Chapter 26

“Is that some kind of bitter bachelor syndrome?”

Kallain gently ran his fingers across his lips.

“I’m still far too young and beautiful to be called a bachelor.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

Watching him, Vikel muttered under his breath,

“What the hell are you thinking?”

* * *

Under the clear blue sky, the knights’ booming shouts echoed throughout the Grand Duke’s estate.

Soon, those cries turned into a marching song.

Even after the chaos the Grand Duke had caused yesterday, their voices were full of unwavering loyalty.

‘Seeing them like this, it’s obvious—loyalty isn’t something natural. It’s just a side effect of brainwashing.’

Watching the afflicted sing so cheerfully, a sigh slipped out of her without thinking.

In a way, it was fortunate that they all seemed to have forgotten about yesterday as if it had been wiped from memory…

But whenever she came near the training ground, something like this happened, so she didn’t dare approach carelessly anymore.

‘They can’t all have sea anemones for brains. There’s no way they actually forgot—so what’s with those innocent faces?’

Leaning against the window, she silently watched their drills.

As expected, Sir Netir was nowhere to be seen today either.

‘Just what kind of dangerous task did that cold-blooded Grand Duke assign him?’

So much for being a good man. He’d ordered a mission that could cost his subordinate’s life, and there he was—calmly reading, like the world had no weight.

Well, she couldn’t say for sure he was reading, but the shadow cast by the faraway window showed barely any movement.

From a distance, all one could see was the outline of someone sitting, occasionally flickering under the shifting sunlight.

‘As expected. No doubt he’s flipping through pages like some noble scholar.’

‘Meanwhile, I don’t even know whether my brother is alive or dying.’

Of course, she knew she was overthinking it.

The Detroit Knight Order was full of elite warriors who had never once returned from a monster hunt with injuries.

Surely, Sir Netir would return safely and confidently, just like always.

And so, once again, she began her morning with something like a prayer.

Then she turned and headed straight for the sitting room.

She was just hurrying to get her breakfast when noise suddenly erupted from the direction of the window.

“No, I must see His Grace the Grand Duke at once!”

“May I ask the nature of your business first, sir?”

“My daughter is here.”

‘His daughter?’

Tilting her head, she crept closer to the window and peeked outside.

There stood the man, speaking harshly to the butler.

As his face gradually tilted upward into view, she froze in place.

The moment she recognized him, her entire body stiffened.

Viscount Langston. That man had finally come.

‘Why is he here…’

Her hand, gripping the windowsill, began to tremble uncontrollably.

“…..”

* * *

Viscount Langston was led to the receiving room, where he took a moment to glance around.

The towering ceiling of the Grand Duke’s estate stretched so high above that it felt endless—its sheer scale was overwhelming.

The intricately carved walls and bronze statues placed throughout lent the space a cool, refined atmosphere that made Langston feel even smaller.

But he steadied himself.

The contract with the North had to be renewed. No matter what.

Lately, the damned loan sharks had been doing more than just sending demand letters—they had started showing up at his estate.

Now they barged in like they lived there, shouting and threatening him.

“If you don’t pay up by next month, you’re dead. Got it?”
“Squeeze water out of a dried squid, you bastard!”

Just thinking of their words made Langston’s throat go cold.

Back when that girl was still around, she had brought in a good income—and he’d spent money like water, as if that would never change.

Gambling, parties, his wife’s dresses and luxuries…

The expenses never changed, but the income vanished. In the end, the viscount had no choice but to turn to private lenders.

Still, he thought it would be fine.

He had assumed he’d find that girl again soon enough.

But years had passed without a trace of her.

Luckily, during that time, he had managed to position himself well during the opening of the Northern distribution route, which helped the Langston household scrape by.

But now, even that had been completely cut off.

‘Why did the Grand Duke suddenly shut down trade?’

From what he’d found out, it was only his family that had been severed from the North.

And just recently, he’d caught a glimpse of the Grand Duke—with that girl.

‘It’s clear now. The Grand Duke is with that girl.’

If the two of them had ridden in a carriage together, they must be close.

If he could prove that he’d adopted her, raised her with care, and shared a deep relationship, the Grand Duke might change his mind immediately.

If he played his words well today, not only could he get the girl back, but he could also reopen trade with the North.

While Viscount Langston finished that hopeful calculation in his head, Kallain entered the room with long strides.

Crossing one leg over the other, Kallain looked down at Langston with an air of cool arrogance.

Langston, seated opposite him, looked visibly nervous.

The Grand Duke’s cold eyes and sharply defined nose gave him an intensely intimidating presence.

Soon, a teacup was placed on the table, and steam curled up into the tense air.

At last, Kallain spoke.

“So. You asked for me.”

His deep, low voice was steeped in authority.

Langston sipped his tea, gauging the atmosphere, and finally managed to speak.

“We… lost a child we cherished. But we heard she’s now here, at your estate.”

“Cherished, you say.”

Kallain casually ran a hand along his jawline.

He let out a soft laugh. His expression was as chiseled as a sculpture—and just as chilling.

Picking up a cigar, he lit it and exhaled a long stream of smoke.

The gray haze thickened the air, drifting directly across Langston’s face.

Langston winced at the unpleasantness, but quickly schooled his features and placed a document on the table.

“She was adopted by us some time ago. After losing her memory, she suddenly disappeared—we searched endlessly for her.”

He bowed his head.

His voice, faint and slightly trembling, was just the right touch—it was enough to make him seem like a grieving, affectionate father finally reunited with his daughter.

But when he raised his head again, he couldn’t hide the way his face stiffened.

The Grand Duke hadn’t moved a muscle, but the faint smirk curling up only one corner of his mouth was impossible to miss.

He was clearly mocking him.

Clack—the teacup landed loudly against the stillness of the room.

“So?”

“…Excuse me?”

“You adopted her. And?”

Kallain’s posture was nothing short of commanding.

His unwavering gaze felt as if it could crush a man’s breath.

Langston inhaled shakily and forced himself to stay composed as he spoke again.

“Please return my daughter to me. She’s someone I truly raised with great care.”

* * *

The plate in her hand trembled violently.

Clatter—!

Eventually, it slipped from her fingers and crashed to the floor with a loud, shattering sound.

Fragments scattered across the floor, broken pieces covering it completely.

She stood there, breath held, gasping.

It felt like a nightmare from long ago had come back to life.

A terrible stillness seemed to wrap around her, suffocating her in silence and darkness.

‘No… it can’t be… But it really happened. Viscount Langston actually came.’

The moment she saw him, startled and panicked, she had grabbed a teacup and rushed to the reception room, but it had done her no good.

Sir Jayden had spotted her and immediately taken the cup from her, disappearing inside.

Now, behind the firmly shut doors, not a single sound escaped.

She had fled and only managed to catch her breath after quite some time.

She didn’t even remember how she had made it out of that long hallway.

‘Could he have seen me in the Grand Duke’s carriage that day?’

‘What if he asked the Grand Duke to hand me over…?’

Viscount Langston had adopted her long ago.

If he brought proof—papers showing her adoption—and demanded his daughter be returned, the Grand Duke would likely hand her over without hesitation.