“But Cedric, what if their real goal isn’t the Duchess… What if it’s ‘Lillian’s Heart’?”

Vincent’s voice echoed softly in the reception room.

『Lillian’s Heart』

It was a gemstone the size of a human heart, shining in a brilliant red hue.

Despite its unremarkable appearance, it harbored the curse and resentment left by the goddess Lillian, who died in the primordial era.

“Only a human with my heart will obtain what they desire completely. However, as sweet as my kindness may be, the price will be cruel.”

『Lillian’s Heart』 tempted people, promising immense wealth and power, among other things.

People, despite knowing that Lillian’s Heart would bring a dismal end, became infatuated and blinded by greed.

As a result, the world narrowly avoided a crisis that could have plunged it into danger several times in ancient times.

Leaders of both the human and magical realms became obsessed with Lillian’s Heart, leading to continuous wars, and the earth was soaked in blood.

Ultimately, in the last great war of ancient times, the human and magical realms agreed to permanently seal Lillian’s Heart, along with the severance of communication.

The role of maintaining this seal was passed down to twin brothers, descendants of the twin brothers who were the initial sealers.

Now, after a long time, the role of the seal’s caretakers has been passed on to Cedric and Vincent, descendants of the twin brothers.

Cedric pondered his cousin’s words and passed a sip of whiskey.

Then he spoke slowly again.

“… I’ve had those thoughts too.”

Cedric put the glass down on the table and continued.

“But, Vincent, if something happened to Lillian’s Heart, wouldn’t Manakin, that cantankerous old man, have made a fuss?”

Vincent vigorously nodded at Cedric’s description of Manakin as a ‘cantankerous old man,’ seemingly empathizing with it.

“Ah, well, that’s true.”

The accursed object was sealed in the magical realm’s mountains where the ancient dragon ‘Manakin’ was asleep.

And only Cedric and Vincent knew its exact location.

Vincent, who had been nodding all along, stopped and opened his mouth straight away.

“But still, since we’re here, wouldn’t it be good to go together and check the seal?”

“Yeah, as long as we’re careful, there shouldn’t be any harm.”

“…But that Manakin, that darn old man.”

Vincent, who said so, sighed deeply, not hesitating to drink whiskey again while leaning back on the sofa.

“Last time, when I went to check the seal and fooled around a bit, he suddenly breathed fire on my buttocks.”

“…”

“Luckily I dodged it, but if I hadn’t, the Norman family lineage would have been cut off forever.”

Laughing slyly and sipping whiskey, Vincent, leaning against the sofa with his back, opened his mouth again.

“Oh, by the way, is the mark still there?”

To Vincent’s frivolous question, Cedric scratched his face once again.
“Manakin, that old man, asked me the same thing when I went last time.”

“…”

“To have discord with the woman he chose for me must be bothering him quite a bit.”

Spouses of the magical realm’s aristocrats and nobles were all determined by the ancient dragon Manakin’s choice.

This was an institution established since ancient times due to the calamities caused by the imprinting of those in power.

Manakin chose their spouses with outstanding foresight, and her choices had never been wrong.

However, Cedric had always thought that Manakin’s choice was wrong when it came to his marriage.

…Until not long ago.

It was when Cedric was lost in thought that Vincent interrupted the silence.

Vincent, playfully, raised one corner of his mouth as he observed Cedric, who was lost in thought.

“Cedric, if you have no intention of imprinting on that woman, why don’t you just let her go?”

At Vincent’s words, Cedric raised his eyebrows slightly with a hint of annoyance.

His expression, fierce enough to intimidate most people, was met with Vincent’s light-hearted laughter, as if finding it amusing.

“No need to look like that, Cedric.”

“…”

“Living by the side of a man who doesn’t want you is also a torment for her.”

Vincent, as always, bluntly spoke his thoughts, and Cedric, accustomed to hearing his words halfheartedly, listened.

However, unlike usual, there was a subtle energy in Cedric’s face as he looked at Vincent now.

“You seem to be lacking the resolve. Do you want me to slit your throat right here?”

At that, Vincent widened his eyes as if surprised, saying, “Oh…?”

Cedric’s reaction seemed to stimulate Vincent’s mischief even more.

“Oh, by the way, if the reason you two don’t break up is because Rebecca has feelings for you…”

“…”

“I could somehow try to charm her. I really like Rebecca, unlike you.”

Vincent grinned, raising the corner of his mouth and wiggling his nose.

“Unlike you, I won’t leave Rebecca alone and lonely every night. Got it? So, Cedric…”

Unable to endure any longer, Cedric jumped over the table, and outside the reception room, the harsh sound of a collision continued for a while.

One hour later, inside the banquet hall of the Light Mansion.