Chapter 61: A fake?
Chapter 61: A fake?
It seemed more and more likely that the only time he ever showed anger or softened emotion was in front of Miss Fay. Regardless of what had happened, Kassel was clearly prepared to risk his life over this matter. He issued another stern warning.
“This isn’t a mere threat. I’m serious.”
“At least you resemble her a little.”
“Resemble who…?”
Lucius, who had been glaring intensely, now had a trace of admiration in his eyes.
“Your bloodline carries the legacy of the last emperor of the Sharff Empire, Karon. I thought the blood had long since thinned and become worthless, aside from one exception, but you seem to be another. Impressive.”
Despite the sudden shift to a condescending tone, Kassel remained composed.
“Emperor Karon, you say? Hmm… Some of my ancestors in the portraits do look a little like the ancients, but I’ve never been particularly curious about those things.”
“Is that so?”
A flicker of interest passed through Lucius’s eyes.
So he’s not like those noble fools obsessed with useless legends and family trees.
“Whether my ancestors were imperial royalty or slaves doesn’t matter to me. What I do know is that I am a subject and Grand Duke of the Arkan Empire. I will protect my family’s honor and never betray my convictions.”
“How greedy of you.”
“…That’s not why I came here today. I requested this meeting, Lucius, to ask you something very important.”
“Then get to it. What is it?”
Kassel stared straight into Lucius’s confident eyes and asked a chilling question.
“We went to the Chionel estate and heard rumors. I’ve come to ask about the true identity of Lady Tricia Karris. Is she the same person as the Lady Klein who was registered as my sister? She was known as ‘Dottricia’ at Grace Monastery and asked to be called ‘Dorothea’ when she came to our family. Surely those names are connected?”
“…”
“I have a strong feeling that you know the whole truth.”
Lucius didn’t answer right away. His expression remained lofty and unreadable. But inwardly, he was impressed.
‘So he’s not hopelessly stupid after all.’
He may have taken a winding path to reach the answer, but that doesn’t mean it was the wrong one.
Kassel was, after all, Tiana’s real brother. To question the identity of a long-lost sister, one who had already passed the tests of the Temple of the Supreme Deity… No ordinary person could say such a thing lightly. It was only human to hesitate.
Though Lucius kept his mouth shut, his gaze silently acknowledged the truth.
He’s not denying it. Not even this wild theory of mine. My God…!
Realizing that his suspicion was correct, Kassel pressed further, a note of urgency in his voice.
“Does Miss Fay know as well? How did she find out? Could it be–”
“Enough.”
Lucius’s ‘enough’ carried a weight that was almost impossible for a human to resist. It was a verbal command imbued with suppressive force, one he could wield without even reverting to his original form.
Kassel, valiant knight that he was, tried to resist. But in the end, human instinct overwhelmed him, and his lips sealed shut.
Lucius slowly rose to his feet. The motion was ferocious, like a dragon long coiled suddenly slamming its claw into the ground.
“I will never force her to do something she doesn’t want.”
“…”
“And… Kassel. Among the dimwitted lot in that dreary Ducal house of yours, at least you have a brain. Think carefully. Suppose the young lady in your custody really is a fake. Could she have orchestrated all this alone?”
It was a shocking statement, but the more Kassel thought about it, the more sense it made.
Then… he’s implying someone helped her. But who would dare?!
“Could someone, without raising suspicion, without a single misstep, just slide into a noble family’s daughter’s place so easily?”
Confusion roiled in Kassel’s crimson eyes, already bloodshot with stress.
He’s… right.
Tricia Karris.
A mere daughter of a viscount from the edges of the Empire.
No matter how detailed her plan, how flawlessly she executed it, pulling this off without a helper? Impossible. And that likely meant she had more than one.
‘I…!’
Kassel’s will to break free from the situation was so strong that even his index finger managed to twitch against the suppressive force.
Lucius, impressed, offered one more hint.
“When someone acts on what they believe is right, there’s no absolute way to define that act as good or evil. After all, no two living creatures desire the same things.”
“…”
“So someone who was once an ally may turn into an enemy at any moment. If you can’t see that coming, you’ll spend your life chasing others’ shadows.”
“I… am…”
“Think. Before you act, analyze what matters and what you need. Those who blindly champion justice and principles rarely succeed. If you’ve come this far, it’s because of your title as a Grand Duke.”
Leaving the dazed Kassel behind, Lucius turned and walked out. Only then did Kassel feel the invisible pressure lift.
With a thud, he collapsed onto the sofa as if kneeling, and muttered under his breath.
“So… it means I mustn’t reveal it carelessly. Not until I fully understand the power dynamics behind the false identity…”
This wasn’t a matter that could be settled with a single declaration of fraud.
