Chapter 17: Vol. 1 - Chapter 17

“I know that very well.” Vent’s eyes widened when Damian calmly responded.

“So let’s do one more round.”

“Ugh.”

Because he was going to do this.

Vent glanced at Damian’s outstretched hand in front of him and shut his eyes.

‘Right, he’s holding back, trying to be considerate for me. A few sparring matches in a day shouldn’t be too much to ask.’

“Yes, yes, let’s do it.”

Vent grabbed Damian’s hand and used it to pull himself up. Then he noticed the sword hanging at Damian’s waist. Come to think of it, his Master hadn’t used the sword he’d been given as a gift in some time.

‘Why isn’t he using that fine sword?’

“Young Lord, why are you using your old sword instead of the one you were gifted with?”

The current sword wasn’t bad, but the gifted one was incomparable. Maybe it was because of Vent’s question, or maybe it was just coincidence, but Damian suddenly stopped. Vent realized what he’d just done too late.

‘Damian thinks that the sword came from Madam.’

‘Paper?’

Meanwhile, Damian found a crumpled piece of paper.

“Uh, Young Master, about what I said earlier – ugh!”

Vent, who had been relying entirely on Damian's hand for support, suddenly found himself sitting on the ground when he unexpectedly let go of Vent's hand. Ignoring Vent, Damian reached for the piece of paper as if he were drawn to it. A drawing was revealed when he unfolded it.

“... Mother.”

It was Daphne.

Damian spotted another crumpled piece of paper in the distance and walked over to pick it up. It was another drawing of Daphne, this one from a different angle. A few steps further, there was yet another, and then another, as if they were guiding him along a path. Realizing that the trail led to the incinerator, Demian broke into a sprint.

“Stop!”

“Y-Young Master?”

Vent called out urgently when he saw the pile of paper being shoved into the fire, but it was too late; the flames had already caught. He quickly grabbed a water bucket that had been placed nearby for fire emergencies and doused the flames. The fire was extinguished, but smoke still lingered in the air.

Without hesitation, Damian began carefully unfolding the singed and soaked papers. Though nothing was left intact, he collected everything and returned to his room.

The only things in decent condition were the three drawings he had first picked up. However, two were severely crumpled and torn, leaving only one that was relatively unharmed. They were probably the ones drawn by the painter Edmund brought. The servant must have accidentally dropped it on the way to the incinerator.

Damian unfolded the remaining drawing as delicately as possible, afraid it might tear.

It was Daphne, her head tilted slightly downward, her gaze averted. Damian stared at the image of Daphne, who wouldn’t even look at him in a drawing. He studied every detail of the picture as if he didn’t want to miss a single stroke, engraving her face in his memory. He didn’t blink until his eyes were red, determined not to forget her features.

“Young Master!”

It was then that the door opened and Vent came in, panting. Vent shook his shoulders as he caught his breath.

“Your-your Godmother is here!”

“What?”

He shot up from his seat and hurried to the window. He saw the carriage passing through the main gate.

He quickly made his way down the corridor and descended the stairs, straightening his disheveled hair and smoothing out his wrinkled clothes as he went, arriving just in time as the carriage door opened.

“Godmother.”

Damian bowed and held out his hand with perfect courtesy.

“Young Lord.”

The elderly woman who emerged from the carriage gracefully placed her hand in Damian’s.

Sophia, his Godmother.

The former Duke’s mother, who had appeared as soon as the previous Duke – who had banished her – had died. She then claimed her rights and the title of Winter Family’s Godmother. Once just a mistress, she was now a woman of considerable influence.

And at the same time…

“… Welcome.”

The only person who made Damian nervous.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

“Did your coming-of-age ceremony go well?”

“Yes. Despite the tight schedule, Father dealt with most of the monsters so we were able to proceed in time.”

Sophia quietly set down her teacup and called Damian.

“Young Lord.”

“Yes, Godmother.”

“Have you not broken the habit of calling His Excellency ‘Father’?”

Damian realized his mistake too late. The only saving grace was that he had raised his teacup at that exact moment. He pretended not to be flustered as he brought the cup to his lips. He took his time, savoring the tea as much as he could. He had barely ten seconds to come up with an excuse. Cold sweat trickled down his back.

Sophia, who had been silently watching Damian without any reaction, suddenly smiled.

“It must have been a slip of the tongue.”

Damian hesitated for a brief moment before setting down his teacup and forcing a smile. The corners of his lips curled up, and his eyes crinkled gently.

“Ah, yes, it seems I misspoke.”

“Of course. I did correct that habit before I left.”

Indeed. Damian replied in a barely audible voice.

Sophia seemed pleased with the refreshments, prepared within such a short time, as she remained focused on her tea for a while.

