Chapter 31
“The Hero of the Year is… Leo, the youngest son of the Jen Store!”
The boy who was called went up to the stage, his face full of excitement.
The Jen Store was the biggest store in the entire territory.
In the past, they had shut down completely during the plague, too afraid to stay open…
Things must have changed because the past was rewritten.
Amelia clapped with the crowd, giving a big cheer.
The applause was loud enough to reach the stage.
“This year, when everyone was scared because of the plague, Leo helped his father hand out supplies. And for the younger kids, he explained how to use them in an easy way!”
While the host spoke about Leo’s good deeds, Ian leaned over and whispered softly:
“Thanks to the biggest store helping out, it was easier to get supplies to the people.”
Even though people were afraid of getting sick, Leo still had the courage to help.
Amelia nodded in admiration and looked up at the stage.
“Now, would you like to say a few words?”
Leo nodded and started speaking confidently.
“When the plague first started, I was really scared. I didn’t even leave my room.”
His voice trembled a little from nerves, but he kept going bravely.
“Then I heard that His Highness the Young Duke was working hard to fight the plague. He’s an important person, but still close to my age…”
The audience nodded, understanding his feelings.
“That gave me courage. I wanted to protect this place that means so much to us. Thank you so much for giving me this big award!”
Everyone clapped loudly in celebration.
Amelia glanced at Ian beside her.
The light from the festival made his face look peaceful and proud.
He was smiling brightly and clapping, his red eyes glowing softly.
Without all his usual burdens, his face looked relaxed—and it made her smile too.
“Now, let’s hear from Leo’s parents!”
The host kept the ceremony going smoothly.
But then—
“F-Fire!”
The Next Day
“The moment the Hero of the Year was chosen, a fire broke out at the boy’s house…”
The Grand Duke spoke about yesterday’s event.
“Thankfully, everyone was away watching the ceremony, including his family and neighbors. But… that means there were no witnesses.”
Ian explained the incident calmly, and the Grand Duke listened closely.
“The investigation team believes the fire started in the dry straw near the outhouse.”
“So they don’t know if someone set it on purpose, or if it was just a random accident because of the dry weather?”
“Yes, sir.”
Hearing this, the Grand Duke frowned deeply, pressing his fingers between his eyebrows.
“But… the timing is strange. It doesn’t seem like a coincidence.”
Ian continued, and the Grand Duke’s frown deepened.
“Even the rumors that started afterward felt too planned to be natural.”
“Tsk.”
Rumors.
Everyone—from Ian to the Vesperd family to even the servants—had tried to hide it from Amelia, but she already knew.
“Vesperd is cursed.”
That was the rumor.
The Grand Duke clicked his tongue angrily as he cut into his steak.
The meat wasn’t so much cut as it was crushed under his strength.
Ian continued speaking in a calm voice, as if this wasn’t even about him.
“If someone really did cause the fire on purpose, they’re probably surprised. The people of the territory don’t seem to be blaming us.”
“You saved them from the plague. Of course they support you.”
Wow—her father-in-law gave Ian a rare, direct compliment.
Amelia was pleased. 100 points, Your Grace.
But she also knew the rumor wouldn’t stop here.
Right now, it was just something people heard and ignored.
But it could easily grow into something worse.
They might start saying Ian being the heir was bad luck.
“The fire is one thing, but now they’re even saying the meteor shower was a bad omen? That’s so low,” said the Marchioness.
The rumor had taken the beautiful meteor shower and twisted it into a sign of doom.
That shower had fallen the moment Ian decided to train his powers—it had been special.
Amelia felt furious that someone would try to ruin that memory.
Then Ian said something unexpected.
“Even if we catch someone, it’ll probably just be a low-level scapegoat.”
The Grand Duke looked at Ian seriously.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s more important to find the person behind all this, the one pulling the strings.”
The Grand Duke’s sharp eyes stared into Ian’s, but Ian didn’t look away.
“Alright.”
The Grand Duke nodded, clearly impressed by Ian’s courage.
But Ian wasn’t finished yet.
“Also, Your Grace… About those lessons you kept mentioning. I’ll take them—with the Duchess.”
“…Is that true?”
“Yes. We’ve discussed it.”
Well, technically, I forced him into it… but we still “discussed” it.
Before Amelia could nod proudly, the Grand Duke’s face brightened.
He didn’t smile, but as someone who knew him well, Amelia could tell—
This was his version of a huge grin.
She looked at Ian proudly.
She thought he’d wait longer, but after the fire incident, he had clearly made up his mind.
“I want to protect the people. And Vesperd.”
Ah. So that’s why.
Even if she pushed him a bit, he chose this path himself—after seeing what happened to the people.
Amelia looked up at Ian, her heart touched.
But just in case the Grand Duke said something awkward next, she changed the topic quickly.
“I’ll help too! I want to protect Vesperd with His Highness!”
She picked up a piece of steak with her fork and reached it out like a toast.
“…Duchess, that’s a bit…”
“Please? My arm hurts…”
Ian, who had stayed calm while talking about the fire, now looked shocked.
You need something fun to cheer you up, she thought.
He was carrying such heavy burdens. He needed to feel that he wasn’t alone.
Who cares about table manners—I’ll take a scolding later.
“You really are a Vesperd,” the Grand Duke chuckled.
Whoa—he agreed? Amelia had actually done it expecting support from the Marchioness, not him.
Surprisingly, the Grand Duke joined in first. He stabbed his steak and held it out.
His long arm reached easily across the table.
“Toasting with steak is a first. But it’s not bad,” the Marchioness smiled and joined in too.
Finally, Ian gave in and reached out his fork.
Everyone now looked at Joseph, the only one left.
Amelia turned to him with a smile.
“Your Highness?”
I know it’s you. I’m sure you’re the most suspicious.
She held back those words with great effort.
“Yes. I hope so. I’ll help too,” Joseph said, giving a sly smile as he raised his meat.
Just then—
“Your Grace! I’m sorry to interrupt your meal, but a knight returned urgently from Borgoro with a report!”
Later…
“Wow…”
The so-called “Oil House,” famous for its rich lands, really lived up to its name.
Amelia stared out the window with her mouth open.
A few days ago, we got a letter from Marquess Doiten, saying he heard about the fire during the Hero Festival and wanted to send a small gift to comfort the people.
Now, the result was right in front of her.
In the spot where the carriage carrying Asterin had left,
there were now two rows of wagons filled with grain.
So much for a “small gift.” It’s huge!
Amelia smiled in satisfaction as she looked at the generous gift from the Marquess.
