Despite the shock of Crow's revelation, Duke Morvane was fast to get back to his senses.
"Very well then. First thing first, stop your studies for tonight, tomorrow is the night of the banquet and you need to be on top shape."
"But what if he can read lips!?"
"That's the second point, some of your shadows will cast a light confusion spell on the heir at your signal, there's no more time for preparation. Even the seal we used to block Yom's curse will come undone the day after tomorrow."
I was reluctant to stop my studies, but I knew very well I needed to look presentable and rested for the plan to advance, after all who would talk to a shabby butler?
"And now the third thing. It's already been a few days, but all the documents with the orphanage have been… adjusted."
I frowned.
There was no need to adjust shit, as soon as my seventeenth birthday came to pass, I was officially an adult responsible for myself. That was the law.
"In the eyes of the whole world, it's been six months since you bacame Crow Morvane."
My mind stopped working altogether. My mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water and my eyes decided that rolling all the way to stare at my brain was the only right thing to do.
It took me a few minutes to calm myself, minutes that were graciously gifted to me.
"I… which Morvane did adopt me?"
"I did."
The duke didn't even need a second to steady his answer, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Wa-wa-what?"
"You are Crow Morvane, of course you will not have the right to inherit the duchy, but everything else? Yours."
I feinted right then and there.
From homeless orphan to a noble's butler to adopted son of the Duke in just over a month.
My body and mind shut down. There was no helping it.
When I woke up the next day, Dionen Morvane, Duke of house of Disorder was sitting with his son Yom on the sofa in a bedroom I didn't recognise.
"You're finally awake brother! Pity we are now related, really."
I was still groggy and shocked, but I managed to keep my cool, I also noticed the necklace emitting mana that was directly being absorbed in his body.
That must be the seal to the curse.
"Very well, now that both my sons are awake and more ore less stable, let's talk about the plans for the banquet."
That was how I spent the rest of the morning and how I discovered I now had servants only for me. It was also the moment I wished to curse everyone for making decisions without questioning me.
It seemed that even if I could not inherit the duchy, I still had all the responsibility a normal heir had.
Like being the top of the food chain.
"I am so fucked."
______________________
The banquet hall of the hotel-palace was a picture of brilliance and luxury. Royal purple and golden decorations were plastered everywhere elevating the already originally beautiful hall to a new level of aesthetic with the colours of House Morvane.
A round table with thirteen seats stood at the centre most position, all around them smaller tables designed for the nobility accompanying each of the heirs.
But no royalty was to be expected at this banquet. It was designed for the youth of the generation and their peers of the same age that were going to attend Vinegrad.
It was unthinkable that all the heirs of the 12 main families would be reunited in the same academy, but a certain prophecy demanded the utmost attention, and having all of them in the same place was the best way to assure protection.
And surveillance of a certain house already believed to be the bane of humanity.
Maids and butlers were already in the hall, preparing all that might be needed and arranging the finest detail, but even between them chatter and gossip was unending.
"Is it true? Are we finally meeting the second young master?"
"Isn't it strange though? He literally appeared like a mushroom, out of nowhere."
"I heard he was an orphan with extreme talent that even has the same level of mana purity the Duke has!"
"I heard he's a complete psychopath…"
"Have you not heard the screams mixed with laughter coming from the private training grounds?"
"Well, I heard he basically lived into the restricted library from the day he came to the palace."
The murmurs were flowing like water, everyone had an opinion on the mysterious young master, a mix of awe and horror, especially coming from the last rumor going around.
"I heard he came with ghosts, that soon after he was adopted, the palace has been haunted by cold green flames, and ancient voices of spirits."
"It also seemed that recently those spirits have started to gain power! My friend that works in the lavatory swore she smelled blood all over the place she was working!"
"My brother swore he was punched by a ghost! But he has no bruise nor does he remember the pain he suffered…"
Crow's pranks and illusion magic were at an all time high and while everyone was scared and usually run for their life when he was doing his round of pranks, his shadow butler and him were laughing their asses off with the effect their spells had.
Crow was responsible for the main trickery, but the butler was tasked with keeping them hidden.
Tonight however, there was no time for playing around. Well, there was one time he was allowed to play, but the rest of the banquet was of extreme importance and needed a certain level of poise.
Something Crow had discovered a couple of weeks ago.
"Young master Crow, please don't sulk too much, it will sour everyone's mood."
"I know Henry, but we had so much fun during this last few days, all this seriousness doesn't suit me."
"My name is not Henry."
"Whatever Paul, do you think my head will be chopped off if after those brats sign the treaty I play some pranks?"
"It's not Paul either. Can you stop trying to figure out my name?"
"Say Marco, do you think that if I make those heirs feel starvation they'll jump on food or will be able to resist?"
"Young master, please. Keep your pranks to yourself tonight."
"But Tom! How can THE house of disorder offer a totally normal banquet?! It doesn't sit well with me at all!"
While the butler-master duo was bickering, one planning to set chaos free and the other trying to restrain him, the minor nobility was already welcomed inside the hall and was only waiting for the announcement of the 12 heirs and their entrance.
They were the hopes of the future after all, and to have them reunited was already an historical feat in it own.
But the announcement was wrong, definitely wrong.
Why would the owner of the house be announced first?
"ANNOUNCING THE 12 HEIRS OF THE DUCAL FAMILIES."
"THE HEIR OF DISORDER, LORD YOM MORVANE."