The Male Lead’s Father Refuses to Break Off Our Engagement

Chapter 86

 

―You mean a child? Is it a boy or a girl…

—It Doesn’t matter. Just check if there is a child that age. Then I will make what you want come true. Of course, this must be kept secret.

 

It was a strange request. Why on earth is Lionel looking for a child born in the Adelhard family?

But he didn’t do the foolish thing by asking the reason. Instead, he returned to the Empire and investigated the Adelhard family.

However, Count Venion’s intelligence was not that great, and he was unable to find out the identity of Ruth, who was hiding in the villa.

When he visited the Kingdom of Cesia again, he told Lionel about it.

I still couldn’t forget the expression Lionel made at that time.

The pained expression on his face as if his heart had been cut out alive…

 

―Yes, that’s true.

 

And then a few years later. Count Venion was able to understand the meaning of Lionel’s request.

Cassis, who had ascended to the Dukedom, introduced Lucius Adelhard, saying that he was his son.

They said he was an illegitimate child, but he didn’t reveal who his mother was. Count Venion instinctively realized that Lionel and Ruth were related and began to investigate.

Thus, he found out that Lionel and Cassis’s older sister, Julia Adelhard, were lovers in the past.

Perhaps Ruth is not Cassis’ illegitimate son, but the child of that person.

That made more sense than Cassis’ illegitimate son, who had no affair at all.

However, Ruth resembled Cassis beyond a doubt. Count Venion didn’t believe his assumption at first either. So I didn’t tell Lionel separately.

However, with the intention of marrying Evelia to Cassis, he was able to see that his assumption was correct when he looked at Cassis.

However, even after that, Count Venion didn’t inform Lionel about this fact. Because I felt like I might be able to use this information someday.

And I thought now was the time.

Let the two of them roll in the mud without Ruth.

What if everything Cassis wanted to protect was revealed to the world? Isn’t it fun?

So, at the last moment, the Count mailed the letter to Lionel of the Cesia royal family.

 

*****

 

Clarisse Cesia, queen of the Kingdom of Cesia, was enjoying tea time as usual. However, unlike her peaceful-looking face, her mind was complicated.

The person who disturbed her was none other than Lionel Cesia, the troublemaker son of the kingdom.

About 10 years ago, King Cesia sent Lionel to a magic academy in the empire to fix his son, which was causing trouble with women on rare occasions.

Fortunately, Lionel stayed calm in the Empire. To be precise, it seemed like there was a problem with women there as well, but he adapted well to life in the Empire and got good grades.

Clarisse didn’t like that. He might be illegitimate, but he was the firstborn son of the current king. He had the right to succeed to the throne.

The more he came to his senses, the more disadvantageous he became to Clarisse.

Then, eight years ago, he suddenly returned without graduating. Clarisse didn’t know what was happening between him and the king.

‘He probably scolded Lionel for returning without graduating.’

In any case, on that day, the relationship between the King and Lionel soured. The King even had Lionel imprisoned in the Royal Palace for a year, as if his judgment had been completely distorted.

His life in confinement must have been difficult, and when he came back out into the world, his hair had turned gray.

But Lionel changed after that. He, who seemed to have no interest in the throne, began to aim for it.

The appearance of just liking to play suddenly disappeared, and he showed interest in politics and the economy. He was more capable than expected, and the number of nobles who secretly supported him as the next king increased.

Above all, the fact that he was the eldest son solidified his foundation.

Clarisse’s son, Lyndon’s position was quickly diminished.

‘You have to find the weak point.’

This is a weak point that can be used against Lionel, who has suddenly changed.

At that time, a maid carefully approached and held out a letter to Clarisse.

“What is this?”

“This is a letter from the Count of Venion to Prince Lionel.”

“Count Venion?”

It was a name I had heard of before.

“Isn’t this a family that traded magic items with the Royal Family? But why does he write letter to Lionel?”

“It is said that there was a connection between the two in the past. I brought a letter just in case.”

“Really?”

Clarisse opened the letter with distaste. Actually, I wasn’t expecting much.

However, the short letter contained more useful information than expected.

Lionel has a son. Lionel even thought his child was dead.

Now all the puzzles have been put together. I felt like I knew why Lionel came back right before graduation and why the king imprisoned him in the royal castle.

“Ha, things are going to be fun.”

Clarisse laughed as she burned the letter with magic.

“Lucius Adelhard. I’ll have to send you a nice gift soon.”

 

11. Great Aunt Alexandra

Count Venion was executed, and his subordinates were spared the death penalty, but stripped of their noble titles.

Evelia did not see Count Venion’s execution. This is because people around her, including Cassis, tried hard to stop her, saying it would be best not to see it.

‘I didn’t even plan on watching it at first because I felt uncomfortable….’

Additionally, Countess Venion and her two sons came to the Adelhard mansion and caused an uproar.

“How could you do this to us! I raised you!”

“Evelia! Come out now!”

Their goal was money. In addition to being stripped of their noble titles, they also had their property confiscated.

Additionally, his two sons, who were members of the Imperial Knights, were naturally dismissed.

Born and raised as nobles, there was now no easy way to make money in the Empire.

However, Evelia didn’t blink an eye. She sent them away without even meeting them.

After finishing her work in the capital, Evelia headed to Adelhard territory with Cassis.

While heading to the mansion from the mana portal of Adelhard’s territory, she looked out the window like a child.

“Wow. The atmosphere is different from the capital.”

The Adelhard territory, located in the northernmost part of the empire, was already preparing for winter. Unlike the capital city, which was full of autumn leaves, the trees here had lost all their autumn leaves.

The weather was gloomy, as if it would snow at any moment. To be honest, it wasn’t a good atmosphere to live in.

‘But it would be nice to have Cassis and Ruth.’

And with that, the carriage sped away.

“Mom!”

It was the moment when Evelia got off the carriage, escorted by Cassis.

Ruth, who had come to meet her with his nanny, came running quickly.

Evelia smiled and welcomed the child.

“Ruth!”

Ruth hugged her waist.

“I missed you!”

“Yes, I missed you too, Mom.”

“Hehe.”

Evelia smoothed the child’s soft hair.

“Are you doing well without any pain?”

“Yes!”

“Are you eating well?”

“Yes!”

“And not being a picky eater?”

“Ye….”

Ruth, who was good at answering questions, trailed off. Evelia’s eyes narrowed.

“You didn’t eat your carrots again.”

“No, no!”

The nanny who was watching from behind joined in with a voice full of laughter.

“Yes, he didn’t eat it.”

“Ah, nanny!”

Evelia pinched Ruth’s nose.

“I said you shouldn’t be a picky eater.”

“Yes.”

“Okay, let’s go in first.”

Cassis wrapped his arms around Evelia’s shoulders and walked away.

Evelia walked around and looked at the mansion in the Adelhard estate.

‘It’s huge.’

The Adelhard mansion in the capital was also large, but the mansion in the territory was even more, to the point where it was thought to be several times larger.

I felt like I would feel intimidated just by looking at it.

“Mom, mom. I’ll show you around my room!”

So Ruth waved his hand, telling me to come quickly. Evelia smiled and followed the child.

I was already looking forward to what would happen at the Adelhard Mansion, which was different from the capital.