Chapter 89

Chapter 89

“I will die soon.”

“Father!”

“Even if you try to ignore the predestined fact, nothing will improve.”

In fact, for the Duke to have endured so far was impressive. Winter’s magic slowly gnawed away at the master, who could not handle it. Even though he struggled somehow not to die, this was the limit for him now.

“If you cease to be the master of Hessenweitz, you will no longer be able to protect Iellie.”

The Duke declared with a cold expression.

…Iellie.

At that word, Zachary felt his breath choke.

“Nonetheless, there are countless people who want to stop you from becoming the master of Hessenweitz.”

While the Duke’s voice was calm, Zachary knew it was true. He bit his lip.

“The fact that I’m not feeling well will be known to the imperial family someday. Hiding is the limit now.”

“….”

“If they knew about my condition, the Imperial Family would use that as an excuse to bother you even more. Well, I guess…”

Saying so, he rolled his eyes. It was obviously predictable, he just spoke out of his mouth about the future he expected.

“It looks like the Imperial Family will try to push you out somehow and bring in a new heir.”

“A new heir…”

“Perhaps before I die… It is only when the family head is alive that the successor can be replaced.”

As the Duke continued his explanation in a calm tone, Zachary gritted his teeth and listened to his father as he went on.

“Even though Hessenweiz is a family with few members, it doesn’t mean that there are no collaterals at all.”

“….”

“The Imperial Family will try to find another heir somehow, in order to push you out.”

Zachary could not refute it. It was because his father’s words were perfectly correct. The Duke smiled faintly as he saw him like that.

“Besides, do you think the Imperial Family will accept the heir of the Duchy who ran on a rampage in front of the Emperor?”

“However…”

“The pressure from the Imperial Family will be intense. It also meant that to overcome and deal with that pressure, you have no choice but to become a Duke.”

Zachary had no idea what kind of emotion was passing through his glassy blue eyes. It was difficult to endure because the way his father was now was unfamiliar. They were a father and son who had lived their lives biting each other.

“I have no intention of inheriting the title of Duke Hessenweitz…”

The Duke reached out and gently brushed Zachary’s cheek. This was almost the first time he had had any close contact with his father. Because of that, Zachary froze stiffly in place. His father’s hands were dry.

“To anyone else besides you, Adele’s child…”

“Father?”

“Cough!”

At the same time, the Duke coughed violently. A trickle of blood flowed from his lips as he set the teacup down with trembling hands. The teacup was all emptied as if he had finished drinking without realizing it.

“Cough, cough! Kugh…”

“What is going on!”

He approached the Duke with a pale face, not knowing what to do. However, the Duke waved his hand.

“No need to be surprised. Didn’t I tell you earlier?”

“Fa, father?”

“I am going to die.”

When Zachary’s gaze wavered mercilessly at the resolute declaration, the Duke raised his remorseful face.

“I have never acted wisely when it comes to people I love.”

“…Father.”

“It is true that I forcibly separated you and Iellie. However…”

With the back of his hand roughly wiping his blood-stained lips, the Duke leaned back in his chair.

“…I know, too, that you cannot live without her.”

“What is this…”

“Iellie is like my daughter. Like you, I loved her very much.”

He continued in a sluggish tone. Zachary felt his whole body tremble, and his gaze fell on the teacup the Duke had set down. Not even a drop of tea left, and his father was coughing up blood…

“…Father, did you take poison?”

He couldn’t not know. Zachary gazed at the Duke with a white face as his father smiled softly.

“Yes.”

“Why!”

“Because you are… my son.”

He never thought that words like that would come out of his father’s mouth. Zachary bit his lip.

“You are my only son.”

The Duke gave strength and opened his mouth clearly. Hearing those words, Zachary froze as his father continued.

“And, I’ve seen enough of you drying up from losing that child.”

“Father…”

“I thought you would sort each other out if you were forced apart. It was all my mistake.”

Sometimes there were things that could never be sorted out. Just as the Duke had feelings for Adelaide, so were Zachary and Iellie’s feelings for each other. Though he had turned a blind eye to that heart.

“The day she left the Duke’s castle, she…”

The Duke recalled that moment with blurry vision. Even with a pale face, Iellie spoke to him.

“…She said she wouldn’t give up on you.”

He held his breath.

…I won’t give up. Those were the words she said as she closed the door.

“Tell you that she was waiting for you, that’s what she said.”

“That…”

“So, if you really value that child… bring her back.”

As Zachary stared blankly at the Duke, his eyes slowly wet, and he whispered lowly.

“Are you saying to sacrifice father’s life to find Iellie?”

“….”

“How dare I—”

Uttering so, tears fell from his eyes. The Duke was silent for a moment. Even though his father never gave him any real affection, Zachary still thinks of him as a father. His heart ached.

“It is for me, too.”

At that moment, the Duke raised a firm voice. It was to alleviate some of his son’s guilt.

“…Because I’ve never watched my love through to the end.”

