Chapter 6
“Has Duke Destrian encountered any mutated monsters during the subjugation?”
At Prince Lucien’s question, all the nobles’ gazes turned toward Kavil. Recalling the content of the query, one of Kavil’s eyebrows arched crookedly.
“What do you mean by mutated monsters? What brings this up so suddenly?”
“I’m referring to the murder case on Dixon Street. No matter how I think about it, it seems like the work of a monster.”
“A monster?”
“Isn’t that right? The bodies were all horrifically torn as if by sharp claws. Exactly like when attacked by a monster.”
Lucien stared at Kavil, seeking agreement. The nobles murmured at the term “mutated monster” coming from Lucien’s lips.
“But Your Highness, none of the witnesses reported seeing a monster.”
“Ah, that’s precisely the puzzle. The cause of death matches a monster’s doing, yet no one saw one. So…”
“So, you’re suggesting it’s the deed of a mutated monster disguised in human skin?”
“Exactly. As expected from the empire’s hero, you grasp my words in one go.”
Lucien nodded with a satisfied smile. Kavil let out a hollow laugh.
“Your Highness, monsters cannot transform into humans. Therefore, no such thing as mutated monsters exists.”
“……”
“As someone who has slain hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of monsters, I can confidently assert this.”
“……”
With Kavil’s words, silence fell over the conference hall.
The nobles alternated glances between Lucien and Kavil, gauging the atmosphere. Lucien, who had been staring intently at Kavil’s impassive eyes, soon smiled and nodded.
“Then, it’s the work of humans, not monsters.”
“Yes.”
“Well, if the duke who has faced monsters directly says so, it would be stranger for me to insist otherwise. Thank you for sharing your opinion, Duke.”
“Not at all, Your Highness.”
Lucien smiled with an inscrutable expression. Kavil’s eyes sank low.
As soon as he left the conference hall, Kavil irritably loosened the tie that had been constricting his neck. When Claude, waiting outside, approached, Kavil murmured lowly.
“Who’s in charge of the murder case on Dixon Street?”
“It’s Count Randaph.”
“One of the prince’s men.”
“Yes? But why…”
“Assign someone to the Randaph count’s household. The prince mentioned mutated monsters. He suggested that a monster capable of turning human might be the culprit in the murders.”
Claude’s eyes widened in shock.
“What? What kind of absurd nonsense… But is there really such a thing as mutated monsters?”
“Of course not.”
“Right? There’s no way. Still, it’s curious. How did he come up with the idea that monsters could become humans? The prince has never even seen a monster, has he?”
“…Assign someone to the prince’s side as well.”
“Understood, my lord!”
* * *
Meanwhile, the ducal residence was in an uproar over the astonishing news that the duke and duchess would dine together. The servants bustled about to prepare for the couple’s memorable first meal.
A procession carrying baskets filled with fresh ingredients streamed endlessly into the kitchen. Crystal glasses and cutlery were set one by one on the spacious table.
Under the head maid’s direction, the servants moved in perfect unison.
“Hurry, hurry! You there, handle that with extra care.”
“Yes, Head Maid.”
“Head Maid, which flowers should we use for decoration?”
“Hmm. Since the madam likes lisianthus, let’s use those… M-Madam!”
Spotting Helena standing at the dining room entrance, the servants hastily bowed their heads. Dressed in a gown reminiscent of pale pink roses, Helena smiled brightly while cradling an armful of white lisianthus.
“You even know my favorite flowers. As expected, the head maid knows everything.”
“Not at all, Madam. It’s only natural. Ah, I’ll handle the flower arrangements.”
“Thank you.”
“Madam!”
Helena turned her head at the voice from behind.
“There you are! I’ve been looking for you!”
“What’s the matter?”
“Um, well…”
The butler hesitated, opening and closing his mouth as if unsure how to phrase it. Seeing his clearly troubled expression, Helena spoke first.
“Don’t tell me something happened to His Grace?”
“No, absolutely not!”
“Then what is it? It’s fine, Butler. Speak freely.”
Emboldened by Helena’s gentle tone, the butler squeezed his eyes shut and said,
“His Grace has an urgent prior engagement, so it seems difficult for him to join you for dinner.”
“An urgent prior engagement… What a peculiar phrase. Can a prior engagement arise urgently?”
“I’m sorry, Madam.”
The butler bowed his head deeply.
‘I didn’t expect him to keep the promise, but…’
To break it so blatantly, as if waiting for the meal preparations to finish. Rather than hurt, a sense of absurdity rose first.
Letting out a small hollow laugh, Helena reminded herself of the servants’ presence and composed her expression. With a gentle smile, she said casually,
“It’s not something for you to apologize for, Butler. Anyway, the chef has nearly finished preparing the food…”
Muttering that there was too much for her to eat alone, Helena clapped her hands together and looked at the butler.
