“Do you want to marry my mother?”

Trean couldn’t let go of his tension.

“…That’s right.”

“I had noticed.”

Everyone in the territory now knew Trean was interested in Suran. Even Suran seemed to worry about it sometimes.

“Is it okay that she has a son?”

“You’re already grown. And that doesn’t matter.”

Fazel nodded.

“Try persuading my mother well.”

When Fazel readily gave permission, Trean’s complexion brightened.

“You mean that?”

“My mother’s feelings are what’s important.”

Fazel smiled faintly.

“And I’d welcome a stepfather like you, Master.”

“But wouldn’t it be better for you to become the Duke’s son?”

“Even if I’m recognized as the Duke’s legitimate son, I don’t want my mother to live as the Duke’s wife. I’d strongly oppose it.”

At Fazel’s firm words, Trean stroked his head.

“I heard you suffered at the ducal house.”

“I really don’t want to go back there.”

Fazel shook his head. Trean silently comforted him, and Godfather Garen stroked Fazel’s head.

“That household is gloomy.”

Godfather Garen muttered quietly.

“The Zieten ducal house has always had many illegitimate children for generations, and illegitimate children never lived long. So you be careful with your health too.”

“I understand.”

Having read about the ducal house’s secrets in the original work, I already knew Fazel would be fine, so I wasn’t worried.

“Then let’s end today’s training here, and Fazel, have a good visit to the ducal house.”

Today we had a luncheon with the Duke. My chest tightened at the thought of meeting Duke Zieten Aegis, but it wouldn’t be harder than it was for Fazel. I took out cold water and distributed it to them.

“Thanks.”

Fazel thanked me.

Now he says things like this often—how admirable.

I ruffled his hair. He silently accepted my touch.

Wow! This is the kind of relationship we have now.

I know how to be satisfied with even these small things. Grinning, I told Fazel.

“I already picked out clothes for you to wear to the ducal house. It’s slightly modified from the design you said was fine before.”

“You’re good at choosing clothes, Louelle, so I always feel secure. I still don’t know much about that, so thanks for teaching me.”

I’d taught Fazel about clothes that worked well in high society. Fazel learned this and became better at choosing clothes than before.

“It’s nothing.”

I ate breakfast with him and prepared to go to the ducal house. Around noon, we boarded the carriage heading to the Zieten ducal house. Of course, Father came along too.

* * *

Fazel fell into quiet thought inside the carriage. The Zieten ducal house. He was returning there after two years. This time, he’d received official recognition from Duke Zieten Aegis and been formally invited. He silently looked at Louelle sitting beside him with her hair pinned up.

It’s all thanks to Louelle.

His life changed after meeting her. His unstable studies regained stability, and he began learning both the magic and swordsmanship he wanted. 

Mage Loctaron sometimes said he envied Fazel for being engaged to Louelle. He said noble ladies with personalities like hers were rare, and told him repeatedly to treat her well.

Right after their engagement, he hadn’t acknowledged those words. Not that Louelle had a bad personality, but the word “rare” hadn’t resonated with him. 

But through the assassin incident and various other events, he came to know Louelle’s character. So he felt he could do anything for her. He’d received so much. Things she’d given out of goodwill.

Suran had said so too. Even if the engagement ended, they owed Louelle a debt. They must never forget that debt for their entire lives.

Hah.

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t afraid of going to the ducal house. But Louelle was here, and Count Asnel too. There were people protecting him. 

Fazel relaxed. The ducal mansion appeared in the distance. The mansion built of white marble was splendid and beautiful even from afar. But as beautiful as it was, cLouellety hid within.

“Fazel, are you okay?”

Louelle asked in a worried voice. Fazel nodded.

“I’m surprisingly fine.”

Even Fazel found it strange. Thinking about what happened at the ducal house, it had been hard to even stay in the capital. He’d feared that if he went outside, the ducal house’s people would come find him and drag him to hell. 

He smiled. The carriage stopped and Count Asnel opened the carriage door first and got out. Then Louelle and Fazel got out together. A butler stood waiting in front of the carriage.

“Count Asnel, Lady Louelle, Lord Fazel, welcome.”

The butler bowed and personally guided us. But just as we opened the entrance door.

“Lord Fazel, hello.”

A beautiful girl’s voice rang out. Seeing the girl, Fazel’s complexion hardened.

“Aserene?”

There she was—the one who’d helped drive him to hell.

* * *

The ducal house’s dining room was incredibly spacious. The ornate ceiling and famous paintings on the walls were incomparable to ordinary noble families, and even the lamp stands were luxurious. 

Fazel, Father, and I each sat in our places and began the meal. At the narrowest vertical spot where only one person could sit, Duke Zieten Aegis sat. First, we greeted Aegis.

“We greet Your Grace the Duke.”

When Fazel greeted first, Aegis smiled and said to him.

“Call me Father.”

Fazel smiled slightly and bowed his head.

