HRNGDS 76

~Chapter 76~

Delphina could tell that Alphonso’s last remaining reason for not giving the seal to Duke Rikeion was important.

The seal Alphonso held had great power. The fact that he still had it meant that not all the authority of the head of the family had been taken from him.

Since Alphonso already held great influence in the Rikeion family, it was easy for him to crush his second son.

He gathered the council of elders and began digging into everything Duke Rikeion had done until now.

It wasn’t hard to threaten the duke’s position. Just catching all the corruption he had committed was enough reason.

Alphonso gathered all members of the Rikeion family: the duke and duchess, Dianko, Ivelina, and even Delphina.

Looking at Duke Rikeion, Alphonso spoke.

“Leaving the Rikeion family in your hands was my mistake. But everything you did after that is entirely your fault.”

Alphonso’s gaze shifted to Dianko.

“I received a letter from the Eastern Empire asking for knights to be dispatched. Dianko, it would be good for you to serve there as a dispatched knight for the rest of your life.”

“The Eastern Empire’s knight order?”

Dianko’s face turned pale. The knight order there was where nobles sent their second sons when they wanted to secure the heir’s position.

Being sent there meant he could never inherit the Rikeion family. Dianko shouted in disbelief.

“I’m the heir to the Rikeion family! Why should I go there?”

Alphonso smirked.

“Because you’re not the heir anymore, Dianko.”

“What? My father is the duke, and I’m his only son. How can I not be the heir?”

“Because your father is no longer Duke Rikeion.”

“What?”

Without further explanation, Alphonso tilted his head slightly to the knights behind him.

The Rikeion family knights began dragging away the stunned Dianko.

But Alphonso wasn’t done yet.

“I heard Ivelina has a fiancé named Kassen. Contact him immediately and tell him to take Ivelina away from the Rikeion family.”

Ivelina’s head shot up. Her relationship with Kassen had completely fallen apart.

Until recently, they had even discussed breaking the engagement. In fact, once Duke Rikeion returned, she was planning to end it.

Being told to go to Kassen now was worse than a nightmare.

Ivelina quickly spoke.

“W-Why should I go there?”

“Then are you thinking of going to a monastery?”

“No, I don’t want to go to the House of Fuat! And the same goes for the monastery. Why should I leave the Rikeion family?”

“Ivelina, I have no intention of keeping you in this family. So either go to the monastery, the House of Fuat, or live on your own. If you want to do something, I’ll give you some support.”

“……”

“Don’t tell me you think this is unfair? Ivelina, think about what you did to Delphina. She suffered far worse than you. I found out this wasn’t the first time you caused trouble. Isn’t that right?”

Ivelina’s face turned pale. Alphonso’s gaze on her was colder than anyone’s.

“And you all should go to the family’s villa. There’s the Delpoim territory at the far edge of the Rikeion lands. It’s barren, so if you want to live comfortably, you’ll have to work hard to make it flourish.”

Delphina looked at Duke Rikeion. His lips were trembling.

Being told to go there was basically exile.

The duke slowly opened his mouth.

“Father, you’ll regret this.”

“Regret?”

“You can’t do this to us.”

Alphonso shook his head.

“The only thing I regret is leaving Delphina with you. If I hadn’t, she wouldn’t have suffered such terrible things.”

Hearing this, Duke Rikeion’s eyes turned bloodshot.

He glared at Delphina, who was quietly watching. But she didn’t look intimidated at all.

She covered her mouth with an expression of pity. The duke’s face twisted violently.

For some reason, he felt like she might be laughing behind her hand.

“It’s a bit unfortunate things turned out this way.”

Hearing her words, Alphonso asked with a concerned look,

“Delphina, should I lessen their punishment? Are you worried about them? You must have a soft heart after all.”

“Huh?”

“If it bothers you…”

At Alphonso’s words, the people of the Rikeion family looked at Delphina with a bit of hope.

Alphonso was the kind of man who might change his mind if Delphina asked.

But Delphina shook her head firmly, crushing their hopes.

“No, I’m fine. In fact, I think the punishment could be even harsher. I’d like them to suffer more than I did.”

“H-Hmph. Don’t worry, Delphina. I’ll think of something stronger.”

The duke’s face crumpled miserably. Delphina waved quietly at him.

“Goodbye, Uncle.”

Delphina let out a small sigh.

Under Alphonso’s orders, the Rikeion family began a full reorganization. Those who had supported the former duke were removed, and new servants were hired.

‘If I hadn’t cured Grandfather’s lethargy, things wouldn’t have gone this smoothly.’

She looked at Elcayan beside her. His face looked more worn than usual—like when they had shared a room.

As soon as Alphonso regained his senses, Elcayan was made to use a separate room from Delphina.

“While I’m here, you’re not sharing a room—absolutely not!”

Delphina tilted her head in curiosity.

“Elcayan, are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“I heard you go somewhere with Grandfather every night… Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m learning swordsmanship from Alphonso.”

Delphina didn’t ask for details. She thought it would only trouble Elcayan.

She tapped the paper in front of her, and Elcayan looked at it.

It contained the court verdict against Duke Rikeion and Ivelina.

With Alphonso’s active support, the trial had ended recently.

Delphina had won, and Duke Rikeion and Ivelina were ordered to pay a huge compensation.

‘Uncle is now completely broke.’

The problem was, her uncle was no longer Duke Rikeion. So the burden of paying the money now fell to Ivelina.

‘Ivelina went to the House of Fuat. She must have hated the idea of the monastery.’

So now the Duke of Fuat had to pay the compensation.

Delphina thought of the Duke of Fuat. Unlike Kassen, he was a truly kind man.

‘I heard Kassen refused.’

Instead, the Duke of Fuat accepted Ivelina—even paying off the huge compensation for her.

He must have felt some moral responsibility toward her.

‘Once she breaks off her engagement with Kassen, no other noble would take her.’

The very situation Ivelina once mocked Delphina about had now come to her.