chapter 05
“I didn’t expect you to recognize me.”
“Ah! I-I’m so sorry!”
The merchant quickly let go of Eden’s arm and bowed repeatedly.
“I didn’t realize you were someone important…!”
People began turning to look in their direction at the merchant’s exaggerated reaction. Feeling the sudden attention, Eden briefly glanced around and then lowered his gaze to the hood of his robe, which he had pulled up.
There’s only one reason a high-ranking noble would wear a robe like this—to hide their identity.
Only then did the merchant shut his mouth and quickly move out of the way. Eden clicked his tongue in annoyance and stepped forward.
This was exactly why he hated crowded places—everywhere he went, people stared at him.
He wasn’t fond of noisy environments. The reason he had come to Herbere was due to a small matter. Of course, that matter could turn into something big, but for now, it was minor.
“Your Highness!”
A familiar voice called out. It was his aide, Miller, running toward him out of breath, waving a hand.
His expression was desperate, but Eden only glanced at him and spoke with a calm, indifferent voice.
“The confirmation?”
“It’s done. Huff… No one around here has seen Gilbert lately.”
Miller was still panting. As expected, Eden just nodded, showing no surprise. Seeing this, Miller sighed in frustration.
“…If you already knew, why bother coming to this estate at all?”
“You can’t trust everything people say.”
Eden’s blunt reply made Miller sigh again. Of course. Just as he thought.
Despite his sculpted looks and calm voice that made him seem like a kind person, Eden was actually a severe cynic.
He didn’t trust people—he trusted promises and arrangements.
Even now, he was probably still doubting whether Miller’s report was accurate. Still, he said nothing, likely because past experiences had proven Miller’s reliability for now.
It was a little sad that his lord didn’t trust him fully, but Miller understood. Eden had good reason to be the way he was.
“Why are you so interested in this Gilbert’s whereabouts anyway?”
“Do you know where the money given to the Heroes is usually spent?”
The unexpected reply made Miller tilt his head in confusion.
The ‘Honor Fund’ was a welfare policy that gave monthly payments to Heroes who had helped secure the empire’s safety.
“Well, I guess it depends on the person… But most probably use it for living expenses. While there are noble-born Heroes, more than half come from commoner backgrounds. I’m sure they have plenty of things to spend money on.”
“Then what are the chances that a commoner-born Hero who used the money normally suddenly started dumping it all into gambling a few months ago?”
“Well…”
Miller hesitated. It wasn’t unheard of for a Hero to go astray and lose everything.
A few generations back, one Hero gambled away all his money and ended up taking his own life. The tragedy became widely known.
Since then, using Hero funds for immoral or illegal purposes had been banned. If caught, all future payments were stopped. So even when desperate, Heroes stayed far away from gambling.
“Are you saying Gilbert has become addicted to gambling?”
“If it were just some random gambling hall, I wouldn’t even bother checking.”
“Then…”
Miller trailed off, sensing something worse. Eden smiled faintly.
“It seems the person running that gambling den is very close to my dear uncle.”
Just as I thought, Miller sighed again.
The current emperor, Belzer, was Eden’s maternal uncle.
He had taken the throne in place of his disgraced sister—Eden’s mother—even though he had never been close to the line of succession.
And that was why Eden had to move personally.
“I was wondering why you came here yourself… of course, it was because of that.”
Miller shook his head in disbelief.
Men Eden’s age were usually busy showing up at social gatherings, boasting about their powerful families, and parading around their eligible brides.
“But instead, you’re here chasing criminals instead of picking a bride…”
Miller muttered under his breath.
“At this rate, the noble Bertenon line might actually come to an end.”
“Miller. Don’t tell me you’re starting to sound like the Grand Lady?”
“I’m serious this time!”
Miller protested loudly, but Eden ignored him.
After all, his goal was to bring the great Bertenon family—something his father worked so hard to protect—to an end in his generation.
That’s why things like marriage or finding a bride had no place in his life.
Eden spoke in a flat, uncaring voice.
“Let’s return to the estate.”
“Yes, understood.”
