Sched saw a puppy-sized child in his hand.

After shooing away Eclas’ henchmen who seemed to be servants, there was an unbelievable child running around in this quiet corridor.

Not only was she tumbling while wearing a skirt, but she also suddenly laughed to herself while running.

‘Why is there such a child in the Bitel family……’

The Bitel family was not a loose household that would let a distracted young child wander around carelessly.

‘……Is it a baby bird being trained early?’

The sensitive Sched thought that the child might be a bird that the Bitel family had started training from a young age.

If he was deceived by her innocent appearance and left her alone, she might go to Eclas and spill the beans…… He thought.

‘Damn, she looks so similar.’

Sched saw the child’s eyes that looked like they would burst into tears at any moment.

Was he too absorbed in looking for her?

He saw Louise in the child’s eyes.

Moreover, she had the beautiful platinum blonde hair and delicate features that Louise Ideana possessed……

‘She looks just like Louise when she was young.’

He didn’t know why his heart ached so much over just one unfamiliar little girl.

“Please save me, mister……”

The little child trembled, even her lips quivering as she sobbed.

Her sobbing reminded him of her last moments.

The emotions that he thought had dulled a bit over the years became vivid once again.

In an instant, unpleasant feelings rose.

“Hey, where are your parents?”

“I don’t know……, sniff.”

The child who resembled Louise finally shed tears.

His heart sank at the sight of the teardrops falling.

“This is driving me crazy.”

He tried to find Louise, but a girl who looked like her grabbed his ankle.

There wasn’t much time, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave this child behind.

Sched lifted the little girl named ‘Eve’ with one arm for now.

At that moment, a very familiar and lovely scent wafted from Eve.

The scent that remained in the depths of his consciousness.

“You……”

“I’m sorry! Wahhh!”

But before he could ask about the scent, the child began to wail loudly.

Sched frowned in bewilderment.

He hadn’t done anything, yet she burst into tears as if he had done something wrong.

Moreover, he had sneaked out after shaking off the servants, but wouldn’t crying like this attract people’s attention?

“There, there.”

When Sched tried to comfort her with a very serious expression, Eve cried even louder.

“Save meee!”

“Don’t say it like I’m trying to kill you……!”

Not knowing what to do, Sched covered Eve’s mouth for now.

His large palm was smeared with the child’s tears, snot, and saliva.

The crying sound spread, tickling his palm.

At that moment.

“Lord Lester……!”

An unpleasant voice called out to him.

‘Damn, I got caught without being able to do anything because of this kid.’

Sched turned around, resenting the little girl named Eve.

Eclas was looking at him with an angry yet somewhat flustered expression.

At that moment, Eve recognized Eclas and flailed her arms.

“Mmph……!”

Eve, whose mouth was covered by Sched, cried out to Eclas as if requesting rescue.

“Papa?”

Sched’s eyes narrowed, and he slowly removed his hand that was covering her mouth.

“First, let go of that child.”

Eclas’ voice was sharp, unlike usual.

‘He’s treating me like a villain, no doubt.’

As soon as Sched put the child down on the corridor, Eve ran to Eclas with her chubby legs.

“Papa!”

Eve tightly hugged Eclas’ pant leg and shed tears profusely.

Then, the Baron of the Bitel family lifted the little girl with both hands and held her in his arms.

The corners of Sched’s mouth twisted coldly as he watched him.

“I haven’t heard the news that you became a father. Ah, should I have heard the news of your marriage first?”

“Watch your words in front of the child.”

Eclas warned, unusually baring his teeth.

Even if Sched Lester’s power reached the heavens after the war with Blankas, he could not tolerate further excesses.

At that moment, Grita hurriedly ran over from the other end of the corridor.

“……!”

Grita stopped in her tracks when she saw Sched and Eve in the same space.

“Grita.”

When Eclas gestured with his eyes, Grita quickly approached him.

Eclas handed Eve, whom he was holding, to Grita.

“Papaa……”

“Go to your room with your nanny, Eve.”

Eclas gently patted Eve and sent her into Grita’s arms.

Eve sniffled, nodded her head, and nestled in Grita’s embrace.

Sched couldn’t take his eyes off Eve as she moved away.

She was just a tiny little girl, but she bothered his eyes.

Only after the child’s figure disappeared at the end of the corridor did Sched’s gaze return to Eclas.

“Where is that child’s mother?”

“……She’s dead.”

Dead?

Sched’s emotions were subtly shaken.

