Chapter 44 :

Chapter 44 - First Impression (2)

“The matter of the Crisa family is truly regrettable, Tollin Crisa.”

The young duke, awakened from his recollection by the Second Prince’s voice, quickly came to his senses and looked at Tollin.

The young duke also knew that Tollin’s eldest brother had been arrested over an unpleasant matter.

Though this was the first time he had seen someone throw that subject directly in Tollin’s face like this.

Tollin still had a smile on his face without any change in expression.

“I can only apologize for disturbing Your Highness’ mood with the affairs of my family. If I had not cut off dealings with the Crisa family long ago, I would have somehow tried to stop it.”

Watching Tollin draw a thick line between the Feedus family and the Crisa family, the Second Prince smiled gently.

“What can be done about something that has already happened? Fortunately, others have also rolled up their sleeves.”

Tollin’s mouth opened briefly.

“Others, you say?”

Leaving Tollin flinching at the rise of an unexpected person, Dito continued speaking.

“It seems Duke Millio and several nobles felt a sense of responsibility for this matter. They stepped forward, saying that as fellow nobles, they wanted to apologize for such a shameful thing happening.”

Tollin had to do everything in his power to stop himself from grinding his teeth in front of the second son of the imperial family.

He was the Second Prince, known as Rasia Abiran’s closest aide.

He had expected that this side would not be favorable, but to think he would come carrying a bomb like this.

Duke Millio was the ill-mannered fellow who had picked a fight at the last nobles’ council.

Tollin had caught him by a weakness and thought he had been quiet lately, but he had been doing something useless.

Sending various goods as offerings to the imperial family was a common occurrence, so Tollin found himself pathetic for not paying much attention when Duke Millio sent a large carriage to the imperial palace.

Once it entered the imperial palace, there was no longer any way to obtain information, and this kind of trouble had occurred.

Even so, Duke Millio?

In a problem that had arisen because of bribes, the people who had led the way in such matters more than anyone else felt responsible and would offer bribes again? There was no deception like this.

Why were they going this far to seize the Feedus family?

What could they gain by squeezing a family that had maintained its firm position for so many years?

The other side should also have nothing to gain from eliminating Feedus, which had protected the imperial family since the founding era.

Even if the violent First Prince had devised such a plan, there was no way the Emperor would leave it alone.

Before the pondering Tollin, Dito Abiran laughed as if amused.

“There were also people who felt uneasy about someone from the Crisa family taking charge of everything.”

Dito’s long fingers tapped the desk.

“And is that not an extremely reasonable suspicion? That is why an opinion came up that several people should share the burden.”

“It seems everything would be resolved if the Feedus family were removed from it entirely.”

At Tollin’s answer, the Second Prince opened his eyes round, as if asking how that could possibly be.

“That will not do. It would make the sacrifice of the pitiful former Duke Feedus completely meaningless. If the matter falls into Duke Millio’s hands, would his death not be no different from a dog’s death?”

This time, Tollin reflexively checked the young duke’s complexion.

The pitiful child was sitting with his back straight, his face gone pale.

“The way you two think of each other is just like father and son. It is very pleasant to see.”

His sarcasm was praised as if it were a reward.

And ironically, it made Tollin’s head, which had been dulled by worry, turn cold.

“I can only thank you for viewing us favorably.”

Tollin, who had returned to his gentle manner of speaking, continued.

“As for the shelter in the capital, please do as you wish. If that is Your Highness’ will, I believe there could be no decision more correct.”

The Second Prince tilted his head.

Soon after, he let out a deflated sound and spoke as if disappointed.

“How unexpected. I naturally thought you would use every means possible to ask me to hand the position over to someone else.”

What use would that be?

Tollin swallowed a sneer.

Unless the country was overturned, the Feedus family was bound to move according to the will of the imperial family anyway.

As could be seen from the Crisa family, which had lost both honor and heir overnight.

If he had been alone, perhaps it would have been different, but as long as there was the young duke he had to protect, Tollin would always put the child first.

Before a firm objective, one must not be picky about means.

