The Male Lead Is In Charge Of The Successor

Gerald turned his head, frowning at the voice that cut off his words.

“……Father?”

Gerald gathered his anger in his mouth, ready to spill it out on the man who cut his words. However, he could only spit out a weak voice. It was not the knight who opened the door, but a stern-faced Bahidman.

“…….”

Gerald wasn’t the only one surprised by the sudden appearance. Beoric bit his lip in surprise, but didn’t back down. Bahidman approached Gerald first and smoothed out his still-crumpled collar.

‘ No matter how unwell I was, my blood was still in my veins.’

Gerald smiled deeply at Bahidman’s touch.

“But that doesn’t mean it’s the right thing you did.”

“…… Your Excellency.”

“I’ll have to ask you about that later.”

His voice was flat and heavy, and Beoric couldn’t say more. Bahidman’s words were right, and there was nothing wrong with them. The corners of Gerald’s mouth twitched upward as he bowed his head, watching from behind.

“No, Dad, you’re busy, and you shouldn’t have to involve yourself in something as trivial as this. This is my line of work.”

“And I’m sorry.”

“Father?”

Right in front of Gerald, who opened his mouth in glee, Bahidman bowed politely.

“The fault of the child is the fault of the parent’s education, and for this I apologize from the bottom of my heart.”

“Father, what do you mean by that? A noblewoman who has fallen is so important……!”

“She is not just a fallen noblewoman.”

It was a crisp, clear voice that cut off Gerald’s rambling, unwilling to admit his fault. Gerald frowned and turned his head.

There stood the fifth prince who ignored him at the banquet. Ishmael stepped inside, glanced around, and glared at Gerald.

“You’re not worthy of demeaning by the word ‘wench’.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The knife!”

Ishmael whirled around, and Najik spoke up. With a low, commanding voice, the door opened and the boy still wet, stepped inside. It was the boy Raven threatened earlier.

He was a small boy who looked frail and timid. However, despite his appearance, more than a dozen knights in black cloaks strode behind him.

“Black lions.”

“Byron’s knights?”

A knight who could defeat five knights in one bound. The knights of the House of Byron came in behind the boy.

Gerald felt his blood run cold as he realized what was happening. There was no way the boy Raven had touched was…….

“It’s not a girl, Confucius.”

Karl glanced at Eisel’s condition, then locked eyes with Gerald. The fierceness of his eyes, hidden by his fragile exterior, held Gerald’s.

“My benefactor.”

“He…….”

“If you insult my benefactor again, I will rip out your tongue.”

Gerald stared blankly, wondering if he had heard correctly. Gerald’s brow furrowed as he wondered if he’d misheard Karl because he’d spoken so shyly.

But even as he thought about that, Karl blushed and bowed his head.

“…… is real.”

 

Ishmael spoke softly to Karl, who fidgeted nervously with a red face, before he left to meet Eisel.

“Are you going to be okay?”

In Ishmael’s eyes, with his ash-colored hair still damp, Carl looked glazed over. In fact, Ishmael was surprised when Karl offered to see Eisel first.

Even a lifesaver didn’t need to come to the Grand Duke’s residence to thank him in person. Plutable deniability and proxy sending was enough.

“You don’t look well. Are you sick?”

“Huh? Am I?”

Ishmael touched Karl’s

 Forehead and narrowed his eyes. He could feel a low-grade fever on his hand.

“You think it’s cold?”

Carl blinked, looked at my forehead, and shook his head. Ishmael glared at Carl, who mumbled something small, and then sighed softly.

“Are your cheeks red because you’re sick?”

“…….”

“Just rest, I’ll go there. I have something to pick from.”

How dare he threaten the royal family and not come by himself? It was Ishmael, not Karl, who was angry at Gerald’s behavior.

Ishmael fought down the urge to run and yell at him, but his ash-colored head only shook slightly.

“No. I’ll go.”

“You’re stubborn today.”

Ishmael couldn’t help but notice how stubborn Carl was. As if he had no choice, he made the first move and rose from his seat.

