His collapsed expression was silently wailing.

[To think a person like him is the head of the family, I wonder what will become of the Wilkins house…]

People whispered as they watched Noel, who neglected family affairs and indulged in pleasure.

[The taxes in the duchy have risen so much this time that we’re being bled dry.]

[There’s a drought in the west, and they’re telling us to send relief funds? This must be because the Duke is idle. He’s making them look down on our southern region.]

[At this rate, we’ll fall behind even the Edwards family.]

[Has the family head gone to another party?]

Even the collateral branches complained that Abel should have become the family head.

Yet Noel continued his dissipated lifestyle even more ostentatiously.

[When someone from the Imperial family comes, show them to the study.]

Without fail, on the eve of important resolutions being proposed at the Central Nobility Council, Noel would come in soaked in alcohol.

Naturally, he couldn’t attend the morning meetings due to his hangover.

Eventually, people who couldn’t ignore the Duke’s voting rights started coming to the Wilkins house one by one.

[Please convey that he must attend tomorrow. It’s the day when the tax-related resolution for the southern region will be proposed.]

At first, a low-ranking official would deliver a letter, then a mid-ranking official would request an audience.

One day, nobles visited to try to sway Noel’s voting rights.

But Noel was busy running away with all sorts of excuses.

The visitors either left, tired of waiting or clicked their tongues upon seeing Noel reeking of heavy perfume and alcohol.

Thus, documents left behind by visitors piled up on the desk in the study.

[Don’t tell me you haven’t even opened the resolution I left last week…?]

The last to seek out Noel was Darius Clark, the chairman of the Central Nobility Council.

It was because of his close friendship with the previous family head, Alexandra.

[Kieran, you stamp it for me.]

Of course, after Kieran stamped the family seal instead of Noel, he never came again.

But Kieran knew.

How much Noel loved the Wilkins family. And that this was Noel’s own way of protecting the family.

[They must have done well on their own.]

And entrusting everything required a firm trust in one’s people as a foundation.

[Noel… I hope… he won’t be in pain.]

Recalling Alexandra’s last words, Kieran gently closed his eyes.

* * *

The Hunt Knights quietly relaxed their attack stance.

There was no need for a detailed explanation of the situation.

They understood everything with Charlie’s single statement.

[Your Grace, it seems we need to be more careful with this expedition. It appears they tried to approach not only the knights but even the merchants supplying military goods.]

Hector observed the tragic scene with an impassive face.

From ancient times, the Hunt family had been in opposition to the Imperial family. Thus, they periodically rooted out spies.

The knights were no exception. Even Leon couldn’t avoid this procedure.

The situation was different for the Wilkins family.

They were far from central power and always stepped back from authority.

Especially after Noel became the family head; the Wilkins family’s stance became even more pronounced.

Therefore, they probably never expected an Emperor’s spy.

Even less so that it would be the vice commander of the knights. So the shock and ripple effect would be beyond description.

However, even if it was as painful as cutting off one’s limbs, it was something the family head had to endure.

[Please spare me. Please spare my life just this once.]

A memory from the past flashed through Hector’s mind.

Ralph, the first spy he killed with his own hands, who was also the gardener of the ducal residence.

[My son had a grandchild… they say he could be diamond-grade in magic…]

He was an employee he had known since birth and someone his mother had brought in.

The reason for betrayal was merely a noble title.

Even eyes once full of loyalty become clouded the moment greed takes root.

Just like Josh right now.

Deep wrinkles etched between Hector’s brows.

A voice laden with displeasure cut through the silence.

“Luke.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Luke, finally coming to his senses, hurriedly stood up.

“Find Leon.”

Soon after, Luke’s figure disappeared with a dark red light.

At that moment, time that had been frozen began to move again.

“Ah…”

Charlie let out a small sigh.

She only wanted to save Kieran, who was Noel’s family, and Luke, who was Hector’s family.

But Charlie hadn’t thought about the aftermath.

Hector gently stroked Charlie’s stiffened hand as if to say it was alright.

Then he turned his gaze to Noel.

“Noel Wilkins.”

Noel’s head slowly turned towards Hector.

His eyes, which always exuded a strange aura, were now out of focus.

Hector exhaled briefly and said,

“I didn’t know you had a hobby of raising the Emperor’s dogs.”

“……!”

Noel’s eyes tensed as he looked at Hector.

The spy wouldn’t be just Josh alone.

Hector’s gaze was clearly telling Noel this.

“It would be better to put a muzzle on them.”

Hector turned around, embracing Charlie.

“If you speak out, your limbs will explode and you’ll die.”

In Noel’s view, the black cloak stretched out long like Hector’s shadow.

The Hunt Knights glanced coldly at Josh before following Hector and Charlie.

