Chapter: 121
The undefeated Invincible Duke possessed remarkable strategic insight. Therefore, he was not satisfied with merely seeing me, a defeated mess, and went in for the final blow.
But how could I resist? It was entirely my fault for behaving so recklessly that the Invincible Duke had to mention it.
“I was really surprised when I first saw you, Sir Carl. You didn’t look like my late son, but strangely, there was a resemblance. It must have been the atmosphere,” he chuckled.
He added with a laugh that if I looked more like him, he might have adopted me, making it all the harder for me to keep my head high.
“That’s why I kept watching you. You are you, and that child is that child, but I couldn’t help but see him in you. That’s something unfair to both of you.”
During the Great War, the Invincible Duke had shown more than adequate interest in a mere team leader he had just met. Thanks to this, the Fourth Division of the Inspection Department—which was under the Ministry of Finance rather than the Imperial Army—managed to establish itself with little trouble.
Hearing the reasons behind his actions was heart-wrenching. He must have twisted in agony, seeing me as his deceased son and providing various considerations because of our resemblance. The man tasked with carrying the fate of the Empire could not even find peace within himself.
“As time passed, I realized my errant ways. I boxed you into my prejudices, failing to see the complete you. I couldn’t let go of the past.”
I had heard this story three years ago. While I can’t forget, it’s necessary to confront the parting from my son. To see another person, entirely different, as it is. The Invincible Duke had two chains shackling him.
“So eventually, I told you. Keeping it all in seemed pointless. It wasn’t beneficial for you, the child, or even me.”
A sudden call from a distant superior and a sudden confession from the past. But on that day, the expression of the Invincible Duke was brighter than any other day. He wasn’t really smiling, yet he appeared more radiant than ever.
What did he say again? Ah! He said it felt like he finally took off a blindfold. Only then could he see the world as it truly was.
“I’ve never taken pride in any choice as much as that one. Thanks to it, I’ve gained you, a wonderful man, as a friend.”
“Your compliments are a bit over the top,” I muttered, bowing my head even lower. The Invincible Duke chuckled, lifting my chin gently. It felt peculiar, as if a warrior were grabbing their enemy by the hair.
Anyway, he continued speaking.
“It took a long time for me to let go of that child and to finally talk to you. What I thought would be insurmountable eventually found a resolution with time.”
“I’m relieved,” I replied.
“Yes, indeed.”
The Invincible Duke nodded and quietly caressed his tea cup.
“It’s all about time. With enough time, maybe you, Sir Carl, will also be okay.”
I nearly nodded absentmindedly at those words, but I caught myself just in time. Going along with it in such a situation would be senseless.
“But it’s clear you will struggle throughout that time. How can I just sit back and watch? It’s already been two years.”
The Minister and the Invincible Duke stood by me for two years, trusting me, but today they concluded that it would be inappropriate to let me wait any longer.
“I’ve experienced your pain, Sir Carl. I know what to do to resolve it.”
Then the Invincible Duke patted my shoulder, softly, as if comforting someone who had been through a tough time.
“But why must you take the same long route I did? Isn’t it the role of an old man like me to guide you youngsters and prevent you from wasting time?”
For a moment, I was left speechless, biting my lip.
I know your pain because I endured it too. You shouldn’t have to suffer for as long as I did. This was the message the Invincible Duke was conveying.
“If you can’t bear it alone, confide in someone. That’s the foolish conclusion I arrived at after five years. Two years should suffice for you, Sir Carl.”
“…I may have even had too much time.”
“That makes your situation even more deplorable. Then, why did you persist?”
“I apologize…”
The Invincible Duke’s laughter echoed throughout the office.
*
After sending Sir Carl off, I returned to my seat. Watching him glance back multiple times as he left made it comically hard to suppress a laugh.
‘He’s really still quite young.’
I mean, if he’s only just turned twenty, it’s understandable. He often seemed stiff, burdened by the role of the Prosecutor’s Office’s Executive Manager, so it was somewhat satisfying to see him act his age for once.
Still, it’s a shame. That happy-go-lucky kid had transformed into such a rigid being. He used to be so carefree and lighthearted, not a noble from the north!
“Your Grace, please!”
“Sir Carl!”
“Please, I implore you! I will take responsibility, so please…”
Ever since Lady Hecate left, he had changed.
From my perspective, it felt like a thunderbolt from clear skies. Although five had fallen, Sir Carl and Lady Hecate emerged alive.
