Duke Carter stood, a cane in hand to support his weight. He appeared nonchalant, but even at a glance, his complexion looked sickly.
Leo, engaged in a casual conversation with the duchess at his side, walked towards the center of the banquet hall.
Those who had been discreetly observing from a distance now crowded around him.
Sipping apple wine, I focused my senses on those distant voices, which soon became clearer.
“I heard the news. His Grace isn’t feeling well.”
Though provocative as a topic to pass on to the son of the person involved, Leo responded without hesitation.
“It’s just that the weather is cold, and his energy might be a bit low. But as you can see, he is able to participate in today’s event like this. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Well, that’s a relief. If I spoke out of turn, I apologize.”
“It’s fine.”
Leo’s unfaltering casual smile and response seemed to ease the situation. Another nobleman cautiously spoke up, glancing around.
“…By the way, shouldn’t His Grace announce his successor soon?”
A ripple of tension briefly surfaced but quickly dissipated. The carefully spoken words amounted to a kind of flattery or, more precisely, a form of ingratiating himself to Leo.
They were already expecting that he would be the next duke.
“Indeed. Even if His Grace doesn’t formally announce it, naturally, you will inherit the title, Young Duke.”
“That’s right. Who else could be the successor? The only son of House Carter, with exceptional looks and talent.”
“Don’t even mention it. I still remember his remarkable performance on the day of the hunting festival.”
Yes, I remember that too.
Whispers began circulating, and Leo quietly smiled. Without suppressing or exaggerating his reaction, he responded when the murmurs settled.
“I’m just grateful for your kind words.”
With that, he threw that single remark while sounding modest.
But starkly enough, he did not deny the resounding expectation that he would naturally inherit the title.
Surely, there wouldn’t be anyone as convinced as Leo himself that he would inherit the dukedom. But…
‘But will that really happen?’
Savoring the taste of apple wine on my tongue, I lifted one corner of my lips.
Just the thought of shattering the smug confidence of someone so self-assured was already delightful.
At that moment, Leo turned his gaze in my direction.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Without hesitation, Leo walked towards me and Alicia.
Not fully paying attention, I turned my head a bit late. My face stiffened as if just realizing his presence, as though I steadfastly believed that Leo was Urien.
Before he approached, I subtly nudged Alicia’s back.
“Sister?”
With a slight nudge to her back, Alicia blinked and turned around.
Even the young ladies who were chatting away with her stopped mid-sentence and looked at me when they sensed my tension.
The tension that hadn’t been present during Alicia’s conversation lingered for a moment before dissipating.
I lowered my head slightly and whispered to the tense Alicia.
“Keep chatting with the other ladies. I’ll be right back.”
“What?”
“Didn’t I say it’s alright?”
Though my words lacked any explanation, Alicia nodded in trust, her puzzled expression showing she accepted it beyond the bounds of understanding.
I smiled subtly, brushing aside Alicia’s hair.
“As I mentioned before, do your very best to avoid being alone with anyone. Especially… those two. Got it?”
I didn’t have to explain who ‘those two’ were.
With a determined expression, Alicia nodded and left with the group of young ladies with whom she was exchanging greetings.
Though it wasn’t pleasant to force a shy girl into the throes of extroversion…
“It’s been a while, Ducal Lady.”
At least, it would be better than keeping her near such a guy.
Before I knew it, Leo was right in front of me already. I looked up at him with an indifferent gaze.
“We’re not close enough to greet each other like this, are we?”
As I muttered bluntly, Leo chuckled silently.
“I’ve missed you quite a bit, but it seems like it’s not the same case for you, though.”
“…Yes. It would be much better not to see each other.”
“Oh, that hurts. My heart feels like it’s tearing apart.”
“Then, let it tear apart. Just die.”
Even with open hostility, Leo maintained a consistently smiling face, as if he was truly Urien.
Anyway, both of them were like snakes, no different from each other.
He reached out his hand and grabbed the end of my long hair, gently twirling it.
My gaze, previously lowered, subtly lifted.
“Seeing everyone today, it seems they’re quite interested in you. Unfortunately, the rumors are still circulating.”
“Yes. Whenever things seem to calm down, there’s a commotion as if someone is targeting me. But more importantly…”
I stared at him with a cold gaze before pushing his hand away with the fan I was holding. His hand yielded without resistance.
“But more importantly?”
“Isn’t everyone more interested in you today, Young Duke? They’re all saying that you will soon become the household head. Becoming the duke… Do you think that’s a good thing?”
“Well, it’s a bit complicated. It’s a topic that keeps coming up now because of Father’s illness. It’s not all good.”
