Is Obsession Hereditary?
At the time when Milena had gone down to the village,
Ashdel stood in a highly private space filled with the Grand Duke’s personal life.
“Why did you call me?”
The room was full of ‘Larriete.’ Portraits of the Grand Duchess, drawn from various angles at different times and seasons, densely filled the space. Ashdel, expressionless, looked at his father.
The only person depicted in those portraits was ‘Larriete.’ Even though five years had passed, Ashdel could never forget his mother’s face.
Nowhere in the grand ducal residence was there a family portrait, something that should have existed at least once.
Seeing his father’s fanatical obsession with his mother, Ashdel thought the Grand Duke was insane.
Why did my aunt like this man? He couldn’t understand. He couldn’t understand why his mother married him either.
Hugging a black rabbit doll tightly, Ashdel stared at Calion.
“Ashdel Luxen.”
Ashdel was the heir. It wasn’t a position where he could act childish just because he was young.
He had grown up enough, or so he thought. But when Calion saw him still clutching a stuffed toy, his eyebrow arched.
“How much longer will you act immature?”
“You’re the one acting immature, Father.”
Calion closed his mouth at Ashdel’s retort. His silver-gray eyes, filled with coldness, gazed down at the child. Yet, Ashdel did not back down and glared right back.
“I told you not to touch my aunt. And now, a wedding? The same person who ignored her all this time?”
Calion, who had been looking at his son—the only thing he inherited from his wife was his pink eyes—leaned back onto the sofa with a languid motion.
“I need her now.”
Ashdel hated facing the Grand Duke. That was why he had asked him not to acknowledge him or act close.
From that moment on, no one, not even the servants, spoke to the young heir. Living as if he were invisible wasn’t so bad. At least it earned him sympathetic glances and attention from his aunt.
“You need Milena, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do. But that doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want.”
“You wanted your mother, too.”
Mother again. That damn ‘mother.’
Ashdel frowned.
You’re the only one who needs her.
Milena was not a replacement for Larriete.
Ashdel had once asked Milena if she could be his mother, but he knew well that it was an impossible request.
He had only wanted to act spoiled around his aunt a little more.
From the beginning, Ashdel had never wanted a substitute for his mother—he needed Milena herself.
“The wedding will take place in a week. Keep that in mind.”
“Says who?”
My aunt doesn’t even like you.
“Ashdel Luxen.”
Calion’s heavy voice resonated through his small frame.
“Have you forgotten who I am?”
Thick waves of dark magic swirled around Calion.
The Grand Duke was known as a Sword Master. Though he was not a mage, he was praised for wielding magic freely.
Seeing Calion radiate the aura of a predator, Ashdel also pulled forth the power that stirred within him, pushing back against his father’s presence.
“If you’re going to do whatever you want, then go ahead. But I won’t be the Grand Duke’s heir. Honestly, Father, you don’t need me or my aunt, do you?”
“……”
Ashdel lifted his gaze and swept his eyes over the eerie, almost hideous portraits of Larriete.
“If you love her so much, why don’t you just live hugging her corpse? Find another child to be your heir. Have another kid with another woman—I won’t care.”
Bang!
Ashdel stormed out of the room, slamming the door shut.
Before his aunt suffered any further, he had to escape from the Grand Duke.
It all happened in just half a day.
At the very moment Milena had been admiring dresses, Ashdel was making up his mind.
Afterward, he packed his bags and left the castle.
He couldn’t stand being in the same space as the Grand Duke.
“Ash, are you okay?”
Through his fever-blurred vision, he saw Milena’s face.
The fact that someone was worried about him made him feel good.
Ashdel grinned.
“Ash, are you awake?”
“Yes, Aunt. I’m okay.”
“Why did you go outside? I knew you’d come back sick.”
Even as Milena scolded him, Ashdel smiled contentedly.
When he was with her, all the bad feelings disappeared.
As she carefully placed a cool towel on his forehead, her concern was evident, and Ashdel felt comforted.
“I’m sorry, Aunt.”
Only Milena could bring him back from the emotional abyss caused by his father.
Just as Calion clung to Larriete, Ashdel realized he wouldn’t be able to let go of Milena either.
Is obsession hereditary?
‘Ugh, I really hate this.’
Completely unaware of what was going through Ashdel’s mind, Milena was only focused on taking care of him.
“Never go out alone again. Understood?”
“Yes. I’ll always stay by your side.”
“Oh, you stubborn child.”
Hearing his promise to always stay with her, Milena rolled her eyes at him, but not unkindly.
After taking his medicine, Ashdel dozed off under Milena’s care.
“Sleep well.”
Watching his blinking eyes slowly close, she retrieved his cherished stuffed toy from his bag and placed it in his arms.
Once she confirmed that he was asleep, she left the room, and silence settled in.
In the hushed room, without a sound or any indication of his presence, Lexion appeared.
Having escorted Milena back to her room, he returned right away.
He was back to looking like Hubert.
Standing by the bedside, he silently gazed down at the child.
Beneath his tousled ash-gray hair, his eyes were intensely focused on Ashdel.
Feeling the weight of that gaze, Ashdel frowned, his eyes still closed.
“What. What now.”
If you have something to say, just say it instead of staring. It was annoying.
Unable to bear it any longer, Ashdel opened his eyes.
“Were you really planning to leave to find Lady Milena if we hadn’t come?”
“We?”
Ashdel didn’t like how Lexion included himself with Milena.
Noticing the boy’s sharp reaction, Lexion corrected himself.
“I meant Lady Milena. If you had left the Grand Duke’s castle, would you have gone after her?”
“…Why should I tell you?”
“Aren’t we working together? Answer me, young master.”
This time, Lexion grouped them together.
Ashdel pursed his lips and buried his face in his stuffed toy.
“Hmph, what does it matter to you? Yes, I was going to leave. So what?”
“……”
A long silence followed his affirmation.
After carefully choosing his words, Lexion let out a deep sigh and spoke.
“You’re really just a kid.”
“What?!”
He plopped onto the bed, ruffling his silver hair as he changed his appearance.
“Listen, kid.”
Under his soft silver hair, his cool red eyes glowed faintly.
“Have you thought about your position? You’re the Grand Duke’s heir. The only successor. If you disappear chasing after your aunt, do you think the Grand Duke will leave her alone?”
“……”
“Milena Lastia will be accused of kidnapping you. She’ll be hunted down. And even if you return, she’ll be punished. Do you understand, kid?”
Just like the Grand Duke, Lexion treated Ashdel as an immature child.
Ashdel puffed his cheeks in protest.
“He wouldn’t come looking for me.”
“What?”
“I’ll inherit the title someday anyway. As long as I return before I’m of age, he won’t even care.”
Hearing this, Lexion scoffed.
“Does the Grand Duke know you want to run away?”
“He does.”
After all, he had made it pretty clear.
Lexion smirked.
“You really are just a kid.”
“Ugh, you’re so annoying.”
