Chapter 24

Chapter 24

As soon as Elena discovered Lexion and Killian, she had an ominous feeling.

So she hurriedly followed the two boys.

She was afraid that Killian might do something bad to Lexion, so she followed.

But as soon as she reached the front of the terrace, Killian’s cruel voice was heard.

“Things like you…should die.”

As if to kill the child, the eerie voice caused Elena’s feet to move.

She frantically went inside and stopped in front of Killian.

“No!”

At the same time she cried out, cold liquid splashed over her head.

“… El– Elena?”

Killian called out to Elena, stupefied. The sound of Lexion, who was behind her, gasping for breath was also heard.

“Ah…”

Her sigh flowed out.

‘Do you even do things like this? Did you even have to do this on Lexion’s birthday?’

“You are really bad.”

Elena smiled sadly at Killian.

His face, which had been stained with astonishment, gradually contorted.

“Elena!”

When Killian was about to say something.

The tailing Jane called for Elena in a hoarse voice.

Her scream attracted the attention of everyone in the party hall.

The music band stopped, and the startled Jane ran toward Elena.

“Elena, are you okay?!”

Jane hastily pulled out her handkerchief and wiped Elena’s face. Elena smiled at her.

“It’s okay.”

When the muffled voice was heard, Elena raised her head while a group of nobles began gathering.

“What is this ruckus about?!”

Then Duke Halos appeared through the crowd.

He quickly grasped the situation by looking at Elena, Killian, and Lexion.

Duke Halos’ gaze hardened.

After understanding the situation, he approached Elena in an instant.

Then he took off his own jacket and put it on her.

Then his gaze sharply turned to Killian.

“Killian. You must have forgotten what I said to you.”

Instantly, Killian shuddered.

Coldness dripped from his voice, making the people around the Duke nervous.

Grim silence descended on the terrace.

A few seconds later, Duke Halos spoke to Jane.

“Jane, take Elena to her room.”

* * *

On the way back to the main building, to her room, Jane supported Elena.

Elena said it was alright, but Jane didn’t want to leave Elena’s side.

“But what the hell is going on? Why did Killian say to Elena….”

Elena contemplated for a moment as to how far she should explain to Jane. Eventually, she told Jane the truth.

From Killian’s abuse of Lexion to today’s.

Jane’s expression would periodically change as she listened to her story.

Astonishment, surprise, and even her admiration for Elena.

“Elena, you are amazing. For Sir Lexion’s sake, you would jump in without hesitation!”

“Not to that extent. I just did it because he was pitiful as a child.”

“Nevertheless. How hard it is not to ignore injustice.”

Jane smiled softly, and then she hardened her expression.

“By the way, Master Killian must have been such a person… It seemed coercive and violent to me too. I didn’t expect it to be like this.”

“I know, right? I didn’t even know he could do that.”

As Elena was talking with Jane, they eventually arrived at her room.

“Jane, you can go back to the party.”

“But Elena, is it really fine for you to be left alone?”

She worriedly asked.

Elena nodded.

“It’s okay. It’s just champagne.”

“… However–”

“I am really fine. Now, I want to be alone.”

“I understand.”

After Jane left with a somber face, Elena went into the bathroom.

As soon as she entered the mansion, she asked the maids to prepare her bath.

Seeing Elena’s appearance, the maids reacted the same way Jane did.

“Oh, my lady! What is this?!”

“Oh goodness! Are you alright?”

After Elena told her maids that she was okay three times, she was finally able to take a bath.

Following today, her maids took care of Elena more carefully.

After her bath, her maids also dried Elena’s hair and brought her a change of clothes.

Thanks to her maids, she changed into her comfortable nightwear and lay down on her bed.

It seemed like nothing much occurred at the party, but a lot of things did happen.

That was why her body was exhausted.

When Elena thought about whether she should sleep like this. A knock was heard.

“Come in.”

At the sound of the door slowly opening, Elena raised her body.

Then, Lexion came in with tears welling up.

“… Sister.”

Lexion sniffed; his tears were about to be shed at any moment.

She was startled, Elena got out of bed and walked over to Lexion.

“Lexion. Why are you crying?”

“Huh!”

