Balderic twitched his eyebrows after hearing his son’s words.

‘A fountain pen was stolen?’

Daymond’s daughter?

A smirk curled the corner of Balderic’s mouth.

If that were true, it was perfect.

It would serve as a perfect excuse to ruin the match and spite that unlucky Daymond and his daughter.

Balderic glanced at Erilot, who was still in Daymond’s arms.

Then his gaze shifted coldly toward Daymond, who was glaring at Joffrey.

“You heard that, brother.”

“Your son has a talent for talking nonsense as if it were truth.”

Balderic’s face twisted into a scowl.

“What are you saying? He’s your nephew.”

“You’re accusing your nephew of being a thief.”

“A thief? I only mean to clarify to avoid misunderstandings between cousins.”

Erilot, still in Daymond’s arms, opened her eyes wide and shouted.

“I’m not! I’m not a thief!”

“You’ll know once you check.”

The people from Daymond’s jurisdiction surrounding Erilot turned hostile.

The twins also glared fiercely at Joffrey.

“When did the baby steal your fountain pen!”

When Balzac shouted, Joffrey hid behind his father.

Peeking out, he muttered,

“That fountain pen is extremely expensive and precious, so someone could be tempted.”

“Don’t say nonsense!”

“But when my fountain pen disappeared, Erilot was the only one carrying something that could hide it.”

Joshua slowly approached Joffrey.

A chilling cold aura surrounded him.

Joffrey trembled in hands and legs but rolled his eyes, pretending not to care.

“It’s just circumstantial evidence.”

“That’s...”

“You’re treating Erilot like a common thief just based on circumstantial evidence.”

The ground around Joshua trembled sharply.

With a crack sound, broken earth debris rose into the air and condensed.

It was the effect of Joshua’s Gaho, .

The condensed debris grew larger.

Each step Joshua took forward, Joffrey took a trembling step back, his body shaking like a leaf.

Balderic suddenly shouted.

“What are you doing─!!”

His booming voice drew the attention of passersby.

The Astra blood relatives on the stage wore serious expressions.

Just as Balderic strode forward to grab Joshua by the collar,

“If you lay a finger on my son, his neck will not stay on.”

Daymond warned in a low voice.

Balderic frowned deeply and glared at Daymond.

Bang─!

A heavy thump came from the stage floor.

Everyone’s gaze shifted instantly.

Duke ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) Astra was watching with a cold expression.

“Well done.”

Balderic hastily lowered his head.

“Father, I beg you to hear Joffrey’s side.”

He gently nudged his trembling son behind him.

All eyes turned to Joffrey.

As Joffrey hesitated, Erilot jumped out of Daymond’s arms.

“That’s a lie! Joffrey is a liar!”

Joffrey glared at her, then immediately pointed a finger and shouted.

“Erilot stole my fountain pen! That’s why I couldn’t focus on the match! So the match result is nonsense!”

“Do you understand the weight of your words?”

At the Duke’s low voice, Joffrey flinched and muttered,

“Y-yes...”

“I’ll give you a chance to correct your statement.”

“Th-that's...”

Balderic whispered nervously to his son.

“What are you doing?”

“Uh, um...”

“It’s not a lie. If you are, you must say it.”

“...”

Joffrey swallowed dryly.

‘Is it really going this far?’

His throat felt parched.

‘No. This can’t go wrong.’

The maid had clearly hidden the fountain pen well in that girl’s room.

She was supposed to tell the professor and ruin the grades, but now it worked out better.

‘They’ll chase out that unlucky girl for good.’

Joffrey lifted his head.

Confidently, he looked at the Duke.

“It’s not a lie!”

Balderic shouted.

“See? Would he be so confident if it weren’t true?”

Erilot also spoke up.

“I’m not a thief. I swear on the crow!”

She pointed at the Astra emblem embroidered on the flag on the stage.

“What can Joffrey swear on?”

Balderic’s anger surged seeing the cheeky girl point at the Astra emblem.

It reminded him of Daymond’s childhood.

Unable to hold back, Balderic said,

“I swear half of my jurisdiction.”

“...!”

“...!”

“...!”

The blood relatives all stared, surprised.

‘He’s always had such an inferiority complex toward Daymond.’

‘But if he’s this confident, maybe Erilot really did steal the fountain pen.’

People looked at Erilot with suspicious eyes.

Just as Erilot stepped forward, Daymond blocked her with one arm.

He looked at the Duke and said,

“I swear on all my jurisdiction.”

Balderic’s lips twisted.

He had no interest in Daymond’s land itself.

But his army was different.

Elite soldiers with power on a whole different level.

If he had them, he would have the richest land in Astra and the strongest army.

That would greatly help determine the next family head.

Balderic’s eyes gleamed with desire.

The Duke ordered Marquis Debussy,

“Investigate Erilot’s room.”

“Yes.”

The staff at the main estate began searching Erilot’s room.

From the bag she brought to class, to drawers, the bathroom, and dressing room — a thorough inspection.

Joffrey whispered low to Erilot standing by the door.

“You’re dead.”

“...”

“Daymond’s jurisdiction will collapse because of you. Understand?”

Evidence of the stolen fountain pen would soon be found.

Then that girl would scream and cry, and the match would be declared void, and she would be expelled.

Joffrey could barely hide the smug smile creeping across his face.

Balderic glanced mockingly at the expressionless Daymond.

Then the butler who finished the search came out of the room.

Balderic said to Daymond,

“If you lose even the little jurisdiction you have left... What will you do? Butler, report the results to my brother quickly.”

“The fountain pen was not found.”

