“I apologize for causing you trouble.”

“There’s no need to apologize. Considering the kindness His Highness the Crown Prince has shown us, this is hardly any trouble at all.”

At the Duke’s words, Admund quietly raised the corners of his mouth.

The atmosphere in the Duke’s household was very gloomy. The image damage caused by the heir’s misconduct was beyond words.

Everyone in the capital knew that Lloyd had frequented Curtis Street.

Especially due to suspicions that the Duke’s family funds were involved there, the Duke and his wife had to go around day and night proving they had no connection.

“And thanks to that, we were able to find out what that child has been up to.”

The rumors didn’t stop there. There was talk that the heir to the Duke’s family was wandering around the streets drunk like an idler.

It was said that while tormenting those who went against his wishes, he would go into a frenzy whenever he encountered silver-haired women.

Naturally, people’s eyes were not kind to his behavior towards silver-haired women.

On top of that, as all his past actions that had not been in the spotlight before were now being thoroughly exposed, his image was tainted beyond repair.

But the Duke thought it fortunate that things had stopped at this level.

“If His Highness the Crown Prince hadn’t informed us, we would have faced even greater difficulties.”

Fortunately, thanks to Admund informing them first, it didn’t escalate into an even bigger incident.

If they had found out the truth belatedly in an even worse state, it would have been much harder to resolve the situation.

They were grateful to be able to start damage control in advance before it came to that.

“So, has the Duke made up his mind?”

As he hadn’t come just to hear words of gratitude, Admund quietly asked.

At that, the previously cordial atmosphere changed in an instant.

After a moment of stifling silence, the Duke opened his mouth.

“As this is a situation that child brought upon himself, it is entirely his responsibility. As Your Highness suggested beforehand, our family will not provide any help whatsoever.”

Even at the words that they would not provide any help, Admund seemed to find something lacking.

“If I were to decide to execute Lloyd, would the Duke be able to accept it?”

At Admund’s direct question, the Duke pondered.

He wondered if there had ever been a time when he had pointed such a sharp blade at the Percy Duke’s family like this.

The two families, known as the pillars of the Imperial faction, were both on bad terms with the future Emperor at the moment. This was not good for anyone.

“We too have disowned him as our son. So even if Your Highness were to kill him, we would have absolutely nothing to say about it.”

The Duchess, who had been sitting quietly beside him, nodded her head in agreement.

“Then there is only one thing left for us to discuss here.”

Now that matters related to Lloyd were settled, there was only one topic remaining.

“How is Clea doing?”

The two were very curious about Clea’s condition.

Of course, she must be doing well staying in the Imperial Palace.

Unlike Lloyd, she had Admund by her side who genuinely cared for her.

But they were a bit worried because of recent rumors.

“When Your Highness ordered information to be passed to Duke Hersher, I felt like challenging him to a duel instead.”

“But didn’t this make the Hersher family’s future even darker? Moreover, this was also what Clea wanted.”

The usual Duke Hersher would never have made the decision to kill a maid.

Rather, he would have rewarded the maid’s family to commend her service. Then the maid would have quietly chosen death as well.

However, given the circumstances, with just a little push, he ended up choosing to kill the maid.

“That child takes too little care of herself. If the result is good, she’s always ready to sacrifice herself.”

This was the first thing the Duchess had said.

The Clea they had seen until now was that kind of child.

A child who thought nothing of sacrificing herself if she could quickly produce results.

So whenever they saw her, they always felt uneasy. They constantly worried that she might suddenly disappear at any moment.

As Admund was also well aware of this, he vowed to protect her no matter what.

“Even now, I want to completely dry up Duke Odoi’s financial resources.”

“Please endure it, for Clea’s sake.”

“Indeed, she would probably want to handle it herself.”

How bad must it have been for her to have left that place?

The Duke and Duchess viewed neither the Odoi Duke’s family nor the Hersher Duke’s family favorably.

Especially the Odoi Duke’s family, they disapproved of even more for treating Clea poorly.

The Duke’s family was already in a very vulnerable state due to Grit’s reckless business ventures.

The prestige that existed until the previous Duke’s time no longer remained.

If they interfered decisively at this point, the Odoi Duke’s family could become completely isolated.

However, they stopped short of taking action, keeping their blades sharpened. Everything was left for her sake.

