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Chapter 53
The two men who had been kicked out sat dazedly on the first floor of the inn, killing time.
They couldn’t go upstairs until Kasia and the nanny finished their bath, so they needed somewhere to pass the time.
Even though they were guests, they couldn’t just occupy the space without doing anything, so they had ordered some simple food.
As he gulped down the beer they had ordered, Willes glanced sideways at his young master.
The boy looked quite troubled at the moment.
‘Well, of course. Having just escaped from the enemies’ grasp and still not being completely safe, it makes sense that he’d be anxious.’
Of course, that was part of it, but the real reason Edmund’s expression was so complicated wasn’t that.
It was the sound he had heard before being chased out by the nanny that kept replaying in his mind.
“I can take it off by myself! Nanny! Eek!”
And then—splash!
For the boy, it was an extremely stimulating sound.
It was far too provocative for his imagination.
But—
‘I can’t believe I’m such a lowly-minded person!’
The boy sank into self-reproach.
His chest felt tight, and his mouth felt like it was on fire, so he gulped down the ginger ale he had ordered for himself in one shot.
Willes, unaware of what was truly going on in Edmund’s mind, could only look at his young master with a pitying expression.
To prevent the boy from becoming too anxious, he deliberately changed the subject.
“After going to the Duchy of Lamberto, do you have any plans for what you’ll do next?”
Edmund was initially startled, then relaxed when he realized that Willes had used a spell to prevent the sound from escaping.
They had been meticulous about security while living at the Cohen villa.
There was no way Willes would make a mistake in such matters.
“I’ll seek my grandfather’s help and prepare to reclaim the Duchy.”
He began with a general statement but added a practical explanation.
“But I don’t plan to move immediately. If it’s known that I escaped and went to Lamberto, the Zenobia royal family would increase their vigilance toward my grandfather.”
When the Palts royal family was annihilated, the two families that had protected the kingdom were also severely affected by Zenobia.
The Duke and Duchess of Cohen died under mysterious circumstances, leaving their only heir, Edmund, in the hands of his uncle.
The Duke of Lamberto remained alone, guarding the border after losing his heir.
‘If it weren’t for the border monsters, my grandfather might not have survived either.’
The fate of defending the border from monsters was both a chain passed down through generations and a shield.
It was a shackle that prevented the duke from acting even after losing all his children.
Yet, it was also the reason the Zenobia royal family couldn’t eliminate Lamberto entirely.
“But the journey to the duchy will be long and dangerous. Above all, if anyone learns that the young duke is still alive, they’ll likely head there.”
“I know that too. Then, where do you think I should go?”
“How about the Mage Kingdom? I can become your guardian, create a new identity for you, and you can go there.”
It wasn’t a bad suggestion.
The Mage Kingdom was a nation formed by the greatest wizards across the continent.
Naturally, it attracted the continent’s most talented magicians.
Since Edmund already possessed exceptional magical talent, studying there to hone his skills would be a good idea.
He could even recruit the incredible talents gathered there.
But Edmund shook his head.
“Your suggestion isn’t wrong. But I have no intention of changing my plan to go to Lamberto.”
“Because you are the only bloodline of the duke, after all?”
“That too. But, Willes, I am not only the heir of the Cohen dukedom, but also the heir of Lamberto.”
It was true.
The Duke of Lamberto had already lost both his children, leaving Edmund as the sole surviving descendant.
Though his striking hair color had been dyed black to hide it during the villa escape, Edmund’s silver hair was also a characteristic of the Lamberto family.
“So, you intend to directly inherit the Duchy of Lamberto?”
Edmund wore an arrogant smile.
In that moment, he was no longer a fugitive hiding in a countryside inn; he revealed himself as a natural-born ruler.
A single word or simple gesture was enough to show it.
“That is both my birthright and my duty. No matter how heavy or difficult, I will not abandon my duty, nor will I relinquish my rights.”
He truly was the sole heir of both the Cohen and Lamberto noble families.
