“The conversation between the families is already over. His Majesty’s permission had just been issued, and the Duke is engaged to the young Lady…”
“…What are you talking about? I’m still engaged to Aaron.”
“Sir Claymore asked me to tell you that the legal cancellation of the engagement is over.”
The sudden news that came to Duroa like a hit on the head made her jump from her seat.
Duroa couldn’t understand anything. Nocton’s arrival, the knights, the engagement or the cancellation. Nothing.
It all sounded unrealistic, like a dream.
Maybe it was that she had already gotten used to accepting sudden and embarrassing news. As she headed towards the door, her body trembled.
With shaky hands, Duroa hurriedly opened the door.
Sadie was there.
The maid, with red and teary eyes, was gripping at the hem of Duroa’s clothes, not knowing what to do.
“He wants to take you with him. I don’t know what’s going on, but the atmosphere is rough.”
“What do you mean? He’s going to take me, the engagement cancellation… No, you probably heard wrong. I’m going down. Nocton is in the drawing room?”
Coming to her senses, Duroa shook her head and walked past Sadie. Before she could even take a single step, Sadie grabbed her arm and blocked her path.
“No, Miss.”
“Get out of the way, Sadie. I need to know what’s going on. Nothing’s going to happen. This is Valrose, and even if it’s an Edgar, they won’t…!”
“You must run.”
What?
“The Lord, your mother, and even the eldest are not here. If Lord Edgar mentions the legal engagement, then the knights of Valrose won’t be able to act on your behalf since you have no right to succession.”
“But Sadie!”
“I know the young Lady is right, but the world doesn’t always work the right way!”
Sadie’s desperate cries left Duroa speechless for a moment. Then, as if to appease Duroa, Sadie continued speaking.
“Run away and come back later. Whether it’s the Lord or your mother, when there’s someone who can protect you.”
“I think it will be for the best to follow Sadie’s words.”
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“What do you mean, Duvel?”
“I know all the secret passages in the mansion. There’s also one in your room, I’ll show it to you. Sadie, go downstairs and tell him that the young Lady is gone, go!”
What is this? What the hell is going on?
It was a normal day, what is this?
Not only her actions, but also her mind became clouded, and her thoughts were all over the place.
Not knowing whether to go down to the drawing room or follow Duvel’s words, Duroa just took a deep breath.
“I forgot to say the first thing I should’ve said. I’m sorry that I dared to offer you a dangerous item, young Lady. On the day we meet again, I will apologize properly.”
The old butler grabbed Duroa’s arm and pulled her into the room without giving her a chance to react.
Then, he pushed Sadie back and grabbed the doorknob to close the door.
However, even when he pulled on the door as hard as he could, it didn’t budge.
“Should I call it tearful loyalty, or not?”
Duvel clenched his teeth and tried to close the door, but the door swung open.
Sadie shuddered in front of Duroa.
“I don’t know, maybe I should call it stupidity.”
“…Nocton.”
“Hello, Duroa.”
This time, there wasn’t even the knocking sound that made it ominous.
“I’m here to get you.”
Unfortunately, however, it came suddenly and devoured her.
Nocton Edgar smiled brightly.
Nocton Edgar, 18 years old.
By imperial law, he was recognized as an adult from the age of 18. The age at which you could be in any kind of legal relationship, whether engagement or marriage. And today, Nocton Edgar turned 18. He became an adult, and at the same time, the Duke of Edgar.
“It’s a happy day. To inherit the title without anyone’s opposition, even if I have two brothers.”
There were no opponents. It was far from opposition, since there were few people left in the mansion who could still express their opinions. The same went for Nocton’s immediate lineage as an Edgar.
“I was worried because Usis is such a talented butler, but he works differently. Please, take me to Faust with you.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“I’m grateful to Prelude for giving up his title to his younger brother.”
“I can’t do it because I’m not good enough.”
“You’d do a good job, Nocton.”
There was no warmth in their words if you listened carefully to what they said.
What kind of third-rate comedy is this?
Unable to stand it any longer, Nocton burst out laughing.
Patricia Edgar, Geranium Edgar, Prelude Edgar, and Danza Edgar. Among them, the only ones with clear eyes were Geranium and Nocton’s father.
Geranium Edgar didn’t even need to be brainwashed. He hoped for a long time that Nocton Edgar would be the next Duke.
He was the only person who tried to protect Nocton in the midst of multiple assassination attempts. The reason was entirely because of his boss.
Nocton looked at his father with a grin.
“I thought you would be smiling, but you’re not.”
“I am very happy that you became the Duke.”
