Chapter 7 - Carriage cannot break,it can only bend

In a grand Mansion that radiated both charm and dignity, a woman dressed in noble attire entered her office.

The atmosphere within the room was as regal as the woman herself, with her mesmerizing black hair and captivating eyes that could bewitch anyone who dared to meet her gaze.

"Duchess, here are the reports of the issues you asked for," her aide spoke, her voice filled with a sense of unease.

"It is about Young Master Zephyr."

The Duchess, however, remained unfazed, her demeanor as cool as ever.

"Is he dead?" she inquired without a hint of emotion.

"No, Duchess," the aide responded, her anxiety growing.

"These days, he has started doing some light exercise."

The Duchess's response was far from warm. "So, now you want me to know what he likes, what he eats... hmm."

Her piercing gaze locked onto her aide, making the poor woman shiver and avoid eye contact.

"F-forgive me, Duchess," she stammered. "It was a maid who reported it."

"Don't make excuses," the Duchess retorted sharply. "And as for that maid, inform her not to report anything that might arouse Count's suspicion. He's annoying enough as it is. Also, warn her that if she does report anything, her fate will be a grim one."

A glint of death flashed in the Duchess's eyes as she spoke, leaving her aide trembling before she nodded and hastily left the room.

"Why do I care about what a useless person does?"

The Duchess mused silently, her thoughts drifting to her own circumstances.

She had been forced into marriage with the Count to secure a mana mine, at least according to what the public knew.

But in reality, her own father had sought to control her by marrying her off and clearing the path for his inept son.

In the midst of it all, she had taken precautions by giving birth to a child as a backup, but he had proven to be as useless as his father.

Nonetheless, the Duke had let his guard down, ultimately leading to the loss of his son who had met his demise in a convenient 'accident'.

This turn of events had left Kassidy as the sole heir.

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Zeph's POV

At the Count's estate, far removed from the Duchy, I found myself being helped onto a carriage by several servants.

My portly figure made even simple tasks like this a challenge. The Count, my father, stood before me, a mix of emotions in his voice.

"Child, as a useless father, I hope that at least you can achieve everything," he said to me, his words tinged with regret and something else I couldn't quite place.

"I understand, Father," I replied with a stoic expression. In truth, I couldn't care less about his emotions.

This man had married another woman after my supposed demise, leaving me little reason to care about him.

But then, just as I was about to depart, I heard her voice.

"Wait!"

I knew exactly what she was going to ask, and I couldn't allow it.

"No."

I swiftly rejected her plea to accompany me on this journey.

After all, I had plans to seize an opportunity that would elevate me, even if it meant stealing it from a would-be hero.

So what if it wasn't the only opportunity? I had a penchant for stealing what I wanted.

With the sound of hooves hitting the ground, the horses started to move, pulling the carriage forward.

Fortunately, the carriage was built to withstand my considerable weight. It might bend under the strain, but it wouldn't break..

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Thalia's POV

When I heard about my teddy bear's departure, I sprinted towards the carriage, eager to ask if I could accompany him on his journey.

However, he rejected me...

I couldn't believe it. Rejected once again. But what bothered me even more was how he seemed to have guessed my intentions.

Could it be possible that he possessed some sort of mind-reading ability? The idea was unsettling.