5. To My Young Sky

The Bellington mansion is surrounded by dense coniferous forests.

The reception room on the first floor with adequate lighting was filled with cold air and gloominess.

‘It seems their situation has gotten worse.’

Count Pavel, the Grand Duke’s chief secretary who had come to Bellington as Grand Duke Artua’s representative, clicked his tongue inwardly several times at the worn-out teacups and creaking sofa.

Across from him, Lady Bellington was carefully reading a thick letter.

Clara Bellington. Lady Bellington, the viscount’s wife.

Once a promising noble who had advanced even to central politics with her exceptional mind alone, but now an old lady who seemed to have no strength left to support a family on the verge of extinction.

‘In her youth, she suffered paying off debts left by her younger brother, and now even her husband collapsed leaving only debts. What a tragic fate.’

The count, being of similar age and knowing the viscountess’s terribly unfortunate life, cast a pitying glance at her secretly.

But the moment the lady put down the letter, he changed to an expressionless face as if nothing had happened. It was only momentary compassion.

Like a southern bird carried by wind that had lost its way, like a wild animal that avoids cold. The count hurriedly rose from his seat as soon as his business was finished.

Lady Bellington, dressed in colorless clothes, quietly looked up at the Grand Duke’s chief secretary adorned in splendid and expensive attire.

“I shall take my leave now. I hope you have correctly understood His Highness the Grand Duke’s intentions.”

“I understand what you are concerned about. I will send word soon.”

The farewell was brief. Instead of Lady Bellington, who began coughing lightly as soon as she left the reception room, her son and heir Marvan saw the count off.

The chief secretary, the Grand Duke’s most trusted confidant and undoubtedly the highest honorary position a northern noble could attain. Since such a person had volunteered to visit as the Grand Duke’s representative, the entire family should have properly come out to see him off.

However, considering that Bellington’s head of house was currently ill, various procedures were omitted. This was an indicator that the Artua grand ducal house was a very reasonable ruler, but it made Marvan reflect on how miserable his family’s situation must appear.

“I apologize for not being able to observe proper etiquette.”

“Do not worry about it. His Highness the Grand Duke would not have wished for it either.”

At the count’s reply, Marvan’s head dropped even lower. It was an attitude of not knowing what to do, ashamed of being shown consideration.

In such cases, it would be more noble to hold one’s head high rather than reveal one’s shame.

‘I heard he was a timid man with mediocre mind and swordsmanship, whose only virtues were frugality and kindness. If he had resembled his mother more than his father, there might have been some hope for Bellington. What a pity.’

The count thought of giving some advice while recalling the world’s evaluation of Bellington’s eldest son, but just turned his head away.

He remembered his daughter’s advice that ‘young people these days only feel rebellious when old folks give advice.’

“……”

It was quite unfortunate for Marvan, who wanted to receive even a small hint from him.

Marvan, who returned to the mansion without any gain, immediately went to find the viscountess.

“Mother. What on earth is the grand ducal house’s business that they sent Count Pavel?”

“Marvan. Don’t act rashly, sit down first.”

The viscountess sighed and pushed the letter she had received from the count toward him.

He was momentarily flustered by the clumsy handwriting written large on the envelope.

“Ah. It seems Lady Artua wrote it herself.”

“Yes. She wants to invite Rian to the grand ducal house.”

“Rian? My goodness. Then the rumors must really be true. She truly wants to associate with Rian. Just for that child, she even involved Count Turgo’s house with Wilmer Trading Company……”

Marvan repeatedly muttered in disbelief.

And rightly so, considering what his half-brother looked like when he first came to Bellington.

‘He was like a wild animal afraid of people.’

The boy, emaciated and covered in scars all over his body, was like a beast that didn’t know he was human.

He crouched in corners and his only reactions were startling in surprise or being frightened, and just when he seemed to be getting a little better, he returned to his original state after receiving harsh treatment at the grand ducal residence.

Marvan knew this but had never once visited the child. He knew the child’s only sin was being born, but whenever he faced him, anger welled up and he couldn’t help it.

