Chapter 205
Sponsored Content
Translator: Yonnee
—
It’s understandable that Duke Masen was saying this as a parent. However, it could be considered as an act of disrespect against Albert.
It’s not as if Albert was clinging onto Liam. It was Liam who was quite obviously more fond of his peer, but Duke Masen was choosing to hurt Albert—who was easier to deal with—rather than hurt his own son.
And it’s impossible for Albert not to know this.
As expected, the more Albert listened to the duke, the more his expression became crumpled. All Duke Masen was doing was to remind Albert of how miserable his circumstances were.
What surprised me though was how Liam similarly reacted to his father’s words. There was a look of utter disbelief on his face.
Besides that, Liam’s cheeks were flushed from having to stand outside in the snow for quite a while.
“Why is Father…”
Liam looked betrayed. I could see just how hurt he was.
It was understandable. His father seemed to always be on his side, but he was now hurting his idol.
And it was all because of himself.
Nevertheless, Albert schooled his features before long. The colorful expression was soon smoothed over and became achromatic once more.
Sponsored Content
But even as Albert looked calm again, his frustration was still yet to be tempered. With anger laced in his tone, he asked.
“Is that the intention behind the ‘gifts’ you have given today?”
“No, it is not.”
Duke Masen shook his head and brazenly replied. Having dealt with people for a long time now, he knew exactly which words to pick.
“It is purely to express my gratitude. The gifts today are only with the intention of thanking you for having sparred with Liam.”
Even from a distance, I could see how much Albert was suppressing his emotions. Alternately, I looked between the wounded Liam and Albert.
“Would you like to check the gifts?”
Duke Masen asked with a smile on his face—a smile that would really make you want to hit him. He seemed very confident in what he brought today.”
“If you are not pleased with them, I can take them back.”
Though he was saying this, Duke Masen was feeling confident about what Albert would answer.
Albert didn’t turn down the duke when he sent a sudden notice of his visit, so he must not be able to easily refuse his proposition now.
And besides that, the ‘gifts’ that Duke Masen brought today were the things that Albert most urgently needed.
I scoffed. The world surrounding Albert was nothing but a gutter.
But at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel guilty.
Sponsored Content
…Because I had saved his life.
I wanted him to live. I hoped that he could overcome all these moments and become the Albert who I knew in the future—so that we could meet again.
But this was sending me into a spiral of confusion. Was my decision to save him truly for his sake?
Was it not because of my selfishness?
Exhaling briefly, Albert spoke in an elegant tone.
“I don’t believe this is a question that I can answer. Only you, Duke Masen, will be able to provide the answer.”
As Albert responded, Duke Masen’s eyes flashed.
“Are you refusing?”
“All I know is that Your Grace’s words are an insult to His Majesty the King. He has yet to appoint a prince.”
With this, Albert completely changed the focus of the conversation and shifted the blame to Duke Masen. And it was also a clear rejection.
Duke Masen let out a small burst of laughter. Then, he folded his arms and remained silent.
At that moment, Liam pushed the window open and jumped in. With a bright red face that had been bitten by the cold air, Liam stood before Duke Masen.
“Father, please apologize for everything you said just now.”
“Liam, you…”
“I didn’t ride the carriage back. You were obviously acting suspicious.”
Sponsored Content
Although he proudly confessed that he didn’t obey the duke’s command, Liam continued to stand tall.
“You also know that what you said is wrong, don’t you, Father? How could you say such a thing to the Young Count!”
Liam shouted at the top of his lungs.
Albert himself looked puzzled. He couldn’t understand why Liam was taking his side.
“If you won’t say sorry, Father, then I will.”
As Liam spoke with determination, he bowed deeply in front of Albert.
“I apologize for my father’s discourtesy. Please forgive him.”
However, even until the very end, Duke Masen didn’t apologize. There was not a single instance that he spoke while thinking of Albert’s wellbeing, and he and his son left just like that.
As Duke Masen looked at Liam, his gaze was unusual. Feeling anxious, I followed them until they boarded their carriage.
And it was just as I thought. Though with a calm expression, Duke Masen hit Liam across the cheek.
Slap—!
Accompanied by the sharp sound, Liam’s head swung to the side.
“Who do you think all this is for…”
The rage in his eyes showed a father’s love that had gone awry. But Liam didn’t shrink back at all.
Sponsored Content
“Why do you hate the Young Count so much? He’s a good person. I want to keep interacting with him, and I want to get to know him more.”
Hearing his son’s words, Duke Masen let out a long sigh.
“He is in an extremely precarious position. Count and Countess Grey have been deeply entrenched in gambling and drugs for a while now, and it would be no surprise if they die any time soon. That household is very obviously good prey for the current king. He is a man who can do us harm.”
“But can’t he change the world?”
“Watch your tongue, Liam.”
Duke Masen narrowed his eyes.
As Liam was talking about Albert directly, the quivering of his lips suggested that he was scared.
Even so, Liam continued to look straight into Duke Masen’s eyes.
Duke Masen already knew. It was going to be difficult to dissuade his son.
Contemplating for a moment, Duke Masen stroked his chin as he murmured.
“After this festival, Marquis Evnen will be hosting a banquet at his villa. You as well will attend.”
“…What? Why am I going?”
Liam asked, puzzled.
“Because His Majesty will be in attendance. And the Young Count will also be there.”
