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As things finally settled down and he could breathe again, Viscount Vitence coughed harshly, like a man who had just been pulled out of the water.
Walter suppressed the urge to end his life right then and there-like cutting a pig’s throat-just to silence the unbearable noise.
There was no real gain in giving in to that momentary disgust, after all.
The pheromones radiating from Walter thickened, as if they were going to swallow the entire basement whole.
"Answer me. What are you?"
Viscount Vitence, who had been gasping for air, suddenly looked dazed.
Drooling, he mumbled,
"I... I am... a lowly piece of trash... a worm..."
"Tell me what you’re supposed to do."
"To... die on my own... so I don’t trouble the Ducal House..."
The viscount answered in broken phrases, mixed with strange, deranged laughter-hic, heek.
"Was it the Marquess of Malvern who ordered this?"
"I... I don’t know... I only heard... that the people from the Duke of Elestine’s household were visiting the capital..."
Walter remained silent but applied more pressure. The man clutched his chest and choked again.
After a few seconds, he managed to breathe and replied.
"I truly... don’t... know..."
"Hmph."
It seemed likely that the Marquess of Malvern had purposely let Viscount Vitence loose without ever revealing her own involvement, intending to let him rampage on his own.
She was so desperate to damage the Elestine Duchy, even if she didn’t benefit directly, that she might’ve wanted to fling this filth named Vitence at them.
"What did you plan to do by taking Railey?"
"That wench... keh!"
Viscount Vitence began to speak ill of his own daughter again but, having been punished multiple times for that before, hesitated and slowly explained his intentions.
After forcibly taking Railey, he planned to use her as leverage, to demand leniency in the lawsuit in exchange for her return.
That way, his sentence would be reduced, and the family wouldn’t have to pay such a large compensation that it would bankrupt them.
Since the Duke's house seemed to go out of their way to protect Railey, he had calculated that she held value as a bargaining chip.
Of course, true to his despicable nature, Viscount Vitence had also considered the possibility that the Duke’s family might abandon Railey entirely.
Viscount Vitence kept spewing filth, saying that once the plan worked, he would 'punish' his daughter for her past disobedience and then sell her off for a decent price.
The more Walter listened, the more vile it became, so much that he wanted to scrub his ears clean.
Walter muttered with unhidden contempt.
“How could you do something like that to your own daughter?”
“Heek, heehee, hieek... Well, she was just… a girl I picked up to sell anyway...”
“...What?”
Viscount Vitence, in his broken, ruined state, let the truth slip with a disturbing mixture of madness.
He admitted that Railey was not his biological daughter, she had been picked up from a slum. Since she wasn’t his real child, he claimed it didn’t matter what happened to her.
“If her lowly blood bothers you... feel free to discard her… Kuaaaagh!”
“.......”
Unable to bear the unbearable noise any longer, Walter unleashed his authority, and the man, overwhelmed by the pain, passed out on the spot.
Without even glancing back, Walter left the basement, filled with disgust.
As he strode briskly through the halls, he gave an order to Yuan, who silently followed.
“For now, just keep him under light surveillance. He won’t dare spill anything that could harm us.”
“Understood, Your Grace. Do you not want him... ‘dealt with’ immediately?”
“Dying easily would be a release, not a punishment. He should live to suffer every pain this world has to offer, mentally and physically. For the rest of his life.”
“...As you command.”
Yuan disappeared to carry out the order. Walter continued walking, trying to shake off the thick, lingering disgust.
He had always avoided using his beastfolk powers, the unique authority granted to those of his kind.
The biggest reason was that the temple could detect traces of mana, and though rare, it was a risk to expose himself to suspicion.
But just as strongly, he hated using that power because of how much he loathed being a beastfolk.
Maybe it wasn’t the only reason, but Rima’s betrayal-leaving him and their family-was probably influenced by the fact that the Elestine family was of fox beastfolk blood.
Even if he tried to think rationally, he couldn’t entirely rid himself of the suspicion that she couldn’t stand her beastfolk husband and son.
And yet, just moments ago, he had used his power without hesitation.
When it came to protecting his small, still-fragile daughter-in-law, there was no room for doubt.
Walter was quietly startled by his own reaction. He couldn’t quite understand himself.
Still, that changed nothing.
To him, Railey-like the rest of his family-was someone he must protect at all costs.
Anyone who tried to harm them would be paid back tenfold, with no mercy.
Walter closed his eyes for a moment, calming the killing intent that was surging through him.
He needed to go meet his daughter-in-law soon.
It was time to return to being the slow, kind father-in-law she was familiar with.
***
As soon as Railey returned to the townhouse, Walter hurried to her side and checked her appearance carefully.
“Railey! I heard what happened. You’re not hurt, are you? Did he say anything awful to you?”
“I’m okay, Father-in-law.”
“I’m so sorry... I thought he’d be under house arrest until the trial. I had no idea he’d go that far and chase after you.”
Railey was about to tell him there was no need to apologize, but Serge cut in with a blunt remark before she could speak.
“Exactly... Because of Father’s negligence, Lady Railey almost went through something terrible.”
“……”
“Please don’t let something like that happen again.”
Though the words were annoying, they weren’t wrong, so Walter forced a smile as he glared briefly at his son.
“Thank you for the advice. That won’t happen again. And as for Viscount Vitence... he’ll be punished thoroughly, including for what happened today.”
“Ah...”
Railey’s expression darkened at the mention of her former father. Walter cautiously asked.
“You said before not to show him any mercy, and I plan to honor that. But... is there anything still weighing on your heart?”
“No.”
Railey shook her head.
Maybe if she had still been a child, desperately yearning for her family’s affection, she would’ve hesitated.
But now, she didn’t want to think about them anymore. She didn’t want to care.
Even if they were to live out their lives in pain and misery, she no longer wanted to know.
“Just like I said before... I want to live the rest of my life never hearing another word about them.”
“I agree. I think that’s the best way, too.”
Walter gently patted her shoulder, offering a soft smile.
“There’s barely enough time in life to enjoy the good things. Don’t waste a second of it.”
“Yes...!”
Encouraging his daughter-in-law, Walter then turned his gaze toward Parnel, who had been watching them fondly from the background.
As soon as Walter looked at her, Parnel straightened up in surprise.
“I heard Parnel protected you. Thank you so much. If there’s anything you want, just say the word, I’ll reward you.”
“N-No! I didn’t do anything deserving of a reward.”
As Parnel humbly declined, Railey quickly interjected.
“You did something amazing!”
“If our Railey says so, then it must be true.”
“I’m... just honored.”
“But, um... will Parnel be okay? I mean, she isn’t formally part of the Duke’s household. I’m worried that Viscount Vitence might try to cause trouble because she touched him.”
Railey voiced her concern, since Parnel wasn't officially affiliated with the duchy, the viscount might use that against her.
“That’s why I told them Parnel was my personal guard. I thought there wouldn’t be an issue if we say she’s under the Duke’s name.”
“Ah... That was the right move, Railey. But even if you hadn’t said that, there wouldn’t be any problem. Parnel won’t face any consequences, so don’t worry.”
“I’m so relieved! But aside from all that...”
Railey clasped her hands together and turned to Parnel.
“I want you to become my real bodyguard, not just pretend.”
“...!”
Parnel’s eyes widened in surprise at Railey’s unexpected request.
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