episode_0033

Darine and Kael returned from the engagement ceremony, and four days had passed.

Darine locked herself in her room, spending several nights in tears. The woman struggling with agony felt that her mind cleared a bit after enduring such times repeatedly.

No matter how agonizing it was, she couldn’t continue to show only a desolate appearance as the lady of the house. With her husband absent, she, as the lady of the house, needed to pull herself together.

The nobility’s laziness was the suffering of the common people. She couldn’t afford to be negligent even to them just because she was sad.

She immediately ordered an outing. The maids quickly came out to assist with the lady’s bath, tidy up her clothes, and even help with simple adornments.

Since returning to the castle, Darine had washed herself several times. Normally, she would have bathed just enough for her son, who liked his mother’s scent, but now that her son seemed to be interested in her scent, she no longer wanted to do so.

Especially in sensitive areas like between her legs, she washed even more meticulously, taking advantage of moments when the maids weren’t looking. After all, her son’s favorite scent emanated from there.

“Mother, good morning. It’s been a while.”

As she pushed the door to go out, a white-haired beast stood right in front of her. But this was Kaell. Originally, he had tried to sneak into his mother’s room starting from the second night, unable to control his desires.

“Kaell, please! You don’t like broken women either, right? Please, show some consideration so that Mother can calm down a bit!”

When Mother pleaded earnestly, he didn’t show his face for a moment. In his mind, Mother’s words, “You’re just like your father,” echoed.

“Hmph!”

Darine glanced at her son once and then turned her head sternly, striding towards the study. Kaell followed his mother with a disappointed smile.

Not far ahead, an old man appeared before the hastening footsteps. He greeted the lady, saying, “Good morning, Madam,” and with a puzzled expression, he asked her a question.

“Madam, have you perhaps had a disagreement with the young master?”

“…No.”

Alred, the head steward, had taken a vacation with his grandchildren and had just returned today. He heard from the servants that there was a rift between the two masters. From a loyal servant’s perspective, it wasn’t easy to overlook this.

But Darine simply replied that it was nothing in response to the old man’s concerned question.

“I tried not to interfere as much as possible… But according to other servants, Madam spent several nights in tears.”

“Oh, Alred…”

“Perhaps, other servants were also very worried about Madam. They couldn’t speak out of turn due to their commoner status. So, if it’s not too much to ask, could you alleviate our anxiety?”

“I really… it’s nothing…”

“Hmm.”

Under the gaze of the old steward stroking his beard, Darine couldn’t help but subtly notice. He was one of the few individuals among the servants who could voice opinions to the master. Alred, who handled the affairs of the estate for the baron, was like the left arm of the master. Though he was a viscount, being around 80 years old, even the baron himself couldn’t treat him lightly.

Moreover, among all the servants, Alred was the one who cared most for Darine. His youngest grandson, who had orange hair similar to Darine’s, had tragically passed away in an accident. Therefore, Alred took special care of Darine, treating her like a granddaughter. Darine trusted and followed Alred as if he were her grandfather.

My grandfather, a figure almost like a father to me, how could I bring up the story of being raped by my son? If my husband were to retire early, Alered would take in Cael. When Alered passes away, his grandson will take in Cael. If Alered were to incur the displeasure of the future lord he should serve, it would bring harm even to his family.

“But why are you so despondent? If you are so sorrowful, this old man worries.”

“T-The truth is, we just had a little argument about a marriage issue. Even though Cael is interested in the princess, he prefers the country girl… Ugh!”

Darine felt it would be awkward to just say everything was fine, so she embellished her words. She tried to maintain composure, but upon seeing the worried face of the old man, tears suddenly burst forth.

Yes, that’s right. Bringing up that my son raped me would only bring chaos and confusion.

‘Just keep quiet. Just me…’

Housekeeper Alered stiffened his face as he watched the lady shed tears. He then began to reprimand Cael who was beside him. Cael lamented that what his mother said was all true. He promised to apologize to his mother later and added that she shouldn’t worry too much.

“I understand. Since you two have such a special relationship, you will handle it yourselves. And young master, if I may make one slightly overstepping remark, while other parents may not know, the lady here deserves respect as a mother. So, even if there were disagreements. I hope you will bow your head with a broad heart. Even though one may say they have no parents, isn’t that not the case for our young master?”

