The Troublemaker Daughter of the Grand Duke Wants To Live Alone - Chapter 96

Grand Duke Estin looked at the door where Mary had exited. Estin’s attention was caught by Lucas as he spoke quietly next to him.

“You must be upset that your beloved daughter is stepping out with her fiancé.”

“Fiance? They aren’t even engaged yet.”

Estin snorted in response. Demimore, in his opinion, was also a victim in this circumstance. No, but it was also true that when he saw his face, he was unable to control his expression.

Though Estin’s expression is grave, it is not because Mary and Demimore went out.

“Should I act as though I don’t know?”

“What?”

Estin was looking around the banquet hall. The reason was that negative energy was circling it. It was still his child’s first birthday party, and he didn’t want to ruin it by abruptly ending the celebration and sending the guests home.

His greed increased as he observed the child’s joyful expression after receiving the gift.

He would have been ready if he had felt “something” but oddly, it was only faint energy. It was obvious that no one else could sense any energy at all if Estin could only sense this flimsy energy.

Before Mary left with Demimore, Estin quickly cast a protective spell on her in the hopes that all of this would be for nothing. Even though it’s best to avoid any potential problems, they won’t be too far from Estin’s area if Mary suffers any harm.

***

“I’m sorry, Mary.”

“It’s okay,”

“What’s the matter?”

I tried to smile at Demimore’s apology. Astina asked, as if she sensed the strange atmosphere between Demimore and I. I shook my head. I didn’t want to cause any worries.

No, it was actually embarrassing to say the truth.

Demimore and I are about to get engaged, but I got dumped before we even got engaged!

And maybe the reason is you; you may not be the reason right now, but you might be soon. I can’t say that.

No, but…

If you don’t want to get engaged, talk to your father, who pushed for the engagement. Why are you coming to me and making a fuss? Also on my birthday? I turned around and glared at Demimore because I was feeling a bit emotional. No, I don’t like Demimore, but it still bothers me.

Am I being unreasonable to be so upset right now?

“Come on, let’s go inside!”

“Mary.”

“It’s my birthday and I can’t be away this long, can I? Both of you should congratulate me!”

I exaggerated my laughter and dragged them to the banquet hall.

Oh, yes. I have to answer Demimore. I don’t want to put it off any longer.

“And Demimore.”

“Yes.”

“If that’s what you want, do it. I’m fine with it.”

“…….”

Demimore appeared to be conflicted by what I said. Although I was aware that Demimore would love Astina, my pride was slightly wounded.

My fighting prowess, however, was diminished when I noticed Astina smiling broadly while holding my arm. What did the innocent child do wrong?

“Mary, happy birthday.”

“Thank you.”

“My birthday became the day I was adopted, and Mary’s birthday is actually her birthday, so I’m really happy to celebrate your birthday.”

“Astina…”

“No, that doesn’t mean I’m sad; in fact, I’m really happy.”

Yes, I suppose so.

When she said that, Astina was incredibly lovely, radiant, and stunning. I would fall in love with her if I were a man. I feel warm just being next to her.

That is true, but for some reason it makes me feel a little depressed.

It was then.

I was about to move forward, thinking that I should go see Grand Duke Estin, when the banquet hall turned dark.

No way. It was just so bright outside that the darkness felt like a lie. As I was assessing the situation, something grabbed my waist.

“Ahhh!”

A loud scream could be heard. I was about to scream as well, but I realized instinctively that my nine-year-old life had been marked by kidnapping. I’m currently being kidnapped. The dense blackness resembled a black hole. I slipped into the black fog with no resistance. I had a thought in between.

He’s a really annoying character.

***

The banquet hall was lit up once more.

A bursting noise cut through the roar of people. In an effort to locate the source of the sound, people turned their heads. A broken wine glass lay on the ground, and Grand Duke Estin had a stern expression. Duke Harris, who had been talking to the Grand Duke, stood like a sinner.

“Oh, this is why I don’t like people coming to the castle.”

Yes, on this day nine years ago.

There were a lot of people there to celebrate Mary’s birth even on the day of it. Estin had to take medication to lower his energy level in order to host numerous guests that day.

‘I should have called off the event when I first sensed that energy.’

However, since that day, he has seen his child being noticeably depressed, so he tried to make her feel better somehow. Also, canceling the party just because he’s worried about her for no reason might scare the child.

“Everyone, I’m sorry.”

Lucas stepped forward to settle the atmosphere of the banquet hall.

“But from now on, no one can step out. Please excuse me.”

He instead presented a return gift he had prepared. It was a spice imported from the Kingdom of Lacom through the Padula coast this time. Since it is quite precious in the Britina Empire, the expressions of the people in the banquet hall have loosened a little.

“My Lord.”

“They most likely couldn’t travel far and are still here in Conler Castle.”

