Duke Yousef

Bella’s decisiveness to take action herself was more impressive than I thought. Bella immediately gave several instructions to her subordinates and took us straight to the portal station.

Whether she had prepared in advance or not, we didn’t even need to stop and were able to immediately enter a direct portal to Union, where the Yousef Dukedom was located.

About ten minutes passed from the end of the conversation to arriving in Union. This level of proactivity definitely deserves praise.

Kane looked exhausted from the rapidly changing situation. I patted Kane on the shoulder and glanced at the man next to Bella, who was keeping his mouth shut like someone who had forgotten how to speak.

Exactly as described in the novel. A scar across his face, a tall stature, and a muscular body covered in small scars, with red hair resembling Lacar.

Ian, the Church’s hunting dog, once known as the Paladin of Scarlet Light, had followed Bella as her escort knight.

We didn’t have time for separate greetings, but he’s just someone who became Bella’s hunting dog anyway. I didn’t feel particularly disappointed since there was no reason to get close.

As we exited the portal station, a luxurious carriage was waiting for us. Seeing the carriage depart without us even stating our destination, I could tell how much Bella’s influence had grown compared to the first semester.

“I have something to ask.”

I raised my head at Bella’s words, but her gaze was directed at Kane, not me. Kane, who looked exhausted, snapped out of it at my gesture and looked up at Bella.

“As I said before, the rights of a guardian cannot be ignored. Especially Kane, when you have the special status of being an illegitimate child. This is the most sensitive issue regarding family-related laws.”

I could feel Kane’s body flinch greatly at Bella’s words. Bella continued in a cold voice, seemingly unconcerned by the reaction.

“The Yousef family submitting your withdrawal from the academy using their guardian rights means they are prohibiting the external activities of an illegitimate child. Even if I stop this with my power, the fundamental problem that the Yousef family doesn’t want an illegitimate child engaging in external activities won’t be resolved.”

Kane’s face hardened, and he clenched his jaw. After a moment of contemplation, Kane looked at me, not Bella, with a gloomy gaze.

Kane placed his hands on his knees and said with a smile.

“Thank you. For going this far for someone like me who’s nothing special.”

The sincerity in Kane’s voice made me feel embarrassed for no reason, so I replied in a blunt tone.

“Because you’re a friend… and a club member.”

Kane gave a bitter smile at my answer.

“I figured that the club president suffered some significant loss for my sake. I don’t know what it is… but judging from the Crown Princess-nim’s reaction, it wouldn’t have been something you’d do just to save a powerless illegitimate child.”

Strictly speaking, it’s not that much of a loss. But there’s no need to dwell on every detail. Besides, we’re friends. But I didn’t answer. Even if I don’t say it, Kane will naturally find out in the future.

Kane sighed deeply.

“The club president is right. I’ve been bound by the shackles of Yousef for too long. So I’ve never even imagined breaking free from it and dreaming of revenge. The shackles were just a natural part of me. It was a hellish family, but I was a disgusting hypocrite who couldn’t give up the small privileges those shackles provided.”

Kane turned his head and asked Bella.

“I will abandon the Yousef name. If I do that, you won’t be able to use the guardian’s rights, right? Can this completely solve the problem?”

Bella, as if she had been waiting for those words, made her golden eyes shine like a snake and raised the corners of her lips.

“Of course, I can solve it perfectly.”

At those words, Kane immediately replied without hesitation.

“Then I’ll do that.”

Kane smiled at me with a relaxed face that showed no regret.

“If it weren’t for the club president’s advice, I would never have made this choice. I was a frog in a well who thought my family was everything in life. So… thank you sincerely, club president.”

Seeing Kane scratching his cheek with an awkward expression, I pretended to be nonchalant and mumbled while rubbing between my eyebrows.

“Buy me food next time.”

I heard Bella chuckle softly, but I pretended not to hear it.

***

The carriage arrived in front of the grand gate of a magnificent mansion. Beyond the iron-fenced walls, several large buildings could be seen, and inside, there was also a large pond. This place was about the same size as the academy in the capital.

Not long after a servant, with a hurried expression, rushed into the mansion to confirm the Crown Princess-nim’s identity, people came rushing out of the mansion in a flurry. As we got out of the carriage, many bald spots greeted us.

“The heir of the Yousef family, Kyle, expresses all due respect to the Crown Princess-nim who has visited our family.”

Bella replied in a soft voice to Kyle, who was bowing respectfully.

“Thank you for kindly welcoming my sudden visit, Kyle.”

“We consider it a great honor that the Crown Princess-nim has not forgotten our family and has taken the time to visit us.”

Listening to them say things they wouldn’t normally say in voices that seemed to be trying to sound as beautiful as possible, I felt a ticklish sensation down my spine.