Leo’s response made his face seem a bit darker.
“It’s disgusting.”
Yeah, disgusting.
Duke Carter’s illness was a planned event by Leo and his mother.
Frustrated by the duke’s dithering on the announcement of his heir, the mother and son had been continuously poisoning the duke’s food little by little.
Each time they did it, they added only small amounts, but once accumulated, the end result was the duke getting ‘sick’.
As his condition only gradually became apparent, it looked like a natural disease.
In the past, around this time, the duke’s illness was known to the world. People murmured that Leo would soon become the duke.
Yes, exactly like today.
Eventually, with the gaze of the people and the worsening illness, the duke, conscious of the looming successorship, would announce Leo as his heir before summer arrives.
Not long after that, the duke would pass away, and Leo would take up the mantle despite his youth.
He had twisted his father’s neck with his own hand just to secure his position.
“Why would you want to kill the Duke? To become the Duke as soon as possible?”
I asked without pretense.
A moment of chilling tension passed over Leo’s face before disappearing.
The vanished coldness was replaced by a smile.
Unlike his brazen attitude so far, it was a somewhat awkward smile.
“Let’s set aside such unfounded speculations for now, hm? How about dancing together? It seems you don’t even have a partner who came with you.”
“Don’t you have a partner?”
“…Just in case, I came alone, fearing that you might not have anyone by your side.”
“Well, that’s considerate of you.”
Leo extended his hand. I silently looked at his hand.
And, without a single word, I pushed it away with the fan I was holding.
The turned hand touched only the empty air.
Shrugging as our eyes met, I apologized.
“I’m sorry, but I already have a partner for the first dance.”
“You have a partner?”
As he retracted his hand, Leo grinned.
“Could it be the escort knight who’s always with you?”
I shook my head.
“No, that knight isn’t working for me anymore.”
“What?”
“I found someone I like more.”
“I remember you speaking highly of that person before though.”
“The new person is also remarkably good. No, it’s not even enough to say that he’s outstanding in many ways.”
Looks, lineage, physique.
Hmm, truly in various respects, whether day or night, he’s simply marvelous.
“Someone else?” Leo raised an eyebrow.
“He’s quite exceptional in many ways. Appearance, lineage, and physique. Well, exceptional in every aspect.”
“Then, may I recruit the one you fired?”
This whole time, Leo kept hinting that he’d like to ‘hire’ Maxwell, and he looked like he was delighted to hear that I had fired him.
But there’s no way he could ever take him.
“Well, no. Unfortunately, he’s dead.”
“Dead?”
“Yes, Maxwell is dead.”
Even to my ears, the cheerful voice didn’t quite match the words I had uttered.
Leo’s face showed deep skepticism, and soon his lips seemed about to say something.
‘Ah, he’s here.’
The atmosphere in the banquet hall changed oddly.
Leo seemed to sense it too, turning his head towards the altered flow instead of speaking further.
Since the emperor had finished his speech, the entrance to the ballroom hadn’t reopened. Everyone who was expected to arrive had already come.
Thus, the grand doors that signaled the entrance of attendees maintained a silent stance throughout.
However, those doors began to open once more.
Creak.
Well-maintained as they were, the ancient doors inevitably emitted a slight noise.
The eerie sound sent shivers down the spines of those gathered, who were engaged in casual conversations.
Their gazes gradually shifted towards the slowly opening doors.
The brisk winter night air rushed into the heated ballroom.
As they opened wider, the tall figure of a man came into view.
At first, shrouded in darkness, it was impossible to discern his identity.
But as the man confidently strode forward with long strides, his face became clearer.
“…Unbelievable.”
“That person…”
“No, he definitely died, and there was even a funeral held for him.”
As the man revealed himself, people were taken aback, and whispers spread throughout the hall.
The hushed murmurs grew into a wave that covered the entire venue.
The man’s lips formed a languid smile.
The chilly winter air rustled through his neatly combed black hair, and his fair skin gleamed with the moonlight.
Then, his eyes—beneath thick, dark eyelashes—revealed a sharp, crimson gaze.
The man, now standing still, leisurely scanned the crowd.
His demeanor, in stark contrast to the shocked onlookers, exuded a sense of calm.
I watched him with a pleased feeling, then shifted my gaze to the man standing in front of me.
Leo appeared dazed, like someone who had just received a blow to the back of the head.
He stared at Cassion with a face frozen in shock.
Soon, as if marking the peak of the chaos, the herald’s belated announcement of the guest’s arrival echoed through the grand hall.
“E-Entering, Lord Cassion Carter… of the Carter Duchy!”
