Translator and Editor: Skye and Einna

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Chapter 24

✦

Pedro glanced at Lucian. How the hell did he find Rachel?

After his son took off like that yesterday, he sent out the knights everywhere.

He even thought about sending a request for support to the Imperial Family.

Before that, he decided to look for her one more day.

He only slept through the night after the attack due to his injuries, but the traces of his daughter’s captors were already erased and disappeared by the next day.

And Count Elrand. He also disappeared into thin air.

He still hasn’t figured out whether magic was used or not, but he was now also the subject of the knights’ pursuits too.

He had been stabbed in the appendix area, but he couldn’t feel the pain.

He thought that if he lost Rachel like this, he’d rather be dead.

He didn’t have the courage to see Liam even after he died.

He stayed up all night, but he didn’t feel tired. It was not until his daughter returned safely that he could only relax. Only then did he feel tired, but he had to talk to his son first.

He thought that he had to stop his son’s love even now. The Duke closed his eyes tightly and opened his eyes that were enveloped in tiredness.

Rachel and Lucian.

He just couldn’t wait and watch the two of them fall in love.

His anxiety about that had been growing for a while but he became much more concerned after the most recent incident. Pedro stared at Lucian, who just stood calmly in front of him.

“You have failed to fulfill my duty as a successor, and I must pay for it.”

Lucian failed to uphold his responsibilities as the heir.

When danger would befall the Duchy, the heir had an obligation to protect the family while being protected in the house.

Lucian blinked slowly, as if he had expected a reprimanding.

This is also different from before. He didn’t express much when he spoke before, but he still slightly expressed his fear.

But now he hasn’t budged at all.

Like now no matter what he would say, it won’t hurt him.

This punk had lost his mind.

How dare he be around Rachel with that kind of face.

What did I do to deserve this?

Why do I have to live in pain?

Pedro’s mind still replayed the events of his past at the back of his eyes, his head hurting even as he held his temple, a throbbing sound thundering in his ears.

His father tormented him even after he died. Handing over the same face to his grandson, and pressuring him.

[ You are not normal. It is frustrating and annoying that I have no choice but to offer the Dukedom to you, who is not normal. Now that my grandson is born, you are nothing but a bridge between that brought the true heir, Lucian! ]

Shortly after Lucian was born, this was what his father told him.

Pedro looked at his son without hiding his tiredness.

I don’t think it’s too late. He’s sad, too, but this is the only way I can think of.

It wouldn’t be too bad to think of it as protecting Rachel.

He spoke very slowly at first, as if he were saying something he didn’t want to say. He dove right into the heart of the discussion while looking at Lucian.

“I’m thinking of sending Rachel to a vacation home in the South. She must have been very shaken by this event.”

“……”

Lucian frowned subtly as he listened to his father.

How long will she be there? Pedro didn’t want to be away from her for a long time. Pedro added to Lucian, who had been struggling for half a year.

“She’ll be protected in the South until she comes of age.”

With what he said, Lucian’s eyes widened as if he was being torn apart into pieces.

Usually, an aristocratic young lady’s debutante was at nineteen years old.

Therefore the next seven years will be spent apart from Rachel.

“Father.”

Lucian called his father with a fierce look. Pedro smiled in vain at the sight.

That’s the kind of look his son gave him.

Was there an enemy here?

Wasn’t it the same expression Pedro had when he turned on his father to protect Liam?

There was a strange sense of familiarity for a moment, but Pedro was adamant.

“You’re grounded as a punishment for the time being. Don’t come out of your room.”

“Father, please.”

Lucian knew that his father was not a man who talked in vain.

He really intended to keep Rachel away from him now.

Why?

He couldn’t help but wonder.

Why wouldn’t his father just let him be with Rachel?

She asked him to put her time in his schedule first. Lucian thought she would be fine, so he wanted to be with her during his schedule.

He hoped that they’d be together all day, from the moment she opened her eyes.

I wanted to see her face first thing in the morning and fall asleep after seeing her face before I go to sleep at night.

It’s only that much.

Pedro pressed hard against Lucian who had a distorted face filled with anger when he said no to his father.

“Understand your place as the successor. When I treat you as the heir, fulfill your duties properly!”

Lucian felt a lump in his throat.

He wanted to fight back, but in all this time, he had never stood up to his father.

Except the day before.

Pedro congratulated Lucian, who only stared at him with his mouth shut.

Then Enzo whispered.

