Chapter 79

My father, not understanding my words, furrowed his brows.

“Wife? Charles?”

“Chawuls was’suh one who say Wife is his pwey—” (Charles was the one who said that the Wife is his prey—)

“….”

“An Wife take off hew swip—” (And Wife took off her slip dress—)

Father quickly covered my mouth with his large hand.

“Enough. I understand.”

I shut my mouth and stayed quiet.

Father sighed deeply and removed his hand.

I cautiously spoke to my father.

“Balzac not bad.”

“…Is that so.”

Father quietly looked at Balzac.

Balzac flinched for a moment.

“Go rest. Leave the book.”

“…Yes.”

“Just one question. Where did you find it?”

“…”

“Balzac.”

“From the restricted library of Castle Lysian…”

Father paused.

Joshua’s gaze deepened, and Balzac hung his head low.

I too turned to Balzac with a surprised look.

Lysian was Father’s twin brother.

In other words, the biological father of the little twin brothers.

‘I heard there was a fallout between Uncle Lysian and Father a long time ago.’

Until then, Uncle Lysian was the only person Father trusted in Astra.

Father saw Lysian as a kind younger brother born from the same mother.

They were once very close brothers.

But some incident had driven a wedge between them.

The exact details were unknown, but there were speculations.

‘They say Uncle Lysian poisoned Father’s food.’

Because around the time their relationship soured, Father had nearly died from poisoning.

So everyone was shocked when Father decided to adopt the twins at Grandfather’s behest.

‘It was an inevitable decision.’

The firstborn couldn’t be adopted out.

Because of the imperial law. If the head of the family dies without designating an heir, the eldest son or his offspring inherits the family.

Primogeniture was the principle.

So the eldest couldn’t be adopted out, and all the other second generations had children.

In the end, Father, who had no children at the time, was the only option for adoption.

‘Anyway, that’s why it’s difficult for the twins to bring up Uncle Lysian in front of Father.’

The air in the room grew heavier.

I rolled my eyes, gauging the reactions of the little brothers and Father.

Then, pretending to yawn, I let out a big ‘haaaaahm.’

“Sweepy.”

“Alright, it’s already late. Go and rest.”

Thankfully.

Father let us go without further words.

The twins left first, and just as the door was about to close, I hurriedly followed them.

And then, I trailed behind the twins, clinking along.

Our rooms were all in a row on the same floor and hallway; it couldn’t be helped.

Just as we passed the corridor where Father’s office was, Joshua said,

“Smart move.”

“…Shut up.”

“Idiot. So the book was meaningless, wasn’t it?”

Joshua twisted his mouth and suddenly turned to look at Balzac.

“Please, if you’re going to ruin yourself, do it alone. And it would be even better if you could disappear forever.”

‘Wow…’

His words were harsh, and even his voice and expression were incredibly cold.

It sent shivers down my spine.

Joshua swiftly climbed up the stairs first.

Balzac clenched his fists tightly and then abruptly left.

‘Something must be going on?’

Joshua’s comment about the book being meaningless.

And the sound of the brothers’ argument I overheard while hiding in the wardrobe.

Usually, during breaks, the brothers stayed in a private residence near the ducal mansion. But their sudden arrival in the Daymond jurisdiction was strange.

‘They must be looking for something.’

What could have brought those brothers all the way here to the Daymond jurisdiction?

Especially Balzac seemed more anxious.

I crossed my stubby arms and grumbled.

‘Well, whatever.’

How does it concern me?

It’s better if they’re preoccupied with finding whatever it is.

Thinking this, I ascended the stairs.

Step by step, foot by foot, but then the content of the book suddenly came to mind.

‘Whatever.’

‘Whatever already.’

‘I said, whatever.’

Ugh, dang it!

I stopped abruptly.

‘Of all things, why a kid who resembles Yoo Hyemin?’

I sighed deeply and looked back at the open door.

‘I’ll just ask what’s going on.’

If he doesn’t tell, I’ll just leave.

I went back down the stairs.

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