Chapter: 143
For several days, they were treated like royalty. The knights eagerly offered to teach them swordsmanship and even opened parts of the library. Every meal was laid out lavishly as if the table would break under the weight, and they even got to indulge in sweet desserts.
Even the most hardened hearts couldn’t help but relax when living such a comfortable life. Lian and his companions were no different.
Although they occasionally tried to stay focused, knowing they eventually had to return to their original positions, the sweet words kept drawing them back in.
“You have more talent than I expected. Have you ever considered working as a servant? If you don’t have a hometown, settling down here could be a good option.”
Being a servant wasn’t something anyone could do. It typically required recommendations from acquaintances, or families passed down the role through generations. For those without a home, the idea of becoming a servant was appealing.
“Hmm… you have quite a talent. What do you think about joining the Imperial Army? Just because you enlist doesn’t mean you’ll be slashing swords on the battlefield. Some focus on maintaining peace in the city or cooking. They say the salary is consistent, it’s stable, and you’re often placed in large cities, so the quality of life is quite satisfying. If you want, I could write you a recommendation.”
A stable job in a big city was a sweet offer for those who couldn’t settle down like refugees.
“You’ve grasped the basics and even learned to read? How about learning a bit more? There’s always a shortage of administrative personnel.”
Those eager to learn found themselves completely charmed by those words.
Hopes flickered in front of them—perhaps they could continue living in this paradise. Who knows, maybe an even brighter future awaited them. With that hope in their hearts, Lian’s group began to soften like pudding.
As their fondness deepened, their lips became lighter, making it unavoidable.
“Wow, I’ve hardly seen a white-haired guy like you. How do you take care of your hair? I’ve been with you since childhood, but I’ve never seen it change.”
“I really admire you! Someday, I want to be like Lian!”
“Oh, you want to know the secret of Lord Lian’s shining light? Huh? Where are you going?”
“If it weren’t for my brother, I wouldn’t have known how wonderful it is to have meals together. If I hadn’t experienced such small happiness, I wouldn’t even be here.”
Amidst the compliments, a few oddballs slipped in. The gaze filled with admiration was like that directed at a ‘hero.’ The butler couldn’t help but tremble at this realization.
There was a barely-known fact within the family: the Duke’s husband was the missing hero.
‘Blood doesn’t lie—no, wait.’
He shook his head to purge his thoughts, but once doubts arose, they only grew. He wasn’t the only one with such suspicions.
“Like begets like.” If one were of the Duke’s bloodline, even a bit of swordsmanship should manifest. Discussions of Lian and Iris’s exceptional skills already circulated, leading to a suitable atmosphere for sword practice.
“Hoo…”
The Captain of the Knights would never forget the thrill he felt that day. It reminded him of the tremendous presence when he first met their Lord.
‘This person must be of the Duke’s lineage!’
Before he could fully digest this notion, Iris showcased incredible swordsmanship. Her expression was devoid of any emotional fluctuations, and the air around her became cold and impenetrable, perfectly mirroring the Duke when he wielded a sword.
The Captain was thrown into confusion!
‘B-but surely the Lord has only one child… right?’
Suddenly, he understood why Pantone claimed there were two children from the Duke. The Mage Commander, initially convinced of Lian’s gentleness not belonging to the Duke’s line, now wore a serious expression.
‘The hero… If that person’s blood flows within them, it might just make sense.’
A warm and sunny hero versus the far colder Duke at the glacier’s peak. With a child born between the two, it was impossible to conclude easily.
Determining who looked more like the hero was challenging, given that all three—the hero, Lian, and Iris—shared gentle features.
While the Duke had spent much time with the hero, the Mage Commander had only seen him once and couldn’t arrive at any conclusion about who resembled the hero more.
As time passed, confusion subsided, and soon enough, the understanding that Lian was the Duke’s child began to spread.
With near-pure white hair, noble-looking smooth skin, and sparkling golden eyes.
The grace and etiquette smoothly integrated into him, born from living among commoners, could hardly be hidden. His gentle and polite demeanor resembled that of a well-bred noble.
