Chapter 71 …………………………………………
In the past few days, the Kereis duchy had been in turmoil.
A boy the duke had brought from somewhere.
The heavy tension lingering over the duke’s chambers.
A doctor stationed in the room next door.
Among the sharp-eyed maids, some even began guessing the boy’s identity.
“Doesn’t he look a little like His Grace? Maybe a distant relative?”
“Whoever he is, he’s clearly important. The duke gave up his own room.”
“I keep thinking of that child from long ago… but no, surely not.”
Then, the next day, the servants finally learned who the boy was—after the butler summoned them.
“Clean the room at the end of the second floor, and replace all the old furniture with new ones.”
The room at the end of the second floor.
The room that had been shut tight for years—
was the second young master’s room.
Word that the once-missing second young master had returned spread through the mansion like wildfire.
The servants were ordered to keep quiet, of course, but the long-awaited news moved them deeply.
Some wiped away tears as they shook off the thick dust gathered on the bed.
Others hugged the old toys they found while cleaning and rejoiced.
No matter how terrifying and cold-hearted the Kereis family was rumored to be—
every servant had felt only pity for the lost child.
But there was one person who felt no such joy at all.
“Haah…”
By the duke’s orders, Vale had not been allowed to leave the guest room for days.
Of course, even if he was under the duke’s command, Vale was still the duke’s father—
he could have walked out with dignity if he wished.
But Vale considered himself a sinner.
A man who had hidden and abandoned a child.
So no matter how much he longed to see Ron, to know what had happened…
he could only endure and stay away.
“The seed of calamity has finally returned to the family.”
Yet when he heard Getre announce that Ron had been found,
his heart had trembled with both joy—and terror.
For with Ron’s return, the Guardian’s prophecy would inch closer.
The annihilation of the Kereis family.
The massacre of thousands.
The fists he had clenched so tightly lost their strength and loosened.
What was he to do?
Vale agonized endlessly over a question with no answer.
***
After the duke returned, I headed to my room.
The body that had forced itself awake while watching over the unconscious Ron finally felt exhausted the moment I washed in warm water.
“Miss, you should sleep at least for a while.”
“Yes, at this rate you’ll collapse too, miss.”
Urged by Britta and Kautz’s worried voices, I lay down, heavy-eyed—
and drifted into a short but deep sleep.
“It’s already afternoon?”
“You must be hungry, right? Should we bring a light meal to your room?”
“Ah, I’ll eat with Crimue.”
Ever since Ron returned to the mansion, the duke, myself, and everyone else had been busy out of our minds.
So Crimue was currently being taken care of entirely by his cousin, Terga.
‘This is already the third day… Ter must be exhausted.’
The moment I entered Crimue’s room, I heard sniffling.
But it wasn’t Crimue crying.
“…Huh?”
Walking deeper into the spacious room, I found Ter lying on the floor, legs stretched out—
holding Crimue up in the air like an airplane.
Considering how he had looked ready to collapse earlier, it was unbelievable he was lifting chubby little Crimue at all.
I doubted my own eyes.
“Crimue! Ter!”
At my voice, both of them looked at me at the same time.
“Hyung-ttu!”
(Still not used to hearing “hyung-ttu” from that tiny mouth.
But it was cute, so I let it pass.)
Crimue flailed his short arms and legs, eager to be put down so he could run to me.
As for Ter—
“H-hik… Lady Marianne!”
“Yes, I’m here.”
He was tearing up.
He must have had a really hard time.
After lowering Crimue, Ter’s whole body melted like he had no bones left.
A little later, we all shared an early dinner the maids had prepared.
“This little guy… he was whining all morning saying he didn’t want to eat.
But the moment Lady Marianne arrives, he sits up straight and eats so well.”
Though he said that, Ter’s gaze toward Crimue was full of affection.
“Sir Ter, you should eat too.”
“Yes. Thank you for caring, Lady Marianne.”
He knew how much Ter despised my engagement with Shevart, so he always addressed me politely as Lady Marianne.
That alone made me respect him—and appreciate his hard work.
“You love Crimue a lot, but taking care of a five-year-old alone must’ve been tough.”
“No, not at all. And I wasn’t alone either. The wet nurse and the head maid helped, so all I did was play with Crimue.”
Play… yet Ter looked worse than the duke who hadn’t slept for days.
Entertaining an energetic five-year-old was not a job just anyone could do.
“By the way… that, um… the boy. I mean—how is he?”
It seemed calling him Ron was still awkward, so Ter worded it indirectly.
“You mean Ron?”
“Ah—yes.”
Ter faintly paled.
“The doctor said Ron is currently detoxifying the poison on his own. He said Ron should wake up soon, so we shouldn’t worry too much.”
“I see… that’s nothing short of a miracle.”
“It is. A miracle.”
“Oh—my father sent a letter, by the way.”
“Your father? Lord Lynes?”
“Yes.”
Lynes, Ter’s father, had become fully loyal to me in exchange for having his debts repaid.
He even called me his savior.
“What did he say?”
“He asked for your opinion first and said your view is the most important.
And I completely agree with him.”
Ter stared at me with such serious eyes that I felt a little pressured.
