CHAPTER 60…………….
“You’ve grown a lot in just a month.”
It was just as Anna had said.
The reflection in the mirror was clearly different.
The sharper, stronger lines of the face now announced unmistakably that he was an adult.
He pinched his cheek once more.
It hurt.
“It’s hard to see clearly like this, isn’t it? May I draw the curtains?”
They had only the glowstone for light, so the room was not very bright.
If the curtains were drawn back, his face would be seen plainly.
But that also meant being exposed to the blazing light.
Noah was afraid.
He remembered that scorching heat that felt like his skin burning.
“It will be fine.”
Anna spoke to him as he hesitated.
On its own, it was nothing but a simple phrase. Yet somehow it made him believe it really would be fine.
It was strange.
Instead of asking Anna to open the curtains, he got out of bed himself.
His view was strangely high.
Even walking felt unusual.
Stretching out his now long arms, Noah noticed the light pooled on the floor.
That had always been the way he saw the world.
But now that his view was higher—
“Small.”
Everything looked so small.
To reach the wider world, he pulled back the curtains.
The light was so dazzling it burned itself into his eyes.
“Hot.”
He flinched and tried to step back, but Anna caught his shoulder.
“The weather is so warm today.”
With that, she opened the window.
Cool air rushed in, and only then could Noah look straight at the view outside.
The blue sky. The green garden.
After so long, Noah was face-to-face with the vast world beyond the dark walls, and he could not close his mouth in awe.
“The breeze feels nice. Doesn’t it?”
“Y-yes…”
It was warm.
Not burning, but a gentle warmth.
As Noah stared blankly at the scenery, Anna spoke in her gentle tone.
“Then, shall we prepare to strike back?”
“St-strike back?”
Against who?
“Against the one who tried to kill the Duke, of course. Do you want to sit by and let your family be stolen away?”
“N-no.”
The answer slipped out before he could think.
“That’s enough. Fortunately, you have good allies by your side, so things should go well.”
Anna turned her head.
Following her gaze, Noah saw a familiar face.
“…Butler.”
It was the old butler who had served Ignas half his life.
“Master… no, my lord Duke. To see you grown before I return to the earth…”
Before the butler could get carried away, Anna cut him off.
“Save the sentiment for later. We’re busy now.”
She gave her orders quickly.
“First, we need clothes. May I summon a tailor I know? Altering ready-made garments won’t look sloppy.”
“That would be a great help.”
While Noah was still dazed, the matter was already settled between Anna and the butler.
Then, as if on cue, maids gathered around Noah to take his measurements.
His head spun.
But he did not run.
Because Anna stayed close by, calmly organizing what had to be done.
“Think of it like memorizing these lines and reciting them word for word.”
It felt as though he were becoming an actor.
Thankfully, memorization was not difficult.
“Wait.”
In the middle of the work, Anna asked for water, her throat dry.
Noah, overwhelmed as he was, only nodded.
But then—
From behind Anna, a black-haired man silently approached.
Noah nearly screamed inside; he had made no sound.
“Here.”
“Thank you.”
While Noah froze, the man naturally poured water and handed it to Anna.
“…!”
Startled, Noah stared at him until their eyes met.
Terrified, Noah quickly looked away.
“He must hate me.”
The man’s golden eyes felt frightening.
His presence made Noah tremble.
Noticing, Anna said softly:
“Good. Then let’s move straight to practice.”
She led Noah out to the garden, where a gathering was in full swing.
There were too many people.
Just the sight made his stomach churn.
“Ah, Anna…”
“My name is not Anna.”
For a moment, Noah was so shocked he forgot that he was supposed to speak in front of these people.
“I’ll give you a hint. The Duke and I are business partners.”
That meant she held enough status to be partnered with Duke Ignas.
But Noah could not fathom who she might be.
“When Ignas is safe, I’ll tell you my real name.”
At that moment, Noah found his reason to stand before them.
The banquet was in full swing.
Thomas, surrounded by vassal families of Ignas, raised his champagne glass high.
He was the star of the day.
“To Ignas…!”
Just as he was about to shout “cheers!”—
“Isn’t it too early to set up a proxy?”
A strange man’s voice rang out.
Turning, Thomas looked up at the figure approaching and froze.
“You are…?”
Impossible.
Desperately, Thomas denied reality.
But the murmurs of the crowd dragged him back to it.
“No… it can’t be.”
Noah Ignas.
The Duke of Ignas, long rumored to have collapsed, appeared.
Few had seen his face in years of seclusion, so it was understandable some did not recognize him.
But no one could mistake that blazing red hair unique to Ignas.
Especially Thomas. He had seen Noah before, as a child.
Back then Noah had been scrawny, weak, barely worth a fistful.
That was over ten years ago.
And Thomas remembered it well, for one reason:
“That frail brat is the heir?”
He had thought it absurd.
“I should be the heir. He was just lucky to be born to the right parents.”
And now, the daydream of that time stood before him as reality.
Thomas looked up at Noah, now grown into a tall man.
He still bore a gloomy air, but with his height he no longer looked pitiful.
“I am Noah Ignas. What business do you all have in my home? As I recall, this year’s gathering already ended.”
“…”
“An explanation is in order.”
Rumor had it Noah, hidden away, was still frail.
That he had collapsed under drugs, unable to function as a man.
Utter lies.
“This is impossible!” Thomas thought.
Someone, jealous of him, must have brought in a lookalike.
“The Duke of Ignas is in a coma! Everyone knows this. And you claim to be Noah?”
“Who are you?”
“Thomas Goodall. The Duke’s eighth cousin. I met you as a child, so if you are truly Noah Ignas, you should know me.”
“…Who is Thomas?”
Noah looked genuinely confused.
Seizing his chance, Thomas jabbed a finger at him.
“Then you are not Noah! If you are, prove it—show the Great Seal!”
“In that case…”
Noah revealed the back of his hand.
Flames flickered, and a crimson crest appeared there.
The Great Seal.
It was nothing like the vassals’ contracts, which were mere derivatives of it.
The sub-seals looked pitiful by comparison, like broken teeth.
This was a power no one could imitate.
“Impossible… No, yes! That’s right, this is impossible!”
Though he had never seen it before, Thomas knew at once it was real.
But he needed to find some flaw.
His chance to seize Ignas would never come again.
“You’ve forged the Seal and dare impersonate the Duke! That is treason!”
Thomas shouted until his neck reddened.
Noah sighed softly.
“If the Seal is not enough, I will show you power itself.”
He gestured lightly.
That was all.
Yet flames erupted, not only around Thomas but throughout the garden.
The fire raged, as if to consume flesh.
“S-stop…”
The smell of burning rose.
Thomas, terrified, thought it was his own skin.
On Noah’s thirteenth birthday, Thomas had been newly married.
But lost in pleasure-seeking, he had skipped the banquet.
That was why he survived, when lesser relatives—unable to wield Ignas’ power—perished in fire.
“Pathetic fools.”
He had thought that then, and even said it aloud.
How laughable, to burn to death while bound by Ignas’ flame.
“Hee—hiiik!”
Thomas fell, kicking at the ground like a fish out of water.
He could run, but terror stripped him of reason.
“P-please, put out the fire…”
Between his legs, it was wet.
He had pissed himself.
