Chapter 114 – Duke Serin (3)
Having received the ssage, I walked out into the front yard of the Duke’s estate.
“Welco.”
Just then, Duke Serin was approaching with a guide at his side.
“Were you startled by my sudden visit?”
“Not particularly.”
Duke Serin gave a sly smile.
“Shouldn’t you have been, though?”
“Well, I figured you’d co to give a hit since I deserved one.”
“Oh?”
“If I’m going to get hit, here is better. I assu you wouldn’t go so far as to commit murder in soone else’s ho.”
And this wasn’t just any house—it was Duke Herman’s estate.
“How should I say this…… It seems the prince has a natural talent for getting under people’s skin.”
“I hear that from ti to ti.”
Although in truth, it was more like ‘a lot’ rather than ‘from ti to ti’.
“Shall we go inside and talk?”
“No, the night breeze feels refreshing. Let’s just talk here.”
With that, Duke Serin glanced at the guide.
“Could you give us a mont? I’d like to speak with him alone.”
“Ah…… Yes. Of course.”
It seed the guide had already been inford of the situation, as he withdrew without any fuss.
“……I’ve actually looked into you a bit myself, Your Highness.”
“I’m curious—what did you find out?”
“I heard you were kidnapped on your way to your estate. They almost sold you off as a sex slave.”
After saying that, Duke Serin lightly waved his hand.
“Please don’t misunderstand; I bring this up because I can relate.”
“You can relate……? What do you an?”
Feigning ignorance, I asked.
“I went through sothing similar as a child. When I was nine, my stepmother assaulted .”
“……!”
I hadn’t expected that answer.
‘I’m surprised he said that so casually.’
In a world where empathy and sympathy are often seen as weaknesses, it was surprising that soone of Duke Serin’s stature would reveal such a personal story so openly.
“But more importantly…… I did ask to speak with you alone. Was that really such a difficult request?”
Flinch.
Just as Duke Serin’s voice turned cold.
“Ahem.”
“What did I tell you? You should’ve just had a drink with . Why’d you have to go and bother with night training out of the blue?”
From behind the practice yard, Marquis Foltaine and Duke Herman, who had been crouching, quickly stood up.
“I wasn’t aware the two of you had such a penchant for eavesdropping.”
“That’s……”
“How about maintaining at least so semblance of dignity?”
Although Duke Serin mocked them with words, the two eavesdroppers could say nothing to refute him.
“In any case, it’s clear you both care deeply for the prince. Even now, it seems you’re caring more for him than your guest.”
“Urgh…… You’ve misunderstood, Your Grace.”
“I might even get jealous. But once again, I’d like to talk to him alone.”
Both n looked flustered once more. Of course, Duke Herman and Marquis Foltaine must have known all along.
They would’ve realized hiding wasn’t exactly effective. After all, everyone present was among the nation’s masters.
Still, the reason they hid was obvious.
‘They were probably ready to step in if anything went wrong.’
And at the sa ti, they wanted to send a warning. We’re watching you, so don’t try anything foolish.
Just then, Duke Serin’s expression softened, and a gentle smile appeared on his face.
“Is this too much to ask?”
“……”
“With things like this, if I were to join your group, I might end up feeling left out. I wouldn’t be able to help sincerely.”
At that point, I broke my silence.
“Let’s do as he says.”
“……Since he agreed……”
Duke Serin’s smile deepened.
“How about we climb the hill overlooking the capital while we’re at it?”
“……”
My eyes darkened. A hill far enough on the outskirts to be completely outside the city’s jurisdiction.
-Are you seriously chickening out after all your arrogance?
Duke Serin’s expression seed to say just that. Of course, I didn’t back down.
“Why not? Oh! You two—don’t follow us. You don’t need to worry about .”
“Perhaps we’ll get along after all, Your Highness.”
His satisfied voice echoed in my ears.
Step, step, step.
We had ventured far beyond the outskirts of the capital.
Whether the others had truly stopped following us or were trailing us secretly, I wasn’t sure, but at least for now, I didn’t sense anyone else nearby besides Duke Serin and .
“……”
We traveled in silence. Both Duke Serin and I were lost in our own thoughts. How much ti had passed like that?
“……When soone dies out here, no one would care, would they?”
When we finally arrived in a place devoid of people, Duke Serin broke the long silence.
“Even if those two were following us earlier…… By the ti they arrive, the body will already be buried.”
“I didn’t expect to be threatened the mont we changed locations.”
“Did it sound that way to you?”
I shrugged nonchalantly.
