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Chapter 81
The House of Duke Halbern
Among the five ducal families, the Halbern family was the most secretive and shrouded in mystery—a family of hidden power.
Longtime allies of the imperial family, genuine friends, guardians of secrets.
For generations, the Grand Dukes of Halbern wielded immense power, second only to the emperor, and the authority of Halbern became a symbol of unyielding eternity.
—So, we are the true rulers of this empire.
They observed and intervened in everything from behind the scenes, where no one could see.
The secrets in their hands made it possible. Giving up just one thing made everything else incredibly easy.
Humanity.
—No one will ever know. What we do, what happens to them, what we take… with their limited understanding, they will never know.
The voice echoing in his mind was as sly and venomous as a snake.
Valer frowned at the auditory hallucinations that gnawed at his reason and blurred his mind.
The Halbern family’s obsession with secrecy had, over generations, corrupted the amassed power into something vile.
It was as if someone had gathered all that repulsiveness and molded it into a human form.
—Who dares oppose me?
The previous Grand Duke of Halbern, the head of the family, Morden.
—You are not like your sister, my son. You are the one worthy of inheriting my kingdom.
Morden, the cunning and ruthless dictator of Halbern.
A father who freely abused the Halbern power allocated to protect secrets, showing no hint of restraint.
—Compassion? What a laughable notion.
—Abandon such weak emotions, my son.
—You can hold everything in your grasp.
Sometimes, Valer felt disgusted by the blood running through his veins, as if it were choking him.
—If you truly care for your sister, you must listen to me, Valer.
From Morden’s hands—wanting not a son but a submissive doll—Valer had lost far too much, even his capacity for human emotion.
—Do you even wish to lose your sister as well?
Valer frowned at the sensation that clung to him. The feeling was real, not an illusion.
“Go away.”
A sharp click of his tongue, and the shadow that had taken shape to invade his mind fled.
Unlike the secure main building, the private annex—accessible only to direct descendants and the family head’s representatives—was always like this.
Even though he had lived here all his life, Valer had never liked this place.
—…Valer.
Fragments of unwanted memories flitted about freely.
Amid the lifeless stillness and silent quiet, the Grand Duke moved forward without a sound.
—My beloved younger sister…
Her platinum hair shone pale, and her violet eyes swallowed by darkness glimmered black.
Clack.
The lock, long dormant, recognized its master and opened itself.
Creeeak.
Beyond the opened door lay a vast hall shrouded in darkness.
Light filtering through in places faintly revealed the outlines of the hall—a massive gallery with countless frames adorning every wall.
This was the Halbern portrait hall.
It was why he had come to this unwelcoming annex.
—Be happy, my sister.
Walking down corridors past various halls and arches, accessible only to Halbern’s direct line, he reached the deepest section.
《52nd Grand Duke of Halbern, Valer Cirun Halbern》
His portrait, showing a younger face, glowed faintly from the shadows.
Among all the damaged frames, only his portrait remained intact.
And one wall remained entirely empty.
A massive frame, larger than any portrait he had ever seen, lay abandoned on the floor, wrapped in velvet cloth.
A gentle tug made the cloth slip off, revealing a woman’s portrait.
—You must be happy.
Valer stood as if nailed to the spot, staring at the painting.
“Long time no see.”
Platinum hair like melted sunlight and rose-colored eyes like spring.
Shione Sigria Halbern.
His only sister, now someone he could never see again.
“Arerelrel! Help!”
Platinum hair like sunlight shook, and spring-like pink eyes were full of confusion.
The mischievous twins, who had visited Halbern Manor using their father’s connections, wore desperate expressions.
“What do you want me to help with all of a sudden?”
Blinking, he asked, and Ciel and Noel began babbling incoherently.
Perhaps from excitement, he couldn’t understand a word they said.
“Sorry.”
Browning, in charge of apologies, did his best once again.
“No, Noel. You must explain this first!”
“What are you talking about, Ciel? You have to explain this first so Arerelrel can understand!”
While debating whether to stop the bickering twins, Valer noticed Harun awkwardly standing nearby.
‘Why is Harun here?’
“Harun? Why are you just standing there?”
Harun stayed wary.
He looked like a black cat, fur raised, in a strange place—an odd sensation.
“Come here.”
“……”
Harun’s expression said he didn’t want to, but he obeyed.
His careful approach was both funny and cute, and Valer laughed unconsciously.
“Good boy.”
Patting his head, Harun’s cheeks flushed red.
“Did you come with the twins?”
Harun shook his head.
His clear, steadfast gaze challenged him to a staring contest. Valer hadn’t mastered “eye language” yet—awkward.
“Tell me.”
“To see my uncle.”
“Uncle?”
Harun had one? But why come to Halbern for it?
Before Valer could dwell on it, one of the familiar window shadows suddenly flapped and entered.
“Nephew—!”
It was the knight who once lectured him on the beauty of dragons.
Was his name Jaren?
“I wanted to see you! Where’s Johan? Why did you come alone? Still, good, our little cutie!”
Valer watched as Jaren fawned over Harun.
“Arereliririn!”
“Arerelrel!”
The twins found him again.
“Alright, alright, I’m listening, you little devils.”
What kind of help had brought them all the way here?
“Daddy said if we bring the dragon thing, he’ll grant our wish!”
“Special blank check from the Sperom family!”
“Oh, I see.”
Naturally, their help was about dragon byproducts.
“Arereliririn, help!”
“Please—!”
Coincidentally, Valer had some dragon byproducts himself.
The knights they encountered along the way had contributed some, boasting of their own glory.
‘I was worried about how to dispose of this anyway… I’ll give it to the twins.’
“What will you do for me if I sell it?”
But negotiation is the basis of any deal.
“Money… right?”
“All I have is money.”
A line he had always wanted to say came out of the twins’ mouths.
“Forget money. Help me for a bit.”
“Huh?”
He had something he wanted to try anyway.
‘How did I get into this situation?’
Naturally, he still hadn’t admitted that he liked Pashion… or, well, whatever.
The racing heart, thinking only of Pashion, the desire to see him—he blamed it all on being “abnormal.”
Or maybe he was enchanted by that face!
‘The twins aren’t so bad either.’
Seeing his father made him realize he was a fool. If he were a true fool, shouldn’t his heart beat for them too?
“Huh? Arerelin?”
He held the hands of Noel and Ciel. Unlike the embarrassed twins, he felt calm.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
He pulled Ciel close.
His heart, which had raced like a broken machine with Pashion, was now calm.
“Hey, next time will you hug me?”
“Why all of a sudden? Are you hurt?”
Perhaps not with the twins.
After a moment’s thought, he left the twins and went outside to find Harun playing with his uncle in the garden.
Since Harun liked him more than the twins, his heart might react more strongly.
“Harun.”
“?”
He grabbed Harun’s hand.
Harun’s eyes widened.
‘As expected, my heart is calm.’
He hugged him. Frozen Harun and calm Valer.
“Should I try a kiss too?”
Why wasn’t his heart racing?
Just as he was grumbling,
“Uuuuuuuuuh?”
“What did I just see?”
“Romance?! Green light?!”
The slacking knights started making a fuss. Valer decided to go back before it got troublesome.
At that moment,
“Uh.”
“Uh?”
Their eyes met.
Pashion, who had just entered Halbern Manor, opened his eyes wide.
