“I heard you were kidnapped.”

Oscar’s eyes widened at Genevieve’s sudden words.

“I heard you almost died in a burning mansion.”

“How did you…”

“Your mother told me everything. I suppose I needed to be prepared…”

Ah, so she knew everything back then.

Well, Oscar and she were ostensibly lovers, so it must have been awkward for Adelheid to say nothing at all.

Above all, since Oscar had gone missing, Genevieve must have had to cancel the wedding and go through the breakup procedures alone.

“I’m sorry for leaving it all to you.”

Oscar apologized again and carefully asked her.

“Genevieve, have you been well?”

“I’ve been fine. My family asked me to return the money since the marriage itself never happened, but how could I find it when I’d already squirreled it all away? But…”

She glared at Oscar, her eyes brimming with tears again.

Oscar just smiled awkwardly, not knowing what to say. Genevieve gave him a sharp look, blew her nose one more time, and continued.

“At first, I thought it was bandits after money. I thought all this happened because of me.”

“I’m sorry. It was all my fault.”

“Oscar. I’m not saying this to blame you.”

Genevieve said, firmly grasping Oscar’s arm as he apologized.

“I’m doing this because I was worried. You’re my friend.”

The resolute look in Genevieve’s eyes was so warm. Oscar’s eyes trembled slightly.

“Thank you for coming back alive. Have you been well?”

He had thought no one but his mother would welcome him when he returned…

Oscar pondered this for a moment before taking a breath. Then he slowly narrowed his eyes.

“Actually…”

Just as they were about to share the stories they had held back from each other.

“Oscar, I’m really sorry to interrupt.”

An unexpected figure appeared.

“Do you have a moment?”

It was Ailes Serpentine, the former Duke of Serpentine.

***

Clunk, the Duke set down his glass. He gazed at me intently and spoke first.

“It’s been a while since we’ve talked, just the two of us.”

“…Indeed. Are you feeling alright?”

“Of course.”

We had just stepped out of the noisy banquet hall and were now sitting face to face in a quiet room.

I examined Ailes Serpentine’s face anew.

‘Time really has passed.’

It was a strange feeling. In my memory, my adoptive father, Ailes Serpentine, had always seemed strong and absolute. As if even time couldn’t erode him.

But now, seeing his face up close after so long, I could sense the ravages of time.

“It seems I interrupted an important conversation. I’m sorry.”

“Not at all.”

I smiled awkwardly.

At the Duke’s appearance, Genevieve had left without lingering, only asking me to send her letters regularly. And so, in the midst of the ongoing banquet, I found myself suddenly pulled away for a private audience with him.

“…Children seem to grow up so fast.”

The Duke seemed to be having similar thoughts to mine. Just as I felt the passage of time looking at him, he seemed to realize how quickly time had passed seeing my grown-up appearance.

“I suppose so.”

“But it’s really fast. So fast…”

As if marveling anew, he stared at me for a long while before speaking.

“There’s something I’d like to ask, if I may.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Are you perhaps going to get engaged to Genevieve Raven again?”

Is that why he called me? Well, with the alliance between families at stake, it’s understandable he’d be concerned.

“…Ah, no. We were just catching up on the time that’s passed. She was worried about me too. There’s absolutely no chance we’ll get back together.”

Genevieve had achieved her goal, and I had achieved mine. There was no reason for us to marry again. When I said this, the Duke looked at me with what seemed like relief, for some reason.

As I blinked in confusion, not understanding why he was relieved.

“I’d like to make a request.”

“A request?”

“Yes.”

No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t imagine what the Duke would need to request from me. From me, who was only sickly.

The Duke hesitated, unable to speak readily. After a long pause, the words that came out of his mouth were truly unexpected.

“Oscar. Can you become a person of House Serpentine?”

“Pardon?”

I opened my eyes wide.

“As you can see, my illness has worsened, and I can’t help that child.”

The Duke’s hands were much thinner than before. Although his health had improved a lot recently, they still hadn’t found the cause of his illness. It could suddenly worsen at any time.

