Birthday (5) – The Duke's Verdict
“Th-this is…”
An unbelievable sight unfolded before us at our destination.
“S-Sihan Kan Hart!!”
The maid beside me screamed, her face drained of color.
Sihan’s face was unnaturally pale, his lips even tinged purple. Classic symptoms of poison ingestion. Depending on the severity, he needed to be rushed to a temple right now.
…Why Sihan?
Why not Ashu?
Questions flooded my mind, chaining endlessly one after another.
“Hey!”
Familiar footsteps and a voice called from behind. Ashu stopped beside me and grabbed my shoulder.
“What’s with you, suddenly running off—?”
His words cut off midway. His body froze solid upon seeing Sihan.
“Make way!!”
People in pristine white robes appeared with urgent voices. Priests, hastily summoned and rushing over.
Wooong.
A pure white light poured from the priests’ hands. Under the warm glow, Sihan’s complexion eased somewhat.
“…Let’s move him inside first.”
At those words, the servants sprang into orderly action. In an instant, Sihan was loaded onto a stretcher and vanished into the mansion.
Thank goodness it wasn’t a poison lethal enough to kill on contact.
…But why?
Why target Sihan Kan Hart? Why not Ashu Kan Hart? My head felt like it might explode from the incomprehensible situation.
“…What the hell happened..”
Ashu was just as flustered, clicking his tongue and furrowing his brow. It was his first birthday banquet, and now his friend had been hit. Deep fury radiated from Ashu’s face. His menacing expression made my shoulders twitch involuntarily.
“…Ashu Kan Hart.”
That was when it came—a familiar, deep voice from behind. His bear-like presence was suffocating. Each step he took felt like it shook the earth itself. The nobles at the banquet turned their gazes toward him.
“The banquet ends here. Everyone, leave.”
Despite the arrogant decree, the nobles quietly dispersed without protest. They sensed the grand duke’s rage and feared catching his wrath.
After a short time, the only ones left in the banquet hall were me, Ashu, and Byrn. The once-lively space fell eerily silent in moments. Breaking the heavy silence was none other than the grand duke himself.
“Sihan Kan Hart is fortunately unharmed. He came close to death, but the priests’ swift action saved his life.”
Unconcealed fury boiled in the grand duke’s voice. His beast-like eyes gleamed with madness.
“Why is that, Ashu Kan Hart?”
“…What?”
Ashu’s mouth fell open slightly in confusion as he shot back.
…This crazy bastard.
It all clicked into place. The sudden reason for hosting Ashu’s birthday banquet. The “look forward to that day” comment. Even announcing Sihan Kan Hart as heir out of nowhere.
I’d expected harm to come to Ashu. But not like this. I never imagined he’d poison an unrelated child just to frame Ashu.
The grand duke drew his sword. A chilling ring echoed under the cold moonlight, sending shivers down my spine. I rushed to Ashu.
“Dodge!!!”
Kwaaaang!!!
A deafening explosion tore through the air. The ground heaved dust clouds as if in agony.
“Ugh, urk!!”
“D-Disciple! Are you okay?!”
Blood gushed from Ashu’s thigh.
…Damn it.
I couldn’t block it completely. I tore off my top layer and wrapped his thigh tightly. My dress turned into a miniskirt, but who cared? It was uncomfortable anyway.
“So you’ve made your choice in the end, Ideal.”
The grand duke emerged through my blurring vision. His sharp aura crushed down on Ashu and me. The pressure choked the breath from my lungs.
“For the crime of attempting to poison the heir, Ashu Kan Hart. By the authority of the family head, I sentence you to summary execution.”
Murderous intent glittered in the grand duke’s eyes. I had to stop this somehow. I screamed at him.
“Evidence! Do you have evidence?! Proof that my disciple did it…!!”
“Evidence.”
The grand duke stroked his chin thoughtfully. After a moment, his lips curled into a sinister smirk.
“The poison’s already been ingested by Sihan Kan Hart, so no direct proof remains. So let’s do this instead.”
His massive index finger, like a staff, pointed at me.
“You seduced Ashu into poisoning Sihan, and killed Byrn in the process. You were caught and summarily executed by me for it.”
