“But Cedric, what if their real target wasn’t the Grand Duchess… but Lillian’s Heart?”

Vincent’s voice fell low in the reception room.

“Lillian’s Heart”

It was a raw gem about the size of a human heart, with a brilliant red color.

Though unremarkable in appearance, it was said to contain the curse and resentment left behind by the primordial goddess Lillian as she died.

“Only the human who possesses my heart shall fully obtain what they desire. But as sweet as my kindness is, the price will be cruel.”

‘Lillian’s Heart’ tempted people by promising to grant them everything, including vast wealth and power.

Even knowing it would bring a tragic end, people became bewitched by it and blinded by greed.

Because of this, the entire world had nearly fallen into crisis several times already in ancient times.

The rulers of both the human and demon realms began to go mad with obsession over Lillian’s Heart, and due to constant wars, blood never ran dry on earth.

Eventually, in the final great war of ancient times, the human and demon realms agreed to sever ties and seal away Lillian’s Heart forever.

And the role of managing that seal was entrusted to twin brothers of half human, half demon blood.

Thus, after a long time passed, in the present day.

That custodian role had been passed down to Cedric and Vincent, descendants of those twin brothers.

Cedric took a sip of whiskey as he mulled over his cousin’s words.

Then he continued speaking slowly.

“…It’s not that I haven’t thought of that possibility.”

Cedric set his glass down on the table and continued.

“But Vincent. If something had happened to Lillian’s Heart, do you think that ill-tempered old man Manakin would have stayed quiet?”

Vincent nodded his head vigorously at that.

He seemed to deeply sympathize with Cedric’s description of Manakin as an “ill-tempered old man.”

“Ah, yes. That’s true.”

That cursed object was sealed in a mountain in the demon realm where the ancient dragon ‘Manakin’ slept.

And only Cedric and Vincent knew its exact location.

Vincent, who had been nodding continuously, stopped and immediately opened his mouth.

“Still, since we’re here anyway, it might be good to go check on the seal together.”

“Right, it can’t hurt to be careful.”

“…By the way, that damned old man Manakin.”

Vincent let out an uncharacteristically long sigh as he said that.

“Last time we went to check the seal, I teased him a little and he suddenly spat fire at my behind.”

“…”

“I managed to dodge quickly, but if I hadn’t, the Norman family line might have ended right there.”

Vincent giggled as he drank his whiskey, then leaned back widely on the sofa and spoke again.

“Oh, by the way, still no imprinting yet?”

Cedric frowned again at Vincent’s frivolous question.

“That old hag Manakin, she asked me about it last time we went too.”

“…”

“She must be quite concerned that I’m not getting along with the woman she picked for me.”

All spouses of demon realm royalty and nobility were chosen by the ancient dragon Manakin.

This was a system established since ancient times, when there had been several problems caused by the imprinting of those in power.

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

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

…At least until very recently.

As Cedric fell silent, lost in thought, that’s when it happened.

Vincent, who had been staring at him intently, curved one corner of his mouth up mischievously.

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

At those words, Cedric frowned and raised his head.

His expression was fierce enough to make most people weak in the knees, but Vincent just let out an amused chuckle.

“Don’t look at me like that, Cedric.”

“…”

“It must be torture for her too, spending the rest of her life with a man who doesn’t want her.”

Vincent always spoke whatever came to mind, and knowing this, Cedric usually half-ignored his words.

But unlike usual, Cedric’s face now held a subtle hint of murderous intent as he looked at Vincent.

“Was the jaw not enough? Do you want me to cut off your neck while I’m at it?”

Vincent raised his eyebrows in surprise and let out an “Oho…” of admiration.

Cedric’s reaction seemed to further encourage his mischievous mood.

“Ah, if the reason you two aren’t separating is because of Rebecca’s feelings for you…”

“…”

“I could try to seduce her somehow. I really like Rebecca, you know.”

Vincent wrinkled his nose and raised the corners of his mouth.

“Unlike you, I wouldn’t leave Rebecca lonely every night. Hm? So Cedric…”

Unable to hold back any longer, Cedric leapt over the table, and for a while after, the sound of violent blows could be heard outside the reception room.

.

.

.

An hour later, in the dining hall of the Light Mansion.

The entire Twins family had gathered around the table where a grand dinner feast was laid out.

Bianca seemed excited to have so many family members gathered after a long time.

However, her cute smile slowly faded as she looked at Vincent’s face.

Examining Vincent with a worried expression, Bianca slowly opened her mouth.

“I’m glad to see you after so long, Lord Vincent, but…”

“Hm?”

“Did something happen? Did you go monster hunting again?”

Indeed, Vincent’s face looked even more wretched than before.

‘What on earth happened in that short time before dinner started?’

I stared at Vincent’s face with a dumbfounded expression.

