🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter : 31
But even without looking at the control panel, I could tell.
“Just throw a tantrum like you used to, threatening to die.”
Countless emotions were already flashing across Evan’s face.
‘Impossible to predict at all.’
Evan was a B-rank.
So I could only examine the control panel in detail once the conditions were met.
‘Someday, I’ll have to open that control panel at least once.’
For now, I could only see that his state was changing.
I couldn’t figure out exactly what he felt toward Diel, emotion by emotion.
‘I never really cared enough to find out before.’
Evan and Diel’s relationship wasn’t particularly important in the original story.
Diel herself was just a supporting villainess, so her role wasn’t very significant.
But seeing him now made me curious.
‘I can’t tell whether he likes her or hates her.’
What kind of feelings made up Evan’s heart for Diel?
What could possibly make up those feelings…
“Ha, this is ridiculous. Isn’t this your life? Why are you treating it like someone else’s?”
“…Uni?”
Was he crying just like that?
Tears fell from Evan’s cheeks.
And because he had pale green eyes like new leaves, when wet with tears, they looked so innocent and pitiful it was almost unbearable.
“Evan.”
Until just moments ago, we had been in a subtle battle of wills.
I didn’t know whether to comfort him or maintain the cold Northern Duke persona.
“Don’t cry.”
After thinking it over, I mixed the two approaches.
“Stop it.”
“…Who said I was crying?”
“Stop.”
Annoyed at my words, Evan glared at me.
But he couldn’t hide the redness around his eyes.
“Men are real when they cry!”
“I’m not really into crying.”
Seeing him like that reminded me of a memory from headquarters.
“That’s because in the area managed by senior Jua, there aren’t kids like that. Everyone’s just a bunch of crazy lunatics.”
My junior, Sera, used to say that, following her motto: “A handsome man is best when he cries.”
Now I understood.
I understood why Sera shouted so desperately.
“Duke.”
At that moment, there was a knock, and a man entered.
He was the chief butler of Rekaten.
“His Grace, the Duke, is waiting for the princess. Perhaps you should move to see him.”
The Duke?
‘He must have returned from the West.’
“No, butler. Tell him it’s better if we meet tomorrow. Diel isn’t in good condition yet—”
“No, I’m fine.”
I interrupted their conversation and spoke to the butler.
“I just can’t meet His Grace looking so haggard. I’ll be ready soon, so please wait a moment.”
“Ah…”
The chief butler looked at me in surprise.
From the moment he entered, he had been focused entirely on Evan.
Even though the person the Duke wanted to see was me.
But now that he had direct orders from me, he couldn’t do that anymore.
“Ah, yes. Understood.”
Finally, the butler nodded toward me.
‘That sword looks tempting.’
In the Duke’s office, I glanced at the sword hanging on the wall.
[Duke of Rekaten’s Sword, A-Rank Weapon]
Since the Duke is A-rank, the sword in his room must be A-rank too.
“Diel.”
A clink of a teacup snapped me out of my thoughts.
“Yes.”
In front of me sat the Duke of Rekaten.
‘Of course, he’s Evan’s father.’
Even though I felt it at headquarters, seeing him in person confirmed it—he was incredibly handsome.
“You’ve been up to quite a lot while I was in the West.”
“….”
“Trying to trick the emperor’s chamberlain into letting you into the palace… impressive.”
It seemed like the Duke was about to unleash some harsh truths.
‘If Evan is a blunt speaker, the Duke is downright brutal.’
And the truth is always more painful.
“Do you think it makes sense to cause such a ruckus in my castle, unless you actually think you can mock me?”
“Don’t worry. I haven’t told the Emperor about any of it.”
Hearing my sigh, the Duke narrowed his eyes.
“Any of it?”
“If I had told His Majesty anything, Rekaten wouldn’t have such a peaceful morning.”
I kept my promise to Evan.
I remained completely silent about what happened at the Duke’s estate.
“Are you threatening me?”
The Duke’s voice dropped, and I quickly added:
“Anyway, His Grace raised me and took care of me. I won’t betray that kindness.”
“….”
Diel might not consider it kindness, but the fact remains: he had taken in a Diel who would have died on the streets.
“When I went to the capital to see the Emperor directly, I realized how naive I had been about outside matters.”
“….”
Above all, I had no intention of angering the Duke.
[Duke of Rekaten, A-Rank, Duke of the Elbenard Empire]
[Unlock Condition: Raise the Duke’s trust to 87% or higher.]
‘Raise trust…’
87% is quite a high bar, but it seems doable.
“Even so, I heard you had quite a rough time in the royal court.”
The Duke’s previously sharp tone had softened.
‘What rough time is he talking about?’
I couldn’t pinpoint it immediately; I had been through so much.
“You brought the sacred herb called the Aliyan fruit. And the Emperor actually let you leave the palace without a single guard.”
The Duke tapped the armrest thoughtfully.
Luckily, he seemed more concerned with the palace incident than with what happened at Bontech.
“Why did you tell the Emperor about the Aliyan fruit? You weren’t trying to report me, were you? Was it really to save the Crown Prince?”
“Huh?”
“I’m asking what reward you expected. You didn’t do it purely to save the Crown Prince, did you?”
“….”
“Did you want recognition from the Emperor, to be acknowledged as his child?”
Want recognition as a child?
The thought made my skin crawl.
If I wanted to die, I would’ve given the Aliyan fruit to the Duke.
But I couldn’t tell him the truth—that I gave it to die.
The Duke’s reaction would be predictable.
“Get a grip, Diel. The Emperor abandoned you long ago.”
The Duke misinterpreted my silence and spoke casually.
Then he suddenly stood and opened a safe next to the desk.
‘What’s this?’
He took out a document and placed it in front of me.
“This is a guardianship document.”
Guardian?
Unlike me, the Duke’s expression was calm.
“From now on, I will formally be your guardian.”
“Huh?”
Formally… what exactly?
