Chapter 30
Since then, the three of them had spent an almost annoyingly large amount of time together.
They were often given unusually many missions, which naturally led to them spending time together even off-duty.
But that was only until Herald received his title.
When the previous Duke Erayton suddenly passed away in a carriage accident, Herald had to inherit the dukedom quickly—and he had to get married as well.
Then César unexpectedly inherited his own title, making opportunities for the three of them to meet increasingly rare.
Afterward, Herald and César would occasionally see each other at meetings of the heads of the noble houses, but Benjamin, who had just recently inherited his title, was only now able to attend such meetings and reunite with them.
Because of this, Benjamin felt unusually excited to see the three of them together again.
“Hey, hey, instead of just sitting here, how about we move somewhere else? There’s a new bar in the city that has—”
“What have you been doing all this time?”
Benjamin’s cheerful suggestion was cut off by Herald’s sudden, sharp question.
César tilted his head slightly, as if confused by the unexpectedly aggressive greeting, before answering.
“I’ve been fine.”
Herald clenched his anger, taking a deep breath to calm himself. Right, this guy has always been infuriating.
Frowning in frustration, Herald finally got to the main point.
“The little Lubantié you asked me to look after… when are you going to take him back?”
“….”
César’s expressionless eyes widened slightly.
It was clear he was shaken. And it made sense why.
Cassio Lubantié, who had been living at the Erayton mansion for over two years, was César Lubantié’s only sensitive spot. A heavy silence fell, chilling the air.
Benjamin instinctively stepped back, sensing he had stepped into a dangerous moment. One wrong move here could spark a massive explosion.
“It’s been two years since you casually asked me to watch him when you weren’t in your right mind.”
“….”
“Given how well he handles monsters now, he’s probably doing fine. Take him back. I don’t really pay that much attention to him anyway… wouldn’t it be better for the family to raise him?”
“….”
César still didn’t respond, but his tightly pressed lips loosened slightly, and a faint crease appeared on his forehead.
He was clearly troubled.
His gaze hovered uncertainly in the air before finally shifting toward Herald and Benjamin in turn.
“Cassio…”
“….”
“Is Cassio… doing well?”
“Hmm?”
Herald shrugged casually, leaving César utterly confused. It wasn’t surprise, just pure bewilderment.
“Well… I haven’t been keeping a close eye on him. But I saw him yesterday—he seemed fine. He talks well, too.”
“Right… you’ve been too busy looking for your wife, after all. Oops…”
Benjamin’s overly casual comment earned him a sharp, cold glare from Herald.
Benjamin pressed his lips together with his fingertip and raised an eyebrow, signaling he wouldn’t be speaking lightly anymore.
Officially, Adeline had supposedly gone to the Erayton private villa to rest, and had just returned.
That she had been in hiding for over five years was a secret only the Erayton inner circle knew.
The only exceptions were César and Benjamin. They had helped track her down.
Benjamin’s piercing gaze, which rarely left him, finally shifted away from César’s low voice.
“She… talks well, huh.”
“Yes. Suddenly appearing, greeting everyone, and asking if anyone remembered her.”
César’s slightly surprised lips parted.
“Oh? She can talk now? The kid who used to stay silent no matter what…”
Benjamin was equally impressed. Their reaction was natural. The last memory they had of Cassio was a child who never spoke.
And the reason Cassio hadn’t spoken was the same as why Herald had brought him to Erayton.
“We’ll send someone… soon.”
César said this as he walked away. Herald added after watching his broad back:
“Send him as soon as possible. If not, you can come get him yourself.”
“….”
César gave no reply.
Herald and Benjamin thought to themselves: Ah, he’s not coming personally.
As César’s figure disappeared, Benjamin spoke up.
“So, how about the two of us go grab a drink?”
“Go alone.”
With that, Herald also quickly walked off in the opposite direction of César.
“Damn it…”
Left alone, Benjamin watched Herald’s retreating figure, sighing and cursing under his breath.
“Hmm…”
I was staring out the window at the rain pouring down.
“Why have you been so gloomy since yesterday? You’re ruining the cookie mood.”
I slowly turned my head toward the voice.
Pepe was there, chewing on a cookie packed with nuts, his cheeks puffed up.
“You eat the same thing every time. Don’t you get bored?”
I glared at Pepe, clearly unimpressed.
Pepe, however, looked at me as if he couldn’t understand why.
“Day before yesterday it was pistachio cookies, yesterday biscuits, and today almond cookies. They’re all different. How is that the same, you dummy?”
“That’s the same, you dummy. It’s all cookies.”
“Pfft!”
“This guy always pretends to be a squirrel when he’s at a disadvantage.”
“What’s your problem? Did something happen?”
My reaction must have been sharp, because Pepe put down his cookie and approached me.
Was he worried about me in his own way? That was kind of touching.
I slowly spoke, feeling a little grateful for Pepe caring for me despite his rough mouth.
“No, yesterday…”
“Wait! Bring a cookie and I’ll listen.”
“…Fine, just eat it.”
Of course. I was a fool for feeling even a little moved.
I turned back toward the window.
“Haah…”
Recalling yesterday, I let out a sigh.
Thanks to Herald, my powers had manifested fully—but what happened afterward was completely unreal and overwhelming.
That straw-haired boy was supposedly Herald’s hidden child?
Judging by his reaction, that wasn’t possible. Then who was he?
Moreover…
The boy’s appearance changed immediately when he removed the necklace.
Black hair, black eyes.
And the changed appearance kept catching my attention.
He somehow resembled someone I knew.
“What! Tell me already.”
“Enough, just eat your cookie.”
“Do you know the one thing humans should never do?”
“….”
“Stop speaking halfway! You’re doing the one thing you shouldn’t!”
Wow, so that saying exists here too?
I chuckled faintly, thinking people are the same everywhere.
“Tell me already!”
“No, I don’t want to. Why are you being annoying?”
“Hurry! You left me curious, and your attitude is this?”
“What? You’re not a squirrel, then…”
“Miss, it’s Elly. May I come in?”
As Pepe and I bickered, a knock came, and Elly entered.
Pepe and I acted as if nothing happened.
“Miss, will you have lunch in your room today as well?”
“Hmm…”
Elly’s question caught me off guard. Normally I would have eaten with Mom, but I couldn’t.
Since yesterday, Mom had been sick and bedridden.
I wanted to clarify the misunderstanding. How long had it been since we reconciled… I couldn’t let things spiral between Mom and Herald.
“Elly, can I have lunch in the annex today?”