“Did you hear? The fountain pen was not found... What?!”

Balderic’s face instantly stiffened.

“Nonsense.”

“We searched everywhere, but the fountain pen was nowhere to be found.”

“Rubbish!”

Balderic shoved the butler aside and stormed into Erilot’s room.

He dragged off all the bed sheets and threw open every drawer.

He even turned over the pen holder on the desk, spilling its contents.

But Joffrey’s fountain pen was nowhere.

The situation growing serious, Joffrey’s face drained of color.

‘Impossible. It was definitely hidden there...!’

Joffrey dashed into the room.

He turned out every pocket in the dressing room.

Not satisfied, he threw clothes on the floor.

But still found nothing.

Erilot, who had entered the chaotic room quietly, smirked without anyone noticing.

‘Did you really think I’d leave your fountain pen in my room?’

I chuckled silently inside.

Joffrey would probably make excuses if he lost the match.

‘The fountain pen was a perfect excuse.’

So I hid it well and went to the match.

‘And I even got some unexpected benefits.’

When Joffrey pointed at me as the culprit, I realized,

‘If I play this right, I can punish that spoiled rich brat and profit from it.’

So I raised the stakes.

With the words,

“Lies! Joffrey is a liar!”

Joffrey, as expected, told his grandfather I stole the fountain pen.

Then I swore on the crow, Astra’s symbol.

Joffrey would have to stake something too.

“I swear half of my jurisdiction.”

Remembering Balderic’s words, I smiled slyly.

‘Half the jurisdiction? Jackpot!’

Balderic’s jurisdiction was famously wealthy.

If we get that, our jurisdiction will be set for the future.

After the investigations ended, the butler and father left for the main estate to report.

Balderic, looking pale, hurried after them.

“Hey!”

His voice was tense.

Joffrey, unsure, hurried to follow with trembling legs.

The twins, who had been glaring at Joffrey fiercely, smiled.

“Baby, let’s go too. We have to go see.”

“Let’s go, Erilot.”

I took the twins’ hands and trotted out of the room.

We briskly walked to the main estate’s great hall.

Balderic had rushed in so quickly that the door hadn’t even closed.

Peeking inside, I saw Balderic kneeling before our grandfather.

“Father, I only trusted my son.”

His confident demeanor was gone, replaced by clasped hands begging.

“A father naturally trusts his child. This is a misunderstanding.”

Joffrey’s face was pale, trembling all over.

Seeing his father’s condition, he probably realized what he’d done.

“Joffrey, you brat! What are you doing!”

Balderic shouted, and Joffrey hurriedly knelt.

“I-I’m sorry, grandfather. I... I’m sorry...”

“Is that an apology I should accept?”

At the grandfather’s words, Balderic and Joffrey’s shoulders twitched.

“Bring Erilot in.”

The twins gently nudged me, and I trotted inside.

Marquis Debussy, sitting next to grandfather, made room for me.

As I sat, grandfather looked at Joffrey and Balderic.

It was a sign to apologize to me.

Balderic’s face flushed with humiliation.

He couldn’t stand the idea of bowing to me, a girl called “dirty blood” because of my commoner lineage.

Gritting his teeth, Balderic whispered low to Joffrey,

“Apologize.”

“What?! F-Father...!”

Balderic’s biting tone made Joffrey tremble.

After a long time, he finally spoke.

“I... I misunderstood...”

“...”

“I’m sorry.”

“Okay!”

I said cheerfully.

“Will you accept his apology?”

Marquis Debussy asked, and I nodded.

“Yes. Half the jurisdiction is enough.”

“...!”

“...!”

Joffrey and Balderic looked stunned at me.

Balderic shouted,

“Hasn’t he apologized already?!”

“I swore on half my jurisdiction if Erilot isn’t a thief.”

“...!”

“I was sad but endured it. It was a promise.”

Balderic jumped up.

“This is nonsense. To give away half a jurisdiction over something so trivial!”

I looked at grandfather.

“You must keep promises made before the family head.”

I deliberately emphasized the phrase ‘promises made before the family head.’

That was a vow made in front of the family authority.

Breaking it would damage the family head’s dignity.

Most direct Astra heirs witnessed the vow.

If they ignored it as trivial, others would think ‘Oh, it’s trivial so we can overlook it.’

That would set a precedent.

Grandfather stared at Balderic and then closed his eyes tightly.

“Bring the map of Balderic’s jurisdiction.”

“Father...!”

Balderic screamed desperately, but nothing changed.

I stared at the map Conrad brought with shining eyes.

Then I poked a small spot with my finger.

“From here to here!”

I pointed exactly at the prime land.

Marquis Debussy laughed heartily.

The relatives whispered quietly among themselves.

“What happens if that land is absorbed by Daymond’s jurisdiction?”

“Oh my. How many blessings has Daymond’s jurisdiction had? It’s all since Erilot came to the estate.”

“A symbol of luck...”

I covered my mouth with both hands and chuckled like a little devil.

My father chuckled watching me.

I left the meeting hall.

Balderic and father stayed behind to discuss land seriously.

By then, the sun had set.

Walking down a dark corridor, I saw a man dressed as a servant coming toward me. It was Han Jihyeok.

As he passed, he handed me something lightly, and I caught it.

[Joffrey Astra]

It was the fountain pen Joffrey and his father had searched so hard for.

I twirled the pen lightly in one hand.

Then I threw it to the iron-spiked dog at Gate 2.

The iron dog, whose favorite snack was iron, eagerly gnawed the pen to bits.

“Hmm, hmm, hmm.”

Humming, I skipped toward my room in the new building.