* * *
Why tell a story so different from the truth?
As Bellick wrestled with the confusion, his gaze met Chester’s.
The man was still smiling faintly.
It was a smile that sent a chill down Bellick’s spine.
‘Pull yourself together. He could be probing me.’
Bellick forced out a voice.
“O-of course! How could such a thing happen? Especially from the noble Duke Fetchwig himself!”
“Indeed, you’re right. True, the Duke and my family often find ourselves at odds, but I know full well he’d never commit such a cowardly act. However…”
Chester trailed off as if in regret, stroking his sharp jawline with a sigh.
“Then why would your elder brother say such a thing? Could it be that he wants our two houses to become mortal enemies?”
Bellick cursed inwardly.
‘That stupid, brainless fool. Why would he spill that?’
Yet at the same time, a sly desire began to rise within him.
If he told Father about this…?
‘He would never let it slide. Yes… this is a chance. This time, I could push my brother out for good.’
In the most polite tone he could muster, Bellick said, “Duke.”
“I don’t know why my brother would tell such a lie, but I can assure you it’s not true. I wish to clear up this misunderstanding at once. I’ll speak to Father immediately.”
“Good. I want this misunderstanding cleared as well. Especially since my elder brother is quite furious.”
“I understand—truly. I can only imagine how startled you must have been because of my brother.”
“You really are a man I can talk to easily. I’m glad I spoke with you.”
Chester spoke softly, then offered a bow.
Startled, Bellick hurried to return it.
Chester began walking down a small garden path, but after a few steps, he called out—
“Oh, by the way. Young Master.”
He looked back with a smile more beautiful than any of the flowers blooming in the garden.
“Be careful of your brother. If he’s willing to damage the family’s honor with lies, then there’s no guarantee he won’t target your honor as well.”
“M-my… honor?”
“He’s an ambitious man. For his own dreams, he might use any means necessary. Of course, that’s only my guess… but it never hurts to be careful.”
Leaving those ominous words behind, Chester walked away.
Watching his retreating back, Bellick frowned.
A shiver of foreboding crept up the back of his neck.
“…Why even talk to him?”
Chester’s smile deepened at the low voice.
Under the shade of a tree stood Isaac, arms folded.
“To stir things up. Drop in a little suspicion so they start fighting each other.”
“You think that’ll work?”
“Oh, it’ll work. Those two have been itching to destroy each other for years. Thanks to their father, Duke Fetchwig.”
Chester stepped beside Isaac.
The cool shade under the massive tree felt pleasant.
“In fact, we might not have to do much. They’ll destroy themselves.”
“How dull.”
“You actually want to handle it yourself? You usually hate this sort of thing.”
“They touched Adam. I don’t mind personally erasing them.”
“I understand. But…” Chester’s voice turned velvety.
“This way will hurt old man Gordon more. Watching his sons ruin themselves will be worse than crossing swords with us.”
“True. That’s why I left it be.”
Isaac tilted his head back to gaze at the branches above.
The leaves swayed slowly in the breeze, their green reminding him of Adam’s eyes.
He murmured,
“He never liked his sons much to begin with. The Duke should thank us for getting rid of them.”
“Indeed.”
The two of them already knew the whole story—they had called everyone in the castle together right after rescuing Adam.
The gravity of the situation had people trembling as they gathered.
The air was so tense it felt frozen.
“Bring him in,” Chester said with a bright smile.
The doors opened, and soldiers dragged in a man bound tightly with rope—Colin.
“Haa… h-haa…”
Colin’s breath came fast with fear.
He darted his eyes around, only to meet looks of contempt or outright dismissal.
“Well,” Chester said cheerfully,
“Do you know why you’ve been brought here?”
“I-I don’t.”
“You don’t?”
“No! I truly don’t. I… I’ve just been quietly doing my work, that’s all. I swear it!”
At that, two workers cried out, “Duke!”
They were servants who had served the Carlisle family loyally for many years.
“That’s a lie! We saw it with our own eyes! On the day of the incident, Colin went into the forest alone!”
“T-that’s impossible!”
Colin cried out desperately, his bloodless face ashen.
“Do you have proof? Proof, I’m asking you!”
“Harry.”
Isaac spoke in an emotionless tone.
At that low call, Harry stepped forward and untied the pouch in his hand.
A cascade of gold coins spilled onto the floor.
The moment he saw them rolling away, Colin’s face twisted in a flash of regret.
“From your room. Quite a large sum.”
“T-This… this is money I’ve been saving my whole life!”
“Is that so?”
Isaac’s words were slow, his quiet, low voice making Colin tremble even more.
“I heard from your comrades. They say you blow all your earnings on drink. That you’re at the tavern almost every day.”
“That’s—”
“I also heard your drunken rants are pretty bad. Even heard from the barkeep exactly what you said.”
“…!”
“You dare insult your master? And you still plan to keep denying it?”
No sooner had Isaac finished speaking than the soldiers drew their swords.
The gleaming steel made Colin scream.
The crushing sense that he might really die here smothered him—he couldn’t even beg for mercy.
“Uh—uhhh…”
The cold blade touched his shoulder.
Colin collapsed forward, trembling violently. From above his bowed head came a murmur.
“If you tell the truth, you can keep your life. Confess why you went into the forest.”
Colin had no courage to keep feigning innocence.
All he could do was rub his hands together and spill everything.
“Brother.”
Chester, recalling that day, called to Isaac.
“Don’t you regret it?”
“Regret?”
“Falling in love with Adam. It’s made us vulnerable.”
“…”
“From now on, we’ll always be anxious, won’t we? Afraid something might happen to Adam.”
“Most likely.”
Isaac let out a faint chuckle, his eyes calm as they gazed into the garden.
“But I don’t regret it. I gained things I never would have experienced otherwise.”
“Experienced?”
How warm Adam felt when he nestled against him.
How happy it was to hold him close.
How special it was to stroke each other’s hair and exchange tender words.
If he hadn’t loved, he never would have known.
Isaac didn’t explain further.
It wasn’t in his nature to list such things to his younger brother—and besides, mischievous Chester would only tease him for it.
Even though Chester was in the same position himself.
“That’s a shame.”
Chester smirked slyly.
“I was secretly hoping you’d regret it. Then I could steal Adam away.”
“A foolish dream.”
“You never know with people. Did we ever expect we’d fall for the same person?”
“No matter what, there are lines you don’t cross.”
“Hahaha!”
Chester laughed loudly, his bright laughter scattering on the wind.
Isaac noticed the faint blush coloring his brother’s cheeks—an unmistakable face of someone hopelessly in love.
‘Not a bad sight.’
Do I look like that too?
Isaac brushed the back of his hand over his smooth cheek.
His once-sharp eyes softened.
* * *
