I diligently went in and out of the factory, gathering rumors. Of course, people whispered about me incessantly. They didn’t even bother to hide their whispers. Last time, because of Ragon, trouble had erupted, and somehow I was trying to win back the Duke’s favor—they pointed fingers at me for that. The looks around me were so cold. Of course, when our eyes met, they awkwardly smiled as if nothing had happened. ‘Because of these big brothers.’ I looked at Richmond, Balzac, and Joshua, all frowning, surrounding me. “It’ll be fine.” 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂 “It’s not fine!” “Yeah. At least for a while.” Balzac and Richmond spoke, and Joshua nodded along. “How about staying under jurisdiction? Haven’t you fulfilled the attendance this month?” “I’m not coming for class.” “That’s why I’m saying it.” Joshua was rarely this firm. Though sharp with others, he was soft like a spring flower stalk with me. ‘Must be because he worries about me.’ The atmosphere was so tense. Just then, cousins came walking down the hallway opposite. Joffrey—and Joffrey’s “goldfish droppings,” Adam and Fabio. Joffrey smirked and shrugged. “I knew this would happen. Ever since you started taming monsters, I figured sooner or later you'd cause trouble.” “There’s no end to this chaos, huh?” “Right. Uncle, your uncle, and the aunts are all in an uproar.” “Ah, maybe the prince’s fever is because of the monsters? That’d be amusing.” They seemed so busy chattering they hadn’t noticed us. Balzac stood sideways and lightly stomped his foot in front of Joffrey. “Want to see what’s really funny?” “B-B-Balzac.” “We’ve been training for quite some time, right? So why are you still yapping?” “W-What!?” He seemed to think the status of Daymond’s jurisdiction was greatly damaged by this incident. That’s why Joffrey, who usually cowers like a mouse in front of our siblings, was so bold now. “If you mess up again, not just your youngest but you’ll fall out of Grandfather’s favor!” Joshua’s mouth curled upward. “You might fall out of favor but won’t be discarded. We’re far more useful than scum like you.” “W-What did you say?” “Wanna test it? When Balzac beats you to death and hangs you naked, let’s see if you get discarded or not.” Joffrey’s face turned pale. Just as he flinched and stepped back— Shuuk! Richmond activated his Gaho and blocked behind Joffrey. “Joffrey.” “W-What, what, what’s this? Threats—s-stop it now...!” “Please don’t make me cross the line.” “...!” Richmond had the greatest ability among the three-year-olds. Not even comparable to Joffrey. Even calm Richmond, who rarely got angry, grew grim, and Joffrey was thoroughly scared. “I-I have class, so I’m leaving!” Then he fled hastily. Adam and Fabio ran away just as fast, tails between their legs. The three brothers, scowling fiercely, turned their gaze to me. “Erilot. Let’s just go.” “Yeah. Let’s go now.” “Better go rest.” I shook my head. If I left like this, nothing would be solved. “If I’m alone a little, I’ll be fine. People get tired of gossip if it lasts too long.” “Erilot...” The three brothers all looked worried. “Well then, I’m off. I’ll take a walk!” I smiled and waved to my brothers. Then I headed alone to the lakeside. After a while— With a swish sound came a black smoke approaching. Fwhoosh─! The black smoke whipped violently. I smiled gently and reached out my hand. “You must’ve been sulking from being left alone too long, Ombre.” Ombre twined around my arm like a vine. For some reason, it clung more tightly than usual today. “Are you lonely too without Ragon?” Ombre and Ragon got along well. Usually, monsters dislike humans—and even other monsters. But Ragon was so kind that Ombre stayed calm despite being bothered. Since her good friend disappeared, Ombre was understandably down. “Then will you show me now, Ombre?” As Ombre seeped into my eyes, a sight I’d never seen before unfolded. The late princess’s room. Guarding the vacant room was a woman dressed as a palace maid. The busy maid stopped by the bedside. She lifted the mattress and found a wrinkled leather pouch inside. The maid looked around. After confirming no one was there, she opened the pouch. Inside were strange herbs. Handling them seemed no trivial matter. She opened a window to check the surroundings, glanced outside the door, then started moving again. She lit the fireplace and put the herbs inside. At that moment— Ombre began to thrash wildly. The maid frowned and waved her arm. “Why is the smoke so thick today?” Mistaking Ombre for smoke, the maid coughed several times. If the smoke was so irritating, she would have left or opened windows, but she didn’t move. Only after the herbs completely burned did she open the window to ventilate. It was thanks to that Ombre could escape. ‘Gasp...!’ My head spun, and my vision blurred whitely. After a while, focus returned. Then the lakeside came back into view. This is the hidden ability of the shadow monsters no one knows about. ‘The ability to share memories.’ I was very surprised when I noticed this ability. ‘Monsters feed on fear, so I thought they’d have some power to instill fear in humans.’ I didn’t expect it to be this helpful. There are so few of them that scholars barely understand shadow monsters. Of course, I couldn’t use the ability freely. It has to be a familiar place Ombre can move easily. If separated from me for too long, Ombre gets too anxious, so it must be brought within a day or two. No wards or barriers. Must be able to sneak in secretly. No strong wind or bright light. . . —So many conditions must be met. ‘This time, thanks to Hilda, the senior worker at the factory, conditions were met.’ Anyway, thanks to Ombre, I learned the truth. “The herbs made Ragon ferocious.” Ombre thrashed as soon as it inhaled the herb’s smoke. I could clearly feel how painful it was. ‘Ragon must have suffered too.’ Ombre agonized so much over just a pinch of herbs. Since the pouch was quite large, they must have used much more on Ragon. ‘That’s why he raged.’ Because it hurt. Hurts so much. Still, Ragon didn’t attack the maid. ‘Because I taught him that.’ I bit my lip tightly, and Ombre twisted its body like whining. “You’ve become such a spoiled kid from pain.” Now that I knew the truth, only action remained. I connected the communication stone. “Conrad, it’s me. Tell Hilda.” After giving instructions, I gazed quietly at the calm lake. I was angry. Even when people misunderstood me for pushing Dahlia down the stairs in my first life, I was never this angry. Back then, I was just sad and felt wronged. Am I still wronged now...? ‘No.’ For the first time in my life, I felt what it means to be angry yet calm and cool-headed. It was a terrifying calm. ‘I will repay my enemy properly.’ The Duke’s office. Only the sound of papers being shuffled broke the intense silence. Marquis Debussy, sitting on the sofa, subtly watched the Duke’s expression. The Duke was checking documents, terrifyingly calm. ‘What on earth is he thinking...?’ Even after almost forty years, there was no way to tell at moments like this. The Duke hadn’t shared the progress of this matter even with himself. ‘Seems like the intelligence department is moving.’ When the head of Astra’s intelligence department entered and left with a stern face just now, it was certain. Marquis Debussy sighed deeply. Then— A yellow back of a head appeared by the window. Marquis Debussy felt a moment of déjà vu. He had seen such a back of a head seven years ago. Back then, the hair was tied in round pigtails like a squirrel’s. Thinking of seven years ago, Debussy smirked slightly. “Why do you always stay outside the window instead of coming in?” “I’m a servant. I’m working. Don’t disturb me!” Though she said she wouldn’t disturb, the yellow back of a head floated outside the window. The Duke pretended not to look but secretly paid attention to the back of the head. On days when the yellow back wasn’t visible, he sometimes opened the door to check. Then she would always be sitting by the door reading a book as big as herself. ‘Cute.’ Debussy sometimes smiled secretly while working, watching that back of a head. “You can come in, young lady.” “I’m a good girl. I won’t disturb the servant. Erilot is a good girl.” “If you behave and don’t disturb, it’s fine.” “But, but! I’m not being good...” Erilot, who knew herself well and sulked, was adorable. “It’s too hot today, why don’t you come in?” “I will. But if you talk about the servant, it’s a secret. You can’t hear it.” “If you don’t listen, it’s fine.” “But, but! Erilot’s ears...” Sometimes cute, sometimes pitiful. Like when a child is so smart it’s almost admirable. I thought she was trying hard with her little body. From a young age, Erilot was desperate about everything. Maybe that’s why luck followed her, accomplishing so much from the age of three. Like reading ancient language and finding the land where dragon bones were /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ buried. Saving the Duke from Marquis Tolliso’s ambush. Discovering enhancement stones and rescuing Astra from crisis. Whenever Erilot made great achievements, she always credited those around her. “Marquis Debussy taught me that.” “Because I’m grandfather’s granddaughter!” “My father said so. I just followed.” She was a thoughtful child. ‘Would such a girl have managed monsters carelessly?’ Debussy looked fixedly at the yellow back of the head, then shifted his gaze to the Duke. “My Duke.” The Duke lifted his head. The yellow back of a head was reflected by the window. “...” The Duke watched the child for quite a while. Erilot didn’t leave in front of the office. Eventually, the Duke stood up. Opening the door, Erilot’s shoulders jerked up. “Why do you stand there without coming in?” Hesitating for a long moment, Erilot looked up at the Duke. Her eyes were red-rimmed. “My lady.” “...” The expression of Marquis Debussy, who followed the Duke, stiffened. Erilot’s gaze finally dropped to the floor. Seeing this, the Duke furrowed his brows. “Don’t bow your head!” “...!” The Duke’s shout echoed down the hallway, and Erilot opened her eyes wide. “If you have something to say, say it straight. Tell me to listen!” Erilot was the cleverest among the three-year-olds. But she never asked for anything. While other grandchildren flaunted the Astra name like a badge, that foolish granddaughter never asked for even a little. After hesitating for a long time, Erilot finally spoke with difficulty. “Grandfather, I...” Though her voice trembled, she forced a smile to look good. “I... I didn’t...” “...” “...” “I never told Ragon to target Anatoly...” Trying hard to hold back tears. “It’s not me... but still... I’m sorry.” Erilot gripped her skirt and looked up at the Duke. “Because of me, grandfather... father is in trouble... so...” “You can stop now.” The Duke started to speak. At that moment, a tear fell from Erilot’s eye. Her face twisted like a very young child’s. “Servant...” ─That crying three-year-old image overlapped. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry...” But her apologies never stopped. Marquis Debussy spoke with a stern face. “My lady, you don’t have to say anything. I already under—” Then— The Duke’s hand lightly fell on Erilot’s back. “I know.” His voice dropped low to the floor. At that word, the child buried herself in the Duke’s arms and burst into tears. “Grandfather... huuuh...” It was the first time the grandchild clung like this. The Duke stiffened awkwardly, holding Erilot in a very uncomfortable posture. But then he gently patted his granddaughter’s trembling shoulders. Quietly tapping Erilot’s shoulders, the Duke spoke. “I promise.” “...” “Whoever dared to make you cry will never be forgiven.” The Duke’s gaze shone coldly. Clack. I finished talking with my grandfather and left the office. Sniffling with swollen eyes and a nose as red as a strawberry, I walked alone down the dark corridor. Just then, someone quietly followed behind me. The person matched my pace and walked beside me. I looked up and saw Han Jihyeok. I lightly reached out my hand. Han Jihyeok placed something on it. A wet handkerchief. “Ouch, that hurts.” “Of course it does.” “Next time, get something mildly spicy!” “I didn’t think you really meant for me to rub onions in my eyes.”