‘Maouk들도 더 이상 보이지 않지. 분명…… 그때 말씀하신 대로, 근본적인 문제를 해결하기 위해 떠나신 게 틀림 없어.’
William nodded.
“Your Grace has been absent for just a week now. Let’s wait a bit longer.”
“Just waiting without any certainty, we cannot agree with that.”
“Then what exactly are you suggesting?”
“We should declare a state of emergency. And we must find someone to carry on the Crohittner family’s lineage. It wouldn’t be proper for the bloodline to end here.”
William glared at the speaker.
“What you’re saying now, surely…”
“Yes.”
The official answered sternly.
“When considering the bastard of the former duke.”
A deep silence settled. Everyone present here knew who he was referring to.
“…It’s not acceptable.”
William shook his head.
“You might as well take the Duke’s seat yourself. But that guy… It’s not acceptable. Do you want our Order to turn away from Donovan?”
“William, I understand that your feelings are complex.”
William clenched his jaw. Among the officials, there were few occasions when the eldest spoke up.
Perhaps, except for William, the officials would have had some discussions about this.
“But in this emergency, not having someone to succeed His Grace is a big problem.”
“Isn’t recruiting new soldiers enough?”
He replied coldly.
His once most valued deputy commander was bound to a bed. Although he had been saved to preserve his life, the voice advocating for him to be returned to the underground prison was dominant.
“How can we serve that guy… How can we serve him? Our Donovan will fall apart!”
“Be calm, Commander.”
The eldest interrupted him sternly.
“I’m not suggesting we immediately present him as the new duke. But since we don’t know when His Grace will return, let’s take measures to make him functional as a successor afterward.”
At that moment.
Something exploded in William’s mind.
A hot heat was felt on his face, and the people in front of him appeared to be sluggish demons, even worse than the demons.
Perhaps, even worse than the demons.
“You guys…”
William pointed at them with a trembling voice.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know your true intentions?”
“William!”
The eldest warned.
“Be careful with your words!”
“Ha!”
William shook his head.
“I’m really disappointed, Lord Eldest. I thought you would never betray Donovan, and I told His Grace the same. Even if your abilities are lacking, if His Grace wants a loyal servant, I say you should be kept by his side.”
At the mention of lacking abilities, Lord Eldest shrugged.
“…That’s truly touching. But Sir, remember this.”
Lord Eldest’s face was turning red with anger.
“The first one who abandoned us was His Grace. We are trying to act in advance so that even the pitiful commoners outside won’t be abandoned.”
Cruelly, William couldn’t deny those words.
If nothing had happened, it would have been just a week.
Even a month, no, even a year, Donovan would have stood strong.
However, not only the Donovan Duchy but various calamities were striking the Empire, and it was barely stopped in a single day, but the impact on the people was immense.
“…What if I continue to oppose?”
“Hmm.”
Lord Eldest grabbed his beard.
In fact, I was about to say that too.”
“Yes…?”
“That… Since the bastard might refuse. Moreover, judging by his personality, he may not easily follow our intentions.”
William agreed with those words. Tobias was certainly not the type to be easily manipulated by others.
It might be the opposite.
“So we thought about placing you as a substitute.”
William opened and then closed his mouth.
He couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
“What are you talking about? I…”
“Oh, don’t worry. You are not the successor, just a representative and the one overseeing the vacancy of the Duke.”
William closed his eyes.
Everything was clear now.
In the end, the officials wanted him to be some kind of representative from the beginning.
Tobias’s threat to take him as a successor was just a bluff if he refused.
“Oh God, please help me make the right decision.”
William opened his eyes again.
He saw the faces of Lord Eldest and other officials again, and he recognized the torment on their faces.
One realization emerged.
“…These people are not trying to betray His Grace.”
They were just people who wanted to protect Donovan.
Just like himself.
William slowly opened his mouth.
“I will do it. Until His Grace returns… I will risk my life to protect Donovan.”
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