If it could not be resolved immediately, avoiding it was also a method.

He had no intention of leaving the young duke sitting in this damned seat any longer.

“Thank you for deliberately coming all this way to offer advice. I sincerely hope your time was not wasted.”

There was no way the Second Prince failed to notice Tollin’s earnest meaning that he should now leave, but he did not seem to have any intention of ending the conversation and standing up.

“No, that is not the only reason I came.”

And when his gaze turned toward the young duke, Tollin sensed that this day would hurtle toward the worst possible outcome.

“I also came to meet our little prospective duke.”

* * *

When the young duke met those eyes, where playfulness and cruelty could be seen, he felt his body stiffen like a mouse placed before a snake.

“Since Duke Feedus and his proxy wrapped you up so tightly, I wondered if you were lacking somewhere, but it seems that is not the case either.”

“I….”

The young duke knew it was rude because his voice trembled, but he had to clear his throat once.

“I still lack many things, so everyone has many concerns.”

“In exactly what way do you think you are lacking?”

At the Second Prince’s teasing question, the young duke hesitated for a moment before answering.

“My teachers often said that when one is too young, one’s eyes for seeing the world have not fully grown either.”

How clever.

At the child’s smart answer, the Second Prince briefly cast his gaze at Tollin, who was watching the conversation between them with a tense expression.

The Second Prince read the pride and satisfaction toward the child that seeped into that tension.

A mischievous look briefly passed over Dito’s face.

“You are a smart child, just as I heard.”

“Th-thank you.”

“It is unfortunate for the duke, since he will not be able to see the young duke grow up.”

“.......”

When the young duke could not answer, the Second Prince threw out a question that clearly demanded a response.

“Are you not saddened by your father’s death, Young Duke?”

“That is.......”

The young duke, who had answered even if he had to stammer, found himself speechless.

Of course he was saddened.

More than anything else, the child felt regret and grief over his father’s death.

Though he had never once spoken it aloud.

Plin knew he must not admit that, at least not in front of the Second Prince.

At least in front of him, it was something he absolutely must not do.

Because it could be interpreted to mean that he did not agree with the imperial family’s decision to execute the duke.

It was not something he could say before the Second Prince, who could not possibly have come to the Feedus ducal house out of goodwill.

As if curious about what answer the young duke would give, the Second Prince did not take his eyes off the child.

“That is, truly.......”

He had to say that he was not saddened at all, that it did not affect him, that it was merely a rightful death according to the traditions of the imperial family.

He had intended to.

The young duke was still young, but he knew what he had to do, and he knew at least that his smallest words and actions could affect the future of the Feedus family.

But once he spat out those words, he felt certain that even when he was alone, he would no longer be able to recall his memories with his father.

Because each time, this choice would follow the young duke as well.

The child turned his head toward the only person on his side in the room.

Tollin was looking at the young duke with a more comfortable expression than expected.

In that instant, he did not know why Tollin’s voice, telling him that he could do as he pleased, echoed in his head.

Nor did he know why his mouth moved on its own.

“......I was sad.”

A single tear, as large as a chicken dropping, fell from the small child’s eyes.

At the same time, Dito Abiran’s expression turned colder than ever.

* * *

“It seems I made young Feedus cry, and my heart aches.”

The Second Prince spoke, exaggerating his regret toward the young duke, who covered his face as if he could no longer control himself.

“I hope you regain your spirits. I will teach you a game I like.”

At the calm voice, rather than a thunderous scolding, the young duke lifted his reddened eyes.

“When I play it when I am in a bad mood, the lump in my heart loosens.”

The Second Prince lifted the teacup before him and poured the already-cold tea onto the carpet, emptying it.

The fairly old-looking aide standing behind him silently took a position a little away from the table.

Neither Tollin nor the young duke immediately understood what was happening now.

Crash.

Only in the next moment, after the Second Prince’s teacup flew quickly, narrowly brushed past the aide’s cheek, struck the reception room fireplace, and shattered, did they realize what this game meant.

“Does it look fun?”

“.......”

Unable to look straight at the Second Prince, who asked as if nothing had happened, the young duke stared at his chest.

