Chapter 27

Chapter 27

The next day, Evan’s successorship class began.

It was originally planned to start in autumn, but Duke Icard ordered it to start right away. The class started suddenly, so Evan had to meet with his tutor all day long.

‘Ugh… it’s time to train his successor.’

Duke Icard worried that his son, the heir of the Duchy, could be easily swayed by his subordinates, so the education as the successor needed to start right away.

In the stuffy atmosphere, suddenly, a lot of presents were delivered to my room.

“What is this?”

Lisa answered carefully when I asked, puzzled.

“The Duke sent it.”

“Huh…?”

“That’s… isn’t it because Miss Laria wants to see the training, that’s why he sent all these presents?”

It was just Lisa’s guess, regardless, it was a pretty solid guess.

“It is said that all the items from the jewelry store where you stayed the longest were delivered to Miss Laria.”

I was speechless and sighed deeply.

He didn’t even think about the opinions or feelings of the recipient and sent me such a large amount of gifts…

“Let’s go and say thank you right now.”

I should heartily say my gratitude.

Lisa looked embarrassed when she picked her favorite accessories and put them in her hair.

“I’m afraid it’s difficult now.”

“Huh? Why?”

“He’s torturing that person in prison himself…”

“…Ah.”

“Why don’t you meet him later?”

I wanted to say thanks and press Evan so he could speak appropriately to him. “Then, when would that be possible?”

At this rate, time will go by, and it would be awkward to solve the essence of the problem!

“Well, wouldn’t it be possible in a few days?”

Lisa’s hunch was wrong.

That very night, I encountered Duke Icard.

“Oh, my God, he’s torturing him without even a single sip of water.”

Serena made a fuss.

“He’s asking them to kill him, but they’re not even killing him.”

“Umm, Serena…”

I tilted my head.

“How do you know that?”

Even if Serena was given a room, she was basically a doctor who commuted to work, anyway. So, I wondered how she knew all the circumstances around here better than I, who lived in the Duchy.

“Ah.”

Serena smiled brightly as if it were nothing.

“I’m a little close to a servant who works in prison…”

I didn’t even know where the prison was. She was truly amazing.

“Do you mind telling me who you are close with?”

“Well, it’s a little… we’re close… a little affectionately.”

She smiled awkwardly and evasively. I was sure she didn’t think of their relationship as ‘a little’ affectionate.

“By the way…”

The whole story about the incident Serena told me was really bitter.

The Knight Commander, Ludva, had a long crush on Matilda, so he did that.

“It’s not even Young Master Evan’s fault. It’s just that he’s a heartless coward. To do such things to a kid…”

“Evan knows everything about it?”

“Yes, there is no one in the Dukedom who doesn’t know, so I’m sure he knows as well.”

Serena added, troubled.

“But, it seemed like Young Master had some trauma left.”

“Trauma…?”

“Yes, the new knight-general, Mars, wore a blue uniform like Ludva for convenience, and he immediately found it difficult to breathe.”

“What?”

“Since then, Young Master Evan has asked me to do a few experiments, and… whenever he sees a person in a blue uniform as if he had run in the field for hours, he will sweat heavily and have hyperventilation.”

“Oh, my.”

I gripped my skirt tightly. Of course, he was hit like that, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was traumatized.

“Therefore, the Duke told everyone not to wear a blue uniform in front of Evan. Uh-huh. That odd-colored uniform was the suit of Ludva.”

…Evan didn’t tell me that.

Although I knew why he didn’t say it. He didn’t want to show his weakness.

“Still, how did you hear that? As Evan’s wife, I didn’t even know…”

“Umm, I’m a little affectionately close with one of the knights…”

Obviously, Serena wasn’t the deputy guild leader of the information guild for nothing.

Anyway, that night, Evan went to sword training as soon as he entered the room, saying he lost too much time in the meeting with his tutor and that he really was busy. So, I took the opportunity and secretly went to eat the fruit of the Oklasia tree.

