Chapter 71
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The Male and Female Leads Broke Up - Episode 71
"What did you just say?"
"Return everything to me. Duke Cain Maxius's love, Aiden's affection and attention—give it all back. Then I'll kneel before the lady and apologize."
She was asking for something I couldn't return even if I wanted to, and I was so flabbergasted that words escaped me.
Was this the price of trusting someone?
I found myself drowning in regret over my foolish decision in the past—I should have kept my distance instead.
"I was genuinely trying to get along, and I believed we could truly mend a relationship that had been broken from the start because of a man... but..."
"How foolish."
Yes, she was right. I had been utterly foolish.
"Does Aiden know?"
Adela suddenly burst into a scoff.
"If that boy knew, would he have stayed silent? I've watched him since he was very young. So I could tell at a glance where Aiden's gaze was directed."
"..."
"But do you know what? Whether Aiden has feelings for the lady or not doesn't matter at all. He's bound to House Byon, after all."
"Isn't it too much to speak of your own brother as being subordinate while calling yourselves family?"
How could she speak to her brother in such a manner?
Though I had no siblings of my own, I could recognize that her words were cruel.
"Ah."
But then Adela's expression shifted, as though she'd suddenly realized something.
"I see."
She continued muttering to herself, then pulled one corner of her mouth upward into a smile.
Then she murmured words I couldn't quite make out.
"I'll reveal everything tomorrow."
Whatever she was babbling about now didn't matter to me.
I declared war on her immediately.
"You have no evidence. Yet you claim you'll prove I did it?"
"I have both evidence and a witness."
"My escort knight? He cannot speak a word about anything. Especially not about me."
"No, I'll make him speak."
"How?"
"Why should I tell you that?"
"It's pitiful that you claim to have a method when you don't. Meanwhile, I have overwhelming evidence to prove the lady is the culprit."
Wait, wasn't she supposed to be the female lead?
For a moment, I genuinely doubted whether the person standing before me was truly Adela Byon.
What on earth is this story?
Why did the male and female leads switch places, throwing me into such confusion?
But I couldn't afford to lose.
'Pull yourself together.'
Yes, I could start over from the beginning.
After coming this far, there was no way I could simply surrender now.
"We'll have to see tomorrow whether I truly have nothing left to offer."
I fixed Adela with a confident expression.
At that, a hairline fracture appeared in her otherwise composed facade.
It was such a minute crack that I barely managed to catch it.
"It seems there's nothing more for us to discuss."
"Indeed. Then I'll take my leave."
"Yes, do go inside."
After Adela left the Garden, I soon departed the Manor's grounds and returned home.
I sorted through the tangled thoughts from our conversation and methodically laid out my plan.
Then I began moving busily in preparation for the all-out confrontation with her that would come soon.
But the very next morning, the matter Father had mentioned erupted.
Monsters appeared at the Northern Border, attacking people indiscriminately.
The Empire hastily assembled a Monster Subjugation Force.
Father was scheduled to depart with them.
I wanted to attend to his every need until the day he left, ensuring he lacked for nothing.
But my zeal proved excessive, and Father suffered an accident during training just days before the expedition.
"Father!"
I rushed into my parents' bedchamber and quickly examined Father with worried eyes. Bandages were wrapped around his shoulder.
"How did you injure yourself, Father?"
"This is what happens when you don't listen to me about moderation, dear."
"Ahem!"
Father let out a displeased cough at Mother's nagging.
"Mother, how exactly did Father get hurt?"
"During the expedition preparations, his strength wasn't what it used to be, and fearing the Knights might look down on the family, he trained at night. He overexerted his shoulder and tore a muscle, they say."
In a way, it was so like Father—passionate about everything.
"Still, I can depart, so don't worry."
"How can you go in this condition?"
"I can go."
Father continued to insist stubbornly despite Mother's persuasion.
"Father, in your current state, you won't even be able to ride properly."
So I joined in, attempting to convince Father.
"Ahem. Don't you still need to resolve the Carriage incident? That's why I must go."
"The Carriage incident can be reinvestigated after you return. How could I, as your child, stand by while you set out in such a condition? I'll go instead, Father."
"Belita...."
Mother gazed at me with eyes brimming with concern.
"Mother, please don't worry. I am your daughter, after all. I will manage well even at the Northern Border."
"Dear, let's do this. I too would prefer Belita not go if possible, but you cannot go in your condition. If someone must go, it's only right that Belita goes in your stead."
Mother always made wise decisions regardless of circumstance, so I nodded in agreement as I listened to her words.
"...I understand. How foolish of me to injure myself and end up sending my own daughter to the battlefield. I'm sorry, Belita."
"No, Father. It was always a place I would have to go eventually. Going a bit sooner doesn't make it wrong."
I made an effort to ease the burden weighing on Father's heart.
"Yes, we possess a power of fire that none dare covet. With this power alone, you will be safe."
House of Fire.
And the power of House of Fire.
"I will pass this ring to you."
It was a crimson ring adorning Father's left hand.
The ring possessed the power to summon Phenia, the guardian of House of Fire.
"Am I worthy of wearing that ring?"
"Of course. If not you, then no one else deserves to wear it."
Father's voice and expression were resolute.
Such unwavering conviction from him filled me with greater courage and confidence.
Parents who always believed in me without hesitation.
"Thank you, Father and Mother."
In the end, I left the carriage incident unresolved and joined the Monster Subjugation Force.
* * *
The situation at the Northern Border was worse than expected.
Thus, the Monster Subjugation Force was decided to comprise approximately thirty thousand from the Capital, and roughly seventy thousand from the castles of various lords throughout the Empire.
A grand army totaling one hundred thousand strong.
Ediel Winston Balteus Crown Prince assumed supreme command of the Capital's forces.
Beneath him, the three Duke Families—myself, Aiden, and Cain Maxius—were to command the Knights.
Thorough preparations were essential for the lengthy journey to the north while assembling the Subjugation Force, and to prepare for any prolonged conflict that might ensue.
Though they ordinarily snarled at one another, they understood precisely when the moment came to unite their strength.
With the combined power of the three families, the preparations for departure progressed swiftly.
And at last, it was the eve of the expedition.
The Imperial Court held a grand banquet.
It was a celebration to uplift the morale of the nobility and Knights participating in the monster subjugation, and to honor their spirit of sacrifice for the Empire.
Today, I wore a crimson dress embroidered with golden thread—not to stand out, but to display the dignity befitting House of Fire.
The Imperial Court had prepared separate quarters for lower-ranking Knights, while the nobility enjoyed the festivities in the grand hall within the Imperial Palace.
I accompanied my parents, exchanging greetings with the nobility throughout the Banquet Hall.
As I was enduring those tedious moments, Cain entered the Banquet Hall.
Without glancing elsewhere, he approached me the moment he saw me.
"Duke Heitz."
"Duke Maxius."
My mother and I greeted Cain in turn, after which my father began conversing with him.
"I hear you've resolved to join this expedition, Duke."
"Yes, that's correct. As a Duke of the Empire, it is only right that I fulfill my duty."
"However, the House of Maxius has no heir as yet. You could have been excused from this Subjugation Force."
"I believe it is more fitting to prioritize the Empire over the matter of succession."
"Still, I think it would be wise for you to reconsider, Duke. Without you, the House of Maxius would face the extinction of its line."
As my father said, those without an heir were permitted to withdraw from the obligation of expedition.
Therefore, Cain Maxius need not have joined this Subjugation Force.
Yet for some reason, he was insisting on participating in this expedition.
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