# 28
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After her return, Elinor made sure to restore the corridor to its original condition to make it appear as if she had not used it.
But suddenly, a voice was heard.
Was there something you didn't arrange correctly?
Elinor looked at Matthias immediately.
His expression didn't change, but his eyes seemed calmer than they were.
At the same time, his gaze was preciy directed towards the location of the secret passage.
Could he have discovered that I used this corridor...?
“Cough!”
Elinor felt anxious and began coughing hurriedly.
“Kh, kh… kh!”
“Mother of the baby, are you okay?”
It was a violent cough, as if she was about to lose her breath.
Matthias looked away from the secret passage and looked at her.
Elinor held her chest and said:
“Suddenly... I felt short of breath...”
"This can't be. Lay down."
Matthias helped her lie down.
“It seems you haven't fully recovered. Are you sure you don't need a doctor?”
"I'm fine."
Elinor firmly refused.
“If I take the medicine and take another day of rest, I'll be fine.”
“You are, you see, a bit stubborn, aren't you?”
“I just don't see any need to do unnecessary things... ugh, ugh.”
“Your throat definitely hurts, I will ask you to prepare food that is soft and easy to eat.”
Matthias sighed.
“Now, you better rest well. We'll talk later.”
“Okay...”
“I'll have the maid take care of the baby like yesterday. That's okay, right?”
“I'm sorry. Please, take good care of him.”
“If you're sorry, take care of your health. How can someone who takes care of a child have such a weak body?”
"actually."
“If you're not better by tomorrow, I'll really call a doctor.”
After Matthias finished his advice, he said he would send the food through the maid, and then went out of the room carrying the child.
As soon as Matthias left, Elinor got out of bed and headed to the entrance to the secret passage.
Her heart was beating hard as she approached the wall.
'Why is this...?'
She was sure that she had closed the passage properly after she returned, so why was there a gap?
She had to erase any trace before Matthias returned.
Elinor put her hand on the wall and pushed it hard.
But at that moment, a faint voice was heard from behind the wall.
“Heck.”
Elinor's body froze.
This time, it wasn't the sound of objects hitting, but the sound of a person.
As Elinor hesitated for a moment, the secret passage opened completely, contrary to her intention.
And he appeared behind him...
“Hah!”
“Young master?”
Tidian Hilliard, the youngest son of the Grand Duke Hilliard family, had a shocked expression.
* * *
Grand Duke Hilliard's family was a prominent family, but, surprisingly, there were only a few family members left in the main palace.
The previous Duke died ten years ago due to an accident, and the Duchess Mother was suffering from health problems and moving to the countryside to recover.
Logan Hilliard, the second son, was guarding a contaminated area, while Maria and Julia, the fourth and fifth twins, were in D.C. for a debut ceremony.
Cornelia, the third, was at the palace, but she was too busy managing the affairs of the fiefdom on Matthias' behalf.
Therefore, Tidian was very happy when his older brother Matthias returned to the palace after a long absence.
He had a lot to talk about.
He wanted to show off how hard he studied, ask what his brother did, and beg to visit their mother in the countryside.
He was also wondering if his sisters who had gone to the capital for the apparition ceremony would return for the fiefdom's dueling competition.
But now…
“Why did you put the spoon down? Have you finished eating already?”
I want to ask why you hide a woman and a child in an abandoned ward that no one uses.
* * *
“How did you get here, young master?”
“But you, why are you with my brother?”
When Tidian arrived at Elinor's room through the secret passage he had discovered in the training ground, he could not believe what he saw and heard.
The passage was believed to be a secret entrance dug by a thief. So he followed him.
He wanted to catch the thief who had escaped from his hands.
But when he came to the end, he found that the thief he was chasing was with his favorite brother.
The duke's bright blond hair and the thief's deep red eyes.
And there was a child who looked like both of them on the one hand.
“Yes. The baby’s mother... likes...”
“I…”
'I can't hear well.'
The wall was thick, so he couldn't hear what was being said well.
So, he pushed the door slightly, but he didn't expect it to make a loud sound.
Fortunately, Matthias did not discover him, but he was exposed in front of the woman.
But at that moment, Tidian had become so curious, he was happy to meet her again.
"Who are you? Don't try to lie again. I already know you're not a scullery maid."
"I thought you were a thief, so why are you here? How do you know my brother? Why were you talking and laughing as if you were close? And why did my brother take the child? Who is he? Isn't it your child?"
Tidian launched a stream of questions.
He was determined not to leave until he got answers.
Elinor did not open her mouth easily.
While they were in a silent struggle, the maid brought food, and Tidian was forced to return through the secret passage.
Now, he returns to the palace and shares dinner with Matthias.
* * *
“Teddy?”
Tidian stared at Matthias without answering.
His gaze was so direct that it almost pierced Matthias' face.
'Is he angry because dinner was late?'
Even after returning to the fiefdom, he was very busy and did not find time to have dinner with him.
He was to receive reports of contamination and instruct the Information Syndicate to track Charlotte.
Although Cornelia helped with the fiefdom's affairs, the soil pollution issue was entirely his responsibility.
Of course, there were many people who wanted to meet him after he returned as a duke.
'You've already neglected Tidian.'
He felt sorry for his brother.
On the other hand, he found his younger brother, who complained about simple things, very cute.
Although he had become rather tall, he still seemed young, cute and cute to Matthias, and was a source of vitality to him.
Matthias smiled and said:
“You have to eat a lot to grow more. You are growing, how can you eat only this little? Come on, eat more.”
“I will be in the fiefdom for a while. The servant said that you have been diligent in your swordsman training. He said that you might win the swordsman competition this year.”
"What do you think? Shall we exercise together after dinner?"
Despite his tempting suggestion, Tidian remained silent.
Matthias glanced at Cornelia.
Cornelia, who was eating quietly, opened her mouth.
"That's a good idea. You've been training every evening alone, haven't you?"
"Really? You were diligent then."
"But if you, brother, are Tidian's opponent, everyone will come to watch. Don't be too noisy. I still have a lot of work to do."
“Don't you want to watch with us?”
“You're the one who entrusted me with all the affairs of the fiefdom and you say that? And anyway, I don't want to. The training ground stinks of sweat.”
Cornelia refused in a condescending tone.
Tidian did not react. He seems really angry.
How can I calm him down?
While Matthias was seriously thinking, Tidian opened his mouth.