DGMYF 17

“He was something else.”

“He was no joke.”

The Freesia Flower hastily set down the glass he was drinking from and waved his hand dismissively.

“Is that really the best you can do? Really? If you lined up all the alphas who wanted to kiss Duke Windermere’s footprints, it would have stretched from one end of the continent to the other.”

“Aren’t you talking about yourself?”

Laughter erupted from those around them. The Freesia Flower fanned himself with his hand and replied coyly.

“That’s right, I was quite fond of him for a long time. In fact, there’s no one in the capital who knows more about Duke Windermere than I do.”

Were they talking about Duke Windermere? Eloise knew about Duke Windermere too. She had never met him in person, but she had heard her father, Count Randell, mention him a few times. Her father had praised him to the skies, saying he was an upright and earnest young man, the kind you rarely see these days. She had also heard of the achievements he had accomplished in numerous wars, and of course, she was well aware of his beautiful appearance.

“My, my, are there any other stories? Do tell.”

As the Red Clown asked excitedly, the Crow sullenly sipped from his glass.

“Why is everyone so interested in Duke Windermere? He may have been great back in the day, but not anymore.”

“People are always more interested in a star’s downfall.”

The Green Feather chuckled and popped a canapé into his mouth. Cracker crumbs spilled all over his gloves and cravat, making him look extremely messy.

“Besides, he’s an incredibly handsome star. Ah, I’d have no other wish if I could just see that face one more time. It’s a shame this is a masquerade ball.”

“My lady, you seem quite interested in Duke Windermere, despite being an omega yourself?”

“There is no dynamic nor gender when it comes to handsomeness. How often do you see someone that handsome? I suspect he must have been born between the god of beauty and the goddess of war.”

The Green Feather cupped his mask with both hands and let out a sigh of admiration. As if getting drunk on imagination alone, he even staggered slightly. Supporting him, the Freesia Flower spoke in an excited voice.

“My servant saw him in the city a while ago, and said his aide is also a great beauty.”

At those words, others who were nearby gathered around, buzzing.

“Oh my, what did he look like?”

A dark navy mask asked in a voice full of curiosity. He was holding a fan in addition to his mask, hiding his face in two layers.

“He said he was quite tall, a handsome man with shining silver hair and a gentle demeanor. He was apparently doting on Duke Windermere, taking great care of him.”

“Wow, he’ll probably come with him, right?”

“Of course. It would be difficult for that man to even leave his mansion alone.”

The people who had been chattering until then suddenly clamped their mouths shut. The atmosphere in the vicinity grew cold. The Crow, who had been swirling his wine glass and cautiously observing, was the first to speak.

“For someone so young to end up…”

“Why did it have to be his legs that were injured?”

“A war hero who achieved so much, and the most handsome man on the continent, to fall so far—isn’t it such a shame?”

There was a strange hint of glee in the Freesia Flower’s tone as he said that.

“Are you really sure it’s a shame?”

As if on cue, laughter burst out from those around them. The Red Clown, seemingly flustered by the unexpected reaction, waved his fan to circulate the air.

“Still, even so. Isn’t it too much to mock him like this? It’s not like he did anything wrong.”

“What do you mean he did nothing wrong? He won’t say what happened in that cave.”

“A cave, you say?”

The Red Clown looked around, bewildered. He added that he was from a foreign country across the sea and wasn’t familiar with such stories. At that, the Freesia Flower slapped his arm dramatically.

“No wonder, I thought your pronunciation was a bit odd. Well, anyway. I’ll tell you, so listen carefully. You’ve heard that King Desmond is hell-bent on subjugating dragons, right? Five years ago, the king dispatched a subjugation team composed of only the most elite to kill the cave dragon. But unfortunately, every single knight who entered that cave died. Except for one person, Duke Windermere. But they say he absolutely refuses to say what happened in there that day.”

“Why won’t he say?”

“Who knows. Since all the elite knights died and only the commander-in-chief returned alive, there was bound to be controversy. But Duke Windermere kept his mouth shut to the end, so he was kicked out of the noble council. They say all the honors he had received as a war hero were revoked, too.”

This was the first time Eloise had heard this story. She had only known that he returned alone after losing all his comrades-in-arms; the fact that he had remained silent about the process was not widely known to the public.

“He became unable to use his legs after returning from that cave. But there’s a rumor that it’s because of a curse from the dead souls.”

The Crow added in a small voice.

“There’s also talk that he traded his comrades’ lives for the dragon’s treasure.”