—Are you that greedy for that girl?

He ignored Enzo’s words and turned away from Pedro.

—Well, then, you should become the Duke. Then the authority over the child will be transferred to you.

While forcing himself to take another step, Lucian stopped because of what Enzo said.

It was a solution he didn’t think of. He only asked his father for permission, but he couldn’t think of making a move all by himself.

Lucian liked Enzo for the first time. While grabbing the doorknob, he turned his head for a moment. He then slowly opened his mouth and looked at his father.

“I will do my best as heir to the Dukedom, Father. So, make sure you hand over the Duchy to me.”

The Duke snorted at his words, but at the same time, he liked what his son had said.

Yeah, don’t be greedy for that pretty girl, be greedy for power.

‘You really are my father’s grandson.’

Instead of answering, Lucian stepped outside, leaving Pedro waving his hands in dismissal behind.

Instead of going back to his room, he headed straight to Rachel’s room. He assumed it would be the last greeting before she left.

As he hurried his steps, Enzo whispered in an insidious manner.

—You want to have that child.

Lucian’s steps slowed because of it and naturally just stopped.

“I want her?”

—Yeah, he never wanted to be Duke. You just wanted to be recognized.

Lucian narrowed his eyes sharply like a knife. Noticing his tumultuous agitation, Enzo, the dark mage, smiled and added.

—Everyone has a desire to be recognized. It’s just that the target seems to have changed.

“…Rachel acknowledged me.”

—That’s why you want her. She’s the only one who recognized and understood you.

“……”

He was right. Lucian nodded slowly and stepped back, feeling more positive.

Enzo, who had taken over his head, murmured, shedding laughter.

—What can’t you have, being the descendant and heir of the Leon family?

Lucian was very fond of his last words, even though he knew Enzo was encouraging him for his own shady reasons.

I want to have her…

He clearly put it into his mind.

That’s right. He wants to monopolize Rachel. She’s the only one.

His slow pace soon changed into a more confident and quick one. A strong sense of possessiveness followed him with every step he took.

✦

I washed and changed into pajamas with help from Amber. It wasn’t the time to sleep yet, but I didn’t mind at all because I was really sleepy.

Amber was flushed the whole time she washed me up. Maybe she had not calmed down enough, but she made mistakes one after another.

Amber’s appearance seemed to warm me up. It’s very reassuring to have someone worried about me.

But what happened to Lucian?

He came all the way to the maze forest alone, but how did he get there?

It reminded me of the fact about that place that I had forgotten in my joy and surprise.

It was described in the original book that the maze forest is not an ordinary forest, and not everyone can walk around and come in and out of the forest casually.

After a series of other related thoughts, I even remembered the booger king.

Ugh, don’t tell me he’s going to be coming around again.

Did I go too far yesterday?

I didn’t raise any death flags regardless of the original novel, right?

I’m back home safe and cozy, but I’ve got a lot of things to worry about.

Everything is starting to develop like the original storyline.

Even if it’s a little different from the original, wouldn’t it be okay for the time being since the kidnapping seems to have happened as it happened in the original?

There was only one kidnapping.

Since then, the Duke has been paying keen attention to my safety.

That’s a relief. Kidnapping—I’d rather not do it twice.

While waiting for Amber to bring my food, I rolled around enjoying the softness of the bed.

Did Lucian wash up and eat already?

He doesn’t really eat much.

But how did he get so tall?

As expected, the main character is really the main character.

Amber came in with food that is easy to digest while I was spacing out, thinking about all sorts of things.

I finished the food as fast as a crab would hide its body in the sand. My eyelids had become heavy because of the warmth and started to close.

“Lady, hang in there. Get the doctor’s treatment first and then go to bed.”

“Okay.”

There were many scratches around my body, so I had to get a prescription. After being treated by a maid, I was unable to control my sleepiness and laid back in bed. Amber covered me with a blanket.

Then I forced my eyelids up and asked Amber.

“Ah, I almost forgot, Amber.”

“Yes, Milady.”

“Where are Doggy and Damian?”

“The servants will be taking care of them separately. Should I bring them back?”

“No, it’s okay. Tell them to take good care of those two.”

“Yes, I understand. Please go to bed early today.”

“Yeah, okay.”

I closed my eyes and heard Amber go out. I felt like I was about to fall asleep because of my exhaustion. Then I heard a familiar knock on my door.

Knock knock, knock, knock knock.

It was the secret knock pattern between Lucian and I.

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