Willes smiled brightly and responded.
“It is unfortunate as a friend of the late lady that you’ve chosen such a difficult path. But as a magician, I can’t help but have a different perspective.”
“What perspective?”
“It’s a shame that this shabby inn is where we have this conversation. Not exactly the right place for a wizard’s oath of loyalty.”
Willes slightly bowed his head to show respect to his master.
Edmund only gave a faint smile in return.
After that, they discussed various matters, from the important to the trivial.
It was no coincidence that someone’s name eventually came up.
“And right now, I am the head of the Cohen family. I have family to take responsibility for.”
“Family…?”
Willes’ expression became strange.
Edmund wouldn’t consider the current Duke and Duchess and their son Patrick as family.
His grandfather, the Duke of Lamberto, was not part of the Cohen family.
‘Then the person the young duke—or rather, the head of the family—would call family must be…’
“You mean the young lady?”
It was a simple observation, but it turned Edmund, who had seemed calm and arrogantly in control, into a boy with flushed cheeks.
He had already noticed, but now he realized it all the more clearly.
‘He’s really fallen hard.’
It was understandable—no, it was inevitable.
No matter what anyone said, Willes had seen how Kasia treated Edmund.
That was why he could give such advice.
“I know very well that Lady Kasia is kind and extremely capable. She will likely provide great help in restoring your position as head of the family.”
Edmund returned to being the arrogant ruler from the shy boy he had just been.
“I think the same. Her abilities are more than enough.”
The implied addition of “as the Duchess of Cohen” was left unsaid, but both men present understood it perfectly.
However, Willes’ following point was not so comforting.
“But being someone who was nearly cast out by the Marquis of Florence may become a problem later.”
“Who would dare?”
Even seeing Edmund’s anger, Willes calmly continued with the facts.
“The first problem would be how the Duke of Lamberto would perceive Lady Kasia.”
“……”
Even Edmund could not deny it.
The family had declined so much, and from the Duke’s perspective, she was the servant sent by the enemy who had killed his daughter.
He would likely disapprove.
“Especially after you reclaim the duchy, the chances of it becoming an issue are high.”
“Wouldn’t that actually be fine? Who would dare oppose a wife I recognize as Duke…”
Edmund spoke naturally, then suddenly blushed.
He only now realized what he had said.
‘Wife…’
It was an objective truth, yet saying it out loud felt incredibly awkward.
Still, if asked whether he disliked or was displeased with the term… he would absolutely answer no.
Seeing Edmund like this, Willes couldn’t help but laugh.
“It seems your decision is firm.”
“Yes.”
“The late Duke and Duchess were both resolute in their will.”
“I will be the same.”
Willes bowed once again, pledging to his chosen master.
“I also believe that her heart and abilities make her the most suitable for the position of Duchess. I will serve with all my strength.”
This statement allowed Edmund to say something he had never said before, despite Willes’ loyalty and goodwill.
“Thank you.”
“…It is my pleasure.”
Willes chuckled.
It was the first time he had heard the word “thank you” from Edmund.
Not when he risked his life to save the boy, not when he prepared the antidote—never before.
Yet now, he spoke those precious words for a girl.
And Willes had devoted his life to admiring one woman.
He was one of the few close aides who could genuinely support Edmund’s attitude.
With a satisfied expression, Willes looked at Edmund and added an unnecessary comment.
“Of course, seeing the young lady’s talent, it is a pity that we can’t bring her to the Mage Kingdom.”
The touching master-servant empathy vanished instantly.
“Trying to steal the future Duchess in advance, huh?”
The two men spent the rest of their time bickering again.
Enough time must have passed by then.
Edmund, now fully composed, knocked on the door of the guest room.
Willes had gone out, saying he was buying some needed items.
Knock, knock!
“Ah, you may come in.”
It was Kasia’s voice.
Edmund suppressed the smile that naturally rose and opened the door.
When he stepped into the room—
He froze, mouth agape, in surprise.
