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Chapter : 13
It was a strange situation.
When the pregnancy of Princess Trisha Klein of the Duchy of Klein was announced, several vassals tried to persuade Pater.
They suggested claiming the child was someone else’s.
Enril was already dead, and there was still no way in the Empire to verify blood relations. Although there were suspicions that something worse than trash had occurred, there was no proof.
Above all, he was their lord.
Even if it meant that, they wanted to protect Stykia’s prestige and Pater’s honor.
But Pater was resolute.
“That child is mine. She is undoubtedly my daughter, born of my wrongdoing.”
Unable to overcome his firm will, quite a few vassals relinquished their positions.
He was the one who had nailed down that fact himself—so why did he speak of his own daughter as if she were a stranger?
Everyone fell silent at Pater’s inexplicable smile.
“…In any case, the child must be sent away.”
One vassal, who had been watching the situation, finally spoke up.
“If you are reluctant to make Heidi your successor for other reasons, why not bring in a child from a collateral branch?”
“…A collateral branch?”
“Yes. You remember the child who greeted you back then? Teril—my grandson. He is exceptionally intelligent and clever. He said he would do anything for you, Duke—”
“Ah. I remember.”
Pater cut him off before he could continue his lengthy appeal.
“He seemed quite curious. He asked where the armory was.”
“…Pardon?”
The armory was practically the heart of Stykia.
The first head of Stykia had been the one to embed the mana that lingered in the earth into sword-like weapons, allowing even those without mana to wield them.
That was why the Temple, which opposed killing, harshly criticized Stykia. And yet, that very fact was why Stykia had survived until now despite being branded as a heap of trash.
And yet he had dared to show casual curiosity about it.
“Your grandson seemed genuinely curious about Stykia’s internal affairs. So I placed a sword in his hand and told him where the monsters appear, so he could learn more deeply.”
“Monsters” were strange lifeforms with mana—but within Stykia, the meaning was somewhat different.
They were creatures raised by Pater.
Mana was drawn to stronger mana. Thus, the monsters would rush at Pater, who possessed the strongest mana after the first head of Stykia. Pater would heal and fight them repeatedly, strengthening himself in the process.
Unless he fell first, the battles would continue—and the final victor was always Pater.
Even now, though he could no longer see.
‘And he told my grandson where those monsters appear?’
And even handed him a sword infused with his own mana?
The vassals swallowed dryly at the unimaginable horror of those words.
“If he wishes to succeed me, he ought to manage that much. So I personally told him. But he has not returned since.”
“……”
“It seems I’ll have to teach him manners again.”
Pater smiled faintly, as if regretful.
Not even of the direct line—yet he had dared covet the domain of the family head. It was no different from disregarding the Stykia their bloodline had emphasized so greatly.
“I’m getting sleepy…”
In the silence, Pater let out a slow yawn.
“Would you all leave now? I’ve had far too much happen today. I’m tired.”
Even that languid posture seemed debauched—yet who dared open their mouth?
In the end, the vassals withdrew without gaining anything.
“Why did you so tactlessly bring up your grandson?”
“What else was I supposed to do? Some child of unknown origin and parents is about to swallow up Stykia whole!”
“A fine excuse. As if I didn’t know you’ve been eyeing Stykia all this time, hoping to use your grandson!”
“Do you think words are sugar-coated?”
The atmosphere turned grave. Only when a slightly younger vassal stepped in to mediate did the quarrel subside.
“If Baron Cavendi had been here at a time like this, would things have been different?”
Baron Cavendi.
He had been the teacher of Enril and Pater, and had cared for the two Stykia brothers like a grandfather.
Perhaps because of that, he had insisted that Trisha Klein be taken in as the Duchess.
But Pater had firmly opposed it, and in the end, the baron vanished without a trace.
If he had been here, perhaps things might have unfolded differently.
“Shall we at least investigate what family she comes from?”
“No. It doesn’t matter.”
At that moment, someone spoke.
It was Count Roman, who had guarded this family nearly as long as Baron Cavendi.
“Since the Temple and the Imperial Family made their proposal, the number of children claiming to be the Duke’s offspring has increased sharply. And what happened to them all?”
“Ah…!”
Everyone’s expression shifted in understanding at his words.
“We shall simply proceed as we always have. It will be fine.”
“Yes. We trust you, Count.”
Watching the heads bow toward him, Count Roman smiled triumphantly.
Yes. Everything was for Stykia.
The next morning.
Sitting before the mirror, I rubbed my sleepy eyes.
Despite the warm bed, I hadn’t slept well.
It was because of the dream I’d had all night.
Dressed neatly, I went with Butler Caron to see the Duke of Stykia.
“Good morning, Your Grace.”
“Hm? Who is this scruffy child?”
“She is the daughter newly brought in yesterday.”
“Ah, was there such a child? I don’t remember.”
“He says he doesn’t remember. Please leave now, Miss Hanisha.”
“Waaah! Nooo!”
…It was that kind of dream—being chased out before I could even change my clothes.
‘Thankfully, since Anna and Hati dressed me up early this morning, it seems he didn’t tell them to throw me out…’
But I couldn’t guarantee that a similar situation wouldn’t occur.
The Duke accepted all abandoned children—but he didn’t pay them much attention.
‘They said there wasn’t a single abandoned orphan in Stykia who hadn’t insisted the Duke was their real father. Of course, none of them actually were.’
Therefore, my first goal was:
‘To receive the Stykia surname.’
There were many orphans protected within the duchy, even if they didn’t live in the ducal castle. I had considered simply living like that.
But I was an Agnito.
Which meant that unless I broke free from Agnito’s shackles, I would never truly be free.
‘They might even use me for a marriage bargain again, like in my previous life.’
To avoid that, I had to be formally adopted by the Duke.
‘And once I safely come of age and secure my position, I’ll leave this castle.’
That was my ultimate goal.
The Duke didn’t truly want a family anyway—so he would accept my proposal.
‘And in the meantime, I mustn’t forget to give Agnito a proper punch in the gut!’
Just as I steeled my resolve and swallowed the last croissant—
Anna asked,
“Shall I bring dessert if you’ve finished your meal?”
“There’s dessert too?”
“If the young lady wishes.”
Dessert. I paused to think.
I wasn’t particularly fond of sweets, and my stomach was already full enough.
‘Compared to my time in the Agnito household, this is more than I could ask for.’
More importantly, the head chef standing there watching me with a stiff expression looked so intimidating that I thought it best to stop eating.
‘He’s probably here under orders from the Duke.’
For the sake of his freedom, I shook my head.
“It’s alright. This is enough for me.”
But why was it that the chef’s fierce face seemed to droop slightly?
‘Did I say something wrong?’
I cautiously glanced at him.
“Th-then… just a little…”
“…!”
Just as I felt that a faint brightness returned to the chef’s rigid face—
Knock, knock.
With a knock, someone entered the room.
The moment I saw who it was, my eyes widened without realizing.
‘Huh? That person is…?’
“I apologize for coming so suddenly.”
It was an elderly man with a benevolent face.
His warm appearance was unfamiliar—yet strangely recognizable. No, I definitely knew that face.
‘Marcel Roman.’
“Allow me to introduce myself properly for the first time.”
As I remembered—
“My name is Count Marcel Roman.”
Once, he had been a vassal of Stykia—
“And I am but a humble old servant who has attended His Grace since his childhood.”
And in the future, he would side with the Empress.
