Light streamed onto the terrace. Aegis sat not where the light lingered but in the shadows, hands clasped together and resting on the desk.

“It’s been a while, Suran.”

Seeing Aegis, who possessed handsome features despite his middle age, Fazel tensed. His eyes, scrutinizing every inch like an appraisal, were nothing but sharp. It felt like he was evaluating an object. Even someone oblivious couldn’t miss such a blatant stare.

“Have you been well?”

“What brings you here?”

At Aegis’s words, Suran bowed her head.

“I came because you said you’d support Fazel.”

“Support.”

Aegis muttered the word Suran had said, then asked her.

“That’s right. The Zieten ducal house supports illegitimate children. It seems this time you’ve decided to support Fazel.”

“Yes.”

Fazel gulped. He’d been shocked when he learned a few days ago that his biological father was actually a duke. He only found out because someone from the ducal house came and told him. 

Why had his mother hidden this fact?

‘If I go to His Grace the Duke, I can attend the Academy. I won’t have to make Mother suffer anymore.’

Suran had cried and told him not to go, but Fazel couldn’t refuse after hearing the ducal house would help.

“Your name is Fazel Onyuran?”

“Yes.”

“A good name.”

Aegis nodded toward Fazel and rose from his seat.

“Since Suran and I never married, even though my blood flows in you, you cannot become the Duke’s son. But I will provide your education.”

Aegis firmly drew the line with Fazel. Fazel lifted his head slightly and spoke to him.

“I don’t wish to become a legitimate son.”

“Good attitude.”

Aegis nodded. After leaving the room, Suran pulled Fazel into an embrace.

“Now we must part.”

“I’ll succeed and come visit you, Mother.”

“Yes, if anything happens, be sure to contact your mother.”

Suran stroked Fazel’s head.

“The people here probably won’t look kindly on you.”

“I’m prepared.”

Fazel thought he could easily endure simple contempt. Suran’s heart ached for her son who thought this way, and she bit her lip. Suran held Fazel’s hand tightly until the very end before leaving the ducal house. The butler guided Fazel to the room where servants resided.

“Did you say Fazel?”

At the butler’s words—he wore an eyepatch over one eye—Fazel nodded.

“Yes.”

“It’s been a while since His Grace the Duke had an illegitimate child.”

He opened the door. A chilly energy circulated inside the room, making it feel slightly cold. Was it because of winter? 

But something felt strange. The room was warm and the fireplace blazed with fire, yet why did it feel cold?

“Are there other illegitimate children?”

At Fazel’s words, the butler nodded.

“There were.”

Were?

“They’ve all left now.”

“I see.”

Had they all left because their situations improved?

“I hope nothing untoward happens to Lord Fazel.”

The butler said something meaningful and turned away. Fazel understood his words.

There must have been bullying from the Duke’s wife’s children.

Perhaps they’d disappeared, unable to endure it. 

Fazel nodded. From their perspective, he would be a thorn in their side. He didn’t think they’d quietly accept him. But Fazel had a goal—he had to attend the Academy. For that, he could do anything.

* * *

Aegis stood at the window. Then Ollos, the butler who’d guided Fazel, entered, bowed, and raised his head.

“I’ve shown him to his room.”

“He’s handsome.”

Aegis recalled Fazel and muttered to himself. The child had inherited both his own youthful, splendid appearance and Suran’s beauty intact.

“You gave him a room where servants live—did he say anything?”

“Nothing.”

A smile crossed Aegis’s lips.

“I see.”

Sometimes there were those who, despite being the Duke’s illegitimate children, didn’t know their place and acted like the Duke’s sons. Then the Duke would take care of those sons himself. 

But Fazel was different. Even when told he wouldn’t be treated as a son, he showed no reaction. He didn’t care that he’d been given a place where servants lived. 

Now news that another illegitimate child had arrived would reach Nertian’s ears. Nertian was probably already studying with his birth mother, the Duchess, how to torment Fazel.

“I wonder how long he’ll last this time.”

At Aegis’s words, Ollos looked at him with bitter eyes.

“Will you just watch again this time?”

“I must watch. I won’t intervene.”

How many illegitimate children had crumbled in this mansion? Ollos found the Duke chilling as he calmly observed it all. But there was nothing he could do.

“You just watch too. Don’t step forward like that time.”

Ollos touched his one eye. A burning sensation surged from beneath the eyepatch.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“I only spare someone once.”

Aegis’s cold words rang out.

* * *

“What’s so great about a mistress’s son studying?”

Before class, Nertian sneered at Fazel. He began hurling insults about Suran in front of Fazel’s desk as he previewed his lessons.

“Your mother is a woman who came for Father’s money. She had a son to get her share later.”

Nertian’s words were extremely irritating, but Fazel didn’t react at all.

‘It’ll be hard when you go.’