The Green Feather whispered, lowering his voice. The Red Clown waved a hand, as if in disbelief.

“No, that can’t be.”

“I’m telling you, it’s true. You know, the legendary artifact the dragon is said to have. Anyway, it’s clear the Duke hogged it all for himself. If not, how could he have been the only one to return alive? I’ve been saying there was something off about him for a while now.”

The Crow shrugged. The people around him agreed with his words, each adding a comment. Rumors that he acted high and mighty but fooled around everywhere, that his daughter was of lowly birth and that’s why he couldn’t say who the father was, and other unconfirmed rumors were inflated as if they were fact.

Listening quietly to the conversation, Eloise frowned.

‘What kind of people are these?’

Eloise stopped eavesdropping and got up from her seat. She didn’t want to defile her ears with such outrageous remarks. But even at the new spot she moved to, they were talking about Kaiso again.

“By the way, what kind of mask do you think he’ll wear?”

“Does a mask even matter? Everyone will know who he is the moment they see him anyway.”

“It would be a funny sight, though. To have that handsome face all covered up, only to be in a wheelchair.”

Flashy dresses, luxurious decorations, and masks that were spine-chilling if you looked closely. A party hall where nobles clinked glasses with butlers, where people in corners rubbed lips with partners of unknown gender and dynamic, a tangled mess of recklessly released pheromones. People who chattered on, using someone else’s misfortune as an appetizer. In the midst of it all, Eloise felt a wave of nausea.

When a stir was heard from the main entrance, even the people who were kissing pulled their lips apart, set down their glasses, and the drunkards who were throwing punches stopped their scuffle. In the chaos, everyone’s attention turned that way.

The cause of the commotion was revealed by someone’s cry.

“I think he’s here!”

Troy slowly pushed Kaiso’s wheelchair. As the two entered the ballroom, everyone’s attention was fixed on them.

“Is Duke Windermere here? Please move aside!”

“Let me see too!”

The masked figures all rushed to the ballroom entrance without exception. Someone who failed to secure a spot in the front even tried jumping in place at the very back.

The buzz that filled the ballroom gradually subsided. They all stopped moving as if greatly surprised and stared at Duke Windermere.

“The mask…”

“He came without a mask?”

Troy wore a pale blue formal suit with gold embellishments, and Kaiso appeared in a simple white formal suit. However, neither of them was wearing a mask. The people were flustered as they looked at Kaiso’s melancholic but handsome face and Troy’s bright smile.

“How can you come to a masquerade ball without a mask?”

“What kind of situation is this?”

Instead of a mask, Kaiso was wearing long, dangling silver earrings, which, combined with his long hair, boasted a simple yet breathtaking beauty. Every time he turned his head, the earrings swayed along, glittering just like the Milky Way.

“Is this really okay?”

Kaiso asked, anxiously clasping his hands together. It was quite embarrassing to be bare-faced while everyone else wore elaborate masks. It was even more so because everyone’s gazes were focused on them.

“Of course. Even the most splendid jewels can’t compare to a single one of your eyelashes, Your Grace.”

Troy pushed the wheelchair confidently. He even waved leisurely at the crowd.

“Hello, everyone! Thank you for the warm welcome. I’m Troy Elliot! And this most handsome, beautiful, intelligent, and brave person in the world is Duke Kaiso Windermere! Yes, that’s right! The great war hero!”

As Troy looked each person straight in the eye and greeted them, they instead let out dry coughs and averted their gazes. The group that had been betting on what kind of mask Duke Windermere would wear just a moment ago also scratched their heads in embarrassment. The Crow mask, as if ashamed of something, opened a fan to cover his masked face, and the Freesia Flower mask fanned himself ceaselessly as if he were running a fever.

Seeing their reactions, Kaiso felt his shoulders straighten on their own. He recalled what had happened at the general store a few days ago. When Kaiso had asked Troy to pick out a mask for him, Troy had held up a mirror instead.

‘I still like your bare face the best, Your Grace. Your Grace, let’s go without masks.’

Troy seemed to have said it without much thought, but it had resonated with Kaiso in a certain way. The method Troy had suggested seemed like it wouldn’t be a bad idea.

The way to protect oneself in complete anonymity was, paradoxically, to reveal one’s identity. One had to look the other person straight in the eye and show them that you were a living person, not a spectacle.

‘If they’re going to recognize me even if I wear a mask, it’s better not to wear one. There’s no need to give them bait.’

Instead of a cumbersome mask, Kaiso bought a pair of earrings and appeared at the masquerade ball bare-faced. And now, he was certain that his choice was the right one.

