KTD Chapter 1 (Part 2)

LONG CHAPTER AHEAD

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Enzo had been Jaynie’s friend and brother. When Enzo had died in the mad dragon’s lair, Jaynie had despaired almost as much as Prince Isota. So much so that Isota’s accusations felt like truths.

“You should have stopped him! Enzo would’ve listened to you. He wouldn’t have gone if you’d said something. He trusted you. You killed him!”

Jaynie stared into his reflection, meeting his own ashen eyes.

He liked this look.

In his previous life, Jaynie’s golden hair and blue eyes were inherited from Princess Yerenia.

Every time people looked at him, they saw his mother. Whether it was his father’s pained expression or the emperor’s wistful longing, it irritated Jaynie endlessly.

Now, no one would see his mother in him.

Enzo hadn’t remarked on Jaynie’s changes. It seemed the mystery of the blessing worked that way—no one seemed to notice the shift in Jaynie’s appearance.

Having returned to the past, Jaynie felt obligated to live differently. He owed it to those who had been devastated by Enzo’s death.

In five years, the mad dragon would demand Prince Isota as a sacrifice. Isota, who would come to be called the “Jewel of the Empire” like Princess Yerenia before him, was a strikingly beautiful young man. When he smiled, people would feel compelled to grant his every wish.

He had an innocent, youthful charm that even the dragon, known to favor young boys, would covet.

Enzo had been furious at the dragon’s audacity. He wasn’t alone. The people of the empire, who adored Isota, were equally enraged.

The dragon’s demand for a royal as if they were a plaything was a humiliation to the empire. It implied that even their royalty were mere toys to the dragon.

When Enzo led his knights to the dragon’s lair, the people were ablaze with fervor. And when he returned as a corpse, the entire empire plunged into despair.

The empress fainted, and the emperor wept bitterly, banging his head against the ground.

Jaynie couldn’t allow that tragedy to repeat itself.

Leandro had been the only one to succeed in slaying the dragon.

“Where is that slave?”

“Which slave do you mean, my lord?” the servant assisting with his attire asked.

“The one who brought me the flower.”

“Shall I fetch him?”

“Yes.”

* * *

“Alright.”

Leandro’s face was noticeably cleaner. It seemed the servants had at least wiped him down with a damp cloth before presenting him to the young master.

With just that, his striking features were brought to life. Jaynie’s heart skipped a beat, and he felt a surge of disbelief toward himself.

This thin and filthy version of Leandro bothered him. Jaynie wanted to give him access to the bath and offer him a proper meal.

‘You pity him?’

Jaynie thought he must be losing his mind.

“What’s your name?”

Leandro hesitated.

“How rude.”

“I’m Rian’s son.”

“What?”

“The slave who died giving birth to me was named Rian. That’s why they called me Rian.”

“What a shabby name.”

Leandro’s cheeks turned red.

‘Have we had this conversation before?’

Jaynie couldn’t recall.

“What do you want?”

“Pardon?”

“You brought me the flower. I’ll reward you. Tell me what you want.”

Jaynie crossed his legs as he sat in the chair, his white legs peeking out from under the bathrobe, though he paid it no mind.

Leandro had never been mesmerized by Jaynie’s appearance. Even when assisting with his attire, his expression never wavered.

The young Leandro bowed his head.

“I desire nothing. If you are pleased, that is enough for me.”

‘That’s a lie.’

Leandro had said he didn’t love Isota. He had even sworn that he never would. But it had all been lies.

Jaynie remembered just how adept Leandro was at deceiving him. Anger boiled over, and he stomped his foot.

“Don’t insult me! You pleased me, so accept your reward! My satisfaction is worth that much!”

Leandro seemed flustered. Though his body had grown into that of a young man, there was still a boyishness in his face.

His hands and feet were rough from hard labor, and his skin was tanned by the sun. He looked every bit the ordinary slave. Yet, something about him stood out, likely because Jaynie knew why he had come to the duchy.

