If I Disobey the Duke

Brother-in-law (3)

The sunlight in the dungeon corridor flickered, casting gold and red on Vlad’s face.

Even when he was on the brink of death, his features had always been quite alluring.

Now, his expression was gloomier than ever. He stopped in front of an iron gate.

Valks reported promptly, “This is the mastermind. We’ve captured all the others, my lord.”

As soon as Valks was finished, a frantic shout came from beyond the iron gate.

“Duke Vladislav de Winter! Living with that dirty blood of yours, aren’t you ashamed!? Aren’t you afraid of God!? The Imperial Palace won’t let you bring despair to the Empire!”

The blood drained from the faces of the knights who followed him. The entirety of that statement was taboo to speak of.

Vlad pulled the iron door without hesitation, breaking the sturdy lock.

Count Valks clicked his tongue softly at the door that had just crashed shut. “The bastards… How dare they plan a tower attack? How long must the hero of the century who saved half of the continent be treated like this?”

The main tower was where Vlad and Lily lived.

Ivan scratched his chin. “Could you please make it clear that I am extremely against the Conde Sect. I do not want to be entangled in the same category as them.”

“These guys say that a second monster will be born in Arcadia soon. They must have been after the ladies. Crazy, immoral bastards…” Valks’ eyes were murderous.

Ivan sighed deeply with an unusually dark look. “The second monster…”

They gazed indifferently at the solitary room, where not a single scream escaped.

After a while, the door opened with a heavy thud, and the disgusting smell of blood wafted out.

A red handprint was visible.

“Clean it up. Only the chief knight will follow me.”

Ivan, who entered quickly, let out a silent scream and nearly ripped his hair out. “How the hell am I going to clean this? Even if Priest Nerva comes, it’ll never… heup!”

Valks quickly covered his mouth, wiping his own face with a handkerchief. When he went up to the ground floor, the guards saluted him and opened the door to the courtyard.

The cold winter air filled the courtyard under the bright sky.

Vlad frowned nervously.

He was going to have breakfast with Lily today.

You dare threaten my wife?

If there was enough time, he would have at least skinned them alive.

“Send the poultice to the Ataka Highlands first. I’d better feed them the monster they hate.”

Walking towards the knights, the chief knight signed,

– But, sir. Are you really planning to clean up all the monsters up to the Ataka Highlands before spring comes?

“If I don’t do it now, how many more times do I have to go out to hunt monsters?”

Even the people of the Riomet Empire in the western continent across the sea knew that the Ataka Highlands, a desert in the northern part of Arcadia, was full of monsters.

Vlad, who was lost in thought, suddenly muttered, “Ataka Highlands. If it rains for half a day, it turns into a flower garden for a week.”

Based on the words of those who actually saw it, just looking at the scenery made their tears flow.

The chief knight doubted his ears for a moment. He could not believe that his master had said those words with his own mouth.

– The reason you want to wipe out the monsters is…

“What do you think of that guy?”

The chief knight turned his head. His eyes widened upon seeing the back of the unfamiliar young man standing in front of the Order of Knights.

Vlad also looked at the same place and gently stroked his chin. “I think that’s my brother-in-law.”

As far as Vlad knew, there was only one person who boasted such a distinct hair color.

The young man, clad in a cloak of shiny white fur, was thin and tall.

His eyes narrowed. “That’s great. I have a question for him.” Vlad concealed his presence and slowly walked towards Dandelion.

* * *

“Jeez, I’m so annoyed. Although I’m not a count or marquis, I’m still cold and hungry in the duke’s castle. There was nothing like this at my sister’s ex-husband’s house.” Dandelion grabbed his growling stomach.

It was his choice to refuse the luncheon prepared by the duke’s servants and just eat biscuits and tea from the Isles.

“Sister is really… She was living on the things those abominations touched. Why are there they in noble castles?”

He shuddered just remembering it.

Letting those abandoned creatures serve my sister. In Dandelion’s opinion, this was tantamount to ignoring the entire Isles family.

“Sister’s such an idiot. What’s the point of being a duchess? It’s so annoying to watch. Why do you always live such a pathetic life?”

The knights’ building came into sight.

However, the curiosity that flashed in his green eyes for a moment quickly faded.

A building without splendor was not enough to capture his attention.

He let out a disappointed sigh. “No, I shouldn’t think that way. Of course, you’re a duchess and it’s a good thing. But knowing this place is surrounded by abominations is disgusting.”

To be honest, his sister had the submissive personality that men wanted, but she was a defective product because she had remarried too many times.

Honestly, from a man’s point of view, it was disappointing.

“Well… I should be thankful. My sister who married twice now has such a high position. It’s actually pretty good.”

“Is the woman you’re talking about Mrs. Lily de Winter?”

“Ack! Gosh. Who…!?” Dandelion, who turned around at the sudden low-pitched voice, opened his eyes wide.

A tall man stood against the cold winter sun.

One with a marvelous appearance that bordered on unrealistic.

Gray eyes under sharp brows as if carved with a very thin razor. Muscles distinctly outlined beneath neat clothes, appearing hard enough to deflect a spear.

Dandelion was pretty proud of his own face, but it was humbling to see the man in front of him.

If Dandelion was a precious flower in a greenhouse, then the other man would be the one who reigned as the king of beasts.

Still, the reason he couldn’t readily admire his appearance was because of the intimidating aura that evoked instinctive fear.

Even though the sun was bright in the blue sky, he felt that his lungs were freezing cold.