# 28
**Chapter twenty-eight**
“Come to the reception room. Go ahead and tell them I have arrived.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The main servant bowed before heading to the reception room.
“What's going on? The servant seemed unusually nervous.”
“No need to worry. Diana, you can go and have your meal.”
Harold spoke lightly to Diana, who was watching him with a worried look, before turning and heading towards the reception room.
When he arrived, the servant opened the door for him. Inside, the Imperial Palace Butler and the Knight Commander were sitting. They rose from their seats and greeted him respectfully. Harold nodded in confirmation and sat down, passing his gaze over the two men.
“What brings such important figures today?”
“As you may already know, five human trafficking groups have been eliminated, including one this morning. The perpetrator disappeared without a trace as if he were a trained professional.”
“Oh, yes, I heard about that. It’s something that should be handled by the imperial family, but… I’m curious as to who might be responsible.”
“Do you really not know who he is?”
The atmosphere became heavy.
The Knight Commander, a large man with bear-like strength, clenched his thick hands into fists.
“How can I know who the culprit is? I am not a god.”
“There are witnesses who claim to have seen a Wesen knight arrest members of a trafficking group before their bodies were discovered.”
"Oh, yes. These criminals threatened my wife. As a husband, I couldn't stand idly by. But what does that have to do with this perpetrator?"
Harold let his words trail off.
“Surely you're not suggesting that I'm the culprit for this?”
If they had any conclusive evidence, they would have provided it already.
'So, there's no real evidence,' Harold thought to himself.
His knights were not careless. Harold sipped his tea and quietly put down the cup.
“If you suspect someone like me—the Duke of Wessen and pillar of the empire—then you must have proof.”
“…...”
For the first time, the Knight Commander, who couldn't keep his mouth shut earlier, remained silent. Then the butler, who had been quiet since the greetings, spoke up.
“Who would dare accuse His Highness, the Duke of Wessen? We are only conducting an investigation. If it seems otherwise, I apologize.”
“I understand. It is only your loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor that makes you act like this. So, I will not hold it against you.”
The butler rose first, bowing politely.
“Your Highness, thank you for your hospitality despite our unannounced visit.”
“Nothing. I wish you success in arresting the perpetrator.”
“With a long enough trail, the culprit is bound to be caught soon. We will leave now.”
“Safe journey. A servant will escort you out.”
Once the two men had left, Harold rested his chin on his hand, staring at the couch they were sitting on.
Although maintaining order in the capital was the responsibility of the imperial family, this time their reaction was unusually severe.
At that moment, Ivan entered quietly, speaking in a low voice.
“Your Highness, shall we recall the orders given to Black Falcon?”
“No, leave it as it is.”
Showing any hesitation now would be tantamount to admitting he was the culprit.
"Tell them to be more careful and leave no trace. If anything suspicious appears, report immediately."
“Your order will be executed.”
Harold checked the time. By now, Diana would probably have finished her meal.
“If I had known this conversation would end so quickly, I would have joined her for dinner,” he thought, clicking his tongue as he stood. He wasn't particularly hungry but he had no intention of skipping a meal.
'I'll just eat something light,' he decided.
While Diana enjoyed eating more than anyone else, Harold himself had little interest in food. Only when he was eating with her, watching her enjoy her food, did his appetite gradually return.
But in his current mood, he didn't feel like eating like he did with her.
Leaving the drawing room, Harold glanced out the window in the hallway.
roar.
The sky was dark, as if heavy rain would fall at any moment.
It reminded him of the day Caiden moved from the annex to the main palace.
It started to rain.
When Caiden was transferred to the main palace, it was decided that he would begin “reserve” inheritance training.
An angry Duchess Gloria immediately took Harold with her to her family home.
“Harold, when you become the Duke, never forgive your father.”
Gloria gritted her teeth as she held Harold's young hands tightly.
“Even if you are sick, you are still Wesen’s heir. There is no other successor but you.”
A hint of pity passed through Gloria's eyes. Harold assumed it was directed at him and nodded.
Since his father ordered Caiden to live in the main palace, Harold's status would be reduced even more.
Those who once praised him as an ideal heir would soon turn their admiration to Kaiden.
Even among his closest aides, there will be those who will betray him. He had already expected this since his terminal illness was diagnosed.
At least his mother will still be by his side. Harold trusted her, as she was the one who worked tirelessly to find a cure for his condition.
“Duchess, young master. Hello. Oh, my dear, why do you look so pale?”
“Don't even start, Dad. Sigh...”
Count Russell and his wife welcomed their daughter and grandson. Harold had dinner with his mother and maternal relatives. However, they were not the only ones at the table.
“Young Master Harold, allow me to introduce this child. This is Camilla Benz. She is someone I will be taking care of from now on.”
“Nice to meet you, young master.”
The red-haired woman with her delicate, cat-like eyes smiled softly. Judging by her mature appearance, she looked like she was past the age of majority. Since it was common for younger children to be in care, Harold found this unusual and raised an eyebrow.
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Camilla Benz.”
“Your Highness, the Benz family has long been famous for its fertility,” Count Russell remarked.
“Even Lady Camilla’s older sister got married, and in just three years, she already has three children and is waiting for one more.”
"…Is this correct?" Harold felt uncomfortable at the words of Count Russell and his wife, realizing a hidden meaning. His appetite suddenly disappeared.
Could his mother be part of this ridiculous plan?
'...No, you won't.'
She was his mother, after all.
Losing his appetite, Harold finished his meal early and returned to his room. He tried to sleep after lying on the bed, but the unfamiliar atmosphere made him fall into a light sleep.
Around midnight, he felt a strange presence around his bed.
killer? Tension flowed through him as he reached for the dagger beside his pillow and slowly opened his eyes. Then he saw Camilla sitting on the edge of his bed.
She was wearing a transparent nightgown that revealed everything underneath—her outfit, leaving no doubt about her intentions.
“Lord Harold, this is what adults want,” she said, placing her hand on his chest, her red-painted lips curving into a provocative smile.
Harold pushed Camilla away and jumped out of bed. As he ran towards the door to escape, he froze when it opened. The sight of the person standing there was completely incomprehensible.
"…My mom?"
“You're a man. Surely, you can't resist the temptation of a woman.”
Gloria pushed him inside and closed the door behind her.
Harold raised his upper body and turned his eyes from side to side.
Couple's bedroom. Next to him, Diana was sleeping.
Did it rain while they were sleeping?
‘Suddenly I dream about that day.’
Although he subdued Camilla that day without incident, the memory of being nearly attacked and betrayed by the mother he once trusted made Harold react negatively to any woman's touch.
The compassion Gloria felt that day was not directed at Harold, but for herself—because her son was ill and her position had become unstable.
Harold let out a bitter laugh.
Thinking now, he wondered what exactly he believed. Everything changed when he became terminally ill.
His whole body was wet with sweat and felt sticky, so Harold tried to get out of bed to wash himself.
At that moment, a small hand grabbed him with gentle force.
“……Harold?”
A soft, sleepy voice called his name.
At the same time, warmth spread through his hand as she held it.