Chapter 74

* * *

When Alex arrived at the Ruthius estate, the servants poured out to meet him.

Among them, Zenia spotted Astell and rushed forward, pushing through the others.

“M-My lady? My lady! Young Duke, what’s happened to our lady? Please?”

“Move.”

“Ah? Yes…”

Alex stepped out of the carriage, holding Astell in his arms.

Duke Ruthius, who had been standing behind the servants, approached slowly, leaning on his wand.

His deep green eyes roamed over the face of the unconscious Astell.

“…What happened?”

The Duke merely asked for the reason. He showed no sign of blame or surprise.

Even so, Alex bit his lip, overcome with a surge of emotion.

He couldn’t forgive himself.

The helplessness of being unable to do anything while Astell ended up like this.

The guilt from it weighed heavily on his shoulders.

“Alex, I asked what happened.”

Alex squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them and spoke.

“A gate opened in the imperial garden where the party was being held. It was a powerful monster, completely different from any we’ve seen before.”

“A gate opened where all the Hunters were gathered, you say…”

Duke Ruthius lifted his head and shot a piercing gaze at Alex.

“And yet you are unharmed.”

“…”

“Surely Astell didn’t face the monster alone.”

“…”

“Did she?”

It was a monster that only a qualified person could defeat, so there was nothing to be done.

But Alex didn’t make excuses. He lowered his head.

“I’m… sorry.”

“Is His Majesty unharmed?”

“Thanks to Astell defeating the monster… not a single hair on His Majesty’s head was touched.”

“I see.”

Duke Ruthius glanced around with a cold expression.

“Everyone but Frank, return to your posts.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The servants, including Zenia, quietly dispersed.

Only Alex, Duke Ruthius, and Frank remained in front of the mansion.

After a moment of silence, the Duke asked in a low voice.

“Alex, how badly was Astell injured?”

Alex couldn’t bring himself to answer right away. The horrific sight was still vivid in his mind.

“Her arm… was b-broken, and she was struck in the face. There was blood all over her…”

Duke Ruthius carefully examined Astell’s face.

“There are no visible wounds. Who healed her?”

“A Paladin treated her.”

Touched by holy power, Astell’s face was clean, without a single scar.

But it wasn’t hard to guess how severe her injuries had been. Her dress was thoroughly stained with blood.

Duke Ruthius stared at Astell’s pale, small hand visible outside her dress sleeve.

‘She fought a monster with that hand…’

And she did it alone, in a place filled with Hunters.

“How utterly absurd.”

“Astell knew how to defeat it.”

“What do you mean?”

“She told me through the Constellations. She said not to interfere if I didn’t want to die.”

“…Was it a monster she had faced in another gate?”

“No. It was a monster we had never seen before.”

Then how did she know the strategy?

“Another Hunter tried, but they couldn’t defeat the monster. In the end, Astell had no choice but to step in.”

“Alone.”

“A one-on-one duel with the strongest person present was the key to clearing the gate.”

“And Astell knew that beforehand.”

“Yes, that’s part of it, but…”

Alex hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“Even if that wasn’t the case… Astell has a habit of trying to solve everything on her own.”

“…”

“It was the same with the gate at the memorial service…. She has never once asked for help. It’s like she can’t even conceive of the idea that someone might help her.”

Was it because she had lived alone in the annex, without anyone’s help?

Perhaps her self-esteem was so low that she believed no one would ever help her…

‘Either way, it’s my fault.’

Duke Ruthius let out a deep sigh.

“From now on, you are not to let Astell clear a gate alone. You will stay by her side and help her.”

“I want to, but… she thinks I’m a hindrance, not a help.”

“You can’t just leave her alone. What if something like today happens again? You must protect your sister.”

“I understand, Father.”

Duke Ruthius gazed silently at Alex, who answered dutifully without any complaint.

‘A commendable boy.’

He had known for a long time. The fact that Alex wasn’t the immature ruffian he appeared to be.

