“Hey, um...”
“Yes?”
I quickly wiped my smile and looked at him.
Moving his hands hesitantly, Daedric asked in an unsure voice,
“Is there something you would like to add to the name? Like a symbol or something like that...”
Still struggling with the name, right?
I stared into his blue eyes and pointed at them.
“Your eyes.”
“My eyes?”
“I want it to be something blue.”
Daedric touched the corner of his eye, looking a little embarrassed.
“But this represents me, not you.”
"I want it to represent you. Even my accessories are all blue."
All that was on my mind was something like “monster” or “ashes.”
But if my name reminds him of me, maybe it will be harder for him to let go of me.
Of course, Daedric is loyal and will stay true to his word. But still... just in case.
I wanted to live a long, long life.
In my previous life, I was sick. Even getting up and walking was difficult.
But here, I could move freely.
Of course, my world was small, but it was much better than it had been before.
"Understood? I'll keep that in mind."
He touched the corners of his eyes in shame and nodded.
_______________________________
Daoul Danaos advanced down the long corridor with a grim expression on his face.
As he followed behind the servant, he stifled a sigh that was about to come out, and his convulsive fist was trembling.
"the curse."
Curses passed through his mind.
Daul had just returned from the Imperial Capital the day before, and was now on his way to the Duke's office after being summoned.
He had a clear idea why.
It was due to the unilateral attack from Somerset a few days before.
One of the Black Falcon Knights had reported the incident to the Duke. Even the Duchess couldn't stop him.
When she was unable to convince Jacob to remain calm, the Duchess summoned Daul.
Her voice was unusually soft when she said:
"Sir, you do realize that this is mostly the master's fault, don't you? If you had stopped Somerset, all of this wouldn't have happened. I'm sure you understand what I mean."
Then she added:
“If we get past this, I may summon you again in the future.”
I spoke softly, but it was practically a threat.
She wanted him to take all the blame.
“I never should have sided with that woman.”
Now he is being abandoned.
His future was looking like a failure, as the servant stopped in front of the desk.
The servant gave him a cold look before knocking on the door.
“Sir, Ser Daul Danaos has arrived.”
“Come in.”
Jenkinson opened the door with a small gesture.
Daul entered slowly—and then stopped.
‘…!’
On the duke's desk, there was a wooden training sword, its iron-covered pointed tip soaked in blood.
Daedric blood.
Daul shuddered.
The Duke rested on his arm and said in a calm voice:
“You know this, don't you?”
“S-Sir...”
“Blackwood Knights are always praised for their efficiency. However.”
The Duke took the sword and threw it straight at Daul's face.
Boom!
Daul's head cocked to the side. Drops of blood fell on his forehead.
“I have lost even the basic virtues of a knight.”
“…”
“I heard from Diliani that you were the one who taught him those cowardly tactics.”
“…?!”
Daul's fists clenched.
It wasn't him who knew that.
He tried to stop him!
“Because I failed to stop it completely, but...”
When the Duchess first summoned him, he thought she would simply scold him for not arresting Somerset.
But now I realize they are trying to put all the blame on him.
“Are they going to throw me under the cart?”
Daul clenched his teeth.
“If you have something to say, speak up.”
“This is a false accusation, sir.”
Daul never trusted the Duchess.
“You'll call me back later?”
He made fun of her.
He knew very well how many of her former assistants had been abandoned.
He sided with Somerset only because it seemed the most promising option.
But now, he was about to lose everything.
He refused to be stigmatized all his life.
"Somerset was the one who decided to do this alone. I tried to stop him, but he was determined to make Daedric never carry a sword again!"
“What next?”
"I take full responsibility for my failure to stop him. I will resign my position as Commander of the White Falcon Knights and never return. But I refuse to be falsely accused of something I did not do!"
“Would you say the same thing against Delaney Blackwood and Somerset?”
Without hesitation, Daul nodded.
"naturally!"
“Bring them.”
Moments later, Diliani and Somerset entered the office.
Somerset cowered behind Deliani, clearly terrified.
Their gazes stopped at the blood-stained training sword on the ground.
Somerset suddenly retreated.
The Duke said:
“The blood has seeped in so deeply that it cannot be washed off.”
“Oh, Dad...”
“What if this blood is your blood?”
Somerset turned pale.
