“What way.”
Daniel gave Luke the right to speak even though he had a puzzled face.
Despite Luke being a rogue knight, he had endless affairs with women, so he had a good understanding of women’s issues.
Luke started off thinking that he had a chance to make up for his lateness.
“I think everyone knows that there are seven older sisters above me. They are all married.”
“So?”
“My older sisters say that the type women are most reluctant to marry is a man with a woman problem.”
“…A woman problem?”
“Yes. A guy who hasn’t forgotten his ex, who can’t settle down and who finds another woman from time to time, or who keeps carrying traces of the woman he broke up with.”
Luke said confidently.
At the same time, questions filled the faces of the vassals.
Who is Daniel Prause?
He was a man who is said to be as quiet as the high priest.
You’d have him have a woman problem?
‘He’s the kind of person who refuses young girls’ dance requests with a smile on his face.’
‘Your Highness the Grand Duke’s affair with a former lover? You don’t have anyone who can be called his ex….’
“Our duke is one who is far from promiscuity, and that stone knight is talking nonsense again.”
Luke continued without noticing the suspicious glance I was looking at him.
“I mean, if rumors spread that His Highness’ private life is not clean, Princess Frey would also give up.”
“… .”
“Coincidently, the Grand duke is picking up abandoned children and protecting them.”
Luke remembered the basket Daniel had found under the wall about three years ago.
[Your Highness, please raise the children well.]
In the basket were two newborn boys with an irresponsible note.
[“These are not normal children. Please make a villa and take care of them.”]
The benevolent Grand Duke said so.
The fact that he was single and had two boys was known only to the employees of the Grand Duchy.
“It’s something picked up, but it’s like the children are actually the blood of the Grand Duke…”
“Luke.”
A stern voice stopped Luke.
It was his grandfather, Baron Divine, the butler of the Grand Duke, who was mixed with the vassals.
Each of the vassals who heard Luke’s ingenious yet poor solution clicked their tongues.
“Sir Divine. No matter how much it is, there is a dignity that must be maintained as Grand Duke Prause. This is a little bit…”
“Baron butler. You raised your grandson wonderfully.”
“I have no face, Your Highness. I will give my grandson a proper education this time.”
“Ah, Grandpa!”
The inside of the office suddenly became noisy.
In the midst of the commotion, Daniel rested his chin and lost himself in thought for a moment.
[“Daniel, I’m sorry.”]
A scene that had been buried deep in his heart began to play.
A middle-aged man holding a half-empty poison bottle with a dead human woman in his arms.
It was Duncan, the Grand Duke Prause and Daniel’s father.
[“Daniel, your mother… Julia just passed away.”]
While muttering with a confused face, he dropped the bottle of poison.
The poison he had already inhaled began to kill every part of his body.
It was the end of Duncan Prause, who was a transcendent for more than a hundred years and dared to love humans.
[“Father!”]
[“Daniel, sorry… I cannot leave her alone even for a moment.”]
The father’s body lay powerlessly on top of the mother’s.
The only sound he could hear was his own.
[“Father… Mother…”]
No.
The moment the two beings, who meant everything to him, vanished, Daniel stared at the bottle containing the poison.
If you drink just one drop of the poison left in that bottle, you will be able to be with your loving parents forever.
[“…….”]
But Daniel couldn’t.
More than wanting to be with his loved ones, he feared what might await him in the darkness after death.
I’m scared…
I love my parents, but….
If I survive, will Prause remain?
Yes, I must.
I have to live.
I think I sat down and cried until the vassals came running, trying to rationalize why I didn’t follow my parents.
At the same time, something was carved on his chest like a scar.
[“Daniel. Prause is the guardian of time. Keep that in mind.”]
The reason why the great Grand Duke Prause, the father who had always been strong, abandoned his son and left the world in an instant.
Because of love for my mother.
Love.
[‘I won’t do that. Never.’]
Daniel shuddered and looked away from the bottle of poison.
Even if those who were supposed to protect me attacked for wealth and power, I had to endure alone.
I sat on a big chair that couldn’t even reach the floor and listened to how many people advised me.
[“Since you have become Grand Duke Prause today, you must fulfill your duty to protect time.”]
