RVMPT Chapter 28

Chapter 28

 

“Let’s head to the drawing room. Go ahead and inform them I’ve arrived.”  

 

“Yes, Your Grace.”  

 

The butler bowed his head before making his way to the drawing room.  

 

“What’s going on? The butler seemed unusually tense.”  

 

“It’s nothing to worry about. Diana, you can go ahead and have your meal.”  

 

Harold spoke lightly to Diana, who was watching him with a concerned gaze, before turning away and heading toward the drawing room.  

 

As he arrived, the butler opened the door for him. Inside, the Chief Chamberlain of the Imperial Palace and the Captain of the Knights were seated. They rose from their seats and greeted him respectfully. Harold nodded in acknowledgment and took a seat, his gaze sweeping over the two men.  

 

“What brings such important figures here today?”  

 

“As you might already know, five groups of human trafficking, including the one from this morning, have been wiped out. The culprit vanished without leaving a trace as if they were a trained professional.”  

“Oh, yes, I heard about that. It’s something the imperial family should handle, but… I am curious as to who might be responsible.”

“Do you truly not know who it is?”

The atmosphere grew heavy.  

 

The Captain of the Knights, a burly man with bear-like strength, clenched his thick hands into fists.

 

“How could I possibly know who the culprit is? I’m not a deity.”  

 

“There are witnesses who claim to have seen a knight from the Vissen family capturing members of a trafficking group before their bodies were discovered.”  

 

“Oh, yes. Those criminals had threatened my wife. As her husband, I couldn’t just stand idly by. But what does that have to do with this culprit?”  

 

Harold let his words trail off.

 

“Surely you’re not suggesting that I am the culprit because of that?”  

 

If they had any solid evidence, they would have already presented it.  

 

‘So, there’s no real proof,’ Harold thought to himself.  

 

His knights were not careless. Harold sipped his tea and set the cup down calmly.  

 

“If you suspect someone like me—the Duke of Vissen and a pillar of the Empire—you must surely have evidence.”  

 

“… …”  

 

For the first time, the Knight Captain, who had been unable to keep his mouth shut earlier, remained silent. It was then that the Chamberlain, who had been quiet since greetings, spoke up.  

 

“Who would dare accuse Your Grace, the Duke of Vissen? We are merely conducting an investigation. If it seemed otherwise, I apologize.”  

 

“I understand. It is only your loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor that drives you to act like this. So, I won’t hold it against you.”  

 

The Chamberlain rose first, bowing courteously.  

 

“Your Grace, thank you for your hospitality despite our unannounced visit.”  

 

“It’s nothing. I wish you success in capturing the culprit.”  

 

“With a long enough trail, the culprit is bound to be caught soon. We’ll take our leave now.”  

 

“Safe travels. The butler will see you out.”  

 

Once the two men left, Harold rested his chin on his hand, staring at the sofa where they had sat.

Although maintaining order in the capital was the imperial family’s responsibility, but their reaction this time was unusually intense.  

 

Just then, Evan entered quietly, speaking in a low voice.  

 

“Your Grace, shall we recall the orders given to the Black Hawk?”  

 

“No, leave them as they are.”

 

Showing any hesitation now would be the same as confessing that he was the culprit.

 

“Tell them to be more cautious and leave no traces. If anything suspicious arises, report it immediately.”  

 

“It will be done as you command.” 

 

Harold checked the time. By now, Diana had likely finished her meal. 

 

“If I’d known this conversation would end so quickly, I’d have joined her for dinner,” he thought, clicking his tongue as he stood. He wasn’t particularly hungry but had no intention of skipping a meal. 

 

‘I’ll just eat something light,’ he decided. 

 

While Diana enjoyed eating more than anyone else, Harold himself didn’t have much interest in food. It was only when he ate with her, watching her enjoy her food, then did his appetite would gradually come back.

 

But in his current mood, he didn’t feel like eating as he did when he was with her.

 

Leaving the drawing room, Harold glanced at the window in the hallway.

 

Rumble.

