After Kairen, who had learned the secret of the Belverk Ducal House, broke out in a cold sweat and clamped his mouth shut, the inside of the carriage fell into an abrupt silence.
'…I don't want to become a monster.'
In that quiet atmosphere, Astridje, who had been gazing impassively out the window at the scenery the whole time, finally turned her gaze slightly forward.
Toward the silver-haired boy—now her son—who sat slumped in defeat before her, head bowed, fidgeting with his fingers.
'Has anyone ever said something like that to me in my life?'
Since being born in Belverk, Astridje had never once escaped the fate of being a monster.
No, more precisely, she hadn't even been able to entertain such a thought.
To survive in Belverk, one had to abandon their humanity. Even she, in her youth as a mere candidate for family head, had climbed to this position with the blood of her siblings on her hands.
That was why she showed no particular reaction to the pointed fingers calling her a monster.
The long-standing bad habits and traditions of the empire's most prestigious yet insular family had, over countless years, twisted its members into beings more monstrous than monsters themselves.
And both then and now, the empire had always desired such monsters.
In times of peace, as a deterrent to solidify imperial rule; in chaotic times when monster territories expanded toward the borders, as the empire's strongest sword.
Thus, in every era, Belverk had to be monsters.
"...Hmph."
For that reason, what Astridje had just heard from the child before her—now the youngest son of Belverk—could easily be seen as a highly dangerous statement.
If the family elders had heard it, they might have even requested reconsideration of recognizing him as Belverk blood.
'Belverk blood saying they don't like seeing people get hurt? No joking matter.'
As she quietly furrowed her brow with such thoughts, Astridje's gaze suddenly met Kairen's right in front of her.
"Hehe."
Kairen hesitated for a moment in that state, then flashed a bright smile and crinkled his eyes. Astridje's body twitched slightly.
'…How should I respond in a situation like this?'
She had always been an object of fear to those around her. Naturally, children Kairen's age would burst into tears just from sensing the ominous aura she exuded on a normal day.
For such a woman, the innocent smile of goodwill from a child—the first in her life, practically—was something she could never get used to, no matter how she tried.
"...."
And that wasn't the only disconcerting thing.
Between the sleeves of the child smiling so brightly at her were vivid bruises and scars plainly visible. Those weren't marks that could form in a short time.
Clearly, this child had spent most of his life enduring oppression and abuse.
'And yet he says he doesn't like seeing people get hurt.'
In the Belverk way, it wouldn't be impossible to resolve. She could just return that pain tenfold to the entire family that abused him.
In fact, the mercy she had shown today was utterly unreasonable.
To help the child properly adapt to Belverk in the future, she should have made him watch the Opstein roots being uprooted right there on the spot.
'…Jumping to conclusions is premature.'
But Astridje shook her head inwardly and turned her gaze back out the window, organizing her thoughts.
'Strength comes in many forms.'
The Kairen still beaming innocently before her might possess a kind of strength that Belverk had never had.
For instance, he might think revenge carried out by others' hands isn't true revenge, vowing instead to grow strong himself and take it with his own hands.
The very fact that he could say such a thing despite enduring abuse too harsh for a child to bear was proof of strength.
He might seem fragile and harmless now, but after all, he was born with Belverk blood.
Someday, those eyes would turn red, and he would become a proper Belverk….
"…Yawn."
Astridje's rationalization shattered into pieces at the half-asleep voice that suddenly came from in front of her.
"Sleepy…."
Muttering with half-closed eyes and an adorable expression, Kairen soon began nodding off, his head drooping.
It was a sight utterly at odds with the sole inheritor of the cursed blood passed down through the ages, the next family head candidate.
- Swish….
However, instead of scolding his defenseless posture as she normally would, Astridje glanced around briefly before moving to sit beside the sleeping Kairen.
"...."
She scanned the carriage interior again—empty except for the two of them—then, with a somewhat hesitant expression, extended a hand toward him.
- Squeeze….
After a brief pause, her fingers finally touched Kairen's soft cheek.
"Mm."
At the squishy sensation, Astridje instinctively pulled her hand back, glanced around the empty surroundings for the third time, and then placed her finger on his cheek again.
"Ue…."
After poking at Kairen's cheek for quite a while like that, Astridje realized he was fully asleep and grabbed both cheeks with her hands, stretching them out.
"Looking at you like this, you seem a bit dim-witted."
"…Bueee."
"Is it because half of you is Opstein blood?"
Muttering with a somewhat serious expression while furrowing her brow in that state.
"Mommy…."
"...?"
"…Hehe."
At that exact moment, before she could react, Kairen leaned into Astridje's body, spread his arms, and snuggled into her embrace.
"...!?"
And right then, an indescribable feeling swept through Astridje's entire body.
It was too abstract and peculiar a sensation to put into words, but it was certainly something she had never felt in her life.
"...."
Though flustered and tempted to push him away, Astridje couldn't bring herself to do it upon seeing Kairen already burrowed in, breathing softly in sleep.
