IFAHWIPUTML Chapter 17

Chayston sat in his office, skimming through the documents Rohan had handed him.

"As expected, it seems difficult to view this as a simple incident."

The documents contained detailed circumstances and context surrounding the carriage accident his brother had suffered.

Chayston had been investigating since the day of the accident, and he'd discovered this incident was no simple accident.

As Rohan said, there were far too many suspicious elements to dismiss it as bad luck.

"If I may be so bold, it seems like someone deliberately orchestrated this."

Who on earth would have a reason to try to kill his brother and his family?

Crack, crack. The sound of grinding teeth escaped between Chayston's lips. His clenched fists trembled with the force of his grip.

"Who dares."

In his fury, he looked ready to smash everything around him.

"Young Master Raphaleon's memories might be a crucial clue."

Of the three people in the accident, two had died. Raphaleon was the only survivor.

So his nephew's memories—the only survivor's memories—would clearly play an important role in catching the culprit.

"Understood. You may go."

"Yes, sir."

The harsh sound of documents slamming shut echoed through the room.

Rohan left the office as quietly as possible, careful not to disturb his master's mood.

Chayston scrubbed his face roughly. He bit his lip until it could bleed. The rage churning in his chest wouldn't subside.

Someone had targeted his brother... It was definitely an attack aimed at the Halos family. Had to be.

Crash.

He rose violently from his seat, and the chair toppled over with a loud noise. He needed to catch some fresh air to calm down.

He yanked the door open without ceremony.

When Chayston emerged into the corridor, the servants gossiping in the distance scattered in surprise.

"How tiresome."

His expression subtly twisted as he walked down the corridor.

Chayston knew. He knew what rumors circulated, inside and out.

The shameless murderer who killed his brother to obtain the ducal title.

For the second son of a ducal family who became neither this nor that while the eldest inherited the title, there was always a label following him around.

A jackal waiting for his chance at the title.

Even if he pretended otherwise, it must hurt. He must want that ducal title enough to do anything.

People spread rumors that Chayston, like themselves, was a hypocrite blinded by power.

Because of those absurd rumors, Chayston's sincere feelings—cherishing and loving his brother more than anyone—had been trampled mercilessly. Under the names of jealousy and envy.

Trying to explain would change nothing. It would only add fuel to the rumors.

"Hah..."

Chayston sighed as if fed up with it all.

Pretense, performance. Only negative frames existed around him.

Even those who pretended to care about him sincerely turned out to be scheming for connections to the Halos family somehow.

So Chayston had grown accustomed to dealing with people while wearing a mask.

Everyone around him wore masks when dealing with him, after all.

That's why even when someone showed sincerity, he suspected them first. He couldn't know what kind of dagger might be hidden inside.

That was the world he'd lived in until now.

"Shane."

He headed straight to the knight order and summoned the knight commander.

"You've arrived, Your Grace."

"Immediately select members from the elite knights and organize a search party."

"A search party, sir?"

"Yes. And we'll begin a full investigation starting tomorrow."

Chayston handed the documents he'd been holding to Knight Commander Shane.

Shane's face hardened after checking the documents.

"Is this true?"

"That's what we need to find out."

His sharp red eyes flashed and faded. Whether tail or head, if anything got caught, he looked ready to leave not even a speck of dust behind—a brutal, tenacious gaze.

"Understood. I'll prepare a roster and report back."

After receiving Shane's salute, Chayston left the knight order, his steps heading toward the garden.

He wanted to cool his head in a quiet place.

The estate felt uninhabited everywhere, but the garden was especially tranquil—a place he frequented.

Passing between prettily blooming flowers, he sat on a bench and leaned back, gazing at the sky.

A clear sky without a single cloud. The sky had been this clear on the day he'd heard about the accident too.

"Hah..."

Tormented by the resurfacing anguish, he sighed and raised his arm to cover his eyes.

The pouring sunlight blocked, a shadow fell—and it felt just like his heart.

A world without a single ray of light, bleak and utterly desolate.

"You still haven't treated that?"

At that moment, a voice reached him, and Chayston lowered his arm.

Standing before him with a ball in hand was Verasielle. When had she arrived?

Chayston frowned at her, who had suddenly intruded into his desolate world.

"Veras."

"Mm?"

Raphel, who'd been playing with a ball in the garden, scurried over to Veras.

Verasielle and Raphel were spending time in the garden.

"Aren't we going to see Grandma and Grandpa?"

Raphel finally voiced what he'd been holding back. Living at this estate was wonderful. The room was spacious, there were lots of things to play with, and Veras was here too.

