INDC 17

~Chapter 17~

I Only Need the Duke’s Child Episode 17. An Ordinary Boy

Herdin’s ancestor, the first Duke of Delmark, was a hero who saved the nation by protecting the empire in the final Mage War.

To gain the power needed to protect the empire, he made a contract with a divine beast, now a creature that exists only in legend.

The price he received in return was a powerful body capable of using both aura and magic.

Originally, humans can only use one power, either aura or magic.

But the first Duke of Delmark, through his contract with the divine beast, became able to wield both aura and magic, and that power led the war to victory.

However, great power always comes with an equal price.

Using aura and magic together was like using fire and oil at the same time—if handled well, it produced tremendous synergy, but if mishandled, it could lead to a rampage of power.

The power the first head of the family received flowed through his bloodline and continued to be passed down to later generations.

Most of the time, that power became a tremendous force that saved the nation, but occasionally it also brought misfortune.

Herdin’s father, the previous duke, was one of the descendants who inherited that power.

Like his ancestors before him, he used his strength for the people of his territory and the empire.

Everyone in the empire feared and admired him.

But misfortune arrived suddenly.

In the year Herdin turned twelve, his mother was found dead, killed by monsters during a family trip.

The previous duke, who discovered her body, lost control and brutally slaughtered every monster in that forest, and in order to protect his son from his own rampaging power, he took his own life.

The fall of the Delmark ducal house, once admired by all.

Their tragedy spread far and wide through the mouths of those who treated others’ misfortune as dessert.

It even reached Blair’s ears in the imperial palace.

Though people expressed sympathy for the fall of the Delmark house in public, behind their backs they whispered that Herdin, who inherited the same power as his father, might one day rampage and commit a ruthless massacre as well.
‘Still, I want to win this time…’

In the end, Blair suppressed her fear through her competitive spirit and approached Herdin.

Across the cards, she could clearly see those deep eyes like a blue lake.

And the long eyelashes casting shadows over them.
‘Pretty.’

The Herdin Blair met in person seemed like an ordinary boy, though a little frightening.

Not the terrifying person from the rumors.

Just as she thought that, Herdin, who had been looking down at the cards in his hand, raised his gaze, and their eyes met.

Startled by those vivid blue eyes, Blair hastily grabbed the first card she could reach.
‘Ah.’

The card she hurriedly took happened to be the thief card.

Fortunately, Esmeralda took the thief card, allowing Blair to win.

The game ended with the thief card in Herdin’s hand.

Herdin had deliberately lost in order to end the game, but Blair at the time did not know that.

Just as Blair, whose competitive spirit had been ignited, tried to shuffle the cards again, Herdin spoke.
“I should be leaving now.”
“Oh my, has it already gotten so late?”
“I will see you tomorrow, Your Majesty.”
Esmeralda looked at Herdin with concern and said,
“Herdin.

I know how you feel, but you don’t need to force yourself to attend tomorrow.”
“It’s alright.”
Herdin paid his respects to Esmeralda and Blair before standing up.

When he left, the reception room finally held only the two people Blair had hoped for: Esmeralda and herself.

As if she had been waiting, Esmeralda gently asked Blair,
“So, what did you think after meeting Herdin?

Do you think you could become friends?”
Blair hesitated, unable to answer immediately.

To be honest, it didn’t seem like she could become friends with Herdin.

The boy she had just met was far too different from the people Blair had known until now.

Herdin’s attitude earlier had been quite a shock to Blair.

Unlike others, he had not spoken warmly to her or smiled at her.

She realized only after meeting Herdin that someone with a neat appearance, proper clothes, and polite words was not necessarily a good person.

Of course, he was not the terrifying person the rumors described, but no matter how she looked at it, he did not seem like a good person either.

Even if he pretended to be polite, he still seemed fierce and frightening.

But Blair did not want to disappoint Esmeralda, so she made up a lie.
“Um…

He doesn’t talk much, so he’s difficult, but he still seems like a good person.”
However, her fidgeting fingers and the way her eyes rolled to avoid Esmeralda’s gaze could not be hidden.
“Lying is a bad habit, Blair.”
Blair flinched at Esmeralda’s remark.

In the end, she had no choice but to confess.
“Actually… Duke Delmark is polite, but somehow it feels like he’s not polite.”
Hearing Blair’s honest impression, Esmeralda burst into laughter.
“It’s a relief Herdin didn’t hear that.”
Only then did Blair worry that she had been too honest and hurriedly added,
“B-but today was the first time we met.

