MTO C101

Chapter 101

“Lawrence.”

Michel was so taken aback that he did not even think to hide his face. Lawrence, likewise, seemed startled by the sight of Michel’s tear-streaked features. The composed expression that never wavered, no matter the circumstance, visibly faltered.

Yet without a word, Lawrence simply held out a handkerchief.

“…Thank you.”

Michel accepted it quietly. Though he did not use it to wipe his face, the shock alone seemed enough to stop his tears.

Lawrence spoke first.

“Have the young masters and young ladies all fallen asleep, Saint?”

“…Yes. They only just drifted off.”

“I see. Then I shall have a bath prepared, so that Your Holiness may also retire comfortably.”

Not once did Lawrence mention Michel’s tears.

Michel was deeply grateful for the consideration. As Lawrence turned to leave, Michel hurriedly stopped him.

“Um… Lawrence.”

“……”

“I’m sorry for ruining the banquet today. You worked so hard to prepare it…”

Ashamed, Michel could not bring himself to lift his head.

At the time, his anger had overwhelmed him, and he had relentlessly cornered Viscount Casenail.

He did not regret losing his temper with the Viscount—not in the slightest. If anything, he regretted not giving him an even harsher tongue-lashing.

But he felt sorry toward Lawrence and Kaidan.

He knew better than anyone how much Lawrence had looked forward to today’s banquet and how much effort Kaidan had invested into making tonight a success. Whenever he thought of the children being humiliated, rage churned within him—but whenever he thought of those two, he could not help wondering whether there might have been another way.

Lawrence turned fully toward him.

“After Your Holiness departed, His Grace served the guests a fresh vintage of Lit Mountain wine. Everyone greatly enjoyed it, and thanks to that, the banquet concluded successfully.”

“……”

“So there is no need for you to worry overmuch.”

Lawrence’s gentle reassurance only deepened Michel’s guilt.

He could vividly imagine how hard Lawrence and Kaidan must have worked to restore order after he had left.

Not only had his impatience endangered the children, but he had also disappointed those who trusted and supported him.

Today… he had truly been pathetic.

“Your conduct today moved me deeply.”

Lawrence’s unexpected words made Michel look up.

“…What?”

“After hearing what Your Holiness said, I found myself reflecting upon my own conduct as well. If I may be so bold… I believe the example you set today will become a model for many.”

A faint smile touched Lawrence’s lips.

It was the first time Michel had ever seen him smile.

For a brief moment, he was simply stunned.

Yet his shoulders soon drooped again.

No matter how he thought about it, he had done nothing worthy of praise today. Even if confronting the Viscount had been the right thing to do, it remained true that his rash decision had placed many others in a difficult position. Kaidan had even hesitated to leave his side for fear Michel might make a mistake.

And in the end…

He had caused an enormous scene.

Michel bit his lip before speaking again.

“…Where is the Duke now?”

Just as he had openly rebuked the Viscount, someone who had done wrong ought to apologize.

Under Lawrence’s guidance, Michel made his way to Kaidan’s study.

After knocking, a voice invited him inside.

Michel carefully opened the door.

Kaidan sat alone behind his desk, drinking.

He was still dressed in his formal attire, but unlike the impeccably groomed noble he had been at the banquet, he now looked considerably disheveled.

His neatly styled hair had been raked through by restless fingers. His coat was gone, and every button of his waistcoat had been undone.

He appeared far more relaxed than before.

Yet, strangely, Michel found it difficult to meet his gaze.

Thinking of why Kaidan was drinking alone at such a late hour weighed heavily upon his heart.

“Kaidan.”

“So it’s you.”

Kaidan glanced up, recognized his visitor, and gestured toward the chair opposite him.

“Come. Sit.”

Michel quietly obeyed.

Up close, Kaidan’s untidy appearance became even more striking.

Several buttons of his shirt had been left undone, exposing the strong line of his neck.

The sweet aroma of wine drifting from him made it clear he had already drunk quite a lot.

“Have a drink.”

Michel had intended to refuse.

Instead, he changed his mind and nodded.

He did not wish to upset Kaidan any further tonight.

Kaidan retrieved a silver goblet from a cabinet and poured him a glass.

“You worked hard today.”

He spoke lazily.

“That ridiculous little farce only wasted your time—and the children’s.”

“No… I… I’m sorry.”

Kaidan looked at him.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“Because… I caused trouble for you. I ruined today’s banquet…”

Kaidan let out a quiet scoff, as though the very notion were absurd.

