Chapter 1

Lionel de Valentin was a man who appeared exactly as he was.

A young captain from the Rosenta Imperial Military Academy.

The country’s top marksman. Winner of the Imperial Army Boxing Tournament. The hero of that fierce Flandor Battle. He would probably be promoted to major soon.

With his handsome face, blond hair, and blue eyes, he was tall and broad-shouldered, just as one would expect from an excellent soldier.

He liked to have fun; parties, alcohol, and women were always welcome. A shameless playboy whose partner changed every night.

The idol of all men. The owner of a free-spirited charm that made others wish they could live life as carefree as he did.

But in the end, he was the illegitimate son of Duke Valentin.

Yes, that word—illegitimate.

“I can only put up with it so many times. If you hear it too often, it gets old.”

Lionel muttered in a languid voice, puffing on a cigar.

It was morning, nearing noon.

Sitting on the sofa of a shabby hotel room, shirtless, Lionel looked perfectly at ease, as if he were at home. In fact, since entering the military academy, he frequented this small hotel more than his house in the capital.

“My goodness, Captain.”

At that moment, a n*ked woman lying on the bed giggled and rolled over. She teased him in a sleepy voice.

“What else would you call an illegitimate child but an illegitimate child? Are you hoping to be treated like a real son?”

“But I am a real son. I have the exact same nose as my father. Even my picky older brother admits that.”

“Even so, the real son is your brother, and you’re just a half-blooded illegitimate child…”

“That! That’s what I’m sick of hearing, really.”

Lionel laughed playfully, flicking the cigar ash. The woman turned and stared at him on the sofa.

He was truly an easy-going man. Even though he was an illegitimate child, he was accepted into the Valentin Duchy as a noble, yet he was generous, unlike other nobles.

He rarely got angry, never acted arrogant. Though a soldier, he didn’t show off, and he treated women gently.

If only he wasn’t a noble, she might have tried to date him seriously.

“But Captain, aren’t you tired? We only slept for three hours.”

“If you’re tired, sleep a little more. I’ll leave after I finish this.”

“Oh, come on…”

She wanted him to come closer and stay with her. Reluctantly, the woman sat up in bed.

She had spent the night with him, and to sleep with him again, she’d have to wait a long time. Captain Lionel was busy with training and deployments, and far too popular.

As she watched him leisurely smoke his cigar, her eyes filled with longing.

Knock knock knock knock knock!

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door in a frantic hurry. Lionel answered the knock with a puzzled expression.

“Who is it?”

“Captain Lionel! Are you inside? I have an urgent message!”

“Dennis?”

It was his subordinate. When Lionel opened the door, Sergeant Dennis handed him a letter with a troubled face.

“Um… it’s from the Dukedom…”

It was a letter sent from the Valentin Duchy to Lionel’s unit. He took out the stiff letter from the already unsealed envelope and read it.

“…Thank you for coming, Sergeant. I’ll return soon, so go ahead.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Dennis left, and the door closed again. The woman, watching the situation, asked quietly,

“Are you heading off to the battlefield again?”

“Well… it’s a kind of battlefield.”

Lionel smiled bitterly, putting away the letter. Without further delay, he picked up his clothes and got dressed.

Before opening the door to leave, he glanced back at the woman.

“Amelie, I enjoyed our time together. We won’t see each other again, so don’t wait for me. Find another good guy and be happy.”

“What? Captain, that’s not like you. You sound like you’re going off to die!”

“I’m not going to die—I’m going because I’m already dead.”

He looked away from her and added,

“My father and brother died yesterday.”

“What…?”

“So now, they want me to become the Duke.”

Lionel turned the doorknob and gave a faint laugh.

“They despised me for being an illegitimate child, but you never know how life turns out.”

* * *

The Valentin Duchy’s estate bordered the capital. Thanks to that, Lionel arrived quickly at the ducal residence, stepping down from the carriage in his black dress uniform.

“You’ve arrived, Young Master.”

Oliver Parkinson, the dignified butler in his fifties, greeted Lionel. With neatly combed gray hair and ash-colored eyes, he was a strict man who had worked at the Duchy since Lionel was born.

“It’s been a while, Oliver. How have you been?”

“Unfortunately, I can’t say I’ve been well. The Master and Young Master Victor passed away so suddenly yesterday.”

