[Episode 48]
Duke Colin’s expression hardened slightly at Erno Etam’s words. Duke Colin slowly opened his mouth.
“It’s strange. There must be few people in the world who know about it except for me.”
“There are many strange things.”
Erno Etham replied plainly with his legs crossed.
“Except where I deliberately informed them… I think only the humans who send me nightly uninvited guests know this.”
“So?”
“For me, I have no choice but to have a reasonable doubt.”
Erno Etam pretended to tilt the teacup in his hand leisurely, then spun it around and poured it onto the carpet.
“I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“Have you thought about what kind of conflict this could turn into by trying to assassinate the duke?”
“You are saying something dangerous. When did I say that? Do you have any evidence?”
Erno Etam’s leisurely questioning made Duke Colin quiet.
There is no evidence.
The uninvited guests thoroughly concealed their identities and did not carry anything to reveal their identities.
Even the daggers and items used were cheap, commonly sold at street vendors.
“…Even a heart attack is evidence.”
“Ah, this is why the world has no end of unfair criminals.”
Duke Colin clenched his fist at Erno Etam’s natural words.
Without proper evidence, it was impossible to persecute a candidate for succession to a family.
“Yeah, let’s just assume that. Then, why did you come all the way here?”
“I’m here to pick up what you stole.”
Erno Etham said, slowly leaning his upper body forward.
[Who the hell ordered it? If it’s a problem that can be solved, let’s talk!]
[Then why steal?]
Duke Colin’s expression hardened even more at the memory that suddenly came to him.
‘…No matter how careless he is, what kind of nonsense is this.’
I have no evidence, but I am sure.
Uncertainty as to who had instigated the uninvited guest who had harassed him for the past 10 days.
“I don’t know what the hell I stole. How dare you live in a house with a wife and child…”
A ferocious energy swept over Duke Colin.
Sharp purple eyes glared at Erno Etam with anger.
“My daughter.”
“…what?”
“I heard that Eirin adopted my daughter at will.”
“…Eirin?”
he frowned.
It was embarrassing to hear the name he had been looking for for so long from someone he hadn’t thought of.
“Why Erin?”
“This is my daughter. They stole it on their own.”
Duke Colin shut his mouth for a moment as if to grasp the situation.
He was in a long silence, like someone looking for something to say.
‘She’s the daughter of Erno Etam?’
no it can’t be
Erno Etham had only two children and produced no more heirs upon the death of his wife.
The last of Duke Colin’s patience snapped. He lightly threw away his courtesy.
“You’d better lie in moderation. I have ears and eyes too. You have no children except your two sons.”
Erno Etam’s eyes narrowed.
“Eirin was not even registered as a birth in the first place. That child will grow up to be Richard’s brother and sister.”
“So where is that Eirin?”
“Disappeared after being sold at an underground auction… Are you sure you have it?”
The expression slowly faded from Erno Etam’s face as well. He was silent for a moment, then smiled lightly.
“Originally, it was the child of one of Etham’s collaborators, and I was supposed to adopt it, but someone snatched it in the middle.”
“Nonsense. This kid was in an orphanage with my son. If you really were going to adopt, why was this child in an orphanage far from the capital?”
“…”
“Even if what you say is true, I wonder if a social misfit like you, who lives only for pleasure and interest, can raise a child properly.”
“I even got a kiss from my daughter.”
“…what?”
Duke Colin asked with an expression as if he had been hit with a hammer in the back of his head after he had been punching savagely.
“I decided to make that child my daughter, and my daughter decided to make me a father. But what are you, Duke Colin, interfering?”
“I didn’t check it myself and listen to it, so I’m withholding judgment on that statement.”
Duke Colin turned his head.
‘parents? It’s not even funny.’
Erno Etham is a man who lives life solely for pleasure.
A person who gets tired of it and throws it away like nothing, no matter what it is or how that person’s life is ruined.
“Anyway, taking Eirin as a daughter must have been part of the game.”
It was a famous anecdote that he committed all kinds of eccentricities to rebel against Duke Miriel.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t trust you and I don’t think you can raise a good child.”
He stood up from his seat with a firm voice.
“The assassination attempt will continue, but to no avail.”
“I wonder if he’d be able to say the same thing if his neck fell off.”
“Try it. I’m also quite curious what Eirin’s expression will look like after hearing that.”
Erno Etam slowly lowered his eyes.
“I don’t know if the child really wants it, but if not, I’ll finish the family register sooner or later and officially pick up the child.”
The right to a child belongs to the person with parental authority, so if the family register was taken away, Erno Etam could not exercise any right to Eirin.
“Do you know the latest fad that your child likes?”
Erno Etam’s ferocious gaze fell upon Duke Colin. Duke Colin looked at him with a cool gaze before opening his mouth.
“It’s kind of trendy these days for kids to call each other pets.”
Erno Etam frowned at that unbelievable absurd statement.
“So you are not.”
Duke Colin laughed openly at him and turned away.
“Serve Prince Etam respectfully. He said he would die.”
“Be careful day and night.”
Goosebumps ran down Duke Colin’s back at Erno Etam’s words, which had cooled down.
‘…was it too provocative?’
He rubbed his forehead with a slightly tired face.
‘Fortunately, he seems to be unharmed.’
I thought maybe there was a reason why I couldn’t contact you.
‘I have to tell Richard.’
Duke Colin, thinking that he needed to bring news to the depressed child, increased his walking speed.
* * *
“Welcome, Confucius.”
Erno Etam stopped in front of the carriage.
“Where are pets sold these days?”
“…yes? Is it like a pet shop in the capital…?”
“Human?”
“yes?”
“It was tsk.”
Erno Etam clicked his tongue and just climbed into the carriage.
It was just as the carriage was speeding through the capital.
Erno Etam, who had been staring out the window, narrowed his eyes.
He lightly tapped the spear in the driver’s direction a couple of times, and the carriage came to a slow halt.
“Yes, Confucius.”
“Bring that.”
“yes?”
“Bring that.”
He nodded.
At the end of his nod was a boy with an unusual appearance.
A young boy with fine white hair that makes you wonder why he is sitting in an alleyway.
“Is this a child you know?”
“Well, maybe, maybe not.”
Erno Etam said something significant. The energy was very noticeable.
“Then what the hell…”
“I’ll use it as my daughter’s pet.”
“….”
“The latest fashion.”
“Ah yes…”
The coachman just kept quiet and decided to do what he told him to do.
This is because the thoughts of the high-ranking people were completely unknown.
The wagon carrying the child who was curled up on the floor moved quickly again and headed for the Etham family.
* * *
“…Uh, I don’t know what this is…?”
I stupidly looked at what was thrown in front of me. It was a familiar look with only the face sticking out of the sack.
Bashish-
The boy who jumped out of the sack sack laughed, his mouth parting.
It was obvious to anyone that he had been caught on purpose.
The blue eyes and the white hair that contrast with it…
‘Lucillion…’
Why is he here?!
“It is a pet.”
“…yes?”
“It’s fashionable these days.”
Erno Etam said in a somewhat proud voice.