 

The sky was dark, as if heavy rain would fall at any moment.

 

It reminded him of the day Kaiden moved from the annex to the main residence.  

---

The rain began to pour.  

When Kaiden was moved to the main residence, it was decided that he would begin “just-in-case” successor training.  

 

A furious Duchess Gloria immediately took Harold with her to her family’s home.

 

“Harold, when you become the Duke, never forgive your father.”  

 

Gloria gritted her teeth as she clasped Harold’s youthful hands firmly.  

 

“Even if you’re unwell, you’re still the heir to Vaissen. There is no other successor but you.”  

 

A flicker of pity passed through Gloria’s eyes. Harold assumed it was directed at him and nodded.  

 

Since his father had ordered Kaiden to live in the main house, Harold’s position would shrink even further.

 

Those who once praised him as the perfect heir would soon turn their admiration toward Kaiden.  

 

Even among his closest aides, there would be those who would betray him. He had already expected this ever since he was diagnosed with his incurable illness.  

 

At least his mother would stay by his side. Harold trusted her, as she had been the one who worked tirelessly to find a cure for his condition.  

 

“Duchess, Young Master. Welcome. Oh, my dear, why do you look so pale?”  

 

“Don’t even get me started, Father. Sigh…”  

Count Russell and his wife welcomed their daughter and grandson. Harold had dinner with his mother and maternal relatives. However, they weren’t the only ones at the table.

“Young Master Harold, allow me to introduce this child. This is Camilla Benz. She is someone I’ll be taking under my wing from now on.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Young Master.”  

The woman with red hair curved her cat-like, delicate eyes into a soft smile. Judging by her mature appearance, she seemed to be past adulthood. Since it was common for younger children to be under sponsorship, Harold found this unusual and raised an eyebrow.

“Pleased to meet you, Lady Camilla Benz.”

“Your Grace, the Benz family has long been famous for their fertility,” Count Russell remarked.

“Even Lady Camilla’s older sister got married and, in just three years, already has three children and is expecting another.”

“…Is that so?” Harold was uncomfortable with Count Russell and his wife’s words, sensing an underlying meaning. His appetite suddenly vanished. 

Could his mother also be a part of this ridiculous plan?

‘…No, she wouldn’t.’
It was his mother, after all.

Losing his appetite, Harold finished his meal early and returned to his room. He tried to sleep after lying down on the bed, but the unfamiliar surroundings made him drift off into a shallow sle

Around midnight, he sensed a foreign presence around his bed.

An assassin? Tension coursed through him as he reached for the dagger beside his pillow and slowly opened his eyes. He then saw Camilla sitting at the edge of his bed.

She was wearing a translucent nightgown that revealed everything underneath—her outfit, leaving no doubt about her intentions.

“Lord Harold, this is what the adults want,” she said, placing her hand on his chest, her red-painted lips curling into a provocative smile.

Harold pushed Camilla away and sprang out of bed. As he rushed toward the door to escape, he froze upon opening it. The sight of the person standing there was utterly incomprehensible.

“…Mother?”

“You’re a man. Surely, you can’t resist a woman’s temptation.”

Gloria pushed Harold back inside and closed the door behind her.

---

Harold raised his upper body and rolled his eyes from side to side.

The couple’s bedroom. And beside him, Diana was sleeping.

Had it rained while they were asleep? 

‘Suddenly dreaming about that day.’

Although he had subdued Camila that day without any incident, but the memory of almost being attacked and betrayed by his once-trusted mother had left Harold to react negatively to any woman’s touch.

The pity Gloria had felt that day wasn’t for Harold, but it was for herself—because her son was sick and her position had become unstable.

Harold let out a bitter laugh.

Thinking back now, he wondered what on earth he had believed. Everything had changed when he became terminally ill.

His whole body was drenched in sweat and felt sticky, so Harold tried to get up from the bed to wash himself.

At that moment, a small hand grabbed him with gentle strength.

“……Harold?”

A soft, drowsy voice called his name.

At the same time, warmth spread through his hand as it was held.