DBOFS 31

Chapter 31

‘Please take care of my son, Harris.’

At the time, Princess Eleas was a newlywed. She hadn’t even confirmed whether she was pregnant or not.

And yet, the princess had been certain. That she would give birth to a son. That he would be named Harris.

Princess Eleas was known for three rumors.

And the moment the former Duke met her, he realized the rumors weren’t entirely wrong.

‘I hope you remember our promise.’

Her voice, elegant and uniquely resonant, still seemed to echo in his ears.

Her long black hair looked like it was woven from darkness itself—enchanting and graceful. Her pale skin glowed like the moon.

Her delicate features were so exquisite, as if carved by the hand of God, that many people stared at her in a daze.

‘…The wild rumor that the Moon Goddess devoted herself to her wasn’t an exaggeration.’

She was a truly stunning beauty.

But what stayed most vividly in the former Duke’s memory were the princess’s eyes.

Those crimson eyes that glimmered strangely.

‘People with eyes like those don’t live long.’

It was the instinct of an old man.

Just as he foresaw, Princess Eleas died young.

She was the only child of Empress Floella, from a founding noble family, and the only legitimate heir of the Emperor.

With both the Empress’s and the late Emperor’s private fortunes added, she had become one of the wealthiest individuals in the Empire even before she married.

And, according to her will, all that immense wealth was left to her young son, Harris.

The former Duke had expected that.

‘Since Young Master Harris is still a child, Her Highness appointed a guardian by proxy.’

Until he learned that the designated proxy guardian wasn’t her romantic husband but the father-in-law who didn’t even attend her wedding.

‘Has she lost her mind?’

The former Duke wasn’t just surprised—he was dumbfounded.

Out of all people, she asked the villainous father-in-law who had opposed her famed romance to be the guardian?

But what was even more shocking—was his son, Norman.

‘I will follow my wife’s will. Please… I beg you.’

On the day of the funeral, Norman bowed his head with a face that looked ready to hang himself.

Even though the will had clearly rejected him as a husband, he made no objections.

Seeing his face, full of longing to follow his wife in death, the former Duke realized:

‘Neither of them were normal.’

He had always known that, but it struck even deeper now.

The relationship between the princess and his son had been strange. It lacked the passionate affection of a typical married couple, and also the coldness of a contractual relationship.

‘It was closer to… madness.’

The former Duke shook his head. Mad people could never be understood.

He gave up thinking and reluctantly accepted the role of proxy guardian. But he kept everything locked away like a burdensome relic, never even looking at it.

And now—

‘With all that inheritance, he still chooses a thorny path.’

His grandson, barely freed from hell, had chosen to walk back into the dungeon.

To reclaim his lost right of succession, validated by the approval of his cold-hearted grandfather.

“……”

Who did that boy take after?

Was it the emotionally distant princess, who looked like a priestess of prophecy? Or was it his own son, who worshipped her like a fanatic?

‘At least in looks, he’s the spitting image of the princess.’

He hadn’t noticed at first, surprised by the boy’s presence. But when they met again, he realized—Harris’s striking appearance came from his mother.

And that only made the former Duke feel more conflicted.

‘Perhaps… that eerie madness as well…’

The Duke’s calloused finger tapped against his desk. A habit of his whenever his mind was tangled.

Count Ladian quietly prepared refreshments. The former Duke, lost in thought, finally turned his gaze toward the fragrant tea.

A deep crimson tea, like the princess’s eyes.

Next to it sat a raspberry, as red as the gaze of his impertinent grandson.

And then…

“Macarons?”

Pink macarons that smelled overwhelmingly sweet. A surprising treat for someone like the Duke, who disliked sweets.

His aide, who knew his preferences better than anyone, had brought this?

“What’s this about?”

Count Ladian smiled politely, pretending not to understand the question in the Duke’s eyes.

“The chef has been experimenting with desserts lately. I found them passable and thought you might as well try.”

The Duke had no sweet tooth. Naturally, the chef at Godwin Castle had tailored his skills to the master’s palate.

And now, suddenly he was making sweets?

‘It must be because of that child.’

Jade.

The name conjured up starlike blue eyes and fluffy, cotton candy-pink hair.

