The boy named Swan’s expression brightened even more at Sedilloy’s warm greeting. He looked as if he wanted to rush into his arms right away.

However, Swan chose to act respectfully rather than doing as he pleased. It was something he had learned from a long time spent in the royal palace.

Swan had already felt and understood the fact that most people preferred children to act mature rather than childishly, and such children were easier to manage and therefore attracted little attention.

Sedilloy noticed this shy heir’s faint desires and worries. Was it because he had been under the rough authority of Meianna while staying in the duke’s territory for a while? He instinctively reached out and hugged Swan, which surprised him considerably.

“Yo, Your Grace the Duke.”

“You seem to grow every time I see you. Well, it’s about that age, isn’t it? How is your father? Have you visited him recently?”

Swan’s joyfully flushed expression quickly turned gloomy. The boy’s father, Sedilloy’s childhood friend and also his trusted older figure, Duke Glordon, had been battling illness for over two years now.

Even King Elmert, who had not forgotten his close relationship with the Duke’s family, had sent skilled doctors from the royal court several times, but the Duke’s illness never improved. The doctors reported to the king that they could only extend his remaining life a little longer, and he would never regain his previous health.

Seeing Swan’s expression, Sedilloy spoke again.

“Not good, I see.”

Moisture gathered at the corners of the boy’s thin eyes. With a worried expression, Sedilloy put Swan down and held his hand.

“Let’s go see your father.”

“Now, Your Grace? But you just arrived…”

“Do we have a reason not to go just because I’ve just arrived?”

Swan hesitated.

“I just thought you might need some rest.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Sedilloy’s response both pleased and worried the boy.

Swan’s mother had died from tuberculosis when he was three, and now even his father was dying from an incurable disease.

In this process, Swan, who had had to mature earlier than his peers, yearned for the affection of his surrogate father, Sedilloy, but also constantly hid it, always finding himself in an awkward situation.

Duke Glordon’s estate was not far from the royal capital. As Swan got off the carriage, he looked at the mansion where he was born and raised with an expression as if he would cry at any moment. It was because of a strong premonition that everything might change soon, along with the impending death of his father.

“Let’s go in.”

Sedilloy took Swan’s hand. The flag of the Glordon Duke’s family, engraved with a deer and persimmon leaves, flapped eerily in the wind.

When a servant opened the door, Sedilloy and Swan saw a man leisurely descending the central staircase. A man with loosely tied red hair flowing over his shoulders and wearing the latest fashionable clothes from the capital.

“Well, who do we have here?”

The man grinned and initiated the conversation. Sedilloy glanced briefly at Swan, who was subtly trying to hide behind him, then looked at the man with a somewhat stern expression.

“Lord Hussl, it’s been a while.”

“What a surprise to see Your Grace, the much-esteemed Duke of Baltminster, in a place like this.”

Hussl’s playful gaze shifted to Swan, who had somewhat hidden behind Sedilloy. Sedilloy saw his light green eyes flash like a leopard for a moment.

“This boy, Swan!”

The boy flinched. Even Sedilloy frowned at Hussl’s loud voice. Hussl chuckled, shaking his upper body mischievously.

“What kind of man are you turning into? Come here. Aren’t you going to show your face to your cousin whom you haven’t seen in a while?”
Hussle was of similar age to Swan’s father, Duke Gloden, but was his nephew.

For Swan, this made him a much older cousin. However, Swan never once felt close to him. He was not the sort of person one could be close to.

“Did Your Grace come to visit your uncle?”

Hussle’s attitude was very rude, but Sedilroy didn’t flinch an eyebrow as he replied.

“Yes. It seems like you’re here for the same reason, My Lord.”

Upon hearing this, Hussle’s lips stretched unnaturally wide, resembling either a clown from a nightmare or the mouth of a cunning snake.

“If my uncle, the last pillar of the Duke Gloden family, is unwell, it’s only fitting for his nephew to pay a visit. Had Swan been just six years older, I wouldn’t have needed to intervene.”

At his words, Swan, who was standing behind Sedilroy, blushed deeply. His face was a boiling mix of childlike rage, humiliation, and sorrow.

Sedilroy said,

“Although Swan is still young, he’s very astute. It won’t take long for Duke Gloden to recover. In the meantime, there’s a lot he can learn; My Lord has nothing to worry about.”

Hussle scoffed.

“Is that what Your Grace thinks?”

“Yes. Now we have to go see Duke Gloden, so if you’ll excuse us.”