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“…”

Thinking back, the Duchess was right. For some reason, I had thought that when the time came, I’d just naturally escape this land.

I thought all I had to do was endure… but now I wondered if that might not be the case.

“Actually, you two have a lot in common. Can’t you rely on each other to live?”

“…What do we have in common?”

“That you both have to face a harsh world, that you’re still young, that you long for the warmth of your parents, and that you’ve witnessed your families’ struggles. It’s all similar.”

“…”

As I remained silent, the Duchess gently pinched my cheek and shook it.

Such behavior treated me like a complete child.

With a gentle smile, she said, “I hear that in the East Kingdom, the knight from the Allen Family is quite renowned?”

“…”

“Kylo, if I were to leave… could you watch over our daughter for me? Like a true knight.”

Stunned by the absurd request, I slowly brushed off the Duchess’s hand.

“Is that even a reasonable thing to ask?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“We’re from enemy families, you know.”

“I already told you. That’s an issue of our generation. You’re different. Do you have any reason to hate Vivian? Is there any reason for Vivian to hate you?”

“Of course there is. Not everyone can neatly separate their feelings like you, Duchess. Besides, what makes you think I could be trusted with such a thing? Relying on someone from an enemy family is just crazy. And on what grounds exactly do you want me to protect Vivian? The war was won by Delum Kingdom, after all.”

At that question, the Duchess’s smile gradually faded.

When her expression turned serious, I began to wonder if I had said something wrong, and she whispered softly.

“…Protect her from the Rondore Family.”

“Huh?”

It was a statement that made no sense. To protect Vivian Rondore from the Rondore Family?

If she hadn’t been wearing such a serious expression, I might have thought it was a joke.

“When I leave, wild dogs will gather to take Vivian’s position and what she has.”

“…”

“Until now, all our retainers and families have followed my husband. But with no son and me leaving… will enemies not target Vivian?”

“…”

“Please protect her, Kylo. If you feel compassion for lonely Vivian… if you can sense my desperation… if you can show mercy to the Rondores…”

‘…If you have any conscience, Kylo Allen… show mercy to our family…’

That voice echoed again.

–Rattle!

I stood up from my seat.

“…Stop it. Don’t you know my age? It’s hard enough to protect myself, how on earth would I protect anyone else?”

I was only 14 years old. I had just started to grow recently. My hair was just beginning to sprout.

Even when pushed around by adults, I sway in all directions—what could I possibly do?

The Duchess smiled sweetly.

“Really, is it impossible?”

“Yes. I don’t want to. Stop saying crazy things.”

As I turned my body to leave the room, I remembered that my only option was to go to the dungeon.

Ultimately, stuck in limbo, I frozen in the center of the room.

The Duchess, seeing my plight, shook a bell that was by her bed.

–Ring ring.

The door opened, and Pippin entered.

“Did you call?”

“Please prepare for our guest to wash up and rest. Take care of their wounds and prepare a meal as well.”

“…”

Pippin glanced at me once and nodded silently.

“Follow Pippin, Kylo. There will be another day for us to talk.”

“…”

“And when that time comes, please tell me about my son.”

That was a mention of Lois Rondore, who we once held as a captive.

I lightly bowed to her and left the room.

As soon as I stepped out, I noticed a presence waiting for my exit.

The very existence the Duchess had asked me to protect.

Vivian Rondore.

Once again, my heart sank. No matter how many times I saw her, she had a presence that could take my breath away.

Should I greet her or just ignore her? I had no idea.

While I awkwardly lingered, Vivian made her decision.

–Thud!

She brushed past me, tears in her eyes, and hit my shoulder.

Vivian passed through the door, and I heard her crying beyond the closed door.

That sound plunged me into deep thought again.

The Duchess had also said she was leaving this world; I wondered what state Vivian would be in when that happened.

Would she become strong after realizing reality… or would she crumble?

I didn’t want either option.

****

“Cough, cough!”

The Duchess of Rondore coughed violently. With each passing day, she felt her body getting weaker.

“It seems like there’s not much time left.”

She whispered in self-deprecation.

A man in the room nodded in agreement.

“Indeed.”

“…”

The Duchess hoped for the man to say something like “You will live longer, don’t worry” even if it was a white lie… but, well, honesty was his strong suit.

So he was a reliable presence.

Perhaps, if there was anyone to trust from the Rondore Family, it would be this man.

That much important discussion could be had with him, including matters about her death.

Wasn’t her husband the one who had said to rely on this man during tough times?

“So, what about the investigations?”

Suddenly, the Duchess whispered with a hint of hatred.

“Did a third party really get involved in the deaths of my husband and son?”

The atmosphere grew heavy according to the subject.

Publicly, it was known that the Duke of Rondore and his son Lois Rondore were killed by the Allen Family.

The Duke of Rondore had succumbed to wounds received in a battle with the undefeated knight Jade Allen.

Lois Rondore, previously a captive of the Allen Family… after the Duke’s death, he was released for humanitarian reasons, but during his return, he was caught in a landslide, causing the death of Lois and all his bodyguards.

The Duchess did not want to accept that Lois’s death was an accident.

Instead, she believed it was a scheme by the Allen Family.

They might not want to return the prodigal son to the Rondore Family, but they want the honor that comes from being humane, so they concocted this complicated scheme.

But there was one fact I learned later.

Lois Rondore had met the young Kylo Allen, who was watching the war.

At that time, Lois Rondore had shown mercy to Kylo Allen.

