CHAPTER 27…………………………..
Before entering Maryanne’s room, the Duke was discreetly handed a letter by his butler.
[From D]
The writing on the envelope was simple.
And the contents were just as brief.
[The child with red eyes is alive.]
As he read the letter, he was suddenly pulled into a memory.
“…Ron!…Ron, where are you! Roon…!”
He heard the screams echoing in his ears.
His Adam’s apple twitched.
Sweat formed on his broad forehead.
Even though several years had passed, the events in the Dark Forest that day felt vivid as ever.
Looking out the window, the evening twilight had settled.
It was around this time when the cool air would wrap around one’s entire body. He had gone to the northern Trensia forest with his young children.
It was a tradition of the Careys family—something everyone had to go through.
The dense trees swayed violently in the fierce wind, making strange sounds, as if the forest itself was trying to swallow the child.
And that’s how Ron had disappeared.
They had tried to find him but could not.
He had made every effort to forget the memory of that day.
He immersed himself in work day and night and devoted himself to the family.
That was why he accepted Maryanne, a child with a magical lineage, to become stronger.
“If Ron were alive… he would probably be about Maryanne’s age.”
The Duke’s thoughts drifted to Anne.
Maryanne Delve, a mere thirteen-year-old girl.
When he first saw her, the Duke of Careys had no special interest.
But then…
“Duke, has a tutor been decided? If not, may I choose one myself?”
The timid child suddenly revealed a sharp, determined gaze.
Who else would dare to say they would find their own tutor?
Moreover, she actually succeeded in finding her tutor and magician.
“Look into that woman.”
The Duke sent someone to investigate Krautz.
He found out that the woman had once been a highly skilled magic researcher.
“How could she find someone so capable at once?”
Maryanne had said it was thanks to her late parents’ guidance.
Yet, it was remarkable for a thirteen-year-old to have such talent.
“She also rescued Crim and Sherbert.”
The two sons of the Careys family, Crim and Sherbert, were saved by her as well.
It was astonishing because it had been done by a small, fragile girl, not by strong knights.
His heart stirred.
Strangely, the Careys family had no daughters.
So when he first brought the child from the Count’s house, he didn’t know how to treat her.
Yet, gradually, her image lingered in his mind.
The way she smiled brightly saying “Duke” or boldly saying “I can do it.”
He realized that he was slowly growing fond of the girl who would one day become his daughter-in-law.
At that moment, he heard Sherbert’s voice outside the study.
“What brings you here?”
Although a bit haggard from the slave market incident, the vigor in his son’s presence was remarkable.
The Duke gestured with a hand over his smooth jawline, and Sherbert limped to sit.
“I have something to ask.”
“What is it?”
“It’s about Maryanne.”
The Duke’s eyes narrowed slightly.
When Sherbert had first brought Maryanne home, he had shown no interest.
But once told she was his fiancée, he openly disliked and scolded her for a while.
It was troublesome in its way.
“About Maryanne?”
“When you brought her, father, you said she would help raise our house, right?”
“Yes. I remember.”
Sherbert paused for a moment and continued.
“I will accept your proposal from that time.”
“What do you mean?”
“I will become engaged to her.”
The Duke’s thick brows twitched.
Sherbert was the one most like him—calculating, persistent, and full of ambition.
“I realized when she saved my life that Maryanne possesses something extraordinary.”
“So?”
“If Maryanne, who will have magical powers in the future, also has innate senses, she would be a perfect daughter-in-law for the Careys family and a suitable partner for me.”
The usually expressionless Duke slowly lifted the corners of his mouth.
“Good.”
“Thank you.”
“But remember this.”
Sherbert furrowed his brow slightly.
“You are seventeen, and Maryanne is even younger. She isn’t an adult yet. In the meantime, you will go to the Academy.”
“…What?”
Sherbert realized the conversation was unusual and questioned it.
“Until recently, you said the Academy was for the lacking ones. The men of the Careys family…”
The Duke interrupted.
“There are always exceptions. Finish your education and return. Right now, I don’t like that your vigor is spreading in every direction. At your age, you must be disciplined through rigorous training.”
The Duke of Careys was always direct, even with his children.
Even Sherbert, who was used to it, was surprised today.
But the Duke’s word was law, impossible to defy.
Still, Sherbert had a small hope:
“When you return, you may make your engagement vow to Maryanne.”