Unlike the refined smile he wore before the nobles, this one was entirely unrestrained.

“You’ve misunderstood something.”

“……”

“You did nothing wrong today.”

“If anything, you gave those unpleasant faces exactly what they deserved.”

“My stomach had been turning from the stench of all that perfume. Watching you put them in their place cured it instantly.”

“I ought to be thanking you.”

He raised his glass as he spoke.

There was not a trace of mockery or sarcasm directed toward Michel.

If anything…

The slight curve upon his lips made him appear almost pleased.

Michel blinked slowly.

Come to think of it…

Kaidan hated nobles.

Throughout the banquet, Kaidan had remained outwardly courteous, yet whenever they were alone, he never hid his contempt for the aristocracy.

So…

He wasn’t angry?

Michel suddenly found himself wondering whether the wine in his hand was meant as consolation…

Or celebration.

“But I have no right to laugh at them either.”

Kaidan poured himself another glass.

“The one who should apologize… is me.”

“What?”

Rather than answering, Kaidan simply continued filling his cup.

Yet after filling it, he did not drink.

Silence stretched unnaturally long.

Only when Michel began to grow uneasy did Kaidan finally lean back into his chair.

His eyes were darker now.

Far quieter than before.

“Do you remember telling me once that I resembled my father?”

He looked directly at Michel.

“Do you know what sort of man my father truly was?”

Michel recalled everything he had heard about the former Duke of Eglance.

To some, he had been a respected and dearly missed leader.

To others, a terrifying figure best avoided.

Every person spoke of a different man.

The more Michel listened, the less he understood who the former Duke truly had been.

And to Kaidan?

What kind of father had he been?

Once, Michel had believed theirs to be a loving relationship.

Now…

He no longer felt certain.

Kaidan spoke of his father with unmistakable irreverence.

When Michel remained silent, Kaidan lifted one eyebrow.

“My father was nobility incarnate.”

“A noble admired by every other noble.”

“There was nothing he would not do to preserve his honor.”

“Murdering a maid carrying his child…”

“Cutting out the tongue of a commoner who spread rumors about our family…”

“Those things meant nothing to him.”

“…What?”

“You saw it today.”

“The way nobles treat commoners.”

“Even children under the protection of a Saint.”

Without realizing it, Michel’s grip tightened around his wineglass.

The memory of nobles surrounding those still-growing children, hurling vicious accusations with maddened faces, reignited the fury within him.

He had always known this world differed greatly from his own.

But what he witnessed today…

He could not accept.

They were children.

Did compassion simply not exist within those people’s hearts?

The more ruthlessly they treated commoners, the more respect they seemed to earn from fellow nobles.

It was incomprehensible.

“But… you’re a noble too.”

Michel looked at him in confusion.

Kaidan answered with a crooked smile.

“A perfect noble is permitted not a single flaw.”

“Not in himself.”

“Not in his wife.”

“Not in his children.”

“……”

“And then one day…”

“That perfect family fell apart.”

“My mother drove a blade into her own throat.”

“Because the man she married never loved her.”

“…What?”

Michel’s mind went blank.

The Duchess…

Kaidan’s mother.

As far as Michel knew, the Duchess had died during an epidemic.

Then why…

“She took revenge.”

Kaidan spoke calmly.

“By leaving an ugly stain upon the flawless life of her husband.”

“It was a remarkably clever way to do it.”

“You’re a priest.”

“So you know better than anyone what a grievous sin her act was.”

“……”

“The honor of House Eglance stood on the brink of ruin.”

“So tell me.”

“When a great noble finds himself in such a situation…”

“What should he do?”

His tone remained gentle.

Michel could not answer.

Horrific possibilities flashed through his mind.

He desperately hoped his imagination had carried him too far.

It had not.

“My father executed every person who saw my mother’s body.”

“He gathered them all in one place so none could escape.”

“Then he cut off their heads.”

“The knights who carried out those executions were later executed themselves.”

“By another group of knights.”

Michel shivered.

It felt as though an icy wind had brushed across the back of his neck.

A massacre he had never witnessed unfolded vividly before his eyes.

People screamed as they fled—

Only to be dragged back.

Blood spilled.

One after another.

People died.

And died.

And died again.

Standing amidst that sea of blood…

Was the former Duke of Eglance.

And nearby…

A very young boy.

Kaidan lifted his wine and took another sip.

His lips were the color of fresh blood.