“I’m not a noble… What does that…?”
Theodore’s voice trembled at the blunt statement.
“The Noble Council has just stripped you of your title.”
“My title… Stripped…?”
Cian spoke in the cold, arrogant voice of a ruler.
“Theodore Elrosa. On behalf of the Noble Council, I sentence you in the name of Archduke Cian Dicarsignac. From this moment on, you shall be stripped of your title.”
“Your Highness the Archduke!”
“The title of Count, which the Empire bestowed on your ancestors, will be returned to the Empire. The name Elrosa will no longer be included in the Imperial Noble List.”
“Why, why on earth! What’s the reason? Why are you suddenly taking away a title that has been in the family for hundreds of years?”
“You’re shameless for not knowing the reason.”
Theodore’s face turned pale. Now he seemed to have realized how serious the crime he’d committed really was.
“Since you’re curious, I’ll tell you the reasons, one by one, so listen carefully.”
“That, no. You don’t have to…”
“First of all, the crime of insulting the empire and the imperial family. You dared to take advantage of an imperial event for personal gain. The Emperor is furious with you for making a mockery of the Empire.”
Whether the Emperor was actually furious or not, Cian didn’t know, only that a messenger had arrived at the Noble Council saying that he was ‘very angry’.
“Second, you had an affair with a woman who was not your wife. In the name of the emperor and the goddess, you swore to love only one woman, but boldly broke this oath in front of the emperor and the great saint.”
“I’m not the only one, everyone has open affairs!”
“Everyone? Who are you talking about.”
“That…!”
There was no way he could say it. It was true that there were quite a few nobles who openly committed adultery, but no one went around leaving evidence like Theodore had.
Cian continued speaking calmly.
“Third, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who was supposed to be the star of the banquet, did not receive a full birthday celebration. He was also very angry.”
Of course, only on the outside.
Theodore sat down and rose his voice at the trembling subject.
“You can’t strip me of my title just for that! Your Highness. That was just a moment of weakness, and I swear I had no intention of insulting the Emperor, the Goddess, or His Highness the Crown Prince…!”
“We’re not done yet. Theodore Elrosa, you were preparing for a rebellion.”
“What, a rebellion?”
It was a face she’d never seen before.
Cian spoke in a soft voice.
“There are eyewitness accounts of you wandering the streets every night. You went into a quiet alley and met someone regularly. You even stole the family’s wealth for military training.”
“No! Your Highness, none of that is true! I can explain! I didn’t plan a rebellion, I just was having an affair!”
“Is there anyone who can prove to His Majesty the Emperor that you hadan affair rather than planned a rebellion?”
“Well, Carl or Jane…!”
Theodore paused.
Carl had already been taken to prison. The testimony of a criminal could not be used as evidence.
Moreover, Jane was so angry at Theodore that she threw water on him and kicked him out. Would she testify about their affair for Theodore?
Theodore looked back at Rachel with an earnest face.
“Hey, Rachel! Help me! Save me! You know I committed adultery, not a rebellion!”
Rachel snorted.
“Why should I testify that you are innocent? We are strangers now.”
“We share a bond of affection from living together all this time!”
“Affection? There is nothing like that.”
Cold sweat ran down his back.
Looking at Theodore who was speechless, Cian spoke quietly.
“You must pay alimony to Lady Rachel for the damage you have done to her reputation. After paying alimony, the remaining mansion, land, and other assets will be confiscated for the empire.”
“This is unacceptable!”
Cian, who had been pouring out words like flowing water, closed his mouth.
Theodore must have thought he had a chance still, so he lifted his dirt-covered nameplate.
“I object. This is ridiculous! For something I didn’t commit, I was stripped of my title, have to pay compensation, and am forced to divorce my wife!”
“I am now ‘His Majesty’s representative.’ How dare you object to His Majesty’s decision? I was able to save your life and convince the council of nobles to not immediately cut off your head and hang it on the street.”
“My neck…”
Theodore muttered and absently touched his neck. His shoulders were shaking, as if he was crying or hiccupping.
“From now on, you will have to be careful with your words and actions ‘commoner’ Theodore.”
After speaking, Cian took a deep breath and slowly looked back. The sunlight shining down gave the illusion of a halo shining behind him.
“I apologize for keeping you waiting, Lady Rachel. I would like to meet Graham.”
“I will show you into the mansion.”
“If you’ll excuse me.”
It was as if nothing had happened. Cian didn’t seem like someone who’d basically ended someone’s life and family’s history.
Rachel glanced back at Theodore, who was sprawled on the ground. He was devastated and shaking on the dirt.
Rachel’s husband, who had always been easy-going, proud and confident, even after the affair, lost everything and became penniless.
She wasn’t happy. It wasn’t even amusing.
However, it wasn’t that she was sorry or pitied him.
It was just a cold sinking feeling that it was finally over.
