“……!”

At the Duke of Winfried’s next words, Let shot to her feet.

Thud.

Planting both hands upon the low table, she leaned abruptly toward him.

She saw his crimson eyes widen slightly in surprise, but she could not bring herself to care.

“I have…… I have parents too?”

‘No. Wait.’

Let shook her head and barely reclaimed the reason she had nearly lost.

Slowly lowering herself back into her seat, she asked,

“H-How can you be certain that I’m the person you were searching for?”

The long war had left orphans everywhere.

The slums were no exception. Hadn’t new faces appeared on their streets almost every day?

When Let regarded him with suspicion, the duke spoke again.

“They often spoke of their daughter. They said she had brilliant golden hair, eyes bluer than the sea, and……”

Logan reached out and took Let’s left wrist.

“A star-shaped mark on the inside of her left wrist.”

His thumb slowly brushed over the star-shaped mark there.

“As expected, you have it.”

He raised his head and met her gaze.

“I believe you are their daughter.”

His words were measured, but there was certainty beneath them.

Under his expectant gaze, Let lowered her head.

“I……”

She had escaped the slums, and now she had even found her parents.

So many wonderful things were happening in succession that she could scarcely believe them.

“……I don’t know.”

At times like this, she had to be careful.

She could not allow herself to become excited without reason.

She knew all too well how painful it was when hopes that had swelled beyond measure shattered into pieces.

“The mark is certainly unusual, but…… isn’t it difficult to be certain based on that alone?”

Let bit her lower lip.

As Logan watched her, he tilted his head slightly.

“No. You are their daughter.”

After gazing at her for a moment, Logan reached into his coat and held something out.

Resting upon his broad, calloused palm was a silver locket.

“……?”

Let cautiously reached out and accepted it.

‘What is this necklace?’

As she tilted her head in puzzlement, the Duke of Winfried reached over and pressed the small protrusion on its side for her.

Click.

The silver cover swung open to reveal a portrait of a happy family of three.

A man with golden hair and green eyes stood next to a red-haired woman with blue eyes.

Cradled lovingly in their arms was a baby.

The baby had golden hair, blue eyes and a tiny star-shaped mark on her left wrist.

There could be no doubt.

It was her.

“…….”

“Sir Azen and Lady Leira were honorable and exceptional knights.”

As Let stared at the portrait in disbelief, blinking wordlessly, his quiet voice drifted down to her.

“Azen Leonid was the head of House Leonid and Count Leonid, while Leira Leonid was deeply respected by everyone who knew her.”

Let raised her head and looked at the Duke of Winfried.

For some reason, he seemed to be shining.

“And they loved you dearly.”

‘My parents.’

‘Parents who had searched for me.’

‘My own family, who loved me.’

Her heart began to pound.

“Where are they now?”

Clutching the locket tightly, Let looked up at him with shining eyes.

“I want to meet them.”

She no longer needed to restrain her heart. Let gave voice to her deepest wish.

“Where are my parents? Wh-When can I see them?”

Her voice rose with uncontrollable excitement.

If she could, she would have run to them that very instant, no matter where they were.

“……Sir Azen and Lady Leira.”

A long silence followed.

When Logan finally answered, his voice was heavy.

“They fought in the war against Ruberk.”

Let froze at his next words.

“They died on the battlefield.”

Let blinked slowly.

At first, she could not understand what he meant.

‘Died.’

‘They died.’

Did that mean…… her parents were dead?

“They died? Both of them?”

The duke nodded.

“Were they killed while fighting?”

Once again, he nodded.

“……They can’t come to me?”

“…….”

She knew it was a foolish question.

Even so, she could not stop herself from asking.

“……No.”

A faint laugh escaped Let at his answer.

‘Of course.’

‘That is how my life has always been…….’

‘This is why I shouldn’t have let myself become excited.’

‘How foolish of me.’

“…….”

Let rubbed her face several times before releasing a deep breath.

After some time, she slowly closed and reopened her eyes, then bowed her head.

“Thank you for telling me about my parents. Because of you, I finally know who they were.”

‘Yes. I should think only of the good things.’

‘I should look at it from the brighter side.’

The knowledge that her parents were dead…… hurt.

Still, the parents who had once existed only in her imagination had truly been real. They had even been nobles who lost their lives fighting for peace.

That alone told her they were far more honorable and admirable than she had ever imagined.

And from a practical standpoint……

Well.

She had escaped the slums. Perhaps House Winfried might even offer her some assistance while she searched for a place to settle.

Yes. That was enough.

For now, she would not allow herself to think any further.

Let drew a deep breath and forced herself to smile.

“Thank you. Truly.”

By the time the words left her lips, the turmoil that had raged within her had mostly subsided.

The duke, however, seemed anything but calm.

His expression darkened with every word she spoke. By the time she finished, his face was drawn tight with anguish.

“…….”

Winfried’s lips parted as he stared at her.

Again and again, he drew a short breath as though preparing to say something, only to release it in a long exhale.

“Your Grace, is there something else you wish to tell me?”

Unable to wait any longer, Let tilted her head and called out to him.

Yet the duke still could not bring himself to speak.

After hesitating for a long time, he finally seemed to abandon whatever it was he had wanted to say. With a sigh, he rose to his feet.

“I owe a tremendous debt to Azen and Leira Leonid from our time on the battlefield.”