“I’ll search.”

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

“I was hoping there would be no basis for it.”

Grand Duke Estin said in a voice full of irritation. When he swept his hair roughly, his neat look became completely disorganized. The ladies watching the figure around calmed their hearts that were beating helplessly without knowing the situation.

“I should have killed them all.”

He believed it was a mistake to think he should leave the director alive in order to find out more about the kidnapper. Given that the director was set on fire before being questioned, the criminal would have taken precautions to avoid the kidnapper being apprehended and interrogated once more. There is no need for questioning in that case. He intends to kill them immediately.

“Grand Duke.”

Grand Duke Estin was approached by Rex.

In the meantime, Jasper approached Demimore outside and gave him a sword. He accepted the sword while maintaining a blank expression. Although he rejected the prince’s lessons, he has a keen interest in swordplay.

“I’m doing this for the first time in real life.”

Jasper began to get a little excited as his young Lord, who said so, looked quite reliable. Sorry for the kidnapped Mary, but Jasper was more concerned with Demimore’s development. And, as he had previously suspected, it was all because of Miss Mary.

***

Saintess.

The underworld’s Saintess.

At last

I finally found you.

I met you.

“What are you saying, you crazy?”

The thing in front of me resembled shapeless black clouds. I was engulfed by this ethereal energy, which also took me to a certain room. I was observing it while leaning up against the wall. Perhaps the reason why these things don’t frighten me is that I’ve already witnessed something so bizarre.

He continued to murmur in a glum, somber tone. What do you mean by a saint of the underworld? Are you referring to me? Blessed by the demon and the saint of the underworld. What the hell is wrong with this family?

I didn’t even confess at my birthday party, but I got dumped. Are you guys aware of my feelings?

There is.

Something.

“What?”

Fiancé

Marriage

God of the underworld

“I’m marrying the God of the underworld……?”

No, that doesn’t make sense. Why would a god and a saint get married? I started to feel pathetic about myself talking about these things. Is there any point in hearing gloomy talk without substance?

I’m so pathetic.

Even though I’m kidnapped like this, there’s nothing I can do but wait for others.

I raised my index finger and, with a dejected expression, called out the fire. Hello, I’m a lighter. I can only do this. I want to stop being kidnapped. The wind blew as I was frozenly gazing at the fire.

It’s him.

He came.

It’s him!

He’s here.

“What’s going on?”

The touch of the wind on my cheek was not so good. I raised my hand and cupped my cheek. As the wind blew, I could feel things around me getting excited.

Mercy.

God.

Give us strength.

God.

Our saint.

Please.

Mercy.

Ahh!

As the buzzing voices grew louder and louder, the black fog disappeared, leaving behind a word. It disappeared in vain.

“These bastards.”

Then a man appeared through the disappearing fog.

The man was very tall, and his long purple hair stood out. The man who was muttering coldly smiled as soon as his eyes met mine. It was a friendly smile, but it’s giving me goosebumps behind my back. I felt an unknown displeasure. I thought it would be much better to talk to the black smoke that was muttering earlier.

“Happy birthday.”

“Who are you?”

“You still have bad eyes.”

Why are you pretending to be close when we are meeting for the first time?

The man knelt down to match my height. The man’s eyes were on me. These purple eyes…… It was so deep and dark that at first glance, I thought it might look like my black eyes. As soon as I saw him, I knew that the person in front of me was something other than a human being.

“God of the Underworld.”

I don’t know exactly where the underworld is, but it’s definitely more dangerous than I thought. Once I get back, I should ask Logan about the underworld properly. Logan probably knows.

But how do I get back?

There is no answer. I don’t even know where I am.

By the way, how did this guy in front of me know this place?

“You have something interesting.”

While I was lost in thought for a moment, the man grabbed my wrist and looked at me. To be exact, the bracelet that Rex gave me. I tried to strike the man’s hand as hard as I could, but he just kept grabbing my wrist and looking.

“Oh, that’s great.”

The man’s words were clearly full of derision. Then I looked at my hand again. He’s really rude.

“Can you let me go?”

“As expected, Conler’s family is different. In the midst of all they cast magic.”

The man let go of my wrist, muttering an unexpected story.

What do you mean? What magic did Grand Duke Estin put on my body? I stroked the wrist held by the man with my other hand.

“We don’t have much time right now. You need to loosen up a bit.”

“Loosen up alone…….”

“There have been many interruptions.”

“Excuse me.”

He must have been the person I spoke to in the forest based on what he said. More so than that, he appeared to be faking a friendly demeanor while his eyes were drooping as if he were upset. This sequence of actions appeared to be staged, as though he were an actor.

“Is it because you couldn’t eat properly? You’re still very small.”

“Who are you and why do you keep appearing in front of me?”

“I didn’t intend to show up in front of you so abruptly.”