Leandro’s village had been devastated by a monster attack, leaving only him and a few others alive. They had barely managed to escape to Blurwin territory. That harrowing day had left deep scars on Leandro, shaping him into someone who sought to protect the weak.

The innocent and noble Leandro had witnessed people dying helplessly. He wanted strength—not just for himself but to protect others too.

“Tell me what you want,” Jaynie demanded sharply.

Leandro lowered his gaze.

“Please grant good food to me and the other workers.”

“Is that truly what you want?”

Jaynie felt disappointed.

Unlike most slaves who might desire money, jewels, or delicacies, Leandro showed no interest in such things. He wanted something greater, something higher.

“I wish to become a knight.”

Even back then, Leandro hadn’t been afraid of Jaynie. His yearning had outweighed any fear. He was so devoted to his ideals that he dared to voice a wish no other slave would dream of.

Leandro was different…

Suddenly, Leandro raised his head, his eyes piercing Jaynie like a blade.

“Will you truly grant my wish?”

“Let’s see how far your insolence goes,” Jaynie replied, exhaustion evident in his tone. He leaned back in his armchair, closing his eyes, unaware that Leandro’s gaze traced up his legs and settled on the pale nape of his neck.

“Let me serve you, Young Master.”

“What?”

Jaynie opened his eyes and stared at Leandro, startled. His expression was the same as when they had first met—eyes filled with longing.

“Allow me the privilege of serving you. …Can I not?”

‘Did you not promise to grant my wish?’

Jaynie could read Leandro’s thoughts. The yearning in his eyes faded, replaced by a hint of fear as he bowed his head.

Young Leandro was easy to understand.

Jaynie was the heir to a duchy. To serve him meant becoming a vassal of the duke—a knight of Blurwin. In the end, this wish was no different from what he had asked before.

Jaynie felt a wave of relief.

“Fine.”

He stood abruptly and disappeared into the adjacent room, his assigned bedchamber.

Left alone, Leandro knelt there, bewildered, unsure of what to do.

‘Is it over? Or not? Should I keep waiting?’

He stayed on his knees until his legs went numb, not daring to move. A servant of the duke’s household eventually found him. Hearing a faint groaning sound, they had opened the door and were startled to see him.

“What on earth are you doing here? Did the young master punish you or something? Ah, that one’s getting more temperamental as he grows older….”

Leandro allowed himself to be led away by the servant but glanced back at the door to the adjoining room.

It had only been three months since Leandro had become a slave in the Blurwin duchy.

Slaves rarely saw their master’s face. Even those who had spent their entire lives in the castle would likely not have seen the young master properly. Their duty was to bow low before him, eyes cast down.

This was the first time Leandro had seen the duke’s heir up close. From head to toe, everything about him seemed soft. His pale, flour-like skin left Leandro unable to look away.

Leandro’s mother had died of puerperal fever after giving birth to him. He had lived his life as a slave in a small village.

The lesson he had learned from barely surviving a monster attack was this: in the face of death, everyone is equal. The village chief, the most powerful man in his community, hadn’t survived the monsters. Such insignificant authority couldn’t protect anyone.

After that, Leandro began to crave strength. Even after finding safety in the Blurwin duchy, the longing for extraordinary power never left him.

And that young master… he was the most extraordinary being Leandro had ever encountered. His pale, luminous body seemed to shine in the darkness. Noble and beautiful….

Leandro had never seen anything like it.

Kneeling and waiting, Leandro’s thoughts fixated on the young master in the next room. That strange tension lingered with him even as he returned to his assigned quarters and lay down.

* * *

The urn containing Grand Princess Yerenia’s ashes was placed in a building built specifically for her. After her death, the Emperor constructed a small altar for her in the imperial burial grounds.

The building was just large enough to be filled with three robust men standing side by side. In the center was space for a person to stand, flanked by altars where the urns were to be placed.

