Chapter 54: Complete Failure
Five days later, an urgent order was sent by the Clan Leader. Seien, Priam’s mother, was to be brought to the main clan.
Although only a single soldier had been sent to escort Priam before, this time, the Grand Elder himself traveled to the remote city to accompany Seien to the main estate.
This fact made Seien feel immense pressure. She had never even visited the main clan before, because her husband had married her against the wishes of everyone in the clan, and he did not want her to experience the rejection of the people there.
"So Priam... he really won the coming-of-age ceremony?"
"My son actually did it? Seriously?"
Seien began to suspect that perhaps she was dreaming. Or maybe all of this was some kind of joke meant to mock her.
But what reason would they have for doing that? What could possibly make the main branch of the clan summon the wife of a side branch leader just to play such a prank on her?
She simply could not accept it so easily. When the Grand Elder arrived at her doorstep, she had been so shocked that she almost slammed the door in his face, thinking it was some tasteless joke.
She was even more surprised when she saw the luxurious carriage waiting outside, proudly displaying the unmistakable clan banner.
Even after hearing the Grand Elder tell her about everything Priam had done during the journey, her shock had not diminished in the slightest.
After arriving at the capital at incredible speed, it was only when they reached the clan gates that she finally accepted that all of this was really happening.
’My son... he really defeated the children of the main clan.’
Seien felt like crying. It wasn’t as if she had no expectations for Priam. She had always trusted her son and felt that he was special. After all, what mother wouldn’t?
But at the same time, she was not foolish. She had always felt guilty that he had inherited so little and was theoretically below average because of her.
Besides that... there was another guilt, far greater, buried deep within her heart, one she did not dare reveal or speak of in front of Priam.
Even so, she had thought that during this ceremony, Priam would at least come to understand the reality of his situation.
It should not have been possible to overcome the gap between the direct lineage and the side branches through innate talent and hard work alone. So he would return to his city, eventually get married, and take over that side branch, but...
"Mom!"
The moment she saw her son, Seien forgot all formality, and tears immediately began streaming down her face. Pride and guilt battled in equal measure as she looked at her only child.
The clan banner fluttered proudly before the majestic and magnificent main building. Her son stood at the center of that imposing scene, smiling openly as he waved at her.
Seien had never been able to give Priam what she felt he deserved. In that city... no, on the entire planet, it was almost impossible to find a good teacher for him. As for her, she was incapable of providing truly educational and meaningful guidance.
The only thing she possessed was her experience in the forest and in hunting. So she worked hard to teach him those things during his childhood, hoping they would be useful to him someday.
Yet her son had managed to achieve victory in the coming-of-age ceremony with only that.
"My son, Priam...!"
She embraced her son while continuing to cry.
Priam froze for a moment when she hugged him. But he quickly relaxed, surprised to see her like this. Wearing a childlike expression, he returned the embrace.
"I’m so... so proud of you. The fact that you’re my son makes me so proud," Seien said, sobbing through her tears.
"I told you I’d bring you good news, didn’t I? You really didn’t believe me?" Priam teased in an emotional tone.
"That’s true, I’m sorry... You really did say that... I’m sorry for not believing you," Seien sobbed between sniffles.
"Hey, take it easy. Why are you apologizing so much? If I were in your place, I wouldn’t have believed it either," Priam said gently, trying to calm her down.
Instinctively, Seien took a step back in shock. She finally noticed that, in that place, her son was not the only one waiting for her.
Right behind him stood a very beautiful woman, carrying an aura of dignity and power.
Seien swallowed nervously. She had heard what the Clan Leader looked like from her husband, so she recognized her.
She quickly bowed, frightened. "Please forgive me for the delayed greeting. This humble one is called Seien. It is a great honor to be able to meet you, Clan Leader."
"I am Orlaith. Just call me by my name. Please forgive my rudeness for inviting you here so hastily."
"How could that be rude...?! I don’t see it that way at all. In fact, I’m extremely grateful that you’ve taken care of my son," Seien said quickly.
