Chapter 18

While Ramona was preparing the ingredients Thomason had bought, Sir Onyx arrived at the Cassius town house in Eclipse, the capital city.

Thanks to the ancient warp gates powered by mana stones, the journey from the Cassius estate to Eclipse was over in the blink of an eye.

“What are you doing here when you should be at the estate?”

Adrian’s brow furrowed slightly. He was already in a foul mood because the reparations issue had not yet been resolved.

“I am deeply sorry, Young Duke!”

Sir Onyx apologized out of the blue and proceeded to recount the day’s events in excruciating detail. As he spoke, the frown on Adrian’s face shifted into a look of sheer, trembling shock.

“You’re saying Raon was sick, and no one looked after him? I specifically asked Aria to take care of the child…”

“It seems she was too preoccupied with attending a tea party to pay the Young Master any mind. Oh! And the lady insisted I deliver this to you personally.”

Sir Onyx pulled a transparent bead from his tunic. It was clearly the recording stone Raon had asked for recently. Adrian had a good idea of how it had found its way to Ramona, but he feigned ignorance and scanned the contents within.

“Gasp!”

Sir Onyx, watching along, caught his breath instinctively. He glanced back and forth between the recording stone and Adrian, then quickly lowered his head as the gravity of the situation set in.

“Ha… I… I did this…”

The scenes captured in the recording stone were like a well-crafted play. As Adrian’s clenched fists began to tremble with rage, the head of the house, Adolf Cassius, entered with Sir Baston.

“You should be at the estate. Why are you here?”

“G-Grand Duke, the thing is…”

Sir Onyx stole a glance at Adrian, unable to bring himself to speak first. Adrian’s lips trembled with a volatile mix of fury and betrayal.

“Rian, what is the matter? You’ve found the child, and now all that’s left is your wedding.”

Two celebrations were in order for House Cassius, yet Adrian’s complexion was strangely pale.

“Did the two of you have a lovers’ quarrel? Try to be accommodating to Aria. She has only you and the child to look forward to now.”

“That ‘pitiful’ woman had the audacity to mock me—to mock us. See for yourself.”

Adolf’s eyes turned cold as ice as he watched the recording Adrian handed him. Sir Baston stood speechless, looking as though he couldn’t tell if he was awake or dreaming.

“Then… is the child… is he alright?”

“Based on the contract the Young Duke signed, the lady has taken the Young Master back with her.”

Sir Onyx, adding that the woman looked ready to kill anyone who tried to stop her, bowed his head like a condemned criminal.

“I see. It’s a relief he’s with the one who raised him, at least… but how on earth did you let things get this far?”

“If I had known, would I have let it happen? Besides, it was you who summoned me here, Father… but regardless, I am sorry.”

“You’re my son, but you haven’t a lick of charm. You can’t even get your own affairs in order. How pathetic must you be for the woman who raised my grandson to have to step in like this?”

“I was born exactly as you made me and lived exactly as you wished, didn’t I? Anyway, time is of the essence. I’m leaving now, so save the scolding for later. I expect you to wrap things up here, Father.”

Adolf, in his mid-forties, brushed his black hair back and curled his lip into a crooked smirk. He turned to Sir Baston and barked: “To Count Neyno’s house, at once. Whether that bastard knew about this or not, I’m going to kill him and go to heaven today.”

Count Neyno was one of Adolf’s closest friends since childhood. Because of that bond, when the Count’s daughter expressed a desire to marry Adrian, Adolf had felt both apologetic and grateful, supporting them with everything he had.

He had literally piled up gold and jewels for them and personally recommended the Young Count Neyno for a position in the Imperial Palace’s administrative office. And yet, that wretch had dared to betray him and his son.

Even if the Count hadn’t known, there would be no pardon. Having cooled his boiling rage into a sharp, focused chill, Adolf headed straight for the Neyno town house.

The weather was gloomy, matching his mood. A dull ache throbbed in the leg he had injured long ago, but it didn’t irritate him. Taking deep breaths to maintain his composure throughout the journey, Adolf bit his lip.

“If I had known, I should have listened back then.”

Realizing that regret always comes too late, Adolf let out a bitter smile as he thought of someone he had buried deep in his heart.

***

Though he arrived without notice, the doors of the Neyno townhouse opened easily for Adolf. Upon confirming his identity, the butler hurried him to the drawing room while dispatching someone to find the Count.

“What is Count Neyno doing?”

“He went to inspect the greenhouse. It’s a place Lady Aria particularly loved, so it’s undergoing renovations. He will be here shortly.”

Since he had arrived unannounced, it was only proper to exercise the virtue of waiting, but Adolf’s eyes remained frozen shut with coldness. Sensing that something was deeply wrong, the butler scrambled out to fetch refreshments.

A moment later, Count Neyno entered.

“What brings you here without a word? Did you come to set the wedding date?”

Not long ago, the Count’s face had been gaunt from a failing business, but now it was practically slick with prosperity. Seeing this, Adolf maintained his calm and presented the recording stone.

“What is this?”

“Look and see for yourself.”

As Count Neyno watched the recording, his expression slowly disintegrated.

A woman dressed as a maid had her red hair covered with a kerchief, but no matter how one looked at it, it was Aria. And standing before Aria was a man holding a baby.

“How is the plan going?”

“A legitimate child suddenly appeared… but don’t worry. I’ll make sure our child is adopted into that family. No matter what it takes.”

Aria, looking incredibly piteous, stroked the head of the child the man was holding. Her expression was thick with worry, contrasting with the baby’s bright smile.

“There’s a legitimate heir. Do you think they’ll really adopt?”

“I told you, it’s fine. I’ll find a way to erase that child from this world, or at least make sure he’s no longer fit for society. Once that happens, it’s only a matter of time before our child becomes Duke Cassius.”

Count Neyno’s face turned ashen as he heard and saw the exchange between Aria and the man.

“Ah, well…”

“How dare she try to harm my grandson and plant her own brat in his place! You knew, didn’t you? How could a father not know his own daughter had given birth!”

As Adolf spoke with a murderous smile, Count Neyno’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.

“N-now, listen. We… we are friends, aren’t we? For the sake of our bond, just once, please forgive…”

“If it were you, could you forgive a woman who tried to kill the precious grandson you found after six years just to seat her own child there? And since you, her father, look like an accomplice, surely you didn’t think I’d just let this slide?”

If they weren’t friends, Adolf would have taken the Count’s head right then and there. Calling upon an immense amount of patience, Adolf managed a chilling smile.

“To think things that aren’t even human hid behind human skin to deceive me and my son… I’m so dumbfounded that the words are just flowing out of me.”

There would be no secrets. Eventually, the truth would spread from mouth to mouth. Thus, Adolf spoke to his subordinates loudly enough for every servant in the Neyno household to hear.

“Recover everything we gave as part of the engagement. If it’s not enough, you’ll have to pay it back even if you have to sell your own scalp.”

When this news broke, Adrian’s reputation would surely take a hit. But for the sake of that reputation, marrying a woman who had plotted such a scheme was unthinkable.

“A-Adolf, please… just once… have mercy. I raised my daughter poorly…”

The Count, so fragile he looked like he might blow away in the wind, begged while clutching his wig. If nothing else, he couldn’t lose this. It was a true masterpiece, hand-woven stitch by stitch by a master craftsman.