Grand Princess Yerenia’s urn was placed on the left. Naturally, the person meant to rest in the empty space on the right was not the Duke of Blurwin. The Empress’s urn was intended to occupy that spot in the future. In essence, this building was a house the Emperor had built for those he loved in death.

The interior of the building was unnecessarily extravagant. The walls were adorned with intricately patterned fabrics and jewelry that the Grand Princess had loved. The designs within were carefully and meticulously arranged.

It was truly lavish… and absurd.

If this was how the Emperor found solace, Jaynie had nothing to say. Still, he wished the Emperor wouldn’t involve him in it.

The Emperor placed a hand on Jaynie’s shoulder.

“Yerenia must be pleased you’ve come. Even as the day wanes, don’t the flowers, freshly changed this morning, still look vibrant?”

Jaynie thought to himself, What kind of flower wilts in less than a day?

“Your Majesty’s grace is boundless,” he replied.

“No, not at all. I know there’s much about Yerenia that left you hurt. But isn’t your gentle nature a reflection of hers? Harboring resentment against her won’t do you any good. I’m truly glad you came here to ease your heart.”

“I have wallowed in grief and failed in my filial duties for too long. I’ve also caused Your Majesty worry. I owe my gratitude to His Highness, Enzo.”

“Yes, that child has always been concerned about you. I trust you’ll visit more often from now on.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor seemed to have forgotten that he had ordered Enzo to bring Jaynie here. Feeling pleased, the Emperor decided to have dinner with Jaynie that evening.

Prince Isota also attended the meal.

Prince Isota, who had yet to shed his boyish charm, was a striking figure with rosy cheeks. His curly golden hair and innocent expression gave him the appearance of a boy from a holy painting.

The only things Jaynie had inherited from Grand Princess Yerenia were her blonde hair and blue eyes. Jaynie thought Isota resembled her appearance more than he did.

Among the items the Emperor showed at the mausoleum was the Grand Princess’s locket. Inside was a miniature portrait painted before her marriage. Jaynie had to endure listening to how lovely she had been as he forced himself to look at it.

At least Isota’s appearance was undeniably lovely.

He cast a quick glance at Jaynie before turning his head with a haughty expression.

“It’s been a while since the two of you last met, hasn’t it?”

Even the Emperor’s kind demeanor couldn’t smooth over the situation. When Prince Isota pretended not to hear, Jaynie answered in his stead.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I suppose I should excuse myself so you two can spend some time together. It seems I’ve taken too much of Isota’s time,” the Emperor said.

He comforted Isota and simplified the formal dinner menu. While the palace staff bustled about, Isota sat back with his arms crossed and a lazy posture.

The moment the Emperor left, Jaynie stood up. It was a clear sign that he intended to leave. A palace servant quickly moved to follow him.

From behind came a voice, incredulous and annoyed.

“Are you seriously doing this?”

Isota pushed himself up from the table, his voice unexpectedly familiar.

What had Jaynie’s relationship with Isota been like when he was twenty? He couldn’t remember. All he could do was frown.

“Hey! This is your fault! I told you to reply on time!” Isota snapped. Whatever it was, Jaynie had never once conceded to Isota.

“I did, didn’t I?” Jaynie replied.

“Three months late is a reply? Did you secretly study abroad in the Western Continent without telling me? You probably tossed my letter aside, forgot about it, and three months later thought, ‘Oh, right, this thing,’ scribbled something random, and sent it! I don’t even remember what I asked you! And what does, ‘Oh, sea urchins are nice,’ even mean?”

In an era where magic crystal communication allowed for real-time contact across continents, Jaynie couldn’t recall who had insisted on sending letters instead. Memories of exchanging trivial letters with Isota for a time resurfaced.

When Enzo died, Jaynie hadn’t just lost Enzo.

He stared at Isota intently.

“What? What is it? Is it because I’m annoyed?” Isota, who had been raising his voice in frustration, softened his tone and grew cautious. He stepped closer and grabbed Jaynie’s arm.

“This is your fault, okay? Don’t act like this.”