“Hello, Duke Windermere.”

Someone suddenly popped out from the crowd and flung the lily mask he was wearing at the feet of the onlookers. Then, the simple face of a young man, hidden beneath the ornate mask, was revealed. He tapped his reddened face with the back of his hand and continued speaking.

“I am Eloise, the second daughter of the House of Count Randell. It is an honor to meet you.”

At Eloise Randell’s unexpected action, the surroundings buzzed once again. Kaiso was also momentarily flustered, but he soon formed a faint smile on his lips.

“The House of Count Randell has deep ties with our House of Duke Windermere. It is a true pleasure to meet you, Miss Randell. Is your father well?”

“He is, thanks to your concern.”

Eloise slowly looked around at each of the people surrounding them. Strangely, he, who was not wearing a mask, appeared confident, while the nobles hiding their faces behind masks showed a somewhat intimidated attitude. Sensing that peculiar atmosphere, Kaiso continued his greeting.

“I met Count Randell a few years ago, and he was a very kind and earnest person. It seems his daughter takes after him in that regard.”

“You are too kind, Your Grace.”

“Not at all. I was impressed by your consideration, Miss Randell.”

Kaiso had thought everyone at the masquerade ball would laugh at him. But unexpectedly, a strange young man had joined his cause, and he could not be more grateful.

“Consideration? Actually, I also came to the party without giving it much thought. But the moment you entered, Your Grace, I felt ashamed, as if I were naked. If I had known it would be an insult to someone, I wouldn’t have worn a mask in the first place.”

At the bold declaration of the young man, the surroundings fell chillingly silent. Only the sound of a few people clearing their throats echoed through the large hall.

“I just came dressed according to the ball’s concept.”

“I, I didn’t know Duke Windermere was coming.”

“Who’s insulting whom?”

The shameless excuses of the nobles erupted from here and there. At the same time, without anyone making the first move, they began to throw off their masks one by one. Before long, the ballroom floor was packed tight with ornate plaster masks, leaving no room to step.

Those who had been gleefully bad-mouthing Kaiso just a moment before couldn’t bring themselves to remove their masks and left their spots as if fleeing. The Freesia Flower mask also hurried away, but got caught on someone’s dress hem and fell with a thud. The mask, knocked off by the impact, bounced and rolled to a stop in front of Kaiso’s wheelchair wheel.

“Here you are.”

When Kaiso picked up the mask and offered it to him, the man took it as if snatching it away, his face beet red.

“Oh, it’s been a while, Duke Windermere.”

“Do I know you?”

At Kaiso’s question, the face of the man holding the Freesia Flower mask turned almost purple. Without a word, he hastily disappeared into the crowd as if escaping.

“What a strange person.”

After the brief commotion, the ball returned to normal. Except now it was an ordinary ball without masks. As if the earlier chaos had never happened, the people returned to being elegant and refined nobles. Kaiso felt a strange sense of victory. A smile on his lips, he turned his head toward Eloise.

“I would like to ask you for a dance, Miss Randell, but it’s a shame my situation is what it is.”

Kaiso bowed his head slightly as a sign of gratitude. Eloise also curtsied in response.

“Not at all. When you are able to dance again, Your Grace, please reserve me as your first partner then.”

“You are the fourth, young miss.”

Troy suddenly cut into the conversation. A flustered Eloise looked back and forth between the two men. Kaiso shook his head with an expression that said he couldn’t be helped. Troy, however, paid it no mind and pointed to himself with his fingers, his expression as shameless as ever.

“I’m terribly sorry, but the first reservation is me.”

“Ah… is that so? Then who is the second?”

“The second is Troy.”

“The third?”

“The third is Aide Elliot.”

As Eloise tilted her head with a question mark floating above it, Kaiso had no choice but to step in and clarify.

“He means they are all him, Miss Randell. I apologize. My aide is a bit extra.”

“Aha, you… have a very loyal servant.”

“I’m not just a servant, I’m his lover…”

Kaiso grabbed Troy’s hand with a slap, cutting him off. At that, Troy knelt beside him and met his eyes. Seeing the incomprehension in his gaze, Kaiso felt the need to make his position clear. Otherwise, a ridiculous rumor that Kaiso Windermere was taking a much younger aide as his lover was sure to spread.

“Don’t you dare say strange things like ‘lover’ or what have you here.”

“Oh, are we in a secret relationship?”

Troy lowered his voice to a hush and whispered in his ear.

“Who decided we were in a relationship?”

“Well, since you and I love each other, it’s a relationship.”

