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Chapter 4




Startled, I nodded repeatedly, and Seresia took a deep breath, suppressing her anger.
“Theo, why didn’t you have the wedding? Everyone was waiting.”
“It’s my second time, so what?”
Terdeau glanced out the window and muttered casually, but Seresia looked at me with suspicion.
“You might be fine, but it’s Perechati’s first time. ...Perechati, I’m sorry. This guy is so socially inept that he can’t even consider such things.”
“I’m fine.”
It’s not even the first time. The memory of my wedding with Siegfried before the regression made my face crumple. Seeing my expression, Seresia looked at me with pity. ...She seemed to have interpreted my expression as ‘I actually wanted to have the wedding.’
“I’m fine, and it was a mutual agreement.”
“Was it really a mutual agreement? Perechati made a concession. Theo, if you keep this up, I’ll tell everyone at the family gathering.”
“Ha, that’s why you suggested coming to the mansion together.”
Family gathering? I quickly recalled the people of the La Pierreon family in my mind.
‘Who’s there?’
I had heard countless times from Tifati that the La Pierreon family was full of ruthless people. Because I usually didn’t care, I couldn’t remember.
‘It’s not just the two of us in the family, right?’
Just imagining it sent shivers down my spine. There’s no way I could survive in such a jungle! Knock, knock. As I was shaking my head, the carriage suddenly stopped. The coachman knocked on the carriage door and said politely,
“Sir. We’ve arrived at Lord La Pierreon’s mansion, but there’s a commotion, so we can’t enter.”
Commotion? Now that I think about it, it does seem noisy outside.
“What’s going on?”
I leaned out the window and saw two people fighting at the entrance of the mansion.
“That’s...!”
It was Siegfried and a young boy.
‘Why is that crazy Siegfried here?’
And who is the young boy arguing with him? Shocked, I looked at Terdeau, who took this opportunity to get out of the carriage and extend his hand to me.
“Seresia, let’s go. We need to catch that noisy rat.”
“Do as you please. I came here to greet Perechati, not you.”
Terdeau, who stuck out his tongue, opened the carriage door and got out, reaching out his hand to me. I was about to take his hand when I turned to look at Seresia, who was still sitting elegantly.
“Thank you so much. And thank you for bringing me here.”
It’s important to express gratitude when you’re grateful. Seresia, surprised by my gratitude, smiled contentedly and laughed.
“Perechati, I like you. I’ll visit you formally soon.”
I nodded and took Terdeau’s hand to get out of the carriage. As the carriage drove away, Terdeau, who had been watching the two people arguing, asked calmly,
“Do you know them?”
“He’s someone I loved and who tried to kill me.”
“Oh. The man who wanted to kill you for the inheritance.”
We approached the entrance of the mansion, and the argument had intensified.
“Once is enough! Let me see him! I know everything, Sasha!”
“Do you know where you are? How dare a common knight come here and act like this?”
“I need to see Sasha!”
“Is it because you’re uneducated? You have no manners towards nobles.”
One of them was clearly Siegfried. The small boy standing against him was unknown to me.
“And ‘Perechati’ is supposed to be the future duchess, right? Show some respect. I’ve been lenient enough.”
“Sasha! It’s me, Siegfried! Sasha! Come out!”
That leech. Well, if he loses me, he’ll lose a huge inheritance, so he must be desperate. As I rolled up my sleeves and approached Siegfried, Terdeau held me back.
“I’ll handle it. You are now my wife and the Duchess of La Pierreon.”
“I’m fine, I can handle it. ...But who is that boy?”
Terdeau frowned, as if just noticing the boy.
“...Selphius has returned.”
“Huh?”
Selphius? If it’s Selphius...
“Selphius, the young master?”
The heir of the La Pierreon family, whom Terdeau had left in the countryside and neglected. Could that boy be Selphius? He was supposed to be in the outskirts for health reasons, so why is he here arguing with Siegfried? Just as I was about to step in to stop them, I heard the boy’s cold voice directed at Siegfried.
“Do you want to die? If you wish to die, I’ll gladly kill you.”
And in the blink of an eye, something happened.
“This is the punishment for insulting the House of La Pierreon.”
The boy, Selphius, took out a ruby earring and pricked his finger with the pin. Blood flowed out instantly.
“...Crazy!”
Knowing what it was, I cursed, and Terdeau quickly rushed forward.
‘Of course, that crazy guy deserves to die, but it’s a family secret!’
Siegfried, unaware of Selphius’s actions, turned his head towards the voice.
“Sasha!”
As Siegfried saw me and smiled, Terdeau grabbed Selphius’s finger.
“Your Highness...!”
Caught off guard by our sudden appearance, confusion spread across Selphius’s face. I quickly approached and tied up Selphius’s wound with my handkerchief to stop the bleeding.
“Wait, my blood...!”
“It’s fine.”
Selphius was startled when his blood touched my hand. As soon as I appeared, Siegfried, as if waiting, placed his hand on my shoulder and smiled.
“Sasha, let’s talk. Okay?”
The moment Siegfried’s hand touched my shoulder, Terdeau, who had been as stiff as a sheet of paper, twisted his hand viciously.
“Who dares to touch someone’s body so casually?”
“Aaaah!”
A murderous aura filled the air, as if Terdeau was about to kill Siegfried on the spot.
“L-let go!”
“Your words are short. I heard you’re a common knight. Do they not teach manners to nobles these days?”
Terdeau kicked the back of Siegfried’s knee, causing him to buckle. As I watched, Siegfried, whose eyes met mine, reached out to me.