Duke Carter stood, a cane in hand to support his weight. He appeared nonchalant, but even at a glance, his complexion looked sickly.
Leo, engaged in a casual conversation with the duchess at his side, walked towards the center of the banquet hall.
Those who had been discreetly observing from a distance now crowded around him.
Sipping apple wine, I focused my senses on those distant voices, which soon became clearer.
“I heard the news. His Grace isn’t feeling well.”
Though provocative as a topic to pass on to the son of the person involved, Leo responded without hesitation.
“It’s just that the weather is cold, and his energy might be a bit low. But as you can see, he is able to participate in today’s event like this. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Well, that’s a relief. If I spoke out of turn, I apologize.”
“It’s fine.”
Leo’s unfaltering casual smile and response seemed to ease the situation. Another nobleman cautiously spoke up, glancing around.
“…By the way, shouldn’t His Grace announce his successor soon?”
A ripple of tension briefly surfaced but quickly dissipated. The carefully spoken words amounted to a kind of flattery or, more precisely, a form of ingratiating himself to Leo.
They were already expecting that he would be the next duke.
“Indeed. Even if His Grace doesn’t formally announce it, naturally, you will inherit the title, Young Duke.”
“That’s right. Who else could be the successor? The only son of House Carter, with exceptional looks and talent.”
“Don’t even mention it. I still remember his remarkable performance on the day of the hunting festival.”
Yes, I remember that too.
Whispers began circulating, and Leo quietly smiled. Without suppressing or exaggerating his reaction, he responded when the murmurs settled.
“I’m just grateful for your kind words.”
With that, he threw that single remark while sounding modest.
But starkly enough, he did not deny the resounding expectation that he would naturally inherit the title.
Surely, there wouldn’t be anyone as convinced as Leo himself that he would inherit the dukedom. But…
‘But will that really happen?’
Savoring the taste of apple wine on my tongue, I lifted one corner of my lips.
Just the thought of shattering the smug confidence of someone so self-assured was already delightful.
At that moment, Leo turned his gaze in my direction.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Without hesitation, Leo walked towards me and Alicia.
Not fully paying attention, I turned my head a bit late. My face stiffened as if just realizing his presence, as though I steadfastly believed that Leo was Urien.
Before he approached, I subtly nudged Alicia’s back.
“Sister?”
With a slight nudge to her back, Alicia blinked and turned around.
Even the young ladies who were chatting away with her stopped mid-sentence and looked at me when they sensed my tension.
The tension that hadn’t been present during Alicia’s conversation lingered for a moment before dissipating.
I lowered my head slightly and whispered to the tense Alicia.
“Keep chatting with the other ladies. I’ll be right back.”
“What?”
“Didn’t I say it’s alright?”
Though my words lacked any explanation, Alicia nodded in trust, her puzzled expression showing she accepted it beyond the bounds of understanding.
I smiled subtly, brushing aside Alicia’s hair.
“As I mentioned before, do your very best to avoid being alone with anyone. Especially… those two. Got it?”
I didn’t have to explain who ‘those two’ were.
With a determined expression, Alicia nodded and left with the group of young ladies with whom she was exchanging greetings.
Though it wasn’t pleasant to force a shy girl into the throes of extroversion…
“It’s been a while, Ducal Lady.”
At least, it would be better than keeping her near such a guy.
Before I knew it, Leo was right in front of me already. I looked up at him with an indifferent gaze.
“We’re not close enough to greet each other like this, are we?”
As I muttered bluntly, Leo chuckled silently.
“I’ve missed you quite a bit, but it seems like it’s not the same case for you, though.”
“…Yes. It would be much better not to see each other.”
“Oh, that hurts. My heart feels like it’s tearing apart.”
“Then, let it tear apart. Just die.”
Even with open hostility, Leo maintained a consistently smiling face, as if he was truly Urien.
Anyway, both of them were like snakes, no different from each other.
He reached out his hand and grabbed the end of my long hair, gently twirling it.
My gaze, previously lowered, subtly lifted.
“Seeing everyone today, it seems they’re quite interested in you. Unfortunately, the rumors are still circulating.”
“Yes. Whenever things seem to calm down, there’s a commotion as if someone is targeting me. But more importantly…”
I stared at him with a cold gaze before pushing his hand away with the fan I was holding. His hand yielded without resistance.
“But more importantly?”
“Isn’t everyone more interested in you today, Young Duke? They’re all saying that you will soon become the household head. Becoming the duke… Do you think that’s a good thing?”
“Well, it’s a bit complicated. It’s a topic that keeps coming up now because of Father’s illness. It’s not all good.”