“Why would I…!”

Kaiso was so dumbfounded by Troy’s utterly confident tone that he couldn’t finish his sentence. It seemed like arguing with him over this would be endless.

“Fine. Think whatever you want.”

“Is that really okay?”

Feeling threatened by the excessive sparkle in Troy’s eyes, Kaiso quickly corrected himself.

“No, it’s not.”

Eloise, who had been quietly watching the strange conversation between the two, gave an awkward laugh and bid them farewell.

“Well… I’ll be going now. I’ll see you again next time, Your Grace.”

After Eloise Randell left, Kaiso and Troy moved to a table to avoid the dancing crowd. Wetting his throat with the white wine Troy brought, Kaiso slowly looked around.

The ball, which he was attending for the first time in years, wasn’t much different from before. It was still crowded, noisy, and full of energy, with a strange, sticky current flowing here and there.

It wasn’t as bad as he thought. It was almost laughable how worried and afraid he had been, as nothing happened. A few people glanced his way, but most were too busy enjoying the party to pay him any mind. Above all, Troy was staring at him so ardently that any rude gazes from others were completely overshadowed. Kaiso even came to think that his current appearance wasn’t so bad. From morning until now, Troy had been praising his beauty—letting out sounds of admiration every three seconds, barely able to breathe, and even pretending to faint—which might not have been an act—and it had paid off.

Kaiso was seized by the thought that he should also offer a word of praise to Troy. Not only was the pale blue formal suit, which Sterling had praised so highly, quite handsome, but his neatly combed-back hairstyle was also very dashing. Glancing up, he saw Troy waving at a group of boys and girls at a table across from them.

“Hello!”

The boy and girls who received the greeting giggled and whispered something amongst themselves. It was obvious they were having a conversation like, ‘Go talk to him,’ ‘No, you go.’ They looked about a year or two younger than Troy. Seeing that made Kaiso feel strange.

“Aaaaaah!”

Just then, someone let out a piercing scream from over there. Kaiso felt he knew who it was without even looking. He didn’t really want to acknowledge them, but he had no choice but to roll his wheelchair in that direction.

An incredibly large and ornate golden mask stood in the very center of the hall, his clenched fists trembling. The golden mask looked around nervously as if searching for someone.

“Prince Joel.”

It was clearly the person he was looking for. Kaiso approached Joel first, placed a hand on his chest, and offered a greeting. Kaiso struggled to hold back his laughter. It was just too funny to see him standing there, trembling, wearing the most extravagant mask in the world while everyone else was plainly bare-faced.

“You’re wearing a truly magnificent mask.”

Moreover, his identity was immediately discovered, making the effort of wearing such a huge mask pointless. The humiliation Joel had wanted to inflict on Kaiso was instead inflicted upon Joel himself. Kaiso inwardly cheered.

Joel flinched, looked at him, then looked around again, repeating the action before tearing off his mask and flinging it away. No, he tried to, but the mask was so large and firmly fixed to his head that he had to struggle with it for quite a while.

Finally freeing himself from dozens of hairpins and strings, Joel threw the mask to the floor. His brown hair was a mess, and the skin around his eyes was red and pressed from his glasses. He wiped his smudged glasses on his sleeve and spoke menacingly.

“Duke Windermere.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“What in the world have you done?”

Kaiso tapped the back of Troy’s hand with an indifferent expression. He could feel the hand gripping the wheelchair handle tense up, even without looking at his face. Of course, no one in their right mind would dare to do anything foolish to a prince at a royal ball.

‘But Troy isn’t in his right mind.’

He couldn’t trust Troy, so he stopped him just in case. After confirming that the tension had left Troy’s hand, Kaiso answered in a calm manner.

“I have merely attended the ball.”

“Th-then why aren’t you wearing a mask? I said it was a masquerade ball!”

“I am always wearing a mask in front of you, Your Highness, so I felt no need to wear another layer.”

At Kaiso’s indifferent reply, Joel’s jaw dropped as if in shock.

“In front of me… you wear a mask?”

“Ah, were you not aware? If it weren’t for that mask, I would have been executed for lèse-majesté long ago.”

At those words, Joel’s face turned bright red all the way to the tips of his ears, as if he had become truly angry. He paced back and forth restlessly, all the while stealing glances at Kaiso. Kaiso wondered if he had something on his face and brushed his cheek.

“Y-You r-ruined my ball!”

“It’s my ball, Joel. Don’t be impertinent.”

Turning his gaze toward the dignified and weighty voice, he saw a welcome face. Kaiso immediately bowed his head and showed his respects.

