Chapter 91

“The only reason problems never surfaced until now was because Lindquist always cleaned up after you. And yet you dare to talk about responsibility? You’re nothing but a child.”

Kenneth, who had been killed by Colin’s younger brother, had worked as Linus’s deputy alongside Gerard. While Gerard usually handled external affairs, Kenneth managed the internal coordination of the knights. Naturally, he often ended up helping with Linus’s personal matters as well.

‘Kenneth killed Colin? Out of jealousy?’

Impossible.

Many members of the “Blue Dawn” were deeply devoted to Linus, including Gerard. Gerard had admired Linus ever since he was young, amazed by his accomplishments. Linus wasn’t someone who relied only on talent—he trained every day, sharpening his skills for the kingdom of Yulia.

Of course, in front of his wife, Linus could sometimes get emotional. Gerard had always thought that little flaw was cute, like a knight and maiden from a fairy tale.

But not everyone in the knights admired Linus the same way Gerard did. Some worshiped him almost like a god.

Kenneth was the prime example.

From Gerard’s perspective, Kenneth was a blind devotee. He acted as if Linus wasn’t even the same kind of human as the rest of them. Kenneth clung to every word Linus spoke, insisting he would do anything Linus asked.

To be honest, Kenneth wasn’t the only one.

There were several knights in “Blue Dawn” who worshiped Linus in the same way. He had overwhelming strength, a face so beautiful it almost felt alien, and the aura of a perfect human. His deep, night-colored eyes were so captivating that looking into them felt like being drawn in. Serving someone like that gave them pride and purpose.

Gerard thought of it as another form of respect. But not everyone could think so simply.

Some admired him so much, loved him so much, that they wanted to grant his every wish. They were like cult fanatics—if Linus ordered it, they wouldn’t even question killing a fellow knight they had just laughed with the day before.

And the reason?

Because Florence had once said:

“That man is cute.”

Gerard couldn’t know the full cause, but the word jealousy explained a lot. He himself had witnessed how noisy Florence and Linus’s displays of affection had been. He’d seen Florence sulking over some small nuance in Linus’s tone, and Linus gently coaxing her, calling her cute. That alone was enough to show how much Linus loved her.

“How could something like this happen?”

“You really can’t judge people well, Gerard. You spent ten years at his side and still didn’t see it.”

“….”

While Gerard stood frozen, Linus followed Lucas outside.

“Don’t ever touch Florence. Ever.”

“That depends on you. Poor Gerard, though. You could have at least spared him a word.”

“Promise me you won’t touch Florence.”

Linus ground his teeth. Lucas wasn’t an easy opponent. Without Laila’s curse, Linus could have handled Lucas and his two knights in one blow, but if reinforcements arrived, even he couldn’t win.

As Linus climbed into the carriage, Lucas spoke.

“You’ve disappointed me, Linus. Since your wife left, you’ve been living like trash, haven’t you?”

“…”

“All this just because of one woman?”

“She’s not just one woman.”

Linus’s clenched fist shook on his knee. Lucas sneered.

“The woman who ran away because she hated you?”

“No.”

“The woman who cried that you beat her and then ran to another man?”

“That’s not true!”

A sharp killing intent crawled across Linus’s skin. Lucas only scoffed.

“They say you can’t even sleep without your wife in your arms. At least that rumor was true. You’ve gone mad.”

“I’m more rational now than ever.”

“The crown prince summoned you, and you ignored him. You abandoned your duties as commander. You locked yourself away like trash. And only when you heard your wife went to another man did you scurry out like a rat with its tail on fire—and you call this rational?”

“Don’t speak so carelessly when you know nothing.”

Lucas gave a cold laugh.

“Fine. I don’t know. I don’t care how burning your so-called love was.”

“No one understands how much Florence and I love each other. We were destined. She has to return to me!”

“That’s none of my concern.”

“Then stay out of it…”

“That’s impossible. No matter how pathetic you are, you’re still a Lindquist and my brother. If you mess up, it shames us all. We can’t suffer more disgrace because of you.”

“I don’t need Lindquist.”

If Lucas hadn’t been a Sword Master—and if he hadn’t brought two Sword Experts as backup—Linus wouldn’t have followed him so quietly. At the very least, he would’ve cut off his arm first.

“Linus, that woman only loved you because you’re a Lindquist. If you lose everything, she’ll never come back.”

Lucas knew Florence. She smiled innocently, but her eyes brimmed with desire. He wasn’t foolish enough to miss it. The moment he compared Linus—the prize she held—to himself, the future heir of Lindquist, he found Florence laughable. To love such a woman so fiercely? His brother was a fool.

In truth, it wasn’t love. It was just the bond between a needy person and a greedy one.

“There’s no way. We’re different…”

“Everyone says that. That their life is special, their love beautiful.”

“You only say that because you don’t understand anything.”

My angel from another world. My flower. My…

‘Linus!’

My beautiful, perfect Florence.

Linus believed their love was destiny, crossing even worlds. It had to be. They were born to love each other. Even when Florence was only a half-shell, she had loved him—that had been the groundwork. Hyunji would return to him “through Florence’s body.” This was just a temporary trial.

“Then why are you here, brother?”

“…”

“If Grandmother had her way, she’d cut ties with me after Florence’s scandal. She would have declared Baldwin and Lindquist completely separate. So why send you?”

Though Lindquist had treated Hyunji warmly on the surface, they had never fully accepted her. She was only treated as the Baldwin Marchioness, not a member of Lindquist. Hyunji had never understood the line they drew.

“I thought you’d gone stupid, living like trash. But it seems your head is working again.”

“…”

“You’re right. Grandmother flew into a rage after reading the papers. She swore she’d cut ties with you. I barely stopped her from publicly declaring Baldwin and Lindquist separate.”

Linus frowned. So Lucas hadn’t come because of Grandmother’s orders—it was his own decision.

“Everyone in Yulia knows you’re my brother. What difference would cutting ties make?”

“When were we ever so close?”

“…To you, maybe I’m nothing more than a stranger. You’ve made it clear you only care about that woman, as if nothing else matters.”

“Brother. Watch your mouth. Florence is—”

“Yes, your wife. Damn it. I can’t even talk around you.”

To Linus, there were only two kinds of people: Florence, and everyone else. He didn’t even hide it—not from the crown prince, not from anyone. At first, the prince had thought it amusing. Now, he looked more and more displeased.

It was the same with his family. Linus clearly prioritized Florence. He never attended an event without her. If she felt even a little uncomfortable, he immediately left.

Yet Lucas had once found Linus endearing when he was small. He couldn’t bring himself to cut him off so cleanly, even if Grandmother demanded it.

Lucas sighed.

“Do you know where Laila Green is?”