Chapter 160
The Count truly had no sense of awareness.
So little, in fact, that it was hard to understand how he had managed to survive in the ruthless world of politics.
Completely oblivious to the fact that his son beside him had turned deathly pale and was silently opening and closing his mouth, he continued speaking to Heros with a cheerful smile.
“After all, wouldn’t our Teppy be a much better choice than some young noble you’ve never even met? I believe Teppy is more than qualified to become Lady Daphne’s husband.”
To be honest, Daphne was not considered a particularly desirable marriage prospect.
Setting aside her difficult personality, her health alone was an issue.
She might have recovered now, but how could someone who had spent years bedridden suddenly become completely healthy overnight?
She might fall ill again.
She might even die again.
Under those circumstances, finding a suitable marriage partner would naturally be difficult.
But wasn’t he generously offering Teppy despite all that?
For Daphne, Teppy was admittedly a somewhat wasted match, but if this marriage strengthened the relationship with the Grand Duke’s family…
Thinking this, the Count shamelessly pressed on.
Completely unaware that Teppy was desperately waving at him from beside him, begging him to stop.
“What do you think, Your Excellency? Isn’t it a wonderful proposal?”
“…”
By now, Heros had already composed himself.
With his usual calm and expressionless face, he quietly stared at the Count.
He stared for quite a long time.
No…
Not quite a long time.
He simply kept staring at him for a very long time.
The Count tilted his head.
‘Hmm? Why is he making that face? What’s the problem?’
He blinked innocently, still completely clueless.
Meanwhile, Teppy felt like he was dying.
He was practically foaming at the mouth as his entire body trembled.
“You asked me what I think.”
At that moment, Heros finally spoke.
“What do I think?”
Then he stood up.
No—
He did not merely stand.
He drew the sword hanging at his waist.
“I’m glad you’ve finally given me a reason to kill you.”
“…Excuse me?”
Still utterly confused, the Count stared blankly as Heros pointed his sword at him.
Just before an overwhelming sword aura erupted—
“Ah! Wait! Your Excellency! Please stop! Stop!”
Teppy rushed between them, shouting.
Standing protectively in front of the Count, he cried out with a pale face,
“My father’s mind hasn’t been right lately! He’s been saying all kinds of strange things and keeps acting erratically! Even the physician said that if this keeps up, he’ll need to be admitted to a hospital!”
“N-No, I never—”
“Father, please keep your mouth shut!”
After taking a punch to the stomach from Teppy, the Count doubled over.
Seizing the opportunity, Teppy hurriedly continued,
“I-I swear! I’ll make sure to educate my father properly! So could you please forgive him just this once? Your Excellency, please!”
Ever since attending the academy, Teppy had learned how to read the situation.
More than anyone else, he knew that this was the moment to humble himself completely.
“I’ll confine my father once I inherit the title of Count!”
“W-What?”
“So please, just let this one go!”
The Count could only gape at his son’s sudden act of rebellion.
Teppy squeezed his eyes shut, refusing to look at him.
But what else could anyone do?
If he didn’t stop this somehow, the Count was going to die!
Whether he was an unfilial son or a devoted one was impossible to say.
In any case, Teppy completely prostrated himself.
Only then did the sword aura surrounding Heros’ blade finally subside.
“…”
Heros alternated his gaze between the Count and Teppy.
Then he let out a quiet laugh.
“So it’s true that you raised your son well.”
…What?
Didn’t you just witness a son openly rebelling against his father?
He’s practically a fire-element child right now.
The Count had been opening and closing his mouth for some time now, yet he still said nothing.
Teppy kept poking him in the side while silently begging him to stay quiet.
“I’ll overlook it this once.”
“But there won’t be a second time.”
“Remember that.”
Although the Count still had no idea what had just happened and felt terribly wronged…
At the very least, he had learned that whenever someone brought up Daphne’s marriage, Heros immediately reached for his sword.
If he reacted this way toward him, he would surely react the same way toward everyone else.
Which meant Daphne would likely remain without a marriage prospect for quite some time.
Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to simply wait and see.
Having reached that conclusion, the Count bowed his head.
“Y-Yes… Thank you. Thank you.”
Though, in truth, he only kept bowing because Teppy continued glaring at him.
An awkward silence settled over the office.
The Count’s bewildered face, Teppy’s embarrassment, and Heros’ displeasure all hung heavily in the air.
Just then—
“Your Excellency!”
Pauline burst through the door.
“Lady Daphne has returned!”
He rushed inside, panting heavily.
But somehow…
His expression was far too grim for someone merely announcing Daphne’s return.
Heros immediately sensed that something was wrong.
His suspicion was confirmed by Pauline’s next words.
“However… the eldest young master…”
Pauline tightly shut his eyes.
***
“…”
Rache lay on the bed in his room.
He was still unconscious.
Ever since Shio had pulled him out of the dark mage’s shadow.
Daphne stood beside the bed, staring at him absentmindedly.
The complicated expression on her face revealed the turmoil filling her heart.
Letting out a long sigh, Daphne rested her forehead against Rache’s arm.
“This is driving me insane.”
Yes.
She truly felt like she was losing her mind.
Rache had to be saved.
And he could be saved.
With her power, she could certainly save him.
But if she saved Rache, she would never be able to return to her original body.
‘My body… Selus.’
Of course, someone might ask whether returning to that body was really so important.
Why return to that lonely body instead of remaining in Daphne’s body, where she now had family and friends?
But Daphne—
This small and fragile body—
Would not live very long.
In less than ten years, it would die.
That was why she had planned to return when the time came.
Back to her own body.
Back to where she truly belonged.
But…
Daphne frowned as she let out another deep sigh.
‘—You deceived us without feeling anything, didn’t you? You never even felt sorry, did you? You were too busy laughing while watching those insignificant humans adore you! You…!’
What kind of expression had Rache worn when he said those words?
He had…
Felt betrayed.
He had been disappointed.
He had fallen into despair.
Daphne squeezed her eyes shut.
“My older brother.”
Then she spoke to the unconscious Rache.
“Weren’t you the greatest older brother anyone could ask for?”
Even though he disliked this body—Daphne’s body—he had still tried to save her no matter what.
The one who had said he never wanted to see her die.
The one who had insisted that she had to live.
“So…”
As though she had finally made up her mind, Daphne straightened her back and steeled her resolve.
“This time, it is my turn to save you.”
Daphne’s hand gently covered Rache’s face.
At that very moment,
The tightly shut door to Rache’s room opened.
