Chapter 2
The Night She Faced the Truth
“Father!”
In front of the fountain lay the Duke—his head pierced, his body brutally mutilated. At the sight, Kael’s eyes rolled back in shock.
Two knights blocked him with their entire bodies.
“Young Duke, you must not go any closer yet.”
“Let go of me!”
“Kael!”
Aella, who had followed behind, rushed forward and tightly embraced Kael from behind as he lost all composure at the sudden death of his only family.
“Pull yourself together… sob… Right now, we need to find out who killed Duke Horumons.”
“Damn it… damn it!”
Before his father’s horrifically murdered body, Kael cried out in anguish. All Aella could do was hold him and cry with him.
“What on earth happened…”
“Exactly…”
“How pitiful, the young duke…”
“Who could have done something so vile!”
“But… where is Count Bluans? He’s always by the duke’s side.”
“Oh… now that you mention it.”
Aella looked around. It felt strange that her father was nowhere to be seen.
‘He said he would come with the duke today… didn’t he?’
“What is the meaning of this?!”
“!”
Seeing her father running toward them in a panic, Aella tried to rush toward the fallen duke while calling his name—but her father was stopped by the knights.
“To think he was attacked by an assailant! Ah—Rohan! I… I should have gone with you! Forgive me, my friend!”
The Count of Bluans collapsed to the ground, wailing. In his arms was a gift box.
“Count Bluans, forgive me, but could you explain where you have been until now?”
At the captain of the guard’s question, the count, who had been sobbing with his head lowered, forced himself to stand.
“Rohan and I met at the business hall and had a drink. Today… our children came of age, and it stirred many emotions. We were sharing a drink. When Rohan said he should be going, I told him to go ahead. I stayed behind to buy a congratulatory gift for my daughter… but to think this would happen… sob…”
“Oh my! Then you could have been attacked as well!”
“I suppose that is… fortunate, in a way.”
As a somber silence fell, the Emperor stepped forward and dismissed the gathered crowd.
“Your Majesty! We found a bloodstained knife along with a gun on this man!”
“Bring him here.”
Dragged across the ground by two guards, a man in tattered robes collapsed limply.
“Remove it.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
When the robe was stripped away, a young man with silver hair was revealed.
“Why did you brutally murder Duke Horumons? He was known as a kind man—he would have no reason to earn your hatred. Do not lie.”
The Emperor spoke calmly, yet sharply, pressing a gleaming sword before the trembling man’s eyes.
“I only intended to steal the duke’s valuables while he was drunk. But… he called me lower than a bug, and in a moment of anger…”
“Lies! My father would never say such a thing, no matter how drunk he was!”
“The young duke will remain silent.”
Aella tightened her hold on Kael, who looked ready to leap at the man, and glanced at her father, who stood with his head bowed deeply.
‘Father…’
She looked at him with pity as he seemed unable to lift his head from guilt—yet a thought crossed her mind.
‘If Father had come with the duke… this wouldn’t have happened so meaninglessly… He must be feeling more guilt than anyone right now.’
Her father had always called Duke Horumons not just a “friend,” but a “sworn brother.” Remembering that made her chest tighten.
“My elderly mother and young siblings were on the brink of starving to death… I had no choice. Your Majesty, please end this by taking my life.”
“Your Majesty! That man must have someone backing him! There’s no way he could have killed my father like that on his own!”
“Yes… I share the young duke’s suspicion. Take him to the interrogators. Do not let him die until he confesses. Under no circumstances is he to die.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“Y-Your Majesty! Please just kill me! Your Majesty!”
As the man was dragged away, still begging for death, Aella flinched when she felt a large hand on the back of her own.
“Aella… will you let go?”
“Ah…”
As she released him, Kael struggled to his feet and staggered toward the duke’s body, now covered in white cloth. Aella covered her mouth with both hands.
“Father…”
Just hours ago, they had been exchanging lighthearted jokes face to face. Unable to accept that his father had died so suddenly and brutally, Kael collapsed, his trembling hand reaching out to uncover his father’s face.
The distorted expression revealed how much pain he must have felt in his final moments.
“Kael, you’ve finally come of age. Congratulations, my son. Now all that remains is your marriage to Aella.”
“Father, really… why bring that up all of a sudden?”
“Propose to Aella properly, like a man.”
“I’ll handle that myself.”
“Haha! That’s my son!”
“Ah… Father!”
Kael collapsed over the white cloth, embracing his father’s body.
“Father… I swear… I will uncover the truth behind your death.”
Murmuring quietly, Kael stroked his father’s cheek one last time.
“Aileen… I miss you dearly. I wish I could go to you soon, but Kael is still young. Please wait just a little longer… I will pass everything on to him and then come to your side.”
