Deep into the night, Lynen was removing his casual clothes one by one while listening to Raul’s report.

“As you ordered, I contacted the saint and arranged to unite the elite holy knights of the High Temple with our special unit.”

“You got confirmation that they’ll send holy knights to the northern villages?”

“Yes. He reconfirmed it, saying it was already discussed with you, my lord. The knights from the main temple agreed to cooperate.”

Lynen nodded.

This was actually the reason behind the meetings between the saint and Lynen before Calliphe suggested the treasure hunt.

“Have them thoroughly reinvestigate the villages where the monster incidents occurred. We need to find out the Special Mage Division’s purpose.”

“Yes. But won’t other nobles be wary if House Ortega and the High Temple become too close?”

“Don’t worry about that. We have Calliphe.”

Calliphe was their central figure.

Lynen’s fiancée and the chosen one of the light spirit whom the saint must revere.

With her presence, the meeting between House Ortega and the High Temple was natural.

Rather, maintaining distance would seem strange.

“If the young Marquis isn’t a fool, he’ll stop whatever the Special Mage Division was planning. So select agile members to quickly search remote villages where incidents haven’t occurred yet.”

“As expected of my lord! We might be able to catch those Special Mage Division bastards if we do well.”

“Right. Also, tell the special unit to look for clues about Noel again.”

Noel Ortega. The name of Lynen’s missing nephew whom he was searching for.

Having finished giving instructions decisively, he was about to dismiss Raul.

However, before Raul left, Lynen hesitantly called him.

“Raul.”

“Yes, my lord?”

“…When Noel went missing, you’re sure he had a deep wound on the back of his hand?”

“Yes. Knight Commander Denford testified to that. He was the only witness after all.”

Earl Denford was Lynen’s maternal uncle and the only adult who had looked after Lynen, who was a b*stard son.

He had reported the circumstances of Noel’s disappearance like this.

That when he arrived at the scene, the suspicious merchant had already killed the former Duke Ortega. Earl Denford said he chased after him, but the merchant took the child hostage and eventually threw him into the rushing river.

He also said that in the process, the child suffered an injury that would inevitably leave a scar on the back of his hand.

“Are you doubting Earl Denford’s testimony?”

“That’s unlikely. If he were the culprit, he would have tried to take the duke’s position himself instead of strongly supporting me as the successor to the duchy.”

After the former duke’s death, Earl Denford was also the one who strongly insisted that Lynen should become the next duke.

“However, he too must have been confused at the scene, so he might have seen wrong.”

“That’s true, but… if even our only clue becomes uncertain, it’ll be harder to find the young master. And we have even less leads about the merchant who killed the former duke.”

Lynen nodded heavily.

Anyway, he urged Raul once more to search again before dismissing him.

But the door that had closed when Raul left opened again.

“Do you have something else to say?”

“Duke.”

Lynen was slightly surprised when he turned around.

“Noah? What brings you here at this hour?”

“Well……”

Lynen observed Noah’s face anew.

The hair and eye color match Noel’s. The age seems similar too.

But the scar’s location is different, and above all, he doesn’t resemble the former duke and duchess at all.

Lynen had seen hundreds of children who matched only partially like this.

Having been tempered by countless hopes and disappointments, his confusion from discovering Noah’s side scar earlier had long been settled.

“Weren’t you going to sleep with Calliphe today?”

Nod.

Noah nodded and entered the room, holding a large pillow in his arms.

“I’m going to sleep with Lady Calliphe. But……”

Noah rolled his eyes with a slightly nervous expression.

The child spoke while avoiding Lynen’s gaze.

“Lady Calliphe said your bed is wider, Duke. She said it’s big enough for three people.”

“…What?”

At Lynen’s slightly jumped voice, Noah hunched his shoulders.

At least I didn’t lie!

‘Lady Calliphe really did say the Duke’s bed was wide.’

Though it was just a passing comment from before, it was still true.

“I think my bed is small too.”

“It seems big enough for three adults.”

“I’m in my growing period……”

“No matter how much you grow, you won’t get bigger than the bed.”

“Anyway, can I sleep here?”

“……”

Lynen was momentarily speechless.

Sleep here?

‘If Calliphe sent Noah to my room, that means.’

…The three of them would sleep together?

But there was no reason for Calliphe to suddenly make such a suggestion. Weren’t they in an extremely hostile relationship until recently?

‘Recently it’s become slightly… no, quite different, but.’

Lynen suddenly recalled when Calliphe had abruptly fallen underground.

When he saw Calliphe drop down, his heart dropped too.

He doesn’t remember well what he thought at that moment. No, he probably couldn’t think of anything at all.

When he came to his senses, he had already jumped into the deep underground after Calliphe.

And when he finally succeeded in trapping Calliphe in his arms…

‘What am I thinking.’

Though he tried to rein in his thoughts belatedly, once one memory surfaced, it brought others with it.

He had been genuinely angry when Calliphe became bait to draw the attention of the familiar.

‘But if another soldier had done the same thing.’

He would have been secretly pleased.

True trust reveals itself in the face of danger.

That’s what he had always believed. He would have considered it fortunate to find a trustworthy person.

‘But at that time, I……”

Lynen unconsciously rubbed his little finger slowly.

At that moment, Noah’s innocent voice woke him from his reverie.

“Duke?”

“Ah.”

Lynen spoke hastily.

“I was considering your request.”

It sounded like a flimsy excuse even to himself, making him somewhat embarrassed.

“Ahem. If you like it here, you can use it as much as you want. I’ll vacate the space.”

“Why leave? This bed is very wide.”

“That’s true, but……”

“There’s plenty of room for you too, Duke.”

Sleep together with Calliphe? In the same bed?

‘This is dangerous.’

Though it wasn’t clear what kind of danger, he had an instinct that he should refuse.

“It would be more comfortable for you if I leave. It’s only one night, so I’ll be fine.”

“……”

Noah’s eyes narrowed subtly.

But before Lynen could recognize that change, Noah hung his head dejectedly.

“…Then I don’t want to sleep here at all.”

“Alright. Your bed is big enough for two people.”

Lynen felt relieved internally.

However, the next moment, he doubted his ears at Noah’s following words.

“I want to sleep at the High Temple instead of here.”

“Sleep where?”

“At the High Temple. Mihail invited me to come play too.”

Noah slowly turned his head toward him.

His glance resembled that of a skilled fisherman casting his line.

“…The seaweed mister would like it too.”

That was the moment.

Hands suddenly slipped under both of Noah’s armpits and lifted the child’s body up in one swift motion.

Then placed him firmly on the wide bed with decisive precision.

Lynen placed his hands on Noah’s shoulders with a serious expression.

“You shouldn’t sleep at other people’s houses carelessly.”

“Is the saint a stranger?”

“Yes, a stranger. Definitely a stranger.”

A clear drawing of lines.

Noah lowered his head a bit more to hide his satisfied expression.

“Then where should I sleep if not at the High Temple…?”

“Here.”

“You too, Duke?”

“Yes.”

Lynen gently laid Noah down and covered him with the blanket.

“Let’s sleep together. The three of us.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Noah nodded and wiggled his way under the blanket.

The small lips buried under the blanket were smiling broadly without Lynen knowing.

‘According to plan.’