The path passing by the stone statues located in the center of the Blanchet mansion.

On the walls, numerous swords symbolizing generations of the family were in place.

From slender and straight rapiers to two-handed swords with blades on both sides, long swords and bastard swords… to the legendary Calibur with its many tales.

Not a single one lacked a poignant story.

It was natural, as blood from countless individuals stained each sword.

Based on this, Blanchet grew and formed its current solid position.

The owners of those swords had to live bearing that weight for generations, and Cassian was no exception.

As he passed each sword, memories of striving to grasp them flashed through Cassian’s mind.

[Well done. From now on, you just need to cut down like that.] [You mean humans?] [There’s nothing better than force when it comes to ruling humans. Blanchet has always ruled through power, not mercy.] [But wouldn’t making donations and building educational institutions contradict that principle?] [No. That too is just part of taming. It’s all a system to make everyone Blanchet’s people.]

It took passing several swords to understand that system.

Cut down. Cut down…

Like an afterimage on the sword, Yuriel bloomed and disappeared.

If she knew, she’d laugh at this.

Thinking about her when she’s not even here.

She wrote that kind of letter just to keep her distance as much as possible.

She might mock that such a pushover, who just gives medicine and stays away, is having such thoughts.

But that’s just your thinking.

I’ve decided to think as I please. Today too.

I wonder how many swings of that sword it would take to cut her down.

The crown that could only be obtained through bone-cutting effort was quite heavy.

And I won’t be able to put down that crown in the future either.

It’s proper and natural to live on like this.

Step by step, his footsteps passed along the lengthy marble and reached the grand hall.

The seemingly endlessly high domed structure had a way of oppressively pressing down on humans.

However, Cassian alone was not at all pressed down within it.

His characteristically upright posture was impressive enough to easily make one forget the building’s oppressive atmosphere.

Even his distinctively pale complexion couldn’t mar his dignity in the slightest.

The servants lined up on both sides below the floor, upon discovering him, held their breath and uniformly bowed their heads.

Only Lady Elise, standing at their center, greeted Cassian with her characteristically aristocratic smile.

“It seems he’s hurrying because you’ve returned. I’ve never seen him arrive this quickly before.”

Elise added, looking at the silent Cassian.

“The night hunt usually doesn’t end until the last ten days of the month.”

Night hunt. It meant the mission of inspecting areas designated by the imperial family.

The area Blanchet was in charge of inspecting was the border with a high risk of war, a sensitive matter that could cause problems Blanchet might have to cover up if mistakes occurred.

Finishing such an important matter so quickly meant there was an even weightier issue at hand.

“It seems you couldn’t bear to listen to your uncle’s nonsense any longer.”

“I heard your uncle accompanied you on this mission too, unnecessarily.”

“All vassals usually accompany the night hunt, after all.”

“Honestly, it wouldn’t matter if your uncle was absent. It’s not like there’s no historical precedent for that.”

It was a natural custom in Blanchet for all vassals to move together for family matters.

Of course, the second son could be excused from that duty.

Only the heir needs to perform that duty, according to the imperial order.

However, that ambitious person never missed any family event.

Father was the type who knew this but never said anything about it.

Regarded as having the most gentle personality among all of Blanchet’s heads throughout history, Father never made an exception to that behavior.

This time, uncle’s accompaniment was probably part of that as well.

To others, he would appear as a very moderate and amiable good person who even cares for the second son.

Not knowing how much that good person makes the hearts of those close to him fester.

Father, who couldn’t make a decision and entered a political marriage, never directed his heart towards his family.

The existence of his son would be nothing more than an heir to him.

But now, do I have the right to criticize him?

What right do I have, being so disgusting as to neither cut off the engagement issue nor cut her off, stuck in the middle and blackening the hearts of several people?

That blood seemed to go nowhere indeed.

For a moment, the floor rumbled roughly.

As the rumbling grew louder, everyone in the hall held their breath.

A horse’s neigh was heard once, followed by thumping footsteps as a tall, handsome man entered.

The man who entered, tossing his golden hair, the symbol of Blanchet, was Debiron di Blanchet, the head of Blanchet.

And behind him, as expected, stood Uncle, Count Alton.

Unable to inherit the golden hair, he habitually wore his hat upside down as if his faded brown hair was something to be ashamed of.

Today too, not a single hair was properly visible on his head, thoroughly covered by a brimmed hat.

Count Alton first scrutinized Cassian with meticulous eyes.

The glossy golden hair, the pale yet much more lively face compared to before, and the noble posture.