Orlaith gave a slight nod. "I don’t want to take too much of your time with your son, but if it isn’t a bother, would you mind coming inside and talking with me privately for a while?"
Seien nodded, and Orlaith led the two of them into an inner hall, where the three could speak comfortably.
Upon arriving, the first thing Orlaith did was formally apologize.
She bowed before Seien without the slightest hesitation.
"As the current Clan Leader, the blame for all of this is mine as well. I cannot run from that responsibility. I sincerely ask for your forgiveness for this negligence, and I am willing to compensate you for everything, if possible."
Seien was startled and quickly said that everything was fine. However, that immediately changed the atmosphere for the better. Seien became certain that this woman, despite having the authority to be arrogant and do as she pleased, was truly someone serious and upright.
After that, Orlaith seriously explained the reasons behind everything.
Boey was still alive, but he was in another place and possessed certain unique privileges within the clan. Many times, he sent orders that even she, as Clan Leader, could not ignore.
The Elders had to carry them out, and sometimes unfortunate incidents happened because of it. This created a certain amount of hatred among a group of Elders within the clan.
Because of that, they did not hesitate to treat Boey’s family in the worst possible way... because they were certain that Boey would never return to discover these things.
In the end, since Orlaith was only fulfilling the bare minimum of her duties as Clan Leader while still grieving her great loss, she never noticed any of it happening.
As for the Grand Elder, the only person who had truly been working for the clan during the past few years, he was constantly overwhelmed. After all, the clan’s responsibilities were meant to be divided between two people.
It would not be wrong to say that the blame for the snowball effect that led to all the problems with Seien... and even with her son, rested largely on her shoulders.
"My husband... he can’t come back?" Seien asked with a distant look.
"I’m sorry, I can’t reveal any details about that. It’s not completely impossible for him to return. It’s just... honestly, very difficult," Orlaith said regretfully.
"I have already found everyone responsible for what happened. They will be punished as harshly as possible. As compensation, I would like you and your son to come live in the central clan from now on."
Hearing that, Seien’s eyes widened.
There was only a select group of side branches that were officially recognized and allowed to live within the main clan. This was the greatest honor possible, and the status of those people was immense.
Priam quickly asked, "Lady Orlaith, my cousin Flaris officially moved up to second place in the coming-of-age ceremony after Gangrel’s disqualification. Could she come as well?"
"Of course. She has more than enough qualifications to stay. She has also shown potential equal to, or even greater than, my two youngest children," she said with a nod before looking at Priam seriously.
"If I may ask something of you, please continue being friends with those two. They need someone their age who can help them see things clearly and follow the right path. I completely failed to raise them properly as their mother... because of my mistakes, they almost died, and also... I can only ask this of you humbly."
Priam sighed when he saw the emotion and pain on her face. By this point, with the investigation into the Elders, it was more than clear that Gangrel had indeed been involved in nearly all of the clan’s darkest actions.
Her eldest son had become a monster beyond saving. And she, as Clan Leader, had no choice but to punish him in the harshest way possible... with death.
But as a mother, that was undoubtedly the worst thing that could ever happen to her. Her world was now covered in darkness and guilt.
Certainly, if she did not have Shione and Lumiere, she would abandon everything, perhaps even choose to leave this world herself.
"I’ll do my best, so don’t worry," Priam said as gently as he could.
But her expression did not change. Perhaps she would never overcome the immense grief and guilt within her heart.
"Please don’t blame yourself so much. Shione and Lumiere were really a little difficult, but I never felt any true malice in them. They’re good people who would never go too far down a dark path, no matter what happened. As for Gangrel... that was something that had always existed inside him. He was simply given the opportunity and allowed that inner demon to act freely. Even if things had been completely different between you, it’s possible that nothing would have changed."
Orlaith took a deep breath and nodded painfully.
Even so, she could have noticed it sooner and worked to change it. Now she felt like a complete failure, and all she wanted was for Shione and Lumiere to be as happy as possible.