Jaynie pulled his arm free. As Isota’s innocent face came closer, Leandro’s voice slithered into his mind like poison.

“Prince Isota is afraid of you.”

For a brief moment, Jaynie nearly wrapped his hands around Isota’s neck. His fists clenched. Lowering his raised hand took an agonizing amount of self-control. Instead, he awkwardly brushed his floating hand past Isota’s ear, letting his arm fall naturally to his side, attempting to disguise the gesture.

Still, it was a blatantly strange action, and the confusion was evident on Isota’s face. He rubbed his ear in response.

“What? Is there something on me?”

Jaynie pressed down his turbulent emotions with sheer willpower.

“Anyway, I replied to your letter. You didn’t reply to mine.”

“Are you kidding me?”

Isota grinned, baring his teeth, and playfully smacked Jaynie’s chest.

The impact stung more than expected.

Startled by the casual contact rather than the pain, Jaynie instinctively stepped back. Isota, after hitting him, began rubbing the spot he struck as if to soothe the nonexistent injury, grumbling all the while.

“Whatever. I’m never writing letters with you again.”

Six years later, Isota would kill Jaynie.

Looking at Isota now, it was hard to believe this soft, seemingly harmless person would ever commit such an act.

Then again, had Jaynie ever known? Did he ever think he would say the things he had said to Isota?

After Enzo’s death, Isota had cried, blaming Jaynie for it. Jaynie had shot back venomously:

“No. It was you. Enzo went to the Mad Dragon’s lair because of you. Did you cling to him, crying that you were scared? Begging him to protect you? Thanks to you, you survived. Enzo went there in your place, and you’re still here. You killed Enzo.”

From that point on, their relationship was beyond repair.

Jaynie still wondered where such words had come from.

Enzo had wanted to protect Isota. Jaynie had understood Enzo.

“It’s my duty to protect him,” Enzo had said.

Jaynie had tried to persuade him, but he couldn’t stop Enzo once he had made up his mind.

“This isn’t just about Isota. What about the parents of all the children taken before? Their siblings? What about the people groaning under the burden of tributes? I was a fool. I thought I understood their suffering, but it wasn’t until it happened to me that I truly realized. I finally know how much pain they must have endured. Now that I know, I have to fix it. This is the time.”

Jaynie had thought Enzo was dazzling in that moment.

Enzo was a formidable knight, so strong that no one his age could rival him. His prowess wasn’t because others went easy on him due to his status as a prince. The feats he accomplished were truly remarkable.

Because he was a heroic figure, everyone sent him to the Mad Dragon’s lair as though they were dreaming.

They genuinely believed he would return with the dragon’s head.

But even Enzo died like trash. The knights who survived carried his corpse back. Those knights either took their own lives or succumbed to worsening injuries shortly after.

No one ever returned alive from the Mad Dragon’s lair.

That’s why Jaynie could never send Leandro there.

“Even if it wasn’t your choice to come back…”

Isota embraced him.

“Welcome back, Jaynie. Since you’re here, stay for a while. Are you heading to the Blurwin estate? You could stay at the palace instead.”

“The estate’s more comfortable. No need to disappoint the staff; they’ll have prepared and waited for me.”

Jaynie was exhausted. Even after arriving in the capital, he had spent four days resting under the pretense of recovering from travel fatigue before entering the palace. Yet the fatigue he felt wasn’t from his body.

Was Isota always like this? Or had Jaynie always been this way?

After the two parted ways, Jaynie often wondered. He hadn’t meant what he said to Isota. Those words—he’d never once thought them before.

But hadn’t those words left his mouth as if they’d been prepared in advance?

Perhaps they had been Jaynie’s true feelings all along. He didn’t even know himself.

He once believed that Leandro, with his proud nature, would never harm the master who had elevated him from a slave to a knight. Even if Leandro didn’t love him, Jaynie thought betrayal was impossible.

And yet, here Jaynie stood.

