episode_0059

After completing the audience, Deltan walked around the imperial castle.

That was the thought that came to mind as I headed to the parking spot.

How should I tell Agnes about this?

‘driving me crazy.’

Deltan pressed his index finger between his eyes.

That’s because I couldn’t think of a way to say, ‘I think I’ll have to call my friend mother from now on.’

Is that all?

In fact, how do you say ‘your friend was in love with your dad’?

Of course, Agnes already knew Elina’s feelings, but as a Delta person, you wouldn’t know that.

That’s why his mind was becoming dizzy from the thoughts that came to mind.

It was at such a moment that I encountered Duke Levadein.

“Count Hebron?”

Deltan raised his head.

For some reason, the emaciated Duke Levadein was there with his eyes wide open.

Deltan trembled and lowered his head.

“… Are you leaving the palace?”

“Yes… The Count’s arrival means that my daughter… .”

“Yes, well… .”

Naturally, the atmosphere between the two was awkward.

They could not look at each other, and their mouths were tightly shut.

“… Then go.”

Duke Levadein was the first to show courage and lead the Deltans.

Deltan nodded and walked away.

It’s about a 15 minute walk to the parking lot.

Duke Levadein was the first to open his mouth amidst the awkwardness that left me breathless.

“Has the matter you left been resolved well?”

“Yes. Oh, and the princess made a contract with the spirit.”

“Really?”

Duke Levadeine opened his eyes wide.

The reason it ended in a surprised reaction was because it had already been explained about her ability to sense spirits.

The duke immediately smiled and continued speaking.

“That’s fortunate. I was worried the other day when I heard that I couldn’t make a contract with the spirit in the garden.”

“Better… You don’t have to worry because you signed a contract with a strong guy.”

“I am always indebted to you.”

Deltan scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

Meanwhile, the Duke noticed something about the Deltan’s unusual appearance and said with a bitter smile.

“… Since you’ve come all the way to the imperial palace, I guess you’ve already heard the rumor. Does your daughter know?”

Deltan’s mouth was tightly shut.

I tried my best to control my facial expression, but it only made me angry with a positive answer.

“I see.”

“Sorry. I should have been more careful. Stop reading the newspaper… .”

“No. This is something my daughter should know too.”

The duke who said that was looking into space with dozens of emotions passing through his eyes even at that moment.

“It’s ironic.”

It’s ironic.

That’s how he expressed the situation.

“Actually, I don’t want to remarry.”

“I understand.”

“Nevertheless, I know that it is necessary. Because Your Majesty is very suspicious. There is no surer way to prove loyalty than that.”

“That too… I understand.”

“But… .”

The tail of one’s words hangs and the backbiting is swallowed.

Deltan instinctively realized that the words he had swallowed were about Elina.

Well, I have to marry my daughter’s friend.

That his daughter likes him.

‘You know, right?’

Looking at their expressions, they seem to know everything.

Deltan couldn’t even imagine what he was feeling.

“… Why is life so ironic?”

Deltan kept his mouth shut at the dazed Duke’s words.

In his dictionary, there was no word for what to say in this situation.

… No, even if it wasn’t him, no one would think about what to say in a situation like this.

It was such a cruel situation.

*

Duke Levadein left the imperial castle and returned to his mansion.

There, his daughter, whom he had seen for the first time in about two months, was standing on her own two feet and greeting him.

“Are you here?”

“Agnes… .”

“How do you feel? I came to meet you to commemorate being able to stand on my own two feet.”

My daughter, smiling brightly, looked so healthy that she was unrecognizable in just two months.

His weight probably went up because he was walking on his own and receiving care from Deltans.

The moment Duke Levadeine saw Agnes like that, he forgot everything else and made a tearful face.

“It’s so pretty. After all, she is my daughter.”

As the color of the illness faded, her beauty bloomed even more.

The dazzling blonde hair, a symbol of the Levadein family, was becoming even more lustrous, and the pink eyes inherited from his wife were clearly reflecting a dreamy and simple light.

‘Yes, she was such a pretty child.’

Suddenly, the Duke’s eyes began to twinkle as he remembered her healthy childhood.

Agnes giggled and walked up to the duke and hugged him.

“I missed you.”

“This father also missed you so much.”

A touching reunion between father and daughter.

However, the emotion did not last long.

“I heard the news.”

Startle.

The duke’s body trembled at Agnes’ words.

She continued speaking in a voice that, at first glance, showed no particular emotion.

“Shall we finish talking while we eat?”

Agnes broke the hug and looked at the duke.

Even though he is smiling, his expression doesn’t look very bright.

The duke smiled bitterly at that and nodded.

*

The meals of the Levadein family were different from those of ordinary noble families.

To be exact, it has changed.

This is because when Agnes began a full-fledged diet after surgery, the ingredients changed to suit her.

A diet centered on demon beast meat, which is high in calories and mana.

The steak was the tenderloin of a level 3 demon beast, Flevoron, and the accompanying food was made by boiling the scales and bones of a grade 5 magic beast, Earthdrake.

