My Child Is A Villain - Chapter 59
Lucas’ gaze fell upon Adele.
Now, what should I do?
She had learned much from Kish, but she had not learned how to act in such a situation. As Adele hesitated, someone gently nudged her from behind. Turning around, she saw Countess Montpel looking at her. With a soft smile, she nudged Adele again.
“In moments like this, you should go to meet him.”
Was that so? Adele walked forward slowly. As she did, people blocking her path parted ways. Finally, when she reached Lucas, he knelt and took one of her hands.
“Lady, may I?”
The term ‘lady’ was unfamiliar, yet it sounded pleasing. As Adele extended her hand, Lucas kissed the back of it. Even though her hand was gloved, she felt the warmth of his lips.
“I offer victory to the lady. May I receive one of the lady’s possessions?”
Lucas kindly instructed Adele on what she should do.
A possession? What should I give? Adele hurriedly took off one of her earrings and placed it in Lucas’ hand.
Taking the earring, Lucas stood up from his kneeling position.
“The victor is Sir Lucas!”
With the belated announcement from Regin, the duel came to an end. Deper moved away immediately for treatment, while the remaining onlookers were caught up in excitement.
Some young ladies harbored jealousy at the sight of Lucas for the first time, while others envied. Men were equally stirred. Reminded of the previous duel, some were eager to start a debate right away, but the commotion didn’t last long.
“Your Majesty.”
Heirn, who had been waiting for the duel to end, stepped forward.
“Ah, Sir Heirn.”
“If Your Majesty permits, I too wish to engage in a duel.”
At his words, Selexion smirked, a smirk tinged with ominous undertones. “With whom?”
Heirn’s gaze landed on Lucas.
“It seems Sir Lucas is quite popular today. Well, may I know the reason for the duel?”
“Of course, Your Majesty. I wish to reclaim what is mine.”
What is yours?
Adele found herself biting her lip involuntarily. Despite expecting such matters to be kept private in public settings, judging by Heirn’s demeanor since earlier, it seemed he had no qualms about it.
Selexion seemed to know everything yet was playing along with the conversation. “Sir Heirn’s claim? What might that be?”
This time, Heirn’s gaze turned toward Adele. She tried to shield herself from discomfort with her fan, but she couldn’t hide everything.
The attitudes of those who had just been praising Lucas changed.
“Sir Lucas’ betrothed is also the mother of my child.”
Unlike before, almost everyone heard his words this time. What started as murmurs gradually grew louder, and Adele’s hand began to tremble.
“Oh, how did that relationship come about?”
Just as Heirn seemed about to respond to Selexion’s question, Lucas intervened, “I will address that separately. It doesn’t seem appropriate to discuss it here.”
“Why isn’t this the place to talk?”
Lucas glared at Heirn, then tossed the remaining glove at him. The glove flew swiftly through the air, bursting into flames, leaving no one unaware of its significance.
“If you desire it so much, then challenge me to a duel.”
Things were spiraling out of control. Was there a scene in the novel where they fought? Adele desperately searched her memory, but nothing came to mind.
Her mind went blank, unable to form any coherent thoughts.
“Fine, if that’s what you both want, I’ll permit the duel. But let’s not do it here. How about we schedule it for another day? After all, this is supposed to be Amanda’s celebration party. We can’t just have duels. Let’s find another time and place.” Selexion paused for a moment, then suggested, “Come to think of it, there’s a hunting competition a month from now. How about having the duel as part of the entertainment before the competition starts?”
Entertainment, he says. If it weren’t for their difference in status, Adele felt like she would have slapped Selexion first.
“I will comply with Your Majesty’s command.”
“I shall do the same.”
With their agreement, the date for the duel was set. Afterward, they dispersed to enjoy the party again, but conversations about them popped up here and there. Amanda’s celebration party had turned into a mess.
“Are you alright?” Regin asked Adele.
“I’m fine.”
She couldn’t afford to appear weak now more than ever. Adele held her head high and approached Lucas. In truth, she had a lot to say to Heirn, but she didn’t want to add any more words.
