30 Years After Reincarnating, It Turns Out This World Was A Rofan?! novel Chapter 24

"—Your Grace, is it alright for you to leave like this?"

[What do you mean?]

"...I'm not sure if it's okay for that strange man to be by the lady's side."

[One might think you're her father, you're worrying more than I am.]

"...My apologies."

Rach bowed his head. He was a man full of pride, but when it came to the Duke, he was someone willing to lay down his life. That was who Rach was.

And to him, Irene Windler wasn't just a genius magician, but also his 'savior.'

'Since she arrived, His Grace has changed.'

—For the better.

After losing the Duchess, the Duke had been plagued with madness. The wise man they once knew was consumed by the insanity of the cursed sword, gradually becoming more and more cruel. It was heartbreaking to see.

Fortunately, his cruelty was only directed at criminals, not innocent people, but the stench of blood never left the halls of the Galahad estate.

Then, she appeared.

With beauty like a fairy and a warm smile like sunlight, she resembled the Duchess so much it was as if she had returned from the dead.

After her arrival, the Duke smiled warmly again, as if his madness had never existed. He returned to being the wise leader they had once known. Her presence was a blessing and a gift to the household.

Because of that, Rach was prepared to lay down his life to protect her from any threat.

...And more than anything, there was another reason he needed to protect her.

[It’s fine. He's more trustworthy than I expected. He won’t be a danger to her.]

"......."

[You still don’t seem convinced.]

“...She could be the daughter of the Duchess, Your Grace.”

[You're crossing a line.]

“...Forgive me.”

But it was something that had to be said.

Yes, Irene Windler could very well be the Duke’s...

There was a high possibility that she was Blake’s ‘biological daughter.’ It was a suspicion that the Duke himself strongly held, and while no one in the household openly spoke about it, it was a widely known secret.

Just like the royal family of Pendraig had sensed it, Galahad also knew.

But the reason they hadn't made this public was...

[Nothing is certain yet. So, stay your hand.]

"......."

[Hmph, you're even more insolent than that man.]

“...Your Grace is far too strict.”

[Yes, I am ‘Your Grace.’ Therefore, I must remain calm, even if the child might be my own, I can't embrace her.]

“...Hmm!”

The Duke's words were logical. While there was a possibility that Irene was his child, there was no solid proof of it.

Sure, she resembled the Duchess, but what evidence was there that she was truly his daughter? What if she simply looked like her?

...Blake wasn’t confident he could deal with the aftermath, politically or emotionally, if he were wrong.

So, he kept everything hidden and only accepted her as his foster daughter. He needed time to restore the deteriorating Galahad estate after being consumed by madness. Looking into her background would have to wait.

[That’s why I need him. I don’t know what his connection to Isis is, but surely my nephew gave him orders to keep an eye on Irene. He’s a fitting choice.]

Even when investigating, the Duke was surprised. He didn’t expect such talent to be in the knight order.

The White Lion had been in decline since Sir Baltar, but this man was a stroke of luck for the royal family.

And also a stroke of luck for Galahad.

[The fact that he’s watching over her means that he will also ensure her safety. I can trust him with that.]

Blake had no qualms about his nephew, Isis, having his foster daughter monitored. After all, he would have done the same, perhaps even more stringently.

That child was still ‘soft.’

“...He’s weaker than me. You should have sent me instead.”

But Rach was still not convinced, his dissatisfaction obvious. Seeing his pupil so frustrated, the Duke chuckled.

[You’re on the verge of collapsing, yet you’ve still got a big mouth.]

“I-I’m not going to collapse.”

[Oh, really.]

The Duke and the knights shook their heads, unable to suppress their smiles.

Rach du Durang.

The rising star of Galahad, a young knight destined to become the next Aura master, was trembling so much his arms and legs looked like they would snap at any moment.

He stood with all the pride he could muster, but his insides were surely in tatters.

[Just drink the potion already, you fool.]

“I-I’m fine.”

[You're bleeding from the mouth, you idiot.]

“...Hnng.”

Drip.

Rach’s face had turned as pale as a ghost, and seeing him like that, the Duke clicked his tongue.

What a foolish man.

[This is why knights are like this.]

Both that fool and this one.

None of them acted their age.

Well.

[Still better than those ‘sneaky rats.’]

A cold chill passed over Blake's eyes. It wasn't directed at his knights.

No, it was aimed at...

[Does the Grand Duke’s family raise rats now?]

His gaze turned icy as he directed his attention toward the ‘rats’ who thought they were hiding in the shadows nearby.

And those ‘rats’ were...