Chapter – 14
“Leave.”
The black hawk, Hou, spoke bluntly without even opening his eyes. He seemed to be treating me like a maid who had wandered in by mistake.
I quietly looked at him.
Because the sight of him unable even to flap his wings, completely motionless, felt pitiful.
In my memories, this black hawk had been a magnificent summoned beast, soaring over the skies of the Prelai ducal estate with gleaming yellow eyes.
When I was about six, I had desperately wished, I want to meet a bird-type summon like that too.
Back then I truly had that feeling — that my own summon would probably be a bird as well.
But now that impressive summon couldn’t even lift his eyelids and lay limp. Just looking at him made my heart heavy; I couldn’t even imagine how Grandfather must feel.
So first, I kindly smiled and introduced myself.
“Where do you get off ordering the youngest princess of the Prelai family to leave?”
Then I confidently rolled up my sleeves.
“I’ll fix you. Just cooperate a little.”
“<Nonsense.>”
There wasn’t the slightest bit of expectation in Hou’s dull voice.
“”
“I’m not a doctor.”
Hou simply shut his mouth and closed his eyes, looking completely fed up.
At my signal, the spy maid quickly began unpacking the luggage. I first took out coffee, drank it, then sat down.
“Hey, spy.”
I looked straight into her eyes.
“From now on — two hours.”
Since entering the greenhouse, she had been fidgeting nervously. Still, she didn’t disobey. Seeing my serious gaze, she swallowed.
I gave a firm order.
“For the next two hours, don’t let anyone enter the greenhouse. It’ll break my concentration.”
Then, wearing my glasses, I spread out the parchment.
Scari’s office in the Prelai ducal estate
“So… she went out since morning?”
Scari had woken early. He had just heard the bad news that the maid who attempted assassination yesterday committed suicide during interrogation — along with news of Kiana’s whereabouts.
The spy maid assigned to Kiana hadn’t returned, and the head maid came to report personally. Of course, all she could say was that Kiana had left in the morning.
Actually, Scari expected Kiana would come see him right away. But she had conspicuously gone out early and hadn’t returned.
“Is the Prelai estate really such an uncomfortable place?”
“…Pardon?”
“Kiana, Melissa, Joshua… none of them can wait to leave.”
Scari pressed his forehead tiredly. The head maid sighed sympathetically.
Even after Kiana left for the academy, the estate had not been peaceful — mainly because of the bigger troublemaker, Joshua.
“I’d never step foot in this suffocating house again unless my head breaks.”
The day he split from the family, his steps had been so resolute that no one in the estate could stop him.
The back of him wearing a jacket with a famous designer logo was still vivid in Scari’s mind. He never looked back…
The butler even muttered later, “Perhaps he’ll come back only for Lord Julius’s funeral…”
Scari had also assumed he wouldn’t see Joshua for a long time.
Rubbing his tired eyes, he muttered painfully:
“Only people who’ve raised rebellious teenagers would understand me.”
The head maid bowed deeply, rolled her eyes, and carefully spoke.
“Well… I’ve raised children too, so I somewhat understand…”
Scari looked at her as if telling her to continue.
“Unexpressed feelings are never conveyed. Even if you think, they’ll know this much, people’s hearts never work that way.”
“Hmm.”
“Even if it’s embarrassing, how about clearly telling the young lady how much you care about her?”
At the sincere advice, Scari stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“…Is that so.”
He had often been told he was too taciturn. Perhaps that was why his feelings weren’t conveyed. Thinking about it, he always expected his grandchildren to change — never himself.
In that sense, the head maid’s advice pleased him.
“Fine. I suppose… I should try changing.”
She gently continued:
“Lady Kiana returned suddenly one day. Perhaps Young Master Joshua will also return unexpectedly after a long time.”
At that moment, urgent knocking sounded and the butler rushed in.
“Duke!”
He hurriedly reported:
“Young Master Joshua has just arrived at the estate!”
Silence filled the office.
Even the head maid, who had just said he might return someday, stood frozen with her mouth open.
After a moment, Scari snorted.
“Looks like my second grandson’s head broke much sooner than expected.”
Then he remembered the head maid’s advice.
Expression… expression…
He nodded stiffly.
“…Good timing. I’ll practice on Joshua first.”
Joshua sat awkwardly in Scari’s office.
“What is it?”
Scari asked sarcastically.
“You didn’t leave quietly like Kiana. You made a huge scene when you stormed out — what shamelessness brings you crawling back?”
“Well…”
“You didn’t leave to study either. You bought a mansion nearby and advertised to the whole capital you’re a discarded Prelai child.”
“Uh…”
“I tried my best for you. I still do. Your room remains, and your allowance continues!”
“…Grandfather?”
“You were a terrible grandson who only remembered what your parents failed to give you while ignoring your grandfather’s rotting heart — yet I was fair to you!”
Joshua looked bewildered.
“Grandfather… why are you suddenly talking so much? And bragging about things you never mentioned before…”
“It’s not bragging, it’s emotional expression!”
“…”
Joshua sighed.
“Anyway, I came because Kiana is… strange.”
“That’s reassuring.”
Scari replied bluntly.
“If she looked normal to you, that’d be the real problem.”
“She’s definitely not normal. But…”
Joshua said seriously:
“She’s way too thin. Any designer shop would be horrified.”
Scari immediately nodded.
“That’s true.”
“Her complexion is pale. She doesn’t look healthy at all.”
They fell silent again.
After a moment, Scari grumbled:
“You really came for that? Since when did you worry about her?”
“And you? She rejected you constantly — why pick a fight with me?”
At that moment the butler rushed in again.
“Duke!”
He stared at Joshua and blurted:
“My goodness, Young Master Joshua… your head — I mean, are you alright? Were you injured badly?”
“…Just say the business.”
“Right! Th-the thing is!”
He shouted urgently:
“Lady Kiana entered the greenhouse! We discovered it late — quite some time has already passed!”
“The greenhouse? Why would she…!”
For the first time, panic crossed Scari’s mountain-like composure.
“What about the maid assigned to her?”
“She didn’t report anything — seems she was in on it!”
Joshua stared in confusion. If his grandfather reacted like this, something serious must be there.
Is there some hidden treasure in the greenhouse?
“…She even locked the door. We’re in serious trouble!”
At that, Scari sprang to his feet.
Inside the greenhouse was his summoned beast Hou, whose condition had worsened day by day. He couldn’t understand why Kiana went there and locked herself in — so he couldn’t stay calm.
Hou!
Six years ago, Hou absorbed deadly poison and became severely weakened. Yet he never blamed his master. Since then, he had become an even more important existence to Scari.
“Grandfather! Calm down!”
“If it were your summon, could you stay calm?”
“Of course not.”
Joshua answered immediately.
“I only say that because it’s not mine — if it were, I’d already be running. Honestly, I’m surprised you’re still standing here looking at me.”
Scari immediately rushed toward the greenhouse.
Joshua followed right behind him.
