Chapter 88
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Chapter 88
"W-will it be taken from me?"
"Sigh... what foolish words you speak."
The Duke straightened from his bow before Edwin, running a rough hand through his hair.
"Did you not promise me? That you would become the Duke of Bellomen after me?"
Edwin nodded.
"If you made a promise, you must keep it, naturally."
"Y-yes..."
"Everything in your hands now, everything you desire—Lucian will take it all from you. Will that still be acceptable?"
The Lucian that Edwin knew was not such a person.
He treated him like a younger brother, even offering him his cherished toys.
Reading Edwin's confusion, the Duke spoke with unwavering resolve.
"Do not trust Lucian. Trust me instead. Your family is me, not Lucian."
"Ugh..."
Tears welled at such heartless words.
Brother Lucian had been so kind to me, even calling me his brother.
Were we truly not family?
"Sigh... children crying really is..."
The Duke swallowed the rest of his words and turned his gaze from Edwin.
"That will suffice for today. Now leave."
"S-sob, yes."
"Return to your room and carefully consider what I have said."
"I understand."
Edwin stifled the sobs threatening to escape and hastily left the Duke's room.
"My goodness, Young Master. What is wrong?"
"Did something happen?"
The alarmed maids asked the tearful Edwin, but he did not answer.
'Father dislikes children who cry.'
Then I had to hold back these tears.
I did not wish to lose the family I had gained with such difficulty.
"No. I'm not crying."
"But..."
"It's fine, so please leave. I'm going to my room."
Edwin trudged toward his room, his retreating figure watched by the maids with worried eyes.
The moment Edwin returned to his room, he threw himself onto the bed.
He could not understand his father's words at all.
Neither the words about being outpaced by a rival, nor the words telling him not to trust Lucian.
Everything he had spoken was nothing but confusion.
"Sob..."
Tears leaked out despite his efforts. Yet he could not cry freely.
All Edwin could do was bury his face in the pillow and swallow his sobs.
How much time had passed like that?
"I'm so hungry..."
Edwin sat up on the bed, clutching his growling stomach.
Perhaps from overthinking, hunger had crept up on him.
"Should I go ask for a snack?"
Lucella had said that eating something sweet lifted her spirits. He should ask for something sweet.
As he was about to leave the room with that thought—
"So what happens to Miss Agris?"
Edwin's footsteps froze at the maids' whispered conversation.
Miss Agris. That was the name used to refer to Amelia.
"There were originally marriage talks between young master Edwin and her."
"Perhaps she'll become engaged to young master Lucian? It seems the next head of the house will be young master Lucian, after all."
"True. He accomplished such an extraordinary feat—subjugating monsters. Of course young master Lucian will become the Duke."
The maids who had been conversing departed down the corridor.
Yet Edwin found himself unable to move.
'Lucian and Amelia... are getting engaged?'
Wasn't that supposed to be with me?
Edwin's face grew confused as he turned over the maids' words in his mind.
Edwin loved Amelia.
It was embarrassing to say aloud, but if he could, he wanted to marry Amelia.
That's why he hoped he would become a father, and Amelia would become a mother.
Just like the pretend games they played at the Orphanage.
'But instead of me, with Lucian...'
Edwin recalled Amelia smiling shyly as she read Lucian's letter.
'Everything you have in your hands now, everything you desire—you'll lose it all to Lucian. Are you still content with that?'
The Duke's words from moments ago echoed in his ears like a ringing sound.
* * *
"Wow, Aunt! Look at this!"
Lucian pointed inside his mouth, and I peered at the child's front teeth.
His upper teeth were loose, about to fall out.
"Wow, is it already time for your teeth to fall out?"
"Right? I've grown a lot, haven't I?"
"Yes."
"I was upset that mine hadn't fallen out yet, but this is perfect!"
Delighted at the thought of soon acquiring permanent teeth, Lucian began bouncing around the Military Camp.
'His growth rate is like bamboo.'
