CHAPTER~23
“…What are you doing right now?”
Frezen Decart, who had arrived late after hearing the news, looked extremely displeased.
Evlyen Leella and Mela had arrived earlier than scheduled, and if Fennel hadn’t come to inform him that they had been summoned to the council immediately, he probably wouldn’t have known even in his dreams.
How dare they commit such an act knowing that he was away.
Frezen’s face hardened coldly as he looked at the council elders.
The door behind him was nearly half-broken.
One could guess how desperate he must have been to break the door, when he always maintained his composure.
“D-Duke, at this hour, what brings you here…?”
The unexpected situation left the elders flustered and stumbling over their words.
Frezen clicked his tongue and walked toward Mela and Evlyen.
“What are you doing now? Put your swords away immediately.”
<p“Eh? Y-Yes, but the elders instructed us to hold these people…”
As the knights did not lower their swords despite his orders, Frezen’s eyes grew sharper.
“No matter that you are now guarding the council, you should not forget your true allegiance.”
His voice was eerily calm, but it was clearly a warning.
The knights flinched, quickly sheathing their swords and stepping back.
“S-Sorry! We will put them away immediately! Please spare us!”
Only then did the view clear, revealing Evlyen curled up, holding Mela tightly.
Seeing her trembling, Frezen’s brows furrowed dangerously.
“Evlyen, it’s alright now. Take my hand and stand up. Quickly. Okay?”
He approached, restraining the surge of emotion, his tone unusually gentle compared to before.
“Frezen…”
Evlyen looked at Frezen, hesitating, but then helped Mela up first.
She stood in front without holding anyone’s hand.
“…”
She turned her back as if she needed no help at all.
Evlyen expected it, but still, a bitter feeling lingered.
Frezen’s hand hovered in the air for a moment before the elders’ voices broke the silence.
“Since you were out early, we summoned them first to handle things on our side. Please do not misunderstand, Duke.”
Frezen’s expression stiffened as he asked firmly,
“What exactly do you mean by ‘handling things’? They are my guests and my people. Such behavior is unacceptable, even for the council.”
The previously talkative elders fell silent under the threatening atmosphere.
“At the last family meeting, didn’t you elders say to welcome the wife?”
“B-But…”
“I also stated that no one should oppose me after that. So how should I interpret this action now?”
None of the elders dared speak against Frezen’s calm, reasoned questioning.
Evlyen stared at him, surprised.
‘Frezen actually says such things to the council?’
The Frezen she remembered had been completely controlled by the elders, unable to speak.
Back then, Frezen had probably just assumed the position of Duke, so he couldn’t have stood up like this.
Seeing him now, five years later, Evlyen stayed silent and observed.
“First, you said to welcome a new wife. You didn’t say to bring back an ex-wife, Duke.”
Just as it seemed Frezen’s argument was gaining ground, a dissenter appeared.
“That person carries the disgrace of a divorce, a shame never seen again in the Decart family. Bringing her back to sit as the head lady is a betrayal of the gods themselves.”
It was his uncle, Ulrich.
Ulrich began with a seemingly amused smile, but his eyes were cold and serious, showing his displeasure with the situation.
“Moreover, how can we trust a child whose bloodline is unclear? Duke, this matter was far too hasty. Our predecessors would be ashamed.”
The elders were greatly unsettled by Ulrich’s words. Even as an uncle, speaking this way to the head of the family was inappropriate.
If Frezen lost his temper, it could escalate into a major conflict.
The atmosphere grew icy as expected, everyone cautious of the tension between Frezen and Ulrich.
“…Duke, you have nothing to be ashamed of!”
A voice, unusually clear and cheerful, rang out. It was Mela.
Mela stood proudly in front of Evlyen and Frezen, her face filled with anger.
“My mother is the same. You two didn’t act foolishly enough to let ignorant people speak such things!”
“Mela!”
Evlyen hurriedly shielded her, fearing she might be harmed.
Still, Mela had more to say, puffing her chest out while in Evlyen’s arms.
“I know you don’t like it. But no one said we couldn’t bring back someone once parted, right?”
“That’s—”
“If harmony is important, we will gladly make it happen. As the elders wish, for the prosperity of the Decart family.”
Frezen stepped forward again, blocking Evlyen and Mela.
He said coldly,
“These are my people, brought here by my own hand. If you speak further, it will be an insult to me, the current head of the Decart family. Shall we understand it that way?”
“D-Duke…!”
The elders whispered among themselves, stunned by his unusually stern and cold demeanor.
“Then prove to us, Duke, that this girl is indeed of the Decart bloodline.”
“You continue to insult me and my people, Uncle Ulrich.”
But Ulrich was stubborn and persistent, and Frezen’s patience began to fray.
Just as the tension reached its peak, someone stood up and shouted.
“Enough! Don’t you know this is nothing but a futile argument? What are you doing in front of a child?”
“Ah, Lady Artene.”
She was the only female elder, Artene Decart, who had been quietly observing all along.
“Truly, you are all hopeless. No restraint even in front of a child! Shameless.”
Artene’s cold, sharp gaze was enough to make one’s spine tingle.
She glared at Ulrich briefly, then turned her head sharply.
“So, Lady Artene, do you intend to accept this child?”
“Lady Artene…?”
She clicked her tongue in annoyance at the attention, replying,
“How petty of you all. Wait and see, it will be easy. Don’t you all know? Those not of Decart blood cannot survive here.”
Her cold gaze settled on Evlyen.
“…So some will eventually fail to endure and flee. We give them time.”
“Time?”
“We just need to observe whether this child can endure, as always. Isn’t that right?”
Artene singled out Mela, hiding between the two.
Her blood-red eyes seemed to blaze, as if saying, ‘I will make sure you survive.’
Evlyen instinctively bit her lips in fear.
“Yes. Watch closely, this child will succeed. She is no ordinary girl.”
Frezen placed his hand on Mela’s head, his eyes firm and confident, leaving the elders exhaling in awkwardness.
Ulrich also exhaled irritably, unable to bend the situation to his will.
Mela spoke energetically,
“Yes! I will succeed! So when that time comes, don’t say anything to me or my mother!”
She clenched her small fists and spoke bravely, without hesitation.
‘Brought an interesting child.’
Even Artene’s gaze, which had been bored until now, sparkled for a moment.
As Artene left the council room, the other elders gradually left, cautious.
“M-Mom! We’re safe! Looks like we can stay here!”
After everyone left, Mela ran over and hugged Evlyen.
‘Haha, we’re doomed…’
Unlike the endlessly joyful Mela, Evlyen couldn’t smile freely.
She thought, this will be tough again.