Considering that it was a demonic beast, it was correct to say that it was a dish that only barbarians would eat, but fortunately, the duke’s chef was a talented person who could cover up all of those shortcomings and maximize only the delicious flavor of the demonic beast.

“It’s delicious.”

“I’m glad it suits your taste. The chef will love it. I’ve been researching it while you were away.”

“I should say thank you.”

It was a quiet atmosphere.

So much so that I couldn’t even hear the sound of the clattering dishes.

It was natural for those who were educated as high-ranking nobles from the moment they were born.

The main point came right after the main dish was over.

“Father.”

“Okay.”

“Are you going to get married?”

Power went into the Duke’s hands.

The expression became a little miserable.

“… There’s no avoiding it.”

“You are marrying Elina. With my friend.”

marriage. Daughter’s friend.

It was a dizzying combination of words.

The duke smiled bitterly but did not say another word.

Anyway, just as much as the person involved.

No, it was probably my daughter who was more shocked than me.

How absurd would it be for something like this to happen while you were on a trip?

“Please deny it.”

“Agnes.”

“Say no.”

“Don’t you know that it can’t be done?”

For nobles, marriage is an obligation and a contract.

It was a part of their lives that they were willing to give up for profit, not love.

Moreover, if you think about it, it was like that.

The duke had already neglected that duty once.

None other than Rhea Levadaine.

Agnes’s mother, she was a merchant’s daughter, and the Duke of Levadeine abandoned his duties and took her into his arms because of his love.

‘so that… .’

You shouldn’t do that twice.

“I’m sorry. I tried my best to marry someone other than the 7th Princess… .”

“That’s not the problem.”

The duke raised his head.

Agnes, reflected in his eyes, had a truly cold smile.

“I don’t like it. There is someone else there.”

“Agne… .”

“It’s my mom’s seat. I can’t give it to anyone else.”

The duke’s expression became clouded.

“… Daughter.”

“Father promised.”

Agnes’ smile was something the duke had not seen in a long time.

‘Roughly… .’

For the first time since the day Rhea Levadein died.

It’s been 10 years.

“I will never forget my mom. We said we would reminisce together. That is a position that must remain empty for life.”

“… It’s a duty. We are nobles. There are things you have to give up for the authority you have.”

“Liar.”

Rattling.

Agnes set down the silverware so loudly that it made a noise.

“Your father is a liar too.”

Agnes stood up.

Still with a cold smile.

“I understand.”

And then he turned around.

“Agnes!”

Duke Levadeine got up to catch her, but couldn’t move.

It is to know.

What her mother meant to Agnes.

Also, how big was that empty space?

‘yet… .’

She couldn’t forget Rhea Levadein.

*

The underground laboratory of the Count of Hebron.

Deltan was deep in thought.

I wasn’t thinking about Agnes and Elina.

It’s a problem that you won’t be able to answer if you think about it right away.

He was thinking about his future, not the scandal.

‘For now, half of it.’

Half of the contract materials have been collected.

The remaining ingredients are Agnes’ magic flower and two things that are presumed to be devil’s organs.

And the breath of the No. 5 martyr was the blessing of the No. 7 giant.

Marquis Grobin is in charge of the death of the martyrs.

The Giant’s blessing is also in charge of the Marquis de Montbert.

If you think about it separately from the progress, it was like that.

“How do you get it?”

The name of the martyr’s breath is particularly poetic compared to other materials.

There was nothing that could be inferred from the name other than that it was roughly related to heat.

Aside from that, the Giant’s Blessing is also the same.

giant.

It was an extinct ancient race that is now dismissed as a legend on the continent.

Annoyance began to appear on Deltan’s face.

‘Collecting it is a problem, and even after collecting it all, it’s a problem.’

The Spirit King said.

The contract exists to select dimensions.

In other words, it is correct to believe that the completion of this contract itself is related to some conspiracy.

Is it right to collect materials and complete the contract as they wish?

Such concerns come to mind when half of the ingredients have already been collected.

Deltan’s eyes gradually began to sink.

My fingertips were tapping on the desk.

It was like that.

Gerhart’s voice was heard from outside the door along with a knocking sound.

-Count.

“Why.”

-I think you should come out and see it.

“What is it?”

-that is… .

Gerhart frowned as if he was troubled.

This was something that even Deltans were puzzled by.

Gerhart has extremely few emotional ups and downs.

I mean, it’s not normal for Gerhart to be so tongue-tied.

Deltan looked puzzled and opened the lab door.

“What’s wrong?”

“Just go.”

Gerhart led the Deltans outside without saying a word, as if he felt uncomfortable talking about this situation.

Deltan walked away with his hands in his pockets with a grumpy expression.

After leaving the basement, we headed towards the entrance of the mansion.

And what was there was none other than that.

“… What is it?”

It was Agnes.

And one servant carrying her luggage.

“Hello?”

Agnes said and approached Deltan.

Deltan narrowed his eyebrows and asked.

“I asked what it was.”

“I want to take care of you. Please let me sleep.”

The Deltan’s head tilted.

Agnes said with a grin.

“I ran away from home.”

Deltan’s expression became blank.