Chapter 29

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: The Duke's Return

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"R-Really?"

"Yeah."

Amelia nodded with a bored expression.

So what if it was a nickname? It wasn't like it would wear out from being used. She didn't care whether it came from a close friend or some distant acquaintance.

But Lucian had no way of knowing what was really going through her mind.

Amelia let me use a nickname for her!

She was thrilled!

Lucian barely held back the urge to jump up and down on the spot. He couldn't let himself look like a fool in front of her.

If it weren't for Aunt, Amelia never would have let me call her by a nickname.

She wouldn't have even started talking to him first if he hadn't argued with his aunt.

And I even got to hold hands with Amelia.

Lucian glanced down at his palm, where her touch had lingered just moments ago. It had hardly been a proper handhold, but that hardly mattered to him right now.

It's all thanks to Aunt.

Thanks to her, he'd gotten to talk with Amelia, earn a nickname privilege, and even hold her hand.

Reah was right. Aunt definitely loves me.

That's why she'd given him this golden opportunity.

"So, make up with Lucella already. She's really upset about it."

"Yeah! I will!"

Lucian nodded at the pouty Amelia so vigorously it practically whistled through the air.

To him, everything in the world looked beautiful right now.

On the way back from the orphanage to the Ducal Residence, Lucian didn't say a word the entire time. Lucella had tried striking up conversations and teasing him several times, but nothing worked. He just kept his cheek smooshed against the carriage window, staring blankly into space.

At first, she thought he was still mad, but on closer inspection, something seemed off. He looked completely spaced out.

He wouldn't really go dark right here, would he?

But her worries turned out to be unfounded.

The moment they returned from the orphanage, Lucian holed up in his room. A few hours later, he emerged looking exactly like his usual self. If anything, he seemed even happier than normal.

Seeing that, Lucella let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Kids really are simple, aren't they?

Before she knew it, the day of the Bellomon Duke's return had arrived. Sooner than expected.

The servants, who had been bustling around for days to get the residence in perfect order, now lined up in front of the manor to welcome him. It was well past dinnertime by then.

Lucella stepped outside with Lucian, Claude, and Amelia too.

"What did I tell you to do first when you see Father?"

"...Greet him."

"How do you act in front of Father?"

"...Politely and with dignity."

"Good."

Satisfied with his answers, Lucella nodded. She'd drilled it into him like brainwashing.

The Bellomon Duke didn't care for his wild, troublemaking son. He'd click his tongue at even the slightest mistake.

Lucella hated the duke—not just for failing to play any role as a parent, but for treating his own child like a disappointment instead of offering any comfort.

But Dehart Bellomon was the head of the Bellomon Ducal Family. There was nothing to gain from getting on his bad side.

As she straightened the formal clothes Lucian wore—more proper than usual—Lucella spoke up.

"I told you, right? No pranks in front of the duke. And speak prettily."

"... "

Lucian pursed his lips and stayed silent.

His face, gripping her hand tightly, was far darker than usual. He was terribly intimidated by his father.

"Lucky you, Lucian. You get to see your dad after so long."

Claude, sensing Lucian's bad mood, tried to cheer him up with forced friendliness.

But Claude didn't know. The relationship between Lucian and the duke wasn't your typical father-son dynamic.

"Not really."

"Huh?"

Claude's face flushed with confusion at the unexpected reply. Amelia beside him looked just as stunned.

"Why not? You haven't seen your dad in ages."

Amelia asked, incredulous.

"If I could see my father again... I'd be so happy."

It was a perfectly natural reaction, really.

Amelia could never see her parents again, no matter how much she longed for them. And from what she'd heard, the late Agris Marquis had doted on her endlessly. So of course she couldn't understand Lucian's attitude.

"That might be true for you, Reah, but not for me."

"... "

"I wish Father wouldn't come back."

"Lucian."

Lucella called his name in a stern tone.

"I told you not to say things like that."

"...Tch."

"No 'tch'ing. Smile properly and stand up straight."

With her hands on her hips, she scolded him. Lucian reluctantly fixed his posture. An awkward smile replaced his sullen expression.

"Haa..."

Lucella sighed at the stiff grin.

Truth be told, she understood how Lucian felt.

From his perspective, the Bellomon Duke not only hated his own son but had never properly fulfilled his role as a father. Every moment with him must feel suffocating.

But there's no helping it. Lucian has to win the duke's favor no matter what.

To pull Lucian off the path of villainy, he first needed the duke to like him. Who knew—maybe the duke would even name him heir if he took a shine to the boy.

"It's scary, what can I do?"

...Though that seemed unlikely.

"He's approaching."

Soon, the sound of hooves echoed from not far off. At the butler's announcement heralding the duke's arrival, Lucella lifted her head from Lucian.

The black falcon-emblazoned carriage—symbol of the Bellomon Ducal Family—was just passing through the main gate.

The servants' shoulders tensed at the sight. Lucella personally tucked in Lucian's protruding lip, then stood tall herself.

Moments later, the carriage rolled to a stop before the line of servants after crossing the vast garden.

The butler sprang forward and opened the door.

"You've had a long journey, my lord."

A black shoe stepped out to the ground amid the butler's deferential greeting.

Clack.

As the carriage door shut, the face hidden behind it came into view.

Jet-black hair like the dead of night, eyes so cold they bordered on frigid, lips pressed into a thin, humorless line.

"Welcome home."

It was the arrival of Dehart Bellomon, the duke.

The duke strode forward, leaving the bowing servants behind.

His strides were unusually wide, closing the distance between them rapidly.

Lucella glanced down at Lucian. She could feel his hand tightening on her skirt.

His eyes pleaded silently for the duke to pass without acknowledging him.

But there was no way the duke noticed that desperate gaze.

His steps toward the main building halted right in front of them.

Or more precisely, in front of Claude—not Lucella or Lucian.

"An honor to meet you, Duke Bellomon."

Claude, quick on the uptake, extended his hand first.

"It's been a while, Marquis Agris."

The duke smiled as he clasped Claude's hand—a smile he'd never once given Lucian.

"I'm glad to see you too, but... I never imagined we'd reunite like this. I hoped it would be under better circumstances."

After all, Claude had nearly died in the landslide, and now he was reuniting in such a battered state.

"Haha."

Claude laughed awkwardly, getting the point.

"I'm plenty happy, even like this. Thanks to you, I finally found my long-lost niece."

At that, the duke's gaze shifted to Amelia beside Claude.

Realizing her turn, Amelia lifted her skirt slightly and dipped her head.

"Thank you—and sorry—for all the trouble. I'm Amelia Agris."

"Ho."

The duke let out an impressed sound at her flawless etiquette.

Amelia's poise was impeccable, beyond what any child her age could manage.

"Just as I've heard—lovely and clever."

"You're too kind."

"And humble, too."

The duke continued chatting with Amelia, looking quite pleased.

Lucella and Lucian were completely ignored. His attention was fixed solely on Amelia and Claude.