“Your Highness, the Crown Princess.”

“It’s been a while, Duke Windermere. Is your health well?”

“I am well, thanks to your concern.”

“You certainly look better.”

Serenity, who appeared in a dress so dazzling it was blinding, was not wearing a mask. As expected, she was not the type of person to participate in Joel’s low-quality pranks. Her dignified expression and elegant speech made it hard to believe she was Joel’s biological sister.

Even Joel, who had been throwing a fit until a moment ago, clamped his mouth shut as soon as Serenity appeared and just gulped down his drink. Serenity, as if sensing something, asked.

“Did my brother commit another discourtesy?”

“It was the same as always.”

Serenity glared at Joel with a fed-up expression before expressing her apologies to Kaiso.

“I’ll apologize on his behalf. My brother’s way of expressing affection is a bit misguided.”

Affection? Kaiso tilted his head but didn’t bother to ask. Joel was not important at this moment. His mind was filled with thoughts of Ingrid, and his heart felt like it would explode from agonizing over when and how to bring it up.

“Not at all, Your Highness. I am honored just to attend the royal ball.”

As Serenity smiled benevolently, Kaiso let out a sigh of relief. Serenity is different from Joel. He anxiously clasped his hands together, clinging to a sliver of hope.

He organized his plan in his head. He couldn’t just get straight to the point, so he first brought up the noble social life he had long forgotten.

“Did your husband not come with you?”

Serenity’s husband, Felix, was from the same academy as Kaiso, and they were quite close. Serenity opened her mouth, fanning herself lightly.

“He said he didn’t want to hear people whispering. It seems my husband is not as brave as the Duke.”

Kaiso, who understood better than anyone how it felt to hear gossip right in front of him, smiled bitterly.

“Please give my regards to your husband. I sometimes think of the times we trained together at the academy.”

Kaiso naturally steered the conversation to their academy days. Kaiso, Felix, and Serenity had all attended the academy at the same time and were in the same entering class.

“I’ve heard a few things from my husband. Felix always said he was thoroughly defeated by the Duke.”

“That’s because at the time, your husband was so completely captivated by Your Highness the Crown Princess that he couldn’t concentrate properly.”

Serenity let out a small laugh. The fact that Felix had had his heart set on Serenity since their academy days was a story known only to a few of his closest friends.

Kaiso anxiously watched to see if his joke had gotten on Serenity’s nerves. Fortunately, the atmosphere wasn’t bad. The surrounding nobles who had been listening to their conversation also began to reminisce about their academy days one by one.

“Thanks to you, old memories are coming back to me.”

“Those were nostalgic times.”

“Duke, do you happen to remember our academy classmate, Demian Devichi?”

“Of course. I heard he is working in the Royal Treasury.”

Demian Devichi had been the top student at the academy, but Kaiso had no particular connection with him. Kaiso had no way of knowing why Serenity suddenly brought up Demian.

“I’m not sure if you know this. It seems Sir Devichi’s habit of staying up at night because of you during our academy days has continued, and he now works late every day.”

It was the first he was hearing of it, but it wasn’t very surprising.

“Is that so. I was unaware, as I am quite oblivious to others.”

“It’s not that you’re oblivious, but that there were so many people like that you can’t remember them all. Anyway, what I want to say is, Sir Devichi still can’t forget you and remains single.”

“Serenity!”

Joel cut in from the side in an excited voice.

“Don’t talk nonsense!”

But Serenity completely ignored Joel’s words.

“If you’d like, shall I call for him now? He’s probably still working.”

“No, thank you. I can’t possibly interrupt his work just for my sake.”

“You two would be a great match. I’ve thought so since our academy days. The Duke should also make a fresh start. You’re still young, you can have another child.”

It seemed this was Serenity’s own way of dealing with the situation. She intended to defuse the situation by bringing up an irrelevant person like Demian Devichi.

“I’m fine.”

“Why? In my opinion, that seems to be the most efficient method. Am I wrong?”

At the word ‘efficient,’ Kaiso frowned. How could there be efficiency when a person’s life was at stake? In the first place, Ingrid was not someone who could be replaced by another. He couldn’t let himself be swept along by Serenity like this. Kaiso urgently changed the subject.

“By the way, is your husband’s health alright? I heard he only recently recovered.”

Despite being married for six years, Serenity and Felix had no children. If she continued to fail to produce an heir, Serenity’s position as Crown Princess could be in jeopardy. However, Felix suffered repeated miscarriages of unknown cause.