His mother had said it many times before he went to the Zieten ducal house. That Nertian, the legitimate wife’s child there, would torment him terribly. Fazel had already prepared for this level of harassment. He’d already guessed how he would act.

Mother.

When Grandmother and Grandfather were alive, the maternal family was wealthy. Mother attended the Academy during that time too. 

But after Grandmother died in an accident and Uncle inherited the household, the family fortunes declined. Uncle, addicted to gambling, spent the entire fortune and even secretly sold Mother. Uncle fled with massive debts, and Mother was sold. 

Among those he’d borrowed money from was Duke Zieten. Duke Zieten, who’d done business with Grandfather and Grandmother for a long time, ordered Mother to become his mistress instead of being sold to loan sharks. 

Aunt was even sick at the time. She couldn’t be sold while leaving her sick aunt on the street. Mother had no choice but to give up normal marriage and become the Duke’s mistress.

Living as a married noble man’s mistress was hard enough to die, she’d said. So after graduating from the Academy, she saved money, repaid all the debts to the Duke, and stopped living as a mistress. 

After parting with the Duke, she learned she was pregnant, but since she’d repaid all debts to him, she said she’d raise the child herself. Aunt passed away a few days later. 

Because Mother had to repay the debts from Aunt’s hospital bills, she had no money to send him to the Academy. But Fazel desperately wanted to attend the Academy.

Fazel silently bowed his head. Then something cold poured over his head. Nertian had poured milk on him.

“You look like a drowned rat.”

Nertian mocked Fazel. But Fazel didn’t react and looked at the clock. Not much time remained. Fazel got up, quickly went to wash his hair with water, changed clothes, and came back. Fazel, who entered class a bit late, greeted the professor. 

The professor knew what Nertian had done but scolded Fazel. As punishment, Fazel stood in the back listening to class. He could barely take notes. Fazel would clearly fall behind Nertian on tomorrow’s test. Nertian grinned and glanced at Fazel. 

But Fazel only concentrated on class. Nertian bit his lip, displeased. The next day, they took the test and unexpected results came out.

Beating Nertian, Fazel won.

* * *

In the garden, Fazel clenched his fists harder. Recalling that time, he continued speaking.

“From when I first went, Nertian didn’t look kindly on me. I’d prepared for that, so it didn’t matter much. Even when I became his punching bag servant, I silently endured and attended classes. I always had overwhelming scores on tests, and I felt satisfaction watching his face turn red and blue.”

He closed his eyes and opened them.

“I endured like that for several months. When I felt lonely being alone, she approached me.”

He smiled bitterly.

“She?”

“The woman we saw earlier.”

I recalled the girl who’d greeted Fazel. She was an incredibly beautiful child.

“Her name is Aserene, a courtesan’s daughter. Not the Duke’s daughter. She was also treated poorly in that house, so we quickly became close.”

I unconsciously grasped Fazel’s hand.

* * *

Suddenly the Duchess’s necklace disappeared. So a search operation for the necklace was underway. Fazel had an ominous feeling. Because it seemed the arrow would come toward him. 

As he expected, the Duchess’s necklace was discovered in his room.

“It wasn’t me. I worked outside all day!”

Fazel had fortunately been outside then, so he could prove his alibi. Fazel said this before Nertian and his mother. But then Aserene stepped forward.

“I saw Fazel steal it.”

Aserene said this while watching Fazel’s reaction.

“Really?”

The Duchess looked at Fazel and tilted her head.

“Your friend says you’re the culprit.”

Fazel felt his mind go distant. He was dragged away and imprisoned. In a place where no light entered, Fazel was alone. He couldn’t speak and couldn’t do anything. A terrible flower fragrance wafted thickly from the prison.

“I feel like vomiting.”

Would he be trapped here forever? 

The Duke would live without caring even if he died here. When he was trapped and dazed like that, when he wanted to let go of even human dignity in the darkness, suddenly the door opened and Nertian entered.

“Your unlucky face annoyed me the most.”

Nertian began beating Fazel like he deserved it. Fazel was beaten without the strength to resist.

“From today, you’re no different from a beast. Crawl and eat like a dog!”

He threw food on the floor. Fazel picked it up piece by piece and ate it, bowing his head.

“Aserene was always my person. She approached you to make you like a dog.”

Nertian grinned. Watching Fazel scream, he felt genuinely happy. Beatings continued every night. He had to lick what fell on the floor like a dog. He thought it would be better to just die. In the darkness, Fazel silently closed his eyes. No one would save him. 

Did Mother know about this? 

Thinking of her who would grieve if he died, Fazel closed his eyes. He didn’t know how many days passed like that. In the endless darkness, his mind broke down. When Fazel was so far gone he couldn’t even recognize who he was, the prison door opened.

“Fazel!”

Even at his mother’s desperate cry, Fazel momentarily didn’t recognize who she was. Even looking at Suran, he silently looked only at the ceiling again.