While Lutis was taking steps and focusing his gaze on Aeli’s coffin, his head slowly turned.

A low voice, as if whispering. The inconspicuous plainness among the numerous black garments at the far end, away from the eyes of others.

Even after combining these elements, it took Lutis a while longer to slowly realize that this was a continuation of the situation he had been thoroughly experiencing.

‘Huh…’

After reaching the realm of a Sword Master, his needlessly developed five senses would sometimes burden him with information he never wanted.

For instance, gossip originating from negative emotions. Things like complaints or rumors about him.

Since the source of these stories that he was neither curious about nor made him feel good often tended to be insignificant cases, he would appropriately deal with them depending on the situation.

Nonetheless, it was still annoying and tiring.

“……”

However, Lutis had never once been dissatisfied with becoming a Sword Master.

Even if the power and responsibility that inevitably followed the unreasonable martial arts were bothersome, there was something he didn’t want to let go of, taking all of that into account.

[Lutis!]

The playful voice that had a little more warmth in it when calling him, though the difference was subtle.

The faint scent of grass and subtle fragrance of roses that lingered when she was around him.

The warm temperature slowly transmitted through the skin of their held hands,

“……”

To him, these were the reasons.

Whenever he saw her pitch-black hair, which didn’t seem to reflect a single ray of light, shimmering alone brilliantly under the sun,

Lutis thought it was worth enduring all that unpleasantness just for that.

“…Ah.”

So now, it was right to endure.

Because once this day passed, the day he would see Aeli in person again would never come.

With that thought, Lutis quietly clenched his fist.

Crack.

For a moment, it seemed like the sound of teeth grinding together was heard, but Lutis lightly ignored it and tried to turn his head back to where Aeli was.

“Well, with no branch families and only one infant successor, it would be worth trying if she can bear sons, wouldn’t it?”

“For a ducal family, the position of a concubine isn’t much of a flaw. There will be many aiming for it.”

If only the voices hadn’t followed, adding to what was said, he could have endured it without much difficulty.

“……”

Lutis, who had stopped halfway while turning his head back, froze on the spot with a thud.

As his actions of staring at the back for a long time while keeping his body still seemed extremely awkward, the surroundings became chaotic as if sensing something.

Lutis, who had been gazing at the scene with an expressionless face without any change in his complexion, suddenly thought,

‘It seems like I’ve already lost my temper to some extent.’

Should I keep enduring this?

Those who have the audacity to brazenly smile and spout such nonsense…

…Do I really need to?

Thump, thump.

Lutis’ steps headed without hesitation towards somewhere far from Aeli’s coffin.

With each step he took, he could feel the noise gradually subsiding.

Eventually, when the entire group was engulfed in complete silence,

“…?”

“Gasp, ugh…!”

The eyes of those who had stopped their conversation and raised their heads at the black shadow cast over them widened in shock.

Lutis silently stared at the faces that turned pale white and even bluish with his bottomless eyes.

How long had it been like that?

Without any noticeable anger or any sort of reprimand or shout, just silently locking gazes with those pitch-black eyes that didn’t reflect a single ray of light, questions gradually rose on the faces.

And at that moment,

Shing.

“…!”

“Ugh… Ahhh!”

Lutis, who had habitually drawn his sword from the sheath at his waist, brought the blade to the neck of the person sitting closest to him.

Despite the sharp aura emanating as if he was about to behead them at any moment, his expression seemed almost serene, unbefitting of his actions.

The man who had been conversing with him from the back opened his mouth. His trembling was so unsightly that it looked pathetic.

“Y-Your Grace. Why… Why are you doing this all of a sudden? Pointing your sword at us out of the blue!”

“…Out of the blue.”

“Aren’t you the commander of the Imperial First Knight Division? For the sword of the empire to use force against civilians!”

“……”

Instead of answering, Lutis looked at the complacent face of the man standing in front of him. As there was no response, he seemed to gain confidence and slowly straightened his back, puffing out his chest.

At that moment, just as Lutis’ brows were about to furrow slightly at his attitude,

“Urk… Kuh…”

Whether it was due to the shock of having a blade pointed at him or being overwhelmed by the sharp aura,

The man sitting in the front finally rolled his eyes back, foaming at the mouth. As his head drooped forward and the blade grazed near his neck, Lutis somehow felt deflated.

‘…I can’t start a swordfight because of these guys.’

Now that he thought about it, they weren’t even worth dealing with.

Lutis, who had taken a step back and sheathed his sword, called the Knight Commander and said,

“Knight Commander.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Imprison those two in the ducal castle’s underground prison right now.”

“…Pardon?”

“As for their treatment… Right. Let’s decide after the funeral is over.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Lutis turned his body and took steps towards where Aeli’s coffin was. He had wasted time doing something foolish.

Since it didn’t seem like a good sight for a child less than a year old to see, he had ordered for the child to pay respects early in the morning before the mourners arrived and stay inside the ducal castle with a maid.

The sky was already getting dark.

As Lutis was stopping his steps, his gaze remained fixed on Aeli’s coffin, and his head slowly turned.

A whisper-like low voice. The inconspicuous ordinariness at the far end, away from the eyes of others. Among the numerous black garments, it was unremarkable.

Even after combining these elements, it took Lutis a while longer to slowly realize. That this was a continuation of the situations he had become accustomed to.

‘Haa……’

Ever since reaching the realm of a Sword Master, his unnecessarily developed five senses would occasionally burden him with information he never wanted.

For instance, incitements stemming from negative emotions. Complaints or gossip directed at him.