Her cheerful face overlapped with her bright, bubbly voice.

‘Duke! We’re off!’

Just before they boarded the wagon at dawn to head to the dungeon, Jade had turned around and waved.

She even dragged Harris into waving with her.

‘Lord Harris! You must’ve stayed up all night to see us off!’

Sometimes life works out in strange ways. Even the old rarely stay up all night—but occasionally, you find yourself gazing out the window at dawn. Even your eyes need rest.

‘Hmph. As if I’d see you off.’

Just a coincidence of time and place, nothing more. Yet he found himself looking down at them out of concern.

‘Don’t worry~ we’ll be back soon!’

While Harris gave only a reluctant nod, Jade cheerfully gave a full, polite bow before leaving.

‘Brazen thing.’

Back soon? It’s been over a week with no word.

The Duke’s brow furrowed.

That girl shouldn’t even be looking him in the eye, considering her lowly status.

And yet, he had not only tolerated her gaze—he had even spoken to her privately.

‘Duke, I’m fine, so please forgive me.’

‘Foolish girl. Mercy from someone like you only invites others to trample on you.’

Jade had grumbled, “You sound just like your bloodline…” and when their eyes met, she smiled sweetly.

‘Then I’ll show you I won’t be trampled. I’ll live well.’

And she really did.

The Duke let out a quiet snort.

Thinking back, it made sense. Anyone brazen enough to smile and say whatever she wanted to his face wouldn’t be afraid of lesser servants.

“She likes sweets, fitting for her looks.”

“Fitting for her looks?”

“Pink and blue… like cotton candy. That ridiculous girl.”

Even as he grumbled, the Duke reached for the macaron.

“…Ugh.”

His face twisted at the sickening sweetness.

Count Ladian handed him perfectly brewed tea and commented,

“Harris’s Guide had been begging for it. The chef only recently succeeded in making them, so she hadn’t tried it yet.”

To crave something like this…

The Duke’s face tightened again as he rinsed his mouth with the bitter tea.

‘…She must’ve lived through quite a bit.’

Still, Harris is the only legitimate child of Princess Eleas and Duke Godwin.

A bloodline that precious… His own flesh and blood…

‘And Harris went hungry because he had no food…!’

The Duke’s temple throbbed.

No matter how little he favored the boy—how dare anyone starve a child of Godwin’s blood?!

‘Those wretches!’

When he had heard that Harris had killed all the servants in the old fortress during his escape, the Duke had thought it too cruel.

That his unsuitability as heir must’ve stemmed from such savagery.

But now…

‘To kill them so swiftly… how merciful.’

If it had been him, he’d have locked them up and starved them to death. Burned the corpses until no trace remained.

“The chef promised to serve it to her when she returns…”

“…Summon him.”

“Pardon?”

“The Mercenary King. The one we were going to hire.”

Count Ladian’s eyes widened. The Duke raised his teacup like a mask and added,

“He said he’s confident in the dungeon. Send him.”

“…Y-Yes.”

The loyal aide struggled not to laugh.

“We already reached out. He should arrive soon.”

The Duke slammed his fist on the new desk.

“It’s not for his sake!”

Bang!

He scowled.

“…I just want to see if that infamous S-rank Mercenary King lives up to the name!”

“Yes, yes. I understand. It’s also important to gauge the strength of Awakened factions.”

Count Ladian bit his inner cheek and carefully asked,

“Should I provide him with Lord Harris’s description, just in case?”

It meant: even if the dungeon matters aren’t resolved, make saving Harris the top priority.

The Duke was silent for a long while. Then, at last, he nodded.

“And Jade. Include that child too.”

Then, as if annoyed, he muttered:

“What kind of fool tags along somewhere like that? Harris, that brat too…”

Count Ladian didn’t respond. Just holding back the trembling in his lips was overwhelming.

Whether the Duke noticed or not, he grumbled on.

“Even if she is his Guide, he shouldn’t indulge her every whim. Letting her go to a place like that?”

She couldn’t even hold a proper weapon—clearly the type to burst into tears.

As the Duke grumbled, he unconsciously popped another pink macaron into his mouth.

…Ugh.

“Tell the chef to do better! What’s the use of something this sweet?!”

Count Ladian finally burst out laughing.