His throat was gradually sore, and his whole body throbbed. The Duke could feel the poison he had swallowed travel through his veins.

“I want to see you protect your love until the end.”

Stretching out his hand, he grabbed the back of his son’s hand. The Duke’s grip was uncharacteristically strong for a dying man.

“Be happy for me, Zachary.”

“….”

“Give your all to protect… The one you love.”

Cough!

The cough erupted again. The next moment, drops of blood poured from the Duke’s mouth and spilled onto the carpet, staining it. Looking at the vivid red color, Zachary felt a distant sense of reality.

“I will see how far you can go. And…”

“….”

“The reason I die is suicide. Do you understand?”

The blue eyes looked straight at him… Eyes that resemble each other faced together.

“You didn’t kill me. I chose death myself.”

“Father…”

“So, you are not responsible for my death.”

The Duke made clear the reason for his death. It was a remark to get rid of the guilt Zachary would feel.

“Also, let the outside public know my death as a suicide.”

He didn’t have much time.

The Duke persisted with fast words. His whole body ached like it was going to break, but he had to speak. Death was right in front of him. He felt like it was going to grab his throat and stop him from breathing.

“Since you were here with me, I’m sure some people will suspect that you hurt me.”

The Duke’s eyes shone coldly. If Zachary was going to succeed in the title, he had to get rid of all the trouble.

“Then, put the blame on me.”

“…What?”

“If anyone doubts you, tell them I tried to kill you.”

Zachary froze in place. His father tried to kill him…?

Nonetheless, the Duke had a firm tone, “I have kept my illness a strict secret. Outsiders will think that I have no reason to choose death.”

“Father, that…”

“It’s strange that a Duke who seems fine on the outside suddenly chooses to commit suicide.”

The Duke wheezed. It was painful for him to connect each word though he wanted to pretend he was as normal as possible. He had lived with guilt all his life, and his son had to live before his eyes…

“If you need proof of my death, claim that I hated you and tried to assassinate you first.”

Yes, Zachary was his own son. After clearing away the old hatred that had settled, transparent affection remained.

“I have prepared all the circumstantial evidence that I tried to assassinate you. So, don’t worry…”

“Is that important now?!”

“It doesn’t matter. It is for the clean succession of your title.”

Saying so, he clenched his fists. As his vision went blurry, the Duke could see Zachary’s figure overlapping in two or three layers as he went on.

“Since our relationship has not been so good so far, most people will probably understand.”

What was his father expecting? That question clawed at Zachary’s chest.

“Ever since Adele died, I have always wanted to die. Still, I had a duty to protect my family…”

“Say no more!”

The Duke, who was silent for a moment, grabbed Zachary’s collar. There was bright red blood staining it. His father laughed.

“The way you’ve lived as the Young Duke has been wonderful.”

“Fa, father.”

“From now on… you will make a great Duke.”

As he could no longer balance, the Duke swayed like a tree caught in the wind.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t think of a more moderate way.”

“….”

“Tell this to Len. I’m sorry, and thank you…”

The blue eyes blur. Zachary supported him with his trembling hands to keep the Duke from collapsing.

“…I thought of you like my daughter.”

Zachary couldn’t bear to speak, and his mind went blank.

Suddenly, a faint smile crept across the Duke’s lips.

“Adele.”

He gasped for breath and muttered in a low voice. At the end of his life, the one whom he wanted to ask forgiveness for the last time.

“Forgive me, who still dares to love you…”

Those were his last words.

As the Duke squeezed out all the words he had to say and closed his eyes, the smile on his lips did not disappear. Zachary blankly looked at his father’s calm face.

“I’d rather you hate me… why don’t you hate me to the end?”

The only affection the Duke showed. He will be bound by that love for the rest of his life. Zachary held his breath.

“…Father.”

It was true that he hated Zachary. However, there was a love that could not be erased.

“How do you—”

Because the Duke openly neglected Zachary, the Imperial Family was not wary of him while he was growing up.

“How do you ask me to accept all of this…”

People thought he was abusing his son by entrusting him with all the affairs of the estate. Nevertheless, through the process, Zachary got to know the Dukedom much more closely and was able to manage the territory easily.

“Father…”

Although that went beyond the realm of consideration and became close to abuse, he was not unable to infer his father’s true intentions, and he kicked off the hatred and saw it. The countless considerations his father had arranged.

“I’m really sorry I couldn’t die with you.”

If it had been before meeting Iellie, he might have died together. Still, now he had Iellie.

“….”

After being silent for a long time, Zachary stood up. Now, it was time for him to keep his father’s last will.

Bang!

The door was broken open, and he frantically ran outside. Perhaps because of the commotion late at night, people from the Duchy rushed in front of the office in a hurry.

Zachary raised his gaze.

“Young Master, what is this…!”

“My father is dead.”

Zachary whispered lowly. As a look of astonishment appeared on the people’s faces, a sharp blue edge appeared in his eyes.

“Now, I am… the new head of Hessenweitz.”

The people froze. There was not a single trace of warmth left in his declaration.

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