Since Your Majesty treasures him, I think he must be a good person.

That part is true.”
Watching Blair trying hard to portray Herdin in a good light, Esmeralda smiled and beckoned.

Knowing what the gesture meant, Blair hurried over and sat beside her.

Esmeralda gently stroked Blair’s hair and agreed with her words.
“To be honest, Herdin is not a very warm child.

That child carries many wounds in his heart, so he is clumsy when dealing with people.”
Blair quietly accepted the comforting touch and looked up at her.

Esmeralda’s blue eyes met hers, shining with their usual gentle light.
“But just because that child’s heart is hurting doesn’t mean you have to endure discomfort, Blair.”
Esmeralda lightly kissed Blair’s round forehead and whispered,
“Because you are just as precious as that child.”
At those gentle words, Blair felt both very happy and a little sad.

It was something she had never once heard from Katrina.

Even so, Blair smiled toward Esmeralda.
* * *
The next day, the new year began.

In the morning, the imperial family and the various houses would go to the winter forest to hunt offerings for the gods, in the afternoon they would attend worship at the temple, and in the evening they would attend the imperial palace banquet.

Since the morning and afternoon New Year rituals were entirely events for adults, Blair spent the entire time playing with Ivan and her cousins before attending the evening New Year banquet.

Blair sat together with her father the emperor, Empress Esmeralda, her mother Katrina, and Ivan as they received the nobles’ New Year greetings.

As the tedious and ceremonial greetings continued, the nobles suddenly began murmuring.

Blair, puzzled by the sudden change in atmosphere, realized the reason when she saw the next person stepping forward.

It was Herdin.

The young duke, who had been in seclusion since the accident three years ago, was appearing at an official event for the first time today.

The nobles whispered as they watched Herdin approach the emperor.
“Oh my, the young duke… no, the duke has really come.

I thought he wouldn’t attend the banquet.”
“Indeed.

It was surprising enough that he attended the morning hunt and worship.”
“Well, he is now the head of the Delmark house.

He must restore the family’s honor and support Her Majesty the Empress.

Though it won’t be easy.”
At first glance, their words sounded sympathetic toward the young Herdin, but in truth it was nothing more than amusing gossip to them.

Listening to their talk, Blair watched Herdin with anxious eyes.
“It is an honor to greet the new year under the reign of Your Majesties.

Please continue to bestow your grace and watch over the empire this year as well.”
Standing before the emperor and the nobles as the head of a house, Herdin was still young, yet his presence rivaled that of any other lord.

No—because he was young, it shone even more brightly.

But perhaps it was just her imagination that his calm performance of a lord’s duty looked somewhat precarious.

Even after Herdin finished greeting the emperor and withdrew safely, Blair’s eyes continued to follow him.

After the greetings to the imperial family ended, the banquet began.

While nobles gathered in small groups to exchange greetings, Herdin remained alone at his seat.

No one approached him, yet their eyes and whispering mouths were directed toward him.
“That young Duke Delmark… no, the duke.

He was beside his father when the previous duke took his own life, wasn’t he?”
“My goodness!

How pitiful.

It’s amazing he can endure it with his sanity intact.”
“It’s admirable, but at the same time… he’s still so young, yet he’s quite ruthless.”
Everyone spoke about the misfortune that had struck his family and his future.

They pitied the Delmark house’s tragedy, yet enjoyed it at the same time—and feared it as well.
“Rachel, don’t go near him.

What if he suddenly rampages like his father and tries to kill everyone?”
If Esmeralda had been there, they would never have spoken so carelessly, but unfortunately Esmeralda had not been feeling well and had left early after receiving the New Year greetings.

In other words, there was no one in this banquet hall on Herdin’s side.

Blair looked at Herdin with worried eyes as he silently listened to the whispers.

Though he endured with his usual indifferent expression, she wondered if the inside of his heart was truly alright.

After gossiping about Herdin and the Delmark house for a while, the nobles soon lost interest and moved on to the next topic.

As if moving to the next course of a meal.

Only after people’s attention shifted away did Herdin quietly leave his seat.

Blair felt uneasy watching him leave the banquet hall with empty eyes, so she followed him into the garden behind the hall.

The moment she stepped outside, the cold winter wind scraped across her cheeks.

The softly lit night garden was quiet.

If it had been summer, there might have been people enjoying the banquet outside, but because of the cold, no one was there.
‘Where did he go?’

As Blair looked around searching for Herdin, she suddenly heard a painful groan not far away.