When Riche and Ian looked at him, Zekebert pointed at them with his characteristic languid expression.

“You two got closer?”

“Huh?”

“Yeah, we’re close.”

Riche tilted her head, and Ian answered immediately.

Zekebert asked again.

“Friends?”

“Yeah.”

This time Riche answered right away, and Ian was silent.

“I see.”

Zekebert walked silently for a moment before suddenly transforming into a wolf and sticking to Riche’s side.

“Huh? You want me to ride?”

Nod.

Zekebert nodded his head. Since this was not the Ludwik Ducal Mansion, he could speak.

However, Zekebert didn’t speak while in his wolf form, seemingly to keep his promise with Blake.

“Here?”

Nod.

‘Is there a reason I need to ride?’

Fortunately, there was no one else in the hallway. If there had been, someone would have screamed at the sudden appearance of a wolf.

Riche hesitantly climbed onto Zekebert’s back.

By now, his wolf form had grown closer to adult size, allowing two adults to ride without issue.

Ian, who locked eyes with Riche, smiled slightly.

“This is my first time seeing Zekebert in his wolf form. It’s cool.”

“Yeah, isn’t it?”

“Woof.”

Zekebert’s tail wagged.

He didn’t know why he was carrying her, but as long as he seemed happy, it was fine.

As they walked a bit more and reached the end of the hallway, just as Robenhaf had mentioned, a sign appeared.

Dessert Research Club

Riche dismounted from Zekebert’s back and spoke.

“This must be it. The nameplate is already up.”

Robenhaf had only mentioned setting up the club the day before; this was quite fast.

Plus, they even finished the interior, so they could just start using it.

‘What else did he say?’

Riche conveyed to Ian and Zekebert what she had heard from Robenhaf.

“The seniors’ class ends late today, so he said we should go in first.”

Suddenly.

The door inside the club room opened.

With the appearance of a single person from inside, a sense of tension filled the air.

“Derkesion, have you heard news of Duke Gerwer?”

“What news.”

Robenhaf looked at Deon, who was staring at the chalkboard, and thought.

If he can’t see the chalkboard well, he should just sit closer to the front.

Due to Deon’s insistence on the back seat, his eyes were suffering again today. Though Robenhaf was comfortable in the back thanks to him.

There were no people around, so they could whisper sensitive matters like now.

“I heard it from my father. He seems to be reappearing in social circles.”

“…….”

At those words, a deeper frown creased Deon’s forehead.

Duke Gerwer.
For a while, it was good not to have to worry about seeing him. Upon hearing the news, my mood soured.

“Are you 32 this year? The heir would be Iandwain, right? It’s about time for an official announcement.”

Even Duke Serdis declared Ziegbert as his heir.

This time, the only duke who hadn’t announced an official heir was Duke Gerwer.

Then, Robenhaf calculated the ages of the dukes.

Duke Serdis was thirty-seven, my father was thirty-four, and Duke Rodwik was thirty-five.

“Derkedion, how is Duke Rodwik’s health? Our father has been experiencing worsening pain lately.”

“……”

“Ah, sorry. You don’t like these topics.”

Robenhaf turned his gaze to the lecturing professor, not furthering the conversation due to Deon’s silence.

‘Damn.’

Nobles of the Hibetzman House gracefully accepted the limitations of their lifespans. They saw it as a point of pride.

So, when they neared the age of 40, they would naturally comment on their ailing bodies, much like ordinary elderly people in their seventies or eighties would.

So, I too should have avoided such topics.

‘I made a mistake with Derkedion.’

Robenhaf sneakily glanced at Deon’s face.

Judging by his continued staring at the blackboard, he didn’t seem to take my words seriously.

Robenhaf felt relieved. Deon had become rather contemplative.

‘My father’s health…’

My father was quite healthy. So much that I no longer had to worry.

However, around that time, Richea became severely ill.

Since I had experienced something similar before, it was easier to understand this time.

‘My father’s wound has healed.’

And Richea was likely involved in that process.

Even if I didn’t exactly know what kind of entity Richea was, Deon surmised as much.

Whether Richea was what kind of entity didn’t matter to Deon.

Two years ago.

During the holiday, Deon was on his way home.

Sitting in a slowly moving carriage, he was leisurely thinking about seeing some familiar faces after a long time.

Then, upon hearing news from one of Rodwik’s knights, he abandoned the carriage and rushed to the duke’s residence at full speed.

‘It’s a lie.’

Even as he passed through the estate’s gates, Deon kept repeating to himself.

It’s a lie. It’s a lie.

“Huff, huff.”

…What if it’s not a lie?

He opened Richea’s room. In front of the open door, Deon took heavy breaths as he took in the dreadful scene.

A silent Blake, a room where not a sound could be heard, the oppressive atmosphere, and Richea lying motionless on the bed wrapped in bandages.

Red-eyed Anna approached Deon and said in a subdued voice.

“Sir… the young lady might… pass away.”

That can’t happen.

Deon slowly walked towards Richea.

She’ll get up. She’ll get up.

If I regulate Richea’s breathing with my ability—.

“Don’t.”

Blake’s cracked voice stopped Deon, who was panicking.

As Deon reached out his hand towards Richea from the head of the bed, he looked at Blake.

But, Father.

“Richea will die.”

Tears flowed from Deon’s red eyes.

“Just like Mother.”