YOWV~28

Chapter 28

At that time — the Marquis Lilis’ residence.

“Duke Calips really has no eye for people. If he’s going to adopt someone, why pick a rotten little orphan brat?!”

The Marquis Lilis slammed his glass down with a loud bang, venting his anger.

“There are so many excellent talents among the collateral branches! Don’t you agree?”

“Absolutely, my lord.”

Someone who had been listening to him spoke up.

“But it’s really strange, isn’t it? If you wanted to adopt a child, you should have brought Lord Tex from the beginning…”

“Ahem! Cough!”

At that remark, another person coughed deliberately, signaling that he should watch his words.

Viscount Ringshton blinked stupidly for a moment before realizing his mistake.

“Oh, it must be too embarrassing to present an orphan publicly.”

“Indeed. During this heir selection test, Young Master Tex will surely achieve good results. That is what His Lordship is hoping for, haha!”

Encouraged by the flattery around him, the Marquis gradually withdrew his sharp gaze.

Recently, he had become increasingly sensitive.

Everything had gone according to plan — the successor of the Crost Duke family would only be Tex, and the adopted child who had looked like the duke’s last desperate attempt had been confirmed to be a non-ability user.

‘And yet, why do I feel so uneasy?’

Something felt vaguely wrong, making him tap his fingers — tap, tap.

What came to his mind was:

Small, round body.

Cheeks like freshly baked bread.

Unusually large blue eyes.

And twin pigtails that rose like arrowheads on both sides of her head.

‘Aisha, was it?’

Yes.

The Marquis had been in a bad mood ever since he met that little brat at the duke’s castle out of curiosity.

At first, he thought it was because Duke Calips had adopted another child instead of Tex.

But after confirming that she was a non-ability user and feeling relieved for a moment—

‘She protected people using the ice ability, so she was recognized.’

‘But you, on the other hand, threatened people. So you are not qualified to be a successor.’

That child was different.

If she were a five-year-old orphan, she should have been scared in front of a noble like him and had at least a little foolish charm.

She should never have spoken words so sharp that one might almost mistake her for being born a noble — no, for being a direct descendant of the Crost Duke family.

‘Did they bring her because she wasn’t ordinary?’

Even the humiliation he suffered before was unforgettable.

‘So it’s really funny that the Duke was away on a monster subjugation mission, while the Marquis was drinking tea in the Duke’s castle. I’m sure the Duke would be pleased if he heard that.’

A blue-eyed child had suddenly popped out near Knox’s leg.

He had glared at the child out of shock, but the child didn’t avoid his gaze and spoke clearly.

‘This brat… I can’t even touch him carelessly.’

The memory of that situation resurfaced, and the Marquis ground his teeth.

Monster subjugation period of the Crost Duke family?

Of course he knew.

That was precisely why he had visited the duke’s castle — to avoid the terrifying duke.

But Aisha, that little brat, had bluntly pointed out what everyone knew but dared not say.

Just because she was a lucky little orphan who had risen in status!

‘What, did they adopt her because she has a sharp tongue?’

That probably wasn’t the reason, but Aisha kept bothering him.

So much that he ended up saying it aloud.

“Was her name Aisha? If Tex enters the duke family as the successor, that child will surely start territorial bullying.”

“What kind of territorial bullying would a five-year-old kid do? And she’s just a powerless orphan anyway.”

“There’s barely enough time to lower our heads and behave gently.”

Snide flattery mixed with the conversation here and there, but he didn’t hear it.

“The problem is, she didn’t do that. Do you know what that brat said to me?”

“…….”

“That damn brat! In front of me—”

The people who had heard Marquis Lilis’ story at least ten times closed their eyes silently.

Then Viscount Ringshton, who had been waiting for a chance to redeem his earlier mistake, stuck his head forward.

“My lord. No matter what that brat said, the ice ability user is Young Master Tex, isn’t he?”

He clenched his fist.

“The hope of the collateral branch. The pride of the collateral branch. The strength of the collateral branch!”

“Indeed, Your Excellency. He is the hope of the collateral branch.”

