Home/I Saved the Villain and Fell Asleep/ch 12

Chapter 12

Those born with the blood of the Algenprina ducal house are all born with unique mana.

Nobles bearing mana infused with their family's power were common enough, but Algenprina possessed a mana unlike any other.

Namely, magic that suppresses mana.

The current head of the family, Algenprina Hale's unique magic, was known as the "Peace Zone."

Anyone within the Duke's magical radius would be rendered unable to use mana—reduced to the state of a "non-mage," the very thing they so despised.

If you asked mages which was more fearsome—a powerful offensive spell or a spell that nullifies magic—every single one would choose the latter.

Because being unable to use magic meant losing everything they had.

"Hm?"

A knight waiting at a distance hurried over to the Duke, holding a communication orb.

"Your Excellency!"

"What is it?"

Kaelen stepped forward and took the orb.

"At around 1 PM, the second young master contacted us."

"The young master?"

If something had happened at the villa, an emergency signal would have come immediately, so it was unlikely to be dangerous. The Duke gave a light nod, and Kaelen activated the orb.

After watching the recorded message left by Sier, the Duke's face turned pale.

"Oh dear..."

Kaelen sighed sympathetically. To Kaelen's ears, the message didn't seem like much, but for the Duke, its meaning was different.

A message from the Duchess asking him to return to the villa as soon as possible.

"As soon as possible."

"What time did this message come?"

"1 PM, Your Excellency."

"Oh dear."

The Duke strode ahead with large steps. Kaelen followed, suggesting the fastest route to the villa.

"It would be best to use the teleportation circle."

"Is there one nearby?"

"If we ride to Heinte, we should be able to arrive well before midnight."

"Let's go."

A hint of impatience crept onto the Duke's face. It was hard to believe this was the same man who, moments ago, had reeked of blood and sent a mage's life into ruin.

The Duke of Algenprina, feared by all mages along with his grim reputation, was—when it came to the Duchess—a doting husband who would do anything.

The thought of keeping his wife waiting for ten whole hours made the Duke unable to hide his anxiety.

The Duke rode quickly to Heinte and used the teleportation circle. Though he arrived in a village far from the villa, it was only a short ride away, so he galloped straight to the estate without rest.

Riding all the way to the front gate, the Duke caught his breath and dismounted.

"It seems the Duchess is waiting for you. The lights are still on."

"Oh dear."

The Duke strode through the gate, discarding his gloves, then ruffled his hair with one hand and casually unfastened his shirt buttons. He pulled the neatly tucked hem of his shirt out of his trousers, took a look at himself, and nodded in satisfaction. Kaelen, with practiced hands, made the Duke's appearance even more disheveled.

"Kaelen, how do I look?"

"An absolute mess. You look quite soft, if I may say so."

The Duke nodded with a satisfied expression. Fixing his appearance to look soft was one of his habits. The reason was simple.

When his youngest daughter was seven, she had seen him in his formal diplomatic uniform and cried, saying he was scary.

The truth was that she had been frightened by the barely contained anger and cold stare he'd had while receiving a report from Kaelen, but his daughter's tears had clearly been shocking enough that from then on, the Duke always maintained a sloppy—even shabby—appearance in front of his family.

"You wait in the office for now."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

The Duke carefully made his way to the bedroom where the lights were still on. Given his wife's temperament, she wouldn't be angry, but he was at a loss for how to answer if she asked what he'd been doing for ten hours.

She'd probably already guessed, even without him saying anything.

Knock knock.

"Dear, may I come in?"

When he opened the bedroom door, Rachel was standing by the window in her nightgown. As she turned, her face seemed to carry a chill, and the Duke crossed to her in a single stride.

"Rachel, first let me explain..."

"Listen to me first. Hale!"

"Rachel?"

Rachel grabbed Hale's arm, led him to the table, and with great excitement, gripped his shoulders with both hands.

"He's alive!!!"

"Pardon?"

"He's alive!! Eve's son!!"

At Rachel's words, Hale shot up from his seat. Rachel pushed him back down and planted her hands on her hips.

"I'm going to speak quickly, so pay attention, Hale. Questions can wait until I'm done!"

"Yes, my dear."

Moved by Rachel's spirited voice, Hale found himself nodding. After all that time seeing Rachel in a weakened state, seeing her bouncing with energy was deeply moving.

Several times during Rachel's story, Hale nearly leapt to his feet. Lambert's child was alive!

"I must protect Caelius until he can control his power and becomes strong enough to inherit the Grand Duchy. Even if you oppose it..."

"Rachel, Rachel. Let's calm down a little. How could I possibly oppose it? That child is not only Eve's son, but Lambert's as well."

Lambert. It was the name of a dear friend he hadn't spoken of in a very long time.

"I still haven't forgiven them. The former emperor shouldn't have died so easily."

Hale wrapped his arms around Rachel's shoulders as she muttered in a cold voice. Rachel's words constituted a grave crime of lèse-majesté against the imperial family. But if the current emperor had heard her, he would have clapped with glee.

If there was anyone in this empire who hated the former emperor more than anyone, it was the current emperor.

Two years after the incident at the Grand Duke's house, the former emperor was beheaded by the then Crown Prince—the current emperor.

"You said he was being chased. By someone."

"He was badly injured."

Hale tapped his fingers on the table.

"I'll need to investigate further."

It was unusual for someone who appeared to be a commoner to be pursued so persistently. It was highly likely that Grand Duke Isaac had been chasing the child who appeared to be Caelius all this time.

"For now, he needs to eat well and grow."

The Duke said in a flat voice.

"He didn't seem able to control his mana. He'll need education as well."

"We'll also need to conceal his hair and eye color. His face resembles Eve, but his hair and eyes look exactly like Lambert's."

"It seemed Caelius lets his guard down a little around Hari... If he stays with her, he'll probably adapt to this place as well."

Hale watched Rachel, who smiled contentedly with narrowed eyes. Reading Rachel's thoughts, Hale couldn't hide his gloomy expression.

Hale still wanted to keep his youngest daughter close to his heart.

"I'll handle the external investigation. You look after the children, dear. I'll take care of the urgent matters and return, and then I'll examine the children's magic. I'll station Shady in this area before I go. And..."

As Hale listed his endless worries, Rachel called his name.

"Hale."

"Yes."

"Thank you."

"Rachel?"

"I know it must have been stifling for you all this time. You had to take over the business I was running, and I shut myself away from society, making you take the long way around when you could have gone straight. I'm sorry for making you carry such a heavy burden alone."

"Don't say that, Rachel. Just do what you want. No one can force you to do anything."

Hale clasped Rachel's hand tightly. Warmth returned to her cold hand.

After Eve and Lambert's tragedy, Rachel had been so devastated that she could barely move for a long time.

Even knowing that the absurd claim that the Grand Duke had studied dark magic was a slander, she had completely shunned high society, which had turned their deaths into gossip.

"I need to stop lying around now. If I keep lazing about, Eve will be angry."

Rachel's gaze shifted. Her face, which had once drifted through each day with detachment, now held firm resolve.

"I was thinking it was about time I got up and started going out again. And it seems now is the right time. I can't keep leaving everything to you forever."

"Whenever you're ready."

Hale kissed the back of Rachel's hand lightly and smiled joyfully.

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