TCBCVF 104

~Chapter 104~

Under a heavily clouded sky, white snow fell like dead butterflies.

A world made entirely of gray, without a hint of color.

Ten-year-old Dietrich stood expressionless, staring at the black coffin lowered into the ground.

“To think the Duke would pass away like this.”
“What on earth has happened in the Ducal house…?”

Mourners in black whispered among themselves.

“So now only those two remain in the Claudius direct line?”
“Yes, it seems so.”
“And both the young Duke and Lady are so young…”

Pretending not to hear them, Dietrich straightened his back even more.

No one must look down on me.

Today was his father’s funeral.

His parents had died within two weeks of each other.

No one even knew the cause—only speculation about some unidentified contagious disease.

But…

Dietrich bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.

If it were a disease, why only Mother and Father?
Why are Eva and I, and all the servants, completely fine?

The questions swirled in his mind, and at the end of them…

Mother, Father.

He would never see them again. Never hear his father’s stern but warm voice or his mother’s lark-like laughter.

From now on, he would have to endure alone.

A heavy sense of responsibility pressed down on his shoulders.

Just then, a small hand tugged at his collar.

Dietrich looked down to see—

Evangeline.

His little sister, only six years old.

“Brother…”

Her blue eyes were filled with fear.

“Come here, Eva.”

He gripped her hand firmly.

A frail body. Tearful eyes.

…His only remaining family in the world.

Bending down, he met her gaze and awkwardly wiped her tears.

“Don’t cry, alright?”

“Mhm…”

She sniffled and nodded.

At that moment, a man called out to him.

“Dietrich.”

Still holding Eva’s hand, Dietrich looked up warily.

It was the Marquis of Evans—his father’s younger brother, his uncle.

He should have lived independently without a title, but the late Duke had generously given him the Evans title from among the family’s holdings.

“Are you alright? I don’t even know how to comfort you…”

Looking at the siblings pitifully, the Marquis smiled warmly.

“So, I was thinking… may I take care of you two for a while?”

“…Take care of us?”

“Yes. Only temporarily, until you come of age.”

His tone sounded thoughtful, caring… but his eyes gleamed with greed he couldn’t hide.

Meeting those eyes, Dietrich made up his mind.

Eva.

His grip on her hand tightened.

I must protect her.

He spoke coolly.

“You have the wrong title, Marquis of Evans.”

“What?”

“It’s not ‘Dietrich.’ It’s ‘Young Duke of Claudius.’”

As the Marquis stared blankly, Dietrich continued, firm and clear.

“Until now, I’ve allowed you to speak down to me out of consideration for family ties. But now that I am to inherit the title, I expect you to address me with due respect.”

“Dietrich!”

The Marquis raised his voice, but Dietrich didn’t flinch.

“I’ll overlook your rudeness this time only.”

“How can you speak to your uncle like this? I was thinking of you!”

Dietrich replied calmly,

“If you truly thought of me, would you raise your voice at my father’s funeral?”

The Marquis glanced around in sudden awareness—mourners were staring wide-eyed.

He tried to hide his discomfort, but Dietrich’s next words shattered the act.

“And as for your offer to ‘take care of us’…”

Dietrich shook his head.

“No need.”

The Marquis’s neck flushed red.

“You little…!”

He spat a curse and stalked away.

Servants hurried over.

“Young Duke!”

“What happened just now…?”

Eva asked softly, “Are you alright, brother?”

After all, his hand was trembling badly.

Dietrich smiled.

“Of course.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

But he clenched his cloak tightly to still the shaking.

His only sister.
The many people of the Claudius lands.
The servants under the family name.
All the family’s enterprises.

I must take responsibility.

He grit his teeth. He had to become a great Duke—so that no one would dare lay a hand on Claudius lands.

So that no one would harbor ambitions toward this land his parents left behind.

Which meant—

Trust no one.

A sharp light filled his blue eyes.

The only one I can trust is myself.

Snow fell silently, swallowing everything—Dietrich’s smile, his tears, his childish innocence.

That day, with the snow drifting like dead butterflies… it all melted away.

It felt like his ears were underwater.

His eyelids were heavy as lead, his body limp like soaked cotton.

He thought it might be nice to just sleep forever.

What’s this?

Something cool and damp touched his hot forehead.

…Cool.

It brushed over his forehead again and again, then gently wiped his cheeks and jaw.

It felt good.

It had been so long since anyone had cared for him like this—
Not since his parents had died.

Since then, he had hidden his weakness, swallowing medicine alone, never letting anyone see.

He couldn’t remember being nursed like this.

Who is it?

He forced his eyelids open.

Through his hazy vision, a face came into view—refined features, long lashes, and pink eyes looking down at him in worry.

“…-nim!”

Her voice sounded muffled, as if from underwater.

“Your Grace, are you awake?!”

With that cry, it was as if he had been pulled out of the water—his mind snapped back.

“Lady… Ansie?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

Larit clutched the wet cloth in both hands, her expression on the verge of tears as she looked at him.

“Do you know how much Lady Eva was worried when you collapsed?”

Then she bit her lip and murmured,

“And… I was, too.”