Looking back, it was true. Alex had never once defied the Duke’s will.

He may have despaired at the fact that he had to die to save his sister, but he never ran away. He may have strayed, but he always picked himself back up.

‘He follows his worthless father as if he were a true parent.’

If he could, he would have patted him on the shoulder.

He knew Alex would love that, yet his hand wouldn’t move.

‘Why is this so difficult… Hah, I still have a long way to go.’

Duke Ruthius clasped his twitching hands behind his back and turned away.

“Take Astell to her bedroom. You should… get some rest too.”

As the Duke walked away, Alex, who had been standing silently, suddenly burst out in indignation.

“Father!”

Duke Ruthius stopped.

“His Majesty tried to throw Astell in prison!”

Only then did Duke Ruthius turn back. His green eyes, which had been cool and composed just moments before, were now churning violently.

“…What did you say?”

“In fact, she was locked in the East Tower for a short while!”

“The tower built to imprison mages, you mean…”

“Yes! If Astell hadn’t dealt with the monster, she would still be locked up in there!”

“…The reason.”

“Astell was promoting the Guardian guild at the party. Then His Majesty found out that the Second Prince was going to join Guardian.”

“And?”

“His Majesty framed Astell, accusing her of manipulating the Second Prince! Like some kind of witch… He also claimed her purpose for establishing the guild was for her own personal ambitions!”

“And he threw my daughter in prison for that? For such a trivial reason?”

“Reason? Reason? Father, even if all that were true, do you think it’s a valid reason to imprison a direct descendant of the Ruthius line? His Majesty simply wanted to grab Astell and lock her away!”

Alex couldn’t contain his excitement and ground his teeth.

The only one who could touch a Ruthius was another Ruthius.

While this was a privilege exclusive to the head of the Ruthius family, it was also a sign of the Imperial Family’s respect for them.

To imprison a direct heir of the Ducal House of Ruthius on such a flimsy charge.

It was utterly incomprehensible.

Duke Ruthius’s lips twisted into a sneer.

“He’s finally lost his reason.”

When a person is cornered, they are bound to show an opening.

For a man who had so thoroughly hidden his true nature for so long to do such a thing meant he was feeling a great sense of crisis.

“Father, how long do we have to endure this? How much longer must we wait!”

Alex shouted, his eyes filled with pain. His voice was layered with accumulated anger.

The Ruthius family had been forced to endure while their family members died tragic deaths and suffered injustices at the hands of the Emperor.

They were even completely excluded from all imperial matters, including the selection of the Crown Prince.

This was the reality for the House of Ruthius, once called the noblest of the noble.

“Alex, calm down.”

“How can I be calm in this situation! Do you know how Astell fought? She almost died a dog’s death! And for our enemy, no less!”

“What did I tell you to do with your anger?”

“…”

“Alex, tell me. Your anger?”

“…You said to swallow it, and swallow it again.”

“That’s right. If you feel your true intentions might be exposed, act frivolously instead. So that no one knows what you hold inside.”

“Hoo…”

As Alex took a deep breath to control his anger, Duke Ruthius approached and whispered lowly.

“It won’t be long now. Don’t be hasty.”

“…Is that true?”

“The time will soon come to expose the Emperor’s filthy true face to the world. Trust your father.”

“I trust you, Father, but… it’s a little difficult.”

Duke Ruthius slowly placed a hand on Alex’s shoulder.

“Alex.”

“Yes.”

“You are doing well.”

Alex’s eyes widened.

Since his mother’s death, this was the first time Duke Ruthius had acted so warmly. It was also the first time he had ever praised him.

Warmth spread slowly from his shoulder. At the same time, it felt as if layers of accumulated sorrow were being washed away.

His eyes suddenly welled up with tears. Alex quickly bowed his head to hide his bloodshot eyes.

Duke Ruthius stroked Alex’s shoulder.

“Let’s go inside.”

“Yes… Father.”

The Ruthius father and son entered the mansion together, side by side.