Chapter 96

Judith recalled the dining scene from earlier as she listened to Chase’s words.

Come to think of it, while Chase and the Earl were arguing, Alec had only smirked and continued eating silently.

Only now did she feel like she understood the meaning behind his reaction.

“Anyway, I don’t want to stay here a moment longer. What about you, Judith?”

“I’d like to go along with your decision, but… I can’t ride a horse.”

“That’s alright, I know how to drive a carriage.”

Chase grinned and, as if he had planned this from the beginning, naturally headed toward the stables outside the estate.

Once there, he brought out a pitch-black horse. Before Judith could even react, he quickly hitched the horse to a small carriage.

“Well then, shall we get in?”

Chase, having finished his work in no time, politely extended his hand to Judith. Just as she reluctantly placed her hand in his, a loud shout came from nearby.

“Chase!”

Startled, Judith turned to see Chase’s brother, Alec, running toward them.

“Brother?”

Chase murmured in a dazed voice, seemingly just as surprised by Alec’s sudden appearance.

Alec approached quickly, grabbing Chase’s arm as if to stop him from leaving, and spoke.

“Chase, wait a moment.”

“What’s going on? If you’re here to tell me to apologize to Father, I…”

“I’m not here to scold you for standing up to Father. But your decision was rash.”

He spoke between breaths, trying to catch them.

“So go back and tell him you misspoke. You… don’t realize how much Father cares for you.”

At those words, Chase frowned visibly.

“…That’s not me. That’s you. I’m nothing more than a cast-off child.”

Alec let out a bitter laugh at Chase’s response before replying.

“Father has always prioritized you over me.”

He continued, his expression reluctant.

“That’s why, when you showed more talent with the sword than I did, he couldn’t even openly celebrate.”

“What are you talking about…”

Chase seemed at a loss for words, unable to process what he had just heard.

Alec glanced at Judith, who stood nearby, as though her presence made him hesitant. Then, he spoke again.

“I admit that Father’s way of expressing himself was careless. But throwing everything away because of that is madness.”

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

Chase’s frustration was evident as he frowned. Alec loosened his grip on Chase’s arm and gave an unexpected answer.

“Our family is a martial family. And you are the only child who has perfectly mastered the Cardandy family’s swordsmanship.”

“Why are you suddenly bringing this up…”

“That’s why Father intends to pass on the leadership of the Knight Order to you.”

“…”

Chase fell silent, clearly taken aback by the revelation. But soon, regaining his composure, he responded with fiery determination.

“But the Knight Commander can only—”

“Only the head of the Cardandy family can inherit that position. Yes, you’re right.”

“…Exactly. And the head of the family will be you, Brother.”

When Chase shook his head as if the idea were absurd, Alec smiled faintly, a resigned expression on his face.

“I don’t have the qualifications anyway.”

“If that’s true, then my decision to leave the family is even more justified. Why would you say something like that?”

Judith, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, gasped softly.

She hadn’t realized that the reason Chase had so confidently declared his intention to leave the family was because of his older half-brother.

“If everything you’re saying is true, then I absolutely cannot return to the family.”

“If it’s because of me, Chase, there’s no need to yield.”

“Don’t misunderstand. This isn’t about yielding. I’m worried that the Countess and the retainers will torment my mother.”

Chase glanced briefly at Judith as he continued.

“…And now I have one more person to protect.”

Alec, seemingly at a loss for words to persuade him further, fell silent. After a moment of contemplation, he sighed deeply, tilting his head to look at the sky before speaking again.

“Well… in any case, I’m sorry for all the hardships you and your mother had to endure because of mine.”

“…”

“I’m also sorry for being inadequate and lacking the courage to help you when you were young.”

“…”

“Whether you leave the family or not, I just wanted to say that.”

Having said his piece, Alec slowly stepped back, as if that was all he had intended to do.

At that moment, Chase called out.

“Brother.”

Hearing his name, Alec paused in place. He stared at his younger brother’s face, waiting. After hesitating for a long time, Chase finally spoke.

“…Thank you for being honest with me.”

From the distance, Judith saw Alec nod faintly, almost imperceptibly. Then, he turned and began walking back toward the estate.

Chase watched his brother’s retreating figure in a daze before turning back to Judith.

Though his eyes still showed the trembling confusion within him, his voice was firm when he spoke.

“…Let’s leave now.”

Judith wanted to comfort him but felt that speaking might only make things worse.

Silently, she prayed.

She prayed that, at least during their journey back to the academy, the cold night breeze would soothe Chase’s troubled heart.

***

As soon as Judith and Chase stormed out of the dining room, silence filled the space.

After a long pause, the Countess dabbed her lips with a napkin and slowly stood.

“Young people these days… Well, that was certainly an entertaining dinner.”

With a soft laugh, she left a brief remark and returned to her room. Alec also took the hint and quietly left the room.

Only two people remained in the dining room.

“Chase, that boy…”

The Earl replayed the earlier argument in his mind. Chase’s sudden declaration that he would leave the family, all while discussing his fiancée’s career.

Recalling the scene made his head throb once more.

As he frowned from the headache, Annette, who had been watching him carefully, handed him a glass of water.

“Please drink this.”

“Thank you.”

The cool water seemed to ease the pounding in his head, if only slightly. The Earl muttered to himself.

“I can’t understand what Chase is thinking. Leaving the family? It’s absolutely absurd.”

He couldn’t fathom why Chase had been so angry.

Not only had he stood up to him, but he had also declared he would leave the family. Did he not realize how much the Earl was prepared to pass down to him?

Annette, who had been observing the Earl, cautiously spoke.

“Chase must have been hurt in many ways. Even though their engagement was arranged, he truly loves his fiancée, Judith.”

She added with a faint smile.

“He reminded me of you when you courted me, throwing caution to the wind.”

The Earl raised an eyebrow at her words.

“Are you saying their relationship has already grown that close?”

“Of course. You know how quickly young hearts can ignite.”

Annette hesitated briefly before continuing.

“But you belittled Judith in front of him… It’s natural for him to be upset.”

“I admit that was careless of me.”

The Earl sighed and nodded.

“But that doesn’t mean I can allow his fiancée to work at the academy. And leaving the family? That’s crossing the line.”

Annette looked at the Earl with pity before speaking calmly.

“I don’t think Chase made that decision lightly. Even if he didn’t say it, he must have been holding onto a lot of grievances.”

“But you know as well as I do—”

“Yes, I know. You acted coldly toward him on purpose to uphold the family’s hierarchy. But he was too young to understand your intentions.”

Annette smiled gently, her expression soothing.

“And now, Chase is old enough to understand if you explain it to him. Why not be honest with him and try to gain his understanding?”

“…”

“For the son you love so much.”

As Annette softly persuaded him, the Earl leaned back in his chair without saying a word.

In his mind, Chase’s words from earlier echoed repeatedly.

“You don’t even know what I truly want.”

After a long silence, the Earl finally spoke.

“Is what Chase wants… just for that Judith girl to work as an assistant professor?”

Annette met his gaze and replied.

“Probably. And honestly, it’s not such a difficult thing to allow.”

“…”

“I know how hard it was for me to live my life relying only on you. You may have been happy to have me at home, but I felt like I was becoming a flower trapped in a greenhouse.”

Her life, built on trust in the man she loved, had not been easy.

Even when she was pregnant with Chase and after giving birth, she suffered from severe depression.

The guilt on the Earl’s face was unmistakable. Annette, as if driving her point home, gently concluded.

“So please, don’t place the same burden on them that I had to bear.”