IYTROTWMH 10

~Chapter 10~

Just as Rachel, finally feeling at ease, was about to step out of the familiar entrance—

Clang—

The firmly closed front gates opened.

A man with black hair—at once a stranger and not—entered the Valencia mansion, accompanied by the Duke’s aide and several knights.

It was the Mercenary King, Nathan. For a moment, as their calm, blood-red eyes met, Rachel felt old memories threaten to rise up again.

His unrestrained, casual attire pulled her abruptly back into reality. At that moment, something flickered in his gaze.

As if he truly recognized her.

“Miss?”

“……”

Rachel, frozen in place, managed to lower her gaze only when Becky called her.

‘It must be my imagination.’

There was no real connection between them now. Only Rachel’s one-sided discomfort and awkward memories remained.

She did remember that brief encounter on the main road.

But it was nothing more than a moment. Rachel turned to the carriage before he could reach her.

“Let’s go.”

“Please, take my hand.”

Sir Hoffman, who had come up before she knew it, held out his hand. Rachel took it, boarded the waiting Valencia carriage, and Becky hurried in behind her. The silent Valencia butler closed the door politely.

“Farewell, my lady.”

“Go!”

Sir Hoffman gave the order, and the carriage started quickly. Rachel stopped Becky as she tried to open the window.

“Wait a moment.”

“……?”

Through the window Becky had just started to open, figures could be seen passing by. Rachel deliberately did not look that way.

The carriage and the people outside passed each other.

“It’s fine now.”

“……Yes.”

Becky opened the window. The cold air settled Rachel’s uneasy stomach a little. Outside the carriage window, the magnificent garden swept past.

This was truly the end.

The last ride in a Valencia carriage.

The last time meeting that man up close.

Even this mansion would soon become a place she’d never set foot in again.

Ah, except for one last time, perhaps.

Rachel thought of Paris, whom she’d see once after the truth was revealed. The end was near.

Nathan watched the carriage pass by him. Through the window, a small silhouette appeared briefly, then vanished.

‘So she really was a daughter of the Valencia family.’

She seemed tense, and when she hurried into the carriage, it felt like she recognized him, too.

“……”

So it was his fault that she’d looked so pale on the main road.

“Welcome, sir.”

The Valencia butler greeted him politely. As Nathan dismounted, he nodded at the departing carriage.

“Who is that young lady?”

“Ah, that is Lady Ingrave. She’s soon to marry our young master.”

Marrying?

He was surprised to learn she belonged to another noble house, and surprised again to hear she would soon be married.

But then, nobles did tend to marry young. It wasn’t so strange.

“Let me take your reins, sir.”

“……”

Nathan looked once more toward the now-vanished carriage, then handed the butler his horse’s reins. He quietly smoothed his face, which had grown oddly complicated.

“This way, please.”

Pushing aside his thoughts, he followed the aide inside to the Duke’s office.

Aside from the imperial palace, it was the most splendid mansion Nathan had ever seen. He climbed the spiral staircase, past finely carved balusters, recalling fragments of information about the Valencia house.

A family said to have sealed a great demon for over a thousand years.

Their direct bloodline was said to be crucial.

Their house ability was <Sealing>.

He didn’t know much else. Unless someone hired him, he had little interest in courts or the nobility.

The aide stopped before a door guarded by vigilant knights.

Knock, knock—

The aide rapped on the door.

“My lord, it’s Geeks. I’ve brought the Mercenary King.”

“Come in.”

“Please, go ahead.”

The door opened without a sound. Nathan stepped inside, sharpening his senses.

Three in the ceiling. Two by the window. One by the bookcase, and one at the wall, and the floor.

And a familiar aura stood beside the Duke of Valencia.

In the air, blood-red and crimson eyes met. Nathan gave a short nod.

“You said you had something to tell me about my mother.”

“……That’s right. Have a seat.”

The Duke gestured to the sofa opposite him. Nathan sat down and studied the young duke.

The Duke of Valencia. One of the foremost nobles in the land.

But contrary to expectation, he looked quite young—perhaps late thirties to early forties.

The Duke, too, was openly staring at him.

“……”

“……”

Clink—

The silence was broken when the aide returned and set down refreshments. Nathan tapped the old-fashioned teacup with his finger.

“I see you even had people following me.”

“……!”

Nathan instantly identified the similarity between the hidden shadow in the mansion and the presence watching him before.

Same aura. Same ability. Even the way they manipulated magic was alike.

No wonder the aide had hurried to intercept him—he must have realized Nathan was about to corner the shadow agents. The Duke looked up at the aide with a troubled expression.

“So a master swordsman can sense such things.”

“……”

Nathan set down the untouched teacup and looked sharply at the Duke.

“Let’s get to the point. Why were you investigating me?”

“Geeks.”

The Duke signaled quietly to the aide. The aide produced a glass vial containing a clear reagent.

Without hesitation, the Duke drew a dagger and sliced his own palm, letting a drop of crimson blood fall into the vial. The reagent turned a dark, bloody red.

He held out the vial to Nathan.

“Could you put a drop of your blood in here?”

“I came here for answers.”

“And this is the answer. I think you’re my son, and I need to confirm it. And for your own protection, I had to keep it quiet.”

The aide, stepping closer, offered Nathan a fresh dagger. Nathan examined both the dagger and the vial, then looked at the Duke.

So that’s why they’d even investigated his mother’s midwife.

Nathan leaned back into the sofa, his hands utterly still.

“I’ll pass. I have no interest in being tied to a great noble house.”

“You don’t look surprised. Did you already suspect?”

Well.

With a blank face, Nathan shook his head.

“Not exactly. I just thought, since I manifested the <Sealing> ability, if Valencia ever learned of it, they’d probably try to claim me as kin.”

“……!”

Now, to be told he was the duke’s son…

Since a moment ago, something in him was churning. It felt less like shock, and more like anger, or even disgust.

“Is that all you wanted to say?”

Nathan stared dispassionately at his biological father. The duke’s pleased expression slowly hardened.

“You don’t seem happy. Are you angry I only came to find you now?”

“I don’t want to hear it.”

At his cold tone, the Duke fell silent. He was already speaking like a father who was sure of his son.

But Nathan wasn’t interested.

Through the window, the luxurious estate stretched out below.

Whatever expectations his father had—

“If you’d wanted to find me, you should have come when my mother was alive.”

“……!”

So she wouldn’t have had to suffer.

So she wouldn’t have died so meaninglessly.

At the very least, he could have come when Nathan was still a child, but he hadn’t even done that. All of it was finished, either six years ago, or when Nathan reached adulthood three years ago.

Until today, Nathan had even forgotten he had a father.

So now, it really was too late. Coldness began to settle in his red eyes.

“Why are you surprised? You abandoned us once, and now, just because your son is a mercenary king, you need me?”

“It’s not that—”

His biological father’s face was flushed with confusion.