Miller replied with a grumble still on his face—when suddenly:
“Log out!”
A loud cry rang out from nearby. Both Eden and Miller turned their heads at once.
In a deserted alley stood a young woman shouting something strange.
“She looks like a young lady…”
“How unfortunate,” Eden said.
Behind her, some older women clicked their tongues in pity. Miller, watching with the same sad eyes, suddenly widened his eyes in shock.
“That woman is…”
Surprisingly flustered for his size, Miller leaned in close to Eden and whispered.
“She’s his sister.”
“Sister? Whose?”
“Gilbert’s. The man you were looking for.”
But Miller’s reaction seemed a bit too dramatic for just being a sibling. Eden raised an eyebrow, and Miller lowered his voice even more, as if sharing a secret.
“You know Gilbert was adopted, right?”
“Yes. That’s why he’s still single, or so I heard.”
“That’s not exactly true. Even though he was adopted, he’s still a hero. Of course, he had marriage offers. But that woman ruined all of them.”
“Why?”
“She said she loved him. Her adopted brother.”
“…”
“They’re not blood-related, but still… it’s kind of unsettling, isn’t it? And ruining his chances to marry? Poor guy’s stuck being single.”
Miller grumbled with a deep sigh, like he felt the pain personally. Eden looked toward the woman who had been shouting strange words.
Someone must have pitied her and come over. Now, a red blanket was draped over her small shoulders.
Her figure seemed fragile and full of sorrow. If she was Gilbert’s sister, she was probably around the same age. She must have sabotaged his marriage prospects to have him for herself. Time must have passed slowly for her, clinging to a foolish obsession called love.
“How pathetic.”
Eden muttered. Miller perked up.
“Right? You think so too, don’t you?”
Miller clearly wanted to keep talking about love and marriage, but Eden didn’t allow it.
“Call for the carriage. We’re returning immediately.”
“Yes, sir.”
Miller obediently shut his mouth and walked ahead.
People around them gave the woman pitiful glances, but Eden never looked her way again.
She simply wasn’t worth his attention.
At least, that’s what he thought—until later, when he would end up proposing to this woman, who seemed to be the most foolish, love-blinded person in the world.
At the townhouse in the capital, the butler came rushing out just as their carriage arrived.
“Y-Your Grace! Something terrible has happened!”
“What is it?”
The old butler looked like he might faint at any second. Frowning, Eden strode into the house.
“W-Welcome home, Duke.”
Waiting in the parlor was none other than an officer from the Imperial High Court. The moment he saw Eden, he stood up nervously.
“What’s going on here?”
“Well… I’ve come to carry out your late father’s will.”
“His will?”
Eden’s frown deepened. Before his father’s death, Eden had checked—there was no will. He had made sure himself.
Sensing Eden’s confusion, the notary explained.
“This will was written back when you first left for the Academy. It was set to take effect five years after his death.”
“Hah.”
Eden let out a bitter laugh. Something had felt off. His father was not the type to go quietly. Turns out, he’d written his will ages ago.
“Read it.”
Eden sat down heavily, gesturing lazily with his chin. The officer began reading the will aloud.
Eden looked bored at first. He assumed the will was written just to annoy him—something his foolish father would do. And Eden believed he had his father all figured out.
“…Therefore, if my son does not marry within one month of this being read, all his title and wealth will be returned to the state.”
The moment those words were spoken, Eden’s face turned ice cold. The officer paled at the sudden shift in atmosphere.
“D-Duke…?”
“Keep reading.”
“…”
“Keep reading. Every word.”
Eden’s voice was chilling. His posture had shifted—from relaxed to that of a predator ready to strike. The officer closed his eyes tightly, braced himself, and continued.
“Furthermore, the marriage must be sustained for at least three years, and a child must be born within that time…”
Rip.
The officer couldn’t finish.
Eden’s aura had flared so violently that it shredded the will in his hands.
“…”
Even a magically certified, notarized will had crumbled that easily. The officer clamped his mouth shut, terrified.
Then Eden spoke.
“My apologies. When I hear something absurd, I have trouble controlling my strength.”
“…”
