MDRH 37

Chapter 37

Diego, having arrived at Elbadin’s office, lifted a teacup and inhaled its aroma.

“Smells good.”

“…….”

Diego leisurely enjoyed the rich scent of the tea.

Elbadin, staring at him in disbelief, rose from his chair and walked over to the sofa.

Sitting opposite Diego, Elbadin spoke.

“You said you were leaving today.”

Diego, smiling brightly while holding his teacup, asked playfully,

“Yeah. Why? Should I not go? Shall we men without wives enjoy some quality time together?”

“Should I just come in?” he teased, prompting Elbadin to straighten his expression and command Riatt.

“Riatt, bring the sword.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Just kidding, just kidding!”

Ha ha ha—Diego laughed like a carefree child.

Elbadin and Diego had been friends since childhood. Their estates were neighboring, and the previous heads of their families were close, so visits were frequent.

As a result, Elbadin and Diego grew up without formalities between them.

Even when they became adults and found women they loved, they introduced each other to their partners first.

At weddings, the birth of children, and even—

When their wives tragically died in accidents, one after another.

They had shared long years together and endured similar grief.

That was why Elbadin knew well the weight of sadness behind Diego’s smiling face.

Elbadin let out a short sigh, and Diego set down his teacup with a gentle smile.

“Take good care of Raiden.”

“Don’t worry about that.”

Elbadin’s short but firm answer made Diego smile as he looked at him.

“Yeah, it would be nice if they got along with Serdian too. Why are our kids so awkward with each other? You and I care for and love each other so deeply.”

“…….”

Diego’s playful words furrowed Elbadin’s brow. Ignoring them, Elbadin asked,

“Will the investigation start immediately?”

“Of course. Since we’ve secured the body, I plan to request the Mage Tower’s assistance as soon as we return to the marquis’ residence.”

“So the master will take action, then.”

“I ran into Noah in front of the office. He shot me a sharp look, apparently upset I involved the Mage Tower.”

“Noah respects the master deeply. He’s like a father to him.”

“I know……”

Diego had a close bond with the master of the Mage Tower, who was also Noah’s mentor. His family had produced magicians for generations, and Diego’s late wife had been the master’s student.

Elbadin crossed his legs and asked,

“So, you’re planning to investigate with the Mage Tower?”

Diego nodded.

“Seems like magic is involved. I hope I’m overthinking it, but just in case……”

Diego’s normally gentle eyes darkened slightly.

“It might be related to black magic.”

“…….”

The mention of black magic cast a heavy shadow over the office.

It was the trace of a sinister power that had vanished centuries ago.

That was why Diego had come to the Decart Ducal Residence.

“People coming back to life.”

In the Sidrat Marquis’ lands, those who had died started returning to life.

Some had succumbed to old illnesses, others to sudden accidents. Young and innocent souls who had met death.

There were already five cases.

At first, everyone considered it a miracle and worshipped God.

Twice, thrice—up to the third, it was seen as mere miraculous grace.

But when the fifth incident occurred, fear began to spread.

“The people who came back were exactly the same as before death. No mutations or changes.”

The only strange thing was that the injuries or illnesses that had caused their deaths were completely gone.

It was as if the cause of death had been reversed in time.

Even requesting help from the temple yielded only the usual excuse—they were too busy, so wait.

“There’s no choice. Who would dare defy the temple? If they say wait, you wait obediently.”

Elbadin snorted.

“Do you think a temple that’s already corrupt can even detect traces of black magic?”

Diego chuckled, acknowledging Elbadin’s cynical remark.

While they waited for the temple’s response, another “person returned from the dead” appeared in the Ducal territory.

But unlike the Sidrat Marquis’ cases, this one didn’t survive more than a week and died again.

Diego had come to retrieve the body to figure out the difference.

“Going straight to the Mage Tower?”

“No, we’ll go to the temple first.”

“Oh, because of your daughter.”

