TSBSFVW 46

Chapter 46
Eight Breads. Next to a Mad Dog, a Madman (9)

‘How is that girl sticking close to the Prince of the Yan Empire?’

Even after sending dozens of people to search Rayard like hunting for rats, they couldn’t find her. Yet, to think she was working under the Yan Empire’s prince—it was like being hit from behind.

‘But now that I’ve found her, that’s enough. I need to bring her here immediately.’

He needed that “pig” right now.

When he wished for her to disappear, hitting her didn’t make her vanish. But when he needed her, no matter how hard he searched, she was nowhere to be seen. Even this was irritating—it was astonishing.

The day he learned the “pig” had disappeared from the mansion, Duke MacClure drank alone in celebration.

Even losing a sick person wouldn’t have felt this satisfying.

How could someone with nothing to her name be so confident?

The “pig” had no choice but to live on the streets if he didn’t feed and shelter her.

Yet she looked down at him with those icy blue eyes, as if she were some kind of judge.

No matter how he deliberately chose words to hurt her, slapped her across the face, or kicked her with all his strength, she never faltered. She remained steadfast. That only fueled his anger.

Even seeing just her hair made a surge of rage rise from deep in his chest.

Especially that infuriating expression of feigned indifference.

‘She’s never seen her own mother, yet how is it possible that she looks so much like her?’

That expressionless face characteristic of the Maier family.

Elie’s mother, who was the daughter of the Maier family, had looked at Duke MacClure with that very face. Without saying a word, she conveyed blame and contempt.

Yet, she had treated her now-deceased parents with kindness, threatening his position as a young duke at the time. On their deathbeds, Elie’s parents left a will declaring that only her mother was to be MacClure’s daughter-in-law.

‘That’s why I couldn’t bring Irain…’

When the MacClure and Maier families arranged the political marriage, he already had the woman he loved.

Irain’s biological mother.

She was a countess who had lost her husband early. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life. They had fallen in love the day they first saw each other.

The tragedy was that this happened at the same time the political marriage was being arranged.

Both women became pregnant around the same time, and Irain was born first.

Duke MacClure would never forget the warmth of the baby he first held in his arms.

He cried, vowing to protect this fragile life at all costs. In a reality where he could control nothing, the baby and her mother were his only allies.

However, Irain’s mother eventually succumbed to the pressures of the MacClure and Maier families. The stress became lethal for her weakened body shortly after giving birth.

Now, for the baby who had lost her mother, only her father remained.

On the day Irain’s mother died, Duke MacClure returned to the mansion holding the baby.

Even with her swollen belly from the final month of pregnancy, the woman’s face was still somewhat viewable.

Though shocked, she had paled, desperately trying to hide her trembling hands.

Her pride prevented her from showing any weakness to others.

Even now, when MacClure was furious because of Elie, he sometimes recalled that woman’s face.

Pale, thin, trembling.

Biting her lips to avoid succumbing to misery.

If it weren’t for her, Irain’s mother wouldn’t have died.

If only Elie hadn’t existed, Irain would have enjoyed all the privileges as his legitimate daughter…

Duke MacClure wanted only the best for Irain.

Any father would.

Even if the “pig” didn’t disappear discreetly, Duke MacClure intended to redirect everything to Irain.

‘Even if there was a promised marriage, what can you do if she gets pregnant first and marries?’

Give the right amount of money to some suitable trash to marry her off, and the marriage with the Yan Empire’s prince would go to Irain.

You couldn’t marry the prince to a woman who already carried another man’s child.

As for the heir to the dukedom, a compliant child from the relatives could be publicly presented, only for the child born to Irain to inherit later.

Duke MacClure’s plan was flawless.

The Kingdom of Rosso was too small a pond for Irain.

A perfect child like Irain needed a larger stage. There, she would take only the finest and most valuable things and be happy.

But…

‘Damn it, that prince turned out to be such a bastard…’

The Yan Empire sent the fifth prince to uphold an old marriage arrangement.

At a time when tensions already simmered between the Rosso Kingdom and the Yan Empire, the Rosso royal family welcomed the marriage arrangement between Duke MacClure’s daughter and the Yan royal family. They hoped the duke’s daughter would soften the atmosphere.