“Did I upset you? You’re so quiet, Jaynie. Is it just travel fatigue? Or is it because you were dragged back to the capital? It’s not because of me, right?”

The boy standing before him bore no trace of malice, but Jaynie had already seen the depths of his nature.

He felt no warmth, only the strain of suppressing his hostility.

“Yeah, sure,” Jaynie muttered.

An awkward smile appeared on Isota’s face.

“You should rest. See you later. You’ll be in the capital for a while, right? I’ll send an invitation. I’ll introduce you to my friends….”

“I’ll come. See you next time.”

Isota fell silent and watched Jaynie walk away.

Jaynie glanced back. Isota was still standing at the entrance to the dining room.

When their eyes met, Isota raised his hand slightly in a brief wave. His expression was conflicted, as though unsure of what to do.

* * *

Returning to the Blurwin estate in the capital, Pyvios, Jaynie locked himself in his room.

Until he was seventeen, Jaynie had lived in the capital. Grand Princess Yerenia had resided at the Blurwin estate, so he had stayed there as well.

She lived in the annex with the child she had borne outside of marriage. Because of that child, Jaynie vowed never to return to the main house.

He had been the playmate of the imperial princes. Having grown up in and out of the imperial palace, it felt more like home to him than the Blurwin territory ever did. He felt no nostalgia for the duchy—his friends, the familiar servants, they were all in the capital.

Had it not been for the matter of inheritance, Jaynie would have spent the rest of his life in the capital.

Now, Jaynie lay face down on the bed. He buried his face in the pillow, holding his breath until the pressure in his chest became unbearable, and then sat up. Something seemed off outside his door.

When he opened it, Hansen, the butler in charge of the capital estate, was standing there.

“You’re awake. Was your time at the palace difficult? You seemed very fatigued. Shall I prepare a bath for you?”

“No, that’s fine. What about the task I gave you?”

“If you’re referring to the student you’re sponsoring, they are welcome anytime. Their admission is already arranged. Didn’t the student come with you?”

In his previous life, Jaynie had sent Leandro to a boarding school. He had instructed him to acquire a basic level of refinement within a year.

Leandro couldn’t even read. Jaynie had thought the slave who dreamed of becoming a knight needed a dose of reality.

It wasn’t just the barrier of status that stood in Leandro’s way. In every aspect, he was far below the standard.

Jaynie thought of his privileged relatives as vermin, but even they were suited to become knights. The martial skills and education they had received since childhood were not things to be dismissed. They could write poetry with ease and handle a monster or two on their own.

Jaynie had not expected much from the slave. Leandro’s earnestness was endearing, and Jaynie had taken a certain pleasure in it. He felt both the urge to give him a chance and to tease him.

“I’ll send you to a school where no one knows your background. I’ll give you a new name—use it there. If you want to become a knight, you’ll need to learn the alphabet in a month and be proficient in reading and speaking within two months. What they teach there is the most basic education commoner children receive. If, within a year, you reach the same level as those children, you’ll have laid the minimum groundwork for knight training.”

Even as he spoke, Jaynie thought it was impossible. Leandro only stared at him with wide eyes.

His expression was vacant. He probably thought it was too hard. Did he even understand what Jaynie was saying? Jaynie had no expectations of the slave’s intellect.

But then, Leandro smiled brightly.

“Thank you, my lord. I will never disappoint you.”

Leandro learned the alphabet in three days and became proficient in reading within a week. Within half a year, he was the top student in his class.

That was in the past.

Jaynie no longer wanted to personally sponsor Leandro as he once had. Back then, he had cared for Leandro because he wanted to protect him.

Perhaps this slave really could become a knight, he had thought. And if so, he decided to hide the fact that Leandro had been born a slave.

He had personally met with Leandro to instruct him to attend school and protected him from others. He had treated him as someone special.

Now, Jaynie didn’t want to do that anymore.

* * *

He called Hansen.