“Yes. I want to ask about the body and also about her condition.”

Diego’s eyes lowered slightly.

One day, the girl he adopted suddenly fell ill.

“She was already very weak, but neither medicine nor magic could heal her.”

Focusing on her health, he discovered her latent ability—something faint, not magic or aura.

Eventually, he realized it was divine power.

“Divine power, huh.”

“Right.”

If uncontrolled, divine power often made children fall ill as if they were sick.

With proper temple guidance, she could live as a priestess of the temple, but without it, most children didn’t survive this stage.

“It’s lucky she fell ill after being adopted.”

If it had happened before adoption, she would have died alone in a cold, dirty alley.

Elbadin, staring at Diego, asked,

“If it really is divine power, you may have to send her to the temple. Are you okay with that?”

Diego smiled wryly.

“No, I’m not okay. Though it was a short time, I really cared for her as if she were my own daughter.”

He said softly that the little girl had filled the emptiness left by his late wife.

“But what can we do? Our family is a magician’s house, we don’t understand divine power. To learn to use it properly, she needs to stay at the temple.”

“…….”

At that moment, a knock sounded at the office door.

“Your Highness, Anton here. I’ve brought the young masters.”

“Come in.”

Serdian, Raiden, and Lucilea entered together.

Diego jumped up and gestured to the sofa next to Elbadin.

“Sit over there.”

The three children lined up on one side of the sofa.

Serdian and Raiden placed the walnut pies they had made on the table, and Lucilea smiled triumphantly at Serdian.

“What are you waiting for? Tell him!”

Caught by her determined gaze, Serdian looked a little embarrassed but spoke.

“These are walnut pies we made ourselves.”

Diego’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You made these? For us?”

Serdian nodded cautiously, and Raiden smiled brightly.

“Yes, Father.”

Seizing the moment, Lucilea glanced at the two fathers.

Elbadin and Diego stared at their sons, astonished.

‘Looks like the marquis might even cry.’

Next to Diego, whose eyes shimmered with emotion, Elbadin’s expression barely changed, though his eyes were slightly widened.

‘Say something! Your son baked pies for you!’

Still, Elbadin’s stoic face left Lucilea feeling a little upset.

At that moment, Elbadin reached for the walnut pie first.

He silently looked at the pies, picked up a fork, and began eating.

Seeing him start, Diego eagerly joined in, taking a pie with equal enthusiasm.

“Wow, son, this is amazing! How did you think of making this?”

Raiden smiled and replied,

“For Lucilea. We thought you’d like it, Father.”

The fathers’ gazes shifted to Lucilea. She smiled awkwardly.

‘I told you not to say that!’

Raiden continued,

“And seeing how happy you are makes me feel good too.”

Looking at Lucilea, Raiden said,

“You were right. I’m really happy right now.”

“Oh? Ah… yeah, I guess so.”

Lucilea smiled sheepishly, and Diego placed his plate on the table, then turned to Elbadin with a serious expression.

“Listen, Elbadin.”

He continued,

“Do you know the difference between having a daughter and not?”

Elbadin tilted his head, having finished his plate.

“Do I need to know?”

Despite his blunt words, Diego smiled and replied,

“Can’t you feel it a little in this moment? In this situation?”

“…….”

“Of course, a son is reliable in his own way, which is nice.”

Diego looked fondly at Raiden, winking one eye.

“But a daughter brings a unique kind of warmth.”

Elbadin’s brow creased faintly.

“So? What’s your point?”

Thinking of his adopted daughter at the marquis’ residence, Diego continued with a gentle smile.

“Every day feels precious. I wonder why I didn’t adopt her sooner. It made me think it would be wonderful to have one more.”

With that, Diego’s gaze shifted to Lucilea.

“Miss Lucilea, could it be……?”

Pausing briefly, Diego asked brightly,

“Do you not need a father?”

Then he added playfully, “How about me?”