The sources of these uninteresting and unpleasant stories were often insignificant, so he would handle them appropriately depending on the situation.

Nevertheless, it was equally troublesome and tiring.

“……”

However, Lutis had never once been dissatisfied with becoming a Sword Master.

Even if the power and responsibility that inevitably followed the unreasonable martial arts were bothersome. There was something he didn’t want to let go of, even considering all of that.

[Lutis!]

The playful voice that would be filled with a little more warmth when calling him, albeit a subtle difference.

The faint scent of grass and the subtle fragrance of roses that lingered when she was around.

The warm temperature slowly transmitted through the skin of their clasped hands,

“……”

Those were the reasons for him.

Whenever he saw her pitch-black hair, which seemed to have no light, shimmering alone under the sun.

Lutis thought it was worth enduring all that unpleasantness just for that.

“…Ah.”

So now, it was right to endure.

Because once this day passed, the day he would see Aeli in person again would never come.

With that thought, Lutis quietly clenched his fist.

Crackle.

For a moment, it seemed like the sound of teeth grinding together could be heard, but Lutis lightly ignored it and tried to turn his head back to where Aeli was.

“Well, with no branch family and only one infant as the heir. If she can only give birth to a son, it’s worth a shot, isn’t it?”

“Even for a ducal family, the position of a second wife isn’t a big flaw. There will be many vying for it.”

If only the voices hadn’t followed, as if adding on, he could have endured it without much difficulty.

“……”

Lutis, who had stopped halfway through turning his head back, suddenly froze in place.

As his actions of staring at his back for a long time while keeping his body still seemed extremely awkward, the surroundings became chaotic as if gauging the situation.

Lutis, who had been gazing at the scene with an expressionless face without any change in his complexion, suddenly thought.

‘It seems I’ve already endured to a certain extent.’

Do I have to… continue enduring this?

Those who dare to shamelessly spout such nonsense with a smile on their faces.

…Is it necessary?

Thump, thump.

Lutis’s steps headed without hesitation towards somewhere far from Aeli’s coffin.

With each step he took, the noise gradually subsided.

Eventually, when the entire group was enveloped in complete silence.

“…?”

“Gasp, ugh…!”

The eyes of those who stopped their conversation and raised their heads upon noticing the black shadow looming over them widened in shock.

Lutis silently stared at the faces that had turned pale and ashen with his bottomless eyes.

How long had it been like that?

Without any noticeable anger, without any scolding or shouting. Just quietly matching gazes with those pitch-black eyes. Gradually, a question arose on the faces that had been staring.

And at that moment.

Shing.

“…!”

“Ah… Aaaah!”

Lutis drew his sword from the sheath habitually worn at his waist and brought the blade to the neck of the person sitting closest to him.

For someone who seemed ready to behead at any moment, with a sharp killing intent radiating, his expression appeared strangely tranquil.

The man who had been conversing with him from behind opened his mouth. His trembling voice was unsightly and pitiful.

“Du-Duke. Why… Why are you doing this all of a sudden? Pointing your sword at us out of the blue!”

“…Out of the blue.”

“Aren’t you the captain of the Imperial First Knight Order! For the Empire’s sword to use force against civilians!”

“……”

Instead of answering, Lutis looked at the complacent face of the man standing in front of him. As no response came back, the man seemed to gain confidence and slowly straightened his back, puffing out his chest.

Just as Lutis’s brows were about to furrow slightly at that attitude.

“Urk… Kuk……”

Whether it was due to the shock of the blade pointed at him or being overwhelmed by the killing intent.

The man sitting in front finally rolled his eyes, foaming at the mouth. As the blade grazed near his neck with his head drooping forward, Lutis somehow felt deflated.

‘…I can’t draw my sword because of these kinds of people.’

Now that he thought about it, they weren’t even worth dealing with.

Lutis took a step back, sheathed his sword, and called out to the Knight Commander.

“Knight Commander.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Imprison those two in the dungeon of the ducal castle, right now.”

“…Pardon?”

“As for their treatment… right. Let’s decide after the funeral is over.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Lutis turned his body and took steps towards where Aeli’s coffin was located. He had wasted time doing something pointless.

Thinking it wouldn’t be a pleasant sight for a child not even a year old, he had ordered for the child to pay respects early in the morning before the mourners arrived and stay within the ducal castle with the maids.

The sky was already getting dark.

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“But since it’s very late at night right now… he’s probably sleeping even if you visit.”

Lutis nodded perfunctorily at the secretary’s words. Then, he took a candlestick with a lit candle and left the room.

‘No wonder it was dark, it’s nighttime.’

With the intention of quietly going and just seeing his face, Lutis climbed the stairs.

Aeli had once mentioned that around this time, young children tend to forget who someone is if they don’t see their face for a while.

So he had been warned to often show his face even if he was busy. That was the reason why he always stayed by the child’s side, even pushing himself, whenever the child went to bed.

Because that was the only time he could properly see the child’s face.

Thud.

While thinking about this and that, Lutis climbed the long stairs with his long legs and stood in front of the child’s room.

But now that he had actually arrived, he hesitated to open the door for some reason.

He spent some time in the middle of the dark corridor, just holding the doorknob.

After a few more minutes of that.

The reason Lutis opened the door after wasting time in front of the sleeping child’s room for a long while was completely unexpected.

Bam!

Swish-, thud!

Because he suddenly felt an unfamiliar presence inside the room.

“Kuk…!”

And it was a presence that could only be made by someone professionally trained at that.

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