Chapter 14

Part 14: The Knot Tied by One Must Be Untied by One (2)

The dramatic events that unfolded in my room overnight were quietly buried.

Only I, the Duke, the butler, and Mother knew about it.

Even Mother didn't know the full details; she only knew that the Duke had saved me from the assassin.

I didn't know what happened after the Duke left my room that night, but the next day, the events at the mansion revealed the outcome.

The second Duchess, Maria, had to leave suddenly for her baronial family home.

They said it was for health reasons, to go on a rest, but the sudden decision caused a commotion among the people.

However, in this mansion, or rather, in this estate, no one could refuse the Duke's orders.

Moreover, people buried their doubts deep in their hearts at the sight of the Duchess, who looked severely unwell, as if she had been seriously ill.

The Duke stood by the window in his study, looking at the carriage in the courtyard.

People had gathered around the carriage to see off the Duchess, who had to leave suddenly.

Given how much the Duchess had been loved by everyone in the mansion, it seemed that everyone had come to see her off.

Not only the servants, but the first Duchess and her son were also there, and the concubine Amanda was standing a bit away with her son, seeing her off.

Finally, her daughter Elena was standing in front of her, crying continuously.

However, Maria, who seemed to be really unwell, couldn't even properly say goodbye to her daughter or anyone else.

People tilted their heads at her changed demeanor but still sincerely saw her off.

She glanced at the window of the study one last time, scanned the crowd, and then, as if startled by something, hurriedly entered the carriage.

A moment later, the carriage set off amid the farewells of the people.

Although it was a sudden journey, it was well-prepared since it involved the Duchess.

Guards escorted the carriage, and a knight led the procession.

The carriage passed through the garden paths and out the main gate of the mansion. The gate closed, and the carriage gradually disappeared into the distance.

The Duke watched the departing carriage and spoke.

"Although I've written it in the letter, warn the baron again. Maria is not to leave the baronial estate, and Elena is not to meet her. Make sure this is clearly communicated."

"Understood."

The butler's response came from behind the Duke.

"However, what do you plan to do about the young lady...?"

Before the Duke could answer, a young girl's voice was heard from outside.

"Dad! Duke! I'm here! Please let me in!"

The Duke turned his head.

"Let her in."

"Understood."

The butler opened the door, and Elena, her face streaked with tears, rushed in.

"Why is Mom leaving? She wasn't sick yesterday. What's going on? Why won't anyone tell me?"

The Duke looked at his daughter.

Her face was very similar to Maria's, who had just left the mansion.

The image of Maria's face, as he had seen her before she regained her composure, and the face he had seen yesterday, overlapped with his daughter's face.

She had smiled brightly when she saw the Duke enter her bedroom.

"You came! I thought you wouldn't!"

It was a genuinely happy face.

Seeing her bright smile, the Duke's expression darkened even more.

It was because she still genuinely loved the Duke.

Although the atmosphere was different, her smile was no different from the first time they met.

"Please come in. I'm sorry, I wasn't prepared."

She was the same as before, but the Duke had changed.

The Duke frowned as he looked at her.

The feeling he had when he first broke her ability with mana resurfaced.

That day, he realized that her love was a lie and that her affection was nothing more than a desire filled with possessiveness.

The moment he realized this, the Duke felt suffocated and couldn't stay by her side any longer.

After that day, the Duke never visited her room. Even when they met during the day, they maintained a formal relationship, and he kept his distance from her as much as possible.

He had continued his life as the Duke, closing his heart and wearing a mask.

However, the Duke did not punish her.

Although she had deceived him, the Duke forgave her by not visiting her anymore.

Because she had given birth to his daughter, and because she was already his wife.

Or perhaps because he had truly loved her.

But this weak decision led to today's events.

"I was just in Alex's room."

"Huh?"

Maria's smile shattered at the Duke's words.

Only then did she notice the knife in the Duke's hand.

His hand holding the sword and the scabbard were stained with blood.

Her face turned pale.

"When Alex was nearly poisoned a few years ago, I forgave you for the last time."

Maria stared at the Duke, stunned.

"But to bring an assassin into the mansion to kill my child, did you really think the Gresia Duke's family was so foolish?"

As the Duke finished speaking, Maria suddenly shouted.

"Because you stopped looking at me! Why are you distancing yourself from me when I love you so much! I endured everything to be loved by you. I endured things that made me angry and smiled at people I hated. Everyone loves me, so why are you the only one who distances yourself from me?"

