Armitas Ducal Family (2)
The betrayal and backstabbing attempt had come from the duke's side, specifically due to Ashton's unilateral actions.
"What an ironic situation, isn't it? The duke—Lady Elenoa's father—knew nothing about Lenion Hersha's embezzlement from the very start. When Elvin came to the duke's family and proposed a deal, all that happened was an agreement with Elvin to quietly resolve the matter. But then the very person who caused the problem went and complicated everything again."
"Why...?"
Ashton bit his lip hard as he listened to Eunhyeon, but he couldn't hold back any longer and opened his mouth.
"Why am I the bad guy here?! How could you not suspect that bastard? He's a black mage, the son of a man embezzling kingdom funds for personal gain. How could you guarantee he wouldn't get greedy for money, betray us, or sell us out to nobles hostile to our family?!"
"The guy who turned a blind eye and egged on the embezzlement has some nerve."
Eunhyeon's mutter as he eyed the excuse-making Ashton carried no trace of the respect or formality due a noble anymore. The sheer audacity of that attitude left him so dumbfounded that a scoff escaped his lips.
"And here's the thing. The truth is, Erin didn't actually attempt suicide by jumping from the school rooftop."
"What?"
Alex blurted out in shock. The revelation that the dramatic illusion they'd gone to such lengths to stage—a hallucination meant to show the "truth"—had been a lie hit hard, leaving him questioning why Eunhyeon had bothered with such an elaborate ruse.
"The real story is like this."
Under a dark night sky, two figures faced off on the rooftop. One was Erin, the other a black-masked assassin.
- You... who are you?
- ...Someone wants you alive. Come quietly, would you?
- Where's my brother...? I came here because you said he was! Did you lure me up here? Where's my brother!
- ......
The assassin didn't respond. As if words were pointless, he drew a dagger and charged at Erin in an instant.
Seeing the blade gleam coldly in the moonlight, Erin swallowed hard and hastily leaped back. Then, steeling herself, she planted a foot on the rooftop railing.
- Stay back!
- What are you doing?
- You want me alive? That means my life matters to you, right? Come any closer, and I'll really jump!
Erin tried desperately to steady her trembling legs, but her body, gripped by fear, wouldn't obey. The assassin, sensing her state from behind his mask, smirked and advanced. He knew she lacked the courage to leap.
- I-I'm really going to jump!
Her terrified plea fell on deaf ears; the assassin didn't stop. In that moment—
- Huh...?
- Damn...!
A ferocious gust—not a mere breeze—swept over them both. Caught in it, Erin lost her balance and tumbled to the ground below.
"This is..."
"Erin didn't commit suicide. That girl never gave up on her life until the end. She firmly believed Elvin was alive somewhere and searched tirelessly for traces of him. There was someone—'someone' with kidnapping in mind—who schemed against her, and while threatening them from the rooftop railing with her own life at stake, she fell by accident."
"......"
"The exact wish the Tree of Wishes heard from Erin was this: 'I want to escape the people threatening me. And help me find my brother!' Well, technically, it was a desperate prayer to the gods in the sky, not the tree itself."
But the Tree of Wishes had granted Erin's wish anyway, hiding her amid those who threatened her and waiting for someone who could save her one day. Eunhyeon—the man who rescued Erin and found Elvin—wondered if this was all unfolding according to the tree's intent, his own will, or...
'Or was this part of our goddess's plan too?'
He couldn't draw a clear line, but at least he and the tree shared a perfect understanding. Smiling, Eunhyeon turned to Abros, who glared at him.
"Well, Duke? If I keep this truth under wraps for you, what can you do for me?"
The words slithered into Abros's ear like a serpent's tongue. He clenched his fist tight.
"What can I do for you?"
Abros glared at Eunhyeon, his gripped hand trembling.
"You're the one who came here in secret because you want something. Speak. What do you want?"
Eunhyeon chuckled at Abros, who had pegged his intentions and nature spot-on.
"Make sure no one from your side approaches Erin directly anymore. And from now on, raise your son properly."
"How dare you...!"
As Eunhyeon mocked Ashton with a glance, the young man trembled with rage at the mounting humiliations, glaring daggers at him. Eunhyeon tilted his head in genuine puzzlement.
"What do you have to look so smug about?"
"You're humiliating me in front of everyone! Me, of the ducal family—and you, a mere commoner...!"
"And what about the crap you pulled?"
"What?"
"Ha..."
Was he really that oblivious? A glance at Abros showed even the father frowning at his immature son's words and actions.
