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Chapter 38
Eight Breads. Next to a Dog, Next to a Mad Dog, Next to a Madman (1)
Seth Hastings nervously fiddled with his earlobe—a bad habit that came out whenever he felt anxious.
Seth’s father had always been displeased with his son’s inability to control his emotions.
Being Seth’s only child, he often fretted about having to pass everything down to him. He habitually warned that Seth would struggle to manage their long-established family.
Of course, Seth was confident that he was the most suitable person to inherit the Hastings dukedom.
He believed himself rational, intelligent, and capable of self-control. Occasionally—very occasionally—he might act on impulse, but that was merely a mistake.
However, unlike the ideal version of himself, he was timid, petty, cowardly, and even somewhat despicable.
“Seth, please… just this once, help me.”
“If you kiss me.”
“What?”
“If you kiss me on the cheek, I’ll help you.”
“Don’t joke, Seth.”
“Why would you think it’s a joke? I’m taking a risk here. Why should I do it without any reward?”
“…”
“Anyway…”
“Fine. Just one kiss on the cheek, then.”
Hearing the word “kiss,” Elaine’s blue eyes had instantly turned so cold that Seth had blurted out a quick excuse. In hindsight, if she had persisted and begged for the kiss, he probably would have given it—it was a shame he hadn’t.
Seth was always weak when it came to Elaine.
Whenever her clear blue eyes filled with tears, he was seized by an irresistible urge to help her. Her faint golden lashes clung together with moisture, and when her blue eyes brimmed with sorrow, it felt as if the world would collapse.
In reality, Seth had far more he could do for her than he couldn’t.
After all… she would soon be marrying him.
Seth firmly believed that Elaine would eventually marry him. Though, as the illegitimate child of Duke McClure, she couldn’t officially become his wife, he had decided to treat her as well as any mistress—because she deserved it.
“Now Elaine is perfect.”
In appearance, character, and status, she was flawless—ready to become the bride of Seth Hastings.
Duke McClure had finally added Elaine to the family registry. It was a simple change of name on the chart, but the fact that it was done officially mattered.
Until now, McClure had tolerated Elaine’s existence only because of her maternal family, the Mayer counts, who had the power to intervene.
Even if one wanted to ignore her, completely erasing her would have caused other problems.
And persuading the McClure family elders—who despised illegitimate children—would have been difficult.
But from the moment Elaine disappeared until now, Duke McClure had secretly persuaded, threatened, and negotiated with the elders, as well as the Mayer family.
Everything had been done in secret, possible only because Elaine had “vanished.”
Seth had thought it would be fine for Elaine to taste a little freedom before marrying him.
Having grown up only with her father’s love, she was naive and foolish; a brief encounter with the harsh realities of the world would make her realize who could make her truly happy.
“What can a lone girl do wandering about?” Seth thought arrogantly—but he was in for a rude awakening.
Elaine had started traveling with a very young, handsome mercenary.
Seth grew anxious. Elaine needed to struggle a bit more so that he could heroically rescue and protect her—but some insignificant wretch he didn’t know was stepping into that role.
When his plan went awry, Seth was frantic, determined to get Elaine back to her “proper place.”
Fortunately, Elaine returned safely to the estate.
It was the night before Duke McClure returned to the capital, Rayad, and Seth rejoiced, believing his persuasion had worked.
But the joy was short-lived. Before the night was even over, Duke McClure summoned Seth.
Determined to play it cool, Seth nevertheless trembled uncontrollably. Duke McClure patted his shoulder and said:
“Well done, Seth Hastings. You’ve helped, at least once!”
“Eh?”
“It was audacious of you to deceive me, but since Elaine had no problems, I’ll let it slide. Thanks to you, she will officially become a daughter of the McClure family. She had been stubbornly refusing, even to the point of death, but a single outing softened her completely.”
“Then, Your Grace, does that mean you now permit my marriage to Elaine?”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Eh?”