“Not bad. Though he doesn’t seem to be in a good mood.”

“Please comfort him greatly, Your Highness. As a fellow omega, I feel I can understand his sorrow.”

Yes, Kaiso decided to attack this point. He hoped that Serenity, as a fellow parent, would understand his pain, the feeling of losing a child.

“As you know, I too have lost a child.”

Serenity placed the glass she was drinking from on the table with a sour expression. She looked around as if she wanted to leave the spot immediately. Kaiso quickly continued.

“The parents of the other victims must feel the same way. Haven’t more than twenty children been abducted by the forest dragon?”

“Twenty-one, to be exact. No children have been abducted since Miss Windermere.”

Serenity still overtly showed her discomfort with the situation. But Kaiso had no intention of letting her go here.

“Whether it’s twenty or just one, I believe this is a problem that the royal family must step in and solve. You must save our children, our people. If this matter is not resolved, the war is as good as never-ending. This will also tarnish His Majesty the King’s reputation.”

Serenity had now turned her body completely and was looking in the opposite direction. But Kaiso continued persistently.

“Therefore, Your Highness the Crown Princess, I earnestly request the dispatch of the Royal Knights to defeat the forest dragon and bring peace to the continent.”

Kaiso finished speaking in a trembling voice and anxiously looked around. It was strange. Not a single one of the nobles who had promised to attend the ball today and join his cause was to be seen. In particular, even the lord of the city that suffered the most severe damage due to its proximity to the Dragon’s Forest did not show up at the ball. He was isolated in this vast ballroom like a deserted island.

“So this was your purpose for coming to the ball today?”

Serenity said, with a slight hint of sarcasm. Kaiso flinched at her wary attitude. But it was okay. He hadn’t expected to be able to persuade her in one go anyway.

“This is for all the children of this land, including my daughter. If we leave things as they are, other children could also be in danger.”

“As it happens, I have something to tell you, Duke.”

Serenity let out a short sigh and walked right up to Kaiso. The surroundings became so quiet that the click-clack of her heels echoed in the hall. Everyone leaned in to listen to the Crown Princess.

“A while ago, all the children who were abducted by the forest dragon returned safely.”

It was the first he was hearing of it. It seemed to be the same for the other nobles, as the surroundings began to stir. Kaiso’s eyes widened, and without realizing it, he grabbed Serenity’s hand.

“The children have returned? Then my child…”

“Except for Miss Windermere.”

Serenity hastily added and pulled her hand away. Kaiso could feel both his hands trembling. It was truly a good thing if all the children had returned safely. But why had only Ingrid not returned?

“Why my daughter, no, then what about my, my daughter?”

Serenity slowly shook her head.

“If you think about it, you know. After Miss Windermere, no more children were abducted. The forest dragon hasn’t attacked any villages either. It’s as if Miss Windermere was the target from the beginning.”

“She is just a seven-year-old child. For what reason would a dragon target my daughter?”

“I wouldn’t know. In any case, all the other children have returned alive, so this matter is as good as resolved.”

Kaiso was dumbfounded that the matter was resolved when Ingrid had not returned.

“If the, the other children returned alive, then my daughter must be alive too. If that’s the case, we can’t just leave her there, can we? Ah, my child must be waiting alone in that cold place…”

“Is there any reason to provoke a dormant forest dragon? Our knights are someone’s precious daughters and sons too, Duke.”

Kaiso felt suffocated. Of course, the knights’ lives were precious too, but was she saying they would turn a blind eye when a child had been abducted by a giant monster? Was that how this kingdom solved its problems?

“Then what about my child?”

“Duke, all the children except for Miss Windermere have returned. Do you really not understand what that means?”

Kaiso now understood everything. The royal family intended to quietly resolve this matter by using Ingrid as a sacrifice. Because if only Kaiso kept his mouth shut, it would be as if nothing had ever happened.

“Let’s be clear here. The forest dragon abduction case is hereby closed. All the abducted children have returned home safely. This is all thanks to the grace of His Majesty the King.”

Kaiso felt the world spinning. The sound of Troy calling him faded into the distance, and Serenity’s firm words became as hazy as a dream. It didn’t make sense. He had hoped to at least confirm if his child was alive or dead, and when he finally gained hope that she might be alive, the thunderous news that he couldn’t save her came at the same time.

“Ah, how can you say she can’t be saved when she’s alive. Your Highness, this doesn’t make sense.”

