Chapter 83

Chapter 83

Derek gazed at the couple busy preparing food. The sickly wife could only lean against the wall and tell her husband what to do, though she seemed to want to help him, anyway.

‘I’m sure… It’s Young Master’s aunt.

The joy that he had finally found the person he had been looking for and the anger at the person who tried to harm his master came at the same time. He clasped his hands tightly to hide this feeling. Without taking his eyes off the couple, he worked in his mind on what was to be done.

‘I’ll have to give the report to the Master soon.’

While reflecting that the post office in the village was handling the mail using a magic stone, a voice was heard.

“It will take a while. Please wait.”

The man he met at the hunting ground spoke, looking back at Derek as if he was taking a lot of time to prepare a mediocre meal.

“Take your time. By the way, we don’t even know each other’s names, so let’s introduce ourselves.”

Derek, who wanted to know their names, spoke.

“Ah… I am Gideon.”

Quickly, the man wiping the water off his hand turned to him to shake his hand. Derek, who held his hand, also shared his pseudonym.

“I’m Den.”

It was just in case. He hoped that Brielle’s aunt’s name would also be introduced. However, when nothing was said, he stepped out again and asked.

“What about your wife?”

“…She’s called Finn.”

After a moment’s silence, he answered.

It was obvious it was a pseudonym.

At that, he nodded his head but looked over his face to see if Gideon knew she was using a pseudonym. Seeing that there was not much commotion, it seemed that they were deceiving people together, or that he knew her real name was just Finn.

“Now, we just need to cook the stew.”

Gidein moved back to the kitchen while Derek sat down and waited for the food to be finished.

Eventually, the smell of stew filled the house, and the three of them were seated at the table.

“I don’t have anything set up, but I hope you enjoy it.”

Although there were only a few pieces of food on the table, they did the best they could to prepare a dish.

Derek picked up a spoon and started the stew.

“…Delicious.”

The couple, who had only watched him eat, began to eat themselves as if relieved at that time.

“How long have you been living here?”

Meanwhile, he continued the conversation in a way so it wouldn’t seem suspicious.

“It’s been about nine years.”

Gideon answered Derek’s question.

“You seem to have been married for quite some time…”

“Yes, but because of the situation, we can’t raise a proper ceremony and were just living together.”

At that moment, Derek was puzzled.

‘Didn’t Brielle’s aunt come out with the money? Why, in a family that is in such a good situation…’

“How long are you going to stay here?”

While Derek was puzzled, Gideon asked a question this time.

“I think I will be here for two more months.”

“I see. If you have any inconveniences or questions about the town, please come to us anytime.”

Nodding his head at his words, Derek started eating again.

* * *

Kentrail walked down the hallway.

Today, the hallway towards his office seemed quieter. The maids were not allowed to enter this place unless it was time to clean, and the officials didn’t look for him unless they had a job, so he was alone the entire time he walked down the hallway.

As he entered the floor of Brielle’s room, he felt the air in his mansion completely changed. In addition to the sound of Brielle’s laughter from afar, the faces of the employees walking here were also bright.

A small smile appeared on his face as well.

“Hey, Ellie!”

He was having a good time with Ellie, but after the sound of ‘taktak,’ Brielle’s voice echoed again. The sound was lovely to hear, so he stood in front of the child’s room for a while and then knocked.

“Yes!”

The door swung open with a bright voice.

“Huh? Uncle!”

His hair was clinging with sweat showing how much fun he had played.

“Did you have fun?”

“Yes. I was playing with Ellie.”

“Count.”

As he turned his gaze, Ellie greeted him.

After stroking the two children’s heads, he entered the room. There was a piece of paper he had never seen before. It was folded into a straight, square shape.

“Were you doing this?”

“Yes. It’s a ddakji*. Marie told me.

Brielle showed his uncle to do it. However, the ddakji that he had hit did not move.

[ T/N: A Korean version of the Pogs(?) game, so it’s usually made with paper that is folded into a square and you use it to hit another person’s piece till it flips around. ]

“Hmm. I’m not good at it, so I’ve already lost twice to Ellie.”

Kentrail laughed as he understood the rules as he watched the children play.

“Brielle, more so because you made the ddakji so plump.”

“But, I want to make it quickly and play with it, so I keep making it like that.”

He was concerned that Brielle had gone to the garden with a depressed expression for a while to talk with Marie, and he could see that all the depression had gone away, so the child and Ellie were playing again.

‘What a relief…’

At that moment, Ellie, who was playing with Brielle, got up and handed Kentrail a ddakji.

“Hmm?”

“Try it. I’ll bring you orange juice.”

When Kentrail accepted the ddakji, the child went out without answering. It seemed that she made time for just the two of them, for him to talk with Brielle.

“Come on, uncle, try it.”

At Brielle’s invitation, Kentrail raised one of his arms and slammed it down. Then, his nephew’s ddakji was turned over so easily.

“I lost to uncle. too.”