⟨Dad. Why did you bring a child named Rian?⟩

⟨…… That child is your relative. He’s Dad’s younger brother and your uncle.⟩

⟨Uncle? But why is he eight years old?⟩

Rian Bellington, Marvan Bellington’s half-brother, was eight years old. Twenty-two years younger than him……

⟨Why is he my uncle when he’s younger than me?⟩

He was even two years younger than his own daughter. That alone was truly shameful.

Moreover, that child’s mother……

“Mother.”

Marvan looked at his mother, who appeared much more aged than her years.

The viscountess sitting on the small, old sofa. She must have once been a girl who dreamed of an ordinary happy life.

But time, and her husband’s bastard child who completely negated thirty years of married life, had aged the woman so.

“We should cut ties from our side before the grand ducal house learns of Rian’s origins.”

Wasn’t that enough?

He didn’t know why a man would commit adultery with a woman who had been his dead brother’s wife, and why a woman would commit adultery with a man who shared blood with her dead husband and even bear a child.

In the name of fate, wasn’t it already enough tragedy for the innocent to endure?

“Do you think Artua wouldn’t know?”

“If they knew, the grand ducal house would have prevented interest from the start, wouldn’t they?”

“The investigation would already be finished. The king of the North wouldn’t attach a peer child to his youngest daughter without any information.”

“Hah……”

Marvan roughly put down the letter he was holding.

The letter stating ‘I want to give Rania a good new friend and invite your second son Rian Bellington to the grand ducal house’ fluttered as if protesting the ominous treatment.

“Despite  knowing but choosing to overlook it, I don’t know what the grand ducal house is thinking, but I just think it would be better for everyone if nothing happened. That child can’t even have conversations with people in the first place!”

“Hasn’t he been talking with the butler since the grand ducal house sent gifts?”

“That’s more of a problem. That child has a brain too, so he must know now that a great noble is favorable toward him, but what if he believes that and acts presumptuously and makes a mistake? They say they imprisoned ten family heads in underground dungeons just over children’s quarrels!”

“Marvan.”

“Mother. Just say no. I’ll convey that the child’s education isn’t complete yet so it’s difficult to send him.”

“Marvan! Stop it!”

Marvan flinched in surprise at his mother’s roar and closed his mouth. The viscountess who had raised her voice sighed.

Even though he had grown up and become a father of a child, Marvan was still her son.

Though she was grateful he had grown up kind and gentle if not particularly clever, today even she couldn’t hide her disturbance.

“You’re only thinking of bringing greater disaster by trying to avoid the immediate fear you face.”

“…… I’m sorry, Mother.”

“I understand your frustrated feelings, but this is something Artua personally sent their chief secretary to notify us about. We don’t have the option of refusal in this situation.”

Since they were pushed onto a tightrope, they had no choice but to carefully take one step at a time like this.

They could only hope not to misstep and fall.

“The date is ten days from now.”

“…… That must mean we should educate him and send him by then. I’ll discuss with my wife and find a teacher.”

“No. If the grand ducal house wanted teachers to educate him, they would have directly selected and sent people. It must mean to educate him within the household so there’s no chance for rumors. So I will do it.”

“Mother!”

Marvan screamed in surprise at the words about teaching the child directly. However, the cry that burst out unconsciously was far from enough to calm his emotions.

Just like when he was young and couldn’t bear poverty and contempt, even when he screamed curses toward the coniferous forest that blocked the sun, it was of no use.

“There’s no reason for you to go that far. I know the child is innocent too, but isn’t that child’s very existence a wound to you, Mother! What sin do you have that you must not only live under the same roof as that child but also take on his education directly!”

“Should I entrust it to that child’s father who can’t even open his eyes? Or should I entrust it to his birth mother who disappeared to heaven caring only for her own life while neglecting the child? Or should I entrust it to you, wounded by your father’s betrayal?”

Even facing her son’s scream, the lady remained calm. It meant she had already made her decision.