“The servants who followed me from the estate—find a slave named Rian. Have him cleaned up and dressed in decent clothes, then send him to the school. Place him in the dormitory for scholarship students. Tell him he has six months to become the top student in his class. If he doesn’t, his wish will be considered void.”

“A slave, my lord?”

“Yes.”

Hansen looked puzzled but left without further comment. Jaynie collapsed back onto the bed.

The thought of not seeing Leandro for six months was a relief. Seeing him made it impossible for Jaynie to maintain his composure.

During the few days Leandro had been confined in the mansion, Jaynie had repeatedly imagined summoning him and demanding, Why did you kill me?

Or perhaps, Should I kill you instead? Should I cut off your head and throw it to the dogs?

Just knowing that Leandro was in the same building was torment.

Those strong hands. The hands that had touched him. That had comforted him…

Jaynie, who had been lying motionless like a dead man, suddenly bolted upright.

Could he endure not seeing Leandro for six months?

Leandro was summoned by Hansen, the butler who managed all the servants of the estate. To a slave like Leandro, Hansen was a figure of authority beyond reach.

Lowering his head, Leandro waited for instructions, puzzled at why the butler would bother giving orders directly to a slave.

Or had he done something wrong?

Breaking the silence, Hansen asked, “Did you do something to offend the young master?”

Startled, Leandro raised his head. Though Jaynie had responded positively to his request, perhaps he had secretly been displeased. Seeing his expression, Hansen seemed to piece the situation together.

“Can you read?”

“No, I cannot.”

“The young master has instructed me to send you to school,” Hansen said.

Leandro’s eyes widened in shock.

“I don’t know what he’s thinking. He told me to make sure you become the top student in your class within six months. Does he even know you can’t read? Honestly, you might be better off running away in six months,” Hansen added as advice.

Jaynie was a demanding master with a reputation for dismissing servants on a whim. For a slave who had earned his ire, survival in the household was nearly impossible.

Hansen cleaned Leandro up, handed him a pouch of money, and sent him on his way. As Leandro left, he turned back several times to glance at the Blurwin estate.

What kind of master gives a slave a pouch of money? Would it really be okay if I just ran away now?

The pouch was surprisingly heavy. Hansen had called it his living expenses for six months, but the amount was enough for Leandro to escape far away and start a new life under a false identity.

It seemed Hansen had been sincere. He truly cared about Leandro’s well-being.

Does the young master just want to torment me? Did he make this condition just to mock me?

Leandro toyed with the money pouch before tucking it into his chest. For now, I should head to the market, he thought.

As he turned to leave, he heard the sound of hooves growing closer. Turning around, he saw a massive horse approach swiftly, and Jaynie was holding its reins.

“Where are you going?” Jaynie asked.

“My lord!” Leandro exclaimed, startled.

“Lord Jaynie,” Jaynie corrected.

“My apologies, Lord Jaynie. I was heading to the market to buy clothes.”

Is it okay to address him so familiarly?

Leandro was tense. He glanced around but saw no guards or attendants. It seemed Jaynie had come out alone.

“Why are you walking?”

“Pardon?”

“The horse. Why aren’t you riding one?”

“I… I don’t know how to ride.”

Of course, an expensive horse would never be given to a slave. Jaynie was wearing a wide-brimmed hat, but even with it, he squinted as though the sunlight was still too bright.

Leandro found it strange that Jaynie spoke in a way that seemed almost considerate. After all, Jaynie clearly didn’t like him. When no one else dared, Leandro had climbed a cliff to pick a flower, only for Jaynie to throw it away and punish him at night. That Jaynie even remembered him was surprising.

“I see.”

Jaynie nodded, his tone turning cold.

“The moment you start school, focus on learning to read. Buy books that young children study and memorize the letters. Ignore the lessons until you can read fluently. Once you’re confident, ask the teacher for all the books covered so far and study them as if your life depends on it. If you can’t do at least that much, you won’t catch up.”

“I understand. I’ll do as you say.”

“When you return, I’ll assign a knight to teach you martial arts.”

“Do you really think I can succeed, Lord Jaynie?”

