Chapter : 160

The moon had risen, hung at its highest point, and then began to set again.

Theo Lisitoel, who had said he would take a short break in the lounge, had not returned even as people began to leave.

Zephyros checked the time once more and clicked his tongue lightly.

Damn it. He didn’t know why, but an undeniable sense of unease was slowly creeping up on him.

“Lucian, have you seen Theo?”

“No? Is something wrong?”

Lucian, who had been surrounded by people and bombarded with questions throughout the party, blinked slowly and asked back.

He wasn’t the type to go unnoticed, which meant he really hadn’t returned to the party hall.

Something had happened.

Even without saying it out loud, the two seemed to have reached the same conclusion as they looked into each other’s eyes.

“Who could it be?”

“I don’t know, two crazy bastards who would pull something like this already come to mind.”

The Master of Gold, Iris Viden, and the escaped sinner, Caelus Levian.

If Caelus Levian was a low possibility, then was it Iris Viden?

Of all places, it had to be the Imperial Palace, so he couldn’t just have the wind search every nook and cranny.

What was he supposed to do? As Zephyros ruffled his hair, Lucian spoke with a serious expression.

“I’ll explain to His Majesty the Emperor. You just find Theo.”

“Hey, can you handle that?”

The wind that the Nevera Duchy commanded was like a child.

Its distinction between good and evil was unclear, and it always prioritized the requests of its beloved ‘Nevera’, doing anything for their sake.

It couldn’t distinguish whether the information it delivered would harm its loved one.

In other words, a mishap where it delivered dangerous information, such as a secret passage that only the Emperor should know, might occur.

The first Duke of Nevera had informed the founding Emperor of this, and the Emperor had strictly forbidden the Nevera’s wind from roaming freely in the Imperial Palace.

It was a decision made to keep the Nevera Duchy, with its unique power, in check, and also out of concern that unwanted information could lead to a bloodbath between the Imperial Family and the Duchy.

Now Lucian, the Descendant of the Hero, was about to break a taboo that had been upheld for 1,000 years.

Even though he couldn’t be ignorant of the weight of that choice.

“It could be dangerous.”

“I’ll handle that myself.”

“You crazy bastard.”

“But what can I do, I have to. You’re just getting caught up in my stubbornness, you know that right?”

“……”

As a friend, should he say it was their choice? First, he had to call the wind.

Just as Zephyros was about to use the power of the wind, the tap-tap of a staff hitting the floor broke the silence.

“No matter if you are the new Descendant of the Hero, you are overstepping your authority.”

Silver hair that resembled the wind. A similar appearance that made one think he must be Zephyros’s family.

Lucian had never seen the Duke of Nevera before, but he couldn’t help but know that the man before him was the Duke of Nevera.

“Your Grace, the Duke of Nevera.”

“Pathetic fool.”

Even though Lucian was the one who had urged him, the reprimand was directed at Zephyros.

Zephyros clenched his fists and met the violet eyes that must have been his roots.

“What do you think you’re doing, getting swept up by the Descendant of the Hero?”

“I wasn’t trying to…”

“There is a reason for a taboo that has been kept for a thousand years. If a situation arose where His Majesty the Emperor had to kill Zephyros because of an old secret of the Imperial Palace that the wind carelessly delivered, would you still say that wasn’t what you intended?”

There was nothing wrong with what the Duke said.

It was true that Zephyros and Lucian were about to do something reckless.

“I was going to take responsibility.”

“His Majesty the Emperor, who cherishes the Hero, would hardly hold you responsible. He would rather kill the heir of the eyesore Nevera Duchy.”

Would that have made things easier for me?

The Duke swallowed the words he couldn’t say in front of the Hero and gave his characteristic smile. A politician’s smile, which some criticized as sinister.

That smile was enough to pressure Lucian and Zephyros.

The sense of authority was so strong his skin tingled.

How could he even begin to describe such an opponent?

He was somehow different from people like Baal or Professor Evan, or even Iris Viden, who could have taken Lucian’s life at any time if they wished.

It wasn’t that the man before him wasn’t dangerous.

It was a different kind of pressure from the fear of death that those overwhelmingly strong individuals exuded, a certain kind of authority that made it difficult to move his body.

“Zephyros Nevera.”

“Yes, Father.”

“How long do you intend to leisurely turn your back on your father?”

At the repeated reprimand, Zephyros couldn’t even think of offering any further rebuttal.

But he couldn’t leave.

If Theo was in a truly dangerous situation, and he was dragged away by his father without being able to take any action like this—

“Zephyros, for now, go back to the Duchy.”

“Lucian…”

The tips of Lucian’s fingers were trembling.

Whether it was because of the pressure or the fear that his friend might be in danger, even Lucian himself didn’t know.

He only knew that now was the time to let Zephyros go.

“It’s okay, I’ll try to find him. It might not be as fast as the wind, but I should be able to get permission from His Majesty the Emperor.”

“…Alright.”

Zephyros acquiesced to Lucian’s gentle push and stood beside the Duke.

The eyes of the Duke of Nevera as he looked at his son standing next to him were colder than if he were looking at a complete stranger.

