chapter 7
“What method?”
Though wearing an unconvinced expression, Daniel still allowed Luke to speak.
No matter how frivolous the man seemed—trusting only in his abilities as a master swordsman, behaving recklessly, and constantly entangled in scandals with women—Luke was still considered somewhat of an expert when it came to matters involving women.
Thinking he had finally found a chance to make up for arriving late, Luke began confidently.
“I believe everyone knows that I have seven older sisters. And that all of them are married.”
“So?”
“My sisters say the type of man women hate most as a marriage partner is one with problems involving women.”
“...Problems involving women?”
“Yes. Men who can’t forget their ex-lovers, men who constantly seek other women instead of settling down, or men who keep traces of women they’ve already broken up with.”
Luke spoke proudly.
At the same time, confusion spread across the retainers’ faces.
Who was Daniel Prause?
He was a man reputed to be as proper and virtuous as the High Priest himself.
And now they were talking about womanizing?
‘He politely turns down even noble ladies asking him for dances.’
‘His Grace having romantic scandals with ex-lovers? He doesn’t even have anyone that could be called an ex-lover….’
‘Of all people, our lord is the furthest thing from promiscuous. What nonsense is that blockheaded knight spewing now?’
Completely oblivious to the suspicious looks directed at him, Luke continued.
“What I mean is, if rumors spread that His Grace’s private life isn’t clean, Princess Frey will give up.”
“...”
“And as it happens, His Grace is already taking care of abandoned children, isn’t he?”
Luke recalled the basket Daniel had found beneath a wall about three years ago.
[Your Grace, please raise these children well.]
Inside the basket, alongside that irresponsible note, were two infant boys barely old enough to have been born.
[“These are no ordinary children. Prepare a residence for them in the grand duke’s detached palace and see that they are cared for.”]
That was what the compassionate grand duke had ordered.
The fact that an unmarried man had suddenly taken in two little boys was known only to the employees of the grand duchy.
“Even though they were foundlings, we could spread rumors saying the children are actually Your Grace’s bloodline—”
“Luke.”
A stern voice cut him off.
It was his grandfather, Baron Divine, the butler of the grand duchy, standing among the retainers.
The retainers clicked their tongues in disgust after hearing Luke’s creative yet disgraceful solution.
“Sir Divine. No matter what, there’s still dignity His Grace must uphold as the Grand Duke of Prause. Pretending the young masters are illegitimate children is a bit—”
“Butler Baron Divine, you’ve truly raised your grandson wonderfully.”
“I am ashamed, Your Grace. This time I will make sure to properly discipline that foolish grandson of mine.”
“Ah, Grandfather!”
The office instantly descended into chaos.
Amid the commotion, Daniel rested his chin on his hand and quietly fell into thought.
[“Daniel… I’m sorry.”]
A scene he had buried deep within his heart resurfaced in his mind.
A middle-aged man holding the body of a deceased human woman in his arms while clutching a half-empty bottle of poison.
It was Duncan, the former Grand Duke of Prause and Daniel’s father.
[“Daniel. Your mother… Julia has just passed away.”]
Murmuring blankly, Duncan let the bottle of poison slip from his hand.
The poison he had already consumed was beginning to destroy his body.
It was the end of Duncan Prause—a transcendent being with a lifespan exceeding a hundred years—who had dared to love a human.
[“Father!”]
[“Daniel… I’m sorry. I cannot leave her alone, not even for a moment.”]
Thud.
His father’s body collapsed weakly atop his mother’s.
The only breathing left in the room was Daniel’s own.
[“Father… Mother….”]
No.
At the moment the two people who meant everything to him vanished from the world, Daniel stared at the poison bottle.
If he drank even a single drop remaining in that bottle, he could be together with his beloved parents forever.
[“...”]
But Daniel couldn’t do it.
More than the desire to be with the people he loved, he was consumed by fear—fear that death would cast him into endless darkness.
I’m scared.
I… I’m scared.
I love Mother and Father, but…
If I survive, then at least Prause will survive too, won’t it?
Yes. I—
At the very least, I have to live.
He remembered rationalizing his decision not to follow after them and collapsing to the floor in tears until the retainers arrived.
At the same time, something had been carved into his chest like a scar.
[“Daniel. Prause are guardians of time. Never forget that.”]
The reason the great Grand Duke of Prause—his always-strong father—had abandoned his son and turned away from the world in an instant.
Love for his mother.
Love.
[‘…I’ll never do something like that. Never.’]
Daniel’s trembling gaze turned away from the poison bottle.
Even when those he believed would protect him lunged at him for wealth and power, he had been forced to endure alone.
How many admonitions had he listened to while sitting in that massive chair his feet couldn’t even touch from?