“Yes, father, understood.”
Sherbert took a deep breath, rose to leave, but hesitated.
“Oh, I heard the lion show at the slave market is gone. Was that your doing, father?”
“Leave if you’re going to talk nonsense.”
“Yes, I must have been mistaken.”
Watching Sherbert leave with a bow, the Duke wiped his dry lips with his hand.
‘Even that boy heard the news.’
It was indeed he who had ordered the slave market officials to end the lion shows immediately.
After that day, no children were ever put in the lion shows again.
Even though I tried to be cautious… I must suppress anyone related before the rumor spreads further.
Soon, the butler, Dubuie, entered, and the Duke rose.
It was time to visit Maryanne, who was injured and resting.
When had he entered? The Duke’s long legs stopped briskly inside my bedroom.
I had been sitting awkwardly but quickly lay back, feeling the pain.
The Duke stood before me without hesitation and spoke immediately.
“You acted so recklessly without a plan.”
Unlike Sherbert, who hesitated before speaking, the Duke was direct.
Of course, his bluntness was harsh.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Maryanne, you had many attendants around you. You could have relied on their help, but you stepped forward yourself. That was dishonorable for the Careys family.”
“….”
He was right.
To risk herself as a thirteen-year-old girl to save the eldest, when trained members of the Careys family were around, was outrageous.
But I had my reasons.
“The situation was urgent. I saw that woman and acted instinctively…”
For a moment, the Duke’s expression changed.
He narrowed his brows and looked at me, slightly surprised.
“What did you just say?”
“Me? I said… the situation was urgent…”
“No, not that.”
“Ah, I said my body went forward on its own.”
His eyes widened slightly.
Then he spoke a short but weighty word:
“Instinct.”
“…Instinct?”
“Yes. Your body acted on instinct to sense danger. The only other child I’ve known with such instincts at that age was one person.”
“Who?”
“Me.”
“….”
The Duke looked at me upright and continued.
“From now on, be careful with your body.”
“Yes, Duke.”
“And… thank you for saving my two sons.”
“Yes… what?”
He thanked me—truly, he did.
I wondered if I had heard it wrong, but no.
He was genuinely expressing gratitude.
And that subtle look of concern… his thick eyebrows knitted, red eyes seemingly full of worry.
The Duke of Careys was a terrifying patriarch.
Yet he looked at someone like this… and that someone was me.
It was more bewildering because of that.
‘How should I interpret this? Is this good for me?’
His gaze shifted to my abdomen.
The bandages weren’t visible under the blanket, but he seemed to know exactly where I was hurt.
Furrowing his brows, he spoke with a sigh:
“I told the doctor to take special care so no scars remain.”
“Oh… yes.”
I hadn’t even thought about scars.
It was surprising that the Duke was so meticulous.
I scratched the rough edge of the bandage and glanced at him.
‘Should I tell him?’
I wondered if I should tell him that the child I saw at the slave market might be the second son, Ron.
But nothing was certain yet, and how I knew it was also complicated.
‘Let’s wait for Krautz to get the information first.’
The Duke said there would be a family event in a few days.
But he added that I didn’t have to attend because of my condition and left the room.
‘A family event…?’
Then everyone except me would be busy.
I silently cheered, thinking this was my chance.
A few days later, at the Carey family hunting grounds.
Mist rose into the air.
A man calmly knew it was his turn, holding a rifle and cigar in mouth.
It was a long gun given only to high-ranking noble families by the magic school.
He assumed a familiar stance and pulled the trigger.
Bang—the sound echoed in the air.
At the same time, his long, slicked-back blue hair swayed softly.
His gaze went far away.
But the target bird was still flying in the sky.
His thick eyebrows furrowed.
Only after two more consecutive shots did the bird finally drop.
Servants ran to where it had fallen.
“Brother, that’s enough.”
A voice echoed across the hunting field.
Then the men behind him appeared—similar, yet not entirely alike.
They were the four brothers of the Carey family.
Though close to middle age, their appearances shone as if crafted carefully by a master sculptor.
Yet none of the brothers smiled.
It was the family’s one annual event of the year, but they participated out of duty, focusing on hunting.
“Next, Getre Charen?”
The next to hold a long gun stood.
Among the brothers, the one in luxurious deep purple clothing stood out—Getre.
