OPDPS 92

‘What is it that’s in the Grand Duke’s castle?’

Aeryl recalled the chill he sometimes felt in those dark hallways. He wanted to demand a clear answer—What is it? Just say it!—but now wasn’t the time.

“I feel sorry about the past too. But this is a different issue.”

“What?”

“What are you going to do if you run away? Build another house like this and lock up Raeler again?”

“I believe that’s the best way!”

The inventor stood firm. Aeryl let out a long sigh. As expected, this man was still only thinking about himself.

“Did Raeler say he wanted that?”

“That’s not what matters!”

The inventor shouted.

“It does matter!”

Aeryl’s voice rose before he calmed himself.

“Where and how he lives—it’s Raeler’s decision. It’s not like there are no other options. So why are you just forcing your own will on him?”

At his words, the inventor floundered, clearly shaken, and tried to argue back.

“I did everything for him! I gave up everything…”

“That was your choice, Mr. Vale. And loving your child doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want to them.”

Even if love is the foundation, if the other person doesn’t want it, it’s just coercion—oppression.

“He may have been young then, but Raeler is an adult now. You need to listen to him.”

“He’s right. A child can’t stay in your arms forever.”

Rynello chimed in. The inventor hesitated, looking between the two of them with a confused expression, then turned his head slowly to look at Raeler. Raeler flinched but met his gaze.

“Father.”

Raeler finally opened his mouth. He knew this was the moment he had to be brave.

“Yes.”

“I want to live my life on my own terms now.”

Raeler’s voice shook, but his words were clear. There wasn’t a hint of hesitation.

“…You really mean to go with the Grand Duke’s castle?”

The inventor looked at his son. For the first time in a long while, he saw him clearly. Raeler had grown into an adult—taller, stronger, clever enough to disable traps on his own. In every way, he had already surpassed his father.

He really has grown up.

If things hadn’t turned out like this, he would’ve already moved out and started his own life. If that had been the case, he would’ve respected his son’s choice with pride—even if a bit wistfully.

‘If being an Omega doesn’t make him any different from others… Ah, what have I done…’

He’d been so consumed by fear that he refused to see reality. The inventor felt like some veil around him had finally fallen away.

“…All right. We’ll do as you wish.”

The inventor said with a much more peaceful expression. Then he turned to Aeryl and bowed politely—nothing like before.

“… I know it’s shameless of me, but I want to entrust my son to you.”

“I was already planning on it.”

Now that the situation was starting to resolve, it was time. Aeryl checked the faint traces of pheromones left in the air. This much was manageable—he could face the Grand Duke now.

“So what should I do?”

“Mr. Vale, please open the door and welcome His Grace. If you explain everything, I’m sure he’ll understand. He’s a generous man.”

“His Grace…?”

“His Grace?”

“The Grand Duke?”

The inventor, Rynello, and Mason—all those who knew the Grand Duke except Aeryl—spoke up in protest, but Aeryl ignored them. ‘They just don’t know him like I do.’

“What will you do?”

Aeryl asked. ‘I’ll explain everything to the Grand Duke for you.’

***

The sun had long since dipped below the horizon, and the world was now cloaked in darkness. The chill in the air had grown sharper, and even the insects had fallen silent—the forest lay in stillness. The group held their breath as they looked toward Grand Duke Asirion.

The boat carrying the Grand Duke was moored to the island. He stood on deck, unmoving, his eyes fixed on the house beyond the broken wall.

In truth, all his attention was focused on the subtle sounds and movements coming from within the house. If anything seemed even slightly dangerous, he was prepared to act at once. He’d brought only knights on the boat so that if needed, they could destroy traps or barriers without hesitation.

‘It’s all right… for now.’

The Grand Duke tried to soothe his nerves as he waited. His anxiety was growing harder to suppress. Sending Aeryl in alone—so logical at the time—now felt like a mistake.

Thinking things through logically isn’t everything after all.

Objectively, Aeryl wasn’t in much danger. He told himself that, but the worry refused to go away.

Until now, he had dismissed people who said things like, “The Grand Duke is too rational” or “His weakness is his lack of emotion,” as nonsense. But if this was how much emotion could take over, maybe it wasn’t all nonsense. He could barely control his own body.

He gripped and released the hilt of his sword over and over in frustration. Then finally, a light came on inside the house. At the same time, a mechanical sound echoed from within.

‘Is that a good sign, or a bad one?’

Just in case, he placed his hand on his sword again and kept watching the house. Soon, the door opened and people emerged. Backlit by the light, he could still make out who was coming.

The inventor came first, with Rynello behind him.

Aeryl?

He looked past them, eyes searching. And then he saw him—Aeryl came out right after Rynello.