“Th-this lunatic…”
He’s out of his mind. Baldamir Kan Hart raised his sword high.
“You’re a wanted criminal anyway. What’s one more crime? You’ll die either way.”
Like hell it’s the same! First offense and second are worlds apart!
Thick veins bulged on his enormous hand. The sheer force felt like it was pulling my body in.
“Didn’t I say I was looking forward to this?”
With those words, the grand duke swung his sword down at the ground. The massive blade slammed like it would devour the earth.
Kwaaaang!!
The ground quaked with the roar. I barely regained my balance, biting my lip hard.
…We’re truly screwed now.
I never dreamed he’d do this openly at a birthday banquet with a prince present. I figured at worst he’d send assassins, not show up personally. The grand duke hated Ashu far more than I’d imagined.
Enough to want him dead this badly…? Even at the cost of such political fallout?
Why on earth?
“Disciple, disciple…!!”
I turned to see Ashu with blood streaming from his head, eyes rolled back. Must’ve been hit by debris. The situation was dire.
“Your Highness…!!”
“Uh, uh…”
The prince, a short distance away, ran to me.
“Please take care of my disciple.”
“S-Sis?”
“…Your Highness, do you remember what I asked of you?”
Byrn blinked in disbelief.
“You’re planning to fight that right now?! The grand duke?!”
Baldamir was a human weapon. The title of Northern Grand Duke wasn’t for show. In this romance-fantasy world, his influence was immense.
But what choice did I have? Battlefields were always like this. You just fought to survive, to protect.
…Life really never goes my way.
Past life or now, nothing ever worked out.
“…Please take good care of my disciple.”
He’s royalty; he can handle that much. Byrn nodded reluctantly at my words.
“You brat, get up…!!”
“I-Ideal…”
Ashu mumbled hazily as Byrn hoisted him onto his back. Now, my job was simple: buy time for them to escape.
I’d love to survive too, but I couldn’t guarantee it.
“A foolish choice.”
“…You’ve rubbed me the wrong way since the first time we met.”
No matter how bratty Ashu was, he wasn’t malicious at heart. The grand duke surely played a big role in turning him into the main villain.
“Ideal, do you know what happens if you leave a tumor alone?”
“…”
“It keeps growing. Devouring the healthy parts gluttonously, producing more abnormalities.”
The grand duke plunged his sword vertically into the ground.
“Ashu Kan Hart—that damned thing—is that to me.”
He extended a hand toward me.
“So, my final proposal: kill Ashu Kan Hart for me. Truth be told, I don’t want to dirty my hands killing my own flesh and blood.”
Baldamir Kan Hart proposes: Kill Ashu Kan Hart!!
Accept: Improved relationship with Baldamir Kan Hart & Ashu Kan Hart's death
Reject: Deathmatch with Baldamir Kan Hart.
This quest is a major story branch point. Your choice cannot be undone. Proceed with caution.
Tempting. Improving ties with Baldamir would surely pave my path to a smooth life. Just kill one future main villain kid—simple.
…But no.
I remembered Ashu eating my food and saying it was delicious. His occasional gentle moments, caring for me despite his usual demeanor. The pure joy he hid behind pretense when I gave him my scarf.
…Even if he always stole my dolls.
I knew he secretly cherished and collected them.
Yeah, let’s admit it. At some point, Ashu became precious to me.
Reject.
Deathmatch with Baldamir Kan Hart
“Sorry, but I can’t accept.”
“So you’ve made that choice after all.”
Baldamir clicked his tongue.
“You called my disciple a tumor…?”
I drew my sword. The moonlit blade gleamed warmly.
“That tumor is a precious existence like no other to me.”
“Nonsense.”
The grand duke raised his sword into ready stance. His muscles tensed taut across his body.
…What glory am I chasing, to go this far?
I might not even win. Hell, can I even survive?
“Guess I’ll just have to try.”
One thing I knew: life-or-death combat was more familiar than anything.
I drew a deep breath, raised my blade, and locked eyes with the grand duke.
Twang—!!
His massive frame launched like a cannonball. The enormous sword filled my vision in an instant.
Kaang—!!
With a sound like space shattering, my deathmatch with the grand duke began.