Before Elodie’s death, the relationship between Duke Lisianthus and the two counts was not bad.

It was quite surprising considering how furious the two elder brothers were when they heard about Elodie’s marriage, but anyone who knew how Luke treated Elodie could understand.

Dylan and Renan also knew well. Although Elodie would be loved wherever she went, no man would love her more than Luke.

Elodie loved Luke too, so as brothers wishing for her happiness, they ultimately had no choice but to bless the marriage.

Luke also always felt grateful towards Elodie’s family.

After all, it was where that utterly lovable woman was born and raised.

The three men who adored Elodie got along surprisingly well. Usually Dylan or Renan would prepare something ridiculous, and Luke would add to it.

But that was only when Elodie was alive.

Elodie had always been weak.

Due to asthma, she would nearly lose her breath even after a little running, and every season change she always suffered from colds with high fevers. So they had no choice but to care for her anxiously, fearing she might fly away if blown or be extinguished if squeezed.

However, her health wasn’t so poor that she was destined to die young.

The decisive cause of Elodie’s death was that her weak body couldn’t withstand the stress from a difficult pregnancy, childbirth, and subsequent stillbirth. If she hadn’t become pregnant, she would still be alive.

That drove Dylan mad.

He knows. Duke Lisianthus was not at fault for that death.

From the beginning, Luke had discouraged pregnancy out of concern for Elodie’s physical condition. He even went so far as to suggest adopting his younger brother’s son as an heir.

It was rather Elodie who pushed for the pregnancy.

“No way! I want a child that looks like me and Luke. Don’t you want that?”

“That’s…”

“If we had a daughter who looked like me, she’d be so adorably cute. A pink-haired daughter toddling over saying ‘Daddy’…”

“…Alright, alright.”

They say the one who loves more loses, don’t they? Luke and Elodie’s relationship was exactly that. Dylan knew it too.

And truthfully, he also had expectations deep down.

A niece who resembled Elodie.

How pretty and lovely would she be? Surely so adorable it wouldn’t hurt to put her in one’s eye. Of course, a boy who resembled Elodie would be cute too.

But when Elodie’s delivery became dangerously prolonged, when the child she risked her life to bear died without even crying once, when Elodie finally suffered and left this world.

Dylan regretted it countless times. If only he could turn back time, he wanted to prevent Elodie from getting pregnant even if he had to punch that damned Luke Lisianthus in the face.

But nothing would change no matter what. Life is a one-way street. It’s always too late for regrets.

And emotions, too, cannot be helped.

Dylan tapped his feet, trying to calm his boiling insides. The rhythmic noise filled the reception room.

That’s when the heavy footsteps were heard.

A height that far surpassed the average adult male. Threatening steps as if a beast were walking on two legs rather than a person.

To the point where one might fear the floor would collapse if the duke’s mansion had been even slightly less sturdy.

But Dylan wasn’t afraid of those footsteps at all. The situation he feared most was already in the past, so there was no reason to be scared.

At last, the door opened. Seeing the man whose head nearly touched the ceiling, Dylan rolled his coral-colored eyes.

Eyes the same color as Elodie’s.

“Welcome, Viscount Rothwell. And Mr. Renan.”

“It’s been a while.”

Dylan didn’t bother showing much respect towards Luke.

It was clearly disrespectful for a mere viscount to show such an attitude towards the kingdom’s only duke, but Renan beside him didn’t bother stopping his brother. He too was thoroughly upset.

The huge man sat down across from them. His posture was not improper, but somehow gave off an air of aloofness.

He crossed one leg and picked up the prepared teacup. His hands were so large that the teacup made for noblewomen looked just like a toy.

After taking a sip of the warm tea, he asked.

“So, what brings you two here at the crack of dawn?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

At Renan’s sharp question, Luke gave a dry laugh. His expression showed he understood everything, which only twisted Renan’s mood further.

“I heard you’ve taken in an heir.”

“An heir, is it.”

Luke’s face softened as he thought of Bonita. The change was so dramatic that even Renan, who was trying his best to remain calm, couldn’t help but look surprised.

Luke only smiled like that when thinking of Elodie.

At least, that’s what they had thought until now.

‘Is she that precious to him?’

His mood twisted again. As Renan clenched his teeth, Luke placed his interlocked hands on his knee and said.

“I prefer daughter to heir. Of course, naturally, she will succeed me as the Duchess Lisianthus. I’ll make sure of it.”

