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Chapter 44
Why Does That Child Resemble Irene?
Hainz tied back his bothersome blond hair. Removing his mask revealed sharp, handsome features.
‘Why did that child resemble Irene?’
Leaning against the window, his thoughts drifted back to that day.
Six years ago, that autumn when he lost her.
If only he hadn’t lost consciousness…
When she reached out her hand, vines and branches surged forth, cloaking them from sight. That was why the paladins chasing them could not find them.
Thick brambles shot up like rain, and leaves swelled, forming barriers. It had been a majestic sight.
Even thornbushes bristled, ready to strike intruders.
‘Why had she hidden such power?’
He’d known vaguely of her ability to sprout plants from her staff and to keep them alive. But to command nature itself so freely… only the High Priest’s closest aides had any inkling.
Surely she had concealed it to avoid being used.
‘If you stay with me, you’ll be in danger. I’ll draw the paladins away. Even if you wake, don’t move for a while.’
He had wanted to shout ‘Don’t go!’ But he had blacked out before the words could leave him.
When he awoke, she was gone.
Only the bloodstained hem of her skirt, wrapped around his shoulder and side, remained.
Hainz opened the drawer beneath the window frame.
The faded cloth still carried the faint scent of herbs.
He reached for it, but stopped when the door opened.
“Hainz. I want to see that pretty Ludia again.”
It was Atero.
Entering, he wasted no time stating his wish.
“If we held a party and invited her, would she come?”
The knights surrounding her bore Arcades insignia on their swords and uniforms.
The duke had no daughter, so perhaps she was a relative.
Closing the drawer, Hainz asked calmly,
“She seems to be a young lady of House Arcades. Do you think a noble like her would come to a commoner’s invitation?”
“Arcades? That Arcades?”
Atero’s face fell. Though young, he already knew well the reputation of House Arcades.
“Isn’t there some way?”
Heinz folded his arms with a meaningful expression. Atero’s father had been the son of a count, but since he wasn’t the eldest, he hadn’t inherited the title.
So instead, he married a wealthy commoner woman and formed a mercenary corps.
Even if Atero had noble blood in his veins, under imperial law he was nothing more than a commoner.
How could he meet that child again?
Heinz, too, wanted to see the child once more.
The child didn’t look exactly like her, but anyone who looked closely at her would be reminded of Irene.
***
Bringing Raul to the duke’s mansion wasn’t difficult. I had held onto Radan’s hand like a hostage, refusing to let go.
With Cherto, Arthur, and the other knights blocking the way, Raul had no choice but to climb into the carriage.
I went to the grand dining hall with the children. We’d already eaten plenty, but I thought it would be better to at least have a drink while waiting for the duke.
The head chef gave the children a hearty welcome, serving orange juice, strawberries, cookies, and all sorts of treats children would love.
Though already full, the children drank the juice to wet their throats. Only after quite some time did we finally face the duke.
When I saw him enter the hall, I hopped down from my chair, stepping aside so that Radan and Raul would be clearly visible.
“Your Grace, I’ve got new friends to introduce. Remember I mentioned them before? They’re the ones who helped me when I got lost. I met them again today, so I brought them with me.”
The duke furrowed his brow slightly, saying nothing. I wondered if he was displeased that I had brought them without notice. Just as I was about to mention Jake’s promise…
Raul suddenly stepped forward and bowed low.
“I will work! Please order me to do anything, and I will do my utmost. If I am not enough, then at least allow my little brother to stay here. Please, Your Grace!”
The boy’s desperate cry weighed heavily in the air.
When asked to eat bread, he had been so proud and stubborn, yet now, he humbled himself completely, all for his younger brother’s sake. That made my heart ache all the more.
Before I knew it, my eyes grew hot with tears.
I wasn’t someone who cried easily, but in the body of a little girl, tears came more often.
Sniffle.
D**n it! I quickly wiped my eyes with my sleeve.
At that moment, my body lifted off the ground.
The duke had picked me up. In an instant, I was raised to the height of his shoulders.
“Hic… Jake told him to come to the mansion, but he didn’t. There’s a promise Jake broke too.”
“Don’t cry. I’ll let them both stay here.”
His tone was gentle, and his large hand cupped my cheek, his fingers warm as they wiped my tears away.
“You’re not angry?”
“Angry? Why would I ever be angry with my darling child?”
“Your Grace’s face looks stern, like an angry man, so Raul got scared.”
I smiled at Raul as if to reassure him. Only then did the boy seem to relax.
“I told them we should take the western road, but Klein insisted the eastern road was safer. So we went east. But my darling came back from the west road.”
“Our paths crossed then?”
“Exactly. Still, when you returned, I thought you’d run into my arms calling me ‘Father.’ But instead, you said ‘Your Grace.’ That stung…”
“Oh! If that’s why you looked like that, you should’ve told me! Ah… Father.”
Honestly, how could a grown man sulk like that? His obsession with me seemed to be growing stronger, was this really okay?
“My apologies. Don’t worry about those children. They’ll be safe here. In return, I ask only one thing of you.”
“One thing? What should I do?”
“I hear you’ve been reading and playing with Andy. Don’t just play with Andy, come to my study at least once a day for snacks. Or better yet, spend the whole day there with Andy if you like.”
Did the knights tell him I’d been reading to Andy? But… spend the entire day in the study? Is that even a study at that point?
“But Your Grace, isn’t a study for work? How can we play there all day?”
“You can work and play together. What’s the problem?”
Even before he finished speaking, Warren behind him covered his face with a hand, bowing his head and shaking it slowly.
Something about this felt wrong.
But since I’d already gained so much, I couldn’t refuse the duke’s request.
“Alright. But I have a condition too.”
“What is it?”
“Radan has to join us. He’s too young to work yet. If I take care of him, Raul will be able to focus on his duties without worry.”
“Very well. Agreed.”
“Wow! Father, you’re amazing!”
I wrapped my arms around his neck in delight, and his face lit up with a broad smile.
It was nice to see that the duke could laugh like this, that the shadows of alcohol and depression seemed gone now.
If things continued this way, I wouldn’t have to worry about him dying.
Feeling proud, I climbed down from his arms and held tightly to Radan’s hand.
Who knew how he would grow up, but this boy was surely a vessel of the divine. I was grateful I could protect him, and I couldn’t help but feel excited for his future.
Perhaps that’s why an inexplicable sense of responsibility washed over me.
