# 43
Luan lay on the bed, staring absently at the ceiling.
As his eyes followed the chandelier, he thought about what he would do next.
“I don't even know if I should be here. My mother insisted that I become Duke Belzeit, but...”
This position was never meant for him.
“My father remarried… There will come a day when a child will be born who will inherit the title of Young Duke.”
He didn't want to take any more from Aachen.
It was a great blessing for Aachen to welcome his late twin brother's son.
As if that wasn't enough, Aachen has kept the fact that Luann is not his biological son a tight secret.
He endured malicious rumors and criticism to protect Luann.
That's why Luan rashly dropped out of Kimmich Academy and returned home.
There was a classmate of his who deliberately spread unsavory rumors about Aachen. Luan could not forgive anyone for belittling Aachen.
When he struck the assailant in a fit of rage, Aachen intervened and apologized.
“Even my father gave a proper apology.”
On top of that, rumors spread that Aachen was using his power to silence others.
Luan couldn't stand it.
The longer he stayed at Kimmich Academy, the more damage he would inflict on Aachen.
There was a soft knock on the door from outside.
“Is it my father?”
Luan adjusted his seat and looked outside, but the corridor was empty.
"…What is this?"
Something touched his foot, and he looked down to find a covered plate on the floor.
He lifted the lid and found a strawberry cake and a small note.
He opened the note and found very poor handwriting a messy handwriting full of spelling mistakes.
[ Big brother, hello.
Cherry tasted the cake first. It was absolutely delicious.
You know... your eyes looked sad.
I hope eating this cake makes you feel better.]
(Shevilyn wrote the letter and there are many spelling errors, but I translated it correctly so you can understand it)
It must have been the little girl he saw earlier who left her.
Even as he looked around, he found no trace of anyone nearby.
“Did you leave her and run back to her room?”
Luan leaned against the door, thinking about the girl.
He couldn't understand why she always turned to him, even from their first meeting.
He wanted to ask anyone.
Are all children who receive love this warm, like the warmth of the sun's rays?
How can someone give so generously without hesitation?
Unlike him, who measured and discussed everything, she shared pure kindness with him.
His stomach growled.
“...I'm hungry.”
He had not eaten well for days, and he was exhausted by hunger.
His eyes fell on the strawberry cake, which was covered in a thick layer of smooth whipped cream.
He grabbed the fork, carefully stuck it into a strawberry and put it in his mouth.
The taste of the cream on his tongue was so sweet, that he subconsciously closed his eyes.
Tears started falling on the carpet, one after another.
Once she started, she didn't stop.
Tears flowed endlessly, soaking the fabric beneath him.
As it fell into his mouth, the strawberry cake no longer tasted so sweet.
However, he continued eating, devouring one bite after another.
In the end, he ate too quickly and choked, beating his chest hard.
His sobs blocked his throat, making him unable to speak.
Fearing that someone would hear him, Luan quickly covered his mouth and began to cry.
It was unbearable. He didn't even know why he felt this way, even when he was crying.
He knew it shouldn't be like this, so he hurriedly wiped away his tears.
‘My father remarried out of responsibility, to protect me, as I am the only surviving descendant of his deceased relative.’
When he first heard of Aachen's second marriage, and of the new stepmother and brother or sister who would join him...
He was curious to know more about them.
He wanted to ask Aachen, but words failed him.
A few days ago, he heard that a small wedding had been held in Beitstein.
Helen Pitstein.
Now the new Duchess of Belzeit, Lady of Hestor Castle.
Helen was a very beautiful woman.
Her emerald green eyes filled with deep warmth, like a lush forest.
Her gentle voice was soothing.
In fact, he was hoping to befriend the little girl he met earlier as well.
But they were not a family he was allowed to long for.
Luan's gaze returned to the bed he had been lying on earlier.
The place where his mother died.
The place where she always knelt and bowed her head to.
Its comforting fragrance faded over time, but...
Every time he lay down on his bed, he felt like he was in her arms.
As he always did, Luan lay at an angle and spoke to someone who would never answer him.
“Mom, I don't think I belong here.”
