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Chapter 33
“This was definitely the way…”
A boy who had just arrived in the capital from the countryside stood before a maze of twisted streets, unable to leave the same spot for hours.
His hometown, Arisonford, was a remote village so far away that even a carriage from the capital would take ten full days to reach it, with not a single large city nearby.
He was only twelve years old, but as someone with foreign blood, he prided himself on being strong enough not to lose to anyone in terms of stamina.
His mother had rare black hair and black eyes—she was a foreigner.
After his father passed away, the boy and his mother scraped by doing chores for the villagers.
Even before that, his mother had been treated with contempt, and after she passed away, the villagers didn’t hesitate to treat the boy like a servant, often abusing him.
He thought he would die in that village, unwelcomed and forgotten, never able to leave.
But then…
Even in the remote mountain region so far off the map that the kingdom often forgot to collect taxes, a subordinate of Duke Cromford visited. They carried a magical stone capable of detecting latent abilities in children.
“You have a special power.”
The moment his hand touched the stone, a brilliant light exploded from it. Seeing that even a crack had formed on the surface, the duke’s subordinate immediately contacted the capital.
“What’s your name?”
“Main Character.”
The name his mother gave him was unlike any others.
The villagers all mocked it as strange, but the duke’s subordinate revealed the true meaning behind it.
“Main Character… That’s an Eastern Continental term meaning the central figure in every story.”
It was the first time anyone had ever said it was a good name. While others mocked him, only the duke’s man recognized its worth.
“You have potential.”
That small sentence became his salvation.
He decided to leave the village without a second thought.
The night before his departure, the villagers came to him, suggesting he let the village chief’s son go in his place.
If the chief’s son caught the duke’s eye, it would be better for the whole village.
He still vividly remembered the face of the elm tree house’s old man shouting at him to repay their kindness with this one gesture.
“I told you no.”
They quickly revealed their true colors, saying a mere orphan didn’t deserve such an opportunity.
They already had everything—yet they still tried to take even this one lifeline away from him. He could no longer back down.
To protect the first real opportunity he had ever received, the boy picked up the sword the duke’s subordinate had given him.
The villagers came at him with ropes and axes, but their movements seemed impossibly slow.
Despite being just twelve, not a single adult in the village could defeat him.
Leaving those memories behind, the boy looked up at the grand building before him.
“So this is the Cromford Duchy…”
At last, after a long journey, he had arrived at the duke’s estate.
The clean roads, the sharp castle walls, the busy people going to and fro—this was like another world. And it would now be his world.
When he presented his letter of recommendation, a guard in silver armor immediately escorted him to someone of high rank.
“A-Are you the Duke?”
“Of course not. I am Jade, head steward under Duke Wilfred Cromford.”
Jade explained that, as a sign of devotion to Cromford, he did not reveal his own surname.
After carefully reviewing the stained, crumpled documents, Jade gave the scruffy boy a room without hesitation.
“I received word from Lord Armea already. Your name was…?”
“Main Character.”
“Ah, an Eastern Continental style name.”
Like Lord Armea, Jade also took the name without surprise.
“What’s the Eastern Continent?”
“It’s far across the eastern sea. I heard your mother was from there, actually.”
He was told that in that distant land, many people had the same black hair and eyes as his mother.
“Then… can I find my mother’s family too?”
“The Count of Blado recently opened trade routes, so interaction has become more active. If you work in the duchy, I’m sure an opportunity will arise.”
“I’ll do my best!”
The duke’s men had scoured the country for talented children, but only this boy had shattered the magical stone with his latent power.
“The only one with potential like yours would be Lord Fildram.”
“Lord Fildram?”
“He now commands 50,000 of the duke’s private soldiers and leads the dragon hunts.”
On his way to the capital, the boy had traveled with various travelers and heard stories—tales of Fildram’s feats.
“He killed a wyvern with his bare hands, chews on magic stones like steel, and once jumped off a flying dragon!”
“Well, none of it is exaggerated.”