It would be one thing if she were dead, but to know she was alive and just have to watch? It was as if he could hear his child’s crying in his ears. The child hated the dark and was afraid to sleep alone at night. For such a child to be left alone in a dragon’s castle, and with a terrifying monster…

Kaiso desperately clung to the hem of Serenity’s dress. But Serenity coldly slapped away his pathetic hand.

“Just live as if the child is dead.”

It took a moment to understand that sentence. Each syllable stabbed at his heart like a knife. When Kaiso finally understood Serenity’s meaning, he knew that his last hope was gone.

What had he been living for all this time? Kaiso squeezed his eyes shut. He felt his head fall back, his body crumbling.

By the time he opened his eyes again, a full day had passed.

“Are you awake?”

Kaiso lay blankly, staring at the familiar ceiling. He blinked for a moment, getting his bearings. Looking around, he found himself lying in the bed of his own room in the capital’s ducal mansion.

“Your Grace, say ‘ah’.”

He heard Hayworth’s grumbling voice, and something touched Kaiso’s lips. As he instinctively opened his mouth slightly, a hot liquid passed over his tongue and down his throat. Feeling his throat constrict, he shot up as if jolted.

“Cough, cough!”

“Don’t spit out the medicine. I’ll give you some more.”

Hayworth spoke indifferently, once again scooping the thick liquid onto a spoon and holding it out. Kaiso wiped the liquid dribbling down his chin with his sleeve and asked.

“What is this?”

“Poison.”

At those words, Kaiso meekly took the medicine. This time, he swallowed it properly without throwing up.

“You threw it all up when I said it was a restorative medicine.”

Hayworth grumbled and rummaged through his bag. He took out something like dried herbs from a small bottle and held it out to Kaiso.

“Keep this on your tongue. It’ll clear your head.”

“My head is already clear.”

Kaiso shook his head and showed a tired smile. To anyone watching, it was clear he was pretending to be okay. Hayworth, too, didn’t believe his words and impatiently shook the unidentified herbs.

“Let me correct myself. This is to keep you from losing consciousness again.”

Then I’ll need it. Kaiso muttered softly and placed the herb on his tongue. A strong scent spread through his mouth, and his mind jolted awake.

“Ugh.”

“Just hold it for a little while.”

A maid came in, trotting with a basin of water, and Robson the butler was busily giving orders to the servants. Amid the bustle, only Hayworth sat by the bedside with a sullen expression. Kaiso turned his gaze to the window, but the sky was overcast, making it impossible to tell the time.

“Looks like it’s going to rain. The sky has been cloudy since this morning.”

Hayworth tidied his bag, set it on the floor with a thud, and looked straight at Kaiso. It felt strangely awkward to see him with such an uncharacteristically worried expression.

“I’m fine.”

“Whether you’re fine or not is for me, the doctor, to judge. And you, Your Grace, are not fine right now.”

Kaiso smiled bitterly. It seemed he couldn’t fool a doctor, no matter how hard he pretended otherwise. In truth, he wanted to pass out again right now. Poison seeped in with every breath he took, and sharp thorns embedded themselves with every breath he exhaled.

“Do you know what you look like right now, Your Grace? Like a corpse that’s been dead for a month.”

Kaiso ran a hand over his gaunt, rough cheek. Seeing Hayworth, who rarely ever worried, act like this, his condition must be bad indeed.

With a maid’s help, Kaiso washed his face and rinsed his dry mouth. With every small movement he made, the servants around him held their breath, treading as carefully as if walking on broken glass. Everyone was anxious not to make even a single sound of breathing out of place. Hayworth shattered that atmosphere with a shout.

“What on earth did that woman do?”

Kaiso was aghast to hear him refer to the Crown Princess so boldly. He suddenly remembered Hayworth saying that he had almost died exactly 17 times during the three days he was dispatched to the royal palace. It seemed that wasn’t a lie. Should he be grateful that at least Hayworth used formal speech with him?

“You really… Watch your mouth.”

“The one who needs to watch her mouth is not me, but that woman. I won’t stand by if anyone messes with my patient.”

“And what will you do if you don’t stand by.”

Kaiso wiped the moisture with the dry towel the maid had given him. Hayworth frowned as he watched Kaiso’s hands tremble.

“I know a few poisons that can make someone meet their end without a trace.”

“Emily Hayworth!”

Kaiso exclaimed, hastily pulling the towel away. Of course, everyone in the ducal mansion was trustworthy, but if by some chance his words were to leak out, it was a remark that could put Hayworth’s life in danger. However, as if he couldn’t care less about such things, Hayworth waved a hand leisurely.

“I’m kidding. Though I’m half-serious.”

