really an innocent person amongst them.

Fifth madam had already come up with an excuse for her son. After the death of the fourth young lady, she would have said that her son was unable to control his strength. He was just a ten-year-old, and having a skilled swordsmanship at that young age was very impressive in the empire.

After all, it was that same skill that had helped her son when he also reached the age of succession.

It was also widely known that fourth young lady was very weak, and the weakest among the children of the Grand duke. No one would blame her son for ending her life. They would only point out her flaw which was her weakness, and that was not supposed to be, because all children of the grand duke must have received special training for the succession battle before that age of succession.

Fifth Madam believed that the fourth young lady's weakness was a blessing in disguise. She and the other wives have been wanting to end her life because of one thing.

Her pure blood.

Apart from the second young master, she was the only child that fully resembled the grand duke. Her eyes were not multi-colored like most of the other children.

In the Langston family, the vibrant crimson eyes that sparkled like a ruby signified a power. A power that only belonged to the Grand duke.

The ability to control demons, the beings of the underworld.

There was a reason why the second young master was likely to be heir, and feared by many in the grand duchy. It was because of that power.

Though fourth young lady was weakest among the Langston children, it did not mean she was actually weak. Her powers were dormant, and no one knew when she would be fully awakened.

Among all the children of the grand duke, she was the only one who could possibly rival the second young master. Not the first young master or any other children of the grand duke. That was an unspoken truth. A truth that could not be denied, but no one wanted to acknowledged it.

Fifth Madam was the same as everyone. She refused to acknowledge that a child with lowly blood had more chance to be grand duke's heir than her son.

Even if her status as a viscount's daughter was low in the nobility, her son was still a full born child with noble blood. And yet, a child with half born noble blood was given that power.

''Edwin!'' Hearing her son's words, Fifth Madam shouted in horror. What was her son doing? He did not consult her about this battle!

''Y-Your excellency, Edwin is only joking. Please don't pay attention to this child's words.'' Turning to the Grand duke, Fifth Madam tried to laugh it off. In the Langston family, one must be careful. No one was innocent including the weakest person. Fifth madam was not dumb to notice something off during the last battle. According to her son, the fourth young lady's thumping heart had stopped. He was sure that she was not breathing, and fifth madam absolutely believed her son.

Despite his young age, her son was a growing skilled swordsman, so detecting when someone was alive or dead was no big deal for him.

''Mother, I am not joking! I am challenging fourth sister to a life and death battle!'' Edwin was totally serious with his words, and fifth madam just wanted to faint on the spot.

Couldn't her son just listen to her? This was the first time he disregarded her words.

''Edwin, you better listen to me. Revoke that challenge.'' Fifth madam gritted her teeth. She pointedly looked at her son, indirectly telling him that he must listen to her words.

A life and death battle was too risky now. There was a reason why the fourth young lady survived in that battle. A reason unknown to the whole grand duchy including the grand duke.

What if the fourth young lady had awakened that power?

This wasn't the first time fifth madam's thoughts came to that exact conclusion.

'She hasn't said anything yet….' Fifth madam's eyes unconsciously drifted to Raven, unexpectedly meeting those red eyes. Eyes that seemed to see through her, the same as the grand duke.

Fifth Madam released a shaky breath and swiftly avoided Raven's gaze. Anyway, she was against her son fighting the fourth young lady for now. Until she was sure, she and her son would have to reduce her contact with the fourth young lady.

The fact that the timid and weak fourth young lady did not tremble during this family dinner was something to watch out for. The lowly child even dared to go against her, and caused the grand duke to be displeased with her.

Facing her standing son, fifth madam repeated, firmly. ''Edwin, revoke that challenge.''

''Mother, stay out of this.'' Edwin frowned at his mother's actions. Normally, she would support him in anything he did. Why was she behaving like this today? Didn't she know that her actions have caused his father to look at him in a bad light.

His fourth sister was the cause of everything. If he got rid of her, he would be eliminating an opponent, and he wouldn't lose his father's favor.

'Her pure blood won't be in my way once I get rid of her.' Inwardly, Edwin decided with murderous glint in his eyes.

''Edwin! Listen to your mother!''

''Mother, stay out of this!''

The indirect cause of the mother and son's disagreement watched them with them silently as if their argument was not linked to her. Indeed, the situation was not the fault of Raven, but at the same time, she was also at fault. The tug on the corner of her lips was hidden behind her knuckles as the sharp edge of her chin rested on her fisted hand. Her eyes took in everything of the arguing mother and son like it was a comedy.

Suddenly, Raven was curious about her new father, the grand duke. All this while, he never said a word and just quietly ate his meal like nothing of his family concerned him. Raven had been giving him glances throughout the family dinner, but this man gave away nothing. Even from the memories of the original owner, the father and daughter had never interacted with each other.

They were truly strangers despite the blood relations between them.

True to Raven's sudden curiosity, her gaze found its way to the Grand duke, wanting to see his reaction of this bickering mother and son. At the same time, her head also turned as she shifted her gaze away from the fifth madam and her son.

However, it wasn't only Raven that was curious about someone. The Grand duke's eyes met hers, and she was not startled, like she expected his gaze. She boldly met his gaze, not flinching at the intensity of his penetrating eyes.

'Nice to meet you, dear father.' Her small grin on her lips welcomed him in her heart.

The father and daughter stared, their gazes on each other not wavering a bit. While the grand duke studied this weak daughter of his, Raven used the opportunity to admire this attractive father of hers.

Sharp jawline, piercing eyes, perfectly shaped brows, sexy lips, spotless white skin….

'What's his age? Forties? Fifties?' As Raven listed his features in her mind, she couldn't help but wonder about his age. If this man was in her former life and around her age then, or even younger than her, she might have dated him while masking her actual self.

Raven was a great admirer of beauty. If there was a good piece of hunk like the grand duke in her former life, she would have tried tasting him.

'Izer is also handsome, but…' Raven grimaced when thinking about their blood relations. Right. They were siblings and sleeping with each other was a bit….

'Wait…what are you thinking, Raven?! Good thoughts. Good thoughts. Remember you are an eight-year-old. Not a perverted adult trying to satisfy her urges. Good thoughts. Good thoughts. Innocent thoughts. Innocent thoughts….' It had to be said, Raven was a master at controlling her facial expressions. While she had these indecent thoughts, her gaze was still on the Grand duke with the same grin, though her mind was an entirely different matter.

''Edwin….!''

''Mother, why can't you support me?''

Oh right. The mother and son were still arguing about the life and death battle.

With a bored look, Raven returned her gaze back to the mother and son in dispute. It was tempting to for her to release a yawn right now.

''Mother I am not child anymore! I said I want to challenge that weakling, and you cannot stop me!'' As Edwin said the word 'weakling', he pointed at Raven whose eyebrows twitched in return.

Fifth Madam was very hurt by her son's words. She was doing this for his own good, yet he does not see that. Still, not giving up, fifth madam tried to talk sense into him.

''Ed—'' But she was interrupted by a voice that silenced both her and son in an instant.

''Raven.''

>>>Happy new week. Be expecting another update this week! Be sure to comment down below and please let me know what you think of the story!<<<