FMLDM 15

Chapter 15

Until a moment ago, Duke Shupen had worn a fierce, tiger-like expression, but now, amused by the supportive messages, he smiled with his eyes and approached warmly. I chuckled and turned around, noticing Coral and Kai standing awkwardly nearby. Actually, one reason I brought the dessert plate today was to have Kai and Coral meet. After all, Kai had made quite a fuss already.

“Enjoy your meal.”

“…!”

Kai still seemed sorry toward me and bowed his head whenever our eyes met. Just sitting together, Coral and Kai looked like a harmonious pair of nightingales. Watching this heartwarming scene, I turned to offer the dessert to Duke Shupen, who took a bite gracefully. Coral smiled sweetly at me as she ate her pie, and Kai buried his face into a scone, only looking up after eating more than half.

“Coral, want to see me do some swordsmanship?”

“Really?”

“You’d be surprised when you see how good your brother is at swordsmanship.”

The boastful Kai, who had been avoiding my gaze earlier, looked so much like Macaron it was uncanny. Coral glanced toward me as if asking for permission.

“Mom, can I go watch Kai-oppa practice swordsmanship?”

“Sure.”

Such adorable kids. Once they left, it was just Duke Shupen and me, and the atmosphere turned a bit awkward. I looked up absentmindedly at the sky, and a cool breeze that hadn’t come in a while brushed pleasantly against my cheek. The clear sunlight, briefly hidden behind clouds, was dazzling, so I lowered my head and caught a glimpse of the kids. They were chirping affectionately, perfectly fitting the roles of a male and female lead.

“How can they be this lovely?”

As I absorbed this image, I suddenly felt a sharp gaze beside me. Turning my head, I met Duke Shupen’s eyes, and he smiled brightly.

“Isn’t it normal to look away or feel awkward in a situation like this?”

But he didn’t. My professional instincts made me study his face and expression carefully. At first glance, it was a genuine smile, but his eyes were tense, and only his mouth was smiling.

“That’s the kind of smile people make when caught stealing… Is Duke Shupen hiding something from me?”

To break the awkwardness created by our eye contact, I changed the subject.

“Does Kai have talent in swordsmanship?”

Without hesitation, Duke Shupen answered.

“I think he can at least match someone like Macaron.”

Macaron wasn’t primarily a swordsman but was famous enough to be nicknamed the Dragon Slayer.

“Then isn’t that a great talent?”

“You can’t say the second-best has talent when the first is far above.”

What a funny person. I wondered what Macaron would say if he heard this. It was a relief he wasn’t here. If they were together, they might have already been dueling with swords in the training ground. Holding back laughter, I asked with genuine curiosity.

“Then who is the first?”

“Did you hire me without knowing that?”

His boastful expression was cute, so it didn’t sound bad. I tried hard not to laugh, but it seemed he noticed.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t you believe what I’m saying?”

“Of course not.”

Pinching my thigh, I turned my head to hide my smile and managed to say:

“Please take good care of our Kai.”

Watching Duke Shupen, I couldn’t hold back a smile and looked away. The green sprouts and the kids standing on them made me feel like returning to childhood. After a while, the silent Duke Shupen caught my attention again. But the way he looked at Kai was unusual. Then, he muttered something I couldn’t quite understand.

“Macaron and Kai seem very different.”

It was hard to tell if he meant something or was just making a passing comment. Because of that, I suddenly asked.

“In what way?”

Duke Shupen met my eyes and quickly put on a pure white smile.

“Am I just overthinking and misjudging him?”

After a brief pause, he spoke with a strange expression.

“Have you noticed any other talents in Kai?”

“Other talents?”

“Well, like magic or healing powers…”

From ancient times, talents came in various forms, as Duke Shupen said. Magic, divine power, and so on were special forces passed down through families or granted by the kingdom. So far, Kai’s best skill seemed to be the magic restrictions he learned from Macaron. But that wasn’t really ‘magic’—it was an effort-based magic using mana stones, not innate magical talent. Macaron was the same, so it didn’t make sense to say Kai was unlike Macaron… But why ask this all of a sudden?

“Well, I doubt he has such abilities.”

Duke Shupen’s expression twisted slightly, and I felt uneasy.

“Well, I’m busy now…”

I answered vaguely and left the training ground. Even then, Duke Shupen’s gaze followed me intently.

Macaron noticed all of this too. His occasional glances through the window had become frequent enough to interfere with his work.