[“From today onward, you are the Grand Duke of Prause. You must fulfill your duty as the guardian of time.”]
[“Enough crying already.”]
[“It is unfortunate that no elders of the family remain, but you must become stronger in times like these.”]
Yes. If that was the duty of the one who survived alone after turning away from love.
Daniel erased the illusion from his mind.
Even now, he still believed his duty was to protect the order of time and his territory as the Grand Duke of Prause.
And he still believed he should never fall into something called love—the thing that had created such a horrific ending.
“Luke Divine.”
As the quiet Daniel finally spoke, the room that had been filled with arguments instantly fell silent.
“I’ll give you authority. Ruin my dignity however you see fit.”
“…Excuse me?”
Every retainer present, including Luke, froze on the spot.
But Daniel did not retract his words.
‘If Luke damages my reputation appropriately, then the unwanted courtship should stop too.’
Perhaps if he were known as a modest and virtuous man it would be different, but no one would want to marry their daughter to a promiscuous man with illegitimate children.
And if someone still tried to push the matter, he could simply reject them using a nonexistent “true lover” as an excuse.
“I’ll give you a few days off. Spread rumors and turn me into a degenerate, Luke.”
He had no interest in marriage or romance.
Because dragon blood flowed in his veins, he still had a long life ahead of him, and he wanted at least this much peace.
“The faster, the better. His Majesty the Emperor, who dotes only on his daughter, may truly use the Absolute Obedience Right.”
“Your Grace. Are you really…?”
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of trying to impress noble ladies now or ever.”
As though declaring he would not take back his words, Daniel picked up his pen again.
“Princess Frey. His Majesty the Emperor requests that you join him for lunch.”
“Alright. I’ll go immediately.”
Frey rose from her seat as if she had been expecting this.
She had already known her father would summon her today.
After all, she had openly visited the temple, used the divine power appraisal device, and then refused to reveal the results to anyone.
‘He called for me sooner than expected. That means he’s even more curious about the results.’
Which meant now was the perfect time to subtly reveal her plans to him.
The moment she entered the meeting place, the Emperor stood up and asked,
“Frey. I heard you visited the temple. And that you used the divine power appraisal device?”
“Yes, Father. I’d like you to dismiss everyone first.”
With a single glance, the Emperor sent the attendants away.
“Frey. You’re truly worrying me sick. Tell me the result.”
Rather than explain with words, Frey simply extended her hand and focused her mind.
Fwaaa—
A faint cluster of light bloomed from her palm.
It was divine power—the power of the gods said to purify undead monsters and bring peace.
The Emperor hurriedly placed his hand over his daughter’s.
“This is definitely divine power.”
Frey gave a bitter smile and nodded.
If only she had gathered the courage to realize earlier that she possessed divine power.
Then perhaps she could have prevented her mother’s death.
But she had been too afraid of the Empress and Crown Prince, avoiding everything the entire time, and as a result she could only watch her mother die.
‘…I won’t run away anymore.’
After making that vow to herself, Frey spoke.
“Father. I intend to use this power to form a marital bond with the Grand Duke of Prause.”
“...”
The Emperor couldn’t say anything.
There was no doubt that what Frey had displayed was divine power.
‘But if it’s only at this level, then the Grand Duke possesses it as well.’
It would certainly grow stronger with training, but at the moment it was ordinary.
The Emperor doubted the grand duke would take Frey as his wife merely because she possessed this amount of divine power.
Instead, he only felt troubled imagining his daughter believing she could win the grand duke now that she had divine power.
‘In that state of judgment, going to the North really would be suicidal.’
As the meal neared its end, the Emperor cautiously voiced his thoughts.
“Frey. I’m sorry, but divine power alone won’t be enough—”
But Frey simply smiled as though it were no big deal.
“The Grand Duke also possesses divine power, so of course it won’t be a major attraction.”
“I’m relieved you understand that.”
“Did you know? When I used the appraisal device, I went in alone, so no one knows how strong my divine power actually is.”
A faint smile appeared on Frey’s lips.
Ordinarily, people shouldn’t even know whether she had been confirmed to possess divine power or not.
But given the High Priest’s experience, he probably at least sensed whether she possessed it.
‘Since I deliberately tried to hide it, there’s a high chance he assumed I possess immense divine power like the usual imperial heirs.’
Everyone in the capital knew one thing.
Frey Obellir had a tendency to hide and avoid anything that might irritate the Empress.
‘Which means the High Priest, who has observed me from fairly close by, will likely misunderstand and think I’m hiding great divine power.’
Frey intended to make full use of that misunderstanding.
“If Father uses the Absolute Obedience Right, I’ll make the proposal to the Grand Duke myself.”
