Chapter 84

No.

Demius immediately withdrew the thought.

Lately, his personal physician had been under constant pressure from Linburton, who still hadn’t dropped his suspicions.

“Is the young master’s condition truly that severe?”

Having treated Demius for years, Linburton knew the man’s ridiculous endurance. He had fought monsters without taking so much as a scratch. Being interrogated by that butler day after day, the doctor had grown paler with each passing sunrise.

If Demius were to inflict another wound upon himself now, the poor man might just break down in tears.

And once the physician reported to Linburton that Demius’s injury had reopened, the ever-suspicious butler would surely start to suspect the original wound had been self-inflicted.

‘That can’t happen.’

He needed that excuse again someday.

He didn’t know when, but monsters often appeared near this territory, so another opportunity would surely come.

“…Phew.”

After forcing his thoughts into order, Demius’s sharp eyes regained their cold gleam.

This wouldn’t do.

“It won’t do at all.”

Throwing off his blanket, Demius shot up from the bed.

His supposedly injured leg didn’t hurt at all. Not even a dull ache.

Damn it.

Why did his body have to be this sturdy?

Anyone else would envy such health, but Demius only found it frustrating. He moved quickly and silently, his steps as smooth as a shadow.

He couldn’t stand this any longer.

Just imagining Natalianne laughing beside Melissa at this very moment made his temples pulse with anger.

“This is all their fault.”

The very people who had ruined his first date.

Clank.

The heavy door to the underground prison creaked open.

Inside, men sat slumped in chairs, their arms tied behind them.

At the sound of footsteps, they jolted awake, trembling violently.

They were the thugs arrested after the incident. Under four-shift guard surveillance, not even at night were they allowed to close their eyes.

A physician was stationed nearby as well, ready to apply emergency treatment at the first sign of unconsciousness.

Thanks to that, none of them had fainted, though their bodies and minds were stretched to the very edge of exhaustion.

Thud.

The man who stood before them was cast in shadow, his face obscured by the light behind him.

But even if they couldn’t see his expression, the murderous intent radiating from his broad shoulders told them everything.

“Mmph, mmmph!”

The tattooed men thrashed in their restraints, their wide eyes pleading.

Demius’s gaze, however, remained as cold as steel.

‘We’ll talk, we’ll tell you everything, please!’

Their muffled cries went unheard.

“You bastards.”

Demius’s lips twisted faintly.

If it weren’t for you, I could’ve had that ring ready.

“I heard you’ve committed murder, robbery, trafficking, even child abuse.”

“Mmph! Mmmph!”

“I pity your victims.”

A faint smile curved his mouth.

Eliminating filth like them hardly troubled his conscience, and more importantly, it gave him the perfect excuse to tell Melissa later.

Seeing that smile, the prisoners began to thrash harder.

‘Please, please…’

Just let us pass out!

Silent screams filled the air.

An hour later.

“Ahh.”

Demius stepped out of the dungeon, his face looking lighter than before.

The guards standing by saluted, tears welling in their eyes.

Even with his injuries, their young master had fought through pain to do his duty. How noble could one man be?

Moved by the sight, they swore their loyalty anew.

‘Do not worry, my lord. From now on, we’ll handle everything ourselves!’

After Demius left, the guards, desperate to ease their master’s worries, gave their full devotion to the interrogation.

As a result, they quickly uncovered details of the distribution network for Smile of the Spirits and rounded up the associated criminals.

“Well done.”

Upon receiving the report, his mother regarded him carefully.

Demius flinched.

She looked noticeably thinner than before.

He couldn’t help studying her face. Her expression was still as composed and refined as ever, her posture sharp like a polished blade, yet her frame had grown smaller, her cheeks slightly sunken.

When he was younger, she had seemed so much taller, stronger.

Maybe it was just because he had grown, but no… her health was fading faster than he wanted to admit.

As he left her office, Demius’s mind felt tangled.

‘Where are you, Brother?’

If their mother’s health were to fail suddenly, she might be forced to step down from the grand duke’s position.

That would make him the next in line.

Yet Asellion’s whereabouts remained unknown.

He could trace the distribution of an illegal drug like Smile of the Spirits, but not even a whisper about the grand duke’s heir? That made no sense.

‘Which means…’

Someone with greater influence and information control was involved.

‘Who could it be?’

House Valenstein, perhaps. Or the temple of the Great Spirit. Maybe even the Imperial Palace itself.

Thoughts that would terrify any other man only deepened his calm. His eyes glinted with cold resolve.

If his enemies were that powerful, he would have to be even more careful.

And then.

‘Ines Lynn Valenstein.’

Demius’s expression hardened.

That arrogant woman.

She had dared invite Melissa to her tea party only to humiliate her by spilling hot tea.

He still hadn’t repaid that insult.

He had disliked her even before that.

Always smiling sweetly in public, yet there was something off about her, something that made his skin crawl.

“Why?”

Why did my brother ever choose such a suspicious woman as his fiancée?

Demius ran a hand through his hair and sighed.

Even if she had helped his brother back during their academy days, she belonged to House Valenstein. It should have been obvious her intentions were political.

So why had his wise brother failed to see that?

He frowned deeply, his thoughts spinning before finally reaching a decision.

Miss Lili.

I’m sorry, but I can’t allow you to meet her.

Even if you said this yourself…

‘I still have unfinished business with her.’

He could still picture Melissa’s gentle smile when she had said those words.

But no matter how kind her heart, Demius couldn’t let it happen. He would stop that meeting at all costs.

Natalianne was right. There was no need to stir up more trouble.

‘Another invitation came, didn’t it?’

Ines Lynn Valenstein.

That shameless woman had sent yet another one.

He had intercepted it before it reached Melissa, of course. He would have it torn up and tell the butler to send back a polite refusal.

And if any letters or gifts came from her in the future, he’d have them all inspected carefully.

Poison, cursed trinkets, hidden blades, whatever it was, he’d collect the evidence.

Thinking of his next move, Demius let out another deep sigh.

As if managing his mother’s workload wasn’t enough, monsters were appearing more often, Smile of the Spirits had reached the northern city, and Natalianne was constantly scheming to monopolize Melissa’s time.

Every single day was exhausting.

This couldn’t go on.

‘I need air.’

Rubbing his temples, Demius thought of one person.

Melissa.

His expression softened instantly, a smile touching his lips.

Yes, he should go see her.

Even if that damned eel was coiled by her side, he wouldn’t notice anything else once he saw Melissa’s face.

Feeling lighter, Demius grabbed his crutch dramatically, then froze.

“Oh no.”

He glanced around, relieved to find no sign of Linburton.

If Linburton had seen that, the man would’ve shouted, “I knew it! Lying again, young master? You’ve gone too far this time!” until Demius’s ears rang.

But worse than that would be Melissa hearing it.

‘That would never do.’

He still had two and a half weeks left to pretend he was injured, after all.