episode_0048

A quiet office.

Grrrr-.

A transparent glass is filled with red wine.

Rachel looked at her father sitting across from her.

‘What is happening?’

I wouldn’t have invited him to just drink wine this late at night. My relationship with my father wasn’t particularly bad, but we weren’t close enough to enjoy drinking alone.

If so, it would be better to think that something important is happening.

My father’s expression gave strength to that thought. The depth of the water felt quite serious.

But, what on earth are you talking about? I couldn’t have predicted it at all.

‘Have you already heard what happened at the social church?’

I wonder if my father heard that I was trying to harass Luna and that I got involved with the prince in a bad way.

That’s what I thought, but my mind soon shifted towards denial. Not only was the cult not over yet, but it was not something he personally committed in the first place.

If so, what on earth are you talking about?

Such concerns were going back and forth in Rachel’s head.

My father held the wine glass, twirled it in a circle, and then brought it to his mouth.

widely-.

In the silence, the sound of the glass being put down was unusually loud.

“Rachel.”

A heavy and solemn voice.

However, unlike usual, it was soft and sad.

“Do you have a lot of resentment toward Luna?”

“Of course… .”

Of course I feel resentful.

Rachel, who was about to give an answer, continued her conversation.

Because I knew that Luna had done nothing wrong. There was no reason to resent her.

“… I don’t know.”

Was it because of the atmosphere? For the first time, I was able to tell my truth.

A deep sigh came out right after, but it was due to frustration with myself.

Gulp-gulp-.

I drank wine to soothe my mind. It was an act that lacked the dignity of nobility, but there was no time to worry about such things. This may also be due to the atmosphere.

Rachel put down her empty wine glass and continued speaking.

“I don’t like it though.”

Regardless of personal feelings, there was no doubt that Luna and Iris were a stain on the dukedom.

A nobleman must always be perfect. This is especially true for the duke who supports the emperor right below him.

We must not distrust the people of the empire at any time, and we must always set an example and do good deeds.

In that respect, Luna’s mere existence is a stain.

Of course, there is no way she is guilty. Because we were just born that way.

But what can you do? They say water is thicker than blood, but even that blood was just ink before the family’s honor.

After hearing Rachel’s answer, her father smiled bitterly for a moment and then took a swig of wine.

widely-.

He said, putting down his wine glass loudly.

“Rachel, don’t leave the judgment up to you. After all, you are the one who will lead this family after me.”

A moment of silence.

Rachel couldn’t reply, but the story began to flow from the matriarch’s mouth.

A story from a very long time ago.

* * * * *

Mite-!

The loud cries of a newborn baby echoed throughout the large castle.

As soon as Dekaron Iris, the head of the Iris duchy, heard that sound, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Hearing a child cry meant that the child had been born safely.

However, it was too early to be completely reassured. It was because he was worried about his wife and mother, Dana Iris.

She had been in poor health since birth, so it was natural for her to be worried, especially after giving birth.

“Matriarch, it will be okay.”

Seeing the matriarch stomping her feet, the head deacon finally spoke. I think that worrying about your wife is not much different whether you are a duke or a commoner.

“Yes, I guess so.”

Although her health is not good, she is a woman whose will is stronger than anyone else’s. Against that backdrop, didn’t you get married despite your family’s opposition?

However, the mind did not become quiet that easily, and was still moving around without being able to calm down.

That was when Dekaron suppressed the desire to kick in the door hundreds of times.

Dalkak-.

The door opened and the therapist who helped with the birth came out.

Dekaron walked up to him, grabbed his shoulder, and asked.

“What happened! Are Dana and the child both safe?!”

“Both the baby and the mother are safe.”

“Thank goodness… .”

The anxiety that had filled his heart melted away, and Dekaron lowered his head with a sigh of relief. It was an action that a noble should not show, but there was no time to worry about such things.

“It’s okay to go inside and meet for a moment… .”

“Is that really okay?!”

“Yes, the treatment is already over and I am recovering, so it is okay.”

Dekaron followed the therapist’s recommendation and went inside.

And then, in her womb, Dana, the wife she loved most in the world, faced the tomboy who had been tormenting her for a long time.

“Honey, look at Rachel. It’s very pretty… ?”

Dana was lying on the bed, holding Rachel in her arms.

Thankfully, his child, who was born into the world safely from his weak body, cannot even open his eyes properly yet.

Someone once said that it doesn’t hurt to put a baby in the eye, and I was beginning to realize what they said.

For this child, he would do anything, even give up his life.

“It’s really hard to believe that this baby was growing in your stomach, even though it’s natural.”

“Me too.”

Dekaron looked at Rachel in Dana’s arms. Although he was wrinkled, his appearance was so cute and lovely that I thought he would have no fatherly love, but that was not the case.

‘I said it was my daughter.’

I don’t know who it will be, but if there is a man who makes Rachel cry, I won’t leave him alone.

He was already becoming a fool.

“Grow up happily for the rest of your life.”

“You too should be happy for the rest of your life.”

Dana burst out laughing at Dekaron’s words.

Perhaps because the child was born, he, who was normally shy, became honest and it was so cute.

“Please make it so.”

“Just trust me.”

I will work my whole life to make sure Dana and Rachel are happy.

Dekaron thought that was enough. Since I had enough wealth and fame, I thought I would never experience any misfortune in my life.

Five years passed like that.

Rachel, who had just begun to turn over on her own, was soon learning to walk and talk.

He was so healthy that it was hard to believe he was born to a mother who was not in good health.

“Mom! this! Flower!”

“Yes, yes, it is a flower.”

“This is a stone!”

“Yes, it is a stone. Our Rachel is smart because she takes after her dad?”

When Rachel was told that she looked like her father, she gasped and looked around.

Then he approached Dana and spoke in a low voice.

“No, Dad. Looks like mom Dad is scared.”

“Who said what?”

Dekaron, who was sneaking up to Rachel to surprise her, frowned at Rachel’s words. Of course, it was full of fun, but there was no way young Rachel could have known that.

“Huh?!”

Rachel looked back, was startled, and ran behind Dana.

Then he stuck his head out and looked at his father.

‘scared… .’

To a child, the majestic appearance of the Duke was extremely scary.

“Honey, am I that scared?”

“It all looks like that to the kids. It just looks cool to me.”

“What… That’s it then.”

Dekaron scratched his head shyly.

“Rachel, you can’t tell dad you’re scared, right?”

“But… yo. this. You always scold me.”

“That’s all just to wish you well.”

“Yes… .”

The three spent time together in the garden. We enjoyed simple refreshments and laughed at Rachel’s actions of running away after seeing a bee.

The night that came like that.

While Dana was putting Rachel to bed, Dekaron returned to the office and found a piece of paper with strange writing on the table.

[It is time to fulfill the promise.]

Promise, what kind of promise are you talking about?

Who put this paper here before?

After Rachel was born, security was strengthened even more than before. All occupants of the mansion were selected only from those with clear identities.

From that day on, Dekaron inspected all parts again.

Everything from security personnel to employees.

However, of course, no one had placed such a piece of paper, and no one had even seen anyone enter the office.

Then one day it happened.

Dekaron found a strange book in a corner of his office.

It was a book that had no title and gave me a somewhat ominous feeling.

He dusted off the book, sat down in his office, and began to read it.

The book was a diary. A diary believed to belong to the first head of the family.

There were many different things written in it, but there was only one sentence that stood out the most.

[I made a deal with the devil.]