“What on earth is their relationship? Shupen… What is he up to?”

From the moment Shupen entered the mansion, Macaron had a bad feeling. Maybe because their last encounter wasn’t pleasant. Besides, he never expected Shupen to come here… The unexpectedness added to Macaron’s uneasy feelings.

“He came to teach Kai?”

Although Macaron hadn’t left the Creed territory for a long time, he always got news faster than anyone. Even though his older brother, Rainer Creed, personally asked him to educate ‘Will Creed,’ Shupen openly refused.

“Usually, overseeing the education of a royal heir is quite an honor… He should want to do it…”

Macaron thought Shupen had no interest at all.

“So why suddenly come here? Did he know Calypso before?”

Judging by their recent actions, that was the most plausible guess. Whether Calypso was friendly with someone or had other feelings didn’t really concern Macaron. But since Shupen’s arrival, Macaron had grown sharper than before. Just then, Momont came inside.

“Have you found out about Shupen?”

“I was told the Creed Shadows will arrive tomorrow.”

The Creed Shadows were a secret knight order created by Aint. Trained for a long time, they were the empire’s elite, feared even by the empire itself. Macaron nodded lightly, signaling Momont to leave. But Momont hesitated.

“Is there more to report?”

I wondered if Momont was trying to say something difficult.

“Probably about the territory’s fertilizer issue, the emperor’s annoying message, or the peasants’ taxes.”

But Momont’s report was completely different from Macaron’s expectations.

“Madam has been going in and out of Master Kai’s room every dawn lately.”

Macaron raised one eyebrow noticeably at the mention of Calypso.

“So? Are you saying the madam is after Kai?”

Having been mistaken before, Macaron was cautious this time. But Momont’s face grew even more serious.

“No, but it’s worrying…”

“…”

“Perhaps Your Highness should look into it.”

Macaron knew better than anyone that Momont’s words came from loyalty as a butler. Working as a butler far from the capital in the Creed territory wasn’t an easy choice. When Calypso first came to the mansion, Macaron had also doubted her. He was on guard, thinking she might be a spy. In the past, he would have shown his claws openly at Calypso. But his view of Calypso had changed a lot since then. Today, Macaron gave an unusual order.

“Stop doubting her.”

“What? But…”

Macaron glared firmly at the hesitant Momont.

“Until the contract ends, treat her as the madam and the princess consort.”

Momont stood silently, lips tightly shut.

“Go now.”

After Momont left, darkness shadowed Macaron’s face. His worries over Shupen and Calypso deepened after the report. Skipping meals, he stayed there until night. In the dark room with no lights, it felt as if someone was pressing hard on his chest. As dawn approached, a heavier shadow settled on Macaron’s expression. Stretching out his long arms, he stepped outside to relieve his frustration. By chance, he looked toward the far west annex, where Kai’s room glowed with light. Without realizing it, Macaron’s steps led him there. In the silent hallway, a familiar shadow emerged from Kai’s room. When the light flicked on suddenly, startled eyes met his—and it was Calypso. She held a suspicious bottle in her hand. Taking long strides, she headed there decisively.

Kai slept soundly through the dawn, unaware anyone had come.

“It must have been so hard…”

When I first saw Kai’s blistered hand, the wounds were worse than I expected, and it hurt my heart. The wounds grew darker and deeper each day. Knowing that if I didn’t do it now, Kai would suffer even more, I hesitated, unsure if I was doing the right thing. All I could do was apply ointment to his hand. Even while sleeping, Kai whimpered softly like a puppy when I applied the ointment. At dawn today, as usual, I applied the medicine and left. But suddenly, Macaron appeared right in front of me.

“All the way here at this hour?”

Had Macaron come to see Kai too? Just as I was about to greet him, I noticed something was off about his expression, reflected in the light.

“Why is he like this?”

In a flash, he roughly snatched the medicine container from my hand.

“What… are you doing right now?”

But… Macaron said something I couldn’t understand.

“That’s something I should be asking you…”

From his red eyes staring at me, I felt a murderous intent. My breath nearly stopped. Words I wanted to say got stuck in my throat and echoed silently inside my mouth. I roughly guessed what he was thinking. Still, his words shattered me completely.

“Who told you to do this?”

His sharp gaze stabbed and cut like a blade.

“Who told me?”

Disappointment and contempt filled Macaron’s eyes.

“If it’s not me, why is it Kai?”