* * *

“Haa… Huu…”

Leon breathed heavily as he faced Cedric.

Right, he was the commander of the Hunt Knights. Logan, who wasn’t even a match, had long since fallen.

“I told you to move aside.”

The earth that rose behind Cedric’s back, ready to devour Leon at any moment, was savage.

“That won’t do, will it?!”

Leon smiled as he wiped his mouth, which tasted of blood.

“What kind of knight commander blocks someone’s path?”

Cedric gritted his teeth.

The grinding sound was chilling.

But far from being afraid, Leon sneered like he’s enjoying it.

“Calling the Grand Duke’s knight commander ‘what kind of’, you mere Duke.”

Cedric burst into a sneer at Leon’s muttering.

“What did you say?”

“I’m saying, it’s you, Lord Cedric, who should follow His Grace’s orders to capture. That’s what I mean.”

“Do you think you’re of Hunt blood or something?”

“Oh, so you know how to curse too?”

Leon gripped his sword.

“It’s good to see your true nature revealed.”

A dark red aura wrapped around the sharp tip of Leon’s sword.

“Now this is a fight worth having.”

Before leaving for the expedition, Hector had injected his magic into Leon in case of emergencies.

This was possible because he had regained his full power thanks to Charlie.

Originally, Leon was at the Master level like Cedric. However, compared to Cedric with his powerful ability, Leon was lacking.

But now, having received Hector’s magic, the situation had changed.

Just as Leon’s aura was about to envelop his entire body,

“Brother!”

Luke ran towards Leon.

“His Grace is looking for you.”

Cedric’s eyes wavered as he looked at Luke.

“You…!”

Phew– Leon let out a sigh of relief.

When Hector disappeared looking for Charlie, Luke, who was in charge of guarding, also sensed danger.

But to see him running towards him in such a fine state.

What could be more welcome than this in the world?

“It seems we’ll have to postpone the outcome to next time.”

Leon withdrew his sword pointed at Cedric and spread out a teleportation magic circle.

“To inflict submission on the loser again…”

Snicker– Leon stretched his lips and wrapped his arm around Luke’s shoulders.

“That’s not chivalrous, you know.”

Leaving behind a sneer, Leon disappeared along with Luke.

They thought they heard Cedric’s scream faintly, but neither paid any attention to it.

* * *

Inside Hector’s tent.

“Well…”

What should she say?

Charlie couldn’t look directly at Hector and hesitated.

The bravado with which she had shouted at Josh had completely disappeared.

This was because if you ask her how she knew Josh was Kaisis’s spy, she had no excuse to answer with.

To begin with, it didn’t make sense that she had been watching Luke.

‘What if he suspects that I’m also one of Kaisis’s people?’

Thump, thump.

The sound of Hector’s footsteps approaching her seemed particularly loud.

‘Should I just say it was a woman’s intuition?’

Her heart was pounding and she involuntarily swallowed dry saliva.

‘Why did that bastard have to bring up Noel?’

Just as she was fidgeting, Hector embraced Charlie as if collapsing.

“Charlie…”

“……!”

The sound of Charlie’s pounding heart was drowned out by Hector’s heartbeat, which seemed about to burst.

“I thought I had lost you.”

“……”

The low, thick voice that had always been strong trembled finely.

No. It wasn’t just his voice.

Hector’s entire body that held her was shaking.

Charlie stiffened in Hector’s arms, unable to continue speaking.

“Never again…”

Why did he think that Cedric would protect Charlie?

Had he been complacent, thinking she was safe because the knights and Luke were there?

Hector’s chest sank with regret and self-reproach.

“Never sacrifice yourself for anyone again.”

There was no way Hector wouldn’t have noticed Charlie blocking Josh and embracing Luke and Kieran.

The mana stone only protects its owner, not what’s in front of them.

The reason Luke and Kieran were unharmed was because they were in contact with Charlie.

If there hadn’t been a mana stone. If he hadn’t imbued it with the power of darkness before leaving for the expedition. Charlie would have disappeared without a trace on the spot.

Hector pulled Charlie closer.

“Please…”

Did she know who she was blocking with her weak, frail body?

Why did she do such a reckless thing?

Moreover, Hector had never told Charlie the true nature of the mana stone.

[We’re all family, aren’t we?]

Hector’s trembling stopped.

‘Because of me…’

The reason Charlie embraced Luke must have been because of him.

[To live alone… I’m sorry I was too young then…]

Hector now understood what Luke’s sorrow, as he cried with a choked voice, meant.

Slowly pulling away, Hector faced Charlie.

“Run away instead.”

Sadness welled up, seeming about to spill over at any moment.

“Even if it’s from me.”