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Chapter : 22
Duke Eike glared as he spoke.
“This is none of your business. I have my reasons.”
Tris replied calmly.
“Then I need to hear them.”
“I have no obligation to explain myself to you. Turn back now. Have you already forgotten the promise you made to me?”
“No, Father. I can’t turn back. If you intend to use Idella as a sacrificial offering, shouldn’t I at least prepare for it?”
“You little…!”
Duke Eike’s fury spiraled out of control. Rok’s chest tightened with anxiety. He had never witnessed such an extreme confrontation before. At the same time, he was stunned by Tris. He must be out of his mind. No matter what, the other party was a duke—and his father. Right or wrong didn’t matter. This was unquestionably Tris’s fault.
“We are House Eike. Nobility. What do you think will happen if a bastard receives a title? Rebellion. Creatures not even worthy of being called human will rise up in revolt.”
“That’s not what I’m asking. Do you truly believe an old man can still sire a son? He’s kept countless women, yet not one has borne him a son. Lately, it seems he can’t even properly plant his seed.”
Duke Eike’s expression stiffened. So he wasn’t as detached from the world as he appeared—he’d heard all the rumors. Tris wasn’t finished.
“And if Idella fails as well, do you intend to force her to conceive?”
For a brief moment, panic flickered across Duke Eike’s face. So it was true. Tris felt ashamed of himself. Even being the son of such a man filled him with disgust.
Tris spoke from the heart.
“I’m warning you. If that happens, I might kill you.”
Everyone gasped in shock. Those words should never have been spoken. All eyes turned to Duke Eike.
Duke Eike’s eyes narrowed. Tris had crossed the final line. For a son to declare he would kill his father—this was unthinkable. It was outright treason.
Clang! Duke Eike drew his sword in an instant. Before Rok could stop him, the blade slashed across Tris’s face. Skin split open, and blood streamed down.
“Ah!” Peta cried out in alarm, stepping in front of him.
“My lord!”
“Move aside, Peta. Today, I will kill this wretch.”
“My lord, please, you mustn’t!”
When Rok also blocked his path, Duke Eike roared,
“Move, before I kill you all!”
His sword pressed forward, as though it would cut down Rok’s neck at any moment. Then—
Bang! The door burst open, and Idella appeared. Seeing Tris’s blood-soaked face, her eyes filled with tears as she spoke.
“It’s okay, Brother Tris.”
“Go back inside.”
“It’s really okay. I can do this. I’ll become the count’s wife.”
“Idella, you don’t have to—”
“No, Brother. Listen to me.”
Idella stepped closer, took out a handkerchief, and pressed it firmly against Tris’s face to stop the bleeding.
“Please don’t do this. If you fight Father, I’ll have nowhere to turn.”
“Don’t say something so foolish. You don’t need to sacrifice yourself.”
His voice was cold. The tightly restrained anger struck straight at Idella’s heart. Her lips curved into something like a smile. No one else would ever know this blessing—to have a brother who cherished her so deeply. She was blessed.
“You’re the one being foolish. Listen to me.”
“Idella…”
Tris’s darkened eyes wavered. Idella would die there. That was not a world she could endure. She should go to a better man.
Idella said firmly,
“I promise. I’ll endure it. I’ll carry myself with dignity so as not to tarnish House Eike’s name. I am Idella Eike. I won’t lose to a mere count’s petty tyranny.”
Tris clenched his teeth. He had heard that Count Lorem’s castle was steeped in the shadow of his late wife. Tris might have preferred other pursuits, but he wasn’t ignorant of the world. Every visit to the capital brought fresh rumors, and even a trip to the marketplace was filled with gossip from merchants of every domain. Among them were rumors about Count Lorem—most of them vile.
Idella whispered softly,
“But still… if it ever becomes too hard for me, come get me then. I’ll trust only you. So don’t do anything this stupid.”
Tris didn’t smile. Without a word, he pulled Idella tightly into his chest—his tiny, precious little sister. He spoke as though making a vow.
“Alright. I swear it. When you need me, I will come. I’ll come and take you away.”
“Okay. Then don’t fight Father anymore. I want you to become the duke.”
Tris didn’t answer. It was already too late. Once Duke Eike had drawn his sword, he would banish Tris as an example if nothing else. And Tris had realized something as well—there was no longer any reason to remain under his father’s shadow.
