“Before the fire, several luxurious carriages that had never been seen in the village came and went multiple times,” Sandes thought to himself, grateful that he had not lost his mind.

Even now, just thinking about that time made his chest feel so tight that it was difficult to breathe.

“When the fire was spreading, an elderly person said they saw someone carrying a large load in and out of the mansion. We traced it back based on their statement.”

“Is the elder’s name Monic, by any chance?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Sandes buried his face in his hands and broke down.

The old man, known as Old Man Monic in the village, had severe dementia and couldn’t provide any answers after the fire occurred.

When the fire broke out, Old Man Monic was the only witness.

Sandes had heard that Old Man Monic, who lived not far from the residence, was sitting in front of his house when the fire started.

At that time, Sandes had sought out Old Man Monic and begged him to tell him anything he could remember, no matter how small.

However, Old Man Monic was suffering from severe dementia and, as always, only repeated that he didn’t know in response to every question.

It was truly no different from usual.

No matter what was said or asked, he consistently answered that he didn’t know.

Sandes had clung to Old Man Monic and wept.

He had grabbed him and pleaded for him to answer anything, but the only response was the villagers trying to stop him.

They cruelly told him that it was already over and to forget about it.

How could he possibly forget?

His family was his only reason to live.

Everything ended like that.

The incident of the unfortunate young man who lost his mansion and family to an accidental, unlucky fire was concluded.

“…Did Old Man Monic say he saw it directly? At the time of the incident?”

“Yes. He recounted the events of that day in quite some detail…”

“Nonsense! That old man told me he didn’t know even when I begged him so much!”

Sandes shouted, rising from his seat at Lanta’s words.

Lanta was momentarily taken aback by Sandes’ intense reaction, which he was seeing for the first time, but continued to the end.

“The old man also had a message he wanted me to convey to you.”

“What?”

“He said that due to circumstances beyond his control, he had to pretend to have dementia. He apologized, saying it might sound like an excuse, but he was glad to finally be able to tell the truth.”

“Ha, now? Only after everything has already passed!”

Sandes’ agitation did not subside even at Lanta’s words.

Despite Sandes glaring at him with reddened eyes, Lanta calmly continued.

“Leaving those words behind, the old man passed away. Thanks to his detailed account, we were able to easily catch the mercenary who had brought in a different corpse.”

Sandes, who had been so agitated that he seemed ready to break everything in front of him at any moment, froze.

“As a result of torturing the mercenary, we confirmed that Lord Leoville is definitely not dead.”

“What…?”

Sandes couldn’t understand what Lanta was saying.

For a full four years, he had thought his nephew was dead.

Moreover, he couldn’t comprehend how he had suddenly confirmed his nephew’s survival while investigating Leville’s traces at the orphanage.

Not knowing the confusion in Sandes’ mind, Lanta spoke.

“The mercenary said that at the time, he was paid a large sum of money to switch a prepared corpse with a living child. He said he took the living child to an orphanage in Eols County at the client’s request.”

Sandes couldn’t give any answer, wondering if his guess was correct.

He didn’t want to have false hope even for a moment while doubting his own thoughts.

But he was certain.

“There was only one child around the age of 3 who entered the orphanage in Eols County about 4 years ago.”

Sandes hoped the name he was thinking of wouldn’t come out of Lanta’s mouth, but at the same time, he hoped his thoughts were correct.

He hoped the nephew who was said to be alive was the child by his side, but he didn’t want to blame himself for being stupid enough not to recognize the child even when he was near.

“The name is Leville, with brown hair and crimson eyes. Currently, the child is staying at the Kerenic residence under the protection of Countess Medellia, who has volunteered to be the guardian.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes. Based on the request, the mercenary’s statement, the orphanage director’s statement, and everything else we investigated, it is certain.”

Sandes collapsed.

He was confused whether it was relief or self-blame.

“No matter how hard I tried to find out or how much I wanted to know, I couldn’t learn anything.”

At his words, which came out like a sigh, Lanta hesitated for a moment before replying.

“It’s only natural that you couldn’t find him. At the time of the fire, Old Man Monic was the only person in the village, and the mercenary who ran the errand had also just arrived with a large sum of money from another kingdom.”

“Haha, so if it wasn’t for now, I would have never known until the end.”

Sandes’ self-mocking laughter came out painfully.

Why didn’t he recognize him even when he was right in front of his eyes?

He should have recognized him more than anyone else, so why couldn’t he?

The fact that he couldn’t recognize his nephew even when he was in front of him made him feel so guilty that it was suffocating.

The anger that grew as much as the guilt that covered his entire mind made his head feel cold.

“Who was the client?”

“Miraea Eols.”

At the unexpected name, Sandes asked again.

“Miraea Eols? You mean the Duchess of Eols?”