 

Gerald wasn’t the only one surprised by his sudden harsh expression, but so were the people around him. Ishmael, in particular, covered his forehead with his small palm.

“You shouldn’t have brought him.

Ishmael glanced over at the Duke of Basquiella, who sounded feverish and harsh. It was dangerous to criticize his son in the presence of the Duke of Basquiella, even if he was the lowest-ranking member of the House of Byron.

If Bahidman lost his temper, that was wrong enough. Instead, Bahidman smirked at Karl’s expression.

“Is that what you said to me?

Karl nodded, his cheeks flushed. Gerald didn’t react immediately, not expecting to be insulted by a child so much smaller than him, a child the size of my son. Gerald pursed his lips in disbelief, then grimaced.

“Haha…… I can see that you’re confused because you’ve been through so much, but you should be careful about making comments like that.”

“Why?”

“You’re a noble, you’re supposed to have manners and decorum. Isn’t that common sense even if you’re still young?”

Gerald wanted to spit out the anger rising in his throat right now. However, he held it back, conscious of who he was facing and who else was in this place. With Karl, however, there was no such thing.

“Nobles don’t apologize.”

“What?”

Carl lifted his bowed head and tilted it upward.

“You really have impeccable manners.”

“What…… Say……?”

Gerald was about to ask what he was talking about when he realized who the boy in front of him was and shut his mouth. Gerald closed his mouth and looked straight at the servant standing opposite him. He looked back and forth between Karl and Eisel, then nodded. At the small nod, Gerald felt his anger reach its peak.

‘You’re just reporting something so meaningful?’

Gerald ignored the information the lieutenants and servants kept giving him, forgetting he hadn’t listened. His anger at them only increased. But, regardless, Carl turned to face Gerald, still red-faced.

“I’ve seen Basquiella’s pride again,” he said. “The dignity and manners with which you threatened the Noble and casually used a derogatory term for the girl who saved my life is a credit to this country, don’t you think, Ishmael?”

“Huh? Uh, yeah, right?

Ishmael replied a beat late, surprised at how well-spoken Carl was. Ishmael nodded slowly, wondering if this was the same Carl who usually spoke in full sentences.

“I hope you’ll keep that attitude.”

Carl turned away, not up for conversation. Gerald reached for Carl’s back as he walked away, but the black-cloaked knight stopped him and shook his head. Bahidman watched wordlessly, and then Nazik spoke.

“Bring him in.”

Gerald turned his head. In the doorway stood Raven, his shoulders clutched by the knight, his face terrified as a fly’s. Raven’s face turned even whiter as he met Gerald’s gaze.

“Raven……?”

“I’m not a child, and I’m old enough to know better. Come here.”

Bahidman beckoned, and Raven hesitantly approached, stopping in front of Beoric. When Raven hesitated, Bahidman pressed a rough hand on her head.

“Apologize. Come on!”

“I’m sorry……. I, I was just……!”

“Didn’t I apologize, Raven?”

Cutting off Raven’s words, Bahidman hooked a hand into his small collar and pulled him back. Gerald, who was standing behind, took him into his arms and gave him a blank look.

“Basquiella will take the blame for today. So forgive him.”

“I understand.”

Bahidman glanced at Carl, who didn’t reply. When he realized he was still at Eisel’s side, staring at her sleeping form, he shifted his gaze to Beorik.

Eisel’s treatment leaves no scars. Don’t worry.”

When the Duke of Basquiella, the greatest of the finest nobles, bowed low, Beoric could no longer be angry. His dry lips were moistened with saliva. He nodded briefly. Bahidman smiled at Beorik’s forgiveness. But it was only for a moment, for when he turned around, his face was frighteningly harsh.

“And you thought I raised a man, but a beast.”

“Father?”

“I can’t believe I raised a man worse than a street thug. I can’t believe it.”

“Is that what you’re saying, that I was wrong…….”

“Shut your mouth Gerald!!. I am informing you of your post and suspending your privileges for the moment. Go back to your room and serve your probation.”