“Of course, it’s something I wished for a long time. I’ll visit Faust occasionally. I didn’t really want to, but now it’s mine, and in case you need anything…”
The young Duke glanced at Patricia Edgar. Her expression didn’t falter a bit. It was a perfect performance, just like a truly hypnotized person.
I already know you’ve been released from your hypnosis. There are plenty of ways to tie you down, even if I can’t kill you.
Either way, Nocton’s reluctance to send Patricia Edgar to Faust was to wipe out her power. The Capital wasn’t the problem.
The other nobles were only interested in ‘The Duke of Edgar’anyway, so there was no reason to reach out to Patricia, who had been deprived of her title. Since Nocton had his eyes on the Capital, he was able to deal with it before doing anything.
It was fine because the people of the mansion and other major suites had already been brainwashed. But the estate was different.
The Duchy of Faust had many family members who had served Edgar for generations, and many of them were unhappy with Nocton who was born an illegitimate child.
There were too many heads to brainwash, and it was difficult to manage their brainwashing as they lived in the Capital.
I’ll swallow them all this time.
As Patricia Edgar secretly assembled her forces, it became clear who Nocton’s enemy was without anyone suffering. It was no longer worthy of his attention once he got his hands on the title and became untouchable.
Nocton Edgar was an adult, and he didn’t have to worry about being killed anymore. The devil who lost his weakness smiled compassionately and leisurely.
“Then, everyone, be careful on your way back.”
***
The new Duke of Edgar entered his new office.
It was a place he came to from time to time when he was called by Patricia Edgar, and when he was educated for his succession. However, going in as its master was different from entering it as a guest.
The tiresome, heavy and painful atmosphere that once filled the office was completely gone. Now, sitting at his desk, Nocton looked at the piles of papers.
Since he did not own any public office in the Imperial Family, or the supreme court, the estate was running without any problems and those countless documents had nothing to do with public affairs.
All that was written on those papers were just conversations.
From marriage talks to the human affairs of the aristocrats who were targeting Duroa Valrose as prey.
Since Nocton had just become an adult, Duroa Valrose would become an adult in about a year as well. There were a lot of people waiting for that year to come. Therefore, even before the marriage talk began, preparations had to be held.
“Reject all my proposals, and stop Valrose from getting married.”
His aide, who followed Nocton, nodded his head without the slightest hint of doubt.
When his aid carried the pile of documents, the desk was completely empty. A teacup replaced them. It was black tea.
Nocton didn’t enjoy tea, but he drank it almost every day. He tilted the cup, immersed in thoughts. It’s been a long time since he heard his heart beating.
Valrose became special to him all of a sudden and there was no one who could replace her. However, when Nocton realised it, his heart was very pure probably because he was young.
He didn’t know if it was pure by the standards of others, but it was compared to Nocton as an adult.
Nocton wasn’t sure if his brainwashing was still working so he tested Valrose endlessly, hoping she wouldn’t leave him.
To make sure his brainwashing was working, to make sure Valrose would stay by his side.
Will she still be there for me?
No, it looked like a test, but in reality Nocton was begging her to stay.
Unable to peer into Nocton’s heart—even if she did, she wouldn’t be pleased—, Valrose looked displeased, but after a moment of brief anger, she always went back by his side.
That alone was satisfying and a good feeling.
However, as time passed, his greed only grew and his heart filled with darkness.
Nocton didn’t know what to call that feeling, but when someone approached him, he was on the edge and wanted to hold his breath when they showed him any kind of affection.
He wasn’t so surprised when he fully realized that Valrose’s specialness was his love for her because there were many such moments.
It didn’t feel awful that he was in love. Maybe it would’ve felt weird when he was young.
Though Nocton’s heart was stained with raw emotions, he tried to respect Duroa.
Nocton was the one who was testing her, but it was his heart that had been swayed. Usually one would want to be hated by their loved one. There might be some who did, but Nocton wasn’t one of them.
The reason for stopping her from getting married was simple. If there was nobody else, Duroa would stand next to him.
If Valrose was a romanticist, thinking about marrying her beloved, Nocton would be a little more hopeful, but she had been a realist since childhood.
‘If their family, conditions and personality is good, I’ll marry anyone. Being born as the daughter of a high-ranking aristocrat made me live peacefully without any obligations as a successor and that is enough. I don’t believe in fateful love.’
That was what Valrose expected.
Nocton thought if he was an Edgar, maybe there was a possibility. Of course, he wasn’t delusional to think that his personality was good. But he had the confidence it would look like it was.
In fact, he managed to look like a good person to others who didn’t know what he was thinking. He was just used to spending time with Valrose, so he kept showing his true feelings.
Slowly changing and camouflaging it would’ve made it possible. Living as if there was no darkness or twisted thoughts, as if it was just an immature thing.
Nocton didn’t show her the real dark side of him in the first place.