Just as her two arms, stiff like a broken machine at an awkward angle, began unconsciously moving toward Kairen's back.
"Duke, the carriage has entered the territory."
"...!"
The coachman's transmission came from the separated driver's compartment, shielded by soundproof magic.
"…Understood. Get ready."
Finally snapping to her senses, Astridje hurriedly stood from her seat, propped the embraced Kairen against the wall, and returned to her original spot as if nothing had happened.
"...."
And soon, silence settled back into the carriage.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Embrace in Duke Astridje's arms. (Failed) Not hugged of her own volition, so invalid.
"…Tch."
In that silence, the faint sound of Kairen clicking his tongue upon receiving the system's quest failure notice echoed, but fortunately, no one noticed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After arriving in Belverk territory, the carriage gradually slowed and finally came to a stop.
"Wah…."
Still rubbing my sleepy eyes with messy hair, I widened my eyes at the spectacle unfolding before me.
'It's like a palace.'
The Belverk Ducal House we had finally reached was enormous and majestic enough to rival any palace.
And in its vast garden, all the household staff stood lined up on both sides, bowing their heads.
"Have you arrived, Duke?"
Lost in awe at the sight, a girl with a somehow chilling appearance opened the carriage door and greeted my mother politely.
"And…."
Her gaze then met mine, as I cautiously eyed her from across from my mother.
"Welcome, Kairen Nox Belverk."
"Uh…."
"I am Schwarz, the Senior Maid acting as Head Maid in her absence due to an external event. I am temporarily overseeing the mansion. Please take care of me from now on."
She introduced herself with an eye smile to me, who was fumbling awkwardly at the sudden welcome, and began explaining the mansion's situation while I still wore a dazed expression.
"It hasn't been officially announced, but the ducal heir's official document has already been delivered. From this moment, all Belverk staff will treat you as a next family head candidate."
"Ah…. Yes."
"All staff have already completed the relevant training, so please enter with peace of mind."
Even for the Monster Ducal House, it was a fairly polite welcome, so my tension was starting to ease, but her follow-up made that thought vanish.
"…Though to be honest, the Belverk Ducal House itself isn't a place where heirs can feel truly at ease."
It made me feel like if I didn't steel myself from now on, my life wouldn't last.
"Everything must feel unfamiliar still, but don't worry. A dedicated maid will be assigned to teach you Belverk's rules, history, and the abilities engraved in your blood."
Seeing my gloomy expression, the acting Head Maid added an explanation with a quiet eye smile.
Dedicated maid? That means a personal attendant, right? Having someone reliable in a place like this is good, but a maid of all things. They could've at least assigned a strong knight.
"There's something to discuss regarding that, Schwarz."
"Yes?"
"It's about Kairen's dedicated maid…."
As I pouted inwardly with such thoughts, my mother suddenly called the acting Head Maid and began whispering something.
"…Really?"
For a very brief moment, a flustered expression crossed the face of the maid called Schwarz.
"But Duke, in my opinion, that's…."
"I think you've misunderstood. This isn't a request for opinions—it's an order."
"...Understood."
But only for a moment, as she soon smiled brightly and addressed me.
"Fortunately, the Duke says she's assigning her most capable and powerful child."
"Capable…. and powerful?"
"Hehe, the dedicated maids assigned to those inheriting Belverk blood also serve as bodyguards."
As expected of the Monster Ducal House—even the maids aren't normal.
Of course, for me who'd be living here without any connections, it was welcome news, so no complaints.
"I have business to attend to, so guide this child inside the mansion."
"…Yes."
Relieved inwardly with such thoughts, my mother finished instructing the acting Head Maid and walked ahead into the mansion, passing the lined-up staff.
"My older sister, the current Head Maid of this mansion, once served as dedicated maid to the Duke when she was a heir candidate."
"...."
"As you've probably guessed, dedicated maids are bound in shared fate with the heir."
And at the same time, the acting Head Maid standing beside me spoke to me again, maintaining her smile.
"So please survive diligently."
"...."
"For the sake of the child assigned as your dedicated maid, too."
Yet despite that, hearing those words sent a chill down my spine that I couldn't shake.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
In any case, as I followed the acting Head Maid Schwarz's guidance toward where my dedicated maid was, I soon got caught up in an incident.
"Hey, you."
I came face-to-face with a black bobbed-haired girl who looked two or three years older than me, with blazing red eyes.
"Get out of here now, while I'm asking nicely."
By the way, the well-sharpened knife in her hand didn't make her seem particularly friendly toward me.
"Oh dear, to run into Belverk's top troublemaker right before maid assignments are finalized."
"...."
"Your luck's not good."
📜 EMERGENCY QUEST 📜
Survive Lilien Nox Belverk. (0/1)
That was my first meeting with Lilien Nox Belverk, the third daughter of the Monster Ducal House and my third big sister.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙Recommended solution: Sometimes, melt a girl's heart with a bold delinquent vibe!
'…Is this serious?'