He didn’t even know who the child’s mother was, but his heart sank for a moment as if he had heard the news of an important person’s death.

“I had no choice but to bring her with me because I couldn’t leave a child who lost her mother alone.”

“……I see your compassion has grown a lot. To the point of bringing a child without weighing the consequences.”

“If you intend to keep causing trouble, please leave now.”

“Riana Serpens.”

Sched called out her name as if he had a pathological condition.

It was sickening.

“That child resembled that woman.”

Sched recalled the tiny child called Eve.

Then Eclas’ eyes narrowed.

“Is there anything that doesn’t resemble that woman in Lord Lester’s eyes?”

There was ridicule in Eclas’ voice.

“Don’t you think of that woman even when you see a piece of cloud floating in the sky?”

“I’m not in the mood for wordplay.”

“I’m advising you to come to your senses. Haven’t you been neglecting other matters for years while searching for that woman?”

Sched’s teeth ground at the cold advice.

“It will end once I find her.”

“What do you plan to do after finding her?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“Do you want to become complete enemies with the Marlhein family?”

Eclas sneered coldly.

Sched remained silent with an indifferent expression, not answering.

Before leaving for Blankas, Giselle eventually informed Sched of the engagement annulment.

She couldn’t endure Sched who was searching everywhere for Riana.

Of course, Lea didn’t know about that.

Because Eclas didn’t tell her.

Anyway, since the engagement was broken, the relationship between the two families was not good.

The reason the two families maintained a cooperative relationship, at least on the surface, was because they needed each other’s family.

Sched was the greatest hero in the empire, and Giselle was a high priestess who was considered the next pope.

But to find Riana and take her away?

To abandon Giselle Marlhein and choose a mere maid?

“Instead of wasting time here, it would be better to go to the Marlhein family, kneel down, and beg. Even if Miss Riana is alive somewhere……”

As Eclas continued, Sched glared at him as if he would kill him.

He had a look in his eyes that wouldn’t tolerate the assumption that Riana might be dead.

Eclas swallowed his breath in annoyance and continued.

“Anyway, marriage between you and Miss Riana is impossible, isn’t it?”

“What if I do it?”

“……What did you say?”

Eclas frowned in confusion.

“That woman is a maid and a commoner.”

“And I was a Lupus and a slave. Did you forget?”

Sched asked calmly, tilting his head slightly.

An expression as if status didn’t matter at all.

It was a surprisingly pure face that didn’t suit Sched Lester.

“Do you know how terrible of a political move that would be?”

“Damn it. Have I ever been used as a pawn in the political arena?”

Sched narrowed his eyes.

The title of the undefeated hero? It was just a glossy exterior.

He had lived as a slave for a long time, and even after becoming a nobleman, he lived a life different from other noble aristocrats.

The imperial court always used that title as an excuse to throw him to the front lines.

He also knew.

His achievements were nothing more than a reason to throw him into the frontlines as a shield.

Saving the emperor and receiving the abandoned Ideana territory was also just a consumptive test that would be of no political help.

He had never properly blended into the ‘aristocratic’ society.

Luxurious money games? Or the elegant pretense of the nobles?

He had never enjoyed such things, nor had he ever wanted to.

All he wanted was Riana Serpens, no, Louise Ideana alone.

“……Your choice will make her unhappy. The glares, criticism, ostracism, contempt, and disregard pouring in from all directions. Perhaps the Marlhein family will try to kill that woman. The imperial court may try to use that woman as your weakness.”

Eclas’ voice became a little agitated, unable to bear it.

Eclas knew the many misfortunes Riana would have to endure if she stood beside Sched.

Sched’s expression hardened coldly at Eclas’ words.

He approached Eclas with a leisurely gait.

“Why are you worried about that?”

A sharp gaze looked down at Eclas.

“Whether she is unhappy or happy, it’s not for you to worry about.”

A chilling voice settled in Eclas’ ears.

Only then did Eclas realize that he had intervened too deeply.

“You are an informant, and I am a client who pays you money. So, if you receive money, just do what you’re told properly and that’s it.”

A knife-like sharp gaze heavily pressured Eclas.

As Eclas said, Sched would be unhappiness for Riana.

But so what?

Sched asked himself.

Anyway, if Riana is not by my side, I feel like I’ll go crazy from unhappiness, so you’re telling me to shut up and play the role of a great duke while worrying about her unhappiness?

No. Sched Lester had no intention of sacrificing himself for Riana’s sake.

He was prepared to willingly become Riana’s unhappiness.