Needless to say, his jaw that had been punched by Cedric was bruised dark blue.

One of his eye sockets was also bruised, and there was even dried blood at the corner of his mouth.

“This is all your brother’s handiwork, Bianca.”

Vincent pulled a bloody tissue out of his nostril and pouted his lower lip.

“What? There’s no way the Grand Duke would…”

“It’s true. That guy, he’s more jealous and greedy than I thought!”

Vincent ground his teeth audibly towards Cedric, but Cedric just ignored him and continued cutting his steak.

Vincent glared at him for a moment, then suddenly thrust his fork onto Cedric’s plate.

Then he started shoving Cedric’s untouched salad into his own mouth.

“What are you doing?”

Cedric asked with a frown, and Vincent twisted his lips comically.

“If you’re not going to eat it, give it to me, you greedy bastard.”

“Who said I wasn’t going to eat it?”

“You weren’t eating it.”

“I was saving it.”

“Oh, you like saving things.”

Cedric, who had been drawn into conversation with Vincent without thinking, suddenly let out a long sigh with an irritated expression.

“Vincent, what business is it of yours how I handle my own things?”

“What’s the point of saving it forever?”

“…Here we go again.”

Caught in the middle of the two men’s rapidly chilling atmosphere, I could only blink my eyes.

The kind Bianca looked ready to share her own salad with the two of them.

‘How much do they love salad to have such a profound conversation about it?’

And salad of all things, not even meat.

I couldn’t understand, but Cedric seemed to share the same earnestness about salad.

It was then, as Cedric glared at Vincent with even fiercer eyes.

“If you leave something precious by your side without realizing its value, guys like me will be eyeing it greedily, ready to snatch it away.”

Vincent, who had been downing white wine like water, continued speaking with a giggle.

“So treat it well while you have it, Your Grace.”

* * *

At the same time, in the Dark Mansion.

Adrian had ordered the servants to rest and dismissed most of them.

After wandering around the quiet mansion alone for a while, managing things.

Finally, as he entered the Grand Duchess’s quarters to quickly organize things before Rebecca returned.

That’s when bright light filtering in through the window caught Adrian’s attention, and he unconsciously approached the window.

Bright light leaking in from the Light Mansion.

It seemed Vincent’s welcome banquet was in full swing.

‘I wonder how Her Grace is doing.’

As this curiosity suddenly struck him, Adrian’s expression grew even more melancholy.

Previously, he would have felt relieved that Rebecca was with Cedric.

He had felt sorry for the Grand Duchess who was always sad and falling apart, and sincerely wished for her happiness.

But when had it started?

Every time he saw her with Cedric, he felt a subtle sense of displeasure.

It was after seeing them kiss at the banquet held at Count Dmitri’s estate.

And just earlier, when he saw Cedric embrace Rebecca as if taking her away from him.

Adrian finally became certain of his own feelings.

He had already taken Rebecca deep into his heart.

Not as the Grand Duchess, but as a woman, he wished for her to look his way.

Lost in thought as he recalled Rebecca, Adrian shook his head.

‘This isn’t right.’

They were already husband and wife, and it was disrespectful for him to harbor such feelings.

Moreover, Rebecca was madly in love with Cedric.

He couldn’t interfere with Rebecca’s happiness because of his own desires.

As he was vowing to somehow suppress his feelings for Rebecca, at that moment.

Char-ruk―

The strong wind coming through the open window scattered the pile of newspaper clippings on the table, spreading them here and there.

It was what Rebecca had been eagerly reading lately, even clipping out articles.

After hurriedly closing the window and picking up the fallen papers for a while, Adrian’s movements suddenly stopped.

‘…Why has she collected only these kinds of articles?’

Most of the articles Rebecca had recently clipped were advertisements for mansion sales.

Some had red circles drawn around them, others had star marks.

It looked as if she was urgently searching for a new place to stay, away from where she was now.

Adrian’s brow gradually furrowed as he examined them.

‘Could the reason for their recent separation be…’

He had already been wondering about Rebecca’s noticeably diminished interest in Cedric lately.

Moreover, recalling her efforts to increase her personal wealth recently, all the puzzle pieces seemed to fit together.

‘Her Grace is planning to divorce the Grand Duke and leave this castle.’

One shouldn’t dare to hope in the face of others’ misfortune.

But in that moment, Adrian couldn’t ignore the small glimmer of hope rising in his heart.

So he had to confirm if his suspicion was true.

If it was true, he might be able to convey his feelings for Rebecca.

‘Perhaps I could be the one to make Her Grace happy.’

Not as someone wishing for another man’s heart to turn towards her, but as someone whose sincere feelings were already directed at her.

He became greedy.

He wanted to face Rebecca’s beautiful smile not as a butler, but as a lover.