He could not bear the thought of Aachen suffering disgraceful rumors because of him.
His mother, Rose, was once accused of seducing a member of the royal family despite being a commoner.
She never answered those accusations.
She was afraid that her words would hurt Luan.
That was a memory Luan would never forget, no matter how young he was at the time.
He couldn't bear the thought of another innocent person being mocked because of him.
“Even if I become Duke of Belzeit...”
That would be…
No importance.
Luan wasn't worthy of the position, and more importantly, Rose was no longer around to witness it.
."I shouldn't be greedy. I shouldn't be detected. I've hidden myself well so far, so I can keep going."
Luan forced himself to hold back the tears again and again.
Once you obsess over something, you start wanting more.
So, if you don't take anything in the first place, you have nothing to lose.
Giving up wasn't hard.
“…This is the right choice.”
Dinner time
“Where is the young duke?”
Helen went down to the dining hall after putting the sleeping Shivalin to bed. She glanced at Aachen, who was sitting alone.
While Aachen smiled anxiously, Luan came down the stairs.
“Did something happen?”
The boy's expression was unusual.
“Luan, please sit down.”
Helen welcomed him with a warm smile, noticing that he had not sat down.
After a short hesitation, Luan finally sat down.
The appetizers were soon served, filling the dining hall with the delicious smell of food.
“Dad, please dismiss the servants.”
“Servants?”
Aachen was surprised by Luan's sudden request, but he complied and ordered the servants to leave.
Once there were only the three of them left, Luan spoke, looking directly at Aachen.
"my dad."
“……”
“Please… disown me.”
Helen was completely shocked by Luan's unexpected words.
“Do I disown...?”
Her eyes met Luan's.
“…I have no reason to stay here any longer, I am not your real son.”
Luan continued speaking in a steady voice, his gaze not leaving him.
“Are you saying that?”
“Aren’t you the Duke’s biological son?”
Aachen suddenly put down his knife with a loud thud, interrupting Luan.
."Luan. You'll be locked in your room for a week."
For the first time, Aachen's voice had an unusual firmness.
“Dad, I'm serious. I...”
“Go upstairs. Now.”
Luan looked like he wanted to say more, but in the end he left without a word.
“……”
“……”
There was silence between Aachen and Helen.
Helen did not ask permission first, and Aachen could not utter a word.
After a long silence, Aachen finally broke the silence.
“…Luan is not my biological son. He is my twin nephew.”
“Luan is not the Duke’s son...?”
‘Why did Aachen raise him as his own son though?’
“When my brother died in a car accident, I married Luan’s biological mother to show him as my son.”
Aachen then turned to Helen and offered a sincere apology.
“I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner.”
“If Luan hadn’t told you today, would you have kept it a secret forever?”
Aachen lowered his gaze, as if to confirm her suspicion.
Helen was not angry, but surprised.
The deeper she got to know Aachen, the more she realized how responsible and devoted he was to his family.
“He's really a great guy.”
Instead of feeling cheated, she found herself feeling something new, something she didn't know about herself.
“Don't say that, Duke.”
“Hale...will you forgive me?”
"no."
Helen shook her head firmly. He didn't do anything wrong.
“This is not something that requires my forgiveness.”
"…cardamom."
Aachen's blue eyes widened in astonishment.
"Regardless of blood relationship, Luan is your son. Never say otherwise."
Aachen closed his eyes tightly, and tears fell.
“…I don’t know what to do. How much does he hate me as a father to ask something like that…?”
His voice was full of sadness, and it faded as he struggled to complete his words.
But Helen saw Luan's facial expressions when he asked to be disowned.
It was not an expression of defiance, nor was it out of anger.
“The young Duke did not ask to be disowned because he hates you.”
“Then why...?”
Aachen looked at her in confusion.
Helen answered calmly.
“I think he's afraid he'll hurt you.”
The fact that he chose to say it in front of her, carefully watching her reaction, made it clear.
This was not a call to defend himself.
Rather, it was a reassurance to them, his way of telling them not to worry about him because he was not Aachen's biological son.