“…Ha.”

The Grand Duke let out a quiet sigh of relief without realizing it. He was uninjured, walking firmly—he looked well. At last, he stepped onto the island.

So that sound was them deactivating the traps.

There was no interference as he walked up to the house. Apparently, it could be controlled entirely from within. The inventor’s talents had only grown more formidable in the past ten years.

“It would be ideal if he were bound to the Grand Duchy for life. So he can never use that talent elsewhere.”

Even as he walked past the garden and approached the house, dozens of methods passed through his mind. The simplest would be using his son, of course.

“Your Grace.”

As the Grand Duke approached, the inventor dropped to his knees.

“I pay my respects to His Grace, the Grand Duke Asirion.”

The inventor greeted him in a trembling voice. The Grand Duke looked down at him with indifferent eyes.

“It’s been over ten years, hasn’t it?”

His voice echoed with that emotionless tone unique to him.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“The world seems to have changed quite a bit in that time.”

“Pardon?”

“When a mere inventor dares ignore the Grand Duke’s summons at will.”

“I-I’ve committed an unforgivable sin.”

The inventor’s face turned deathly pale as he bowed his head. His forehead scraped against the ground, leaving a scratch, but the Grand Duke didn’t stop him. That only made the inventor more anxious, and he began to stammer out his words.

“I was in the wrong. I dared refuse Your Grace’s summons, harmed your people, and caused Your Grace to come here in person… My sins are beyond measure.”

When he stopped speaking, silence fell. The inventor swallowed dryly.

“It was all because of my own foolishness and ignorance. I turned my back on the world in fear, and that fear made me too afraid to return. Only now do I realize my mistake and welcome Your Grace… So I beg you…”

He bowed even deeper and curled in on himself.

“Please, have mercy…”

It was the perfect show of submission. Now, everything was up to the Grand Duke.

“Your Grace.”

Rynello stepped forward. The Grand Duke turned his gaze to him.

“Though he has been foolish, he now realizes his wrongs. Might Your Grace consider showing mercy? His talent will be of great use to you.”

Rynello pleaded. He felt sorry for the inventor and wanted to help as he had promised. At the same time, he was giving the Grand Duke a convenient way to appear magnanimous.

A request from an old retainer—an easy pretext for mercy.

Still, knowing His Grace’s temperament… he’ll probably just use the son to extract every bit of use out of the inventor.

There was a reason the Grand Duke was called the Ice Duke. That ruthlessly cold temperament was part of why people feared him.

‘I can always help them behind the scenes.’

Rynello had never expected the Grand Duke to understand the father and son. He figured Aeryl’s optimism was just naïve hope, blinded by affection.

“I shall pass judgment. Vale Hauser.”

The Grand Duke finally opened his mouth.

“To reject an order from the lord for matters of grave importance to the domain, to harm the lord’s men—these are crimes that warrant punishment.”

The inventor’s body trembled.

“However, having heard of your circumstances, I found them pitiable. Out of respect for Rynello’s plea and in recognition of your talents, I will not pursue punishment for this matter.”

He continued.

“Vale Hauser. Come to the castle and take charge of restoring the bell tower. I promise you a position and treatment befitting your leadership. Your son will be hired as an assistant to the inner quarters physician and will be permitted to reside in the castle.”

“Your Grace!”

Rynello couldn’t help but cry out in surprise. The Grand Duke had, in effect, offered the inventor the highest terms—and made it easier for Raeler to receive Aeryl’s help.

This wasn’t a punishment; it was a reward. He could have reduced the father and son to near-slaves of the castle, yet—

This isn’t like him at all.

Rynello looked around, flustered—then noticed where the Grand Duke’s gaze was fixed.

He was exchanging glances with Aeryl. Aeryl had raised his thumbs subtly beneath his sleeves.

Ah…!

The power of love! Rynello felt like he was going blind with his eyes wide open.

Oblivious to the older man’s despair, the Grand Duke was doing his best not to laugh. Aeryl’s double thumbs-up, given with both hands so discreetly, was just too amusing.

Truthfully, the Grand Duke had struggled with this. It would’ve been a perfect chance to exploit the inventor’s genius for free. But the moment he saw Aeryl clasp his hands and plead so earnestly, all those dozens of ideas vanished from his mind.

He wants this so badly. And he worked hard to help with this whole mess.

Profit or not, he felt he had to do as Aeryl wished. Before he realized it, he’d handed down an unexpectedly merciful ruling.

Maybe he’d regret it later. Maybe he’d feel it was a missed opportunity.

But when Aeryl smiled and praised him, the satisfaction that filled the Grand Duke’s heart left no room for second thoughts.

And at the same time, a question arose in his mind.

Is this really just instinct?