“I didn’t expect you’ll still have my favorite tea leaves.”

“I always keep them ready for you, Godmother.”

“You’re becoming quite adept at managing things, aren’t you?”

Sophia, aware that his words were merely flattery, couldn’t help but show her satisfaction. After thoroughly enjoying her tea, she placed both hands on her lap.

“It’s a pity I couldn’t come to your coming-of-age ceremony. I should have been there.”

“It’s alright. Your health is more important, Godmother.”

Sophia was not originally from the North and had grown frail as old age took over. Three years ago, after discovering her illness, she had moved to the warm South, and unfortunately, she had been suffering from a high fever during Damian’s coming-of-age ceremony, preventing her from attending.

“Are you feeling alright now?”

“I’ve gotten a lot better.”

Sophia added that she could still take trips to the North without any trouble, reassuring him not to worry. Her eyes quickly scanned the living room.

“But the mansion is quite a state.”

“His Excellency has been very busy these days, so he hasn’t had the time to attend to the mansion.”

“No, managing the household is the responsibility of the Lady of the House. Speaking of, where is the Duchess?”

Sophia clicked her tongue.

“She’s not locked herself in her own room again, has she? She’s the Duchess and doesn’t even bother herself with the household affairs…”

She then sighed and touched her forehead.

The Duchess had not changed in the last five years. It infuriated her that Daphne shirked her duties and responsibilities from the beginning. Even more so that she didn’t show her face, despite Sophia’s arrival.

“Young Lord, go and tell the Duchess to come down immediately.”

Damian’s heart sank. He had a strong feeling that it would be a big problem if Sophia learned that not only was Daphne negligent of her duties of the mansion, but had disappeared.

“Godmother, Mother is not feeling well…”

“Godmother.”

At that moment, the door opened, and Edmund appeared. Sophia rose from her seat and bowed deeply.

“I greet Your Excellency.”

In that brief moment, Edmund signaled to Damian with his eyes. Not missing the cue, Damian naturally stood up and took Sophia’s hand.

“Godmother, I’m afraid I must go now for my lessons.”

“If it’s your successor class, go at once.”

Sophia gave him a gentle push on the back. Damian lightly kissed her hand and left the room. Only after he had left did Edmund take a seat.

“It’s been a while, Your Excellency.”

“Godmother.”

Edmund got straight to the point without further pleasantries.

“Why have you come?”

Already expecting this, Sophia calmly lifted her teacup, “Johann sent me a letter.”

Edmund flinched when Sophia suddenly mentioned his subordinate’s name.

“He pleaded for me to come urgently.”

Edmund unconsciously suppressed the urge to reach for the cigarette in his inner pocket. With her gaze fixed on her teacup, Sophia asked in a low voice,

“There’s nothing untoward going on at this time, is there?”

Sophia was one of the few who knew Edmund’s secrets, having watched over him since childhood. Under normal circumstances, Sophia might have ignored Johann’s letter. However, her visit had another purpose – ‘that time’ was fast approaching.

“I trust there’s been no action that could threaten the Winter Duke’s standing.”

Her words were a clear warning not to do anything that could endanger the Winter Duke’s position. Edmund remained silent.

Sophia stood up from her seat.

“The Lady of the House’s room is still empty, right?”

Sophia naturally inquired about the Lady of the House’s room. It had been her quarters from the time she became a Godmother until she left for the South. Though the Duchess had moved in during her absence, the room still belonged to her.

“Sitting in the carriage for a long time has worn me out.” Sophia held Edmund’s hand tightly, “Please don’t disappoint me, Your Excellency.”

For the sake of Winter Family. And for everyone’s sake.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Johann, who had been guiding the restorer from the capital, was not particularly surprised when he heard the news about Sophia and then received Edmund’s summons shortly afterward.

“I have nothing to say, Your Excellency.”

Johann immediately bowed his head.

“Why?”

Edmund didn’t exude an aura or act coldly. On the contrary, he seemed even calmer. That only made Johann more uneasy.

“Why did you send a letter to my Godmother?”

“...I sensed that Your Excellency had changed.”

Johann, realizing that Edmund’s question wasn’t meant to corner him, answered honestly.

“Your Excellency had never paid attention to Madam all this time.” Johann revealed his true feelings.

“A dog follows its master. If the master looks down on someone, so does the dog.”

Johann felt he had reached his limit.

Edmund had completely changed due to the Madam’s absence – something that he found strange. He couldn’t understand why Edmund was so deeply affected by the absence of someone who he never cared for all along.

“I have worked for you until now, Your Excellency. I believed that guiding you on the right path was also my duty.”

He acknowledged that he might have overstepped. However, he did not regret calling for Sophia.