A rotten stench seemed to radiate from Duke Eike. Idella was only the beginning. It was horrifying to imagine what he might do next. For the sake of power, he would do anything. Tris himself, his siblings—they would all become puppets dancing to the tune of authority. If he compromised now, he too would rot. And if that happened, he might not be able to rescue Idella when she needed him.
That, at least, could not happen.
He would leave. He would step out of his father’s shadow and build strength of his own.
At last, Tris released Idella. His dark blue eyes gleamed with cold resolve.
After the chaos that laid bare everyone’s true nature, Idella boarded the carriage. Once it disappeared from view, Duchess Marie burst into tears.
“I don’t want to hear it! It’s not like she’s going to her death!”
Duke Eike barked angrily. He was in a foul mood. How dare she cry and defy him over his decisions? It felt like his authority had been trampled. This was all Tris’s fault. Once again, the boy had blemished his name. Duke Eike’s face flushed with humiliation and rage.
This wouldn’t do. Tris would be entrusted with even greater duties in the future—he couldn’t behave like this already. Before his plans were disrupted, he needed to crush Tris completely.
Duke Eike glared at him and began,
“Tris, I already warned—”
Clatter. Before he could finish, Tris unfastened his sword belt and threw it to the floor.
“I’m leaving.”
“Tris?”
“Brother! Have you lost your mind?!”
Everyone stared at Tris in shock. He met Duke Eike’s gaze and spoke proudly.
“Father and I dream different dreams. So I will walk out on my own.”
Duke Eike’s fury reached its peak. He punched Tris square in the face and shouted,
“Fine! Leave! Never appear before me again! I don’t care whether you live or die!”
Tris’s head snapped to the side from the blow, but he straightened himself at once. He gave a cold smile.
“Thank you for letting me go.”
Tris walked away, step by step. Peta followed after him, then turned back to look at Duke Eike—what should he do?
Duke Eike gave his answer.
“If you want to follow that bastard, go ahead. After suffering like a dog, he’ll learn his place. Anyone else who wants to leave—go!”
At the command, Peta followed Tris. As Tris departed, Aden’s eyes curved as if in a smile. Without his brother…
Duke Eike spat out the words through clenched teeth.
“Aden.”
“Yes, Father.”
“I hope you won’t disappoint me.”
Aden answered quickly.
“I will faithfully serve as your proxy until my brother returns.”
Duke Eike glanced at him. A perceptive boy—he understood without being told. Still, compared to Tris, he was lacking. In every way. That was why he had always been second best.
Even so, Aden was the only one who could somewhat fill Tris’s absence. Tommy wasn’t worth expecting anything from. Duke Eike shot a glare at Duchess Marie, who was quietly sobbing. Useless woman—bearing nothing but worthless sons. Just try giving birth to another one like that.
As he headed toward his study, Duke Eike said,
“Very well. I’ll place my trust in you, Aden.”
“Thank you, Father.”
Aden swallowed a smile. In noble society, a second son was given nothing. Everything belonged to the firstborn. He’d be lucky if he wasn’t cast out like Peta. But now, an opportunity had come.
Aden muttered inwardly,
Don’t come back, Brother. Somehow, I’ll become the heir—so never come back.
Tris had always been an insurmountable mountain, and Aden had envied him. But Tris had left of his own accord. Leaving might have been his choice—but returning would not be. There was no longer a place for Tris. That place was now his.
Aden’s lips twisted into a crooked smile.
Having cast off his former life, Tris headed straight for Dello Castle. He ignored Peta’s insistence that he treat his wounds first. Blood continued to pour down his face, but he didn’t care. His mind was fixed on one thing alone.
When Tris entered Dello Castle, everyone froze, staring at him. His face was drenched in blood, his hair wildly tousled by the wind, his shirt soaked red.
As everyone stood in stunned confusion, Ron, who had been tending the horses, came running over, out of breath.
“Was it an attack?”
Tris replied coldly.
“No.”
“Then why…?”
Tris frowned and paced the hall. He was thinking—about what to do next, and how. In his eyes, a savage storm raged without end. Disappointment and fury toward his father churned together, refusing to settle. Unable to calm himself, he continued pacing without rest.
