“Clear your hand.”

Unable to withstand the Duke’s threat, Baltar pressed down on Duke Lexion’s hand.

Daring to block Lexion, the 2nd in the line of succession, within the mansion, silence pervaded.

“Baltar.”

Edith urgently called out to Baltar, but he did not relent in his stern attitude.

Rather, it was Franz Lexion who first had his vitality broken.

‘What is this…’

Lea’s voice could only be heard by Lexion Duke, who infused magic into the necklace.

When he stopped and didn’t push away the guard who laid hands on him, everyone couldn’t help but wonder.

However, Franz paid no attention to the reactions of others.

“Well, it’s true that Edith might have had a chance to meet her father. Still, if there’s an opportunity to meet, I hope it’s for a good reason. Like Edith becoming the top student at the academy and receiving Lexion’s scholarship.”

Lea’s voice, narrating trivial stories, was as lively as Franz remembered.

His daughter was right. That cheerful and playful way of speaking, along with the affectionate voice that couldn’t be manipulated.

The Duke withdrew the hand that was pressuring Edith. He cursed himself for ruthlessly breaking his daughter’s first love.

“Oh, Edith. She’s the child I met at Fortrion Manor. I stayed at her house for a while. Even though the lady says that Lord Lowell has become no different from a commoner, she always feels comfortable sensing the grace and warmth of Lady Lowell and her daughter.”

Franz looked at Edith, who was looking scared, while casting a worried glance. What he had done to the child who embraced his daughter, Lea.

“I always thought that if I had a daughter, I would like her to be just like this child. Very cute, lovely, smart, and just. So, when I have a daughter, I plan to give her the necklace that I decided to pass on.”

Franz spread magic over the necklace like a person possessed.

He said when Lea gave birth to a daughter…

That means…

“I think my son likes Edith a lot too. Oh, I should talk about my son first.”

Lea’s child.

Franz couldn’t bear to hear the story about Lea’s child in this place.

He had no confidence to recall the decision he made in his life, which was the most pitiful and foolish.

“…Lady Lowell.”

Franz’s voice was as weak as a person who was about to give up on life.

“I’ve been rude.”

When an apology came out of his mouth, Vane, as well as Baltar and Edith, couldn’t help but be surprised.

“This necklace is imbued with magic that only I can activate. I hope you could lend me this item for about a week.”

Edith hesitated for a moment. Was there a need to show kindness to the Duke who had threatened her and endangered Baltar’s safety?

However, thinking that she was handing over something to be conveyed to her father through Lady Lea, she could endure it.
“I will do as you say. It’s difficult for me to completely give away something precious, but if you send someone to return it after a week, I would appreciate it.”

Baltar could not understand Edith’s decision. However, when the Duke uttered words that he never thought the Duke would say, she realized she was right.

“Well… Thank you. Vane, see them off properly.”

With a bow, Edith left with Baltar, leaving the Duke immersed in his thoughts about his daughter.

After seeing the group off, the Duke moved to his study. While working here, he used to recall the times when his daughters came in, reading books.

It was he who shattered those beautiful memories.

“Father. Actually, I have a child. I can’t say who, but I love that person.”

When Lea said that, Franz felt like the sky was falling.

It wasn’t because his beloved daughter had a child with some man.

Lea, born with an excessive amount of innate magic, was terminally ill, and to prolong her lifespan, she had to take several potions every day.

When his daughter, who needed to take the potions, refused all medication due to her pregnancy, he felt like he might go crazy.

If she didn’t take the medicine, his daughter would live no more than ten years and die.

Unable to lose his daughter, Franz eventually accepted a vial of black potion from an apothecary and went to his daughter’s room.

“Lea, instead of stubbornly insisting on something useless, erase the child.”

Franz could still vividly recall Lea’s expression when she heard those words along with the potion.

A mix of resentment, questioning how he could say such things, and understanding that he, of all people, would say that. His daughter understood, yet didn’t understand the decision.

So, in the end, she left the mansion.

Faking her death by orchestrating a carriage accident and disguising herself, Franz couldn’t help but recognize the manipulated accident scene.

Afterward, he mobilized all resources in Fortrion to find Lea’s whereabouts. However, his daughter, who possessed immense magic to the extent of receiving a terminal diagnosis, completely concealed her traces.

A decade later, Franz despaired upon hearing news that his daughter’s magic was detected within the Fortrion territory.