Chapter 63

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Tristan, sitting on a tree branch, idly swung his feet. The corners of his mouth curved slightly upward with the satisfaction of having completed what needed to be done.

‘It burns better than I expected.’

He quietly observed the light shining from a distance. It seemed like a good decision to have lied to the little one about the execution date.

When the little one had suspected the man named Heishar, he had merely helped as a form of entertainment. But the more he investigated the man, the more he found circumstances that couldn’t be ignored.

Like the vague memories of the nobles who had recommended the man as an etiquette teacher.

“I think I recommended him because he seemed trustworthy, but the details…”

“Did that person cause any problems? For some reason, I don’t remember the situation clearly.”

“I believe there must have been a clear reason, but…”

“Indeed. Why did I recommend that person?”

All ten recommendation letters that Heishar had supposedly received were like that.

Since he was only going to teach until the ball, which was about a month away, it seemed that even father hadn’t reviewed him thoroughly. Tristan became convinced that he had infiltrated with some kind of purpose.

‘Besides, I didn’t notice anything strange until I was told.’

Until the little one first mentioned the teacher, he hadn’t given it much thought.

Neither his brother nor he was the type to take the little one’s teacher lightly. For some reason, he had a strong feeling that he shouldn’t be suspicious when seeing the man.

It was probably some kind of manipulation affecting the mind.

“I wonder if Father left him alone for similar reasons.”

Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense for someone with such flimsy documents to be teaching Liat.

‘I don’t care who he’s spying for.’

Both he and his brother had faced threats to their lives from a very young age because they were members of the Grand Duke’s family. The reason he hadn’t immediately informed his father was to protect his sister with his own power.

When Lucas later heard everything, he suggested keeping it a secret from the little one.

“I don’t want to leave Liat with anything to worry about.”

“Well, I agree.”

Though he said that, it was evident that he was worried the little one might distance herself from the Grand Duke’s family because of this incident. She didn’t need to know what she didn’t need to know.

It was a matter that could be resolved by her “family” – his brother and himself.

“Brother, just chasing this guy away won’t be enough. His target is probably our sister.”

“I had no intention of letting him go after he caught Liat’s attention.”

“The little one needs to know that you’re more extreme than I am.”

“Enough of that, tell me your “real” plan, Tristan.”

The magical tool he had explained to Liat was deliberately damaged. He planned to use the broken tool as an excuse to abandon the situation after the fire broke out.

It was also his intention to have the fire start on the first floor instead of the second floor, where it wouldn’t spread much. Tristan hoped that the man called Heishar would die in the warehouse fire.

Or at least be injured enough that he couldn’t plot anything.

“You know, brother. What happens when you let an enemy live.”

They had already helplessly lost their mother and young sibling, which was enough.

Tristan knew that being born as a high-ranking noble meant he couldn’t keep his hands clean. And Lucas thought the same way.

‘We’ll protect the little one.’

If someone had to die in the process, then so be it. Both his brother and he were already prepared for that.

“We can share the aftermath of this matter between you and me.”

“You know we have to do this while the little one is asleep, right, brother?”

“It has to be at night, then.”

Lucas had successfully lured Heishar to the warehouse with a letter made using the Grand Duke’s stolen seal.

‘Now it’s my turn.’

He activated the magical tool after the man entered the warehouse.

From his observations so far, no one had come out of the warehouse. Given the time that had passed, the man inside probably wasn’t safe either.

As he was counting the numbers, he looked down at Lucas’s voice.

“Tristan.”

“Brother. You came?”

Lucas, who nodded, lightly moved his feet. Climbing the tree with a leap, Lucas sat on the branch next to where Tristan was sitting.

It was a prime spot that wasn’t easily noticeable but had a good view of the warehouse.

“The little one, Liat?”

“I got confirmation from the maid that she went to bed early.”

“She should stay asleep.”

The biggest variable in this plan was none other than Liat. Tristan knew that the little one wasn’t the type to stay put after entrusting a task.

That’s why he had just asked Lucas to check on Liat.

“Tristan, everything went according to plan on your end, right?”

“Yes. As planned, the man called Heishar is trapped in that warehouse.”

“It’s good if we don’t have to take action twice.”

“You were planning to take knights directly and kill that man, weren’t you?”

“……”

Apart from the family, there were knights who had sworn loyalty directly to Lucas as the heir. They were backup personnel in case things went wrong.

Lucas ordered the knights hiding in the bushes to withdraw.

‘Brother will be brother.’

The little one should know this side of brother, too. Lucas’s profile as he looked at the burning warehouse was emotionless for someone who was trying to kill a person.

The only lives Lucas responded to were those of the weak and those dear to him.

“But I didn’t think you would actually help with my plan.”

