“It seems my expectations were correct.”

Carlos muttered to himself in a low voice. Nelia couldn’t understand what he was saying.

Well… that’s not important for now.

“Is your arm okay now?”

In response to Nelia’s question, Carlos, who had been staring at his arm, slowly raised his head and met her gaze.

Perhaps because of the dark night sky or the oppressive atmosphere of the building, his black pupils looked deep and distant today.

Like the impenetrable abyss where something unknown might exist.

“No.”
In response to his incomprehensible answer, Nelia tilted her head.

“What…?”

“I’m not okay.”

Along with Carlos’s response, there was a loud crash outside, and lightning struck.

“The reason I’ve been in such pain is because of the medicine Duke Hart gave me.”

With Carlos’s words, his eyes flashed at the moment of the lightning.

The Duke lying on the bed sat up and looked at the clock. The clock hands were already pointing at 7 p.m.

Although he felt like he had just dozed off, he woke up abruptly at the loud thunder.

Duke Hart’s gaze turned to the window. Thick raindrops were harshly hitting the window.

‘With so much rain, I wonder if Nelia met her parents.’

The Duke, who was worried about Nelia, opened a drawer and took out a transformation inhibitor.

He had said that he would be back soon and would meet her parents nearby, but for some reason, he didn’t feel good about it. As if he might suddenly transform into a snake.

Maybe it was because of the precarious weather.

While staring quietly out the window, a knocking sound came from outside the door.

“My lord, it’s Ton.”

Duke Hart frowned.

Ton knew that his condition wasn’t good on rainy days, so unless there was something special, he wouldn’t come all the way to this room.

Duke Hart put the medicine bottle he was holding into his pocket and replied.

“You may come in.”

Soon, the door opened, and Ton walked in and stood in front of the bed.

“My lord, Ton… a guest has arrived.”

“A guest?”

“Yes… Normally, on a day like today, we would turn them away, but they said they are Nelia-nim’s family.”

Duke Hart’s eyebrows furrowed.

Today, Nelia said she would go to meet her parents who came up from the territory.

But family?

“They said he is Nelia-nim’s older brother.”

In a long-awaited family meeting, why isn’t he here together, and why did he come alone?

“Since Nelia-nim is currently out, should I send him away?”

Ton seemed not to find it strange that Nelia’s brother came without knowing the fact that she went to meet her parents.

On the other hand, sensing something unusual, Duke Hart got up from the bed.

“Let me go down and see.”

Wearing different clothes, Duke Hart entered the parlor where Layton was. Inside, Layton, who was looking around somewhat nervously, was visible.

Layton noticed Duke Hart and quickly stood up.

“Uh… Hello, my lord!”

“Nice to meet you, Layton.”

Layton looked somewhat touched.

“You know my name…”

“Of course. Aren’t you Nelia’s only brother?”

“Nelia talked a lot about me, it seems.”

Layton scratched his neck with an embarrassed expression. Then, as if he suddenly realized, he blinked and asked.

“Come to think of it, why did you come alone, my lord?”

It seemed like Nelia wanted to ask where she went.
Duke Hart maintained a smile as he sat on the sofa opposite him.

“Nelia has gone out now.”

Duke Hart concealed from Layton the fact that Nelia had gone to meet her parents.

“At this late hour?”

As expected, he reacted as if he had no idea where Nelia had gone.

“She said she has a place to visit briefly.”

Layton muttered to himself, “This kid doesn’t know how scary people can be, wandering around at this late hour…”

Then, after glancing up at the Duke, he asked, “But… My lord, where are you feeling unwell? Your complexion doesn’t look good.”

In fact, Duke Hart felt very heavy from the moment he got up from the bed. It wasn’t usually this bad even when it rained, but the symptoms were particularly severe today.

However, Duke Hart showed a usual smile, appearing unbothered.

“I’m fine.”

“Yes, take care. No matter how much money you have, it’s useless if you’re sick.”

Layton was clearly different from Nelia. Even in a short conversation, his rude and simple personality was distinctly felt.

Still, he didn’t seem bad, solely because he was Nelia’s family.

“I’ve been thinking about visiting Nelia’s house to say hello sometime, but Layton-nim came here in person, so I’m grateful.”

At the word ‘grateful,’ Layton laughed for a moment, then soon asked as if it was strange.

“But… Why would you, my lord, want to say hello to our house?”

“Nelia is doing so well. I’ve received a lot of help from her.”

Layton spoke with a smug expression.

“Oh, she’s good at it because she takes after me. Fortunately, it helped you, my lord.”

Duke Hart glanced slowly at Layton and asked.

“By any chance, would it be strange if I visited Nelia’s residence to say hello?”

“Of course not! You’re welcome anytime, my lord.”

“When would be a good time to visit?”

“Our parents are always at home, so you can come anytime.”

His answer that his parents were always at home confirmed that Nelia had lied to him.

Nelia clearly said that her parents were coming down to the territory and that she would bring Reunit with her.

At Layton’s response, Duke Hart momentarily stiffened his expression, but the excited Layton didn’t notice that fact.

“Oh, by the way, my lord. Do you raise snakes?”

At Layton’s sudden question, Duke Hart quickly composed his expression.

“Snakes…?”

“Nelia didn’t tell you? I was extremely surprised when I went to the Duke’s office last time and found a snake.”

Duke Hart realized what he was talking about.

In the Duke’s office at the palace, Layton had seen the snake. On that day, Nelia had made up a story, saying that it was the snake she was raising, to cover up the situation.

“Yes, that’s right. I have a reason, so I keep it in the office.”

“Even if there’s a reason, your taste is really unique. Raising a snake.”

As Layton finished speaking, a crashing sound could be heard from outside the window.
Once again, lightning struck.

Duke Hart’s gaze turned to the window. The weather seemed unusual.

Simultaneously, a sudden ominous feeling swept over him. It was close to an animalistic intuition.

“Oh, the weather is just… Nelia, this girl, needs to be aware of the time. Where on earth is she going in this heavy rain… Oh? Duke?”

Duke Hart stood up from his seat. His gaze was somewhat subdued compared to a moment ago.

“I apologize. It seems I should get up first.”