“Thank you for recognizing me as your son.”

“Now that you’re engaged to royalty, I must naturally treat you as such.”

Aegis spoke matter-of-factly.

“Your Grace, I look forward to working with you.”

I bowed and greeted him. Aegis raised the corners of his mouth in a smile.

“Of course, Lady Asnel. May I call you Louelle?”

“Of course.”

Aegis wasn’t an enemy now. He was an excellent ally for stopping his son Nertian. Fazel thought so too, which was why he treated him respectfully as a father. 

The sharp energy toward the ducal house he’d shown before was nowhere to be seen. Satisfied with his attitude, I spooned up the soup the maids brought.

“How’s the taste?”

At Aegis’s words, I answered gently.

“The onion flavor is really sweet.”

“It has a refined taste.”

Fazel also answered following my words, making a satisfied expression. We began talking, exchanging formal words with each other.

“By the way, what did you like about Fazel that made you get engaged?”

“Because I thought he’d cherish me.”

I answered honestly. Aegis looked at Fazel and nodded.

“That might be true.”

“Thanks for seeing it that way.”

Fazel gave me a gentle smile. Then he stared blankly at the food. Like he had something to think about.

What’s wrong?

When talking, it didn’t show, but when silent, he often thought about other things. Is something wrong? He hadn’t been like this before we got here. I was a bit worried.

“By the way, Fazel.”

Fazel raised his head. The blank look from moments ago quickly disappeared.

“I chose a territory closest to the Asnel territory for now. It has quite a few residents and the knight order there has decent skills.”

“Thank you.”

“No. From now on, be a son I won’t be ashamed of.”

In other words, don’t break off the engagement with me unless absolutely necessary. Fazel stood and bowed.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Aegis seemed pleased with Fazel’s greeting. He laughed heartily and told Fazel.

“I’ll be watching from now on.”

“Yes!”

The meal concluded well. There was no particular disturbance or mistakes. Just as we finished eating and came out, the girl who seemed to know Fazel—and had greeted him—stood at the entrance holding a bouquet, waiting for Fazel.

“Aserene?”

Fazel called the girl’s name, seemingly knowing her.

Who is she?

She wasn’t an important character in the original work, so I had no information. But seeing her waiting with a bouquet for Fazel, they weren’t just casual acquaintances. 

But it didn’t seem like she admired or liked Fazel. More importantly, Fazel didn’t particularly like flowers, right? As I expected, Fazel looked at Aserene’s bouquet and asked.

“What are you doing?”

“It’s a gift.”

“Ha, a gift?”

Fazel clicked his tongue and glared at her.

“The gift would be never appearing before me again.”

He spoke cynically.

“If you’re planning to mess around, cut it out.”

I was shocked by his tone. Fazel never used crude language. Yet here he was, extremely angry and using rough words. Moreover, he walked toward the entrance with quick steps, seemingly wanting to get away from Aserene immediately. I quickly followed Fazel.

* * *

Fazel gasped for breath. The surging emotions pressed down on his heart, making him recall the past. Clenching his fists in front of a large tree, he leaned against it and sank down.

‘What kind of person am I?’

He still hadn’t escaped that nightmare. Seeing how vivid the emotions from that time were. 

‘Why am I so weak?’

He laughed self-deprecatingly. He even had the ominous thought that he might never escape this nightmare for his entire life.

“Fazel!”

He looked at Louelle, who’d urgently followed him. Louelle’s face was full of concern and worry.

“Why did you come all the way here?”

At Fazel’s question, Louelle hesitated, then asked from a spot slightly away from him.

“Do you want to be alone?”

At Louelle’s serious words, Fazel stared at her clear eyes. She looked at him with such a worried expression—she was incredibly beautiful.

“No. Will you… stay with me?”

He wanted someone with him. But if just anyone came, his heart would surely reject them. Louelle would be fine. Fazel asked for her help. Louelle nodded and sat beside Fazel.

“Today’s meal wasn’t fun.”

“Right.”

Fazel agreed with Louelle’s words and sighed.

“Is it okay if I ask what happened?”

Fazel glanced at Louelle.

“I always notice this, but you ask for my opinion first, Louelle.”

“Well, it’s your story.”

“That’s right.”

Fazel nodded and looked up at the sky.

“Remember when I threw away your flowers before? I said there were circumstances?”

Fazel felt he could now talk about why he did that. He wanted to tell her—the one who’d given him such a gentle punishment.

“I remember.”

Louelle frowned.

“Don’t tell me it was because of that girl from earlier?”

“Right. She was my first friend.”

“Friend?”

“I thought so in the past. But I was spectacularly betrayed.”

Fazel bit his lips hard. Thinking of that time, his hands trembled as he stared at Louelle.

“It was when I first went to meet His Grace the Duke.”

Fazel brought up his story. Because those days were dark and full of wounds, he poured out to Louelle for the first time facts he’d never told anyone except his mother. It was a tremendous change for Fazel.