Chapter 33
If the crown prince were to inherit the throne in the future, the Aracrene family would become a threat—this was the biggest reason people kept their guard up.
There were many who argued that the Aracrene family should remain strong, but just as many who opposed the idea.
The Empress likely belonged to the latter group.
“Lishedion said he would stay in the Imperial Castle.”
“…What?”
“He said he has no qualifications to be an heir and that he’s only a burden to the family.”
Just hearing those words was enough to guess how intimidated Lishedion had become.
Even though he pretended to be fine on the surface, there was no fooling Fernor’s eyes.
Duke Marcella shook his head.
“So you’re just going to leave him alone?”
“It would be best if Lishedion could overcome it himself, but… hearing you say that, perhaps it will be difficult.”
The reason he respected Lishedion’s wishes and gave him more time to think was because he hoped the boy would choose to remain with the family on his own.
The conversation seemed to be winding down.
Any further involvement—even for Duke Marcella—would cross a line.
Just then, as silence settled between them, Duke Marcella spotted Riersha walking toward them from afar.
Oh? Did she come looking for her father?
Marcella’s golden eyes glittered mischievously.
He had already sensed that father and daughter were still awkward with each other—ever since they stepped off the carriage.
Anyone who failed to notice something so obvious would lose their head in the ruthless social world.
As a gift to celebrate meeting my niece for the first time, shall this uncle give her something nice?
…Though it might cost him his life.
“Ah, by the way, Fernor.”
“What is it?”
“How does it feel, seeing your daughter? Still thinking the same way as before?”
Fernor gave him a look, asking what he was talking about.
“You said something before, didn’t you? About having a daughter…”
At that moment, Riersha flinched and quickly hid behind the bushes.
It seemed she became interested when she realized the conversation was about her.
Fernor quickly understood what Marcella was about to bring up, and his expression stiffened instantly.
“It’s better not to bring up that story.”
“Why not? Shouldn’t your child know how—”
Marcella took a deep breath and raised his voice.
“—how ridiculously obsessed you were? Isn’t that right, Riersha?”
“—Hup.”
Riersha let out a startled sound, caught eavesdropping.
As soon as her voice was heard, Fernor’s gaze shot straight toward the bushes.
He had been too preoccupied with Lishedion to notice her approaching.
“Your father worried endlessly about whether he’d be able to get close to you after hearing you were his daughter, Riersha. He even came to me, a bachelor, asking for advice… imagine how desperate he must’ve been. Truly impressive, Fernor.”
Duke Marcella began speaking with great excitement.
“That’s enough.”
Meeting Fernor’s sharp crimson eyes made Marcella’s spine tingle.
Fernor reached out to cover his mouth.
But Marcella stubbornly leaned his head back and kept talking.
“He was worried that you might insist on getting married when you grew up—even though you weren’t even born yet!”
Mmph—mmph.
Fernor finally managed to cover Marcella’s mouth, but by then all the important things had been said.
Marcella smirked triumphantly.
An awkward silence followed.
“Sigh…”
Fernor covered his face with one hand, humiliated that his embarrassing past had been exposed.
Riersha, who had been hiding in the bushes, suddenly sprang to her feet.
She still couldn’t believe what she had just heard.
Fernor looked visibly troubled.
She had never seen him so flustered before.
“Daddy really said that…?”
“Of course. It seems you’re not going anywhere for marriage, Riersha.”
“…”
“But could you spare your uncle, Riersha? Considering that none of this was agreed upon beforehand…”
Duke Marcella smiled sweetly, earnestly begging for mercy.
“…Who hit you, my lord?”
“Mhm.”
Marcella nodded cheerfully.
The knight gaped in shock.
Who would dare lay a hand on Duke Marcella’s face?
“Who did this? I’ll capture them immediately and have them severely punished!”
As the knight spoke gravely, Marcella pressed an ice pack to his face and answered:
“Fernor Aracrene.”
“…”
“Go give him a scolding, Loki. How dare he make my face look like this.”
He pointed at his swollen lip as if showing off.
When he pretended to wipe away tears, the knight fell silent.
“Why did you suddenly go quiet?”
Leaning over his desk with the ice pack set aside, Marcella tilted his head.
His gold eyes gleamed mischievously beneath his soft red hair.
They’re probably having a nice father-daughter moment by now.
Since he had sacrificed himself, Fernor would have to deal with the consequences alone.
“But Loki—did you finish that investigation I asked for?”
“I was just about to report it.”
Marcella gestured for him to continue.
Loki placed a report on the desk.
“It has been confirmed that the emperor fathered a child with a maid.”
“A boy?”
“Yes.”
The result he least wanted to hear.
Marcella sighed and straightened his posture.
Why hasn’t the emperor announced the existence of another bloodline?
The concentration of noble power in one place was what the emperor hated most.
Especially with the Empress’s authority being so strong, the existence of another imperial prince should have been welcome.
And yet the emperor remained silent.
Which meant—
“The emperor and empress are working together.”
“Allowing the Aracrene heir inside the Imperial Castle isn’t something the Empress could decide alone.”
It was an issue that could turn the Aracrene family into complete enemies.
The emperor must have implicitly approved it.
“Do you think Fernor doesn’t know?”
Marcella tapped the report.
Loki shook his head.
“He likely already knows. Their family has the strongest information network in the empire.”
“That’s true.”
No one knew the value of information better than a family forged by countless wars.
Information determined the outcome of crises.
And because they were at odds with the imperial family, they would naturally be more invested in imperial matters than anyone else.
“This is serious.”
“Did something happen?”
“I just came back from telling Fernor about Lishedion’s situation.”
Since Loki had collected that information, an uneasy silence followed.
There was growing fear that something might happen during the crown prince’s celebration banquet.
“Do you think it’s too late to kick him out of my house?”
“…”
“I know. It’s already too late.”
Marcella clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Riersha’s heart thumped wildly.
Duke Marcella’s words kept echoing in her head.
To be honest, she still couldn’t believe it.
Daddy wants to get close to me.
She never would’ve known if the duke hadn’t said it today.
Riersha smiled softly.
Fernor seemed deeply conflicted after having his private feelings exposed, but—
Riersha couldn’t hide her joy.
Her lips curved up brightly.
The father who had always felt so distant… secretly felt the same way she did.
Her fingers fidgeted for a moment.
Then, gathering her courage, she gently reached for Fernor’s hand.
After watching quietly, he slowly offered his hand to her.
“Hehe.”
Riersha let out a little laugh.
How could something so small make her so happy?
Letting out a deflated breath, Fernor laughed as well.
I made a mistake, he thought.
A moment ago, Fernor had seen anxiety flicker across her face—and his heart grew complicated.
