Chapter 34

Family isn’t something you rely on. It’s something you prove yourself to.

You show them how capable you are, how much you can make the family name shine.

You make them proud, show that their affection wasn’t wasted, and instead of being jealous, they take genuine pride in your success. That, Dylan thought, was what family love was supposed to mean.

He could still recall the faces of the Late Emperor and Empress when he volunteered to fight at the front lines, and again when he returned victorious. Their expressions had shone brighter than sunlight.

‘If you win this war, you will become the Empire’s new sun.’

That was what the Late Emperor had whispered, holding his hand before the last campaign. Dylan could still remember those blue eyes, identical to his own, glowing with pride.

But Dylan had not proved his worth on that battlefield. He had returned cursed, burdened with a body that would thirst for blood for the rest of his life.

Because of that, he became not the Empire’s sun, but the shadow among its royals, hidden from the world.

Now he watched Agnes quietly.

Even in this situation, when her son’s muteness made his future uncertain, she had stood before the priest and lied, calling herself the boy’s birth mother. She was anxious over how Noah might react, constantly worrying about the impact it might have on him.

He wanted to see where that love would lead her.

Not because he desired any particular outcome. Whatever the end was, it would be something he could never predict or imagine.

Agnes eventually seemed to regain her composure. She lifted her head and spoke again, her face calm as always.

“But there’s another weakness I might know of. I think there’s a secret passage in Rickman’s office. It might be connected to how he’s been building his illegal wealth.”

She had once believed that passage was linked to the birth mother, but after hearing Dylan’s reasoning, she began to see a different possibility.

If not the mother, then it must lead to evidence of his corruption.

“Indeed. He’s meticulous by nature, so solid proof has been hard to find. We’ve managed to piece together small clues, but if we could obtain something more decisive, it would greatly strengthen our case.”

“Could the person you planted inside the mansion find out about that secret passage?”

“That’s one option, but you know the mansion’s structure better than anyone, don’t you?”

Agnes nodded, though uncertainty showed on her face.

“I did manage some of the hidden rooms, yes, but I don’t know which ones might connect to the passage. All I know is that it links directly to his office.”

“Do you remember the direction?”

“Of course.”

Even as she answered, she looked a little puzzled. But Dylan’s faint smile told her he was satisfied. He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

“Then that’s enough. As soon as we return, I’ll introduce you to an expert.”

“An expert?”

“Yes. There’s no one who knows more about secret passages. You’ve met this person before.”

Agnes was about to ask who it was, but stopped when she saw the rare amusement on Dylan’s face. She could only wonder what kind of person he meant to introduce her to.

* * *

Meanwhile, sharp voices were echoing through the Everchen townhouse.

The shrill tone of the Viscountess Everchen sounded fierce enough to shatter the office windows.

“I’m telling you, this way we can finally prepare the dowry. Stop being so stubborn!”

Normally, the Viscount would have covered his ears and ignored her nagging, but this time he refused to back down.

“Stop spouting nonsense. You said you had a way to raise the dowry, and this is what you meant? Using our land as collateral?”

“And what’s wrong with that? It’s not like the Everchen estate is earning anything great anyway. Every time we make a bit of money, you spend it fixing roads and expanding fields. It’s a waste.”

“That’s nonsense. The estate isn’t just about profit. It’s proof that our family’s history and honor are recognized by the Imperial Palace.”

“And what history or honor is that, exactly? Go on, tell me.”

“Have you lost your mind? Are you mocking me now?”

The Viscount’s anger flared, and he raised the teacup in his hand as if to throw it. But the word “dowry” echoed in his head, holding him back. They were running short on money. Too short.

Even if the Duke of Vasteron was rumored to be a monster who rarely left his residence, he was still a royal and a duke.

Sending their daughter into such a house with an empty hand would surely ruin the Everchen family’s reputation.

Especially since this would be the Duke’s first marriage and Agnes’s second.

He could already imagine the whispers. His neck felt hot just thinking about it.

If people said the Viscount of Everchen was so poor that he couldn’t even afford a proper dowry, that alone would be humiliating enough.

But worse, if the Duke, who was also the Emperor’s brother, thought they were being stingy, the family might be accused of showing disrespect to the royal household.

Then the Everchens would be barred from high society forever.

The Viscount sighed heavily and set the cup down.

The Viscountess, sensing her husband’s temper had cooled, immediately softened her tone. She walked over with a sweet smile and slipped her arm through his.

She had to secure that dowry for their son, Haver. For him to make a good marriage, people needed to believe the Everchens had shown both sincerity and status when marrying off their daughter.

She smiled up at her husband, her voice honeyed and coaxing, as if she hadn’t been shouting moments earlier.

“My dear, just put up the land as collateral. We’re not selling it. Once we’ve prepared the dowry, the Duke of Vasteron won’t look down on us. He’ll make sure our family’s honor is preserved. That way his own pride stays intact too.”

The idea still displeased him, but it sounded convincing enough.

“But that land was granted by the Imperial Palace long ago…”

“Oh, we’re not giving it away. Just the management rights and a few minor privileges. It’s no different from hiring someone to run it. Do you think His Majesty would care about such a small thing?”

“Would His Majesty really overlook something like that?”

“Why would His Majesty even bother with a small noble family like ours? He won’t pay attention.”

It was a foolish assumption. Of course, the Emperor would keep an eye on any family connected by marriage to the royal bloodline.

But the Viscount didn’t think that far. His voice weakened.

“I suppose that’s true…”

Before he could clear the doubt in his head, the door burst open.

Their son, Haver Everchen, entered the room with a brisk stride.

“Oh, Haver! My son!”

The Viscountess quickly pulled her arm from her husband’s and rushed toward her son.

But Haver wasn’t alone.

“Mother, Father. I’ve brought a guest.”

A man stepped forward from behind him, one both of them recognized immediately.

“It’s been a while, Father-in-law. And you as well, Mother-in-law.”

“Rickman Overhen…”

His light blond hair looked dim, as though standing in the shade, and his blue eyes glinted faintly. His posture and manners were as impeccable as ever, the picture of a gentleman.

But after everything that had happened, he looked nothing but shameless to them now.

Even a dirty dog sees another dirty dog as filthier than itself.

The Viscount cleared his throat awkwardly and turned halfway aside.

“No, I suppose I should call you Count Overhen now. You’re no longer family.”

Rickman’s mouth curved into a crooked smile. He found it amusing to see the man he had always looked down on trying to sound proud now that his daughter was marrying into a ducal house.

He already knew they were broke.

Rickman was certain he understood the Everchens’ financial state better than the Viscount himself.

In his mind, there were only two reasonable people in that family: first, Agnes, and second, Haver.

Which was probably why they had been willing to sell the former off to an old man.