Sandes frowned as he thought about Miraea.

She was someone he had never expected to be involved in his nephew’s death.

That was because he had never heard of Miraea openly making a move, and from the outside, she seemed to do nothing to him, almost to the point of indifference.

After his sister was taken to the residence of the late Duke of Eols, Sandes constantly visited the Eols mansion to get her back.

Every time, he was chased away at the door, but Miraea always just watched from afar with a pale face.

That was all.

She didn’t make a move or threaten him.

Even when his sister escaped from the Eols residence with his nephew, his sister had told him that she had gotten out with Miraea’s help.

He thought Miraea had no interest since she let the two of them go.

But the one who switched his nephew’s corpse was Miraea?

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m certain. The mercenary also testified, and it was confirmed that a painting known to have been purchased by Miraea Eols was received as a down payment.”

“Is there anything else that has been confirmed?”

“As a matter of fact, a maid who worked at the Eols residence came to see us. It seemed like she came to ask the Duke to take her in as the Eols family appeared to be falling, but the person she directly wanted to see was you, Viscount.”

“Why?”

“She was a maid who worked at the Eols residence when your sister was there.”

At Lanta’s words, Sandes’ eyes shone coldly.

It felt like the secrets that Sandes had failed to notice in the past were about to be caught.

“I will guide you.”

“No, first, Leville…”

Sandes, who was about to tell Lanta that he would go to Leville first, suddenly couldn’t continue his words.

It was because he suddenly became afraid when he thought of the child.

Would he resent his foolish uncle who couldn’t protect him until the end?

Would the child understand his stupid uncle who couldn’t find him even when he was right in front of him?

He was afraid that Leville would eventually turn his back on him, unable to forgive his cowardly self.

Lanta, who had been quietly watching Sandes struggle to find his way, asked.

“I believe he hasn’t fallen asleep yet. Shall I call for Lord Leoville?”

“No, I… I will go.”

Sandes forcibly moved his feet, which felt like they were weighted down with heavy chains.

As he walked, his mind was dizzy with countless worries and thoughts.

His disorganized mind was so chaotic that even when he stood in front of Leville’s door, he couldn’t move.

“Head maid! I had such a happy time at dinner today.”

“It seems like you’re in a good mood after dining with the Viscount and the Count.”

The friendly conversation between the head maid and Leville could be heard from beyond the door.

The child’s voice was filled with happiness and joy, overflowing.

Sandes could imagine him smiling brightly and bouncing his feet.

Sandes couldn’t bring himself to knock on the door.

He was worried that the truth Leville didn’t want would shatter his joyful heart into pieces.

In the end, just as Sandes was about to turn away with the intention of delaying it for just one day, the door opened.

“Oh my, you were here, Your Excellency. Just a moment.”

Before Sandes could stop her, the head maid opened the door wide and said to Leville.

“His Excellency has come. I will finish preparing and be back in a bit.”

The head maid affectionately took care of Leville and disappeared from the room.

“Viscount?”

Leville got up from the bed and walked over to where Sandes was.

Sandes, who was still standing blankly at the doorway, unable to enter, was painfully struck by the sight of Leville.

The features that revealed the child to be his nephew clearly entered Sandes’ eyes.

The soft, light brown hair that resembled his own, the crimson eyes that he hated terribly but couldn’t hate.

The round nostrils that resembled his sister’s, the gentle, puppy-like droopy eyes.

Everything was so evident that it made him feel stupid for not recognizing the child as his nephew and only finding him strange.

Why couldn’t he recognize him when his existence was so clearly revealed?

Was it because everything was obscured by the thought that he was dead?

“I’m sorry…”

Unable to control his overflowing emotions, Sandes knelt down in front of Leville and repeated.

“I’m sorry.”

“Pardon?”

Seeing Leville’s bewildered appearance, Sandes finally couldn’t hold back and hugged the child tightly.

“Vis- Viscount?”

“I’m so sorry for not recognizing you. I’m really sorry.”

Memories of times when Sandes was in agony, unable to forget Leville, flashed through his mind one by one.

The day he hugged the charred corpse and wailed, the day he lay prostrate and cried in front of his sister’s grave for failing to protect them, the day he thought was the child’s first death anniversary.

The deep regret and agony he had kept hidden in the past days burst out.

“I’m sorry, Leo.”

“Uh, I’m not-!”

Leville tried to object in surprise at being called Leo, but Sandes hugged him even tighter and apologized again.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. Thank you for being alive.”

Disorganized words spilled out of Sandes’ mouth.

The startled Leville flapped his arms and then gently patted Sandes’ slightly shaking shoulders.

At the warm consolation from the small hand, Sandes hugged Leville tightly, swallowing his sobs for fear of wailing miserably.