Hayworth waited silently after that, but he just couldn’t bring himself to speak. Kaiso slowly sorted through the current situation.

‘Serenity won’t dispatch the Royal Knights. So I can’t save Ingrid.’

Amidst all the confusion, that one fact was certain.

‘Then should I die?’

But with the child alive, he couldn’t just die recklessly. He could only hope that God would strike down the forest dragon with a mace. However,

‘The sins I’ve committed are too great to hope for a miracle.’

Kaiso unknowingly let tears stream down his face. Never in his life had he felt so powerless. The things he had dedicated his entire life to achieving were of no help to him at this moment. Not his lofty title, not his vast fortune, not even his now-faded honor.

All he wanted was to live looking only at his daughter, was that such a big greed?

As Hayworth watched Kaiso, who had his head bowed and was tightly gripping the rustling blanket, he held something out. Kaiso took it, thinking it was a handkerchief, but upon receiving it, he saw it was a letter envelope.

“This is?”

“Her Highness, the great Crown Princess, left it behind. She said she couldn’t wait until you woke up, so she asked me to pass it on. Honestly, I was up all night because of her.”

“Serenity came with you?”

“Yes, with Prince Joel. They left shortly after confirming you were put to bed.”

Kaiso took the letter and broke the golden wax seal stamped with the royal crest. A lightly scrawled handwriting, clearly Serenity’s, filled the letter paper. A quick scan revealed excuses that the royal family’s choice was unavoidable, a trivial compensation she would bestow upon him, and another mention of Demian Devichi. An enormous sum was written on the enclosed promissory note. Kaiso tore the letter in half and exhaled as if sighing.

“Bullshit.”

Hayworth raised an eyebrow, as if he liked Kaiso’s profanity. He seemed to have grasped the situation roughly, even though Kaiso hadn’t said much.

“What are you going to do now?”

“First of all, I will never give up.”

Kaiso was in despair, but he hadn’t given up. What parent in the world would give up on their child? As long as he could get his child back, he wouldn’t care if he lost not only his legs but both his arms as well. He would be fine with being thrown into hell as is, and he would be fine with having his liver pecked out by eagles for the rest of his life.

If there were no more knights to dispatch within the country, he could hire foreign mercenaries. Perhaps,

“I could go myself.”

Kaiso muttered, looking down at his own thin legs. Yes, perhaps it would be faster for him to rehabilitate and go himself than to wait for a hero. Hadn’t Hayworth also been certain that he could walk if he just worked hard at rehabilitation? Kaiso, with a little hope, tried to put strength into his legs.

“……”

As expected, his legs didn’t even twitch.

“If you want to go that far yourself, you need to take care of your health first.”

Hayworth took a tray from a maid and placed it on Kaiso’s lap. It was warm soup and soft brioche. The sudden smell of food made him feel nauseous. He forced himself to take a spoonful of soup, but as expected, it didn’t go down well.

In the end, Kaiso barely wet his lips, hardly eating at all, and had the meal taken away. At that, Hayworth, standing beside him, began to drone on with worries that were close to a curse.

“How are you going to defeat the forest dragon by starving like that? Can you even catch a lizard? No, at this rate, you’ll die before Mr. Elliot does.”

“What does that mean?”

“Ah.”

Hayworth clamped a hand over his mouth. But the words were already out. Kaiso looked around, desperately searching for someone.

“Where’s Troy?”

The Troy that Kaiso knew would surely have stayed by his bedside until he woke up, but for some reason, he hadn’t been seen for a while. He thought he might have just stepped out for a moment, but for that, he was gone for quite a long time. Hayworth pretended not to hear him and suddenly buried his face in his bag. Kaiso looked at Robson the butler, who was standing behind him, and demanded an answer.

“That is…”

Robson trailed off, looking troubled. Kaiso was seized by a sense of foreboding.

“Call Troy for me.”

“Your Grace, actually, Mr. Elliot is not in the mansion right now.”

Hayworth glared at Robson and nudged him in the ribs. Seeing that suspicious behavior, it seemed something was going on.

“Where did he go?”

Robson scratched the back of his head, looking extremely troubled. Hayworth let out a short sigh and took out another one of those strong-smelling herbs from before. Before he could say anything, Kaiso snatched the herb and put it in his mouth.

“There, happy? I won’t pass out, so answer me quickly.”

Only then did Robson open his mouth.

“Mr. Elliot left early this morning, saying he would go rescue Miss Ingrid.”

Despite the strong scent of the herb, Kaiso almost fainted again.