Chapter 140: You Never Noticed? (35)

"……"

In the silent study, father and son stared at each other in silence.

Koldi furrowed his brow tightly, staring at his own father, his expression a mix of confusion and disappointment.

The Silver Wing Duke, meanwhile, appeared perfectly calm throughout, his deep gaze fixed on his eldest son's expression.

After a long silence, Koldi spoke first, breaking the quiet.

"Father, I never imagined you would look at me with such eyes…"

He clenched his fists in anguish and struck his own chest hard.

Thud!

"When Herbert first ran into that incident, I was heartbroken too!"

"Have you forgotten? It was I who led men to the dungeon to bring him out! If not for me, he would have suffered even more torment in that cell!"

"It was I who went to argue with the Third Prince, to make him believe Herbert was not that kind of person."

"And it was I who investigated the truth of the matter, and discovered that the maid's identity was suspicious!"

"The one who did all of this — every last bit of it — was me!"

"And now, you actually suspect me? I…"

His emotions flared as he spoke, and he took a shaky, choked breath before saying in a low voice: "I understand. No matter what I say now, you won't believe it."

"But whether you believe it or not, my convictions will not change, and neither will my actions!"

"Father, the pressing matter at hand is not the time to be tangled up in something that has already passed!"

His gaze sharpened as he glared at the Silver Wing Duke, saying slowly: "I know that after hearing about that incident, certain thoughts have taken root in your mind."

"They say Herbert has returned, and that he possesses astonishing power."

"But let me remind you of one thing — he has not come back to the Duke's residence. No one can truly confirm his identity, and whether someone is using his face to do those things is also unknown."

"And even if he truly has returned, with his temperament he could never become a fit heir!"

Koldi drew a deep breath, shook his head hard, flung every trace of emotion from his face, and once again assumed the composed look he had worn before.

He said:

"Father, come back to your senses."

"We must step forward now! The Silver Wing Duke must put a stop to this unrest, otherwise… it will all be too late."

After saying all this, he straightened up, bowed to his father, then strode toward the door and slammed it shut behind him.

Bang!

The study door was slammed hard, and a touch of loneliness crept into the Silver Wing Duke's expression.

"……"

Not long after Koldi's departure, the Silver Wing Duke let out a weary sigh and murmured to himself: "Not involved?"

"If you truly had no part in it…"

"Then how did you know which matter I was referring to?"

His voice was so low that the pain threaded through it was almost imperceptible.

Then he turned his head to look at the oil painting hanging in the study, his gaze somewhat forlorn.

The painting depicted a youth with black-and-white hair, happily playing with another white-haired child.

After a long while.

The Silver Wing Duke closed his eyes in anguish and smashed the solid wood desk to pieces with a single punch.

Crack!

Crack, crack, crack…

Accompanied by the sound of mechanical gears turning, the tightly wrapped Koldi passed through layer upon layer of guards and arrived at a secret chamber that had suddenly appeared.

He first waited in the darkness for a while, and only after the final door opened did he continue forward.

Once that door opened, it meant he had passed inspection, and the other party had confirmed there was nothing suspicious about him.

Tap, tap, tap…

Koldi strode inside, reached the final room, and looked at the elegant young man reading a tome from the bookshelf by candlelight.

"Your Highness Terence!"

Terence Olivia.

The most powerful young man in the entire kingdom at this moment — though nearly thirty-five years old, his strength had already reached the late high stage, making him the royal most likely to become a legend in the future and inherit the title of 【Dragonslayer】.

"Hm? You've arrived?"

Prince Terence, upon hearing the greeting, came back to himself, turned his head to take a look, smiled at Koldi, and teased: "What's with this getup? Have you done something you shouldn't have?"

"Your Highness! This is no time for jokes."

But compared to Terence's ease, Koldi now looked utterly agitated, nothing like the composure he had shown before his father.

"The Silver Wing Duke has no intention of stepping forward at all! I have no idea what that madman is thinking — does he really believe that fellow will spare him once he returns?"

In his mouth there was not a shred of respect for his own father, only an irreconcilable hatred.

"Lord Koldi, what is there for you to worry about?"

Terence laughed, shook his head, and said: "Setting aside whether that 'culprit' is really that boy or not — even if he is, he wouldn't lay a hand on you, would he?"

"And if he does make a move against the Silver Wing Duke, isn't that perfect?"

Koldi was taken aback, unsure what he meant.

"You mean…"

"Exactly. If Herbert truly strikes, then a parricide like him could never become the next Silver Wing Duke — wouldn't that seat fall right into your lap?"

Koldi blinked, thought for a moment, then his eyes suddenly lit up. He seemed about to say something, but quickly shook his head again.

"No, this matter is still dangerous! Once he learns the truth of the matter, then I'll still be doomed without a doubt."

He bit down hard on his lip with no regard for his image, and said furiously: "Damn it, how did he end up like this!?"

Where exactly did he get this power from!

What exactly did the Misty Monastery give him?

Didn't I already arrange for those people inside to target them? Why has it turned out like this?

Could they have betrayed me?

They...

Koldi took a deep breath, looked solemnly at Terence, and said in a low voice: "Your Highness, you may not care right now, but I must remind you—once this matter is exposed, both of us will be in danger!"

"That one from the Witch Society cannot be trusted. The things he promised back then were never carried out! That bitch Felia has been secretly sending people to sabotage our businesses ever since she came back from her mother's place!"

The moment he thought of those slave trades that had been destroyed, undisguised fury surged in his eyes, wishing he could tear the flesh from their bones.

"Your Highness, make your move quickly!"

"Once you become the new king, then it'll be him who needs our support to maintain his position in the Witch Society, not us who need him to fight for our position!"

"The situation is critical, we can no longer wait!"

After Koldi had talked for a long while, he suddenly noticed that His Highness had been keeping silent the whole time.

"... Your Highness? Why do you keep not speaking?"

He raised his head in puzzlement, and found Terence looking back at him with a subtle expression.

Hmm?

After noticing his gaze, Terence laughed and said softly: "My dear Lord Koldi... have you really not noticed?"

Thump thump!

At this moment, Koldi's heart pounded wildly, and an unprecedented fear welled up in his chest.

"N-noticed what?"

He slowly retreated, trying to escape, and found his feet firmly fixed to the ground.

!!?

"Noticed..."

Terence smiled, and the flesh on his face began to wriggle eerily, while a head of golden hair also gradually began to change color.

He said:

"The fact that I actually am not him."

(End of this chapter)