DSMBL Chapter 43

Chapter 043

Theo let out a deep sigh and trudged along, shaking his head like he was carrying the weight of the world.

The head maid, barely holding back a smile, approached him.

“Was your swordsmanship lesson okay?”

“Not at all.”

“What happened?”

Theo pointed at Cassius and Charlotte, who were still arguing loudly.

Things only got worse after Charlotte fired Cassius.

“How could you say that? Theo’s older brother is me!”

That remark set off another explosion. 

Even after Theo, exhausted, left them behind, they continued fighting.

“Why do they fight so much? I don’t get it. They tell Stephanie and me not to fight, but they fight way more than we do.”

The head maid suppressed a chuckle, keeping a serious expression in front of Theo.

“Don’t worry, Young Master Theo. Adults become closer by arguing.”

Theo frowned, clearly confused. 

He wouldn’t understand.

Before Charlotte changed, this mansion had been like walking on thin ice. Compared to those days, it now felt like a warm spring breeze.

The head maid smiled and gave Theo a gentle push.

“Stephanie woke up. You should go have a snack with her.”

“What’s today’s snack?”

In an instant, all of Theo’s worries vanished as he grinned brightly.

The head maid chuckled and told him.

Watching Theo run off as if he could fly, she finally let out the laughter she had been holding back.

Isteria was peaceful now.

She hoped it would stay this way forever.

***

Meanwhile, at that moment—

The nanny was taking care of her own business. Seeing how things were going with Cassius, she didn’t know when she might lose her power.

So, she intended to do as much as possible while she still had the chance.

She discreetly visited noble families in the North who had held power for a long time.

“You came here in person? Are you insane?”

Count Mers sneered coldly.

Janice slowly removed her hood and let out a quiet laugh.

“Of course not.”

Her eyes gleamed dangerously.

“If only you hadn’t ignored my messages, this wouldn’t have been necessary.”

She gritted her teeth.

Count Mers, avoiding her gaze, turned his head.

Janice pressed her lips together.

“If you keep acting this way, things will get difficult, Count. Do you want me to go to the Duke and confess all the deals we’ve made?”

Her voice was ice cold.

“Tch!”

Janice had records of all the money the count had been skimming.

And he knew it.

“Are you trying to drag us both down?”

“I was merely asking since you seemed eager to go that route.”

Her sharp eyes glinted.

“Ahem! Of course not! I’ve just been… busy.”

Yeah, right.

Janice knew exactly what these people were thinking.

Cassius’s affection for the Duchess was growing too obvious, and they wanted to cut ties before it was too late.

Janice only wanted one thing from Count Mers—

When the time came to remove the Duchess and place someone else in her position, she wanted him to support her suggestion. 

She had been carefully buying loyalty, and Count Mers was her top priority.

He was an influential figure in the North.

“I hope this doesn’t happen again, Count. There’s no need for unpleasantness between us.”

“Y-yes, of course. But isn’t the Duke and Duchess getting along well these days?”

Janice smirked.

“So, you’re showing your true colors now.”

She responded coldly.

“But no matter how much she’s loved, she can’t have children, can she? And we can’t make Theo the heir, not when he could drop dead at any moment.”

“I heard he’s recovering.”

“And you believe that? No doctor could cure him before. This could just be his last struggle before he died.”

Even if it wasn’t, Janice was prepared to make it so.

Count Mers swallowed hard.

Only now did he realize—

The golden apple he had taken was actually a noose tightening around his neck.

There was no escape.

If the Duke found out about the funds he had stolen from Theo’s budget, his head would roll.

In the end, Count Mers had no choice but to follow Janice’s orders.

“I need a small favor from you, Count.”

“…What kind of favor?” he asked with a resigned sigh.

“Unwanted things should be removed. You and I both know where the poison that nearly killed the Duchess came from.”

Count Mers shut his eyes tightly.

“This time, we need to get rid of her for good.”

There was no turning back now.

She had brought this upon herself.

***

Meanwhile,

Lorencia turned out to be a great teacher—patient and skilled at keeping the children engaged.

Even Stephanie was slowly starting to enjoy her lessons.

Fortunately, she seemed to be a good influence on Theo as well.

It made leaving a little easier.

And soon, it would be time to open the birthday present Cassius and I had secretly prepared.

The trip to the seaside was getting closer.

Cassius even extended the vacation from one week to two.

Since we were expanding the search area, it made sense to hurry things along.

It was still about Theo, after all.

“Theo.”

I called out sternly.

Theo blinked and tilted his head.

“Why do you sound so scary? I didn’t do anything wrong! I ate all my food without being picky, I didn’t fall from any trees, I didn’t trip, I took my medicine, and I even did my homework!”

He rattled off every reason he had been scolded before.

I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Why does he keep getting cuter?

I stretched out his squishy little cheeks.

“You did? Oh, you did so well~!”

“Let gooo!”

Theo shook his head vigorously. His once pale face now had a healthy flush.

My heart felt warm.

This wasn’t the same child who once had the shadow of death looming over him.

Stephanie grabbed her cheeks and sneakily tried to run away from me.

“We’re going to the sea.”

“What!”

“The sea, you say?!”

The two children, who had been running away from me, suddenly turned and jumped into my arms.

Looking at their sparkling eyes, I couldn’t help but laugh.

These two were like little bundles of pure joy.

“Yes, the sea. It’s a birthday gift for Theo.”

“A birthday gift?”

“That’s right. Cassius will be coming too, and we’ll stay there for two weeks to celebrate Theo’s birthday.”

“Woah!”

Theo stomped his feet in excitement, and Stephanie bounced up and down, just as thrilled.

For a dragon, she sure acted a lot like a human child.

Their bright, joyful faces were impossible not to smile at.

“Are you really that happy?”

“I love it! I’ve never been to the sea before!”

“This great being has also never seen the sea! I have heard it is like a massive lake—is that true?”

“It’s similar but different.”

“I heard there are many fish there!”

“That’s true.”

“And that the water tastes salty!”

“That’s right.”

“And that you can catch hermit crabs and seashells!”

“If you’re a skilled hunter, maybe you can.”

Theo beamed and hugged me tightly.

“This is the best birthday present ever, Charl!”

I hugged the sun-kissed child back.

If you’re happy, Theo, then I’m happy too.