Leo’s response made his face seem a bit darker.
“It’s disgusting.”
Yeah, disgusting.
Duke Carter’s illness was a planned event by Leo and his mother.
Frustrated by the duke’s dithering on the announcement of his heir, the mother and son had been continuously poisoning the duke’s food little by little.
Each time they did it, they added only small amounts, but once accumulated, the end result was the duke getting ‘sick’.
As his condition only gradually became apparent, it looked like a natural disease.
In the past, around this time, the duke’s illness was known to the world. People murmured that Leo would soon become the duke.
Yes, exactly like today.
Eventually, with the gaze of the people and the worsening illness, the duke, conscious of the looming successorship, would announce Leo as his heir before summer arrives.
Not long after that, the duke would pass away, and Leo would take up the mantle despite his youth.
He had twisted his father’s neck with his own hand just to secure his position.
“Why would you want to kill the Duke? To become the Duke as soon as possible?”
I asked without pretense.
A moment of chilling tension passed over Leo’s face before disappearing.
The vanished coldness was replaced by a smile.
Unlike his brazen attitude so far, it was a somewhat awkward smile.
“Let’s set aside such unfounded speculations for now, hm? How about dancing together? It seems you don’t even have a partner who came with you.”
“Don’t you have a partner?”
“…Just in case, I came alone, fearing that you might not have anyone by your side.”
“Well, that’s considerate of you.”
Leo extended his hand. I silently looked at his hand.
And, without a single word, I pushed it away with the fan I was holding.
The turned hand touched only the empty air.
Shrugging as our eyes met, I apologized.
“I’m sorry, but I already have a partner for the first dance.”
“You have a partner?”
As he retracted his hand, Leo grinned.
“Could it be the escort knight who’s always with you?”
I shook my head.
“No, that knight isn’t working for me anymore.”
“What?”
“I found someone I like more.”
“I remember you speaking highly of that person before though.”
“The new person is also remarkably good. No, it’s not even enough to say that he’s outstanding in many ways.”
Looks, lineage, physique.
Hmm, truly in various respects, whether day or night, he’s simply marvelous.
“Someone else?” Leo raised an eyebrow.
“He’s quite exceptional in many ways. Appearance, lineage, and physique. Well, exceptional in every aspect.”
“Then, may I recruit the one you fired?”
This whole time, Leo kept hinting that he’d like to ‘hire’ Maxwell, and he looked like he was delighted to hear that I had fired him.
But there’s no way he could ever take him.
“Well, no. Unfortunately, he’s dead.”
“Dead?”
“Yes, Maxwell is dead.”
Even to my ears, the cheerful voice didn’t quite match the words I had uttered.
Leo’s face showed deep skepticism, and soon his lips seemed about to say something.
‘Ah, he’s here.’
The atmosphere in the banquet hall changed oddly.
Leo seemed to sense it too, turning his head towards the altered flow instead of speaking further.
Since the emperor had finished his speech, the entrance to the ballroom hadn’t reopened. Everyone who was expected to arrive had already come.
Thus, the grand doors that signaled the entrance of attendees maintained a silent stance throughout.
However, those doors began to open once more.
Creak.
Well-maintained as they were, the ancient doors inevitably emitted a slight noise.
The eerie sound sent shivers down the spines of those gathered, who were engaged in casual conversations.
Their gazes gradually shifted towards the slowly opening doors.
The brisk winter night air rushed into the heated ballroom.
As they opened wider, the tall figure of a man came into view.
At first, shrouded in darkness, it was impossible to discern his identity.
But as the man confidently strode forward with long strides, his face became clearer.
“…Unbelievable.”
“That person…”
“No, he definitely died, and there was even a funeral held for him.”
As the man revealed himself, people were taken aback, and whispers spread throughout the hall.
The hushed murmurs grew into a wave that covered the entire venue.
The man’s lips formed a languid smile.
The chilly winter air rustled through his neatly combed black hair, and his fair skin gleamed with the moonlight.
Then, his eyes—beneath thick, dark eyelashes—revealed a sharp, crimson gaze.
The man, now standing still, leisurely scanned the crowd.
His demeanor, in stark contrast to the shocked onlookers, exuded a sense of calm.
I watched him with a pleased feeling, then shifted my gaze to the man standing in front of me.
Leo appeared dazed, like someone who had just received a blow to the back of the head.
He stared at Cassion with a face frozen in shock.
Soon, as if marking the peak of the chaos, the herald’s belated announcement of the guest’s arrival echoed through the grand hall.
“E-Entering, Lord Cassion Carter… of the Carter Duchy!”
