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“Bring my faithful servant, Sir Lucas, back here.”
When the emperor gave such an order, Hayren almost frowned without him realizing it.
The emperor truly missed that idiot who left the empire and gave up his power. So the emperor periodically sent people, but only rejections came in return.
“So this time I’m asking you, Sir Hayren. After all, aren’t you two close friends?”
The emperor seemed to think it was better to send him than someone completely unrelated to that idiot man.
But in reality, they aren’t even friends, and their relationship isn’t very good.
Hayren pondered over how to refuse. However, none of the words of refusal worked for the emperor.
‘So stubborn.’
Hayren struggled to hold back the less noble words he wanted to say. And he received the emperor’s letter instead.
‘Yes, let’s think of it as a trip.’
He tried to think so and prepared for the long journey. But coincidentally, his daughter Rosaline came to see him just then. Where did she hear the story from?
Rosaline is a child born after killing her mother.
Hayren was married to his wife, it wasn’t a bad relationship, but it wasn’t good either.
So he wasn’t sad when she died leaving a child behind. He was only sad to see his newborn child.
‘This child has no talent.’
After obtaining and using the precious spirit stone for her and feeding her all the good things, the only thing she can handle is Undine, a low-level water spirit.
It was not even properly summoned in a mansion optimized for the spirit of fire because it was at odds with the spirits Hayren handled.
Still, she was born beautiful enough like her mother and could later be used to marry into another family, but that’s all.
Even though Rosaline tried desperately, she didn’t come into Hayren’s eyes.
‘I need a child with outstanding qualities.’
For the Weatherfield family to be more prosperous and last longer, a child besides Rosaline was needed. So, he searched here and there to find a child with the power of an Elementalist.
However, even when he brought in outstanding children and visited them, none of them fell short of his expectations.
‘You know what?’
I found such a child here now. Although the burn scar on his face is somewhat intrusive, it could be healed if he wanted to.
Lucas was desperately against it, but he wasn’t worried.
“He said that woman is his mother?”
Apparently, Ronschka followed his mother well. If so, don’t I just need to convince that woman instead?
There is no one in the world who cannot be bewitched by him. He just needs to use his gold, his power, or his good looks if that doesn’t work.
Hayren knows what power he has better than anyone.
He can give anything one wants. Because he has never seen anyone reject it all.
“It just made things easier,” Hayren muttered confidently.
With so many cards at his disposal, there’s no way he could fail to convince Ronschka’s mother.
It was then. A girl’s low voice rang out.
“Father.”
It seemed the maid had bathed her and even taken care of her. She’s in much better shape.
“Yes, Rosaline.”
Rosaline is one of those cards.
She is the only daughter of the Marquis of Weatherfield. Isn’t it so tempting to marry the daughter of such a historic family and become the next head of the family?
Of course, he would offer something a little smaller first.
“Tsk, you got a scar on your face too.”
Touching her gauze-covered cheek, Rosaline replied, “This is fine.”
“No. No, Rosaline. I told you not to hurt your face. Do you think this is what a noble lady looks like?”
“I’m sorry.”
Rosaline put on a sad expression, but Hayren didn’t care much. Because Rosaline is a calm and obedient child.
Only for that reason.
* * *
This time Adele woke up a little earlier. She was punched by a warlock but suffered no internal injuries because Lucas blocked the magic with his body.
Besides, unlike when she was injured by a bear, Adele was in better health. Because she ate and slept properly in the mansion.
As soon as Adele opened her eyes, she saw Ronschka right next to her.
Ronschka stood still, staring at Adele with an unreadable expression. He doesn’t cry or scream, but she knows how he feels.
“I’m sorry,” said Adele.
She tried to sacrifice herself, telling Ronschka to stay alive.
Even if she went back to that moment, she would make the same choice, but that did not make the wounds Ronschka had suffered go away.
I said I will make you happy. I’m sorry I keep upsetting you.
Adele said again with all her heart, “I’m so sorry, Ronschka.”
“Don’t do that next time.”
Ronschka added firmly, “Never do that.”
“I’ll try.”
“Promise me, don’t try.”
“I’m sorry, Ronschka.”
“Why are you apologizing?”
Because nothing is absolute in this world.
Adele would do the same next time if Ronschka was in danger and she could throw herself to save him.
But on the other hand… how would Ronschka feel if his mother got injured or died trying to save him?
She couldn’t even imagine. That’s why she wanted to apologize.
“Don’t apologize.”
Ronschka gently hugged Adele, letting his tears fall.
* * *
Lucas looked into the open door and saw the sight.
Even though he knew he shouldn’t be like this, he listened to everything in silence like a stone statue.
It was true that Adele had abused Ronschka in some way. She also admitted it.
But the longer they spent together, the more he realized,
‘She wants to change.’
Not that he condones Adele’s sins, it’s Ronschka who has the right to do so.
He had merely projected his mother onto Adele.
A mother who never changes. A mother who thought of him as a tool and didn’t give him a shred of love until the last moment.
But Adele is different from his mother. I think I can trust her a little bit now.
Lucas smiled faintly as he looked at the small package in his hand.
He roughly treated his wounds and immediately investigated why this happened. And he found out the reason.
The warlock didn’t kidnap the children with a specific purpose. He just needed a test subject, and unfortunately, it was his disciples who were caught.
There was one thing he learned in the process of gathering and researching the information. The reason Adele went out was to buy a present.
‘It must be for Ronschka.’
His guess was correct. Soon after, he also learned that Ronschka’s birthday is just around the corner.
So Adele had to go out to buy Ronschka a birthday present.
Fortunately, the owner of the store is not a bad person, he picked it up and kept it.
Now I have to give this back to Adele without Ronschka’s knowledge.
Let’s say I gave her the present, then what should I say about Hayren?
Whatever Hayren would offer would be too good to refuse. The trust between Lucas and Adele isn’t deep enough either. Will Adele listen to what Lucas has to say?
Lucas took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
“Rest more for a while?”
Adele blinked at the sudden order. Yes, I am sick, but not that bad.
I could be up and walking around right away. I still can do work. It’s just a matter of sorting out the documents anyway.
Adele asked again carefully, “Why?”
Where should I begin? Lucas arranged the story.
“In the Empire, there is an Elementalist family called Weatherfield. The current head of the family is a man named Hayren, but he covets Ronschka.”
“Wouldn’t it be great if it’s an Elementalist family?”
“Usually it would be. But Hayren is a snake. Of course, I am not asking you to believe everything I say.”
Often a person really hates another person. But not all that hate has a reason. Sometimes humans can hate others for absurd reasons.
So Lucas didn’t ask her to believe what he said.
“But I want you to think about it a little more calmly. I’ll bring you the document on the Weatherfield and Hayren.”
Adele thought it was strange for Lucas to say that.
He saved her and Ronschka, and let them live in his mansion. Besides, Lucas always treated Ronschka with sincerity.