Chapter 11

For the past ten years, this renowned military noble had achieved remarkable feats. Ever since he was granted the title of Marquess of Lethe, seeing his face had become as rare as plucking a star from the sky.

Even now, it had been a full year since his last visit. Considering the distance between Lethe Castle and Tusslena Castle was only two days, and that Jihad was unmarried and one of Tusslena’s potential successors, his visits were rare enough to raise eyebrows.

“They say the Grand Duke favors him deeply… I guess that wasn’t just a figure of speech.”

Among the vassal lords, none treated the Grand Duke of Tusslena as casually as Jihad did.

From the past few days of observation, it was clear that even the Grand Duke—usually strict about hierarchy—softened somewhat in the presence of his fourth son.

“Then again, the household is constantly in an uproar over succession disputes. And in the midst of that, the fourth son has earned fame far and wide. Of course, the Grand Duke would be fond of him.”

At that moment, the Grand Duke gestured with his chin toward one of Tusslena’s knights standing among the people and ordered,

“Bring him to me.”

The young man immediately approached the knight.

“The Grand Duke requests your presence.”

The knight looked around in obvious confusion, then reluctantly followed behind him.

“I greet you, Your Grace.”

“…Sir Smith, was it?”

At the low voice, Jihad turned his head for the first time. Smith, feeling the cold gaze tinged with suspicion, swallowed hard.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“I saw you searching around quite earnestly. What business brought you out of the castle?”

Smith hesitated for a moment.

“Should I tell the Grand Duke the truth?”

But the moment he faced the Duke’s stern expression, his hesitation crumbled away.

“…I followed Lady Yana out. She said it seemed like a young boy had been kidnapped nearby and asked me to investigate.”

The Grand Duke looked back at him, startled.

“Yana? She’s here?”

“Yes. She wasn’t feeling well, so after assigning me the search, she stayed to rest at a nearby shop.”

“She’s alone?”

“…Yes, Your Grace.”

“Unbelievable! Has she lost her senses? Bring her back immediately!”

Smith clenched his eyes shut for a moment before dashing off toward the marketplace. Not long after, he returned, carrying a small, delicate girl from a dim alley where even the light barely reached.

Click. The carriage door swung open.

The two men inside lowered their gaze.

The first thing they saw was a pale, porcelain face. A girl with soft curls of light brown hair and round, sky-blue eyes—an endearing and lovely sight.

The girl, Yana, blinked up at them blankly, then briskly straightened her dress with a few audible pats and stepped into the carriage.

It was a simple gesture, yet the Grand Duke felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity.

“She seems… a little different.”

Still, it wasn’t something worth dwelling on. Children grow quickly—changing day by day.

And Yana had always been frail since birth, rarely leaving the annex. Even spending time with the Grand Duke happened no more than once or twice a year.

“For a child like that to come outside the castle alone?”

It was unexpected in more ways than one.

Meanwhile, squeezed beside the dark-haired man across from the Grand Duke, Lynn was having an entirely different thought.

“Just my luck—to get caught by the Grand Duke of all people.”

And the fact that it was Smith, of all people, who had gotten her into this mess only added fuel to her annoyance.

Letting out a deep sigh, she bowed her head first.

“Good day, Grandfather.”

The Grand Duke looked quite surprised, but only for a brief moment.

The real issue came next. Yana glanced sideways at the tall man sitting beside her.

“Who is this guy?”

Even his presence felt extraordinary.

The black-haired man, who looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties at most, had eyes as sharp as blades—staring at her as if trying to read her very soul.

“Uh, and…”

Yana fumbled awkwardly, clearly unsure of what to say. Seeing this, the Grand Duke clicked his tongue with a sigh, as if understanding the situation.

“Tsk. Why do you look so grim, Jihad? You’re scaring Yana so much she can’t even greet you properly.”

Jihad?

“That name sounds familiar… Oh!”

It was the name of Yana’s fourth uncle—the one who had sent her flowers and medicine. Lynn was genuinely surprised.

“So even this dysfunctional family has at least one decent member? A warrior, no less.”

Then again, wasn’t this Tusslena—the house known as the Apostle of the God of War?

Alongside the prestigious House of Berger, Tusslena had produced many legendary generals throughout history. With four sons, it made sense that at least one would turn out exceptional.

“Hello, Uncle. I received the medicine you sent. Thank you for thinking of my health.”

“…Uncle?”

Lynn had thought her greeting was respectful enough. But Jihad raised a brow and stared at her like she’d said something inappropriate—almost like she’d crossed a line.

Then, without offering any reply, he turned away.

What, is he ignoring me? Does everyone in this family come with a built-in attitude problem?

“I heard the gist of it from Sir Smith, Yana. How did you get involved in something like that?”

Under the Grand Duke’s firm tone, Lynn recalled what had happened just minutes ago at the tavern.

It had all started when she’d taken the Cheonranghwan from the tavern owner.

According to him, the boy they’d found at the center of the torture scene hadn’t been kidnapped at all.

“What? Kidnapped? Not even close! That boy’s the leader of the suspicious group you mentioned, miss. He’s slippery—changes his appearance every time you see him. Trust me, he’s no innocent little victim like you think.”

The man looked so appalled while denying it, Lynn was inclined to believe him.

“Yeah… come to think of it, he didn’t act like someone who’d just been kidnapped. He seemed pretty relaxed, actually.”

“If that’s the case, then I’m done here. Just remember—this never happened. I was never here, and you never saw me.”

“That’s exactly what I was hoping for! Damn it… If word gets out that I was taken down by a kid after blowing my cover… I can’t even imagine the humiliation.”

“Well, I’m glad we’re on the same page. By the way, who were those creepy guys?”

Lynn barely finished her question before the tavern owner’s expression turned grim.

“Don’t ask. They’re dangerous. The moment you learn who they are…”

Instead of finishing, he simply drew a slow line across his throat with his thumb.

Lynn had no interest in getting more involved. So she took the Cheonranghwan and left quietly.

She figured that must’ve been right around the time Smith—who’d been absolutely useless—got spotted by the Grand Duke.

Now she had to think fast.

“How much should I actually tell the Grand Duke?”

The Grand Duke of Tusslena wasn’t the type to get involved in family matters.

If he cared, Yana wouldn’t be living the way she did. And when she collapsed after eating the Cheonranghwa fruit, he would’ve at least visited once. But he hadn’t.

“So if I subtly shift the blame to Roman, there’s a good chance it won’t backfire.”

“Yana.”

When she didn’t respond, the Grand Duke gave her a puzzled look.

“That’s not like you. Has something happened recently?”

…Had something happened?

“You really haven’t heard anything?”

“What are you talking about?”

A sudden realization hit her.

“He doesn’t know about the Cheonranghwa incident!”

He hadn’t been gone for just a day—he’d been away for several days.

That meant she still had a chance.

“It happened a few days ago. I made a bad decision and ate a Cheonranghwa fruit growing in the poison greenhouse. It’s toxic.”

The Grand Duke’s brows furrowed deeply.

“What?”

“Second Uncle was furious. He threatened to send me to the Grand Temple of Pindias. I tried apologizing day and night, but he refused to even see me… so I came here.”

“And how does that relate to you leaving the castle?”

“I thought… if I bought him a gift, maybe he’d agree to meet with me.”

“…Hmph.”