Chapter 16

Treon marvelled at the progress noted by the previous teacher.

“You’re amazing, Duke. I can’t believe you’ve already reached this far in the History of the Empire while I was away.”

An average 10 year-old would have been happy when he was praised, but Luc still had a sullen expression.

If anyone else had seen his curt attitude, they would have been uncomfortable, but in Treon’s eyes, it was an attitude befitted of a true ruler.

A king had to control his emotions and thoughts without flinching at every compliment he receives.

In the meantime, he has been busy assisting the Duke’s regiment so it was only about two months later that Treon managed to supervise Luc’s education in earnest.

Luc, whom he has observed, was very fast and excellent in learning.

“Then, let’s learn about Emperor Kuser’s achievements today. Emperor Kuser was the 13th Emperor of the empire…”

Treon’s class was tough, but Luc followed the lesson without complaint.

After the class was finally over, Treon opened his mouth carefully.

“Duke. I have something to tell you regarding the madam.”

“What?”

As soon as Felia was mentioned, Luc’s eyes lit up for the first time.

“Did you know that the madam is managing the duchy’s household?”

“Yes.”

“Did the Duke entrust it to her?”

“So?”

“Take that privilege back.”

“What?”

Luc’s brows furrowed.

Sensing Luc’s anger, Treon quickly spoke.

“The family situation is at stake right now. If someone tries to take over the family, we have no choice but to surrender to them. I’ve been looking into it and the madam’s behaviour is very suspicious these days. Not long after she came to the family, she found out about Frug’s embezzlement and Marquis Reholas’ fraud. It is clear that there is a family that is after you. If we leave it as it is, there’s no doubt that the duchy will be swallowed by other families that are connected to the lady.”

It was clearly suspicious.

Treon believed that Luc would obey him.

However, Luc’s answer was the exact opposite of Treon’s expectation.

“So what?”

“Huh?”

Did he have trouble understanding the situation?

Bewildered, Treon spoke again.

“So if this continues, the family behind the madam will become the Duke of Valruga……”

“I know. It means that the family behind her could take over the duchy.”

It wasn’t that he didn’t understand.

“Yes, that’s right! The true owner of the duchy is the duke. Therefore…”

“I don’t care.”

“……What?”

He didn’t know how many times he’s already made a fool of himself today, contrary to the butler who always remains calm under any situation.

Luc spoke again clearly.

“It doesn’t matter if sister becomes the Duke of Valruga. Neither sister, nor the family behind her, or anyone. If sister decides to do that, I’m completely fine with it.”

PR/N: ‘sister’ is Felia 

“What…No, wait a minute. Duke, please reconsider. If this goes on, the Valruga family is over. It will completely vanish from the duke’s generation.”

This was ridiculous.

He was the owner of the family and he’s letting the family bloodline go extinct.

Luc looked at Treon with cold eyes.

Although he was a child much smaller than himself, Treon felt as if Luc was looking down on him.

“Do you think I’m too young to understand the situation?”

“…….”

“I am well aware of the family name and the weight of the title that I carry. If I, the owner of the family, decide to do so, then you must obey my decision.”

Treon realised.

Luc understood the situation clearly.

And regardless, Luc made such a choice.

“Sister is not a person who will conquer the family. No, rather. Like you said, if sister really decides to conquer the family, break it or sell it anywhere, I will support her decision.”

“Duke! Have you gone insane?”

Treon screamed.

“Insane?”

Luc smirked.

In the midst of despair, Treon shuddered.

It was the image of an arrogant and domineering ruler he had always wished to see from his predecessors.

But he didn’t want to see it in this situation.

“Then I must be crazy about her. If sister wishes for it, I would wrap this family with my own hands and hand it over to her. After all, sister had saved both the family and me, she even made me who I am today.”

Treon was utterly devastated.

Luc’s words were not over yet.

“Besides, butler.”

A pen swung in Luc’s hand.

“I think a butler who tries to separate the duke and the duchess is more suspicious. Don’t you think so?”

“…….”

Luc’s pen pointed to Treon.

It was just an ordinary pen held in the hands of a child, but strangely, Treon couldn’t move as if he was being pointed by a sword at that moment.

“If you ever try to touch my wife, I’ll kill you with my own hands before you could even do so.”

It looked like a warning at first glance, but Luc was serious.

Raised under indifferent parents, Luc was imprisoned in the cold castle that was slowly dying.

His wife was a strong, beautiful, and wonderful person.

But he was young, weak and a burden.

So what if the butler offends her and she decides to leave?

If Felia said she wanted to break up with him, Luc had no means to hold her.

“I won’t be attending any more classes. And if you’re going to keep thinking like that, leave the castle.”