That lunatic.
Along with that thought, she began to worry about Lucas. In the novel, he was depicted as a formidable figure, yet even such a strong individual eventually fell under Ronschka’s hands. Perhaps summoners were his weakness after all.
“Are you alright?”
Lucas stared at Adele with a stern expression. “I should be the one asking that.”
“I’m fine.”
She didn’t want to be shaken by someone like Heirn. Therefore, Adele had to be alright.
I can’t afford to crumble here.
She put on a poker face as if nothing had happened. At that moment, that was all Adele could do.
Afterward, Lucas didn’t leave Adele’s side. With his stoic demeanor, other nobles didn’t dare to approach easily, which was a relief.
And so, the first palace party came to an end.
***
Adele and Lucas stepped into the carriage a bit later. Inside the returning carriage, it was quiet. It was so quiet that it felt awkward, prompting Adele to cautiously break the silence.
“Do you have a good relationship with Sir Regin?”
He helped us a lot today.
“No, we just exchange greetings in passing.”
But he helped so much? He had been consistently kind to Adele and made an effort to assist her.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen him intervene to this extent. He usually doesn’t get involved in anything.”
“So, why did he do it?”
“Well… If I were to guess, maybe it’s because his lost daughter was around the same age as you.”
Lost daughter. That wasn’t a storyline in the romantic fantasy, was it? Adele couldn’t recall anything, but it was an intriguing story.
“We received help thanks to his daughter.”
“That seems to be the case.”
“I hope he finds her soon.”
Adele wished for something good to happen to Regin, who had shown kindness.
***
After the party had ended completely, a drizzle began to fall.
“Oh, it’s raining.”
Regin looked at the rain, lost in thought.
***
Yes, it was a day like this when he lost his daughter and wife. On a day when the thin rain drizzled down, Regin left his wife and daughter and returned to the family estate.
It wasn’t by choice. When his elder brother, who was originally the heir, passed away, his father needed a new successor. There were other candidates, but it seemed his father didn’t want them.
Regin had thrown everything away for the sake of love. Although it wasn’t easy to earn money, he worked hard because he had a loving wife and daughter.
But his father eventually found Regin.
“If you don’t come back, I can’t guarantee the safety of your wife and daughter.”
With nothing to hold onto, he couldn’t refuse. Regin returned to the ancestral home, leaving behind his newborn daughter and wife, to receive lessons as the heir. He tried to find out about them whenever he could, but obstacles were substantial. Later on, his father even threatened to kill them just because he was seeking news about them.
I was too weak back then.
Time passed, and the seemingly insurmountable wall that was his father died. Even the other woman he had as a spouse couldn’t bear a child and died.
Only then could Regin find liberation.
But it was too late.
He went back to the village where he used to live, but he couldn’t find any trace of his wife or daughter. According to those who remembered her, she left town in debt, fleeing in the dead of night.
After that, people were dispatched to search everywhere. However, there were too many places she could have gone. While it would have been manageable in ordinary cities or towns, it was hopeless in slash-and-burn villages.
Still, I won’t give up.
Regin persisted, tirelessly searching for clues to their whereabouts. He searched and searched, aging with each passing year.
“But I still can’t give up,” he said aloud.
“Master.”
At that moment, a cheerful young man approached him, offering an umbrella.
“Kai.”
The child he took in as a disciple after his father passed away had grown into a fine young man with a sunny disposition.
“It’s chilly today. You should take care of your health at your age, shouldn’t you?”
“Yeah, you’re right. I need to take care of my health to live long.” Regin chuckled and headed toward the carriage with Kai.
“By the way, wasn’t today’s duel remarkable? It was quite one-sided.”
“Yeah, it would’ve been a great learning experience if you’d watched it properly.”
“He truly is a renowned swordsman in the Empire. Do you think I could become like him?”
“Of course. Aren’t you my disciple?”
“You’re the only one who sees me in such a favorable light, Master.”
“Haha, I suppose so.”
They finished their day’s activities, chatting amicably along the way.
***
Storyteller Wook's Words
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