CH 294

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Duke Daniel's gaze on the window turned to the closed door.

The rumbling footsteps he was hearing suddenly stopped.

The Duke lifted his chin and took a deep breath.

As if he was predicting the future to come.

Click.

The doorknob turned with a sharp sound. Soon after, knights of the Royal Knights came inside in a row.

"It seems His Highness has deceived me."

Duke Daniel spoke to himself and slowly looked around.

Soon, a familiar face crossed the group and approached him.

"Long time no see."

"I don't think we have the kind of relationship to express our greetings."

"How could I be so rude to my father-in-law, whom I haven't seen in a long time?"

As he finished speaking, Kyle let out a small snort at the Duke.

"It looks like you still can't figure out the situation. Take him."

With Kyle's sharp voice, the Duke was surrounded by knights.

"The ignorant royal family will never be able to beat me."

Duke Daniel's eyes sparkled as he rolled up the corners of his mouth.

It meant he was already incapable of making rational judgments.

What made him turn into such a monster?

Kyle's gaze, cold as ice, followed the Duke.

The image of Delia, who had passed away, overlapped with the Duke's face.

"If you run that arrogant mouth one more time, I'll kill you."

Kyle said, roughly pulling the Duke's collar.

His dark brown eyes, which had turned somber, had a threatening mood.

***

It was a day like any other. The sun went down, and the moon rose in its place.

The green leaves turned red, and the hot and humid weather had become quite cold.

During the harvest season, Arin Square was more vibrant than ever and filled with ripe fruit and ingredients.

A man covered with a robe walked among the noisy people and slowly crossed the street.

Soon after, the tall man's steps hesitated, and he stood in front of a fruit shop.

Even though a guest had come, a commoner woman who seemed to be the owner was in the middle of a chat with a nearby merchant.

"Bella, did you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"Well… I heard that the Crown Princess Consort didn't commit suicide."

"Oh my, she didn't commit suicide? It's been five years. Was that not true?"

"That's right. I was really surprised too."

"If it wasn't a suicide, what was it?"

The two commoner women facing each other whispered with twinkling eyes.

The man looked at the fruits carefully placed in the stall, as if he were picking something.

"She was killed. By the Duke…"

"Hey, don't say something so horrible. No matter how crazy the world turns, how can a parent touch their child."

"But it's the truth! Have you ever seen me talking nonsense? My nephew, who works in the Royal Palace, came out and told me."

"Oh my, then, the knights who came to the Duke's mansion a while ago…"

The woman named Bella blurred her words and gazed at the man who was picking fruit.

The man was busy looking at the products as if he wasn't interested in the conversation between the two of them.

It was necessary to be careful as it was an incident that could cause a lot of trouble if they talked about it recklessly.

Bella's eyes squinted in response to the man's apathetic attitude.

He didn't seem to be interested in whatever the middle-aged woman did or said.

The owner lowered her voice to Bella and continued.

"But what's even more surprising… The Duke was also involved in the King's current condition."

"How much is this?"

The young man wearing a robe asked the owner.

"I was right at the best part…"

The owner pouted and muttered to herself.

Soon after, she gave a businesslike smile, dusting off the apron she was wearing around her waist.

"You made a good choice, young man. Fruit is very delicious these days. Let's see… One apple would be five copper coins."

"Five copper coins…"

The man, who was chewing on the woman's words, searched the clothes he was wearing.

Judging from his appearance, he seemed to have been living a wandering life and venturing into remote places.

"Do you have… money?"

The owner pressed her mouth in disapproval.

Giggle.

Instead of answering, the man gave her a small smile and held out his fist.

Behind the large shadow, the two silver coins placed on the stand shone subtly.

***

Crunch.

As the owner said, the ripe apple was very sweet.

Sitting under a long bush, the man mumbled towards the apple he was holding.

"It really looks like… summer is about to end."

The man's blue eyes scanned his surroundings. A fairly cool breeze scattered the man's red hair.

"I was wondering where you were… and you were here?"

Louis lifted one corner of his mouth and turned away at the young voice coming from behind his back.

"You were looking for me?"

"Of course! Since the Prince I serve had disappeared. Hehe."

Lily smiled broadly and approached Louis.

"What do you mean, the prince you serve… I'm more like a fugitive now."

Louis pulled down the thick robe that covered his face with a bitter smile.

‘The whole kingdom will be full of stories about the Duke's family.'

It was Theon who asked him to cover his face, in case he would incur the people's resentment.

And sure enough, his words hit the bullseye.