At her question, the child eventually burst into tears.

What was so sad was when he loudly cried out, his tears poured out like a chick losing his mother.

It was sad to see him like that, so when she hugged him, Lexion came into her arms and wept bitterly.

After several minutes of weeping, Lexion stopped crying.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

As Elena stooped down to the child’s eye level, Lexion started apologizing, his eyes bloodshot.

“It’s okay.”

“But because of me, my brother… ugh.”

“Everything’s good.”

“I– I should be the one. Why instead of me… Every time– you… ugh.”

“No, Lexion. Lexion shouldn’t be harmed anymore. No, Killian can’t hit anyone.”

“Ugh, I’m sorry. I’m too small. I have no strength.”

Lexion cried harder before Elena.

Elena held the child in her arms again and comforted him.

* * *

He was held in Elena’s arms, but Lexion couldn’t easily stop his tears.

Elena said she would always show up whenever he was having a hard time and would save him.

But today, she even got drenched in champagne on his behalf.

And he was small and feeble, and he himself did nothing.

She always helped him, but he never really helped her.

He hated himself like that.

He hated it so much that he wanted to go to sleep.

Growing bigger than his older brother, he wanted to overcome his older brother and protect Elena.

This was what Lexion hoped for.

May the wish he prayed for on the first snowy day would come true as soon as possible.

Hopefully, he would soon grow up, so that he could protect Elena.

* * *

Midnight. Duke Halos’ office.

Duke Halos, who sat at the top, looked at his stupid son with cold eyes.

Lexion’s birthday banquet abruptly ended due to the commotion.

And Killian, the culprit, his hands trembled under his father’s stone-cold gaze.

“Killian.”

In the heavy silence, the Duke’s mouth opened.

“Yes, Father.”

“You disregarded what I said.”

“Sorry.”

Killian immediately bowed his head and apologized, but the Duke’s eyes were still frosty.

“Is it that difficult to keep from causing an unnecessary fuss?”

“… No.”

“Then why did you do that?”

Duke Halos was quietly furious.

His stupid son poured champagne on Elena’s head, not anyone else, at Lexion’s birthday party, not anywhere else.

It tarnished the Duke’s reputation.

The child that Duke Halos praised and boasted about until his mouth was worn out was Elena.

She was supported by him, a promising child when it came to magic.

And Killian blatantly disgraced such a child.

What the heir of the Duke has done would be widely spread among the aristocrats.

The Duke’s successor poured champagne on the wizard sponsored by the Duke.

It must be because he was jealous of the wizard, and so on.

Absurd rumors would spread.

It was something the Duke of Halos despised the most.

Nevertheless, his stupid son did it.

“Blinded by jealousy, have you forgotten my words? Killian.”

“Sorry. I’m sorry, Father.”

Killian confessed his sins one after another, but the Duke of Halos didn’t plan to listen.

“What should I do with you?”

Killian’s eyes widened at the subsequent voice. An ominous feeling came from his already sensitive nerves.

“I’m wrong, Father. I’m sorry. I will never do that again.”

Killian profusely apologized, fearing that his father would bring up the story of reconsidering the “heir”, like in the banquet hall.

Then the boy knelt before his father.

He bowed his head and incessantly begged.

“Give me one last chance. I will never do that again.”

Duke Halos looked down at his son.

Last chance.

No matter how stupid he was, he was part of his bloodline.

His anger would fade, but in the end, he would have to bend his arms inward.

Therefore, the Duke decided to give him one last chance at a set time.

“This is the last time. There will be no other chance.”

* * *

The day after the party, Elena started her day in a good mood.

She had a lot of ups and downs yesterday, so she was worn out, leading her to sleep soundly.

She woke up refreshed after a long time.

After she stretched and had a quick breakfast, she headed to the library.

No, she left her room and went to the Duke’s office.

The butler came and reported that the Duke was looking for her.

So she turned right into his office.

When Elena reached the office, she stood there for a moment before knocking.

She didn’t know why, but for some reason, she became nervous when she was about to face the Duke.

Especially because of the coldness she saw at the party yesterday.

‘I’ll have to go in though.’

Knock— 

When she knocked, her cluttered thoughts cleared.