The Nanny of House Herzen - Chapter 58
Carius watched the unfolding comedy with a crooked smile as the scroll he had released earlier returned to his hands.
“I will read it to you personally.”
He unfurled it and began to read aloud.
“To Marquis Genove Luke: It has come to light that Tobias Elsley Luke, your younger brother, has committed the grave sin of adultery with the late Duchess Herzen, resulting in the birth of an illegitimate child. This is a matter warranting a religious trial.”
Marquis Luke’s gaze shot to the man on the floor, finally recognizing him.
F-ck. The fool who had always claimed to have no interest in titles, preferring to live off wealthy women. The same fool whom he had married off, hoping he’d improve his disgraceful ways. And now this…
In his shocked state, he hadn’t recognized him earlier. Seeing his exposed backside now made the Marquis feel ill.
Before the Marquis could voice his anger, Carius continued to read.
“However, by the benevolence of Duke Herzen, the trial is waived. Instead, Genove Luke, as head of the house, is to comply with the following royal edict: One, Genove Luke shall grant a surname and name to the child born to Tobias Elsley Luke and Hestina Louise Herzen, who died from difficult childbirth….”
The Marquis, having lost all decorum, snatched the scroll from Carius.
He began to read it himself, his eyes narrowing as he struggled with the text. To make matters worse, it seemed his eyesight was failing him with age.
[….One, Genove Luke shall grant a surname and name to the child born to Tobias Elsley Luke and Hestina Louise Herzen, who died from difficult childbirth.
Two, Genove Luke shall express gratitude to Duke Herzen for saving the child after the Duchess’s difficult childbirth, and shall make no claim to the child’s custody until they reach adulthood.
Failure to comply with these conditions will result in immediate inquisition, and the Luke family will bear full responsibility under the laws of the kingdom.
It is deeply disappointing that Tobias Elsley Luke had caused such a scandal within the noble society, and in Marquis Genove Luke for failing to properly guide his younger brother. Until further notice of pardon, you are hereby forbidden from entering the capital.
Signed,
King Aristide.]
To grant the child a surname but not allow any claim to custody? The absurdity of the condition was overwhelming.
The Marquis knew well that the King was aware he had no legitimate heirs. If he remained childless, the illegitimate child of Tobias, granted the family name, would have a claim to inheritance. It was a ludicrous condition.
“This, this, this can’t be…!”
“This is the King’s command, but you won’t escape an indictment from County Copper. Taking in a worthless fellow as a son-in-law only to be betrayed—Count Copper will be furious. Marriage fraud involves hefty compensation, so you better brace yourself. But before that.”
Carius added, smiling incongruously.
“You have something to settle with me.”
“What? What do you—!”
Carius had no intention of explaining further.
“Cut it. Both of them.”
Soldiers rushed forward to seize the two men of Luke. The metallic sound of drawn swords was followed by the Marquis’s frantic scream, echoing through the mansion.
As he exited the now blood-soaked mansion, Carius felt a weight lift off his chest. Though he had endured tedious card games and given up a villa near the capital to secure the King’s cooperation, the outcome was satisfactory.
Carius had known that Evelyn wished to raise Johanson, and he couldn’t abandon the child once he discovered that its father was of the Luke family. It had been difficult to accept the child without a tangible benefit, even for Evelyn’s sake. That’s when the King had proposed a clever solution.
“Is it becoming of a great noble to dispose of lives as if they were mere insects?”
“One is responsible for my cousin’s death, and the other tried to kill my wife. If you don’t approve, I will handle it alone. You may then disown me as you see fit.”
The King had chuckled in response.
“No, no. Simply killing them brings you no advantage.”
A shadowy man indeed, but one he couldn’t afford to alienate.
The King had then devised a new plan, heavily influenced by his own interests, and Carius had decided to follow it.
Of course, the original plan didn’t include the part about smashing the organs down there, but a little improvisation wouldn’t hurt. The King was lenient enough with Carius to allow that.
They had been quite close since childhood. Memories of finding solace in each other’s misfortunes had faded somewhat over time, but even as pillars of the nation, they were still each other’s only dependable support.
The King, however, cunningly feigned distance from Herzen by spreading malicious rumors, saying that it would incite envy from others. It was he who had intentionally inflated the unfair rumors surrounding Duke Herzen.
Carius had always found some amusement in the King’s duplicitous nature, though he had grown rather tiresome of late.
But what choice did he have? The King was beyond any hope of reform by now.
As he thought of the King and furrowed his brows, he found himself once again in the reed forest.
This vast land, neglected due to its poor soil, had been one of Herzen’s longstanding burdens. However, if the dense reeds had hidden Evelyn that fateful night, he couldn’t help but feel grateful.
It was fortunate that Herzen could embrace her.
