"To think you would find out this quickly… Hadrian."
The smile Tavish was trying to give disgusted Hadrian. If he didn't need the information from that mouth, his mouth would have been ripped open long ago.
"I was the one who didn't expect that you would hide something this big from me, Uncle. Exactly how much do you want to occupy my seat?"
"Bigger than you think."
Hadrian closed his eyes, trying to quell his anger. "You're trying to harm an innocent child instead of attacking me head-on," he growled.
"Oh, who's trying to harm little Desmond?" Tavish's chuckle echoed through the basement they were currently in. "The son of a demon controller–the only one in Rexton. At least that was until your wife showed up."
"You're trying to take advantage of it. What for?"
"Oh, Hadrian. Why should I go through the trouble of contracting with a devil and risking my own life? If there's anything to use, then–"
One punch went to Tavish's face. Then one more. And one more.
"Even though you don't even know how a demon controller works! But how could you!" Hadrian shouted angrily.
Long time no response from Tavish. Hadrian thought that the old man might faint again. But Hadrian heard a low whisper.
"Meical…"
"What?"
"High Priest Meical… He is also… after Desmond."
***
"This is nonsense. All this time, His Majesty the King and the High Priest worked together. If only High Priest Meical knows about Young Master Desmond's abilities, that means he betrayed King Rexton V, right?"
Hadrian brushed back his hair roughly. He glanced down at the interrogation reports he had obtained. It's all very confusing.
With this small uprising, it can now be said that the coup 10 years ago was a mere slander. It could say it's true that King Rexton V killed King Rexton IV to take the throne. Then the slander aimed at the Whitley family was intentional.
This fact forced the Melchoir family to take a new step. The Melchoir family were people who sided with King Rexton V in ignorance. Once they know the truth, their position is in danger.
"Right now, people still believe that the late King Rexton IV and the Whitley family are at fault."
"After all, we could be said to be victims back then. The previous Maquess and Marchiones died because of that incident, right?"
"Marquess Hadrian? I think it's best if we don't confront King Rexton V directly," said one of the family elders he trusted. "If you don't mind, we can start contacting Prince Axelle's factions and ask about the results of the coup investigation 10 years ago. That way, we can start matching information."
"Isn't that too dangerous?" asked another. "We are already on King Rexton V's side. The reaction they give will definitely be bad."
"But we don't know anything, do we? We could pretend we were trying to save ourselves because of the attack coming from the direction of the Whitley lands…"
"I'm sorry, Sir. But that sounds like a coward."
Hadrian let out a long breath. It's tough. Their position is difficult.
Fortunately, the relatives that Hadrian had trusted from long ago didn't mind Rheannon's whereabouts at all. They felt warier of Chas' presence.
"I agree that we don't directly confront King Rexton V," he said later. "It's just a matter of contacting Prince Axelle's faction… Let's see how things are going outside first. Sooner or later, High Priest Meical will find out about Tavish's arrest. Besides… there's Chas Colton here. Let's focus first on extracting information on the defectors."
The sudden meeting ended soon after. They discussed Desmond's safety and decided it was a good idea for the child to be under Hadrian's direct supervision. Because after all, there was an actual demon controller within Hadrian's grasp right now.
What should I do with Desmond? Hadrian thought as soon as he was alone in the meeting room.
Right now, Melchoir has two demon controllers. One is from the pure blood of the Whitleys, who later entered the Melchoir family by marriage. The other one is a mixture of Whitley and Melchoir, whose existence is just being realized now and has already been appointed as the successor to the head of the Melchoir family. Is Desmond's current state of affairs profitable for him? What will the public think?
"Actually, how could this happen?" Hadrian muttered as he closed his eyes.
Evil whispers blamed Hadrian's decision to adopt Desmond first. His distant relative was clearly hiding his marriage, wife, and children. Hadrian should have realized from the start if something was off. Now look at his rash act. He actually brought new problems into his life.
Hadrian opened his eyes, then left the meeting room.
He had to see Desmond.
He had to convince himself that his decision was not a mistake.
"Your Grace?! Why are you in such a rush?!"
Ichabod's rebuke sounded casually in his ear. Hadrian was already half running to find Desmond. But he couldn't find his adopted son anywhere. Not in the lounge, in the library, in the garden, or in his room.
Hadrian had to see Desmond. He had to convince himself that the fault was not with Desmond or the decision to adopt him as a child. This all happened because of fate alone.
And there it was then. Hadrian finds Desmond sleeping with Rheannon in their room. The two slept side by side at a fairly close distance, and Rheannon's hand seemed to have rubbed Desmond's back earlier. His own son seemed peacefully sleeping in Rheannon's arms.
His family, which Hadrian had strangely, were napping in his room.
Hadrian breathed a sigh of relief. Then he came closer and sat beside Desmond slowly, trying not to wake him up. His hand stroked his head gently, then kissed it.
"Rheannon." Hadrian turned to Rheannon. He woke her as quietly as possible. "Get up. It's time for lunch."
"Hmmm," Rheannon mumbled incoherently.
But Rheannon would not get up.
All right, just a minute, Hadrian thought.
He also kissed Rheannon after that.