Epilogue.2

‘That boy’s a monster.’

‘Even as someone lies dying because of him, he doesn’t even beg for mercy.’

‘Isn’t he a beast?’  

He hadn’t wanted to be born.  

If he’d had a choice, he would have chosen not to exist.  

He resented the mother who had abandoned him to this world without his consent. And the man who brought different women into his bedroom every night didn’t deserve to be called a father.  

Having been neglected for so long, Kadis didn’t know how to live.  

He didn’t know how to survive, let alone how to love.  

There had been no adults to teach him.  

No one to show him the way.  

“You’ll do well, Lord Kadis.”  

“…What do you know?”  

“I know because I’ve been watching you.”  

“For barely a year?”  

What could he possibly know after such a short time? Then again, perhaps he’d already spoken to him more than his own father ever had.  

The Duke had no interest in his son. He was so indifferent that he didn’t even realize his son had brought another noble child into their home.  

Could that even be called family?  

“Time doesn’t matter. What’s important is what we’ve been through together. The depth of those experiences is more meaningful than the length of time.”  

“…”  

“Of course, becoming the Duke and caring for the people won’t be easy. But I’ll help you. I may not be much, but together, we can manage.”  

“…”  

Looking into his unwavering eyes, Kadis recalled the time when Lyle had shouted that the real monsters were those around him.  

He was the first person to affirm his existence.  

The first to accept him as he was.  

To young Kadis, Lyle was salvation. He had pulled him out of the inferno and given him hope to live as a human rather than a monster.  

Kadis grabbed Lyle’s wrist tightly, as if afraid to let his go. Salvation was right in front of him.  

“Keep that promise.”  

“Huh?”  

“Keep the promise—to make me a Duke. From today, you’re my aide.”  

Kadis pulled Lyle’s hand firmly. Despite his small frame, his grip was surprisingly strong, causing him to stumble before steadying himself.  

“Answer me.”  

“Y-yes!”  

Lyle nodded hastily. Only then did Kadis release his hand, seemingly satisfied.  

Living still felt daunting.  

He still didn’t understand why he was born.  

But if it was with him, it didn’t seem too bad.  

By living as Lyle suggested, he could reassure himself that he wouldn’t become trash like his father.  

Yes, with his, surely life would be filled only with joy.  

* * *

A few months later.  

‘That Lyle… He would never dream I’m here, would he?’  

Hiding in his wardrobe to surprise him, Kadis waited. When Lyle entered the room, he began to undress and started unwrapping bandages.  

‘Is he hurt? Wait, what is that?’  

Kadis doubted his eyes.  

As the bandages came off, his previously flat chest began to swell. Through the narrow gap, his crimson eyes trembled uncontrollably.  

Why does he have those?  

Aren’t they only something women have?  

But Lyle is a man.  

“…What the hell…”  

Kadis muttered a curse without realizing it.  

In truth, he wasn’t as shocked by the fact that Lyle was a woman as he was by the sheer size of what was hidden beneath the bandages.  

How had he managed to conceal them? It didn’t make any sense.  

At an age where visual stimulation was particularly potent, his body reacted before his mind could process it. Kadis had been slower than most of his peers when it came to such things.  

He had never been interested in the opposite s*x. No matter how curvy or beautiful a woman was, it never stirred him.  

But Lyle was different.  

Because it was Lyle—or rather, because it was a woman pretending to be Lyle—it was different.  

Feeling a taut pull in his lower abdomen, Kadis glanced down to see a tent forming over his pants.  

“Damn it.”  

He cursed again but immediately clamped his mouth shut.  

When he looked up again, the woman was gone. Moving quietly, he stepped out and heard the sound of water coming from the bathroom.  

In that moment, an image of a n*ked woman—one he’d never seen before—flashed through his mind.  

When Lyle’s face superimposed itself onto the image, he couldn’t take it anymore and fled the scene.  

* * *

“Hey! Lyle! Lyle!”  

“Ugh, Lord Kadis, you’re going to lose your voice. I’m right here, so please stop yelling…!”  

“Then answer properly! Don’t make me have to shout!”  

Lyla looked at her young master with a puzzled expression, wondering what had upset him this time.  

Kadis was equally confused.  

Ever since seeing Lyle’s ample chest, his thoughts had been in chaos.  

To make matters worse, Lyle appeared in his dreams every night, calling his name in a sultry voice while flaunting her figure.  

“What… are you doing right now?”  

Kadis snapped back to reality when he noticed the box Lyle was holding.  

“Oh. These are the ingredients that arrived today. I’m helping carry them.”  

“Get someone else to do it.”  

“But it’s my job.”  

Damn it. Of all the people, why does a girl like you have to carry this? 

Kadis scowled deeply.  

“Stop doing heavy lifting.”  

“…Excuse me?”  

“Don’t act tough when you don’t even have the strength.”  

“Ugh, I’m not acting tough.”  

“Enough. Give it to me.”  

“W-what? How could I possibly…?”  

Lyla hesitated, flustered and unsure of what to do. To Kadis, her reaction only seemed infuriatingly disingenuous.  

After all, she had deceived him by pretending to be a man.  

“Give it here.”  

“Ack, Lord Kadis!”  

Ignoring her protests, Kadis snatched the box from her hands. Thus began Kadis’s overprotectiveness.  

***

“Lord Kadis, do you realize you’ve been acting strange lately?”  

“More nagging?”  

“It’s because I’m worried about you!”  

“Hmph. It’s because you’re weak.”  

“Ugh…”  

Lyle’s eyebrows drooped in frustration at his cold retort. Then, as if struck by an idea, she stepped closer to him.  

“W-what are you doing? You’re getting too close—”  

“Excuse me for a moment.”  

Lyle placed her hands on Kadis’s shoulders and leaned forward. Their foreheads touched.  

Kadis froze as if a predator had sunk its teeth into him.  

‘Damn it, what is this?’  

Her breath was too close.  

Her long, soft eyelashes, the faint warmth of her skin, and her soothing scent—all of it was overwhelming.  

It was too much.  

Almost unbearable.  

“Hmm…”  

Lyle pulled back and tilted her head in thought. Kadis, still dazed, finally asked,  

“Why… did you do that?”  

“I was checking your temperature.”  

Lyle replied with a bright smile. Kadis glared at her and asked, 

“Do you do that to other people too?”  

“Huh? No. The last time I did it was with my sibling…”  

She answered, her expression turning slightly melancholic.  

“Sibling?”  

“Yes. Didn’t I tell you? I had a twin.”  

“A man?”  

“No. A younger sister… And I was the older brother.”  

Lyle’s gaze grew even sadder. Kadis stared at her silently before speaking cautiously.  

“Don’t do it anymore.”  

“Excuse me? Oh, I’m sorry.”  

“No, I mean don’t do it to anyone else! …I don’t mind.”  

“O-okay…!”  

Lyle nodded obediently.  

“Promise me.”  

Apparently unsatisfied, Kadis extended his pinky finger. Lyle chuckled softly before linking her pinky with his. Her carefree smile only made Kadis more anxious.  

What should he do?  

She was too beautiful. If it became known that she was a woman, other men wouldn’t leave her alone.  

A possessive desire burned within his young heart.  

He wished she would stay just as she was until he grew up. The reason he had pressured her to act like a man was all because of this feeling.  

So, wait for me.  

When I become a man, I’ll let you live as a woman.  

And I’ll take responsibility for you.  

For you and the children we’ll have someday.  

I’ll make you happy. I promise.  

<Continue the Lineage, Duke!> The End