Chapter 4. His Circumstances

“It’s been a while.”

The Duchess of Blanche spoke softly, covering her mouth with a fancy fan. However, her cold eyes showed her displeasure at Aster’s return.

She was the one who had hindered his return all along, so it was a natural reaction. Aster pretended not to notice and spoke.

“My apologies for the late greeting.”

“It’s good that you came now.”

The Duke of Blanche responded bluntly and asked how his studies abroad had been.

Despite asking, he didn’t seem particularly interested in his son’s story. So Aster also gave formal answers to the formal questions.

To an outsider, it might have seemed like they had a decent father-son relationship, but Aster knew better. If he hadn’t inherited the Blanche bloodline’s power, he wouldn’t have been acknowledged and would have been cast out.

Still, he wasn’t completely forsaken, as he had manifested his abilities. Thanks to that, he could leave this wretched place and study abroad.

But if he had known it would take him ten years to return, he wouldn’t have left in such a hurry.

As Aster reminisced, the duke brought up the main topic.

“Now that you’re back, proceed with the marriage to the Francis family.”

As expected, this was why he had been called. Aster also wanted this, but he hadn’t yet reached an agreement with Camilla.

He intended to ask for more time to discuss it with her. But the duchess spoke faster.

“Isn’t it too much to burden a son who has just returned?”

“It’s a problem because the marriage has already been delayed for five years. If we delay it any longer, I won’t be able to face His Majesty the Emperor.”

“It’s a marriage that will happen anyway, even if it’s delayed. Why rush? Take your time. Aster needs time to get used to life here again. It’s been ten years, after all.”

The duchess pretended to be very considerate of Aster as she tried to persuade the duke. Her gentle words seemed to sway the duke.

Aster stared intently at the Duchess of Blanche. Her intentions were obvious, but this time he agreed with her, so he remained silent.

After a moment, the duke stroked the duchess’s hair and spoke.

“If the duchess says so, waiting a bit longer won’t hurt.”

“That’s a generous decision.”

“A mother’s love for her child, indeed. Aster, you should be particularly filial to your mother.”

“Yes.”

Aster hid his sneer and answered briefly.

Mother, huh.

He had only one mother. He had no intention of considering the woman in front of him as his mother.

The duchess continued to act sweetly, like a tongue in the duke’s mouth, blinding him and controlling the household.

Afterward, the duke’s nagging continued.

“You roamed the battlefields despite being told to return. What changed your mind this time?”

“I felt it was time to return.”

Aster smiled gracefully and glanced at the duchess. She flinched at his gaze but pretended to be indifferent.

While the duchess expanded her influence in Ahivith, Aster also built his power in Arendt. He was no longer a powerless child. He intended to show that from now on.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

When Aster stood up, the duchess followed. Naturally, Aster escorted her to her chamber.

As they walked, the duchess spoke with a face full of anger.

“I told you never to come back. My mercy ends here.”

Aster stopped and replied arrogantly.

“Is this a place I shouldn’t be?”

“What?”

“Did you forget that I am the heir of Blanche? There’s no place in Ahivith where I can’t go, as you well know.”

“You wretched thing! Did you hide your abilities and go abroad just to betray me?”

The duchess’s face contorted in rage. The kind motherly image she had shown in the duke’s office was completely gone.

Aster chuckled, knowing this was her true nature.

As she said, Aster had gone to the duke as soon as his abilities manifested. He had agreed to study abroad on the condition that he kept it a secret from the duchess.

It was a deal to survive. Otherwise, he would have been killed by the assassins she sent.

Aster smirked coldly and taunted her.

“I acted knowing you well. Thanks to that, I couldn’t set foot on my homeland for ten years. How unfair.”

“Are you threatening me now?”

“Don’t worry. I don’t intend to bite right away. For now.”

The duchess gasped at his leisurely threat. The grown-up Aster exuded a pressure she hadn’t felt before.

If she had known he would become this strong, she would have eliminated him sooner, even if it meant taking risks.