Even while lying incapacitated from injury inflicted by a rebel, Sir Carl invited me to his wedding with a request to light up the occasion! That gave me a sense of relief; at least these two lived on.
But returning to the Capital, all that remained was Sir Carl, his head lowered in supplication.
‘Enen, that’s too cruel!’
He dealt with the most horrific disaster at what should’ve been his happiest moment. That must feel akin to walking on clouds and suddenly plunging into darkness.
I distracted him with words telling him not to worry; oh, how ironic it sounded now. Lady Hecate was already gone. What good was it to merely overlook her grave location?
‘I should have reached out then.’
I trusted him to manage on his own, worried that confrontation would worsen his scars.
In retrospect, it feels utterly foolish. What I called trust was merely neglect.
An adolescent of nineteen shouldn’t be left to bear the grief of losing the woman he was about to marry while keeping the truth of her last moments secret. While he may legally be an adult, at nineteen, he’d hardly graduated from being a college student.
‘It seems all the adults around are similarly ineffective.’
Neither I nor the Minister had any real experience with caring for others. To make matters worse, I often crossed paths with Sir Carl in the context of work, thanks to succession disputes and internal purges.
Sipping my cold tea, I sighed. To expect him to just manage alone after disregarding him was devoid of conscience.
I sincerely hope he moves in the right direction from now on.
*
As soon as our conversation wrapped up, the Invincible Duke shoved me out the door toward the mansion.
“Take care of this while your emotions are still fresh. Talk to anyone—Marghetta, your family, a subordinate, a servant, or anyone you owe a favor or could advise you.”
“Your Grace, isn’t this a bit too sudden?” I questioned.
“Do young folks these days think waiting two years is too sudden?” he replied.
Every word was like a sharp dagger piercing through me.
Struggling to move my feet, I gradually made my way to the mansion. On my route back, I received a call from the Minister, who must have been briefed by the Invincible Duke.
“If you come to the office, I’ll assume you intend to marry your work and report it directly to His Highness, the Crown Prince.”
He hung up promptly after saying that. Any thought I had about heading back dashed away with those words, not that I had any intentions to begin with.
Speaking of which, it had been ages since I’d left work while the sun was still up. But this early departure was anything but joyful.
‘Damn it.’
I felt utterly lost. The Minister and the Invincible Duke had given me advice, and it seemed right to follow it. Yet, as I opened my mouth to speak, the words wouldn’t come out. It was impressive how the Invincible Duke managed to confide in me like that. How on Earth did he pull it off?
I needed to finally discuss everything I’d kept bottled up with Marghetta. I even vowed that if I didn’t tell her today, I would join the Second Prince’s side!
At the same time, picturing Marghetta’s reaction made me doubt again. Would she be furious for not mentioning anything? Would she show tears for bearing it alone? Would she express gratitude for finally revealing everything, or would she just pull me into a hug?
The more I envisioned potential outcomes, the more hesitant I became. Have I always been this indecisive?
‘I’m such a child.’
Indeed, I am still just a child, and the perspective of that fifty-something Minister was spot-on.
Experience is irreplaceable.
I’m in a crisis! At this rate, I might accidentally have a forced meeting with the Second Prince.
‘This mansion feels unnervingly close today.’
Somehow, I arrived at the mansion with an eerie sense of nearness. This is enough to drive someone crazy!
I was loitering in front of the main gate, sighing. If I walked in without the courage to speak and bumped into Marghetta, I’d likely be rendered mute, slipping back into the routine without a word.
That couldn’t happen! I might as well explode with frustration if I let this build-up continue—
“Oppa?”
“Uh?”
Turning around, I was met with Louise, who was holding something tightly to her chest. Huh, was she out for a bit?
As if reading my mind, she held out the ingredients she had. “I’m planning to make something special today. I brought some ingredients.”
Those certainly looked like cooking supplies at a glance.
“Most of the usual stuff should be in the kitchen.”
“I’m a tad unique with my ingredients!”
That was true; even in the pastry club, Louise’s ingredient list was anything but normal. Suddenly, a thought struck me.
Courage. The courage to open up to someone else.
Louise had found the courage to share her past with me after knowing me for just one semester.
“Louise, do you have a moment?”
Would consulting someone who was brave enough to share help me relax a little?
Desperation really makes people cling to any lifeline available.
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