Deliani hurried to stand in front of him and shouted,
“Dear! He's just a child—”
Crackling.
The Duke interrupted by throwing a paper envelope at her feet.
Deliani's face turned red.
“W-What is this…?”
“A healing ointment infused with magic stones. I hid it so Daedric couldn’t use it.”
Her pupils twitched.
“So while Daedric is still walking around covered in wounds...”
“My dear…”
"You always said you cherished Deederic as a son. But you only care when Somerset is afraid? Doesn't Deederic's pain matter to you anymore?"
Diliani was unable to respond.
She swallowed nervously.
“It seems I was too lenient.”
“H-that’s not—”
“Even the reports you gave me were lies.”
The Duke looked at Daul and then turned away.
Deliani stared at him as if she wanted to kill him.
“It's a misunderstanding, my dear! This—”
“I'll give you two options.”
The Duke ignored her protests and spoke coldly.
"First, relinquish your command of the White Hawk Knights. Somerset will be confined to his chambers for a month."
Before she could object, he added:
“If he sneaks out or gets close to Daedric during that time, I won’t be so lenient next time.”
Somerset trembled, unable to raise his head.
But Diliani was angry.
“You take away my authority over the knights? Then I will have no one to lead!”
She continued to argue.
“And a month’s detention? That’s too long! The kids fight all the time—”
“Huh.”
The Duke sighed in disbelief.
Deliani shivered.
With his usual cold expression, the Duke replied to her.
“Hitting a Daedric with an iron-pointed sword is just a ‘children’s quarrel’ to you?”
“T-that…”
Before she continues, warn her:
“Think carefully before you say something you can't take back, Delaney Blackwood. Would you have said the same thing if Somerset had been the one who got hit?”
“…”
Deliani bit her lip so hard that she bled.
The Duke looked at Somerset, who was still hiding behind his mother.
“Somerset, are you really such a coward that you need to hide behind your mother?”
“A-dad...”
Somerset was so frightened that he could not speak properly, clenching his fists….
'Damn.'
I made a mistake.
She should have been more careful with the Duke.
I forgot how cruel it is when given enough reason.
A month's detention was already a lenient punishment.
“Be grateful you're not of legal age yet.”
“…N-Uncle, dad.”
Deliani and Somerset bowed……. Without looking at them, the Duke continued his speech.
“Option 2: I will cut off Delaney Blackwood's allowance, and you will personally take care of Deedrick. Jenkinson will be watching over you at all times. Now, which option do you prefer?”
Deliani's face turned pale.
"T-Reducing my allowance? Taking care of Daedric?! He wouldn't want that either!"
“You seem to be well aware of how much Daedric hates your presence.”
“Y-that's not...”
“Aren't you supposed to be a loving, nurturing mother?”
The Duke's sarcastic tone made Diliani's lips tremble.
“My patience is running out.”
“…”
The options were clear:
1. Either she relinquishes her authority over the Knights of the White Falcon and has her son, Somerset, remain in his room for a month.
2. Or she will lose her financial support and have to take care of Dedrick personally under constant supervision.
There was only one choice she could make.
“Why do I have to take care of that woman’s son with my own hands?!”
Deliani bit her fists so hard that her nails dug into her palms. She would rather die than do that.
I looked at Somerset.
“A-Mom...”
It was only one month. He only had to stay in his room for a month.
'But I can't lose my allowance!'
It would ruin her reputation in high society.
Giving up control of the White Hawk Knights was disappointing, but she had no other choice.
Deliani made her decision and pulled Somerset behind her.
“I will choose the first option.”
Somerset looked at her in astonishment.
"My mom…!"
“Listen to me well, Somerset,” Deliani whispered in his ear.
"It's only one month. Consider it a vacation."
"You're going to give up your control over the Falcon Knights?! What about me? If I'm locked up for a month, what will happen to my reputation?!"
Somerset forgot that the Duke was still there and raised his voice. Deliani quickly tried to calm him down.
“I'll take care of it.”
But she couldn't look into his eyes. Somerset's eyes were shaking with shock.
His mother had just given up the power of the Falcon Knights—something that would have helped him in the future—just to protect her pride.
In that moment, she chose her dignity over her son.
'You gave up everything... for something as trivial as money?'
The betrayal was evident in Somerset's face.
The Duke watched their reactions calmly before turning away.
This rift between them will widen over time.