[“Stop crying.”]
[“It’s a pity that no adult in the family is around, but you have to become stronger in this situation.”]
Yes, if that is my duty. To survive alone, turning my back on love.
Daniel erased the scene from his mind.
The idea that it was his duty to protect time order and territory as Grand Duke Prause had not changed even now.
The thought of avoiding what was called love, which only produced terrible consequences.
“Luke Divine.”
When Daniel, who had remained silent, finally spoke, the room fell into a brief silence amidst the ongoing argument.
“I give you permission to damage my dignity.”
“Yes?”
All the vassals, including Luke, momentarily froze.
But Daniel did not take back what he said.
‘If Luke properly damages his honor, the uninteresting courtship will end.’
No respectable father would want to marry his daughter off to a promiscuous man who even had a child out of wedlock.
If someone tried to push him, he can use the excuse of a non-existent ‘lover’ and decline.
“I’ll give you a few days off, so spread the rumor and make me a promiscuous bastard, Luke.”
I wasn’t interested in getting married or dating.
I want to endure the suffering at this point because there are many days ahead to live, given the mixed blood of the dragon.
“The sooner the better. His Majesty the Emperor, who only sees his daughter, might really use the right of absolute obedience.”
“Lord… really….”
“Don’t worry, I have no intention of impressing young ladies in the future.”
Daniel picked up his pen again as if he would not retract his remarks.
* * *
“Princess Frey. His Majesty the Emperor asked us to have lunch together.”
“Yes, I’ll be right there.”
Frey got up from her seat as if she had been waiting.
I knew in advance that my father would call me sometime today.
After openly going to the temple and using the divine power detector, she had not disclosed the results to anyone.
‘You called sooner than I thought. It must mean you’re curious about the results.’
So now was the perfect time to tell her father about her plans.
As soon as she entered the meeting place, the emperor stood up and inquired.
“Frey, I heard you went to the temple. Did you use the Divine Power Detector?”
“Yes, Father. I’d like you to leave the others outside.”
The emperor gave the maids a single glance.
“Frey, you’re burning my heart out. Let me know the result.”
Instead of explaining, Frey held out her hand and concentrated.
Swoosh!
A faint of light bloomed from her palm.
It was divine power, the power to purify undead creatures and bring peace.
The emperor hastily put his hand on his daughter’s hand.
“This must be divine power.”
Frey smiled bitterly and nodded.
If only I had the courage to know that I have divine power.
It might have prevented the death of my mother.
However, she was afraid of the empress and the crown prince, so she avoided it the whole time. As a result, she had to watch her mother die.
‘I will never run away again.’
Frey thought to herself as if she determinedly, then opened her mouth.
“Father, I’m going to use this power to establish a relationship between Grand Duke Prause and me.”
“…”
The emperor said nothing.
Clearly, what Frey used was divine power.
‘But if it’s just this much divine power, Grand Duke Prause has it too.’
If she continued to train, she would grow stronger, which was to be expected.
It seemed that the Grand Duke would not take Frey as his wife solely based on her amount of divine power.
The emperor was only disturbed by his daughter’s idea, who would have been delighted to marry the grand duke because of her divine power.
‘It would be suicidal to go north with this judgment.’
Towards the end of the meal, the emperor cautiously conveyed his opinion.
“Frey. I’m sorry, but with only divine power…”
However, Frey laughed as if it didn’t matter.
“The Grand Duke also has divine power, so divine power is not a big attraction.”
“I’m glad you know.”
“You know what? When I used the detector, I went in alone and no one knows how strong my divine power is.”
Frey smiled softly.
Originally, she should not have known whether she possessed divine power or not.
However, since there would be the High Priest, he would have noticed whether or not she possessed it.
‘Since I’m trying to hide it, there’s a high chance that they’ll mistakenly think that I have great divine power like normal heirs to the throne.’
A fact that everyone in the capital knows.
Frey Obelir had a tendency to hide and avoid anything that might annoy the empress.
‘So, the High Priest, who has seen me quite closely will mistakenly think that I have great divine power and conceal it.’
Frey intended to make the most of that misconception.
“If Father uses the right of absolute obedience, I will propose it to the Grand Duke.”
***
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