Angered, Brielle pounded his feet.

“Then, make it properly again with uncle. Don’t let it get turned.” He said as he hugged and comforted his nephew.

“Okay.”

And so, Brielle sat down next to him and started teaching him how to fold the ddakji.

“Brielle.”

“Hmm. Why?”

“Why were you so depressed before?”

At his question, the child stopped his hand that was folding the ddakji.

“Whoo.”

The next moment, he let out a deep sigh, not for his age.

“Uncle.”

“Yes.

It must have been a serious matter, so he made a firm expression at the same time.

“Marie… I don’t think we can become a real family.”

“What?”

Kentrail wondered if he was saying this, knowing that he couldn’t marry Marie.

“Actually, I wanted to marry Marie, but everyone said no. So, I talked to Ellie and she said that if Marie and uncle get married, we can become a family if possible.”

At those words, he was nervous. Then, why did he think that Marie couldn’t be part of the family…?

“Do you want uncle and Marie to marry?”

“Me and Marie can’t get married, that’s the only way for her to be a real family member. However, now it’s all wrong.”

“Why?”

As he looked at Brielle cautiously, at that moment, the child stared at him. He literally looked at himself from top to bottom.

“Uncle is good, too.”

“Yes?”

“Marie loved another man. If she’s like that, she can’t even marry Uncle!”

Kentrail was momentarily at a loss for words as Brielle huffed and puffed.

“Who did you hear it from, Brielle?”

“I heard from Marie! What has uncle been up to?!”

Hearing only the scolding from Brielle, he had to leave the room with a bewildered expression. He was contemplating how to tell his nephew about his relationship with her, but the story took a strange turn.

* * *

“What?”

Marie began to laugh as she heard Kentrail who was sitting by her side on the garden bench.

‘Anyway, the Young Master is cute, too.’

When he said that, Brielle glanced him up and down, she laughed as she slapped Kentrail’s arm, “Did you really say you like other men than me?”

Even though he thought it couldn’t be, he asked a silly question to assure himself.

“Doesn’t the Count know my heart best?”

Marie put her lips to his cheek.

“Not here.”

As soon as she laughed at his words, she approached him and then he moved away.

“I’ll take a chance and tell the Young Master this. The person I love is actually the Count.”

“I’ll tell Brielle that I love you as well.”

The two looked at each other and smiled sweetly.

Even though there were magic stones emitting light all around, only the appearance of each other was visible. The only thing that shone in their eyes was the appearance of each other.

* * *

In the dark dawn, Biddle finally went to the County.

His face was haggard from late work hours. Biddle, who had been guided into Kentrail’s office, looked at him with a face wet with emotion as soon as he saw him.

“Chancellor.”

“It’s been a while since I quit.”

Getting up and sat down on the sofa first, Biddle sat down after him.

“Please, come back.”

Then, as soon as he sat down, Biddle made an earnest request to him.

“You’re doing well without me, don’t exaggerate.”

“No! Look at my face.”

Kentrail asked, seeing Biddle, which was skinnier than he had been when under him, “What’s going on at the Royal Palace? This shouldn’t be such a busy time.”

“Ah…”

Biddle repeatedly opened and closed his lips. He wondered if it was okay to tell this to Kentrail, who had already left the palace.

“I’ve heard it, so you can tell me. Is it related to uncle?”

“…You’re right.”

He bowed his head and said. Apparently, it was embarrassing to gossip about someone who was Kentrail’s relative.

“It’s okay. Speak comfortably. It’s been a long time since I met my uncle.”

“…That’s—it seems like he has… His Majesty’s weakness.”

“Weakness…?”

Biddle, who had been contemplating whether it was okay to say anything, thought the King didn’t seem to be able to hold out for long at this rate. In the end, he confided everything he knew to Kentrail.

“His Majesty and uncle were alone together, and then he changed the policy?”

“Yes. So, I really need someone like Chancellor right now.”

Uttering so, he spoke with earnest eyes.

“Did you say that the chief attendant was near there?”

“I don’t know about that either. When Caveran came to see His Majesty, he told everyone to leave, so I left the palace.”

Kentrail’s eyes darkened.

‘I’ve had that happen before when conferring about Count Bent.’

While looking at the Kentrail, Biddle, who took a sip of the warm tea placed in front of him, continued the story, “The Queen was also looking for you because of this.”

“Yes?”

“Yes, I overheard the ladies-in-waiting, to not listen to Caveran and do what she wanted… what the hell is going on…”

“What about your job?”

“What?”

“If you had worked overtime, there would have been work.”

“Ah, yes.”

Biddle talked about his job.

‘Mainly, these are business policies closely related to Caveran.’

There were many rights, such as logging, mining rights, and trade rights.

‘It seems that uncle is determined to take a part in this… What’s the reason the king is being swept away? At this rate, there could be a significant loss to the national treasury.’

Kentrail, who sent Biddle back, did not look good.

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