“Butler.”
“Yes, Madam.”
“Have all the prepared food taken to the servants’ dining hall.”
“Pardon? No, we couldn’t possibly, Madam.”
“I’ll never finish it by myself anyway. Come on, what are you waiting for? Move it before the food gets cold.”
“M-Madam. Even so… Understood, thank you.”
Helena nodded lightly to the butler and turned to Marian.
“Marian, I’ll eat in my room, so could you bring something simple?”
“Yes, Madam.”
“You all worked hard all day. Enjoy your meal.”
Passing the bowing servants, Helena headed to her room. Then, struck by a sudden thought, she changed direction and impulsively went to the innermost room in the corridor.
She passed the portraits of past dukes hanging on the wall one by one. Her steps finally halted in front of the previous duchess’s portrait.
The duchess in the painting was beautiful but somehow looked sorrowful.
“When I see you… memories I’d rather forget come flooding back.”
“That’s why. Seeing you is painful. Even now. Just facing you like this is suffocatingly hard.”
Helena wanted to know about Kavil’s “bad memories.” She was curious what kind of memories they were that she, meeting him for the first time at the wedding, resembled them.
Whether he saw his mother’s image in her. Or if he was seeing someone who resembled her. Questions without answers floated in Helena’s mind.
She stood there gazing at the portrait for a long while. Sensing a presence at the door, Helena turned her head.
The butler, entering with orderly footsteps, startled upon seeing Helena and bowed hastily.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know Madam was here and entered without knocking…”
“It’s fine. I just stopped by briefly, but I must have stayed longer than I thought. So, have you been managing this place all along?”
Helena gestured toward the cleaning tools in the butler’s hand.
“Yes. The previous duke graciously entrusted me with it. Ah, Madam. I was truly grateful back then. Thanks to your care, I’m much better now.”
“I’m glad to hear you’re improved. You looked like you might collapse any moment that day; I was quite worried.”
Having nursed her frail mother for years, Helena was more sensitive than most to others’ pain.
Noticing the butler wiping cold sweat with a paler face than usual, Helena had immediately taken him to the physician. As the butler bowed again in thanks, Helena offered a faint smile.
“Ah, come to think of it, you mentioned you’ve served the ducal family long enough to have attended the previous duke directly.”
“Yes.”
“Then, I have something to ask.”
“Ask anything, Madam.”
Helena’s gaze slowly turned toward the previous duchess’s portrait.
“What kind of childhood did His Grace have?”
“Pardon?”
“I’d like to hear about His Grace’s childhood. Can you tell me?”
The butler hesitated at the unexpected question, then slowly opened his mouth.
“His Grace grew up lonely.”
The butler began speaking calmly, dredging up memories from the past.
Kavil’s father, Duke Destrian, was a man of upright character and high repute.
When the empire’s most eligible bachelor announced his marriage to a poor baron’s daughter, vulgar rumors spread, suggesting she had some hold over him.
But the butler knew those rumors were false. Because through the duke, he learned that someone could love another so deeply.
Soon after, the duchess became pregnant, and the duke rejoiced as if he owned the world. Thus, Kavil was born.
It was around then that the peaceful routine of the ducal household shattered. A few days after Kavil’s birth, the duke ordered all servants to take leave.
No one, including the butler, saw Kavil before leaving the mansion. Even after returning from leave, only the nursemaid entered and exited the nursery.
The duke clamped his mouth shut after saying Kavil’s health was critical. Screams mixed with wails occasionally echoed from the duchess’s room. In the ominous atmosphere, the servants closed their eyes and ears.
A year later, the sealed nursery opened, and the butler could see Kavil. Everyone sighed in relief at the baby’s healthy appearance.
Yet, for some reason, the duchess turned away from Kavil, wailing that he wasn’t her child.
The duke stayed by the duchess’s side, who seemed on the verge of shattering. Naturally, Kavil was raised by the nursemaid.
When Kavil turned five, the duchess ultimately took her own life. The duke wailed all night beside his dead wife.
Kavil witnessed his mother’s death right before his eyes, but no one covered them for him.
“After that, the previous duke completely ignored His Grace. It seemed he thought he lost the duchess because of him.”
“Why would that be…”
Having been tense throughout the butler’s story, Helena swayed as a sudden dizziness surged. Supported by the butler, she sat on the sofa.
Blinking in disbelief, Helena murmured,
“Why would that be His Grace’s fault? How could he be so cruel to a five-year-old child…”
“Having lost his beloved overnight, he probably wanted to blame someone.”
“…Even so, how could he.”
Helena bit her lip tightly and clenched her fists.
“Um, Madam. This may be presumptuous, but…”