It was also likely that Jade Allen had spared Lois due to that kindness.

…After all, the Rondore Family had already started to decline after losing the Duke; therefore, there was no real need to kill Lois.

Thus, a hypothesis arose.

Perhaps there was someone trying to swallow the Rondore Family amid all this chaos.

There were many suspicious aspects surrounding the Duke’s death.

Could such a robust man really die from a single untreated injury?

Was Lois’s death truly accidental? Or was someone else involved?

The man accompanying the Duchess shook his head.

“…There are many unsettling aspects, but we still haven’t found definitive evidence of third-party involvement.”

“Is that so?”

“Madam, as I’ve always said… this could all just be my delusion. Maybe everyone really did die due to the Allen Family…”

The Duchess nodded.

“I honestly hope that’s the case now.”

“Huh…?”

“Then I’d be able to close my eyes knowing there’s no one targeting Vivian.”

“…”

“I’m scared. After I leave this world, what if Vivian trembles in fear of dying every day? What if she becomes lonely and starts searching for us each night?”

Before long, the Duchess’s eyes were brimming with tears.

The man sighed deeply and asked.

“Did the child from the Allen Family accept the proposal? To protect Lady Vivian?”

The Duchess wiped her tears and smiled lightly.

“I doubt it. I’m just glad he doesn’t think I’m crazy.”

It was a ridiculous request from the start.

Why would Kylo want to protect Vivian?

However, it had to be said, no matter how unreasonable. The Duchess was desperate.

When it came to the safety of her last child, no effort was too small.

Kylo Allen had come to this land for several reasons.

As the Duchess mentioned, there was undoubtedly an aspect for the local people…

…but the truth was, they needed his presence.

The Rondore Family might have unknown enemies lurking.

But that didn’t mean those enemies were reckless.

Though Kylo Allen wouldn’t realize it, he was an existence that couldn’t be killed in this land.

No one would dare to even attempt to kill him.

If anyone tried, the undefeated knight Jade Allen would come charging in.

There would be no point in consuming the soil meant for stamping.

Thus, the idea was that having Kylo close to Vivian would be the safest.

That was why she demanded him as a hostage.

Whether the plan would go well or not remained uncertain.

“What was the child from the Allen Family like?”

The man asked the Duchess.

The Duchess smiled, recalling their previous encounter.

“He was a good kid.”

The man raised an eyebrow, surprised.

“Really? I heard that he had a verbal spat in the square with thousands of people and was provoking them. Plus, do you know how intense the argument he had with Vivian in this room was?”

The Duchess chuckled.

“That’s good, isn’t it? Because he’s brave. Do you think many boys could act like that in the enemy’s territory?”

“…”

“The Allen Family is still the Allen Family. That courage… if he protects Vivian, it’ll be more than enough.”

“…Aren’t you worried about his reckless behavior?”

“It’s not recklessness… it’s likely that he was scared, too. When it was just the two of us, he was worried about me, and he wouldn’t raise his voice beyond a certain level. Even when brushing off my hand, he did it cautiously—cough cough!!”

The man quickly handed the Duchess a glass of water after her fit of coughing.

But the Duchess shook her head.

Then she said,

“I just hope Vivian doesn’t make too many mistakes when it comes to Kylo.”

“…If you’re talking about mistakes.”

“Vivian might be the only friend she can find in this land. She’ll grow very lonely. Not just because we’re gone, but the power she has to bear will make her feel isolated. Only Kylo will be free from that power.”

“…”

“But what if she hated Kylo for so long and then discovered that it was another enemy who caused our family’s deaths? What if she takes out her anger on the wrong person…?”

“You never know. In the end, it could all just be my delusions, and the Allen Family might be wholly responsible, which could be seen as a form of justice.”

“…Maybe. But would it really be justice to pin the guilt of a family on a child?”

“…”

The Duchess, struggling to swallow, uttered in that moment.

“…Please write my will.”

The man gritting his teeth nodded heavily and prepared paper and ink on the table.

“Go ahead and speak.”

“I’ve already spoken to the nanny about Vivian’s education. I specifically asked them to raise Vivian strictly… I trust the nanny, so… even if the punishment becomes severe, please keep an eye on her.”

“Delegating Vivian’s education to Lady Linne… and…”

Swish, swish.

The Duchess’s final words continued to be written down.

“…And lastly.”

“What is it?”

“…I’ll leave Vivian’s protection to Kylo.”

The man froze for a moment.

“…But, Madam.”

“Whether he follows through or not is up to Vivian. I shall conclude my will here.”

“Understood.”

The Duchess finished her will and looked up at the man.

They exchanged looks for a while.

The Duchess softly said, “…Thank you so much for everything.”

The man, trying to ease the mood, said, “There’s still time for goodbyes. We’ll see each other a few more times.”

“Even so, goodbyes are necessary.”

“…”

“…Vivian, you can protect her, right?”

The man chuckled and shook his head.

“I couldn’t possibly. I need to survive too. For a while, I plan to keep my distance from Lady Vivian. I’ll hide away. Even if Lady Vivian finds herself in danger, I’ll not risk my life to save her. I wouldn’t want to die for something that wouldn’t even be worth it.”

“Will you remain this blunt to the end?”

The Duchess said, sounding somewhat hurt, but the man did not retract his words.

Instead, he spoke after a long silence.

“…I will try.”

The Duchess smiled.

“That’s enough.”

And six days later, the Duchess passed away peacefully.

 

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