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Chapter 121
After the large-scale lawsuit, Mehen went out for the first time.
“Such a hassle.”
Beside him was Valer.
With a languid expression, Valer stretched his long legs. Remarkably, he was dressed in a perfectly tailored three-piece suit—dress shirt, vest, and frock coat. Not wearing ceremonial attire or the knightly uniform, he still looked so sharp that he naturally drew everyone’s attention.
His cufflinks and tie pin, crafted from obsidian, even the handkerchief, bore the Halbern crest, yet everyone seemed to only notice Valer’s face.
Perhaps thanks to having such a visual totem beside him, Mehen didn’t worry about the stares directed at him at all.
‘Come to think of it, the lawsuit against this guy is the real problem.’
The problem was that the Duke of Halbern was such a prominent figure that the court could not reach a quick conclusion.
Valer didn’t say anything, yet others instinctively gave him deference—a fact that irritated Mehen the most.
Valer tilted his head when their eyes met.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because it’s annoying.”
When Valer opened his mouth again, Mehen quickly covered it.
Thanks to that, he prevented any reckless remarks about “darling” or the like.
Seeing Valer’s eyes narrow, Mehen quickly changed the subject.
“Have you thought about a birthday present?”
He let go of Valer’s mouth and acted as if nothing had happened.
As they boarded the prepared carriage, Valer asked.
“A birthday present?”
“Aren’t Arellyn’s birthday coming soon?”
“Oh.”
Valer let out a low sigh.
“So that’s why I had that dream.”
A birthday present, huh.
Thinking back, it felt like ages ago that he had even considered such things—when his sister was still around, and he was young and immature.
“What would she like?”
“You should think about that yourself, my lord.”
“What do kids like these days?”
“Do you think I know?”
“Wife.”
“I’ll kill you.”
“What did you prepare, then?”
“Your neck.”
Mehen responded fiercely.
“Hoho.”
“Wouldn’t it feel good to inherit a title and an astronomical fortune at such a young age?”
Valer laughed heartily.
“I’m not joking.”
“Mm. Try your best.”
With a playful gesture, Valer said he’d “die” if she insisted.
“So, you’re really not going to tell me what it is?”
“No.”
“That’s unfair, Mehen.”
“The one who’s truly unfair is you.”
The noisy Founding Festival had ended.
Tourists who had filled the streets of the capital were now preparing to return to their routines, enjoying the lingering excitement.
With the consecutive events concluded successfully, the social scene also quieted down somewhat.
Today marked the final official event: an artifact auction hosted by the royal family and the Duke of Gremwatt.
“I wonder why His Majesty is so anxious, constantly sending people back and forth. What a nuisance.”
Valer and Mehen had come to this very auction hall.
Valer made no effort to hide his annoyance. Mehen sighed.
“You might get arrested for sacrilege.”
“Let them.”
He did not regret returning to the capital, but every time Emperor Edward exhibited such paranoid behavior, Valer grew tired of it.
If the alliance between Halbern and Alermann were something that could be broken, he would have long since declared independence for the duchy.
“Since we’re here, why not at least check out the auction?”
“Same items every time anyway.”
Artifacts unearthed only in ruins had already piled up in Halbern’s treasure vault countless times.
Besides, items appearing here were predictable. If they were rare and secret-laden “artifacts,” the royal family wouldn’t give them away lightly.
So, the items were likely judged useless, just as Valer expected.
“‘Same items every time,’ you say—my dear sir, you’d make Grandpa furious.”
The Duke of Sperom, who had arrived earlier, scolded Valer.
“Are you proud of being the only one still active?”
“You, you insolent brat.”
“Just stating the facts.”
Unlike other ducal families where succession had passed smoothly to heirs, the Gremwatt family still had a duke in his sixties.
Their heir had died in an accident during an exploration, and the title had not been passed to the second son, which caused some internal controversy.
“Valer.”
“Yes?”
The Duke of Sperom moved closer to Valer and lowered his voice.
“Since you feel bad for Mehen, couldn’t you ask if he would withdraw the lawsuit? My letter got no reply, and I couldn’t even schedule a meeting.”
His gaze shifted past Valer to Mehen. Valer glanced at Mehen before returning his eyes to the Duke of Sperom.
“Simon.”
“Hm?”
“Don’t act so pathetic.”
“….”
The Duke of Sperom flinched but, unwilling to challenge, pointed a finger in frustration and walked away.
The Duke of Muvisk, arriving late, witnessed the scene and looked confused.
“His Majesty the Emperor and Empress are entering.”
Before the auction began, the orchestra sponsored by the Sperom family performed as Emperor Edward and Empress Azenie entered, attracting everyone’s attention.
Upon seeing Valer, Emperor Edward’s eyes sharpened.
“Where’s the Duchess? Why are you alone?”
“The Duchess?”
“Mehen, you brat.”
“Ah.”
Valer smiled briefly and shrugged.
“Does anyone know why His Majesty is angry?”
“Because of you!”
Emperor Edward, momentarily forgetting his dignity, raised his voice, then cleared his throat and spoke more quietly.
“You should have told me sooner, you brat. Do I have to find out from the newspapers?”
“She is my wife, though.”
“What?!”
“Mehen, come here.”
As all eyes turned toward the distant Mehen, a twitch crossed his smile.
“Really… insufferable.”
Seeing Mehen’s fierce refusal, Valer pouted.
“I’ve been abandoned.”
“Well, good.”
Empress Azenie, observing the situation, sighed and moved Mehen to another seat, and Emperor Edward followed, only to stop halfway.
“Where are you going?”
Valer tried to leave but was stopped. He had been about to leave after greeting, but…
“Just stay put. You even skipped the Founding Festival dinner. At least show your face here. You should let everyone see that radiant face of yours.”
“I’ll be wearing a mask anyway.”
“Everyone will know by your presence.”
Valer put on the butterfly mask provided by the auction hall and lowered his gaze.
“Attend the charity dinner after the auction too.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“And don’t cause trouble.”
After firmly instructing Valer, Emperor Edward returned to Empress Azenie, who was sitting happily with Mehen.
Boring.
Valer clicked his tongue, killing time meaninglessly.
The auction proceeded as scheduled.
Though the types of artifacts were varied, as Valer expected, none were particularly useful. He watched the auction with growing boredom.
“Ah.”
The hallucinations began again today, as always, and Valer frowned.
Unable to stay any longer, he quietly rose and slipped into the corridor.
The empty corridor gave him a sense of relief.
‘It seems to be getting worse…’
Valer sighed at the relapse of the previously dormant madness.
Footsteps.
He froze at the sound coming from the end of the corridor.
Long, flowing silver hair. Through the delicate butterfly mask, piercing green eyes glared unmistakably.
“Hah.”
There was no mistaking him.
A thin smile traced Valer’s lips.
“I knew we’d meet someday, but I didn’t expect it here.”
Regent Duke Locke.
The man presumed to be Arellyn’s biological father smiled as he faced Valer.
