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Dominic ignored Fabian and headed to the bed.
“Uncle Dominic always seems to be ignorant of politeness. I don’t know how such a figure came from the historic family of grand duchy Laurent,” Heloise patted the fan and whispered to Fabian.
A strong perfume scent was carried by the fan, and Fabian turned his head and spoke to his aunt and uncle, “How did you get here so quickly?”
“As soon as I heard the news last night, I went straight to the station. These days, it is easy to get on the train.”
Valerie said mixedly annoyed, “I thought I would run out of breath because I was in such a hurry.”
Fabian grinned, “How did you hear the news so soon?”
It was Dominic who answered instead of Valerie, “I am also the son of this family. There are plenty of people who reported to me about urgent news like this. Father is about to die, so shouldn’t the one remaining son take care of this position?”
It was an arrogant tone.
But to Fabian, his intention was clearly visible.
He must have rushed to get the inheritance.
When the Grand Duke dies, they are the ones who will check the will before closing the coffin lid.
“Is that so?”
Fabian smiled, raising one corner of his mouth.
Dominic said, “The old man who had been well cared for suddenly collapsed like this, didn’t he get poison in his food?”
“Stop guessing useless things.”
As Fabian hardened his face, Heloise quickly crossed her arms and intervened in a charming tone.
“Mother, uncle. Why would Brother Fabian do such a thing? If grandfather dies, uncle will become the Grand Duke anyway, so there’s no point in Brother Fabian doing that.”
Fabian frowned.
Valerie rushed to grab Heloise and dragged her.
“Heloise, didn’t I tell you not to go near a person who is not even a real noble? Since your socialite debut is over, now you are a full-fledged lady, so watch your words.”
“But mother, we are cousins. My brother Fabian is offended.”
“Don’t even call him brother.”
Fabian didn’t even blink an eye even though he was talked about by the people in front of him as if they were ignoring him.
Because it wasn’t just once or twice.
He just wondered if these annoying relatives would quickly shut up.
Valerie sat Heloise in the chair far away from Fabian and muttered in a passing tone, “By the way, what about the will?”
Dominic’s eyes lit up when he heard that word.
He said to the butler who was standing quietly in the corner, “Butler, can I read the will now? It doesn’t look like the old man will ever get back up so don’t waste your time needlessly, reveal it quickly and drive out that bastard Fabian.”
Dominic without hesitation called the Grand Duke an old man.
His loud voice resounded in the bedroom.
However, the butler’s answer was different from Dominic’s expectations.
“His Highness the Grand Duke has recently rewritten his will. As usual, we cannot disclose the contents of the matter until it is confirmed that he has passed away.”
In an instant, the room became quiet.
Fabian was surprised as well.
He, too, had no idea that the will was recently rewritten.
At the time that people are speechless, the doctor who was watching the Grand Duke carefully exclaimed, “Excuse me, when you’re done, please leave this room. The same goes for Young Master Fabian. His Highness the Grand Duke absolutely needs rest.”
All the relatives went out, and Fabian was the last to get out of the Grand Duke’s bedroom.
Outside the bedroom, a familiar man was waiting for him.
“Fortus.”
When Fabian called Fortus—or Poe— he quickly approached.
Fabian handed him a pile of papers.
“Please take care of this for now. I guess I’ll have to go see my lovely relatives.”
“Okay.”
Fabian thanked him with a wink of his eyes.
Just as he was about to go to the parlor, Fortus opened his mouth.
“I thought you were out of your mind so I didn’t tell you, but I think you should know this. Lady Blick asked for bandages and medicines, so I gave them away.”
Fabian raised one of his eyebrows.
Bandages and medicines?
“Is it for Lady Marcia? There was a slight lameness in her leg, but it didn’t seem like a serious injury, or is it her sister?”
“She didn’t say who it was. She didn’t even ask me to call a doctor but the number of medicines and bandages she asked for was too much.”
“What medicines did she ask for?”
“She asked for anything for trauma treatment.”
Fabian wrinkled lightly between his eyebrows.
Whether it was the older sister or the younger sister who was injured, it seems that one of them was seriously injured.
Did you get hurt overnight?
‘Otherwise, you have been enduring the pain.’
The reason you didn’t ask for a doctor was probably that you heard that the life of the owner of this mansion was at stake.
You must have guessed that all the medical staff would try to prolong the life of the Grand Duke.
Fabian bit his tongue lightly and asked, “Are there any other special items?”
Fortus shook his head.
“According to the maids who took care of them, neither of the two ladies came out of the guest room. The maids only brought bandages and medicines when they delivered breakfast to the room. There was no suspicious movement at all.”
“Okay.”
For a moment, Fabian, who was suspicious of Marcia, frowned.
In fact, he offered a bed to a stranger, out of pure goodwill but also out of suspicion.
Marcia’s words and actions were questionable and her purpose was also unclear. Rather than just sending her away, he tried to investigate her with his kindness as an excuse.
But she is a woman who didn’t even know who the Grand Duke was until yesterday.
She had no way of being involved in this.
“Bellman will have a hard time. Tell him to call another doctor from outside.”
“Okay.”
“And do a follow-up just in case.”
“I have already sent someone.”
“Good job.”
Fortus bowed his head lightly and backed away.
Fabian also took a step back.
But a man was standing in his way at the front of the hallway leading to the parlor.
It was Richard Laurent, Dominic’s son.
He had just turned fifteen, a handsome boy with black coriander hair and blue eyes.
He must have inherited Laurent’s blood thickly. His straight limbs and his height, despite being quite large for his age, were evidence of that.
“Hello? Those bright red eyes that don’t even look like humans are still there.”
Richard started talking while holding back his laughter.
Fabian glanced at him once and ignored him.
“It still looks like a witch’s son pretending to be a real grandson. If you have magical power or something, you can put it to good use for other things.”
“……”
Richard scolded him on the back.
“Do you think I don’t know your intention to obtain the title of Grand Duke which should belong to my father? It seems that you persuaded grandfather to rewrote his will as well.”
Fabian said without looking back, “When you’ve finished talking, shut your mouth and go in quietly and look at your grandfather’s face one more time. In the future, there may not even be a chance.”
Richard shrugged his shoulders, looking at Fabian’s back as he strode forward and disappeared toward the parlor.
***
Grand Duke Laurent did not make it through the night after all.
He died surrounded by his children and grandchildren, but no one worried or felt sorry for him.
All attention was focused on who the next Grand Duke would be and how the inheritance would be distributed.
“The Will will be presented tomorrow morning by the family’s lawyer.”
At the butler’s words, the relatives left the room.
Fabian was the only one who had his heart warmed for a while as he looked down at the face of the deceased Grand Duke.
He hated his grandfather for a long time, but at the same time, he realized that he loved him.
‘Grandpa, I am sorry, but I will become the Grand Duke at any cost and destroy this family.’
He looked at the calm face of the deceased Grand Duke for a moment and continued, “Even if I get blood on my hands.”
***
The next day, as soon as the family’s lawyer arrived at the mansion, all the Laurents gathered in the Grand Duke’s office.
It was the place to announce the will of the deceased Grand Duke.