“Master.”
“What is it?”
“Just a moment, I have something to tell you…”
The fact that Rohan, who was able to handle most things on his own, was looking for his master, Chaser, meant that something had happened.
Chaser had no choice but to look his way.
“Lizelle wins!”
As if waiting, Raphel shouted loudly. Lizelle also cheered internally.
Chaser’s forehead twitched. Why did Rohan have to call him now of all times… However, he still spoke calmly, his expression completely calm, as if nothing had happened.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Although he had pretended there was nothing wrong, his insides were boiling.
“Yes, go ahead.”
Wilhazelle showed a victorious smile, face relaxed. It was the attitude of a winner.
Chaser didn’t want to see her like that so he turned around and followed Rohan out of the room.
The first meeting of Chaser and Wilhazelle did not go very smooth.
“Victory!”
On the other hand, the two people who had hit it off at their first meeting, looked at each other and laughed.
“Yes, thanks to your support.”
“Hehehe.”
Raphel smiled shyly, his cheeks brightening at the complement. Wilhazelle flopped down onto the sofa. Her mind was a mess from the unexpected fight. After rubbing her tired eyes with both hands, she leaned back onto the sofa to rest for a while since she felt tired.
She was preparing for another match that could possibly break out if Chaser returned.
She couldn’t lose this time either.
***
After leaving the living room, Chaser immediately stood in the hallway and glared at Rohan.
“What is going on?”
Just by listening to his voice, you could tell how unhappy he was. If Rohan hadn’t called for him, he believed he would have been able to defeat that conceited trickster…
Chaser, who had a reputation for being level headed, had lost his composure without realizing it and was caught up in a childish fight.
Rohan was taken aback when he saw his master like this for the first time. Until now, he had always been a stern master who avoided troublesome situations and if someone tried to cross him, he would cut them down with his sword.
A person like that is frustrated because he doesn’t want to lose to a weak woman… It was a strange sight.
“Sorry, all the bottles containing the antidote have been broken.”
“What?”
Unlike Rohan, who was speaking calmly, Chaser frowned.
“The shelf that was holding them suddenly collapsed earlier. I apologize. They placed an order, but were told we wouldn’t be able to receive it for a month because the ingredients are hard to get.”
Chaser’s head started to pound like he had been struck by lightning. He ran his fingers through his hair roughly.
“There’s really nothing left?”
“That is correct sir.”
They needed to use the antedote on the child the woman had brought right away. He needed to reveal the woman’s tricks as soon as possible.
But there was no more antidote left.
He would only be able to prove her guilt if he had the antidote…
Chaser sighed. He was unsatisfied with how things were turning out. There was no way he could send them away like this.
The audacity that swindler had to not avoid his gaze and meet it head on was ridicules. Her shamelessness was too much. He felt like he would only be able to calm down if he saw her green eyes tremble, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to sleep.
However, without the antidote, he would be unable to unmask her lies, unless she confessed voluntarily. Judging from her attitude, though, that was not likely to happen. Everyone was bound to become more humble in the face of clear evidence, but for now there was no way to prove her guilt.
“There is nothing we can do about it now.”
Chaser decided to let it go. It was very annoying but he couldn’t change what had already happened and he couldn’t do anything without the antidote.
“I will explain and send the guests back.”
Rohan turned to go back into the room first, fearing that his master would start another fight with the woman again. It would be advantageous for the woman and the child to return quickly. Although they had only met briefly her and Chaser were not compatible. They were like water and fire, each possessing a very strong nature, neither of them willing to give in. However, Chaser stopped him.
“I will speak to her myself.”
Rohan wanted to ask him why he was going to go in person if he disliked her so much, but kept his mouth shut and just quietly followed behind.
***
“Ah, why is it taking him so long?”
Wilhazelle, who had been left alone in the room with Raphel, grumbled loudly. It had been quite a while since they had left, but there was still no sign of their return.
It was clear that the rude knight who was guarding the front of the manor resembled his master.
Lizelle crossed her arms over her chest and glanced around the living room with a dissatisfied look. It was flashy and pretentious, just like its homeowner.
“Ugh, am I insane?”
How could she have thought that such an unlucky duke was handsome?
She resisted the urge to tear out her hair. If she could turn back time, she never would have said that. She would have controlled her mouth. She must have had something in her eye for a moment. She had significantly misjudged him.
“Lizelle… When are we going back home?”
Lizelle turned to look at Raphel when he asked that question. Raphel was kicking his legs on the sofa, pouting his lips in boredom.
“Home?”
“Yeah! Back to our house!”
It seemed that Raphel had mistaken her house as being his own.
“I miss grandpa and grandma!”
She didn’t know how to respond and bit her lip.
How would he react if she told him he would have to live here from now on?
She was worried about whether Raphel, who already missed his new grandparents, would be able to accept the situation as it was.
“Excuse me.”
Just then, the door to the living room opened, and Chaser immediately walked in front of Wilhazelle with his long legs, just like when they had first met.
“Are you done with your business?”
She stood up, clearly displaying her dissatisfaction.
Chaser could tell from her attitude that she wanted to finish this quickly.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“So, what do we do now?”
“The antidote to determine the child’s hair and eye color will be available in a month.”
Chaser thought there was no need to beat around the bush and explained the situation.
“Antidote?”
“That’s right.”
“Why would you need that?”
Wilhazelle looked at Chaser and asked for an explanation.
An antidote to show true hair and eye color? Was there really such a thing? She had read the first part of the novel so quickly that she didn’t recall it very well.
Even if there was such a thing, what would that even prove to confirm that they were really blood relatives? Black hair and red eyes were characteristics that only the Halos family possessed in the entire empire.
“Changing hair and eye color through magic is a common occurrence.”
“Ah…”
Only then did she understand why he had asked her if she could ‘prove it’.
‘Wait a moment.’
Was he treating her the same way he had treated everyone else? Is that why he had been glaring at her?
“Do you think I am deceiving you?”
Wilhazelle did not hide her displeasure. She had found the child and instead of thanking her, he treated her like she was a swindler. She was very upset.
“I don’t think there is anything wrong with being careful.”
“We have run out of the antidote. I am sorry, my Lady, but please understand this is a necessary procedure for us.”
Rohan, who was watching, sighed inwardly and added to his master’s words.
“Well, that’s true.”
“Before the Lady came, many people had already paid us a visit claiming they had found the child, but everyone was using magic to change the child’s appearance to collect the reward money.”
Chaser looked straight into her eyes, which still displayed her displeasure.
“…”
Lizelle finally seemed to understand slightly, but why was the Duke so wary of her?
Even if you don’t know someone very well, it was rude to treat them like a fraud the first time you met them.
“Alright, then. Please contact me when the antidote is ready. I will also receive the reward money at that time. Let’s go Raphel.”
Lizelle held out her hand to Raphel.
“Yeah!”
Raphel smiled brightly and took Lizelle’s hand.
He wanted to get out of there quickly and return to where his grandfather and grandmother were.
Chaser stopped the two people who were trying to leave.
“You must leave the child behind.”
Thanks for the chapter