RHFTY chapter 83

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Chaeyi understood the implication and let out a short breath.

Since the illegal acts had been committed by the other side, there was nothing to lose.

Ferdinand’s words made it clear—there was no need to act graciously toward them.

With a nod toward Chaeyi, Ferdinand said loud enough for all to hear:

“What do you think, Chaeyi? Should we take him and run?”

It was an impulsive suggestion, almost reckless—but it was so very Ferdinand.

The noblewoman burst out indignantly, “Yosin is our adopted son! Taking him away would be a crime!”

To an outsider, her distress might have seemed genuine.

But Ferdinand, unfazed, smirked even more smugly, aggravating them further.

“Is that so? Then you must have an adoption certificate, right? Not a slave contract. Don’t worry—if you’re telling the truth, I’ll apologize and accept any punishment. But I wonder… Can you produce that certificate? Oh, and just so you know, it’s hard to forge an adoption certificate. Those can only be issued by monasteries that oversee the process.”

He continued, “Monasteries also conduct unannounced inspections for families that adopt orphans.

It’s a tedious process, so adoption isn’t an easy cover-up for harboring slaves.

But hey, feel free to prove me wrong.”

“You seem to have forgotten where you are,” the nobleman hissed.

“This is Lancaster territory. Even if Lord Ludvis is the emperor’s son, you should know your limits. Lancaster won’t stand by idly. Or are you too naive to understand that?”

“Then go ahead and whine to Lancaster if you feel so wronged,” Ferdinand retorted.

“See if that helps. But don’t forget—Yosin is a very precious child of yours, isn’t he?”

The old man finally erupted, raising his voice, and a few passersby cast sidelong glances.

Yet, as expected, they either looked away indifferently or frowned as if annoyed by the commotion and walked on.

Yosin only curled up further, trembling violently.

“Taking him and running away… It wasn’t a bad idea, but…”

Chaeyi quietly looked down at Yosin as the old couple and Ferdinand argued.

“In his current state, it’s impossible.”

Yosin, paralyzed by fear in front of the elderly couple, couldn’t respond properly to what was happening around him.

Even if Chaeyi suggested escaping together, it was uncertain whether Yosin would even grasp the sincerity of the offer.

Moreover, Yosin was no longer the small child he once was.

Simply picking him up and running away wasn’t a feasible option anymore.

“What should I do?”

…No.

The truth was, Chaeyi already knew the answer.

There was an easier way.

It wasn’t a method he wanted to resort to if he could help it.

After a moment of calm deliberation, Chaeyi opened his mouth quietly.

“Then, shall we go together? To Lancaster Manor?”

Chaeyi’s golden eyes, steady and piercing, shifted to the elderly couple.

The intensity of his gaze made them flinch, their shoulders trembling instinctively.

But the moment passed quickly.

They composed themselves.

Retreating now would hurt their pride, and they had their own leverage to fall back on.

“Surely Lancaster wouldn’t cast aside vassal nobles like us.”

Being vassals to the lord of such a vast domain implied great power and prestige.

Conversely, it also meant that to maintain their influence and authority, the lord needed to placate the vassals to some extent.

This balance of power ensured that Lancaster couldn’t treat them carelessly.

Moreover, a family like Lancaster, which prioritized maintaining its dominance by selecting only Alpha heirs, would likely let this situation slide.

“Even the Emperor has to consider Lancaster’s stance.”

The Emperor’s power, determined by the nobles’ support, was effectively weaker than the lords of prominent domains.

This dynamic made it a reasonable assumption.

Under normal circumstances, Chaeyi wouldn’t stand a chance against them.

Their sole mistake was underestimating what Chaeyi’s connection to Leonard meant.

“Fine. Let’s go right now.”

The elderly couple led the way to Lancaster Manor, boldly ignoring Yosin, who they had been shouting about as their son only moments before.

Enoch, who had been watching silently, helped calm Yosin and supported him so he could move.

Confirming this, Chaeyi followed the couple.

Though Ferdinand and Bennax looked worried, wondering what Chaeyi intended to do, they chose to trust his decision.

Before long, they arrived at Lancaster Manor.

The butler, startled and confused by the sudden arrival, examined the group.

The elderly couple raised their voices, eager to assert their displeasure.