Now standing, he gazed down at Let with somber eyes.

“It is my turn to repay that debt.”

Let blinked up at the Duke of Winfried.

“I sincerely……”

His unwavering gaze remained fixed upon her.

“……wish for you to be happy, Lady Irina Leonid.”

‘I wish for you to be happy.’

Others might hear or offer such words as casually as a greeting.

But no one had ever said them to Let before.

That was why it took her a moment to realize.

“……My name.”

‘Irina Leonid.’

Only belatedly did she understand that the name he had spoken belonged to her.

“Is that…… my name?”

“Yes.”

The Duke of Winfried nodded.

“Irina Leonid. That is your name.”

Not knowing how she should react or what she ought to say, Let froze.

‘A name.’

‘I have a name!’

‘A real name—not one that means a filthy little rat!’

Afraid she might scream, she clapped a hand over her mouth.

“Irina means peace.”

The Duke of Winfried extended his hand toward Irina.

“May you live peacefully, as your name promises, and find happiness, as I wish for you.”

He pressed his lips to the back of her grimy hand.

“I sincerely hope you will.”

Still holding her hand, the Duke of Winfried smiled faintly.

“You may remain at my estate until you find happiness. I will give you every assistance you need.”

She felt she ought to respond, but the tightness in her throat would not allow her to speak.

All she could manage was a small nod.

The Duke of Winfried smiled once more, then straightened.

“Then you should rest.”

He had nearly reached the door when he seemed to remember something and turned back.

“Welcome to the Winfried ducal estate, Lady Irina Leonid.”

The door closed behind him.

Even after she was alone, Irina continued staring at it in a daze.

“Eek!”

Only after some time had passed did she finally allow herself to embrace the incredible fortune that had found her, releasing a squeal of pure delight.

By then, whatever the Duke of Winfried had almost said earlier had long since vanished from her thoughts.

***

“Phew.”

In an elegant teahouse in the capital, Viscount Ventren took his seat, adjusting his lapels nervously. His palms would not stop sweating, forcing him to repeatedly take off and put back on his gloves.

‘How long has it been?’

He could scarcely remember how many years had passed since his last visit to the capital.

This was probably his first time back since he had come on business involving the silver mine.

Had that been two years ago?

“Ahem.”

As Viscount Ventren searched his hazy memory, he discreetly surveyed his surroundings.

‘They said this exclusive teahouse was reserved for only a select few among the capital’s aristocracy. It appears they were telling the truth.’

Every patron inside was someone whose name he recognized.

Some were renowned businesspeople, some had earned distinction through remarkable achievements, and some were prominent figures in high society.

These were people that ordinary nobles would scarcely dare to approach, yet here they all were, as though it were perfectly natural.

Viscount Ventren had been born into House Leonid himself, and he even possessed a pass granting him entry to the Imperial Palace. However, these distinctions were not enough to gain him entry to such a prestigious establishment.

“…….”

‘I could have belonged here too.’

As he looked around, Viscount Ventren clenched the hand resting upon the table.

‘I could have belonged in a place like this.’

If he hadn’t been discriminated against just for being the second son, he could have joined their ranks a long time ago.

Viscount Ventren ground his teeth.

‘How much discrimination and humiliation have I endured simply because I was born the second son?’

Not only had Azen stolen all their parents’ love, he had also monopolized the family’s support.

Even at the academy that Ventren had fought so hard to get into, didn’t everyone just call him “Azen’s younger brother”?

And worse still…

“Let us have Azen inherit the title of Count Leonid.”

“What? Father, then what about me?”

“I shall pass the Viscountcy of Ventren to you, Corbin.”

“……You would give me nothing more than a viscountcy?”

“Viscount Ventren is a respectable position. The title comes with the small but prosperous territory of Lowell, does it not? Its wheat fields are extensive, and its population is large, so collecting taxes should pose little difficulty.”

What if Azen hadn’t stolen the title of Count Leonid, which Corbin had wanted so badly?

Just because he was the second son!

‘Even though I was far more capable than he ever was.’

If his father given the title to him, House Leonid would have expanded beyond the western region and established itself in the capital long ago.

Then people would have quickly stopped describing it as an ancient house sadly lacking in prestige!

‘This is all Azen’s fault…….’

That grinning fool cared more about swinging a sword and pursuing lofty ideals than governing a country.

He threw himself into the flames of war, clinging to the absurd dream of putting an end to it, because he was such an idiot.

“Heh!”

Ventren shuddered.

Azen had thrown himself willingly into the flames of war, entrusting his daughter to Corbin in the process.

Those were the two finest decisions he had ever made.

Following Azen’s death and the apparent demise of his heir, the stubborn Barons and Baronesses of House Leonid lost hope and abandoned it one by one.

‘I only need to wait a little longer.’

If he remained patient, House Leonid would eventually fall entirely into his hands and he would become Count Leonid.

Then he, too, would be counted among the distinguished figures gathered here.

There was no need to rush.

Nevertheless, he had to remain vigilant against any unexpected complications.

Such as…

“I trust I haven’t kept you waiting.”

……the little brat the celebrated war hero had been searching for.

“Not at all.”

Viscount Ventren looked up at the Duke of Winfried and greeted him with a broad smile.

“I only just arrived myself.”