But whenever he remembered the baron and baroness who smiled warmly and hugged him, Raphel grew sullen.

Because he missed Grandma and Grandpa terribly.

"Do you miss Grandma and Grandpa?"

"Yeah!"

"We'll visit them later. You know this is Raphel's home now, right?"

Veras pushed away her bitter feelings and stroked Raphel's cheek.

The child was still too young to learn about goodbyes. So it was her job to explain in a way the child could understand, even if later.

"Mm..."

"If you eat well, play well, and stay healthy, you'll be able to see them."

She tried to comfort the disappointed Raphel, but his bright expression didn't return easily.

"Should we play catch?"

"Yeah!"

At Veras's attempt to change the mood, Raphel tried to smile and nodded.

Though his disappointment was great, having Veras with him made it okay.

The two tossed the ball back and forth, running around the garden.

His small body was so nimble—unlike Raphel, who ran around effortlessly, Veras panted heavily, breath catching in her throat.

"Are you all right?"

"Ah, Tia."

The servant Tia, who'd been nearby, offered Verasielle a water bottle.

Just turned eighteen, Tia was a girl with striking freckles and red hair.

She'd mainly done odd jobs, but when Verasielle and Raphaleon came to stay at the ducal estate, she was assigned to attend them exclusively. Simple and pure-hearted, she got along well with Verasielle and Raphaleon.

Sometimes her innocent habit of blurting out everything she knew was worrying, but the girl had no malice.

After Raphel, she was Verasielle's only conversation partner at the ducal estate where she knew no one.

Though Verasielle was a guest, Chayston's consideration allowed her to command nearly all the servants. Probably because Raphel might be his nephew—seemed he was being thoughtful in his own way.

Moreover, anything she wanted was provided immediately just by asking, so she was spending more comfortable days than she had at the baron's estate.

"I'll rest for a bit, so could you play with Raphel?"

"Yes, I'll do that."

Finally surrendering to Raphel's stamina, Verasielle watched Tia run toward Raphel, then plopped down on a chair.

Play catch with Raphel twice and she'd be bedridden with exhaustion.

Verasielle caught her breath while watching the two playing catch in the distance.

Tia must have good stamina—she was playing with Raphel much more easily than Verasielle had.

"I should exercise or something."

Realizing her stamina was worse than others, she made a resolution. She needed to build her endurance.

"Are you all right?"

"Of course. I'm fine."

Knight Kay, who'd been standing guard nearby, asked cautiously. Verasielle shrugged as if it were nothing, smiling.

Kay was one of the knights assigned to guard her and Raphel.

He appeared around her age, with black eyes and deep blue hair.

Tall and reasonably handsome—according to Tia, he was quite popular at the ducal estate.

Guards weren't really necessary within the estate, but the knights took turns staying by Verasielle and Raphel's side.

Because the duke had said there might be threats, just in case.

Sometimes it felt like Tia and the knights were all monitoring her, but it didn't matter.

They often played with Raphel when she was struggling, after all.

"Ah...!"

At that moment, Raphel cried out in surprise. The ball he'd kicked had gone flying way over to the other side.

"It's okay. I'll get it."

Stopping Tia from running after it, Verasielle stood up.

The ball had landed relatively closer to her than to them.

Verasielle quickly headed in the direction the ball had gone. She had to walk quite a distance through the opposite garden—how far had he kicked it?

"Is he going to be a soccer player? That's some leg strength."

Really, was there anything Raphel couldn't do? He seemed talented at everything.

Though among all his talents, his face was the most genius.

(Obviously.)

Feeling proud, she smiled warmly as she bent to pick up the fallen ball, then froze.

"..."

When she looked up, Chayston was sitting on a nearby bench.

Her rising smile immediately dropped.

What rotten luck. Running into the one person she didn't want to see.

She quickly turned around to retrace her steps. Now was her chance, while Chayston hadn't noticed her.

Ah, seriously...

But she couldn't turn back. Because she'd seen the wound on his hand.

That wound was from when he'd protected her from almost being hit by a cart yesterday.

Verasielle sighed deeply and reluctantly stood before Chayston.

He'd been injured because of her. She absolutely couldn't just pretend not to notice and walk away.

"You still haven't treated that?"

Chayston lowered his arm and looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

"The wound. This one."

Verasielle pointed to his hand.

"You got hurt yesterday, but you didn't even apply medicine?"

"It's fine. Don't concern yourself."

Chayston looked at his wound indifferently as he spoke. He'd actually forgotten he was injured.

It wasn't a serious wound anyway—left alone, it would naturally heal.

"You'll get tetanus."

Verasielle's face hardened with utmost seriousness.