“I’ll be on my way now. Have a good night, Duke.”
As I stood to leave, Duke Dinero spoke up.
“Ah, there’s one thing I must ask of you.”
“Yes?”
“If you ever see a boy around eleven years old with black hair and green eyes, don’t go near him or get involved.”
A boy with black hair and green eyes, around eleven.
That description was oddly familiar and gave me a strange sense of déjà vu.
And then it hit me.
“Wait a second—he’s talking about Lennox!”
My heart dropped. Had Duke Dinero figured out that I’d found Lennox?
Suppressing my trembling hands, I asked nonchalantly.
“Why shouldn’t I get involved?”
“When an elder says something, the young should just respond with a yes and do as they’re told.”
Ugh, what a boomer.
Seeing the look on my face, the Duke added as if he were doing me a favor.
“If you don’t want to get mixed up in troublesome matters, you’d best listen to me.”
I could infer two things from that conversation.
One, the Duke didn’t yet know about the connection between Lennox and me. And two…
“Someone is looking for Lennox.”
Judging by the look on Duke Dinero’s face, it didn’t seem like they were searching for good reasons.
Still, it was surprising that the old man would share such information with me directly.
Maybe I had earned more of his favor than I thought. Would be nice if that goodwill extended to approving the inheritance…
As I stayed silent, the Duke frowned at me.
“When an elder speaks, you should answer.”
“…Yes, thank you.”
But wait a second.
In that moment, I realized something important I’d overlooked.
“Then is Lennox okay right now?”
I quickly left the ducal estate, covering my face with a cat-shaped mask, and rushed to the marquess’ residence.
Calisto greeted me with a surprised face, clearly not expecting a visitor at this hour.
“Clen? What brings you here so late?”
I scratched my cheek, feeling a bit awkward. It was my first time showing up unannounced like this.
“I have something to give Lennox. Could you deliver it for me?”
I held out a small box to him.
“What is it?”
“A magical tool that changes hair color. Tell him to wear it all the time.”
Calisto glanced at the box and gently handed it back to me. Seemed like he didn’t want to pressure a child who’d already changed his name to also change his hair.
“There’s no need to worry about his identity being exposed. We’ve cleaned everything up perfectly.”
It seemed Calisto didn’t know that a boy with black hair and green eyes was being hunted.
“Even the Skylar family doesn’t know about this…”
Apparently, Duke Dinero had given me quite a valuable piece of information.
“Today, Duke Dinero warned me not to go near a boy with black hair and green eyes.”
Calisto quickly inferred that someone was after Lennox.
“Clen, the Duke doesn’t know you’ve been in contact with Lennox, does he?”
I shook my head.
There had been no signs of suspicion from the Duke—just a warning.
“I’ll make sure to warn him thoroughly.”
“Okay.”
Just as I was about to leave the parlor, I paused and asked a question out of concern.
“Where is Lennox right now?”
“This time of night? Probably in the stables.”
At that, I felt a chill brush my cheek.
“…He wasn’t there when I came in.”
The stables had been empty.
So I asked, thinking he must be in his room.
“What?”
Calisto looked alarmed and quickly rang a bell.
A man, probably a knight, entered the room.
“Where is Ren?”
“He said he was stepping out to look at some swords.”
At that, Calisto let out a sigh.
“…Oh no. Was that today?”
A bad feeling crept over me.
When I pressed him to explain, Calisto said he’d approved a pass for Lennox a few days ago but hadn’t realized today was the designated outing. He hadn’t even thought to check on him.
“I’m sorry, Clen.”
Calisto looked guilty as he spoke.
“It’s not your fault.”
That was true—he really hadn’t done anything wrong.
“This is Lennox’s fault.”
Even if he had a pass, it was pitch-black outside.
A child wandering around without a guardian at this hour?
Clearly, he’d lost his sense of fear.
“Let’s just find Lennox quickly.”
With that, I left the office.
Calisto and I split up to cover more ground, and as I hurried down the corridor, I suddenly froze in place.
Someone was standing there.
He also stopped in his tracks when he saw me.
Lennox Euclide.
The boy I’d been searching for was right in front of me.
“Lennox!”
I hadn’t expected to find him this quickly. Startled, I looked him over. At a glance, he didn’t seem seriously injured.
I wanted to scold him for staying out so late, but I held it in.
“At least I found him.”
I’d leave the rest to Calisto.
I walked past him without a word, as if I didn’t care at all.
“…Why haven’t you been coming by lately?”
Well, I was going to.
If only he hadn’t spoken up in that calm voice from behind me.
It was clearly Lennox’s voice.
“Was that… to me?”
I turned around without thinking, and there he was, standing still.
His shadowed green eyes beneath long lashes were fixed directly on me.
“You know who I am?”
“You said you were my sponsor’s representative.”
So he remembered. I’d hoped he’d forgotten.
Actually, I wanted him to forget—especially since I hadn’t been very kind back then.
Hopefully, he didn’t hold a grudge.
“You never answered me.”
“…Ah.”
Caught off guard by his gaze, I recalled his question a beat too late.
Why hadn’t I come by lately?
The answer was simple.
“There’s no reason to anymore.”
The sponsorship had been settled, and I had no personal reason to meet with Calisto either.
Lennox asked again.
“Then why did you come today?”
Was Lennox always this curious about others?
I hesitated, then answered coolly.
“I don’t owe you an explanation.”
I definitely couldn’t tell him the reason was him.
Suddenly, Lennox frowned and clutched his neck.
“Ah…”
Something felt off. I hurried over and checked his neck.
Through his fingers, I could see a wound.
“…What? You’re hurt?”
It was in a spot that could’ve been fatal if it had been deeper. I grabbed his shoulders in alarm, and he flinched.
“Ugh…”
“Wait, are you hurt there too?”
I’d planned to just ignore him and walk past, but things were worse than I’d thought.
I pulled up his sleeve to check him properly.
His arm was a bloody mess, as if it had been slashed by sharp metal.
“…Here I am, doing everything I can to give you a better life—and you come back hurt?”
I clenched my teeth in frustration, pressing my forehead.
“Who did this to you?!”
“…I fell.”
Seriously? Did he think this was a joke?
I glared at him like I was about to burst into flames, but he met my eyes without a flicker of fear.
Usually, people would flinch even a little—but he didn’t.
That’s when I realized something odd.
“Any other kid would’ve been crying their eyes out from injuries like this.”
But Lennox was calm—hiding it.
How many times must he have been hurt before?
How few people must he have trusted?
Thinking that left a strange ache in my chest.
Still staring at me, Lennox tilted his head.
“Does it matter?”
“Yes. When you’re hurt, you have to be honest about it.”
Would he be honest this time?
I looked at his face, hoping he’d stop hiding his pain.
“…Okay.”
He nodded and fell silent.
…That’s it?
Really?
“So who did this?”
“I told you. I fell.”
My insides boiled with frustration.
Who the hell falls and ends up with knife wounds all over?!
Just as I was about to explode, Lennox spoke again.
“Please don’t tell anyone I got hurt.”
“…Why?”
“…Because I don’t want you to regret it.”
Regret?
“For sponsoring me…”
Lennox added in a near whisper.
