The Young Supporter of Darkness

‘I’m going to get an upset stomach.’

Daphne was blinking with her fork in her mouth.

Daphne’s snack today was black tea chiffon cake.

The cake, which was finished with small flowers boiled in sugar topped with white cream that looked fluffy at a glance, looked perfect.

It would have been more perfect without Kael next to her.

‘He’s going to drill a hole at this rate.’

It’s been like this ever since they came back from Acmel a few days ago.

When she saw him, he stared at her without saying a word, and when she asked him if he had something to say, he shook his head.

Even now, he was staring at her while checking the documents given by the butler.

‘Are you sulking?’

Yeah, that could be it. Daphne nodded.

Kael was still fifteen. He was at the age of being sensitive and sulky.

Because she teased him so much.

‘There’s nothing I can do.’

Daphne reached out and pushed the black tea chiffon cake in front of Kael.

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“It means I’m sorry. Means of reconciliation?”

“Means you’re sorry…”

Kael, who had been stammering for a moment, went into a sulk.

As expected, this was right.

Daphne raised her hands in surrender.

“I won’t tease you again.”

“I think you’re lying.”

Was it obvious? Daphne grinned. Kael, who sighed deeply, returned the cake plate back.

“I don’t like sweets.”

Then he sipped the tea in front of him.

Judging from how well he drank it even though it was strong, he seemed to like bitter things to Daphne.

‘He didn’t seem to like desserts in the original story or previous life.’

Then she’ll enjoy the cake. Daphne cut the cake with her fork and put it in her mouth.

“Delicious…”

Daphne’s cheeks turned red.

Daphne’s taste was that it wasn’t too sweet, with the strong aroma of black tea that rose with each bite.

At first, only things that were too sweet for Daphne’s taste were served on the table, but soon, only things that suited her taste were on the table.

‘It was to the extent that I thought Mister Zegman or Miss Ritena liked sweet things.’

This would suit Kael well.

She was trying to recommend him to try it, but the documents that Kael was looking at caught her eye.

“It’s a document about the Acmel Hot Springs.”

Kael nodded.

“I want to airlift plywood, but it’s not plausible with the short amount of time.”

Plywood. It was the finest material used only to build aristocratic mansions.

Not only was it popular, but it was always in short stock because it was limitedly produced in the Granq area.

‘Well, you’re going to do business with the central nobility and gentry, so you should at least use plywood.’

Daphne’s eyes narrowed.

Apparently, there was a company that had a sufficient stock of plywood at this time.

“By the way, Miss Daphne.”

While contemplating, Kael spoke first.

“Actually, I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“You said there was a child who suffered from the same disease in the orphanage before. I was wondering how fast the improvement was.”

Daphne put down her fork at the cautious question. It was about Zegman.

Although the child case was a lie, Daphne had other things to compare with, so it was not difficult to answer.

The wife who was affected in the original story and in her previous life.

“I remember that the symptoms almost disappeared in less than two weeks.”

“Two weeks.”

Daphne added cautiously.

“But the child was not on the severe side, Your Grace.”

“I see.”

Kael nodded with relief.

“People who were suffering from the same disease have recovered similarly, so my father will wake up soon.”

It should be.

Daphne sipped her tea and frowned.

‘It’s strange. No matter how deep the disease is, he should have regained consciousness by now.’

Of course, Zegman’s illness was much more severe compared to the resident who received his wife’s medicine.

How many times did he collapse and lose consciousness?

Still, they should have heard some good news by now.

However, Zegman only opened his eyes for a moment, but did not fully wake up.

‘What was the problem?’

She heard someone rushing in as she furrowed her brows.

“Y-Your Grace! Milady!”

It was May, Selma’s assistant. May, who had been breathing heavily for a while, shouted with all her might.

“Mister Zegman has opened his eyes!”

“…..!!”

As soon as he heard the words, Kael jumped up. And Daphne froze.

‘Wow.’

The raised corners of the mouth, the slightly reddened eyes, and the pupils that grew at the unbelievable news.

A face that is similar to but completely different from the face seen in the carriage.

His face was full of joy.

‘I’ve never seen anything like that before.’

Kael with such an expression had never been described in the original story or seen in a previous life.

Rather, she had seen Kael cry while hugging a tattered heart.

“M-Miss Daphne.”

“Go ahead. I’ll be right with you.”

Kael nodded and got up first. At once he crossed the long corridor and arrived at Zegman’s room.

“Oh.”

When he opened the door, Zegman, who was sitting on the edge of the bed and talking about something with Selma, smiled.

“Kael, my son.”

It was real. It really was.

His father was awake.

A year after his mother collapsed, his father, who had closed his eyes for the past month, opened his eyes.

Kael felt a large load that had been pressing down on his body suddenly fall.

“What.”

Zegman, who walked barefoot without shoes on, laughed.

“Have you eaten well so far? How come you’re so skinny. It’s only been a month, listening to Selma.”

“Father stayed like that…”

Choked up, Kael couldn’t finish his sentence.

He hadn’t said it before, but how much he was driven mentally.