Leandro couldn’t help but ask.

The demand to become the top student in six months hadn’t felt like a mockery. It seemed like genuine advice, as though Jaynie was taking Leandro’s aspirations seriously.

Jaynie’s unusual gray eyes flickered beneath his lids, like a hypnotic spell.

“Did you swear to serve me without even being capable of that much?”

Jaynie took off his hat and placed it on Leandro’s head.

“I don’t waste my attention on the worthless. Have you ever met an omega?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Have you ever been exposed to pheromones?”

“If you mean perfume….”

Leandro trailed off, embarrassed. He referred to the pheromone perfumes sold in seedy districts, unsure if Jaynie even knew such places existed. He seemed like someone unaware such vulgarity could exist at all.

As expected, Jaynie tilted his head, puzzled, then pressed the brim of the hat firmly onto Leandro’s head as if the topic didn’t matter.

“There’ll be temptations where you’re going. Be wary of ruts. Your face stands out.”

Without looking at Leandro, Jaynie turned his horse and rode away.

Leandro, caught off guard by the fluttering feeling in his chest, froze for a moment.

Then he panicked.

Jaynie was disappearing down the road, heading back toward the Blurwin estate.

Leandro raised his arm and sniffed his own skin. Of course, he hadn’t made the beginner’s mistake of releasing pheromones.

How had Jaynie known? Leandro was an alpha.

Perhaps the slave who bore him had been impregnated by a noble.

Growing up among betas, Leandro had to learn how to suppress his pheromones entirely on his own.

The monster attack had only been a catalyst. Leandro had long resolved to leave that pitiful, stagnant village. He wouldn’t die as just another slave in such a miserable place.

Being an alpha was proof of rare blood. Leandro knew he was special.

He looked back in the direction Jaynie had gone. Jaynie had returned the way he’d come—the path leading to the Blurwin estate.

Why had Jaynie come out in the first place?

To give advice? Just for that?

A strange feeling washed over Leandro. He took off the hat and sniffed it, unsure why he was doing it.

Even then, he could catch no scent.

* * *

Where does the conviction of being special come from?

For nobles, it likely stems from their lineage.

It was only natural for commoners to serve nobles. They were different by nature.

Alphas and omegas—they were nobles, united in unique ways to preserve their precious bloodlines.

Unlike commoners, nobles did not rely solely on women to bear children. Children could be born from the union of two women or two men.

This was a point of pride for nobles. They produced alphas and omegas, granting alphas the right of succession and omegas the duty of reproduction.

Duty and rights formed the twin wheels that propelled the carriage of a noble family.

Jaynie was a defect.

As a beta, he faced distrust from his relatives despite being the legitimate heir of Blurwin. They believed the Duke of Blurwin should either father an alpha heir or adopt one.

Did my mother abandon me because I’m a beta?

Young Jaynie had wondered.

But it was something beyond his control. Just as he despised the relatives scheming for his position, he decided to hate his mother. From that moment, she became “Grand Princess Yerenia” to him.

As much as he hated the Grand Princess, he also loathed the child she brought with her.

“Tall, dominant, ambitious, and brimming with talent.”

That child was an alpha, showing extraordinary talent in magic. One day, he would hunt the Mad Dragon alongside Leandro.

Berner. That child needed to be summoned to the capital.

Enzo would die five years later. Could Jaynie stop Enzo, who had resolved to hunt the Mad Dragon?

It was impossible. By then, Enzo had already persuaded the Emperor and even the people.

Jaynie needed to hunt the Mad Dragon before Enzo resolved to do so. Time was running out. He had to accelerate the growth of the three prodigies, pushing them to realize their potential sooner than they had in his previous life.

Jaynie hadn’t ridden out to see Leandro because he missed him.

He had come because Leandro needed to be trained quickly, because the Mad Dragon needed to be slain, and because Enzo’s life had to be saved.

It wasn’t because he wanted to see a Leandro who didn’t hate him.