The problem was Valrose.
“Well, of course—”
“I hope you don’t lie to me, because I can find out.”
“No, I didn’t mean to lie! If we are to bless someone, of course we should put Duke Edgar first. In the Empire, you are second only to the Emperor.”
“Then, Your Majesty.”
Nocton turned his head.
When he looked at the Emperor sitting on the throne, their eyes met.
The Emperor’s face hardened with embarrassment.
“Have you been blessed?”
“…No, I wasn’t.”
“These are some extremely rude people. How dare you put the subjects before the Emperor? No matter how much you say you’re in the arms of God, it is too much to insult the honor of the Imperial family.”
“T-That’s not… That’s not it!”
“I’m Gervello Gervella of the Great Shrine. I’m sorry, but if you excuse me, Duke Edgar.”
Pushing the contemplative priest aside, another priest came forward.
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He was one of the six high priests who came to perform the ceremony, a rare young man.
There was a strong will written on his face.
“We found traces of the use of black magic to summon the beasts. The gate is now closed, but there is a high possibility that someone here has opened the gate.”
When black magic came up, Nocton just listened quietly without even raising an eyebrow.
“They were using black magic to ruin the ceremony. So, through God’s blessing, I want to confirm whether or not you’re a dark magician.”
“Then, I’m asking. Is anyone here going to get the same confirmation? Or is it just me?”
“To be honest, there was an anonymous tip saying that you are a dark magician and about what you’ll do at the ceremony.”
An anonymous tip, unexpectedly blatant.
Worrying about the traces of black magic, Nocton used the minimum and also a sword, but in the end it was pointless.
Still, if he wanted to refuse, he could.
In the Empire, Edgar was special.
The family was known as the founding family, but in reality, Edgar had been located in this land before that.
Those who allowed Karantena, the founding Emperor, to take over the land were also the Edgar family.
As a result, Edgar was promised eternal authority at the time of the founding of the empire and the oath continued as the bloodline of the first Emperor was passed down to this day.
Over the generations, Edgar was obviously the oldest and most powerful ruler in this land, as several times the Imperial family had been trying to change.
So Nocton didn’t have to take that rude test.
There didn’t seem to be anyone who doubted that Nocton summoned the beast.
“You know that even if I decline here, there won’t be a problem.”
“Yes. But to clear any suspicions—”
There were a lot of suspicions from people who didn’t want to be suspected, so it was meaningless.
However.
Nocton glanced briefly at the young and capable High Priest.
The energy felt was quite clean, so it seemed to be usable.
Coincidentally, it was the time when a priest was needed.
“If you promise me one thing, I will accept your blessing.”
“I do not accept unreasonable requests.”
“Then, isn’t it unreasonable to suspect that I am the culprit without evidence?”
“Anonymous—”
“That’s something that can only be done from the temple’s point of view. How can I believe it? Whether or not there was an anonymous informant. Maybe, you’re trying to harm me under the influence of someone else?”
“…If you say that, I understand. Please, tell me about your request.”
“It’s not a big deal. If there’s nothing wrong with my blessing, you have to stay at Edgar for a year.”
It wasn’t unusual for a priest to receive a huge patronage and stay with a particular family.
However, it could be regarded as an insult because a high-ranking priest would only occasionally stay with the Imperial family in case of an emergency.
But Gervella was quite sure of his suspicions, so he just nodded.
Then, a pure white light poured down from his hand and towards Nocton.
Nocton’s lips twisted.
The light of blessing from a priest was usually green, but the white light was an attack magic above the divine one.
If blessed, even if the opponent was a dark magician, they would only feel a little nauseous, but with attack magic it was different.
If it were for ordinary people, divine magic wouldn’t hurt, but the change in words was certainly… It was cute.
“Ge-Gervella!”
The other high priests screamed his name.
Nocton took a slow, deep breath to soothe his messy, twisted stomach.
Even before he became an adult, he drank holy water with an innocent face, so it wasn’t difficult to pretend to be calm even in a situation like this.
It was a magic trick that wouldn’t have made him suffer if dealt with properly, so Nocton was annoyed.
Whether the priest was convinced that Nocton was responsible after a single report, the priest’s face changed to look good.
“No way!”
“It’s good that the priest is strong and works hard, but you have to look up and down.”
t/n: by that i think nocton means that the priest should have investigated the anonymous tip abt nocton.
Nocton swallowed the blood flowing in his mouth and let out a sigh that went from frustration to mocking.
“You seem to have picked up some strange words from somewhere, but even if I was a dark magician, can I attack before it proves that I’m the one who opened the gate?”
“D-Duke, this is…”
“I’m already looking forward to seeing how your innocent illusion and aggressive honesty will change the temple.”