“It’s not just your matter.”

“So, that means we’re on the same side when it comes to the little one’s issues?”

He had coordinated with his brother, who was usually busy criticizing him. Regardless of the plan’s success, he was extremely pleased with that fact itself.

After a very long time, perhaps they could look in the same direction like now.

It didn’t seem bad if the reason for that was the little one.

“Tristan, Lucas is jealous of you. He doesn’t dislike you.”

Remembering what the little one had said, Tristan opened his mouth.

“Hey, brother…”

“…?”

Before he could finish his sentence, Lucas stood up. Lucas’s expression crumbled as he stared at the warehouse with trembling eyes.

With an expression he had never seen in his life, Lucas shouted in alarm.

“Move over there right now!”

“Brother?”

“There’s no time to explain! Hurry! Go toward that warehouse!”

“What did you see…”

Two figures were falling from the window of the warehouse.

‘That child, could it be…’

Tristan quickly drew up magical power in disbelief. Someone with red hair was being held in the arms of the falling figure.

‘No. It can’t be.’

Didn’t Lucas himself say that the little one was asleep? However, there was only one person who could make his brother Lucas react that way.

***

What the hell!

As we fell through the air, the bright blue sky filled my vision. Ear-piercing screams could be heard from below, probably from those who saw us falling.

The man had just jumped out of the window while holding me.

‘Isn’t he afraid?’

Though it was called the second floor, due to the warehouse’s high ceiling, it was at least as high as a 10-story building. It wasn’t a place one could recklessly jump from unless using magic precisely.

The man showed no fear when jumping.

“Hold on tight!”

I hadn’t expected this situation.

If he were a spy, I thought the man might reveal his true nature when we were alone. Especially since I had injured my ankle.

But the man didn’t harm me in any way. He simply told me with a calm expression that he would jump out the window to escape.

“If I shield you, you won’t be seriously injured.”

“But you could die, teacher. No, you definitely will die.”

“I cannot let you die meaninglessly in a place like this.”

A firm gaze that didn’t consider his own injuries.

As if to prove his determination, even as the ground rapidly approached, Heishar held me tightly. It really seemed like he was going to be a shield to block the impact of the fall with his body.

‘Did I misjudge him?’

My suspicion of Heishar now felt like a hindrance.

‘Even though he had guessed who started the fire.’

If he were someone who had infiltrated with harmful intentions, he wouldn’t try to save me. I tried to summon magical power despite the strain.

5… 4… 3… 2… 1.

Just as I was about to activate magic to coincide with the moment we hit the ground, a cold wind lifted Heishar and me into the air as we fell.

Lucas and Tristan, who appeared in midair, called out to me.

“Little one!”

“Liat!”

Heishar, who seemed relieved, let out a quiet sigh.

“I thought I might have to discard this body, but it seems to have worked out somehow.”

Our bodies, wrapped in magical wind, slowly descended toward the ground. Heishar waited until his feet touched the ground before putting me down.

The two who had also landed on the ground rushed over. Lucas bent down and hugged me tightly.

“Worried, I was worried.”

“I’m sorry. Were you very surprised?”

“Seeing you fall from a distance, how much, I was so, surprised.”

Lucas couldn’t continue speaking as emotions overwhelmed him. I hugged his arms back as they held me tightly around my neck.

His trembling body clearly showed the fear he had felt.

“I’m fine, Lucas. Teacher Heishar saved me.”

“That guy, I mean, the teacher did?”

“Yes.”

“Little one, are you hurt anywhere?”

Tristan, who had somehow appeared beside me, pushed Lucas away with his elbow and cupped my face. After feeling my forehead and face with his palms, he smiled with visible relief.

“You really have a talent for surprising people.”

Tristan’s head rested lightly on my shoulder. I slowly patted the top of his head.

“Thank you for saving me, Tristan.”

Thanks to him using magic at the right time, we landed safely. If I had used magic, I might have saved my life, but there would have been consequences.

After confirming that I was safe, the two stood on either side of me. Tristan, who was glaring at Heishar with eyes full of wariness, asked quietly.

“So you’re saying this person tried to save you?”

“He wrapped himself around me as we fell.”

It was an awkward situation for me, who had been planning to drive him out of the mansion. I could see people running toward us from a distance.

“Is everyone alright over there?”

“Are you Young Master Lucas and Young Master Tristan?”

“Please wait a moment!”

Wrinkles formed on Tristan’s smooth forehead when he sensed troublesome matters ahead. He pushed Lucas toward Heishar.

“Brother, you handle this. We’ll go.”

“What?”

Lucas opened his mouth to say something, looking dumbfounded. Before Lucas could speak, Tristan grabbed my arm and used magic.