“Could I become someone like that too?”
Faced with the boy’s admiring eyes, Jade paused briefly in thought.
“You just need to grow up as yourself. There’s no need to become someone else.”
The boy, moved by the words, still didn’t know who Fildram really was. Jade sighed at the sight of the innocent child.
“Your only role is to protect the lady and the future heir.”
Jade then showed him a portrait of the duke and duchess.
Looking at the dignified couple on their wedding day, the boy swallowed hard.
They looked like beings from legend—like the village elders’ tales. The man, reminiscent of the sun god Helios, had a halo-like aura behind him, and the woman beside him, like the dawn goddess Eos, wore a gentle smile that reminded him of his late mother.
“Why are you crying?”
“She looks just like my mother…”
“Your mother?”
Though their hair colors differed, and the woman in the painting appeared ten years younger than his mother, the memory was enough to bring tears to his eyes.
“It’s better to avoid such behavior in front of the lady.”
Despite Jade’s warning, the boy’s heart was already overflowing.
He wanted to protect the woman who resembled his mother. With only that earnest desire, he began his new life in the duchy.
* * *
Early morning. Rose let out a loud shriek after reading a letter from the duke’s estate.
“Rose, what is it?!”
“Frija—our Frisia…!”
“Did something happen to her?!”
Did that tyrant duke hurt her fragile sister?
Lily quickly grabbed the letter to read it.
“It’s an invitation?”
“Frisia’s not enough. I want to see Frisia…”
Watching her eldest sister practically scream “Give me back my sister!” Lily placed a hand on her head to suppress the headache building.
Putting aside their busy schedules, the two sisters stood in front of the duchy, dressed in their finest outfits—which were technically closer to battle gear.
Even those outfits had been gifted by that child.
“We’ve been expecting you. Countess Devlan, Lady Lily. I’m Head Maid Ada.”
“I believe the invitation was from Madame Benoît?”
“She’s waiting inside. Please, follow me.”
On record, she was Frisia’s mother-in-law.
When they entered to greet the most senior member, a tall, intimidating woman over 190cm greeted them cheerfully.
“Are you Madame Benoît?”
“No, I’m Rasita, Wil’s youngest aunt.”
“I’m Madame Benoît.”
Though she was said to be sixty this year, Madame Benoît looked no older than Rose herself. She grabbed Rose’s hand with a radiant smile.
“Come, sit down. I’ve been dying to meet Frisia’s sisters.”
“Thank you so much for inviting us.”
Rose may have received the invitation from Madame Benoît, but the one she truly wanted to see was Frisia.
Oblivious to her longing, Madame Benoît joyfully examined Rose and Lily in turn, unable to hide her delight.
“All three of you resemble each other so uniquely. Individually, you wouldn’t guess you’re sisters, but together, the similarity is clear.”
“Pardon me, but where is my sister…?”
“Frisia’s probably still sleeping. She must’ve been… kept up by my nephew last night. Let her rest.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Rose gave Lily a warning glance to stay silent and took a deep breath to calm her rising fury.
“I’d like to know the reason you suddenly summoned us today.”
“Is a reason necessary? Frisia kept crying about missing her family, so I personally took it upon myself to invite you.”
With her fan half-covering her face, Madame Benoît seemed to be barely suppressing laughter.
Rose was sure now—the duke was tormenting her poor sister.
No longer able to bear it, she stood up and made her way to the couple’s quarters.
“If this is why you’ve been avoiding meetings, I won’t stand for it. I’ll use force if I must to ensure my sister is safe.”
“Wait, sister—!”
Lily’s plea fell on deaf ears.
Rose sprinted up the stairs, three steps at a time, and grabbed the collar of the servant blocking the hall.
“Where’s their room?!”
“T-That way!”
Several servants tried to stop her, but they were no match for the former knight Rose.
Guided by her hostage, she stood before a grand door—and without a second thought, kicked it open.
“Frisia!”
At that moment, a loud BOOM echoed from inside the room.