“This is a procedure that was unavoidable for the honor of the Imperial family! Retaliation against the temple is—!”
“I did not say that I would retaliate. However, the donations to the temple were purely out of favor, so it would be too much to say that it’s retaliation to collect them.”
“Duke!”
“Other than that, I hope you keep your promise. If you treasure what you have.”
Nocton walked past the other priests whose faces turned blue.
There was a hand that tried to hold him back, but Nocton mercilessly slapped it off.
Nocton ignored even the handkerchieves of the imperial servants and walked straight to his carriage.
The escort knight, whose eyes were blurred, held out a towel to Nocton and he roughly wiped away the moisture from the rain.
Then, there was a low-pitched voice.
It was Duroa’s voice. Perhaps she had returned while Nocton was arguing with the officials.
Focusing on his keen hearing, he raised his head.
Alice Limorand was looking after Duroa to see if there was anything wrong and then apologized.
Duroa suddenly changed her tone, as if she was exhausted from saying she was fine.
“No, I’m fine, Alice. Although the bear hit the sixth rib bone on the left.”
“What? You’re hurt? Oh, my God! You need to be treated right now! Where is it? Here?”
“Oh, I was mistaken. Come to think of it, it’s the third, not the sixth.”
“Third? Where’s the third rib? Where are you, Sir Claymore?”
“…it’s this way for now.”
“And here? Does it hurt here, Duroa?”
“No, it’s not the left, it’s the right.”
“Right? Then here?”
“Isn’t that the third one?”
“…Duroa, are you kidding me? You’re fine!”
“You finally figured it out, Alice! I thought it would take another half hour!”
Pretending to be moved, with an exaggerated expression, Duroa hugged Alice.
Alice tried to push Duroa away, but eventually they burst into laughter together.
It was a very friendly, happy smile.
Watching them, Nocton remembered the past.
‘No, it really doesn’t hurt. It’s been more than two weeks since I got over my cold!’
‘Who said that? Your throat isn’t well and you sound weird and noisy. Be quiet.’
‘Wow, such nice words. If you’re going to pretend to be like that, then get rid of these cups. No matter how good it is for a cold, how many cups are there? One, two, three, four, five. If I drink five cups of tea, I’ll catch another disease.’
‘It’s surprising in many ways that you have to count them one by one to know there’s five cups. Are you still sick?’
‘Sarcasm… Oh! My hand…! It… slipped.’
‘Oops. You failed to topple the cup pretending your hand slipped.’
‘Sometimes I get annoyed because you’re so quick.’
‘Clearly. Alright, now drink.’
‘I’m better, really. Do you want to see my throat? Ah…’
‘You want me to pour it down your throat?’
‘…You can drink it, bastard.’
After that, Duroa probably burned the roof of her mouth from drinking the hot tea and then made a fuss.
Nocton laughed involuntarily since the memory of her blaming him for it was still vivid.
Yeah, it was.
There was a moment like that.
There were moments like those.
But now, there won’t be anymore.
Nocton spit blood on the towel, pretending to dry himself.
He thought maybe he’d miss calling her Valrose.
***
“Have some tea, Miss. It’s good for your cold.”
“Thank you, Sadie.”
On top of the tea that Sadie put down, a woman with a blank expression reflected in it.
Her face was hot and her eyes were tired, apparently she caught a cold.
Duroa thought she had a strong health, not as much as a knight or a magician, but she couldn’t stand being in the rain during the winter in a forest.
I had a headache all of a sudden and I think I already caught a cold while talking to Nocton Edgar.
Sadie sighed, covering Duroa’s shoulders with a thick blanket.
“Really, why did it suddenly start raining?”
Duroa barely managed to not flinch at that remark.
She was suspicious of the sudden musty smell, but not the rain. Both the rain and the smell were artificial magical clues.
They said that the reason the beast appeared was because someone created a gate that connected the beast’s lair and the forest.
The beast had a unique smell and the rain was pouring down with magic to cover it up.
It was never revealed who did it or what its purpose was.
For that reason, the Imperial family was being extremely sensitive.
However, it was said there was a report announcing that there might be a problem with the competition in advance.
Thanks to that, they were able to gather a lot of priests and all three knights of the Imperial family were present, so there were no casualties, but there were wounded.
The reason why so many priests came was because the new Emperor was timid. Duroa had no choice but to reflect on that thought.
I’m sorry, Your Majesty…
Well, I heard it all from Alice.
No one else knew, but Duroa still had to tell the inside story to Kantana Limorand, the prospective winner.
She would tell Duroa’s sister everything if it wasn’t dangerous, so Kantana could know the full story.
The other people only heard that there was an accident and the beast appeared then it was severely punished.
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