Jaynie returned to the estate and sent a letter to the Blurwin duchy. The recipient was Berner.

* * *

Berner had recently turned sixteen. There was no celebration for his birthday. The only person who had remembered it was gone.

He was a child who had lost his mother, but no one pitied him.

He was the evidence of the Grand Princess’s indiscretion. A subject of curiosity.

The annex of the duchy’s mansion was Berner’s alone. His mother had been ill for a long time, bedridden for nearly a year before her death.

The servants and nurses who had cared for her disappeared from the annex after her funeral. The maid who cleaned and ran errands, the cook who prepared her meals—they were all gone.

Berner was left alone.

“A letter has arrived.”

Someone knocked on the door of the annex. Berner opened it, and a servant handed him a letter. Until now, all letters that came to the annex had been addressed to his mother.

Could this be from someone unaware of her death?

It had been a grand funeral. It seemed impossible that anyone in the empire wouldn’t know, but his mother had many acquaintances, including those from foreign lands. Perhaps it was from one of them. If the sender was unaware of her passing, should he reply to inform them?

Berner examined the envelope.

It was sealed with the crest of Blurwin. There was only one person who could use that seal…

The Duke of Blurwin?

Berner’s heart began to race. Perhaps he was finally being expelled.

He wasn’t the Duke’s legitimate child. His mother had told him that many times.

It was clear even without her words. Berner bore no resemblance to the Duke at all.

His mother, as a wealthy royal, had many ways to hide an illegitimate child if she had wanted to. She could have abandoned him, raised him far away with a nurse, or even dyed his hair and claimed he was the Duke’s son.

But she hadn’t. Instead, she had brought him before the Duke and said, “This child isn’t yours. But will you take him in anyway?”

The Duke had been silent for a moment before replying:

“Yes. If it means you’ll come back.”

Now that his mother was gone, there was no reason for Berner to remain in the Duke’s household. If he was expelled, where could he go?

He had always thought this day might come. He hadn’t even attended his mother’s funeral. No one had considered it necessary for him to be there.

The funeral had been held far away in the capital. Those who attended returned to the duchy long after.

Berner had watched from the annex window as they came back. He saw the Duke, dressed in black, and his similarly dressed servants unloading the carriages.

Berner had stepped back from the window, turned, and surveyed the room. His mother’s favorite armchair stood there, empty and forlorn. He returned to his room and packed his belongings.

One bag. That was all. He had kept it packed beside his bed ever since.

It’s fine if I’m expelled. I won’t die right away.

I have some money and a few useful items.

Berner opened the letter.

The sender was not the Duke of Blurwin.

It was someone he hadn’t even considered.

* * *

Berner arrived two months later. Butler Hansen seemed displeased by Berner’s lack of response to the letter, but Jaynie didn’t care.

Berner was ambitious and had a tendency to cross boundaries without hesitation. He had never once acted in a way that satisfied Jaynie.

The young Berner followed Hansen into the sitting room. Jaynie looked up to see him. Berner, looking just as Jaynie remembered but shorter than expected, stood silently observing him.

His face was expressionless, as if carved from ice. Does he even know how to smile? The clothes he wore were short, revealing his skinny ankles. That style wasn’t part of any recent trend in the capital.

“Are you tall?” Jaynie asked.

Berner’s eyes widened, and Jaynie couldn’t understand why he looked so surprised. Only belatedly did Jaynie realize that his tone might have been too sharp for addressing a child.

“Your legs are short. It seems the servants aren’t doing their job,” Jaynie added, softening his voice.

Berner didn’t respond. Hansen cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Apologies, Lord Jaynie. There weren’t any guest clothes prepared, so I had him wear some of your old ones.”

“My clothes?”

“Apologies. I’ll instruct someone to purchase new clothes from the town immediately. If you could wait just a little—”

Jaynie hadn’t meant to express displeasure about Berner wearing his clothes. He was more curious as to why Berner needed to wear them at all. Surely, he had brought his own.