Cael nodded in agreement with the frank statement of the loyal subject. Being a noble himself, Cael didn’t address Alered with as much formality as Darine did, but knowing he was one of the servants his mother cherished, he truly respected him.

“I will keep it in mind. I was rash. Marriage issues are sensitive, and I unintentionally got angry at my mother. I will be more careful to avoid such incidents in the future, so I hope you can overlook it this time.”

Cael bowed to both his mother and Alered, who raised his hands to indicate there was no need for this, then turned to the lady and continued speaking.

“Madam, it seems young master is genuinely reflecting on his actions, so how about granting forgiveness?”

“…Alright.”

Darine weakly nodded. The attendants watched with admiration as the young master earnestly accepted the steward’s advice. Alered remained stoic. He sent a grateful glance towards the young master for listening to him.

Watching her son receive the loyalty of the attendants, where would the mother be who could cry out, “This lunatic raped me!”? Acceptance was the only answer.

Setting aside her pride, despite the pain she endured, Darine was still a mother. She couldn’t stop her son’s determined path in life.

“Is my child correct? How can he act so nonchalantly…”

Even though she considered herself lucky to have gotten through it, her son’s indifferent acting was repulsive. Darine was clearly in a position where she should express anger, yet he was her son, which made it difficult. The heated madam once again walked briskly back to the study.

– Tick, tock, tick, tock.

The maid followed the steward into the study. The servants, seeing the two masters enter, respectfully bowed their heads and withdrew.

Madam Daryn visited her private office for a reason: in her husband’s absence, she was responsible for all the duties of Bayoren Castle. With the young lord having returned from vanquishing the demon king, authority was in the process of being transferred to Kael.

Indeed, there wasn’t anything particularly special about Daryn’s visit here. She had simply not yet finalized the handover with her son. But that was also why she had postponed this day; she feared being alone with her son.

“…”

Silence fell upon the office where the two hats had arrived. Kael said nothing, just gazing out the window.

– Swoosh.

He gently took his mother’s small hand in his, uttering his first words.

“I missed you, Mother.”

“…”

“Why are you silent when I express my feelings?”

“For now, sit down. There are matters to discuss regarding the Earl of Serdland, the disputed territory.”

The Serdland Earls, like the Bayoren Lords, served the Northern Duke. They were a knightly family that had clashed with the independent duchy of Bayoren in the past.

And this history persisted to this day. The Serdlanders scorned the Bayorens as barbarians, and the Bayorens dismissed the Serdlanders as savages.

Hence, the conflicts with them needed to be conveyed to Kael, especially since the recent movements of the Serdland Earls were concerning.

“The Earl of Serdland… It may be important, but there are matters more pressing than that.”

However, unlike his mother, the son seemed unconcerned. Daryn blinked at her son’s question, wondering what he intended to say. His excitement had been building visibly, making it impossible for him to contain.

“Can you tell me how many nobles outside the Bayoren territory know you, Mother?”

Fortunately, the question posed by her son was relatively normal. Though abrupt, it was akin to a gentleman asking for a dance compared to demanding something inappropriate.

“…There might be just over ten nobles who recognize your face, and among them, the most influential figure is the Northern Duke, the ruler of the North.”

Even as Daryn felt relieved, her gaze kept drifting towards her son’s evident arousal. However, his excitement was so palpable that even through his pants, a transparent line of pre-cum was visible. How could her gaze not be drawn to it?

“Oh, Mother. Don’t worry. I’ve suffered from lovesickness for days because of a certain lady who treats me so harshly…”

Sensing the girl’s gaze, Kael only offered a slight smile. What exactly was going on in his mind remained a mystery.

Finally meeting her son’s eyes, Daryn found him glaring at her with heated breath, seemingly exercising patience in his own way.

Daryn could offer nothing in return. She could only hope her son wouldn’t assault her within the mansion and maintained her ignorance. Seeing his raging desire, it seemed he hadn’t even resorted to self-pleasure. His intentions were inscrutable.

Thus, Daryn continued listing the handover details, oblivious to the situation, while Kael subtly scrutinized his mother’s body with a peculiar nuance.