TOYLCG 32 🍒

Chapter — 32

The head of a family favored by the Emperor truly was different.

His firm yet kind expression did not change. There was also a bold confidence, as if to say there was nothing wrong with what happened inside his own family.

“The next head of the Efrian Ducal House will be Rosebell. Since you’ve grown close to her, I assumed you already knew.”

“Ah… yes. But… will that really be alright?”

“There is no reason it wouldn’t be. Though I do find your question slightly rude.”

“My apologies. I was only worried, that’s all…”

“It seems the young viscount is underestimating Rosebell.”

At the duke’s sharp words, Daniel fell silent. It felt like a final warning—do not interfere further in another family’s affairs.

The moon hung high in the night sky.

Daniel felt restless. Somehow, it seemed like he had earned the duke’s displeasure. Honestly, he knew it was wrong to meddle in another family’s matters.

He knew this was his own selfish desire. Still, he wanted to become a little closer to her.

“I even imagined a future with her… Should I leave that as nothing more than a dream…?”

He couldn’t say it was love at first sight. It was something deeper—a sense of shared ideals.

He believed that Rosebell was someone who could walk the same path as him and achieve those ideals together.

“I should be focusing on my father’s work… What am I even doing right now…?”

His reason clearly understood why he had come here, but his heart did not. And then there was Aren’s gaze—quietly observing him with an unreadable expression.

He wasn’t unfamiliar with such looks, but this felt different somehow.

It felt like the look of someone watching a rival. Of course, that could just be his imagination.

After all, Aren worked for Rosebell’s family.

From Daniel’s perspective, Aren was not suitable for Rosebell at all. That was his honest judgment.

“He’s annoyingly handsome… It’s irritating.”

Daniel ran his fingers through his short hair.

Silver hair that shimmered as if soaked in moonlight, and blue eyes like the deep sea—anyone would call that beautiful.

Compared to that, his own light brown hair and green eyes were common. Freckles covered his skin. No matter how kindly he looked at himself, his appearance couldn’t be called impressive.

“Maybe I should get a few more of those hats from Rosebell.”

Though he didn’t realize it himself, this was simply adolescence.

From one thing to another, he worried about how the opposite sex saw him and constantly checked his appearance.

It was natural—but when it became excessive, it could lead to teenage depression.

Daniel’s gloom, however, seemed to have started long ago. Whenever he thought about Rosebell, he was quick to belittle himself, even setting aside concerns about his territory.

He was still too young to understand that comparing himself to others brought no good.

“If you compare yourself to others from head to toe like that, young viscount, you’ll only end up hurting yourself.”

“Whoa! You startled me! Aren? What are you doing there?”

Daniel jumped in surprise at Aren, who was wandering around the mansion late at night. He also had no idea how much of his muttering Aren had heard.

Embarrassed, Daniel scratched his cheek and avoided eye contact.

“I’m searching for the presence of that rat you mentioned earlier.”

“Didn’t Rosebell say to leave it alone?”

“Even so, I can’t just ignore it. This is a form of training as well.”

“Should I help?”

“No. You’re already sensing it, aren’t you? I’ll handle the rest.”

For some reason, Aren’s words felt cold. Daniel figured he was just being sensitive—probably because of the spy.

“Alright. Just don’t go too far.”

“Yes. Please rest.”

Aren gave a light bow and left. Daniel, still feeling awkward, headed back to his bedroom.

Kane had moved closer to the ducal residence. He knew it was dangerous, but since the magician hadn’t sensed him, he thought it would be fine. Hiding his presence was his specialty, after all.

“What’s this? Why is the young viscount out here?”

Hearing Daniel’s muttering, Kane let out a quiet sneer. The boy was clearly suffering over unrequited love.

“What a peaceful world. Crying over a crush. Still, it would be interesting if His Highness the Prince found out about this.”

Pleased that he had found something useful, Kane hurriedly scribbled notes. In another place, such leisure would have been unimaginable.

Rustle.

As he wrote, Kane looked around and climbed higher into the tree. At that moment, something sharp dropped toward the top of his head.

“Ghk!”

It was a shard of ice—deadly enough to kill him instantly if it had hit properly. A chill ran through Kane’s entire body. The thought that he could die like this was terrifying.

“You shouldn’t underestimate people so carelessly. Crossing over the main gate—that was crossing the line.”

The cold voice told Kane that his opponent was a magician. He pulled a dagger from his thigh.

He was confident in close combat. Besides, his opponent had never killed anyone before—or so he believed.

“No words? I guess I do look easy. But you see… I’m not an idiot.”

The first attack had aimed for his head. The second ice spike flew straight toward Kane’s heart.

Unable to hold his position any longer, Kane was forced to reveal himself by jumping down from the tree.

The man standing before him showed no intention of hiding.

It was as if he was confident he could win even in a direct fight.

Aren checked the dagger at his waist and steadied his breathing. The moment an opening appeared, he would strike.

He was confident in long-range attacks—but that didn’t mean he was weak in close combat.

It might be rude to the two of them, but there were many things about him that he hadn’t told.

How else could a child survive living on the streets?

That was one of the reasons Aren considered Rosebell pure. She didn’t overthink things, yet she had a habit of striking at the core. But only when it involved something she was curious about.

That, in fact, made Aren feel comfortable. She didn’t pry unnecessarily, yet she paid attention where it mattered.

Perhaps that was one way she showed her affection toward him.

“You’ve got time to daydream. Am I really that easy?”

Kane hurled his dagger at Aren while he was lost in thought. Aren dodged it effortlessly and gave a faint smile.

The duke’s training had paid off—especially in sensing presence.

At first, Aren hadn’t understood how to sense it. But once he learned the trick, it became clear.

Breathing.

No matter how skilled someone was at hiding their presence, they couldn’t hide their breathing.

And against an opponent who underestimated him like this, reading it was even easier.

“Seems like you’re the one underestimating me.”

Aren charged forward while firing an ice spike at Kane.

Kane dodged the spike, but his balance broke. Aren didn’t miss the chance—he drew the dagger at his waist and slashed upward.

It wasn’t a perfect cut, but it was enough to make the opponent hesitate.

Before coming here, Aren hadn’t been able to eat or sleep properly, and he had only endured beatings. Now, with a stable life, a stronger body, and the physical labor of farming, his stamina had grown significantly.

“Don’t run. There won’t be a next time.”

“Damn it!”

The smell of blood spread thickly. Even with his eyes adjusted to the dark, it was hard to assess the masked man’s condition.

Kane stepped back and reset his stance—but he was completely different from before.

An assassin.

Anyone could tell from his movements that he was a professional killer. Aren briefly thought that he might die here. But after that first exchange, the opponent was clearly wary of him as well.

“Tell your master this. Ah—if you can make it back alive, that is.”

Kane froze at Aren’s words. He was confident in close combat, but his opponent was far more skilled than expected.

He had underestimated him—and realizing that he had missed something crucial was shocking.

If he retreated now, there was only one ending waiting for him. But even if he fought, he wasn’t sure he could finish this in one strike.

He had undergone intense training, but if he were hit by another ice spike like before, he wouldn’t be able to counter properly.

Moonlight filtered through the leaves.

Aren’s face, now clearly visible, looked cold and strangely familiar.

It felt like someone he had seen before—though he couldn’t remember exactly where.

Still, the atmosphere surrounding him was unmistakably familiar, stirring a clear memory from somewhere deep inside.