“However, there are three reasons why you can’t kill , Duke Serin.”
“Are you stalling for ti?”
“First, it would go against your principles.”
I continued, undeterred.
“And what principles might those be?”
“If I were to be killed, Duke Herman and Marquis Foltaine would inevitably suspect you. That would cause more harm than good. Acting on impulse would cost you dearly.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure. Would they really threaten when the ti cos? Even I can see that they’re fond of you, but it’d be water under the bridge. Wouldn’t they try to get anything they can out of , instead?”
“You’re not the type to gamble on uncertainties like that, Your Grace. You’re not one to be dragged into ssy situations willingly, either.”
Duke Serin tilted his head slightly, as if intrigued.
“You speak as if you know well.”
“I do. You’re the kind of leader who firmly believes that sotis doing nothing is the best course of action.”
“……”
His expression grew colder.
“Second, you’re curious about . You won’t kill yet—at least not until you’ve satisfied that curiosity.”
“Curious?”
“You want to know what makes so bold, don’t you? What it is that draws others to .”
At that, his threatening aura eased, if only slightly. As if he himself couldn’t deny it.
“You wonder if there’s sothing you’re missing—sothing only you don’t know. You feel unsettled, perhaps even left out.”
“……So there is sothing, then?”
“And third, because you’re human, not a beast.”
For a mont, Duke Serin gave a look of disbelief.
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
“We’ve both endured similar pains—we’re both victims, aren’t we? Humans naturally feel compassion, and with shared experiences like ours, that compassion becos even stronger. I don’t think you’re entirely heartless, Your Grace.”
“……Pft.”
Despite himself, Duke Serin let out a short laugh.
“For soone spouting nonsense, you sure know how to dress it up nicely. Though, I must say, I personally like the third reason best.”
By the ti we finished talking, we had reached the top of the hill. It wasn’t a particularly high hill, so the climb hadn’t taken long.
“But…… You’re still too young. Or should I say, too naïve?”
Just then, I sensed soone’s presence behind a tree.
“In reality, humans are often more wicked than beasts.”
“It has been a while, Your Highness.”
The figure that erged greeted with a wave, acting as though we were old friends.
“Oh, dear. Was this all a trap?”
Before stood a beautiful man and woman, both smiling as if they had stepped out of a painting.
Technically, Duke Serin wasn’t a ‘woman’, but his appearance could easily mislead anyone.
“Thank you for keeping your word, Your Grace.”
“……No need to ntion it.”
The new arrival was Count Kaiman.
“Well, I’ll excuse myself.”
“You invite here, and now you’re leaving?”
“Haha, I must thank you for the lovely walk. See you next ti, pure-hearted prince.”
With that, Duke Serin turned and began retracing his steps.
It felt like he was heading back to guard the narrow, steep path—perhaps to intercept any reinforcents that might arrive.
“Surely that ‘next ti’ won’t be in the afterlife?”
“That depends on what you do next, Your Highness.”
Duke Serin replied without turning around.
“Didn’t you once offer so unsolicited advice, Your Grace?”
“……”
His shoulders twitched ever so slightly, as if the mory had resurfaced.
“Mind if I offer you so advice this ti? Consider it my final words, if you like.”
Duke Serin halted for the first ti. anwhile, Count Kaiman watched us with amusent, as if in no hurry at all.
“……And what advice might that be?”
“While I call it advice, the truth is, I can’t afford to die right now.”
Duke Serin smirked, as if amused by my supposed plea.
“Was this not advice, but an appeal?”
“I recently made a promise to a new friend. I told him that a man’s word is as good as gold, and breaking that promise from the start wouldn’t be right. It wouldn’t bode well for our relationship moving forward.”
A faint smile curled at my lips.
“If I die, I won’t be able to keep that promise.”
“So, keeping that promise is more important than your life?”
“Yes, it is. At least to .”
To , loyalty ans more than life itself. Even if a blade were at my throat, I would never abandon it.
“You’re just stalling again. Get to the point. What exactly is your advice……?”
“The promise I made isn’t much.”
I tapped the hilt of the sword at my waist lightly.
“I promised that little friend of mine that I would cut down the Empire.”
“……!”
“You once spoke of relationships in terms of ‘distance’……”
In the quiet night, only my voice echoed.
“……The distance we’ve established between us today. If this is your answer, that distance will collapse before it even has a chance to form.”
For a fleeting mont, a murderous glint flashed in Duke Serin’s eyes.
“……So, you’re not advising ……”
I nodded.
“Exactly. I’m warning you, Your Grace. Watch your behavior.”
***
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