HPBUY Chapter 52

When Declan looked down at the mirror placed on the desk in response to the Grand Duke’s satisfied smile, his brow slightly furrowed. He wasn’t pleased with his reflection, thinking his face somehow looked foolish.

But there was a bigger problem. Not only had the paper become very dirty from the blood drops, but in several places, the text was completely obscured by bloodstains.

While Declan was looking down at the book with a troubled expression, the Grand Duke spoke beside him in a subtly excited voice.

“Oh dear. Your studies are already finished for today.”

Then he suddenly snatched the book from Declan’s hands. He strode over to the fireplace and threw the book into the blazing flames.

Declan couldn’t hide his shock.

“Father!”

“Books can always be bought again. Why are you looking so serious?”

The Grand Duke spoke dismissively. When Declan looked up with an incredulous expression, he smiled broadly.

“Since it’s come to this, let’s go get some fresh air with Father.”

****

Upon climbing up to the castle walls, the view of the Monferrato duchy spread out before them.

The green grass and thick foliage swayed in one direction as the wind blew. The chilly early winter air penetrated deep into their lungs.

“Why did we suddenly come out here?”

“Just because. I thought there should be more to life than just staring at books in a room.”

At these cryptic words, Declan looked up at him blankly. The scenery wasn’t really registering in Declan’s eyes right now.

The Grand Duke chuckled, seeming to see right through his son’s thoughts.

“As you know, your mother and I don’t scold you for neglecting your studies for a day or two.”

“It’s not particularly because of you two – I’m doing it entirely because I want to. To become a flawless head of the family, I need to put in the effort now.”

His precise answer was almost prim. The Grand Duke burst out laughing.

“It’s not that I dislike seeing you work hard.”

The Grand Duke gently stroked his son’s hair, which didn’t even reach his shoulder, while maintaining a smile.

“As you say, someday you will rule over this vast land, Declan. But that’s still very far in the future.”

Declan, who had been looking down from the castle wall with a blank expression, glanced up at these unexpected words. When their eyes met, the Grand Duke wrapped his arm tightly around his son’s shoulders. Then, with an amused voice, he joked:

“It’s not like Father is so incompetent that you need to worry.”

“…”

“To my eyes, Dicky, you’re just as small a baby as Aila. Do you know how much it pains me to see you reading books filled with dense text day after day?”

That was exactly how he felt. To him, Declan was still a tiny child. How could he be happy seeing his son already straining himself, claiming he would shoulder the family’s responsibilities?

While he felt proud, his heart was heavy with the thought of placing such a burden on a child.

He wished his son would grow up a little more slowly; his nose would tingle with emotion at seeing him become more mature with each passing day.

“So there’s no need to struggle to become an adult so soon.”

The large hand slowly patted Declan’s back. The warmth transmitted through that gentle touch gradually softened his rigid heart.

“You can slack off like Aila and act spoiled if you want. That would be much better than studying until you get nosebleeds.”

At these words full of genuine affection, Declan’s cheeks flushed red.

He had felt somewhat hurt thinking his efforts weren’t being recognized, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. Usually, he couldn’t stand being treated like a child, but for some reason, right now it felt nothing but good. Perhaps it was because he could fully feel his father’s love for him.

As he silently burrowed into his father’s embrace, the Grand Duke quietly laughed and hugged his son tightly.

His father’s embrace was incredibly broad and warm.

****

While that day’s conversation with his father became a beautiful memory, Declan, who spent his days in the warm indoors, couldn’t escape the effects of the cold winter wind.

The crackling sound of the bonfire felt particularly heavy in his ears. As Declan quietly submitted to the examination by the physician his mother had brought, he turned his head at the sound of firewood collapsing in the flames. His gaze toward the fireplace was hazy.

The physician, who had been checking his forehead, withdrew his hand and spoke to the Grand Duchess, who was watching with a worried expression.

“It seems to be a mild cold. It’s a common symptom during seasonal changes like these, so there’s no need for serious concern.”

Declan, who had been staring blankly at the fireplace, smiled broadly and lifted his head toward his mother.

“See? I told you going to the capital would be nothing.”

Declan put on a brave face despite his medicine-induced drowsiness. But to adult eyes, his act was completely transparent. The Grand Duchess heaved a deep sigh.

It wasn’t that she didn’t understand her son’s feelings.

While the Monferrato domain was a region with beautifully peaceful and tranquil scenery, it was somewhat dull compared to the bustling and visually splendid capital.