"Duke?"
"What."
"Can I beat the shit out of him?"
For once, Eunhyeon couldn't rein in his emotions and flashed a grin at Abros for permission—but there was no way the duke would allow it.
"Guess not, then."
With a disappointed look, Eunhyeon approached Ashton.
"Hey, little duke?"
"W-what?"
"I get it. Suspicion makes sense, and striking first before betrayal hits—that mindset exists. Human society is just a mess of clashing thoughts. Sure, some people think that way. But..."
Eunhyeon fixed Ashton with a piercing stare.
"The problem is you stir up shit everywhere but can't even come up with a proper fix."
As Eunhyeon closed the distance step by step, Ashton—overwhelmed by his presence—stumbled back bit by bit.
"That attitude, throwing a fit about me being a commoner who doesn't bow to your noble standards, yapping about status differences."
"Urgh..."
"Not owning up to your screw-ups, standing there all brazen like you did nothing wrong."
Ashton could only gape helplessly, unable to retort. Each of Eunhyeon's points crushed him. And suffering this humiliation before his father Abros and half-siblings Alex and Elenoa made it all the worse.
"Is that the attitude of a noble who'll one day lead the ducal house?"
Eunhyeon grabbed Ashton's collar, yanking him close face-to-face.
"That's why trash like you at the top is what ruins countries."
"Wha... what?!"
"What, can't admit it? Want me to list every dumb thing you did in the Hersha baronet case? It starts with you covering up Lenion Hersha's embezzlement."
"......"
"Then Elvin comes to the duke with a deal, exposing your crap. Terrified it'll reach the royals and court nobles, you try to assassinate him."
"Urk."
"Assassination fails, Elvin vanishes. To lure him out, you target his sister Erin for kidnapping—but that flops too. What else did you even accomplish?"
"That was..."
"Oh, and trying to assassinate the Olivion marquis's daughter while she hunted Erin's whereabouts? That was you too, right? Sigh... It was supposed to drag out the real mastermind—you—but the report went to that poor girl instead, screwing everything up. She suffered because of you. How many people have you screwed over?"
Ashton had no comeback.
"If you hadn't betrayed Elvin, it could've ended clean. But no, the thief gets itchy feet and steps out, tangling everything worse. And get this—if I'd revealed right there that Erin wasn't suicidal but threatened by you, it'd have been all-out war between the black mage and the ducal house. Know that?"
If that foolish blunder had sparked full war with Elvin...
Elenoa, nearly killed by Elvin's shadow magic firsthand, knew its power well. Even if they held their own, the duke's house would've taken heavy losses. From the moment Eunhyeon saved her, they'd owed him a massive debt. Eunhyeon roughly shoved Ashton's collar away and turned back to Abros.
"Anyway, I get your situation, Duke. How desperate must things have been for your son to stoop to such filth."
"......"
Abros said nothing, silently waiting for Eunhyeon to continue.
"So I'll offer one bit of help."
"Help?"
"Yes."
With that, Eunhyeon pulled a thick pouch from his pocket and tossed it to Alex.
Alex caught the arcing pouch, untied it, peered inside—and froze in shock.
"Th-this is!"
Seeing the massive pile of currency, Alex hurriedly passed it to Abros. The duke checked the contents and mirrored his son's stunned expression. It wasn't just the currency's nature that shocked them, but the sheer amount—more than Lenion Hersha had embezzled, equivalent to six months' budget for the Armitas duchy, handed over in one lump sum.
"What are you playing at?"
"Six hundred platinum coins. That should keep you from scraping together dirty money, right?"
Considering a hundred gold coins equaled one platinum, this sum was beyond what any single person should possess. And Eunhyeon handing it over so casually defied comprehension.
"I asked what you want with this money."
"Just don't pull any weird stunts. And raise your son right."
Eunhyeon smirked under their glares.
"Do you even know what I'll use this money for, running your mouth like that?"
"For the 'restoration'—of the 'Holy Sword'."
"H-how do you...!"
Ashton blurted in horror at Eunhyeon's words. How could this stranger know the ducal family's ancient legend? But Eunhyeon offered no explanation.
"Two conditions. First: Keep my name out of this mess. Second: Publicly announce, 'Erin Hersha will not be punished. She is the victim.' Do those two things."
"Agreed."
"Father!"
Ashton yelled at Abros for sealing the deal so easily.
"That man's too suspicious! Arrest him now, interrogate him, uncover his—"
"Shut your mouth!"