After those words, Luc concluded that there was no need for further discussion.

Treon tried to grab Luc’s arm as he passed by him, but Luc calmly avoided Treon.

Only Treon was left in the room.

*  *  *

“This…Is really absurd……”

Treon hugged the bottle and rolled on the floor.

“No…I have to save…th-this family…so…Hic!”

There was the stench of booze along with his red face.

He looked very drunk.

Bircher kicked Treon with an annoyed look.

If he’s drunk, he should go to his room and sleep. Why did he come and do this in someone else’s room?

“Hey. It’s annoying, go back to your room and sleep.”

“No…It doesn’t make sense…Why did…the Duke say he would sell his family…Does that even make sense……?”

“What? Sell the family? To whom?”

When Bircher asked in surprise, Treon sobbed.

“To the madam! Hu, huhu…”

“Oh, that’s all. You surprised me. So what if it’s the madam…No, the madam is the duchess anyway, so how can he sell her the family? Is she going to be the duke?”

“What, you’re also on the madam’s side! Ha!”

Treon pointed his finger at Bircher.

“What? After all, madam is our duchess. What’s wrong with me being on her side?”

“Madam…Madam is…Not with the duke…!”

“What are you saying?”

Bircher rubbed his ear with a hand.

This is why drunkards are annoying.

“Madam…No…madam…Ah! If she devours the duchy…What will you do then!…Huh?”

Bircher replied instantly.

“Isn’t it fine? Everything is doing well right now.”

“Hey!”

“Ah, what?!”

Bircher shouted no less.

“You…You’re supposed to take my side, you bastard…”

Bircher looked down at Treon with a pathetic gaze.

Treon clung onto Bircher’s legs and sniffled.

When he was sober, he was irritating and serious with his work, but he was still a good guy. However, every time he drinks, he spouts the truth.

Still, he has spent a long time with Treon.

Bircher spoke, recalling their friendship in the past.

“Hey, Treon.”

“What…”

“Stop doubting the madam. If the madam was suspicious, I would have noticed.”

Bircher said, rather seriously.

“You…You’re not convinced……? That’s it! It must be easy to figure out if we’re being scammed so…?”

“Ah seriously, this punk!”

Bircher kicked Treon hard with his foot.

“Hey, who said that madam figured it out easily! Do you know how much trouble the madam had to go through?! You bastard! What spy?! Do you know how much the madam has run around with that delicate body of hers and how many nights she’s stayed up?”

The more he talked about it, the angrier he became.

Bircher kicked Treon with his other foot this time.

“Eugh……”

Treon couldn’t even resist, he was struck by Bircher’s foot and rolled away.

“It’s because you didn’t see it. Everyone in the castle is aware of how much effort she puts in and how much she thinks about this castle! Every single person in the castle is useless!”

Butcher saw it all clearly.

At 3 in the morning, when everyone was asleep, the sight of the madam looking at the documents while forcing her sleepy eyes to stay open.

Before meeting the Fox Merchant Association, she practised several times with Naol all day long to avoid making a mistake.

Before the appointment with Marquis Reholas, her trembling did not subside so she hugged the Duke for a long time.

How can anyone doubt the madam after witnessing all that?

“If you’ve ever looked at madam clearly, you would never be able to say such a shameless thing.”

Treon looked at the ceiling without saying a word.

“I understand your situation, but don’t be prejudiced and look properly at least once at what kind of person the madam truly is. And if after you have observed her and still think she’s not trustworthy, come to me.”

Bircher raised his fist.

“It just means that your head is wrong, so I’ll fix it for old times’ sake.”

Look ‘properly’.

Wouldn’t that be really difficult?

But Treon loved the castle and the family.

If everyone kept on saying the same thing, then it would be the butler’s duty to think about it once more.

*  *  *

The next day, Treon woke up on the cold floor.

Bircher left Treon to sleep on the floor.

He couldn’t even open his eyes properly and was urged to the dining room as if he was kicked out. But this time, the maids served him breakfast without even making eye contact with Treon as if a rumour was going on.

“Hmph!”

The maid placed the bowl down so roughly that the soup in the bowl had splashed all over.

There wasn’t even a single thing in the soup.

Treon became a little depressed.

‘Was this also the madam’s influence…’

After eating, Treon headed to the study.

He waited for a long time, but Luc really did not come.

‘……I’m going to have to beg the Duke for this too.’

He didn’t realise he would actually refuse education.

The castle, starting with the duke, had all fallen in love with the madam.

Yes, with such a strong reputation, there must be something going on with the madam.

It was then.

As he left the study alone, Treon saw the duke and duchess.

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