As expected, a cold reply. Lionel had never gotten along with Oliver. Not just Oliver—every proud servant of the Duchy regarded and avoided Lionel, the illegitimate child.

Used to such treatment, Lionel spoke casually.

“Well, you must have been busy preparing for the funeral. Did you write the urgent message sent to me? About inheriting the Dukedom.”

“Yes, I did. Are you prepared?”

“Why would I need to prepare? It’s not like I had a choice.”

At Lionel’s carefree words, the strict butler’s eyebrows twitched slightly. He made a strange, suppressed sound and spoke politely.

“Young Master Lionel. If you become Duke, you’ll inherit power and wealth, but with them comes great responsibility. You’ll have to make countless decisions and bear their consequences. Your life will be completely different from now on.”

Oliver’s advice was serious. But Lionel brushed it off with a faint laugh.

“All reasonable and good points, but are you telling me to start heir training now? Isn’t it a bit late for that? The father who should’ve taught me is already in a coffin.”

“Young Master! How could you say such a thing…!”

Oliver raised his voice at the almost unfilial words. But Lionel, unconcerned, strode ahead, muttering as if bored.

“They left me to grow up on my own for 27 years, and now they suddenly want me to be a proper noble. That’s unreasonable.”

He opened the large door to the main building, then turned to the speechless Oliver.

“So, where do I talk about money? The inheritance and such. That’s what I’m interested in.”

Such a vulgar man to be the new Duke. Oliver glared at him for a moment, then sighed.

“Let’s go to the drawing room. The Valentin family lawyer is waiting.”

“Lead the way. I’ve barely visited here in my life, so I don’t even know where the drawing room is.”

Annoyed by Lionel’s sarcastic attitude, Oliver clicked his tongue inwardly. Lionel followed the disgruntled butler into the quiet ducal residence.

The stairs and hallways leading to the drawing room were filled with expensive-looking paintings and sculptures. Anyone with a bit of interest in art would recognize and marvel at the masterpieces on display.

But Lionel, ignorant in that field, was lost in other thoughts.

‘How much could I get if I sold all of these?’

If he sold everything, maybe he could buy a house with a nice view in the southern resort area. What if he spent his life there, relaxing and enjoying himself?

Leaving behind this ducal residence that always suffocated him, going somewhere no one knew him.

‘Anyway, I have to live here for now. While hearing talk about the illegitimate Duke.’

Imagining a vague future, Lionel entered the drawing room. The man sitting on the sofa recognized him, stood up, and offered a handshake.

“Welcome, Young Master. I am Fabian Kenneth, lawyer to the Valentin Duchy.”

“Lionel de Valentin. First time meeting you.”

As Lionel sat on the sofa, Fabian asked carefully,

“Have you heard about the cause of death for both of them? I couldn’t write the details in the letter…”

“Well, two healthy people suddenly died, so it must’ve been an accident. Wasn’t it?”

“That’s right. Last night, a cruise ship sank in Lake Frey. Thirty people died, including the Duke and Young Master Victor.”

“…I see.”

A hollow reason. Fabian, surprised by Lionel’s indifferent reaction, asked,

“You’re not very shocked. Did news of the accident reach the capital?”

“No, this is the first I’ve heard. I returned from the battlefield just yesterday morning.”

Fabian hesitated to continue in front of Lionel, who seemed unfazed by the loss of his father and brother. Lionel changed the topic without concern.

“The letter said I’m to inherit the Dukedom.”

“That’s correct.”

“Is that really how it works? Am I truly the only blood relative left?”

“Yes, under Imperial law, you are a legitimate heir. The property and title have already been transferred to you, and as an adult, you can dispose of them freely.”

So he really could sell everything. As Lionel was having thoughts that would make a Duke rise from his grave, Fabian continued.

“I’ll explain the Valentin family’s assets later. But there’s one thing… something you must know right away.”

For the first time, Fabian’s voice grew firm. Lionel stared at him, and Fabian lowered his voice as if discussing a secret.

“What I’m about to tell you is confidential. If it leaks outside, there will be serious trouble.”

“Go ahead.”

Was it some kind of military secret? Lionel looked bored, and Fabian spoke cautiously.

“In truth, the Valentin Duchy is burdened with a large debt.”