“Did you think I raised her carefully just to marry her off to some ugly—or rather, mere Hastings? Elaine’s marriage was decided before she was even born.”
“What do you mean! I let her play with me since childhood because I was the ‘most suitable’….”
“Ah, suitable, yes, she was… but there’s no way she would fall for you.”
“……”
“Elaine will marry a prince of the Empire. The prince currently in the royal palace.”
“That’s impossible! Damn it, this way the prince will learn Elaine is an illegitimate child!”
“Ah, yes. That’s why I summoned you.”
“……”
“Eventually, the rumor about Elaine being illegitimate would reach the prince anyway. It isn’t truly a secret. All the servants who worked in my house, that wretched woman who bore the child, everyone who heard and gossiped knows. But none of them will tell the prince about her birth. Do you know why?”
“Because they were silenced?”
“Wrong. Seth Hastings, unlike you, they understand their place. You are the only one in the world who cannot accurately assess what I can do and what you can do.”
“……Are you threatening me?”
“Of course. When necessary. So that the rumor ends as a rumor.”
“……”
“Seth Hastings, your father has been watching you closely. He pondered whether it would be wiser for a clever nephew to inherit the title rather than a foolish son who would ruin everything. What you must do now is not foolishly expose Elaine’s future, but protect your own position.”
He left with a final warning: understand exactly what you must do, and don’t lose allies who are on your side.
Duke McClure was a man who did what he said.
Though both were dukes, McClure and Hastings were worlds apart. Hastings’ lands were modest, and in the capital, they only held honor, lacking influence. It was certainly an old noble family, but nothing more.
Although furious, Seth knew his father’s words were correct. He couldn’t afford to make enemies now, with the risk of losing the minor dukedom.
“Besides, if the marriage with the prince falls through, I might still get a chance.”
Seth slowly returned to reality.
The smoky blur in his vision cleared after a few blinks.
Seth’s father had given him one last chance, even after his tantrums and cries of abandonment:
“Do it properly, Seth. Entertain the Empire’s Fifth Prince and send him back safely. The current atmosphere in the Empire is tense; a misstep could spark war.”
“Leave it to me, Father. The Fifth Prince will be completely smitten with the Kingdom of Rosso. I’ll make it happen.”
Seth was confident. Winning someone’s heart was simple.
Keep giving them what they naturally like—what a man desires, and what his essence craves.
The Fifth Prince, Mark, was arrogant, violent, and simple-minded.
“Perfect…”
Mark, with lazy, half-lidded eyes, let out a satisfied sigh as he collapsed. Around him lay exhausted, unconscious people. He kicked the woman at his feet under the bed. A small scream escaped, then silence.
From last night’s events, they understood that defying Mark meant death. Mark said:
“I thought it would be a boring schedule, but thanks to you, it wasn’t dull.”
“I’m glad you liked it.”
“The haughty fiancée kept delaying our meetings, building my anger. What’s the point of coming to this small country and not meeting a single woman? If it weren’t for my elder brother’s orders, I wouldn’t have let it slide…”
Seth was certain that the McClure duke wouldn’t approve of this man.
“We’ll see tomorrow. How arrogant she has been acting.”
“McClure’s daughter is famous, you know.”
“Really?”
“Yes, you’ll see for yourself tomorrow. Don’t worry, I’ll handle the aftermath.”
“Alright then.”
Drunk and dazed, Mark glanced disdainfully at Seth, who tried to maintain his composure. Though his pronunciation remained intact, he clearly wasn’t fully conscious.
“If she’s famous enough for that bastard to know, she must be something else.”
Mark had no intention of taking his arrogant fiancée back to his homeland. She had consistently postponed their meeting, which had greatly irritated him.
He had initially intended to entertain her if she was pretty—but now his intentions had changed.
“If she acts like a dog, I’ll treat her like a mad dog.”
Left behind, Seth scanned the scene.
Mark was arrogant, violent, simple, and cruel.
Of the five people who had confronted him, three were dead, and two were unconscious. Seth called for assistance.