* * *
Graham entered the mansion and stayed by the window the entire time. He caught a glimpse of Rachel, Theodore, and Cian talking.
At first, he thought Theodore was angry at Rachel, but things changed when Cian showed up. Theodore was intimidated and soon collapsed.
He sighed deeply.
‘His Highness protected my mother.’
He was grateful, but also sad. Although his mother, Rachel, reassured him that she would be safe, he was heartbroken that he was not the one protecting her.
After a while, Rachel and Cian entered the mansion.
As soon as Cian spotted Graham, he turned to Rachel.
“Lady Rachel. Please leave us be until the training is over. For the time being, you must not watch us train until I give you permission. It could affect the child.”
“Your Majesty, I am no longer a Countess. I couldn’t earlier say anything earlier because of the circumstances, but shouldn’t I speak more politely now?”
“Aren’t you going to get your father’s title back soon? Your time as a commoner will only be short-lived, so don’t worry about how you speak. Plus, I feel comfortable here.”
He felt comfortable?
She was curious what he meant by that, but only nodded obediently without asking.
Now it was time for them to start Graham’s sword training.
“All right. Well then, take care of Graham.”
Cian waited for Rachel to disappear into a room inside the mansion and approached Graham.
“Graham.”
“Yes…”
Cian held out one of the swords he’d brought with him.
“I am Cian Dicarsignac, who will be your swordsmanship teacher from today. Although my status is that of an Archduke, just think of myself as a teacher and learn from me. I will consider you my student and teach you appropriately.”
Status was the last thing on Graham’s mind from the start. In the first place, the child couldn’t tell the difference.
Graham stared at Cian’s hand holding out the sword to him. It was bigger, thicker, and harder than his own hands, and even his mother’s hands that always hugged and comforted him.
He silently accepted the sword that Cian held out. Unlike the wooden sword Rachel bought, it was a real sword made of metal.
Cian easily held it out with one hand, but when Graham actually picked it up, it was so heavy, it was difficult to hold onto with both his hands.
He was angry. His pride was also hurt.
“…Thank you.”
“It will still be heavy for now. First, I’ll train you with a wooden sword, and then gradually you’ll be able to use a real sword. If necessary, I can order a sword tailored to your height.”
Graham quickly shook his head.
Even though he was a child, he didn’t want to be treated like one.
Cian nodded.
“Okay. I thought so.”
As was the case last time, Cian, in some ways, caught on to Graham’s emotions much faster than his mom or dad. He observed carefully and understood deeply.
“Today is your first day, so I’ll cut you some slack, but next time, you’re not going to look like this. Standing straight and tall and greeting people calmly are the basics of knighthood.”
Graham’s shoulders trembled at the gentle reminder. He stiffened, then slowly straightened his back and raised his head. His voice trembled, as if he wasn’t used to it.
“Well, thank you, Master…”
It was embarrassing and difficult, but he tried to do it.
For mom.
“Graham. It looks like you want to protect your mother.”
Graham raised his eyes at the quiet voice. It took him a long time to raise his head high enough before his eyes met Cian’s. Someone so far above him, someone he could never reach. The one who stood up for the mother he wanted so badly to protect.
“Don’t worry. You will become stronger.”
“How do you know that?”
“I will make it happen.”
“Can I be as strong as His Highness?”
“Of course.”
Graham held his sword tightly. A chubby hand, smaller than Cian’s palm, clutched tightly.
A small head appeared in Cian’s golden eyes.
From the moment he first started talking to Theodore, he felt eyes on him from inside the mansion. The child was staring at him the whole time.
A little boy who couldn’t reach the waist of an adult man, wanted to protect his mother. He was sad that he couldn’t protect her, and he was jealous of Cian for doing what he could not do.
‘He feels competitive towards me. Doesn’t he have the wrong person?’
A son who wants to be loved by his mother usually sees his father as competition.
He is jealous of his father who monopolizes his mother, and wants to beat him. Through tough competition with his father, the son grows into a mature man.
But Graham felt rivalry with Cian, not with his father, Theodore. He was like that from the first time they met.
‘I wonder if his dad is such a piece of trash that he feels like an enemy instead of a competitor? But I’m not the one who receives Rachel’s love.’
It was unfamiliar to Cian to see a being that looked up to him, learned from him, and tried to surpass him. It was completely different from Dolorosa, who hugged him and smiled lovingly. Somewhere in his chest, he felt a strange tickle.
What was the name of this emotion?
Without even knowing why, he wanted to be a good example for this child.
“Then shall we start class?”
“…Yes. I will work hard.”
“Good. There are distractions in the garden, so please guide me to a quiet place.”
“All right, but before that, I have a question.”
“What is it?”
Graham held two swords, as tall as him, and spoke in a solemn voice.
“Master, have you ever loved someone?”
“…What?”
The short question cut off all of Cian’s thoughts.