The capital would be especially lively now, as they were planning to hold a grand festival for the Empress’s birthday. It was natural for children to prefer the capital with its many attractions.

Although Declan was more mature than his peers, he was still just a child.

However, the physician firmly crushed Declan’s enthusiasm as if it were a preposterous idea.

“Although the symptoms are mild now, if you put any more strain on your body, the situation could worsen. Young Master, I’m afraid you should give up on this trip to the capital.”

The Grand Duchess, who had been conflicted for a moment, nodded in agreement.

“Yes. I think it would be better for you, Dicky, to remain in Monferrato this time.”

“But Mother…”

“We can go to the capital another time.”

Although Declan pleaded with a desperate expression, it was no use. The Grand Duchess avoided her son’s entreaties and turned her eyes away.

The Grand Duke, who had been standing nearby, subtly avoided his wife’s sharp glance.

“Well, why did I take the child outside in this cold weather…”

Seemingly quite embarrassed, he cleared his throat.

“We can’t leave our sick son alone. I’ll stay in Monferrato too. We can go to the capital next time…”

“How can you not attend the celebration of Her Majesty the Empress’s birthday?”

When the Grand Duchess confronted him with an incredulous expression, the Grand Duke’s confidence shrank again.

“But…”

“No buts, Your Grace. Declan isn’t a baby anymore, and Count Monches will stay in Monferrato too, so what’s there to worry about? Right, Dicky?”

The Grand Duchess’s piercing gaze moved from the Grand Duke to Declan. After quietly rolling his eyes, Declan reluctantly answered.

“Yes…”

Then added in a sulky voice:

“But you have to bring back lots of presents?”

More than Aila’s.

At his mumbled words, a gentle smile appeared on the faces of the Grand Duke and Duchess. Even in his medicine-induced haze, Declan smiled along with them before drifting off to sleep.

****

The day for the Grand Ducal family’s departure to the capital quickly arrived.

That morning, the duchy was busy with servants loading luggage onto carriages. The baggage was relatively modest, as the family members would be staying at their mansion in the capital.

The number of people traveling to the capital wasn’t particularly large either. It consisted of two coachmen, the Grand Duke and Duchess, Aila, and four or five servants and maids.

This was an extremely rare case, considering that usually either the whole family traveled together or the Grand Duke alone moved in and around Monferrato when circumstances required it.

Not only was the Grand Duke a long-time friend of the Imperial couple, but the Grand Duchess, who received special favor from the Empress, couldn’t casually decline to attend either.

Though it was a decision made to fulfill their noble duties, they couldn’t feel completely at ease leaving their young son alone in the vast mansion.

Before boarding the carriage, the Grand Duchess held her son’s hand tightly and earnestly instructed him:

“Dicky, if you need anything, tell Count Monches. And make sure to get along well with Rio and Theo, alright?”

“Yes, Mother.”

“If you feel sick again, call for the healer immediately. And don’t forget to take your medicine.”

Although Declan saw his parents off with a rather mature attitude, the Grand Duchess continued to show signs of anxiety. It seemed that when it came time to leave, she was quite worried about her sick son. Understanding his mother’s feelings, Declan smiled brightly and nodded.

“I’ll listen well to Count Monches and get along with Rio and Theo without fighting. Don’t worry and have a pleasant journey.”

After the Grand Duchess, who had been hesitating for a while, boarded the carriage, the Grand Duke, who had been quietly standing nearby, approached Declan.

“She criticized me so much, but your mother seems no different.”

The Grand Duke whispered quietly with a hint of amusement in his voice.

“I’ll bring you presents from the capital when we return.”

Before boarding the carriage, the Grand Duke gently pinched Declan’s cheek and was the last to board. Soon after the coachman spurred the horses, the carriage began to move forward.

Declan, who had been standing still watching the carriage move away, ran up to the castle wall as soon as the carriage left the duchy grounds.

It was the same place he had climbed with his father not long ago.

Breathing heavily, he looked down from the wall and immediately spotted the Grand Ducal family’s carriage.

As Declan was catching his breath while looking down, Aila’s head suddenly popped out of the carriage window. Soon, a loud shout rang out. “Big brother, take good care of the house!” Declan furrowed his brow.

“Why is she like that?”

Muttering with an exasperated expression, Declan soon smiled softly and waved at the carriage.

Only after the carriage disappeared from view did a wave of melancholy well up inside him. Looking in the direction where the carriage had vanished, Declan composed himself alone.

He comforted himself by saying it would only be for a short time, and that before long, his parents would return with plenty of presents.