I smiled as I watched Xenon observe Lucian proudly displaying his loose tooth.
After undergoing an enormous awakening, Lucian had begun growing at a rapid pace.
'Aunt, my feet got so big that my toes are sticking out of my shoes!'
"Didn't you notice your shoes have gotten too small? Your feet must have been aching."
"A man doesn't whine over such trivial pain!"
The first sign was the shoes that no longer fit.
"Aunt, look at this! All my clothes are too short."
The second sign was the clothes that had become too small.
He was growing so rapidly that his wrists and ankles were exposed between the shortened sleeves and cuffs.
I had brought clothes with his growth spurt in mind, but I never anticipated he would outgrow them so quickly.
For now, Lucian had cut down soldiers' uniforms to fit and squeezed his feet into low-collared shoes.
'I'll need to have new clothes tailored as soon as we return to the Capital.'
At least there was one consolation—we would be leaving this place tomorrow.
With the subjugation of the Monster Forest complete, the Subjugation Unit had decided to return directly to the Imperial Capital. There was no reason to linger in this desolate place any longer.
"Has the search been completed?"
"Yes. It's all clear."
The soldiers who had finished searching the forest reported to Claude.
They had conducted a thorough search to ensure no monsters had been overlooked.
"Miss Agris, you said you felt no magical energy either, correct?"
"That's right."
I nodded in agreement.
Today I had spent the entire day flying about, surveying the entire Monster Forest. Fortunately, I had sensed no magical energy whatsoever.
"With two confirmations complete, we need not worry about any remaining monsters."
"And thanks to Lucian's efforts, the magical energy that covered the ground has been completely purified as well."
"Excellent. We shall depart for the Capital as scheduled tomorrow."
"Understood."
I answered Claude with firm conviction.
'We're finally going back.'
I clenched my fists as I gazed toward the direction of the Capital.
The Duke had driven us out here to prevent Lucian from becoming his successor. But we—no, Lucian—had grown far stronger than anyone could have anticipated.
Not just in ability, but in character as well.
The spoiled, petulant child had quietly matured into someone capable of understanding the hearts of others.
'I will never allow Lucian to be disrespected.'
I steeled my resolve, determined to stand against the Duke.
* * *
With the monster subjugation fully complete, the Subjugation Unit set out directly for the Capital.
Fortunately, the weather was clear and the condition of both the soldiers and their horses was excellent.
After camping once at a midpoint, we rode hard and finally entered the Capital.
As we approached the gates of the First Castle on the outskirts of the Capital, the gatekeeper opened them before we even came to a stop, having spotted the Subjugation Unit's banner from a distance.
The Subjugation Unit, having signaled to the gatekeeper and the knights in the watchtower, slowed their pace as they advanced. Beyond the gates lay the New District, where people gathered and lived!
"Hurrah!"
People who spotted the Subjugation Unit began gathering along the road one by one. They had come to celebrate the unit's complete victory.
"Welcome home safely!"
Merchants abandoned their stalls and rushed into the streets, while those still trapped inside leaned their upper bodies out the windows, waving their hands frantically. Many clutched yellow flags symbolizing victory.
"How magnificent!"
"They're heroes!"
The greetings welcoming the Subjugation Unit echoed through the streets. The members' faces were flushed with overwhelming emotion.
My heart was already racing from participating in just one subjugation, so I could only imagine how joyful Claude and the other members must feel.
"Auntie, auntie. People are calling me a hero."
Lucian, who had been groaning from motion sickness moments before, suddenly sprang to his feet upon hearing the word "hero." He seemed absolutely delighted by the praise.
"Can I wave back at them?"
"Of course. Just be careful not to lean too far out the window."
With my permission, Lucian opened the window and poked his head out.
"Why is there a child with the Subjugation Unit?"
"Oh, you know—the one with that incredible holy power."
"Ah, so that child purified all the monsters with holy power?"
"Remarkable!"
Hearing the passersby's conversation, Lucian's cheeks flushed crimson.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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