“I won’t accept your intention to resign,” Klein, the newly appointed Head of the Council, made clear from the very beginning.

Gilead didn’t respond to these words immediately and just pursed his lips.

The two were currently sitting at the Round Table within the Black Lion Castle.

“I know what you must be thinking, and I also know that you’re feeling guilty. However, the Lionheart clan will be thrown into even greater chaos if you decide to take responsibility for this incident by resigning from your office.” Klein continued speaking without losing momentum, “If you abdicate from your seat as the Patriarch, just who in the world do you think we can turn to as our next Patriarch? Gion, who has joined the Black Lions? Or Gilford, who has already left to form his own collateral line? If that happens, then what should we do with your wife and children?”

Hesitantly, Gilead attempted to reply, “...That’s….”

“It would all be tough to deal with,” Klein pressed onwards. “Having abdicated from your position as the Patriarch, should we allow you to remain as part of the main family? Or else should we send you out to start a new collateral line? And what should we do with the next Patriarch? No matter how you think about it, it would all be far from easy to handle and lead to an utter mess. As such, I order you to put up with your shame and humiliation and just keep sitting in the seat as the Patriarch.”

Eugene had also been invited to sit at the Round Table with them. As he listened to Klein speak, Eugene nodded inwardly to himself.

‘If Gilead steps down from his position as the Patriarch at this point, Ancilla’s eyes are sure to roll up to the back of her head.’

Ancilla’s personality had become more amiable because her position in the main family had been strengthened, and Cyan had been confirmed as the next Patriarch. But what if they were forced to leave the main family at this point, or questions about who the next Patriarch should truly be arise? It was all but a certainty that Ancilla would run wild.

Gilead hesitantly tried to argue, “...However… this incident...