But I couldn’t disappoint such loyal allies.
I needed to make my stance clear.
“Of course Ron is a son of the Kereis family. He’s simply returning to his rightful place, so I don’t think anything changes.
Though… I’m not sure how the family council will react.
But I trust that you and Lord Lynes will handle it well.”
Ter’s tired eyes suddenly sparkled.
“Of course! Please trust me and Father! If that is Lady Marianne’s will, then we will absolutely follow it!”
“Reliable as always.”
When I smiled at him like one would at a dependable vassal, Ter looked moved to the point of flushing.
“Hyungsoo! I finished eating!”
Crimue held up his empty plate proudly and grinned.
When had he grown so much?
He even ate neatly today—barely spilled anything.
The butler, Dveu, mentioned Crimue had been learning table manners lately.
Kids grow so fast.
“Wow, Crimue, that’s amazing.”
A sweet strawberry pudding was served as dessert next.
Watching Crimue take a bite, I slowly opened my mouth.
“Crimue.”
“Mm! Hyungsoo!”
“Crimue, you have an older brother, right?”
“Shevutt hyung!”
“Yes, that’s right. Shevart hyung.”
I gently stroked his bluish bangs and chose my words carefully.
“But Crimue actually has another older brother besides Shevart hyung—a second hyung.”
“Roni hyung?”
“…K-huh?!”
The words lodged in my throat.
Crimue, with pudding around his mouth, spoke casually.
“Roni hyung’s toy, I haf it.”
“From the playroom?”
“Mm! Shevutt hyung told me. These toys here are Roni hyung’s.
So I hafta play gently and put them back.”
I thought Crimue had no idea Ron existed.
But he already knew.
And he heard it from Shevart—
that shocked me twice as much.
I really needed to reevaluate Shevart.
“I see… So Crimue, how would you feel if Ron hyung came back?”
Crimue blinked his big round eyes and tilted his head.
“Next to Crimue?”
“Yes. He’d play with you and eat snacks with you like this.”
“Good.”
“Good?”
“Mm!”
Thank goodness.
I had been worried about how a young child would react to suddenly gaining another older brother.
The tension in my chest finally eased.
“Shevart is warmerhearted than he appears.”
Ter continued, noticing my expression.
“Shevart has been that way since childhood. He speaks harshly and acts rough, but he cherishes his people deeply.”
“Ah… I see.”
“So I’m certain he will treat his future wife, Lady Marianne, very well.”
“…?”
That… I wasn’t so sure about.
In the original story, Shevart eventually fell for the heroine Bianca, and the heartbroken Marianne ended up falling for the crown prince.
And Shevart kidnapped Bianca out of jealousy.
Ron got involved too, dragging everyone into catastrophe.
Ugh. Just thinking of the original plot depressed me.
Of course, as I’ve vowed—
I intend to change everything and leave before that happens!
***
Because this was a matter concerning the noble family, news of Ron’s return was quietly passed along even to Shevart at the academy.
And he rushed back to the duchy the moment he heard.
Since I was his fiancée, I had to formally greet him when he stepped out of the carriage.
‘Oh. He grew again?’
I had felt it the last time too, but Shevart—already a fully formed adult—looked even taller.
Was it because he completed his coming-of-age ceremony?
Then why was I still the same?
Britta said my dress hem floated a little, so I apparently grew…
but the face in the mirror was still just a young girl.
“My lady, have you been well?”
The moment Shevart saw me, he smirked mischievously and moved to kiss my hand.
I extended my hand for courtesy and forced a polite smile.
After brushing his lips over my hand, Shevart slowly lifted his gaze.
Our faces were so close we almost touched.
“…!”
Through his blue hair, bright red eyes stared directly at me.
His moist, closed lips parted slightly—
and he began leaning closer.
What—
what is he doing?
No way—
I swallowed.
I hated this man.
Absolutely couldn’t stand him.
So why… was my mouth dry?
…Probably because, objectively speaking, he was absurdly handsome.
Anyone would get flustered by a face like that.
But handsome or not—
Shevart was still Shevart!
And considering all our history…
I shoved my palm right into his chest.
“Back off!”
Shevart pretended to be hurt though he clearly wasn’t.
“Ugh— as expected, my lady is strong.”
The amused curve of his thin lips made it obvious he was thoroughly entertained.
Ugh! Seriously! Is now the time for this nonsense?!
I glared at him, grinding my teeth.
“This is not the time for jokes. Your father and the family are waiting inside.”
Shevart straightened his clothes and looked down at me.
“You went east with Father, right? Brought Ron back with you.”
“Yes.”
“I see. You did well.”
“…Excuse me?”
Before I could react, he casually reached out and placed a hand on my head.
I flinched.
“What—what are you doing?”
“A gesture of praise. I was curious about the guy too.”
“Well, for praise, it feels extremely unpleasant.”
“Just wait. My praise gets better the more you think about it.”
“…?”
When I pouted and glared up at him, Shevart ruffled my hair roughly as if I were something cute.
Ugh. I hated this.
Britta had spent extra time styling my hair for meeting my fiancé today.
I was going to tell her everything.
That my fiancé did this.