“Yes. To be honest, I thought Duke Calips was making a fuss over killing a few monsters while guarding the ice wall gate. The collateral branches also have territories in the North, after all.”

Others added a few words after following Viscount Ringshton.

Although they sounded like flattery, at that moment the family heads were sincere.

An ability user had appeared in the collateral branch. That meant the wall separating the direct line and collateral branches was crumbling.

A wall as high as the difference between heaven and earth.

“In that case, how about showing off Young Master Tex’s ability?”

Rubbing his hands together like a fly, Viscount Ringshton flattered him.

The Marquis smiled as if he were reluctantly pleased and ordered the servant.

“Call Tex.”

Recently, the Marquis’ only pride and pleasure was showing Tex’s ability in front of others.

A short while later—

“Yawn… Why did you call me, f-father?”

Tex walked in with his hair looking like a bird’s nest, acting arrogant.

“Good day, Young Master Tex.”

“Ah… yes. Hello.”

Tex, who hadn’t expected so many family heads in his father’s office, tried to regain his composure.

He thought it would just be another lecture.

“Tex. Show me your ability.”

“Yes?”

At that moment, the smiling Marquis nodded toward his son.

“Hurry. Our guests are looking forward to it.”

Only then did the boy realize his father’s intention and frowned uncomfortably.

His face seemed to clearly say: “I don’t want to.”

But he knew from experience that it was better to show it once and finish cleanly rather than resist.

“Hyah!”

With a fighting shout, Tex stomped his foot and imagined a massive icicle rising in front of him.

But—

“……?”

“Hyah!”

Surprisingly, nothing came out.

Tex’s face turned red as he shouted again, only to blink foolishly.

“No, this….”

He stomped his foot again, but the result was the same.

Like someone wandering in a dream, he flailed around and then tried to at least create ice cubes for a drink glass.

Just as he was about to slam his hand on the desk—

“Wait. Son. Are you playing tricks again? Hahahahaha!”

The Marquis quickly stood up and grabbed his son’s shoulders.

‘Did you forget?’

Then, still smiling, he whispered so only Tex could hear.

“…Ah, right.”

The boy muttered to himself as if he had just remembered something.

Seeing such a foolish muttering, the Marquis clicked his tongue.

Then he brightened his expression again and spoke to the people.

“My son seems to be going through a severe puberty phase lately. I don’t know what to do in such cases. I’m worried he might act like this during the heir selection test. Well, anyway, I’m sorry, but please go back today.”

Watching the Marquis shaking his head slightly exaggeratedly, the family heads exchanged glances.

Then they began speaking one by one.

“Ah, haha. That’s just his age.”

“Understood. Then we’ll see you at the heir selection test.”

Fortunately, they didn’t seem to care much.

In fact, since Tex’s ability had been demonstrated so often whenever they met, many of them had already seen it several times.

After the family heads left—

“I’m sorry. I overslept and forgot… Ah, father!”

Thud. Thud.

With an stern expression, the Marquis grabbed Tex’s wrist and walked quickly down the corridor, almost running.

He entered his son’s bedroom.

Then he slammed the door shut so others couldn’t hear.

“Medicine!”

“I forgot! I forgot it! I can forget things sometimes. I’ll just take it after eating!”

“You say you can forget? If you don’t take the medicine, your ability won’t appear. How can you forget, you troublesome brat! From now on, you are one with the medicine!”

The angry Marquis slapped his son’s butt.

“Ow!”

Tex, startled, took a few steps back as if trying to escape, and muttered grumpily.

“Ah, so I’ll take it, okay…”

“Take it right now, hurry!”

“…Yes.”

“Now, I’ll take out the medicine…”

But when the Marquis opened the bedside drawer, his eyes widened.

“….”

His face turned pale in an instant.

There was very little medicine left.

‘Only enough for a week. If he is to take the heir test, he’ll need to drink more than usual.’

Ah.

Only then did the Marquis realize the source of the anxiety he had been feeling since earlier.

He had to go get the potion.

“This time I’ll have to push myself and buy more. It hasn’t been long since we met, and now I have to go see those guys again.”