The magic emanating from Lian intimidated them, and his divine energy melted their hearts.
Fear soon turned into reverence, and by the end of the week since the Duke had left the castle, most of those in the castle concluded that Lian was indeed of the Duke’s bloodline. However, the butler and head maid held onto their rationality, trying to rein in their opinions.
If they were wrong—if they were merely being played by the Demon King’s faction or were con artists—there couldn’t be a more terrible conclusion.
One day, while keeping a hawkish eye on Lian’s activities…
A major incident occurred.
“Well then, I should be off now.”
“…Huh?”
“I just feel like it’s been too long. Ah! I’ll be leaving alone.”
The butler’s brain short-circuited. He’d worried about whether he was dealing with con artists or minions of the Demon King, but he never imagined the person would announce their intent to leave first.
Lian was unaware of the butler’s state as he continued to prepare.
“Seems like the others want to settle down here or elsewhere, so I’m leaving first. I can’t just die on the road, so if you could just pack a little food for me, I’ll be on my way.”
He set his belongings aside. His spatial bag wasn’t heavy, but he mentally prepared himself.
“Uh… ah, b-but the Lord will be back soon, so at least say goodbye!”
“Nah, if he finds out I’ve stayed this long, he’ll be mad.”
“N-no, that’s not true!”
“Even if you’re just saying it out of courtesy, I appreciate it. I’ll let you know when I get the chance. Well.”
As the thought ‘That’ll never happen!’ distinctly floated in his mind, the butler couldn’t help but falter.
‘If he truly is of the Duke’s bloodline, I can’t just let him go like this!’
The premise that he’d want to remain in the Duke’s household shattered, and his rational mind froze. The butler felt cold sweat trickling down his back while choosing his words when an ally arrived to assist him—none other than Iris, who had come searching for Lian due to their diminishing numbers.
Iris dashed into the room to hug her brother, only to freeze with wide eyes at the sight of Lian preparing to leave.
“Brother, what are you doing?”
“Ah—… I’m about to leave… huh?”
As Lian realized something mid-sentence, he froze, mouth slightly ajar.
“Leaving? Where to? I’ll quickly pack my bag too.”
Since Lian’s side was where she belonged, Iris immediately began to grab her things without waiting for his response.
In that instant, Lian hurriedly grabbed Iris’s arm, spun her around, and firmly held her shoulder.
“Iris!”
“Hmm?”
Suddenly clutching her, Iris was taken by surprise, her eyes widening as her cheeks flushed slightly. From Iris’s perspective, it felt like petals were scattering around them, while for Lian, an exhilarating melody pierced through his mind.
‘Oh no! I should have told Iris the truth that we’re not siblings and that she’s of the Duke’s bloodline! I totally forgot!’
Cold sweat dripped from Lian’s face as he pictured how the Duke might react to him being in trouble.
‘Since the Duke isn’t back yet, it’s not too late to say it now!’
Revving his mental circuits, he spoke seriously.
“Iris, you and I aren’t siblings.”
His voice echoed heavily in the now-silent room. Fixing his gaze on her widened eyes, he continued.
“And you’re the only bloodline of the Duke.”
“Gasp…!”
At Lian’s words, the butler gasped and opened his eyes wide. The unexpected situation made his fingertips turn pale, akin to a housewife engrossed in a morning soap opera.
Iris remained frozen for a while, speechless. Her mouth slightly hung open, her expression reflecting someone trying to understand a foreign language.
“W-what do you mean?”
A clear question hovered over her face. To her, Lian being her brother was a given, so she couldn’t grasp the meaning of his words.
As she stared at Lian’s lips, trying to decipher his message, her mind went into error mode, struggling to connect thoughts.
“I’m not your brother. We aren’t the same bloodline. I’m just… just someone with similar hair and eye colors.”
“No, that can’t be true.”
With a determined expression, Iris shook her head, and Lian bit his lip, finally saying the words he dreaded.
“…Iris, we’re not family.”
“…!”
At those words, Iris’s face turned pale.
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