“When you say a person of House Serpentine…”

“I mean Erhan’s person.”

The Duke kindly explained, but even so, my mind couldn’t readily accept it.

Only after some time had passed did I understand the Duke’s words and slowly opened my lips to ask:

“You want me to become brother Erhan’s person?”

This was truly unexpected. Especially since I knew the relationship between the Duke and Erhan wasn’t good.

But why so suddenly?

It’s easy to say, but I knew myself well. I had no abilities that could help Erhan. So I shook my head, but the Duke was adamant.

“Yes, Erhan needs you. Oscar, you know our House Serpentine better than anyone.”

“But I…”

As I was about to continue, I suddenly stiffened. I understood the Duke’s intention to some extent. He probably wanted me to help Erhan, who had just ascended to the position of Duke. But what surprised me wasn’t just the sudden proposal. The Duke’s attitude, speaking to me like this only today, as if he had been waiting for this day…

‘…No way.’

Memories of my childhood with the Duke suddenly came to mind. That’s right. Come to think of it, it was strange. Would he have taught me House Serpentine’s magic just out of goodwill? The Duke, who was careful in everything?

I had wondered about it a few times back then too, but I had too many other things to worry about and just let it pass without much thought. But now I understand. The reason the Duke had taught me magic all along was clear. It was all for Erhan.

If I were ignorant about the family, I couldn’t help Erhan. I would need not only a general understanding of House Serpentine but also knowledge of magic.

“So that’s why you taught me magic when I was young.”

“…”

“Perhaps for this day.”

I finally understood all of the Duke’s subtle actions up until now.

‘Could the Duke really have been unaware of the kindness I showed Erhan in my childhood?’

All matters of the family would have reached the Duke’s ears. The Duke would have early on grasped that I followed Erhan well. So he must have designated me as the person to stand by Erhan’s side when he became the head of the family in the future, and taught me magic with that in mind.

“As expected of the Duke of Serpentine.”

This proposal must have been fully calculated in the Duke’s mind already. I was being played in the palm of his hand for the sake of the family. Perhaps because of the little affection I had for him, my heart felt a bit pained. I lowered my head. Then the Duke spoke in a subdued voice.

“I’m sorry. But I had no choice but to ask you. The emotional chasm between that child and me is too deep for me to do anything…”

I looked up at the Duke’s face and was dumbfounded.

He wore an expression of guilt towards me, but there was no regret on his face.

‘Whatever happened between father and son, I don’t know…’

It felt like I’d been hit from behind.

When I didn’t give any answer, the Duke carefully continued.

“If you want wealth, I’ll give it to you. If you have a dream, I’ll make it come true. I’ll give you anything, so can’t you stay by that child’s side? I’m not asking for much. Just stay by his side.”

The Duke, who had always seemed strong, showed his vulnerable side for the first time.

He was already in poor health. He seemed worried about Erhan being left alone if he were to die suddenly. Perhaps his affection for his son had become extraordinary as he had little time left to live.

I didn’t think the Duke was bad for caring for his son. Even if the Duke had used me, I had grown up under the protection of House Serpentine. Even if it was because of my mother, the Duke had done his best for me in his own way. But I had something I absolutely had to do. Without fail.

“Oscar.”

The Duke stared at me intently, urging me as I moved my lips, preparing to answer.

“I…”

Finally, I sighed and looked at him with a resolute expression.

“I will convey my intentions directly to brother.”

“Directly?”

“Yes.”

I slowly looked outside, turning my gaze away from him who looked at me as if surprised.

“It’s your request, Duke, but I think I should give my answer to him.”

The banquet was still in full swing. The grand hall must have been filled with boisterous laughter under the dazzling light of the chandelier.

But this place was terribly quiet. I remained silent for a while before standing up.

***

“Sorry for the late hour. Is this time alright?”

“Oscar, what’s going on?”

The banquet had ended successfully. The Serpentine mansion, now emptied of all guests, was once again plunged into quiet silence as if it had never been bustling. And late at night, I went to see Erhan, carrying a bottle of alcohol.