Darian's apology visit to the duchy passed in a blink of an eye; he spent most of his time in bed recovering like a deadbeat. Reina regularly visited to change clothes and bring food; the duke, too, visited him sometimes to check his condition, making sure he was alive and well. The duchy service was so great that the injuries which would have taken weeks to heal recovered in days. Eventually, it was about time for him to leave. On the morning of the retrieval, someone knocked on his room's door again.
KNOCK....KNOCK....
"Come inside, are you gonna break the door or something?"
It was the butler whom Darian met when he arrived at the duchy. That time, his face was full of disgust and annoyance; he looked like a gambler who was cursed with bad luck, the bad luck being the Prince Darian. Now it seems he is greeting Darian not as a lazy trash bum but as a royal heir, his face gleaming with sincerity and respect, maybe getting my ass beaten wasn't so bad, he thought to himself.
The butler bowed, and he stated the reason for his morning visit, "Your Highness, before you begin your travel to the capital, the duke wants to meet you!"
Meet me, what would be the reason? Darian thought to himself, Well, I guess I should pay a visit.
"Is the duke that eager to meet me? Fine, I will be there in a minute." Darian talked while adjusting his dress.
After some time, Darian marched his way to the duke's office. He barged into the room without knocking or asking permission. The duke was sitting at the same table and inspecting some papers inside a ledger.
Duke Blayland flicked his eyes towards Darian and closed the ledger he was inspecting, and opened his mouth, "Oh! Looks like you are back in shape."
"Yeah, better than ever, " Darian replied and sat on the chair placed opposite to the duke's table without asking for a word.
"Why did you call me anyway? Any particular reason?"
"Well, it must be inappropriate to ask."
"Whatever, just ask me already, I am in a hurry," Darian replied.
The duke took a deep sigh, and his face became serious, and he asked, "Your Highness, do you still hate him?"
The question struck his heart like a bullet. The air became heavy, and Darian's expression became troubled.
Him
Darian's memories flooded into Min Jun's mind, his hateful and tragic memories all revolved around his father, the emperor. Min Jun could understand them all: his father's negligence towards his mother, her tears during her deathbed, and the sight of the emperor holding Kayle walking with his stepmother while he watches from the annex. They were all crude, unfiltered memories filled with hatred, neglect, and tears; even Min Jun could feel the weight of these memories, but it wasn't his; it was Darian's pain and trauma for Min Jun; his memories weren't something he experienced; to him, they were a bunch of clichéd characters in a poorly written novel.
Darian took a deep breath, clearing his thoughts, and answered the question, "I don'tknow." It's the only answer he could give. Unlike the old Darian, who had lived in this world, Min Jun only met these people for about four or five days; to him, they were all strangers.
The duke took some time analysing what he said, and nodded slowly, "I see."
He put down the quill he was holding. "Well, switch to something more pleasant. You said you wanted to learn archery. Is that true, your Highness?"
"Oh! It seems the duke has eyes everywhere, even in the capital," Darian smirked.
"Is it because of your hate for them?" quietly, the duke asked.
Darian knew what the duke meant since the sword was passed down in the family of Valenhardt. Choosing something over it may be a rebellious statement.
"No!" Darian leaned back against the chair. "No, I just want to do what suits me, since direct combat and chivalry don't suit someone like me. Anyway, why did you ask Duke?"
"Well, I do have a person in mind to teach you that."
"I see, " Darian leaned forward with curiosity. "Are they good?"
"Yeah, " the Duke replies with confidence, "she is phenomenal in archery."
"Great. Well, it would be a bummer not to meet them since the duke recommended them with this much, I should pay her a little visit." Darian stood up, adjusting his coat and hair. "Is she staying far away from the duchy? I have a carriage to catch."
The Duke replied with a mischievous smile."Currently, she is in the castle".