Under the cold gaze pouring down from above, Zephyros boarded the Duchy’s carriage.

Throughout the entire ride back to the Duke’s residence in the capital, there was not a single word of conversation between the two.

Upon arriving at the Duchy residence, as the Duke was about to head to his room, Zephyros spoke.

“It’s not about the importance of a thousand-year-old taboo, is it? What’s important is stopping me from quickly checking the Imperial Palace with the power of the wind and finding Theo.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Because Your Grace the Duke and the Master of Gold are old acquaintances.”

“Why are you suddenly mentioning the Master of Gold?”

The Duke of Nevera was not unaware that Zephyros had gained confidence from his gaze.

He just didn’t feel the need to hide it.

Hiding the truth was merely a strategy for the weak to survive in front of the strong.

And Duke Boreas Nevera was strong, while Zephyros Nevera was weak.

Therefore, Boreas Nevera hid nothing. He faced his hated son with confidence.

His father’s clear malice was familiar.

From the moment Zephyros manifested the power of the wind at a young age, the Duke of Nevera had never once hidden his hatred for the young Zephyros.

He, too, felt no need to hide his hatred for his father.

“Be careful who you make friends with.”

With those final words, the Duke leaned on his staff and leisurely entered the mansion.

Glaring at the Duke’s back, Zephyros clenched his fists in frustration.

His nails dug into his skin, and drops of crimson blood flowed.

Even in the midst of a hatred that felt like it was burning his body, Theo’s earnest plea came back to him with damn clarity.

「He’s still the father who gave birth to you, so I’m asking you. Zephyros.」

But the thought was cut short. Zephyros shook off the hand that was gently wrapping around his own.

“What are you doing?”

“Oh my, how scary.”

Slender shoulders and a gentle smile.

What Zephyros felt at the clearly fake demeanor was pure hatred and disgust.

At the sight of the woman, wearing a light shawl over her negligee and scattering a bewitching smile, Zephyros lightly flicked the blood from his fingertips.

“Don’t mind me, you’re just a concubine.”

“A concubine? I’m still your new mother.”

It was clear the Duke had sent her to get on Zephyros’s nerves.

Ha! Letting out a bitter laugh, Zephyros looked at the woman who called herself his new mother with eyes full of hatred.

“Why don’t you try saying the same thing in front of the other vassals of the Duchy.”

Zephyros asked, crossing his arms.

Under his arrogant gaze, the concubine flinched.

It had been well over 10 years since the Duchess had passed away from a sudden illness, leaving the position of the Duchess of Nevera vacant.

The reason this bewitching woman had been coveting the empty position for 10 years and had never been able to formally marry the Duke was due to the fierce opposition of the Duchy’s vassals.

“If only you would change your mind, we could become a perfect family. Please, reconsider, Zephyros.”

“…How dare you speak of a perfect family in front of me?”

The once-perfect family had long since been extinguished like a candle in the wind.

All of it was his own fault and this woman’s crime.

Amidst a gaze filled with hatred, she adjusted the shawl on her shoulders and shouted back defiantly.

“…Instead of helping His Grace as his only recognized son, you just get in his way at every turn!!”

“I’m sick and tired of your shamelessness.”

He didn’t want to exchange another word with this woman.

Leaving the woman who claimed to be the Duke’s wife behind, Zephyros returned to his room in the mansion and headed for the bed in the darkness.

“…So it was Iris Viden’s doing after all.”

Unless she was completely insane, how could she kidnap someone who was invited by the Emperor, and the heir of the Lisitoel family at that?

This was an insult and a disgrace to the Imperial Family. It was practically spitting in the Emperor’s face.

No matter how much her great contributions to the Empire were recognized, there was no way the Master of Gold would be forgiven.

And yet, to commit the act of kidnapping—

“Is she saying she no longer cares about her position?”

It was no different from a declaration of war, that she was about to commit some enormous act, to the point of using her position as the Master of Gold as a discardable card.

“My friends.”

At Zephyros’s call, the winds gathered around him one by one.

“Deliver my words to Lucian.”

I think Theo’s been kidnapped. The culprit is probably Iris Viden, the Master of Gold.

* * *

Winds always lingered around the Nevera Duchy, which was called the family of wind.

From the Duchy’s fief, which was said to have received the wind’s blessing, to the Duke’s residence in the capital, far from the fief, the old scent of the wind flowed.

For those with Nevera blood, the wind was a part of daily life, an ever-present blessing.

That was why those with strong Nevera blood, especially those who had manifested the power of the wind, did not notice the peculiar sense of foreignness of the winds that accompanied them.

The Duke of Nevera, standing tall on the roof with his staff, caught a wind in his hand.

It was the wind Zephyros had sent to Lucian.

Let me go!!

Amidst the howling of the wind, Boreas clenched his fist tightly.

With a sound like it was being torn to shreds, the wind made no more sound.

Only a deep silence, unfamiliar to those who handle the wind, lingered around Boreas Nevera.

“Let’s see what interesting spectacle you have to show me, Iris Viden.”

I will be watching from a special seat. The Duke of Nevera smiled.

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