Her shouting was heartbreaking and pitiful, even without her ability.

However, the Duke's expression didn't change.

"It's all because of Amanda. If that brat were dead, I could drive Amanda, that woman, out of the mansion..."

"Is that what you were thinking?"

Maria nodded at the Duke's words. Tears streamed down her face as she bowed her head.

But over the flowing tears, the Duke's cold voice echoed.

"I made a mistake. You were even more broken than I thought."

He placed his hand on Maria's head. Maria looked up in surprise, but the Duke's eyes were cold.

"No, both of us are broken."

The Duke infused mana into his hand.

Hum.

The force seeping into her head made Maria shake her head in shock.

But the Duke held her head firmly and didn't let go.

"I won't kill you. But you can't stay in this house anymore."

"This... How... How can this be...?"

The mana flooding her head began to tear at her mind.

Her inherited ability, a mental ability that made people like her, was deep in her mind.

The Duke's mana cut and dismantled the ability deep within her.

She knew her ability was gradually disappearing.

She couldn't believe it. She had never thought such a thing was possible.

Moreover, the Duke, or rather, the Duke's family, had a mana cultivation technique. There was no way he could have the ability to destroy someone else's ability.

"No... No!"

She screamed and grabbed the Duke's hand, but she couldn't shake off the Duke's hand, which was stronger than a knight's.

A moment later, the Duke removed his hand from her head.

Maria collapsed to the floor.

"You can no longer manipulate others with that ability. Go back to your family tomorrow. Live quietly there until you die."

Maria's shoulders trembled at his words.

"If I hear any trouble from you or your family from tomorrow until your death, you and your entire family will face severe consequences. Elena will not go with you. If you stay quiet, Elena will remain a duchess until the end, or else..."

Maria slowly lifted her head. Her face was twisted with pain and resignation.

She slowly opened her mouth.

"You're not the person I loved in the past. You are truly a terrifying person now."

He turned his body.

Maria burst into tears, and the Duke muttered as he left the room.

"It changed that day. Because of someone."

"Sniff, sniff, sniff. If I did something wrong, please forgive me. I will atone for my sins."

Maria's sobs turned into her daughter's cries.

The Duke returned to the present.

While he was reminiscing, his daughter was begging for forgiveness.

The Duke looked down at his daughter.

She had a face similar to her mother, but Elena was different from Maria.

Her face was not a fabricated one filled with pretense. Elena was still an innocent young girl, untainted by the world.

"If Mom has to leave, I'll go with her. I'll use my ability to treat her by her side."

He couldn't leave it at that. Although he had abandoned Maria, Elena was still the Duke's daughter.

"Is that so? It seems you can't live alone in this mansion. Although it's a bit early, you should prepare to go to the academy."

"Huh?"

Ignoring the surprised Elena, the Duke gave instructions to the butler.

"Since your inherited ability is related to mental recovery, it would be good for you to attend an academy affiliated with the sisterhood. Send a message."

"Understood."

The butler took the crying daughter out of the study, and the Duke looked out the window again.

He saw his young child walking with his concubine in the distance.

A child who had caused trouble since infancy.

A child who performed miraculous deeds, known as a prodigy, but seemed a bit different from a true prodigy. A child who, unlike a child, negotiated with him.

And a child with a special inherited ability.

"Well, since you've caused me so much trouble, now it's time for you to prove your worth."

The Duke looked at the child with a cold face, and the child scratched his ear as if it were itchy.

* * *

After the second Duchess left the mansion, several things happened.

First, the young lady Elena left the mansion to receive education.

Although it was too early for her to attend the academy, she couldn't disobey the Duke's orders.

Elena left the mansion with a sad face, and my mother and I comforted her as she left.

Honestly, I felt a bit guilty towards Elena, but I couldn't just die, so I had to bury my guilt deep in my heart.

Second, I, an illegitimate child, began proper knight training at a young age.

Although the training I received secretly at the Duke's family training ground behind the mansion was unknown to others, it quickly became a rumor among the people.

People gossiped, and the eyes watching me increased, but I had no time to pay attention to anything else as I focused on the training.

Fortunately, no one tried to kill me after that.

Time continued to pass.

Four winters went by.

And in the spring when I turned ten, a guest visited the mansion.

A beautiful girl.

The daughter of a count and the fiancée of my older brother Simon.

The moment she saw me, she raised her sword.

"You're the Duke's hidden blade, right? Let's have a match. I'll teach you a thing or two."

At the words of the beautifully dressed girl, I could only gape in shock.