He already suspected the servant who found and brought the silk robe was a spy. Then how many more were involved?
Whoever they are, I won’t forgive a single one of them. How dare they…! Just when did this conspiracy against the Klein family begin?
Overwhelmed with grief, Kassel clenched his teeth.
“Tiana…! Ha… All this time, I brought guilt even to the feelings I had for you. How could I suspect your identity when I know how much pain you’ve endured? Am I even your brother…? I couldn’t free myself from those thoughts.”
He had always blamed himself for not being able to accept his long-lost sister. But now he saw it wasn’t mere rejection.
“All the doubts I had about you… they were a source of torment. You… You came back to us through sheer chance, after all that suffering.”
Mother was overjoyed to have you back. Father, our duke, whom I so admire, put so much effort into preparing your debutante ball.
Even His Highness the Crown Prince…
BAM!
Still hunched over, he slammed his fist hard into the floor.
“Doubting your identity was the greatest sin I’ve ever committed. If you’re real, if you are truly Tiana, I vowed to care for you and protect you for the rest of my life. But… to think someone like her dared to steal your place? Where did Tricia get her hands on your silk robe…?!”
A jolt of realization struck Kassel like lightning.
‘This is the Mage Tower. And the silk robe… It’s in Mother’s possession. Then… can’t I use it to identify who owned it in the past? Before it became clothing, it still belonged to Tiana!’
This time, he would find the answer.
No matter how common or rare the name ‘Tricia’ was, he wouldn’t miss it.
Whether our Tiana is alive or dead, I will find her. That’s the only way to restore justice!
Kassel’s ragged breathing echoed through the heavy doors and down the hallway outside.
— — —
“So, what do you think? He’s almost pieced together the truth.”
Lucius turned and addressed Fay, who had completely concealed her presence with the help of a sylph wrapped around her body. She had been listening to the entire exchange at Lucius’s suggestion.
Fay replied calmly.
“What do you think, Lucius?”
“He’s the most likely, after you and that woman and myself, to have retained memories from before we broke through the time-magic barrier. Just a bit more of a shock and he might fully awaken.”
A bitter smile tugged at Fay’s lips.
“…He really is different from the others. And yet, why is it that someone who never burdened my past might have the power to remember it?”
‘It hurts.’
But those words, she couldn’t bring herself to say to Lucius. Not before she heard the words he had yet to confess.
Even Fay, who struggled to show affection, was beginning to realize.
Lucius sometimes looked at her – at her turned back, or her averted face – with quiet reverence.
But she never asked him why. Not until she heard the whole of his heart, she wouldn’t ask something so trivial.
Instead, Fay traced Kassel’s heart through the door.
Kassel, my brother. I was saved from pain the day I returned from death and met you again. You were the first to reach out to me. Just as I had longed for…
Even if not all my memories have returned, you acted differently than you did in the past. You brought me to the Mage Tower.
I still don’t like the Klein family… but even so, I don’t want to see you in pain. Just knowing I wasn’t alone in my loneliness somehow, that’s enough.
“Shall I stop him?”
“…No. Let it play out. I already told His Highness the Crown Prince everything about this trip. The truth will come out soon enough.”
“Very well.”
Fay gently brushed the sylph’s arm wrapped around her body.
Until just a few days ago, back at the Chionel estate, she hadn’t even been able to see sylphs. Lucius had lent her a touch of his magic to help her communicate with the wind spirits.
[“Once you can talk to the sylph, your range of movement will expand.”]
[“Again? Lucius, why do you keep giving me gifts far beyond what I deserve?!”]
[“I just want you to become a great mage… That’s all.”]
What he had given her was a special ring infused with wind magic. Not the ruby that had once blocked her powers, nor the sapphire hanging over Kassel’s chest.
It was an obsidian ring, just a shade lighter than Lucius’s black eyes, glowing faintly on her pinky finger.
“You could’ve kept it.”
When the sylph, at Fay’s request, returned to her, Lucius looked displeased.
“Undine I can understand. But sylphs? The Fine Echoes get so jealous.”
Three of the four had gone to the monastery area, so it wasn’t so bad now, but once things settled, they’d throw a fit.
“They’re greedy without any real power.”
“Hehe. You can always lend it to me again. And I think you were right… I do like sylphs.”
“…Yeah.”
Fay was the first to leave.
Lucius waited patiently. After a long while, the door opened.
Click.
“…Ah.”
Kassel finally looked up and saw Lucius still there.
“Your sister doesn’t want her story revealed. She won’t stop you from finding the truth, but…”
Whoosh.
Lucius turned and left with only those final words. And as he watched his back, Kassel could think of only one person.
……
T/N: Glad that Kassel knows now
Legnakra
Omgd fan-girl Screaming 🥹🥺😲!!!… Thank you Bunny