The duchess regretted it belatedly and straightened her posture to hide her agitation.

“Don’t get cocky just because you’ve been acknowledged as the heir. Don’t forget that there are others in Blanche who could take that position.”

“Well, judging by Paris’s actions, he seems unfit for the role.”

“Watch your language when speaking about your brother!”

“You know, Mother, that your cherished son doesn’t possess Blanche’s abilities.”

Aster’s red eyes began to burn like the sun. The surrounding air heated up, and the skin prickled as if pierced by thorns.

As the killing intent filled the air, the duchess could no longer stand straight and bent her upper body. After a moment, when Aster withdrew his killing intent, she exhaled a shaky breath.

“Huff.”

Her breathing was rough, as if she were on the verge of tears. Aster looked at her pitifully and spoke. It was something he had always wanted to ask.

“Camilla seems to have a misunderstanding about me.”

“A, a misunderstanding?”

“She thinks I went to war instead of Paris because I didn’t want to marry her.”

“That’s……!”

“The truth is, I was forced into danger to secure the engagement.”

Aster’s red eyes gleamed. It was clear she had driven a wedge between him and Camilla during his absence from Ahivith.

“Francis and Blanche have been enemies for generations. Who are you blaming for leaving without proper explanation?”

The duchess snapped in a sharp voice. It seemed her pride was hurt after being frightened earlier, making her voice tremble with anger.

“At that time, Mother, you promised me. If I went to war instead of Paris, you would help me get engaged to Camilla.”

“Yes. That’s why you haven’t been broken off yet, isn’t it?”

“Instead, you made me lose my fiancée’s trust. That’s truly remarkable.”

The duchess believed she had achieved a double victory. Her beloved son didn’t have to go to war, and she pushed the illegitimate child into an engagement with the enemy family.

But over time, she grew fearful of the illegitimate child who would back the Francis family, and now she wanted to break off the engagement. But the sudden return of the illegitimate child was ruining her plans.

Aster growled with a cold face.

“Even after that, you shamelessly made me clean up Paris’s messes under various pretexts.”

“Things have gone your way, anyway, haven’t they? You can build trust with your future wife gradually.”

“Yes. I plan to do just that.”

Aster roughly pushed his bangs back and continued.

“So don’t interfere. Otherwise, I might really bite you.”

The duchess shivered at his fierce warning. As they reached the bedroom, Aster left her and disappeared. The duchess collapsed onto the floor as soon as she entered the room.

“That wretched boy, how dare he…….”

The weak and tender boy who once yearned for his parents’ love was no longer there. Instead, a man hardened by war stood in the way of her and her children’s future.

Unwilling to acknowledge this, the duchess rang the bell furiously and began to scold the maid.

* * *

In the glass garden of Francis Castle.

As I sat lost in thought, Catherine waved her hand in front of my face and spoke.

“Sis! What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“Nothing.”

“That’s strange. You’re even distracted in front of a cake.”

Catherine giggled as she split her lemon tart. Then her twin brother, Edith, interrupted.

“Do you think our big sister goes crazy over cakes like you do?”

“Hey, Edith. That’s not fair. How much have I eaten?”

“Did you know that’s your fifth tart?”

“What? Really? I’ve already eaten that much?”

Catherine looked back and forth between the empty plate and Edith in surprise. Realizing the truth, she sullenly put down her fork.

She looked so dejected that I placed my tart in front of her and said.

“I like it best when our Cathy eats well.”

“But the nanny said I shouldn’t gain any more weight.”

“Cathy, if Marsha and I fought, who would win?”

“Hmm. ……Of course, you would, sis!”

“Right. So don’t worry and eat. I’ll talk to Marsha.”

“Thanks, sis!”

“But you have to eat your meal later, okay?”

“Of course!”

Catherine happily picked up her fork and started eating the tart. As she ate, getting it all over her mouth, I wiped it with a napkin, and Edith asked.

“So, what’s bothering you?”