Since he was the only heir, he knew from a very young age that he would be the grand duke.

But he had no idea it would come this fast and this desperately.

How did he feel when he just ascended to be Grand Duke?

He was at a loss.

He was afraid.

Those who looked at him as if they were judging him, and the vassals who eventually left.

And the curse that became stronger after his mother died.

Meanwhile, his father’s terminal illness pushed him to the edge of the cliff.

It felt like he was standing with only his tiptoes at the end of the cliff.

After enduring like that.

“Can I sponsor you?”

He met her.

Kael bit his lip. Tears welled up under his eyes and fell.

“How can I eat?”

Looking down at Kael like that, Zegman lifted the corners of his mouth.

“It’s all right. I’m not dead.”

“……”

“But I went to God’s side? Half gone, half way.”

“Father!”

Kael shouted and freaked out at Zegman’s joke. Zegman, who was laughing as if his ears hurt, stroked Kael’s head with his big hand.

“Don’t worry. I had no intention of going, and if I did, I would have been kicked out by your mother.”

Even though Kael’s hair was completely tousled, Zegman didn’t stop.

“I’m sure they kicked me out to see you grow up.”

Kael bit his lip at the remark. It was a really warm look.

Daphne observed it with vigilance.

‘I can see what it was like when Ritena was alive.’

It must have been a happy family.

A perfect and happy family that truly respects, cares, and loves each other.

‘That’s why Kael’s personality is all the more twisted.’

He killed his beloved mother with his own hands.

Even his father whom he respected became more ill from the shock, so there’s no way Kael wouldn’t be twisted by blaming himself.

‘It would be nice if he would grow up at a time when he would not be twisted and covered in self-loathing.’

Daphne blinked slowly.

A heartwarming scene was still unfolding in the room.

Even though she knew she had to enter the room now and greet Zegman, she couldn’t easily take a step.

‘Let’s come back later.’

When Daphne stepped back, her eyes met with Zegman.

“By the way, who are you?”

“Ah.”

Daphne’s foot stopped. Soon, a smile bloomed on her stiff face.

“Hello, Mister Zegman. My name is Daphne Bertrand.”

It was a simple greeting, but it was enough.

It was his first time meeting her in person, but it was not difficult to recognize because he heard a lot about her.

“Hello, Your Highness the Princess. My name is Zegman Bertrand. I should have said hello first, but please forgive me for not being able to.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Her Highness the Princess.

Despite greeting as Daphne Bertrand, Zegman called Daphne the princess.

And a formal greeting.

‘You’re on your guard.’

It was a reaction that Zegman, who just woke up, might show.

“I heard from Selma. You helped me a lot when I collapsed.”

“No! I’m just glad it helped.”

Daphne deliberately smiled like a child at this age. It was to loosen the wariness.

This is because even if you spot the alertness of people as big as Zegman, it will only be troublesome to take action.

“Hmm.”

At the same time as the crooked smile at the corner of Zegman’s mouth grew, the same silver eyes as Kael’s narrowed.

‘What is this?’

Somehow, she felt a chill down her spine.

It felt like digging into something, like looking through the hidden side.

‘Is it because of age?’

Come to think of it, Zegman was once a powerful wandering knight that even the imperial family coveted.

Maybe it’s since he is that kind of person.

“Your Highness the Princess.”

Zegman, striding barefoot, looked down at Daphne.

At that time, when the strange tension was getting stronger.

“…..??”

A big hand swept Daphne’s hair.

This way and that.

Mariel’s well-groomed hair was ruined, and Daphne froze with her eyes wide open.

He went on regardless.

Zegman crouched down and met Daphne’s gaze with a grin.

“Your Highness the Princess must also eat well. I think you’re thinner than my son. Eating well is the answer to survive in a cold place.”

“I’ve been eating well since I came here?”

The end of her words rose as she was taken aback.

“That’s a relief. After all, Bree is good at cooking, isn’t he?”

Zegman asked, standing up.

“But why are you standing there? It’s cold in the hallway, Your Highness.”

Saying that, he naturally held Daphne’s hand and led her into the room.

Thud. Daphne stepped into the room.

The room was definitely warmer than the corridor. The warm air touched her cold cheeks.

“Father, Miss Daphne was surprised.”

“Eh, Miss Daphne?”

When Kael protested, Zegman made a strange expression.

“It’s not even a nickname, why do you call her so awkwardly?”

“Father also calls her Your Highness the Princess.”

“Thing is, we just introduced ourselves to each other.”

Zegman trudged back to bed and plopped down.

“I can’t call you Your Highness the Princess forever, so I’ll need a nickname.”

What are you calling? Zegman pondered as he touched his chin.

“Daughter-in-law? That’s too much like a commoner.”

What would be good? The longer Zegman’s troubles were, the more uneasy the atmosphere was in the room.

“Ah!”

Soon Zegman’s lips rose gradually. It was a smile where only he was happy and the viewer was anxious.

“How about baby, Your Highness?”

afterword

zegman says ‘agi’ which literally means baby (infant)