“Let’s start informing the nobles. About which family Clea belongs to.”

“Is it alright to reveal that?”

Meanwhile, Admund returned to the main point and brought up the topic.

Hearing this, the Duke and Duchess spoke with worried expressions.

It was a question of whether it wasn’t still premature, but Admund shook his head.

“We can’t let the same thing that happened with Her Majesty the Empress occur again, can we?”

Hearing that, the Duke also acquiesced. Wanting Clea not to be hurt, he accepted it as it was.

“Then I understand. Let’s start announcing the new heir.”

The heir who would succeed the Duke’s family after the current Duke’s passing.

In fact, the Duke was willing to hand over his position at any time.

The smooth hands of his youth were already a thing of the long past.

As he had aged, he eagerly awaited the days when he could pass on the Duke’s title first and rest.

What the Duke desperately wished for was for his only son to quickly come to his senses, hone his skills, and be happy with Clea.

He had been quietly biding his time to see that, but it had ultimately come to this.

Though the vigor of his younger days was gone, the Duke was still capable of quick decisions based on his vast experience.

‘I ruined you. But you also didn’t take care of yourself.’

Considering that the bloodline of the Duke’s family would be cut off, it could have been a very regrettable decision.

But they thought it was better to pass it on to the child they liked rather than let the family be completely ruined.

“The Duke’s family will never fall.”

The moment the Duke’s title went to Clea, there was no way the Percy family would fall.

Hearing those words, the Duke and Duchess handed a paper to Admund with bitter expressions.

“Then please make an agreement with us.”

The paper had simple contents along with Admund and Clea’s names written on it.

“That the second son among Clea’s children will succeed the Duke’s title.”

They might not have a second son. Yet they wanted to secure this agreement. That one of their children would succeed the Percy family.

There would be no vassals who would object to someone of imperial bloodline becoming Duke.

Admund respected their thoughts.

“If Clea agrees as well, we will do so.”

“We’ll be counting on you.”

Quietly putting the paper in an envelope, Admund rose from his seat.

Now that he had more or less wrapped up what needed to be done, all that remained was the wedding.

‘Wedding.’

Getting into the carriage alone, Admund’s lips curled up at the word ‘wedding’.

Recently, Admund had been having trouble controlling his expressions.

People who knew him well found it difficult to adjust to seeing him smile, something never seen before from the usually stone-faced and quiet man.

Whether aware of this or not, Admund was lost in his own thoughts for a moment.

‘I never imagined the day would come when I’d marry you.’

It was true that he had been interested in Clea for a while.

He had wanted to approach her before and have a proper conversation with her, even if just once.

But at the time, she had Lloyd as her fiancé, which made it difficult.

Even though he was not a good fiancé, the fact that he clearly existed by her side made it hard to approach.

One might say what was wrong with having just one conversation in the academy where everyone was equal, but Admund’s position and the rumors about Clea prevented that from happening.

Admund was well aware of the rumors concerning him.

Namely, the rumors that he would end up with Aria Hersher.

If he had approached Clea amidst such rumors, people might have spread absurd talk that she was seducing him.

Admund smiled, recalling the days when he couldn’t bring himself to get close to her because he disliked the idea of her being criticized because of him.

Compared to those times, now they were scheduled to have a wedding.

It felt very much like a dream. So much so that if it were a dream, he hoped to never wake up.

While lost in thought, the carriage had already arrived at the Crown Prince’s palace.

But then, through the window, he saw another carriage passing by. It bore the crest of the Hersher Duke’s family.

After confirming the crest, Admund got out of the carriage with an uneasy expression.

“Your Highness, there’s trouble.”

As if he had been waiting for him, Oberon approached urgently, nearly making Admund sigh.

What could have happened now to make him like this?

Admund quietly waited for Oberon’s next words.

“Duke Hersher and the Young Lady just met with Lady Clea and left.”

“Who met whom?”

Admund furrowed his brow at the news that those two figures had met Clea while he was away.

“I tried to stop it at my level, but Lady Clea said she would meet them, so there was nothing I could do.”

Oberon simply stated the facts as they were.

“Tell me everything that happened to Clea, without leaving anything out.”

Admund’s voice was filled with anger as he spoke.

Seeing his demeanor that seemed ready to mount a horse and head straight for the Hersher Duke’s residence, Oberon began to speak as carefully as possible.