“Sasha! Help me!”
It was as if he was certain I would help him. How ridiculous and stupid.
“Don’t show your face to me again.”
“S-Sasha...!”
“Isn’t losing the qualification for the Royal Knight promotion exam enough?”
Siegfried’s face twisted with anger.
“If you show your face to me again or call my name one more time, I’ll ruin everything you have.”
“...”
“If you’re curious, come and find me. I’ll show you what you could lose.”
I spoke each word with suppressed anger and turned around.
***
After returning to the mansion, Terdeau and Selphius went to the study to have a private conversation. They didn’t come out until dinner time, and only Terdeau came down to the dining room.
“What about the child?”
“He’s upset and refuses to eat.”
Terdeau sighed, looking tired, and sat opposite me. He looked at the cold food.
“I’m sending Selphius back to the countryside, so you don’t need to worry about him.”
I looked up at the floor where the child’s room was and asked,
“How old is he?”
“He’s nine this year.”
“Is he your child?”
I was told that his first marriage was his only marriage and that he didn’t have a honeymoon. Moreover, he divorced after only two months of marriage. There’s no way he could have such a big child. Terdeau, who was pouring red wine, paused.
“You’ve been a La Pierreon for a year, so you should know. Selphius is my brother’s son.”
Ah, that’s why he looks so much like you.
“Then what about your brother? Is he far away? So you’re taking care of him?”
“My brother is dead.”
Huh. His tone was so matter-of-fact that I gasped. Terdeau swirled his wine glass and continued.
“My sister-in-law abandoned the young Selphius and left. She wasn’t coming back, so I adopted my nephew and made him the heir.”
Such a story. The La Pierreon family had many secrets. I didn’t expect such a story. I stirred the soup awkwardly and stood up.
‘I can’t stand this awkwardness.’
“I’m going to bed.”
I hurriedly went up to the floor where the bedrooms were and saw a maid standing in front of a room, holding a tray, looking flustered. As I approached, the maid bowed.
“Your Highness, the Duchess.”
“What are you doing here? Whose room is this?”
I thought it was an empty room because the butler didn’t mention it when he showed me around the mansion.
“Oh... It’s Master Selphius’s bedroom.”
I looked at the closed door and the food the maid was holding.
“I brought dinner, but he won’t open the door.”
He must be quite upset. After all, he was scolded for hours as soon as he arrived in the capital.
“I’ll bring it in. You can go now.”
“Huh? But...”
“It’s fine.”
I gestured for her to leave with the tray, and the maid reluctantly left. I kicked the closed bedroom door hard.
Bang, bang. There was no response from inside. Bang! I kicked the door even harder. Surprised, the bedroom door opened abruptly.
“Who dares to... Oh?”
“Hi? Um... Selphius.”
I wasn’t sure if I should call him by his name without permission, but it felt strange to call him ‘young master’ after getting married.
“You’re still growing, so you need to eat.”
I pushed the stunned Selphius aside and entered the bedroom forcefully.
“Wait a moment.”
I placed the tray on the table, and Selphius closed the door and approached.
“I didn’t properly introduce myself earlier. I’m Perechati...”
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
Huh? Wasn’t he angry about being scolded? Selphius glanced at me and said in a low voice,
“If you feel like you’re going to die, let me know. I’ll call a doctor.”
How can you know if you’re going to die and tell me in advance?
‘Is this the innocence of a child?’
I smiled and patted Selphius’s shoulder.
“Got it. If I feel like I’m going to die, I’ll let you know.”
Selphius’s pupils dilated, and his lips turned pale as he stepped back.
“D-Did you just touch me?”
Huh? Does he dislike being touched? I lowered my hand, which had been hovering in the air, and tilted my head.
“Did it make you uncomfortable? I’m sorry. I’ll leave the food here, so eat...”
“Do you not know anything?”
“Huh?”
“The curse of the La Pierreon family.”
How could I not know? If I didn’t, it would be a fraudulent marriage.
“Of course, I know.”
“You touched me even though you know?”
“Is that not allowed?”
Selphius’s face hardened like a statue. His red eyes showed no emotion.
“You’re crazy.”
“Huh?”
“You could have died.”
Is this a warning or a threat?
“I’ll take it as a warning.”
“Do you think you have multiple lives? Are you trying to impress the Duke by acting so casually?”
It’s a threat, not a warning. Not knowing how to respond, I just laughed, and Selphius muttered,
“Run away now.”
“Run away?”
“If you need money, I can secretly get it for you. Escape from this hell.”
Selphius smiled bitterly. He’s only nine, right? That’s not a face a child should make.
“...Selphius, I’m fine.”
For some reason, I’m currently fine even if I drink blood. I was about to say that, but Selphius didn’t listen. He opened the bedroom door and gestured for me to leave.
“If you’re not going to run away, don’t show me any more interest.”
Just because I’m the heir of the La Pierreon family. His actions are just like Terdeau’s.
“Thanks for the warning.”
I clenched my teeth and left Selphius’s bedroom. Selphius watched me leave silently and then muttered softly,
“I’m sorry for startling you earlier.”
Bang. He closed the bedroom door with a cold expression as soon as he finished speaking.
‘Was that an apology or a dismissal?’
I glared at the closed bedroom door. A maid’s voice called out from behind.
“Your Highness, what are you doing?”
“Having a staring contest with the door.”
“What? ...Doors don’t have eyes.”
“I lost. ...Why are you calling me?”
The maid giggled, as if amused by my strange words.
“You have to perform the honeymoon tonight. I’ve prepared the bath, so I’ll take you there.”