TMLOH 147

Chapter 147

The warm, cozy, and harmonious atmosphere that had filled the room shattered in an instant.

At the appearance of the uninvited guest, Father’s expression turned cold.

The uninvited guest—Duke Regent Ludwig’s demand was simple.

“I wish to speak with Arelin alone.”

Father immediately scoffed.

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

Though his eyes curved beautifully in a smile that could enchant anyone who saw it, there was not a trace of warmth in them.

The air sharpened, as though it could cut.

“Ah…”

Realizing what was about to happen, Mehen pressed a hand to his forehead.

Father’s strong arm wrapped tightly around me made it hard to breathe, but this wasn’t a situation where I could even think of complaining.

The tension between the Duke Regent and my father was razor-sharp.

…Or so I thought.

Wait, what?

Father was glaring daggers at the Duke Regent, yet it didn’t look like things were about to explode.

The reason wasn’t hard to see — the Duke Regent wasn’t even looking at Father.
He was looking only at me.

“…”
“…”

Our eyes met.

And for a moment, I froze.

There was no light in the Duke Regent’s eyes — they were completely empty, like the soul had drained out of him. He just kept staring at me with those hollow eyes, and it felt… deeply unsettling.

“If you have something to say, say it here. While I’m present.”

“I have nothing to say to you. I asked for a private conversation with Arelin.”

“My daughter has nothing to say to you. Do you still think you’re in a position of power? Seems you’ve forgotten where you are.”

“I haven’t forgotten — this is Halbern.”

He’s acting weird.

The Duke Regent, who was always smirking, arrogant, and insufferable, was suddenly acting… meek.
It was so strange I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

This was the same man who used to scoff just hearing Valer’s name — and now he’s standing quietly before my father?

“What are you plotting?”

It wasn’t strange for Father to be this wary — given who the other person was.

But… why did I feel—

“I’ll talk.”

“Arell.”

Father’s voice was urgent as he grabbed my arm, but I smiled brightly at him.

“It’s okay, Dad.”

“…”

His violet eyes were filled entirely with worry.

“If anything happens—”

“Nothing will. You’ll protect me, won’t you?”

“…Still.”

“I just… want to hear what he has to say.”

Father frowned, clearly still unwilling, but hesitated — unable to outright refuse me.

“Nothing will happen, my lord,” said Mehen, stepping in. “Arell’s room is secure.”

Only after Mehen joined in did Father reluctantly back down.

He glared fiercely at the Duke Regent.

“Then dismiss your shadows.”

“Leave,” the Duke Regent ordered.

His shadows disappeared, and Father and Mehen left the room with grim faces.

Thud.

The door shut, leaving only the Duke Regent and me inside.

‘What on earth does he want to say?’

Though he had insisted on meeting alone, now that we were face-to-face, my heart pounded nervously.

Should I speak first?

What should I do about this awkward atmosphere—?

Just as I was thinking that, the Duke Regent suddenly fell to his knees.

“…?”

I blinked in confusion, not understanding what was happening — when he lifted his face, twisted with anguish, and spoke.

“I’m sorry.”

What… what did I just see?

Was he— crying?

* * *

Outside Arelin’s room.

Watching Valer pace frantically in front of the tightly closed door, Mehen rubbed his temples.

“You do realize you won’t hear anything, no matter how much you hover there?”

“I know. It’s well soundproofed.”

“It’s the latest in magi-architectural soundproofing. I had it redone recently since Arell’s been having trouble sleeping.”

“…”

Normally, Valer would have shot back some sarcastic remark. But not this time.

“My lord.”
“…”
“Valer.”
“…”

Mehen sighed softly. Outwardly, Valer looked calm, but he was clearly at his limit.

The anxiety and fear of losing her again kept him pacing outside the door, unable to leave.

But still—

Mehen didn’t think the Duke Regent would do anything insane like kidnapping Arelin again.

He could say that with some confidence — after all, in the past week, he had spoken with the Duke Regent more than anyone else.

After spending countless nights awake waiting for Arelin to wake up between two ticking time bombs, Mehen had been forced to stay rational — and that gave him insights no one else had.

‘It was actually the Duke Regent’s side who tipped us off that the Magic Tower was planning to kidnap Arelin from Loch Castle.’

He’d been confused about why the Tower was involved, but he had still thanked the Duke Regent for the valuable information.

What surprised Mehen most was that the Duke Regent wasn’t as insufferable as he’d imagined.
They could actually hold a normal conversation — he even seemed… subdued.
The mighty Duke Regent, subdued.
It sounded ridiculous, but that’s what it felt like.

And besides—

Watching Valer stare at the door like he could bore a hole through it, Mehen couldn’t help but think:

‘They really do look alike, somehow.’

He should have realized it earlier — ever since the shocking revelation of Halbern’s secret past.
When Valer confessed things Mehen had never thought he’d hear in his lifetime, he should have seen it.

‘What am I supposed to do with this guy?’

Even amid all the shocking truths Valer had revealed, what struck Mehen most was the tangled web of hatred and guilt the man carried.

Did this fool even understand why Lady Shione had entrusted Arelin to him?

‘Probably not.’

Even the Duke Regent, the object of his open hostility — all of it stemmed from the trauma of not being able to protect his sister.

Mehen knew what it meant for Valer, who usually hid his emotions so well, to be this openly emotional.

The person Valer truly hated — wanted to destroy — was himself.

“Ha…”

Mehen pressed a hand to his forehead.

‘Lady Shione, what were you thinking, raising him into such a complicated man…?’

He remembered her wry smile years ago, saying, “You’ll never live a normal life, Mehen.”
He hadn’t known what she meant back then.

Watching Valer looking like he might break the door down, Mehen sighed, his emotions a tangled mess.

“Valer.”

Valer didn’t turn — his eyes still fixed on the door.

“You still saved me.”

The stone statue of a man flinched slightly.

Mehen spoke again, his voice carrying quiet sincerity.

“No matter what guilt you feel, no matter how much you suffer… if not for you, I’d have starved to death on the streets. Or been sold as a slave.”

To Mehen, Valer was a savior.

“You’re the one who turned a street rat like me into someone capable — someone useful.”

“…”

“That one truth will never change.”

Watching Valer’s expression crumble, Mehen smiled faintly.

For the first time, it felt like they were finally true friends.

* * *

I hadn’t seen wrong.

The Duke Regent was crying.

“Uh…”

I froze, unable to find any words. His face was expressionless, yet tears rolled down steadily. Then, in a heavy voice, he spoke.

“I know that no matter what I say, you’ll never forgive me.”

He spoke as if this had happened before — as if he didn’t even dare hope for forgiveness.

“I’m sorry.”

“…”

“I’m sorry.”

I just sat there, stiff and silent.

It was the first time I’d ever seen a grown man cry.

“I…”

Honestly, I didn’t know what to say.
This was the man who’d never shed a tear, even when begging Shione — and now he was crying in front of me.
I couldn’t begin to guess what that meant.

Everything about this was bewildering.

“I was wrong.”

Well, he was wrong.

“Everything — all of it — was my fault.”

At least he knew that.
Still, to see such a proud, arrogant man kneeling before me like this… it felt unreal.

“I won’t ask for anything.”

His voice trembled slightly as he continued, pleading.

“You don’t have to call me father. I’ll do whatever you want. You can ignore me. Just… let me stay by your side.”

“…”

“Let me watch you grow.”