It was the middle of the night, and the moon rose above. I sneaked out and headed to the greenhouse.

As I was about to return to my room after quickly picking and eating the Oklasia fruit, I suddenly spotted the back of Duke Icard in the distance.

‘Huh? That’s…’

He was on the side of the path that goes to the rose garden, a place the Duke never went to before.

‘Why is he alone at night?’

I was conflicted inside.

Should I go to sleep in my room and overcome my curiosity peacefully… or, should I secretly watch what’s going on?

‘What if I were caught sneaking behind the Duke after giving in to my curiosity?’

I heard the Duke excels at swordsmanship, so there’s no way he won’t notice my insignificant presence.

‘But…’

I pondered for a moment and chose the third choice.

“Father!”

Duke Icard, who was heading to the rose garden, slowly looked back at me.

“Laria?”

“Where are you going in the middle of the night?”

“Where are you going in the middle of the night.”

“When I woke up, Evan wasn’t there.”

I grinned as I stood next to him. “And, since I couldn’t fall back asleep, I came out to look for him, and I saw father! It’s nice to meet you here!”

“What do you—”

“Aren’t you glad to see me?”

I tried my best to start a chat, putting all my soul and effort into it.

“You’re even more handsome at night! It would be great if Evan took after his father.”

‘Once I start flattering, it’s never halfway. I don’t see why I couldn’t say objective facts even after selling my endorphins.’

At my natural-honey-like words, Duke Icard’s facial muscles began to loosen.

“I really appreciate your gift. Thank you.”

“What.”

“Though… send Evan something, too.”

“Evan already has a lot of money to spend, compared to you.”

“No, still…”

“If you feel a little bothered, I’ll raise your budget a little more.”

It was a strangely incoherent conversation. Money wasn’t the problem right now.

“I’ve heard rumors, saying that he has panic attacks in front of someone in a blue uniform… I’m worried there’s too much trauma left.”

“That’s why I told everyone not to wear a blue uniform in front of Evan.”

Duke Icard spoke calmly.

“The only Knights in the capital wearing blue uniforms are the Knights of Count Allya, and I already talked to them to change uniforms.”

It wasn’t the correct way to treat trauma, it was rather a way to bury it…

“Of course, we paid for it.”

He added hastily after he noticed my uncomfortable expression.

That wasn’t the problem…

I didn’t think the conversation would go well, so I gave up any further persuasion and just turned the subject around.

“Daddy, but this is…”

“This is where Matilda loved the most.”

Duke Icard sighed in a low voice.

“I thought of Matilda more often today.”

I stared at him and said, “Evan… he feels so guilty.”

“But, he is growing well now.”

Even at my words, Duke Icard answered indifferently.

“I heard he did a good job at the Academy, he’s a good swordsman, and he’s also taking succession lessons.”

I objected immediately.

“Nonetheless, that doesn’t exactly mean he’s growing well. He lives with a broken heart.”

‘He’s clinging on to me because he’s emotionally unstable.’

I conveyed again, trying to express that he and his son should get along better.

“Evan thinks he ruined everything, even though it’s not Evan’s fault. It’s not just about the training of successors, and I don’t think we should leave him like this…”

“I know.”

‘You can’t act like this if you know!’

“I know I’m doing wrong to Evan, and I know I’m doing something wrong as well.”

He murmured in a miserable voice. “…If I could go back again, I want to be a perfect father to Evan from the very beginning.”

His voice clearly contained sincerity, so I quickly stepped in.

“Then, right now—”

Duke Icard cut me off and continued.

“A few words won’t solve all the negligence so far. We’ve already come too far.”

Well, that was true.

“Though if you think about it, it’s late, well, it’s too late, but…”

“Anyway, those problems will all be solved in the end.”

“What?”

“If I do well, I can turn everything back.”

It was as if he was speaking to himself, not me.

“Evan and I, we’ll be happy in the end. That’s one essential resolution.”