33 Chapter 33

It's been three days since Gian last visited the mansion of his fiance. Within these short days, two important things had happened.

First, Viscount Nolan and Marquis Frederick officially settled the engagement between their children. The official documents of engagement between Gian and Shannen were signed by them on that same day. Shannen is now Gian's official fiance. The last thing they have to do to make their engagement more official is to hold a celebratory party.

At first, the viscount wanted to hold the party last month. But Shannen has to return back in the academy as soon as possible so they have to postpone it for the meantime. In the end, they settled to do their engagement party on the same day where Gian will celebrate his seventeenth birthday two months from now. The marquis planned to held a huge party in their mansion on that day and invites their close friends and the nobles in their kingdom.

Second, the marquis called Gian in his office to discuss an important thing.

"You will officially introduce me to society on my birthday?"

"That is right. Your seventeenth birthday will also serve as your social debut in the noble society."

This is actually a huge surprise for Gian. He never thought that the marquis will take the initiative to introduce him publicly. Gian tries to recall his memory from the past. He really cannot remember an event where the marquis introduced him to society.

'It is because I tried to change the future?'

Based on his memory, Gian only celebrates his seventeenth birthday privately together with his father and their servants. After that, he remained to be the invisible son of the marquis inside their mansion. Gian did not bother to go outside and just continued his bland and boring life inside his library. He does not have any fiancee at that time since only a few people in the society can remember his existence as the second son of the marquis.

But now...

"...Is it really okay?" Gian asked.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Showing me in the noble society." Gian answered. "Are you really sure you wanted them to know about my existence? I am just an unknown son of a marquis."

"I remember you are not that docile when you are talking with Viscountess Cladeu before."

"Huh?

"Gian, I'm sorry." apologized Marquis Frederick.

"What?"

The marquis stand up from his seat and walk towards the window. He gazes stayed on the few twinkling stars decorating the dark skies.

"Sixteen years ago, I lost three precious people in my life." The marquis stated.

Gian was confused about why the marquis is telling him this. But still, he patiently listened to his father.

"At that time, I do not have enough power to protect them. All I can do was to watch as they slowly die in front of my eyes."

Gian did not know what to do. He wanted to comfort his father, but Gian thought that would be useless anymore because it had been a long since they died. He has an idea who are those people his father was talking about. His wife, the first Queen, and his little nephew.

"Gian, Serilla loves you very much. After she gave birth that night, Serilla's weak body became worst due to her poor health. But your existence gave her a will and strength to live longer. I can't thank you enough, Gian. You made Serilla happy with her remaining days in this world."

Gian awkwardly lowers his head and quietly listens to the marquis's words. Gian had no recollection of his mother. He cannot even remember his mother's face because his father instructed the servants to keep all of her portraits in the storage room. What Gian knew about his mother was her name and the fact that she dearly loved him until her last breath.

"The truth is... I am scared. I am scared that you will also disappear from my life. That is why I always keep you within my reach. I selfishly hide you from the society thinking that I am doing it for your protection."

"Father..."

"But after seeing how confidently you faced Viscountess Beckie who openly insulted you, I finally realized how stupid I am to keep you from the public's eye. My action resulted in a blunder in your reputation. Gian, I hope you can forgive me."

Gian secretly blamed his family for their overprotectiveness. Even if Gian was sick, they should have never caged him in this mansion. But Gian cannot force himself to hate them. They are his family. They are the only people who truly care for him even in his past life.

"To be honest, I hate you and my brother a little. Why do you always have to keep me away from society like this? The two of you always treated me like a kid who is incapable of taking care of himself."

The marquis did not rebuke Gian's words. Instead, he listened to it and calmly accepted every word he said. Gian has the right to hate them.

"But still, I will forgive you." Gian said in a low voice.

"...Why?"

"Because you are my family."

Instead of saying anything more, Marquis Frederick put his hand on Gian's head and gently pat his hair. This is the marquis's way of complementing his children when they were still kids. Gian pursed his lips, but he did not avoid his father's hands.

"Thank you."

—//—//—

After Gian left the office, the marquis let out a sigh as he leans his body on the backrest of his chair. After a few minutes, he stares at the slightly opened window near his table.

"Stop acting like a thief, Viel. Come inside."

After a few seconds, the window is now wide open and a tall figure of a man enters from it. Viel removes the dust from his shoulders and sits on a vacant chair.

"The next time you eavesdrop like that, I will ask the servants to cut all the trees near our mansion."

"You will hurt the innocent trees, Father." Viel said with a smile.

"How was the situation in the eastern border?"

"Not good. The rebels are still trying to enter the kingdom. I already send some of my knights to monitor their movements. If the situation becomes worst, the Red Tigers and the Black Pythons will march towards the east to stop them."

"I see."

The marquis did not say anything more after that. A dead silence suddenly enveloped the office. Viel stares at the marquis for a while before opening his mouth to speak.

"Are you sure you really wanted to stop hiding Gian from society?" Viel asked the marquis straight to the point.

"If not, I will not allow Gian to personally visit the Cladeu mansion."

"But is it really okay to do that? These past few months, the tension between His Majesty and the loyal supporters of Prince Jonathan is getting worse."

Naturally, the marquis is aware of that. The whole kingdom knows that the Cres Val family is a loyal ally of the Royal Family. But it does not mean that the Aristocratic Party is not trying to pull them on their side. If the Cres Vals will betray the Royal Family, then the backing of Prince Jonathan will become stronger and the King will be forced to announce him as the Crown Prince.

The Cres Val family is one of the three strongest allies of the Royal Family. Marquis Frederick can still remember the day when his little sister's marriage became the main key for His Majesty to secure his succession in the throne. After their marriage, His Majesty's backing became more powerful that the Aristocratic Party was left no choice but to surrender that time.

But it all changed when Queen Margarette died together with her son. The Aristocratic Party raise a huge fuss which nearly affected their good relationship with the neighboring kingdom. To put an end on it, His Majesty finally decided to marry Lady Merille, the daughter of Duke Ermintel, who was allied with the Aristocratic Party and make her the new Queen of their kingdom.

'I am only marrying Lady Merille because it is my duty as the king to maintain the peacefulness of this kingdom, not because I want to erase Queen Margarette's existence.'

These are the words His Majesty mentioned to the marquis before the day of his marriage with Lady Merille. To be honest, the King does not need to inform him about it. But the King is still considering the marquis as his friend and brother-in-law. To repay his consideration, Marquis Frederick pledged his allegiance with the King.

"We have to make ourselves ready before the second prince comes back." Marquis Frederick stated.

"I know that. But Father, the moment they discovered Gian's existence, they will surely make a huge fuss about it. They may even use Gian to create discord in our family."

"Your worries will never happen, Viel."

Marquis Frederick is always observing Gian ever since he was a child. And these past few months, he can see the drastic change of Gian's behavior. He does not know what happened, but the marquis feels like he is not the Gian he knew anymore.

Taking a deep breath, the marquis stares at the vacant chair where Gian was seating earlier.

"Viel, tell Butler Del later to stop giving Gian his medicine anymore. He does not need to take it anymore."

Viel was stunned for a moment before he stares at his father with hesitation in his eyes.

"...Is this really the best decision? We can just avoid the impending—"

"Viel." Marquis Frederick calls his name in a stern voice. "We both know that this day will certainly come."

Viel did not speak anymore. A sudden wind passed through the window and coldness of it spread the office. But it does not bring any comfort to the two people talking inside.

"Viel, we cannot keep Gian anymore."