“I heard the child is seven years old.”

Dylan interjected. Luke readily agreed.

“That’s right.”

Dylan bit the inside of his mouth hard.

He had hoped otherwise, but it was as he feared.

‘I thought he was a good man, but was he trash?’

Having thoroughly misunderstood Luke’s intentions, he glared with fierce pink eyes.

However, due to the Rothwell family’s characteristically gentle features, to Luke it looked like nothing more than a small dog’s playful yapping.

“I’m disappointed, Duke Lisianthus.”

“…Hm?”

Not understanding Dylan’s words, Luke let out a questioning exclamation.

‘Why are they so angry?’

From their perspective, wasn’t finding Elodie’s daughter good news? Especially since that daughter looked exactly like Elodie.

He was certain they had rushed over this morning to see their niece. But strangely, the atmosphere was hostile.

Moreover, disappointment? What on earth were they disappointed about?

‘…If they’re disappointed that I couldn’t find Bonita until now, that can’t be helped.’

On that point, Luke was angrier at himself than anyone else. He didn’t want to say it was impossible or that it was the best he could do at the time.

“…I see.”

Due to his negligence, Bonita had grown up in poor conditions for seven whole years without even knowing her birth parents. If they were to hold him accountable for that, he had nothing to say.

“I deeply regret that part. However, only Elodie or my daughter can hold me accountable for it. Not you two.”

Hearing Luke’s words, Dylan clenched his fist so hard it nearly bled.

‘Only Elodie and that daughter can hold him accountable?’

Elodie died six years ago. Her daughter also passed away right after birth seven years ago.

By his logic, it completes an incredibly brazen claim that there’s no one left in this world to criticize him. Unable to hold back, Dylan shouted.

“Damn it. So you’re sorry but it doesn’t matter now? Because there’s no one left in the world to hold you accountable?”

“…What do you mean?”

Luke became puzzled seeing the two men even more enraged after his explanation.

On the other hand, Luke’s attitude came across as extremely detestable to Elodie’s two brothers.

‘Why are they angry?’

‘How can he be so shameless!’

A perfect example of completely different perspectives.

In fact, it was hard to say whose fault this was.

From Luke’s point of view, he naturally thought the two had also heard about Bonita’s appearance. Moreover, he never even considered the possibility of having an illegitimate child, so he couldn’t put himself in their shoes.

On the other hand, the two of them… were just thinking rationally.

“…”

“…”

With no dialogue, the parallel silence continued. Dylan, who was about to grab Luke’s collar, finally ran his hand through his hair and stormed out of the reception room.

Luke watched Dylan’s retreating back, then said to Renan who was still seated.

“Well, make yourselves at home. If you ask the servants, they’ll guide you to your usual rooms.”

Dylan stomped down the hallway with disheveled hair. A maid cleaning the corridor flinched at his fierce demeanor.

No matter how gentle Viscount Rothwell might look, that was only from Luke’s perspective. Few things are as terrifying to commoners as an angry nobleman.

“Hey, you there.”

“Y-Yes?”

The startled maid put down her cleaning tools and cautiously approached. Dylan waved his hand with an uncomfortable expression.

“Where is Lady Lisianthus… located?”

“Do you mean Miss Bonita?”

The maid, who had been carefully considering why he was looking for the young lady, soon realized that the man before her was from the Rothwell family.

It was quite a late realization.

After all, isn’t pink hair naturally impossible? Only descendants of the Rothwell counts, said to have fairy blood, had such unusual hair color.

It’s said to rarely appear in branch families too, but if he was wandering around the Lisianthus ducal residence, it must be true.

‘I see!’

She was a new maid who had only recently joined the ducal household.

However, due to her lively and sociable personality, she was well-versed in all the rumors circulating within the mansion.

For instance, the fact that the returned Miss Bonita was the daughter of the former duchess, and that the former madam’s family was the Rothwell counts.

That would make them uncle and niece.

The maid, lowering her guard, bowed slightly and said.

“The young lady is in the west room by order of His Grace the Duke. However, I cannot admit outsiders without His Grace’s permission, so after briefly inquiring with the young lady, I will guide you−”

And then, at that moment.

“Huh?”

Dylan turned his head towards the familiar tone but unfamiliar voice.

“Dylan?”

“…Miss Hilton?”

Aria and Dylan.

Their eyes met.