HTNSA 86

Chapter 86

Not only had she helped him overcome his mana insensitivity, but now she had even found his father for him.

If it weren’t for her, a moment like this would have been unthinkable.

Perhaps that’s why.

That night, Felix couldn’t sleep, overwhelmed with emotion.

“As soon as I wake up tomorrow, I’ll go see His Grace the Duke. I’ll ask him for the herb Eila mentioned.”

The more precious this moment felt, the greater her presence became in his heart.

His feelings for her had grown so immense, he no longer knew what to do with them.

At that point, he could no longer deny it.

“I like Eila.”

As the thought surfaced, a deep sigh escaped his lips.

He wanted to run to her right away.

He wanted to see her face.

If she heard the news about his father, wouldn’t she rejoice as if it were her own matter?

“And if I even bring back the herb, she’ll like it even more.”

Just imagining her reaction brought a faint smile to Felix’s face.

Maybe because his heart was so full of excitement, even with his eyes closed, sleep wouldn’t come. He tossed and turned all night and woke at the break of dawn.

He knew it was still early, not even light out yet—but he couldn’t wait to meet the Duke.

When he tugged clumsily on the bell cord, the butler quickly knocked on his door.

It seemed he’d been waiting in the next room all along.

After washing up with the water the butler brought and changing clothes, Felix cautiously spoke.

“It’s quite early, but… I’d like to see His Grace the Duke. Would that be alright?”

The butler responded, startled.

“You don’t need to be so formal with me, young master.”

“Ah… got it.”

“You may visit His Grace anytime. I’m sure he’ll be very pleased.”

“Isn’t he a busy man?”

“It’s alright. Right now, there is nothing more important in this estate than you.”

Felix nodded awkwardly.

“Then please guide me to His Grace.”

As Felix made his way to meet the Duke, he felt the intense gazes of the servants follow him.

Some looked at him with tear-filled eyes, hands clasped together as if in awe. Others quietly wept.

The butler, worried this might make Felix uncomfortable, bowed his head and whispered,

“I’ll make sure they’re more discreet.”

“Oh, it’s fine. I suppose I must seem rather strange to them.”

The sudden return of the long-lost son was bound to be shocking for the household staff.

At Felix’s words, the butler shook his head awkwardly and replied,

“That’s… not it.”

“…?”

“It’s not that they find you strange, but rather, they’re overwhelmed with emotion.”

Biting his lip, the butler continued.

“Time had practically stopped in the ducal household. But with your return, life has been breathed into this place again.”

When the Duke’s heir went missing, the Duchess fell into despair and lost her mind.

Eventually, her health deteriorated, and she passed away. From then on, warmth vanished from the Agenta estate.

The Duke had lost his smile.

The servants, sharing in his grief, had to work in an atmosphere as cold as ice.

But after Felix’s return, that same household was now filled with a renewed energy.

The butler couldn’t help but feel deeply moved.

He spoke with genuine sincerity.

“Thank you, truly, for returning safely to us.”

Felix felt bewildered.

He had always been treated as a burden, so to suddenly be someone others were grateful for just by existing…

It made his heart ache in a strange way.

Unfamiliar—but not unpleasant.

To be someone important to others.

Soon, the two reached the Duke’s door.

The butler gave a brief knock, and a voice immediately called out, telling them to enter.

It seemed the Duke was already awake.

Opening the door, they saw the Duke of Agenta seated by the window in a robe.

As soon as he saw Felix, a gentle look softened his eyes.

“Did you sleep well?”

Felix bowed politely and answered,

“Yes, very well. And you, Your Grace?”

“Yes. For the first time in a long while, I slept deeply.”

A faint smile tugged at the Duke’s lips.

The butler, seeing this, teared up again and dabbed at his eyes with a handkerchief.

Felix now understood why the man was getting emotional again.

It was well-known in high society that the Duke had long suffered from insomnia.

They said he hadn’t slept soundly since losing his young son and then his wife.

“There must be a reason you came to see me at such an early hour.”

“There is something I’d like to discuss with you, Your Grace.”

Felix hesitated.

Now that he was here, it wasn’t so easy to make his request.

“What if he thinks I’m trying to use the dukedom already?”

Sensing Felix’s anxiety, the Duke stood and approached him.

“Whatever it is you want to say, feel free to speak your mind.”

He placed a hand on Felix’s shoulder.

“Have you had breakfast?”

“Not yet.”

“Then let’s talk over breakfast.”

The Duke motioned with his hand and led Felix to a small dining room.

There, the servants had already prepared a full breakfast.

Warm bread, fresh fruit, egg dishes, and a hearty meat soup were neatly arranged.

For a morning meal, it was quite extravagant.

Felix glanced around awkwardly.

The servants of House Agenta were looking at him with sparkling eyes.

“I guess I’d better eat really well now…”

The Duke offered Felix a seat, then handed him a piece of bread himself.

“Go on, eat. And speak freely. Whatever you want to say, I’ll listen.”

“…Anything at all?”

“Yes. You are the rightful heir of House Agenta. Whatever you want, this family will do all it can to support you.”

Felix hesitated briefly, then took the bread.

Though it was unfamiliar to dine alongside the Duke, he was touched by the man’s attentive care.

The warm gaze following him throughout the meal made him feel shy.

As he sipped the soup, Felix gathered his thoughts slowly.

Once he’d eaten enough to feel full, he cautiously brought up the subject.

“Um, do you happen to know of an herb called ‘God’s Footsteps’?”

At Felix’s question, the Duke blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting it.

“How does Felix know about that?”

‘God’s Footsteps’ was a rare herb granted to the House of Agenta when the Empire was first founded, in recognition of their great service.

To prevent it from being stolen, it was grown in a secret location, known to very few.

“Its divine properties earned it that grand name.”

It couldn’t grow in ordinary soil, so their ancestor had planted its root deep in the Forest of Shadows.

There, it would absorb the ambient mana and thrive.

As they had hoped, the herb had grown well, and now several specimens existed.

Still, they were few, and only used under exceptional circumstances.

“The last time we used it was when my wife was ill.”

So unless someone had a deep interest in medicinal herbs, they likely didn’t even know it existed.

The Duke smiled gently and asked,

“You need that herb? I can certainly give you some. But I’m curious—how did you come to know of it?”

Felix hesitated for a moment, then decided there was no need to hide the truth.

“To be honest… my mana insensitivity hasn’t been fully cured yet.”

“What?”

The Duke’s mouth dropped open in shock at the unexpected confession.