“We are the Viscount Jacens. We have an urgent matter to report to Lancaster.”

“Please hear our grievances.”

The butler glanced subtly at Chaeyi and then at the disheveled man supported by Enoch.

It seemed he had grasped the general situation.

Without further comment, he began to lead them inside.

Their destination was…

“Leonard’s office.”

It wasn’t Delion’s office but Leonard’s.

This was a deliberate choice by the butler, though the elderly couple didn’t realize it.

To them, it didn’t matter whether they spoke with Leonard or Delion, as long as someone listened.

In fact, they thought Leonard might be easier to manipulate than the seasoned Delion.

Chaeyi, however, had intended to speak with Leonard from the start and had no objections.

When they entered, Leonard was at his desk, working.

Chaeyi, seeing Leonard in this state for the first time, paused briefly, struck by the unfamiliar sight.

“What’s going on?”

Leonard lowered his pen, his gaze sweeping over the group before him.

The butler bowed politely.

“Viscount Jacen has come with an urgent matter.”

As soon as the butler finished speaking, the couple knelt, pleading their case.

“Please, hear us out, young lord!”

“Ludvis threatened to take our son away, spouting nonsense! That despicable man dared to call our son a slave! This is clearly an insult to the House of Lancaster! Don’t you agree?”

All eyes turned to Leonard, who sat silently with his hands clasped, staring down at the couple.

His expression betrayed no emotion, making it impossible to read his thoughts.

The chilling demeanor for which he was infamous was now on full display, leaving the couple swallowing nervously.

Suddenly, Leonard’s gaze shifted past them, landing on Chaeyi.

He had already pieced together the situation and understood Chaeyi’s connection to the so-called slave.

He waited for Chaeyi to speak.

“What should I do, Chaeyi?”

After a moment’s silence, Chaeyi nodded and spoke.

“Could you all leave for a while? I’d like to talk to Leonard alone.”

The butler, seizing the opportunity, ushered Enoch and Ferdinand out of the room.

Their footsteps faded as they descended the stairs.

With the office now quiet and the atmosphere colder, the couple began to fidget nervously, sensing the shift.

Yosin, still pale, stood frozen.

Chaeyi looked down at Yosin and began to speak slowly.

“His name is Yosin. Before you… ‘I’ sold him into slavery.”

Chaeyi hesitated, fearing Leonard’s disappointment or shock.

It wasn’t fair, considering it wasn’t truly his sin, but explaining that the previous soul in his body had committed the crime was impossible.

This was the only way to confirm Yosin’s history.

And Chaeyi…

He didn’t want to avoid responsibility, hiding behind Leonard.

People had suffered because of the body he now inhabited.

“Even if I didn’t commit the act, denying or avoiding it would only sound like an excuse.”

Chaeyi glanced at Yosin, knowing such deflection would only hurt him further.

“It’s the most regretful and unforgivable sin of my life….”

If someone had to take responsibility, it could only be him.

“It’s a crime I’ll atone for, for the rest of my life.”

Chaeyi lifted his head again.

Despite Chaeyi’s confession being akin to a solemn vow, Leonard’s expression was unexpectedly calm, far more composed than anyone anticipated.

On the other hand, the shock was evident on the viscount and his wife’s faces.

They couldn’t comprehend why Chaeyi was behaving in a way that was practically an admission.

“I didn’t like the idea of using you for something like this… Honestly, I hesitated.”

Leonard would undoubtedly grant whatever Chaeyi desired.

Because Leonard was kind.

And it was precisely because Chaeyi felt as though he was exploiting that kindness that he hesitated.

He wanted his words to carry the weight of sincerity.

“But I want to free this child. No matter what.”

Leonard’s gaze softened, melting into a warmth that completely enveloped Chaeyi.

Chaeyi didn’t look away, holding Leonard’s eyes with equal intensity.

At that moment, it felt as though they were alone in the world, entirely focused on each other.

“So, Leo. Just this once, could you give in to my selfishness?”

Leonard rose from his seat and stepped closer to Chaeyi.

Standing before him, Leonard bent slightly at the waist, gently grasped the back of Chaeyi’s hand, and pressed a soft kiss to it before looking up.

“As much as you want.”

Leonard’s crescent-shaped eyes glimmered with a sweetness as irresistible as candy.

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