But the fifth prince was just a bastard.

Not just a bastard—a mad bastard.

Every day, a woman fell victim in the prince’s bedroom. Rarely was he sober, even when under the influence of drugs or alcohol. His violent nature couldn’t be controlled, and his hands often moved before words in any situation.

Even within the royal family, Prince Mark, the fifth prince, was considered a troublemaker.

The only person able to control him was Prince Damian, the third prince, praised as the incarnation of the Archangel.

Yet Damian let Mark run rampant.

Even that alone showed that the Yan Empire did not care about its relations with Rosso Kingdom. Wealthy citizens were already relocating their businesses.

Mark was truly the worst.

Even in the presence of Duke MacClure, he cast obvious lecherous glances at Irain. Licking his lips as he spoke was outrageous.

‘Asking her to show her chest? Is that something you say in front of her father?!’

So vulgar and crude…

Irain had no strength left to even respond.

‘The marriage arrangement itself cannot be overturned now. So Irain is illegitimate, and the “pig” is the rival’s daughter. I have no choice but to tell the Yan royal family to take her. The prince will be angry, but the royal family will never accept an illegitimate as a princess.’

Irain MacClure’s name was already on the family tree.

It was fortunate she had not been adopted as a foster daughter.

Whether legitimate or not, if Irain were a lawful daughter of the MacClures, the Yan royal family could have chosen between two daughters…

‘If they have eyes, they won’t choose anyone but Irain.’

That’s why Duke MacClure began searching for the missing “Elie MacClure.”

He believed that timid girl could not have left the castle walls alone, but just in case, he sent people throughout the kingdom.

Yet, he couldn’t determine the exact day or hour Elie disappeared.

She had truly vanished.

‘She couldn’t have done this alone.’

Then, who helped the “pig”?

The Maier family drew a firm line, claiming they had no involvement with Elie.

Indeed, there was no trace of Elie MacClure near the Maier family. If the Maier family had wanted to protect her, they would have taken her already, with no reason to hide her.

Even on her deathbed, the Maier family had sworn to honor their daughter’s last wish to remain loyal to the MacClure family, giving up any right to intervene in Elie’s affairs.

So who, then?

Who placed the “pig” beside the third prince?

‘“Cookie Walking”? Ridiculous. She probably thinks she’s impressive after that pathetic childhood game.’

The “pig” looked best by the kitchen hearth, her round face covered in soot and sweat.

Imitating an unknown female cook, or awkwardly bowing while receiving applause beside the Yan Empire’s prince, was all absurdly presumptuous.

Duke MacClure intended to take the “pig” where she belonged.

And she would become the fifth prince’s bride instead of Irain.

‘All things beautiful for Irain, all things filthy for the pig.’

That was right.

Duke MacClure waited for Elie to be alone. As long as Damian was present, no one could approach her.

Damian had personally introduced Elie and stayed close, proudly showing her off.

As promised, pretending to genuinely like her.

Even that disgusted Duke MacClure.

‘Irain is trapped in her room, weakened, and she acts like the star of the banquet.’

After a while, Damian whispered something to Elie. Then he left the heated banquet, giving Duke MacClure the opportunity he had been waiting for.

With Damian gone, no one could stop him.

Elie, now alone, let out a small sigh, relaxing slightly. Duke MacClure quickly approached her, reaching out.

He just needed to grab the runaway “pig.” But, as always, the “pig” would only obey after being hit.

He could corner her, starve her, and beat her. What could she do?

Elie’s blue eyes widened upon spotting the duke. He read her fear and felt a rush of joy. Raising his large hand, he struck her cheek in one swift motion.

There was a smack, but Elie was now in someone’s arms—a man wearing a wizard’s robe.

Duke MacClure frowned. The person who had taken the blow meant for Elie was someone he knew.

A handsome knight with sunlit blond hair smiled pleasantly but gripped his wrist with immense force.

“You…”

“It’s been a long time, Your Excellency.”

He was the third son of the Cronin family, captain of the Otter Knights.