Chapter 205
Sponsored Content
Translator: Yonnee
—
It’s understandable that Duke Masen was saying this as a parent. However, it could be considered as an act of disrespect against Albert.
It’s not as if Albert was clinging onto Liam. It was Liam who was quite obviously more fond of his peer, but Duke Masen was choosing to hurt Albert—who was easier to deal with—rather than hurt his own son.
And it’s impossible for Albert not to know this.
As expected, the more Albert listened to the duke, the more his expression became crumpled. All Duke Masen was doing was to remind Albert of how miserable his circumstances were.
What surprised me though was how Liam similarly reacted to his father’s words. There was a look of utter disbelief on his face.
Besides that, Liam’s cheeks were flushed from having to stand outside in the snow for quite a while.
“Why is Father…”
Liam looked betrayed. I could see just how hurt he was.
It was understandable. His father seemed to always be on his side, but he was now hurting his idol.
And it was all because of himself.
Nevertheless, Albert schooled his features before long. The colorful expression was soon smoothed over and became achromatic once more.
Sponsored Content
But even as Albert looked calm again, his frustration was still yet to be tempered. With anger laced in his tone, he asked.
“Is that the intention behind the ‘gifts’ you have given today?”
“No, it is not.”
Duke Masen shook his head and brazenly replied. Having dealt with people for a long time now, he knew exactly which words to pick.
“It is purely to express my gratitude. The gifts today are only with the intention of thanking you for having sparred with Liam.”
Even from a distance, I could see how much Albert was suppressing his emotions. Alternately, I looked between the wounded Liam and Albert.
“Would you like to check the gifts?”
Duke Masen asked with a smile on his face—a smile that would really make you want to hit him. He seemed very confident in what he brought today.”
“If you are not pleased with them, I can take them back.”
Though he was saying this, Duke Masen was feeling confident about what Albert would answer.
Albert didn’t turn down the duke when he sent a sudden notice of his visit, so he must not be able to easily refuse his proposition now.
And besides that, the ‘gifts’ that Duke Masen brought today were the things that Albert most urgently needed.
I scoffed. The world surrounding Albert was nothing but a gutter.
But at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel guilty.
Sponsored Content
…Because I had saved his life.
I wanted him to live. I hoped that he could overcome all these moments and become the Albert who I knew in the future—so that we could meet again.
But this was sending me into a spiral of confusion. Was my decision to save him truly for his sake?
Was it not because of my selfishness?
Exhaling briefly, Albert spoke in an elegant tone.
“I don’t believe this is a question that I can answer. Only you, Duke Masen, will be able to provide the answer.”
As Albert responded, Duke Masen’s eyes flashed.
“Are you refusing?”
“All I know is that Your Grace’s words are an insult to His Majesty the King. He has yet to appoint a prince.”
With this, Albert completely changed the focus of the conversation and shifted the blame to Duke Masen. And it was also a clear rejection.
Duke Masen let out a small burst of laughter. Then, he folded his arms and remained silent.
At that moment, Liam pushed the window open and jumped in. With a bright red face that had been bitten by the cold air, Liam stood before Duke Masen.
“Father, please apologize for everything you said just now.”
“Liam, you…”
“I didn’t ride the carriage back. You were obviously acting suspicious.”
Sponsored Content
Although he proudly confessed that he didn’t obey the duke’s command, Liam continued to stand tall.
“You also know that what you said is wrong, don’t you, Father? How could you say such a thing to the Young Count!”
Liam shouted at the top of his lungs.
Albert himself looked puzzled. He couldn’t understand why Liam was taking his side.
“If you won’t say sorry, Father, then I will.”
As Liam spoke with determination, he bowed deeply in front of Albert.
“I apologize for my father’s discourtesy. Please forgive him.”
However, even until the very end, Duke Masen didn’t apologize. There was not a single instance that he spoke while thinking of Albert’s wellbeing, and he and his son left just like that.
As Duke Masen looked at Liam, his gaze was unusual. Feeling anxious, I followed them until they boarded their carriage.
And it was just as I thought. Though with a calm expression, Duke Masen hit Liam across the cheek.
Slap—!
Accompanied by the sharp sound, Liam’s head swung to the side.
“Who do you think all this is for…”
The rage in his eyes showed a father’s love that had gone awry. But Liam didn’t shrink back at all.
Sponsored Content
“Why do you hate the Young Count so much? He’s a good person. I want to keep interacting with him, and I want to get to know him more.”
Hearing his son’s words, Duke Masen let out a long sigh.
“He is in an extremely precarious position. Count and Countess Grey have been deeply entrenched in gambling and drugs for a while now, and it would be no surprise if they die any time soon. That household is very obviously good prey for the current king. He is a man who can do us harm.”
“But can’t he change the world?”
“Watch your tongue, Liam.”
Duke Masen narrowed his eyes.
As Liam was talking about Albert directly, the quivering of his lips suggested that he was scared.
Even so, Liam continued to look straight into Duke Masen’s eyes.
Duke Masen already knew. It was going to be difficult to dissuade his son.
Contemplating for a moment, Duke Masen stroked his chin as he murmured.
“After this festival, Marquis Evnen will be hosting a banquet at his villa. You as well will attend.”
“…What? Why am I going?”
Liam asked, puzzled.
“Because His Majesty will be in attendance. And the Young Count will also be there.”