Remembering how his father had longed every day for his mother, who had died ten years ago in a carriage accident, Kael finally spoke.
“Rest peacefully by Mother’s side now… Father.”
After covering his father’s face again, Kael spoke solemnly to the captain of the guard who approached.
“Will you escort my father back to the ducal estate?”
“Yes, Young Duke.”
“Young Duke.”
Kael turned to face the Emperor.
“I would like to hold the duke’s funeral in the imperial palace.”
“I am deeply grateful, Your Majesty… but I wish to hold it quietly at the ducal estate. To preserve my father’s honor, I ask for your understanding.”
“…Very well. I will use any means necessary to uncover the forces behind this. Compose yourself.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Aella couldn’t take her eyes off Kael as he spoke with the Emperor. Then her father approached her.
“Aella.”
“Father…”
“On such a once-in-a-lifetime day… for this to happen…”
“….”
Seeing her father’s tear-filled eyes, Aella’s own filled with tears.
He pulled her into a tight embrace.
“This father is sorry. I should never have had that drink with Rohan. At the very least… I should have gone with him. My child… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Aella.”
“Father…”
As she cried against his shoulder, Kael approached.
“Kael, I am truly sorry. I don’t know how I can ever face you again.”
“No… I’m just relieved you are safe, Count. Aella—this is your coming-of-age gift.”
“Ah…”
He gently held her wrist and placed a brooch shaped like a lily of the valley—her favorite—into her palm.
Even though it wasn’t a situation to smile, Kael forced one for her. Seeing that, Aella’s tears spilled over.
“Aella, don’t cry. I’m fine.”
“Kael…”
“After my father’s funeral, I will find those responsible for his death—no matter what.”
Having known him for twenty years, Aella had never seen Kael this furious. Her body trembled like a leaf.
“Count Bluans.”
“Yes.”
“Please help me uncover the truth behind my father’s death.”
“Of course! I will never forgive those who did this to my closest friend!”
Looking between her father and Kael, Aella clasped her hands and prayed as she gazed up at the darkening sky.
‘Oh divine heavens… please let the truth behind the duke’s death be revealed as soon as possible.’
Back at the estate, Aella entered her room with Kina, who had asked why she returned so early, and told her everything that had happened.
“M-My goodness! How could such a thing… My lady, are you alright?”
“I’m fine… I’m more worried about Kael.”
Thinking of Kael, filled with rage and vengeance, her chest ached.
Since becoming a formal imperial knight, he had learned to control his emotions—but in front of Aella, he always smiled like the boy he used to be. That was the Kael she had fallen for.
Even when he lost his mother, he had grieved for a few days before smiling again.
But this time… it was different.
Having lost his only family—his entire world—Kael seemed like a completely different person.
His cold expression and tone lingered in her mind, making her shiver.
“My lady?”
“I-I’m fine…”
“I’ll bring you some warm tea.”
“Thank you.”
As Kina opened the door, Charlotte—the pet cat who had gone out for a walk—returned and approached.
“Charlotte…”
Meow~
Holding the affectionate cat, Aella sat on the bed and sighed.
“Who could have killed Duke Horumons…”
Rohan Horumons—a man known for his kindness, almost to a fault. He trusted people too easily, which had always worried Kael.
Even after being betrayed multiple times, he never lost faith in others. In a way, he was unbelievably kind… or foolish.
There was no way such a man had earned enough hatred to be killed so brutally.
The motive was obvious.
The only duke in the Alvazar Empire, second only to the imperial family in wealth and prestige.
Someone must have been driven by jealousy.
“What’s wealth and honor worth anyway… right, Charlotte?”
Meow~
As Charlotte rubbed against her, Aella gently stroked her head and looked at the brooch Kael had given her.
“I’ll stay by Kael’s side… then maybe things will go back to how they were…”
Closing her eyes, she imagined Kael smiling at her and let a faint smile form on her lips.
“I can’t sleep… sigh.”
Getting up from bed, Aella stepped into the dark hallway with a lamp, intending to drink some cold water.
“Hm?”
Hearing voices, she wondered if her father was still awake.
‘Well… after what happened to the duke…’
As she recalled the duke’s smiling face, her eyes filled with tears.
‘Maybe I can comfort him a little…’
But just as she was about to step forward—
Instead of sorrowful sobs, she heard laughter filled with joy.
Her body froze.
“He’s finally dead. Finally! Hahaha!”
‘…Father?’
Her eyes trembled as she saw her father sitting on the sofa, laughing.
“Now that Rohan Horumons is dead, if I marry Aella to his son…! I will gain wealth and honor second only to the imperial family! Hahaha! Hahahaha!”
Aella covered her mouth, nearly dropping the lamp in shock—
And in that moment, a large hand grabbed her and pulled her into the darkness.