While the noble conversation continued, I felt gazes scanning Kane and me up and down. They seemed curious as to why the Crown Princess-nim had returned with an illegitimate child she had treated as if he didn’t exist.

“…As it happens, the family is preparing a banquet. It would be a great pleasure if the Crown Princess-nim would attend.”

“I gratefully accept.”

Finally, the pretentious conversation seemed to be over, and Kyle matched his pace with Bella as they entered the mansion together. We followed closely behind.

We were guided to a reception room by Kyle and took a short break. Before leaving the reception room, Kyle glanced at Kane, but he didn’t say anything in particular, so it seemed he thought it was best to treat him as if he didn’t exist, even if he was curious.

We didn’t really need a break since we had traveled comfortably in the carriage, but this break wasn’t for us. They must be desperately racking their brains on how to treat the Crown Princess-nim who suddenly appeared with the family’s illegitimate child.

Thanks to that, the reception room fell silent for a while. We weren’t close enough to have small talk anyway. Still, not wanting to keep the Crown Princess-nim waiting for too long, Kyle soon guided us to the building where the banquet would be held.

Opening the doors to the banquet hall, there was a long table beneath a massive chandelier, piled high with all sorts of food like a tower. These weren’t just foods that filled the space with quantity. They were dishes made with rare ingredients that were hard to find even in the capital.

Everyone who had been waiting for the Crown Princess-nim stood up from their chairs and greeted Bella with proper etiquette.

“We have prepared the best seat for the Crown Princess-nim.”

Kyle politely gestured to a seat next to a middle-aged man. Judging by his resemblance to Kyle and his position, that person must be Kane’s father, Duke Yousef.

Duke Yousef, with his affable impression, wore a gentle smile. If I hadn’t heard the secrets about Kane, I might have mistaken him for a good person.

“Welcome to the Dukedom. Crown Princess Bella-nim.”

There was only one seat next to Duke Yousef. As a servant was about to guide us to another table with a respectful posture, Bella asked in a soft voice.

“Thank you for the welcome. But wouldn’t there be a seat for my people to sit next to me?”

“…Of course. If it’s what the Crown Princess-nim wants, we must create one even if there isn’t one.”

Duke Yousef gestured for the people occupying one of the tables to vacate it. As we sat down, Duke Yousef gave a short speech announcing the start of the banquet.

“…Also, we consider it a great honor that the Crown Princess-nim has visited this family gathering. Now, let us raise our glasses with joyful hearts.”

Duke Yousef raised an empty glass. Everyone else raised their glasses as well, but we remained still since Bella was still.

“Our family has an old tradition of sharing wine before the start of a banquet.”

Duke Yousef explained to Bella in a soft voice, and Bella asked with a captivating smile.

“May I also participate in that tradition?”

At those words, Duke Yousef’s eyes flashed for a moment.

“If you would, our family would remember it as an immense honor.”

It was Kyle who answered, sitting next to Duke Yousef. He had been reacting favorably to Bella since earlier, and it was obvious that he was smitten with her appearance.

Duke Yousef glared slightly, displeased that his son had jumped into the conversation without permission, and Kyle shrank back.

As Bella raised her glass, we followed suit and raised our empty glasses. Duke Yousef, receiving a wine bottle from a servant, went around the table and poured wine for everyone in turn.

When it was Kane’s turn, he filled the empty glass with wine, though he looked at him silently for a moment.

“Now, then, wishing that the Yousef family will always be united. And for the shining future of the Crown Princess-nim.”

Duke Yousef emptied his glass, and everyone followed suit. The sweet and bitter aftertaste left a faint impression before disappearing in my mouth.

The banquet began, and servants respectfully placed the dishes from the table onto our front plates. Bella and Duke Yousef discussed the food, seemingly not intending to get to the main point right away, so Kane and I focused on the food.

The sound of knives and forks touching plates, the sound of glasses being placed down, and the sound of wine being poured filled the banquet hall. Kane had put down his fork a long time ago, as if the food wasn’t going down well.

Just as I was about to fill my stomach, Bella finally got to the point.

“I heard that the Yousef Dukedom used their guardian rights to submit Kane’s withdrawal from the academy without even asking for his opinion.”

Duke Yousef’s hand, which had been cutting lamb, stopped abruptly.

“…It seems that alchemy is not suitable for our family after all. I decided that there was no need to waste Kane’s time any longer. A man should wield a sword. That’s why I called him back.”

Bella returned Duke Yousef’s gentle smile with a captivating one of her own.

“Is that so? I misunderstood. I thought Duke Yousef wanted to make me his enemy again.”

It was a soft voice as if passing by, but everyone in the banquet hall could feel that she had said those words.

Because everyone had stopped their hands, all noise except for breathing disappeared from the banquet hall.