“You have no answer.”

The tears had long since stopped.

At the irrational violence and abnormal reaction that had unfolded before his eyes, the young duke’s eyes shook, having lost their way.

When he glanced at the Second Prince’s aide, the aide stood in place without the slightest movement.

Perhaps because the Second Prince’s strength had been too great, red blood flowed down the cheek the teacup had grazed, but he did not even seem to think of wiping it away, as if he were a person accustomed to everything.

He merely stood still in silence, as if he would fulfill his role as a target.

“But lately, there is no particular reaction, so it is not fun.”

Dito Abiran was still smiling.

“Even if I hit him, there is no sense of accomplishment.”

Muttering insane words, he stroked his chin for a moment as if pondering something, then turned toward Tollin as if he had realized it.

“Tollin, you are the young duke’s temporary guardian, are you not? You should play with him.”

“Ah.......”

The young duke let out a short gasp.

He felt as though he knew what Dito was saying.

It was an imagination he truly hoped would not happen.

“Now, stand over there.”

At his suggestion, spoken lightly as if telling him to go out and take a walk, the young duke urgently opened his mouth.

“Y-your Highness!”

“What is it?”

At the child’s trembling voice, the Second Prince looked down at the young duke with cold eyes, unlike the corners of his mouth, which were raised.

“Are you worried it will not be fun?”

At his question, the child hurriedly shook his head.

“N-no, I am not.”

“Then shall we switch roles? Do you think that would be more fun?”

At the indirect question asking whether he wanted to stand there, the young duke flinched for a moment, but soon tried to nod.

Being hit was frightening, but it seemed better than Tollin becoming the target of the dish that had flown like lightning a moment ago.

“No, Young Duke. Please let me stand.”

“Tollin......!”

The young duke looked up at the back of the blue-haired man who had blocked his way.

Even though there was no way Tollin had not noticed that gaze, he did not look back.

“Thank you for introducing us to such an enjoyable game, Your Highness.”

After bowing his head once, Tollin walked toward the place where the aide stood.

“Tollin. I am fine.”

The young duke hurriedly grabbed Tollin’s hand with both of his.

“I am fine too. This is far better than throwing a dish at my superior and then dealing with what comes afterward.”

Tollin smiled calmly and carefully loosened the child’s hands, slowly setting them down.

Once he took his place, the Second Prince, as if something truly enjoyable were about to begin, placed in the young duke’s hand the teacup that had been given as the child’s share.

“Now, hurry and throw it. The young duke hits Tollin, and I hit my aide.”

Looking at the child, who was only tightly gripping the teacup with finely trembling hands, the Second Prince tilted his head.

“If you think it will be hard to hit him, you can switch with me. It is easier to hit a larger target. But I am stronger than the young duke, so if Tollin is hit badly, it would be dangerous. Ah, or is it because it is the ducal family’s property, so you find it a waste? If so, there is this.”

At Dito’s movement as he pulled out a dagger from his waist, one that looked several times more ornate than the plate, the young duke realized this was a situation he absolutely could not avoid.

“I, I will hit Tollin.”

At the trembling voice, the Second Prince’s smile deepened even further.

His eyes were chasing every single one of Plin’s actions, as if he would not miss even one.

It was like a nightmare.

It felt as though everything was his fault.

‘This happened because I answered incorrectly.’

The child stood where the Second Prince had been standing and looked down at the tips of his feet.

“Now, throw it. You have to throw it with all your strength for it to be fun. If you do not even know that, I will teach you again from the beginning, so do not worry.”

Though someone might die in the process, Dito Abiran added, and unconcealable pleasure seeped into his voice.

The young duke’s heart was beating so fast that his ears felt blocked.

‘Please, please, I wish someone would help.’

But there was no one here who could stop the Second Prince.

With an impossible wish that someone would wake him from this nightmare-like situation, the young duke squeezed his eyes shut and slowly raised the cold object.

At that moment,

“What kind of hospitality is this?!”

It was a voice that might have been salvation sent by someone, or the beginning of another nightmare.