Alton stared at Cassian before him as if seeing a ghost.

Thought he’d come back dead… Not only did he suddenly appear here, but he’s this healthy.

‘How can a person be like this?’

He was clearly someone who had been recuperating in Alphonse until just recently.

‘He was supposed to die soon…’

Cassian approached with large strides and stood before him.

“I heard that uncle worried a lot about me while I was away.”

Cassian’s appearance, with his eyes curved kindly, was emitting killing intent contrary to his outward appearance.

Count Alton’s mind instantly turned blank.

Strong pressure was added to Count Alton’s hand as he reflexively grasped Cassian’s outstretched hand.

It was just a year, but his nephew’s atmosphere had clearly changed.

‘Is this what an emissary from hell looks like?’

Count Alton swallowed hard.

Meanwhile, at Lady Elise’s insistence, the vassals moved to the table filled with food.

Alton soon followed and took his seat at the main hall filled with food.

Afterwards, a quiet murmur filled the space.

While everyone claimed to be catching up, all furtive glances were fixed on Cassian, Blanchet’s next head.

That alone was already proof enough for everyone.

The next head, Cassian, was not just healthy, but emanating a terrifying aura from his body.

On top of that, Lady Elise drove the point home by bringing up Cassian’s engagement story.

The commotion disappeared and the topic instantly shifted elsewhere.

It was a peaceful night where only Uncle, unable to do anything about his face turning white with anger, seethed inwardly amidst it all.

As the meal was wrapping up, Elise naturally added the story of her son’s study abroad.

“Cassian is planning to study abroad this time.”

Alton, as if not wanting to miss this opportunity, immediately pounced like a wolf pack.

“Suddenly studying abroad? Is there some problem?”

Looking at his uncle who was pouncing without even hiding his desires, Cassian smiled all over his face.

A face that seemed like a gentle smile at a glance but felt like a sneer evoked creepiness.

However, he didn’t say anything in particular.

As if he were merely a spectator watching all of this play, he just watched the table with an expressionless face.

Meanwhile, Duke Debiron wore his usual benevolent smile, and Lady Elise’s face was terribly furrowed.

In the end, the first to open their mouth among the three was, without fail, Lady Elise.

“It seems Count Alton wishes for something to happen to his nephew.”

Of course, Count Alton, as always, perfectly played the role of a concerned uncle without changing his expression one bit.

“What are you saying, sister-in-law? I merely expressed concern for my nephew.”

Elise briefly put down her spoon, unable to contain her anger, but soon a smile bloomed on her face as well.

After that, the meal proceeded in a fairly peaceful atmosphere.

Of course, the invisible discord colored the table with silence as usual.

Lady Elise was restless until the set two hours had passed, but her outward appearance was nothing but calm.

Only after the uncomfortable silent meal, filled with everyone’s intertwined thoughts, concluded did she breathe a sigh of relief.

On the night when all the vassals and Uncle Alton had left.

Cassian went up to his room and coughed up blood. He tightly gripped the blood-stained cloth as if crushing it.

The butler who happened to come by flinched briefly at the sight but soon delivered his master’s summons.

“The Duke has called for you.”

Cassian, nodding his head lightly, headed to the study as if nothing had happened.

Duke Debiron, sensing his presence, took off his glasses and placed them on the table before smiling benevolently.

Noticing the traces of fresh blood, he slightly furrowed his brow.

“It seems you were in pain again today.”

“You don’t need to worry about it.”

Since when did you ever care? Someone who brought along uncle without saying a word has no right to say such things.

A bitter smile bloomed inside Cassian.

Even at the moment when his son enters the coffin and is buried in the ground, he probably won’t be able to let go of his benevolent duke act until the very end.

Cassian indifferently watched the duke’s appearance as he sighed as if he were worried.

“You’ll be going to Ephroz Island. It’s far from the capital so unnecessary rumors won’t spread, and it’s a place Blanchet has been managing for a long time, so it should be fine. If you want to receive treatment elsewhere, just say so.”

What does it matter where it is when I might die or live?

“There’s no such place.”

Duke Debiron, looking at the expressionless pale face, added as if admonishing.

“The researchers say it will take about 6 months to fully recover.”

“I see.”

The monotone voice sounded so nonchalant that it was hard to believe his own survival was at stake.

After mechanically listening to various stories, Cassian soon bowed his head slightly when silence fell and quickly went outside.

The chilly wind whipped past his cheeks.

6 months.

After that time passes, I will now come to a conclusion.

Either die. Or live and torment her again.

Still, at least she would be wishing for me to please be alive.