I'm the Only One With a Different Genre - Chapter 142

Chapter 142
Real or Fake?

***

The office of the Duke’s household was filled with luxurious furniture and shelves packed tight with books. At the center of the room was a large desk, over which important documents, thick books, and fine ink with a quill were neatly arranged.

The Duke sat behind the desk in a leather chair. Her posture was elegant, and her gaze was serious. Beside her stood the butler, maintaining a proper stance. The scent of books that filled the room and the warmth of the low-burning fireplace contrasted with the heavy atmosphere.

Without taking her eyes off the documents, she spoke in a detached voice.

“Is Panton safe?”

“Yes, though he has various minor injuries, no limbs have been severed.”

Swish.

The sound of paper rustling as it was turned echoed through the room, sharp as the edge of a blade. When no further response came, the butler cautiously spoke again.

“What shall we do with Panton’s companions?”

Not her children, just companions.

Both of them had already concluded that those traveling with Panton were not the Duke’s bloodline. Silently, the Duke stamped her signature onto the final document and rose from her seat.

“I’ll be stepping out for a while. Take care of the rest.”

“…You don’t need to meet Sir Panton?”

“Even if there’s nothing wrong with his body, there might be something wrong with his head. It’s better to treat him first before talking.”

Bang!

She flung open the terrace doors of the study and, in an instant, threw herself off the balcony. The butler watched silently as his master disappeared.

‘She’s probably going to blow off some steam.’

Whenever thoughts of her child or the Hero came to her, she would grab a sword and go slash through hordes of monsters. It was her way of relieving stress.

“Haa…”

With a light sigh, the butler quietly left the study and began to walk down the long corridor toward the castle’s entrance. His steps were heavy. Fine lines of worry etched themselves on his usually immaculate face.

‘It’s fortunate that Sir Panton returned safely, but…’

Swallowing another sigh, the butler quickened his pace.

A carriage slowly approached the entrance of the castle on the paved stone road. As the sunlight shone brilliantly over the day, the long shadows cast by the carriage made it seem as though time itself were slowing down.

The guards at the gate saluted as the carriage approached, opening the way. The imposing and ancient castle gates swung open, and the carriage began to move inside at a leisurely pace.

The sound of the wheels clattering against the stone pathway shattered the silence in the air.

Once inside the castle, the carriage turned toward the central square. Knights, butlers, and the head maid stood gathered around the square, watching the carriage’s arrival. Though their eyes were focused on the elegant carriage, their gazes were cold and distant.

No one among those gathered believed that the person in the carriage was truly of Her Grace’s bloodline. Hence, the atmosphere remained icy.

As the carriage came to a halt in the square, the knights, butlers, and even the head maid prepared themselves to greet the passenger. Some of the knights even placed their hands on the hilts of their swords.

In an atmosphere that felt as tense as the seconds before an ambush, the door of the carriage creaked open. Every gaze in the square immediately fixed on the figure stepping out. The faces of the gathered crowd were momentarily frozen in shock.

“…!”

“Gasp!”

The first thing to catch their eyes was hair as white as the snow on a mountain. His skin was pale like the moon, and his golden eyes carried a depth that could overwhelm anyone who looked into them. His perfectly balanced features, with a sharp nose, made it clear he was an extraordinary beauty.

But that wasn’t the end of their surprise.

His hair, cascading down to his waist, had a faint silver sheen. His golden eyes, with their intense depth, reminded one of a tiger’s gaze. His pure white, delicate features seemed to light up the surroundings.

The cold, piercing look in his eyes reminded the knights of their master, causing some of them to flinch and avert their gazes.

The knights’ eyes widened in shock; the butler’s mouth slightly parted, and even the head maid briefly raised her eyebrows, unable to hide her surprise. They exchanged brief glances with one another before once again turning their eyes back to the person who had alighted from the carriage. Confusion and astonishment were written on their faces.

‘Ugh… There are way more people here than I expected!’

Lian, who had anticipated fewer people, wore a flustered expression and tensed up. Iris stepped in front of her brother, her brow slightly furrowed, annoyed by the intense stares everyone was giving him.

“Ugh! We’ve arrived!”

Jess hopped out of the carriage with a bright smile, stretching as she did. Her cheerful voice seemed to ease the tension in the air just a little. Meanwhile, the door of the carriage behind them opened, and soon the square was filled with more people.

The butler, shaking off his brief moment of surprise, took a step forward to perform his duties.

“Welcome. I am Sevan, the butler. We have been expecting your arrival. You must be tired from your long journey; please come inside. Everything has been prepared for your comfort.”

Following the butler’s polished greeting, the head maid quickly regained her composure and spoke.

“…I am Benny, the head maid. It is an honor to welcome you as our esteemed guests. Should you need anything during your stay, please do not hesitate to let me know.”

The overly respectful attitude left everyone in Lian’s group, except for Lian himself, feeling bewildered. Before they knew it, they were led by the skilled servants to their luxurious accommodations and washed in a lavish bathroom.

***

Meanwhile, in the butler’s office…

The butler, the head maid, two knight captains, and one magic division leader sat on the sofas, their expressions serious as they discussed the situation.

“White hair and golden eyes are the most prominent traits of the Duke’s bloodline.”

“I was startled for a moment too, but… changing hair and eye colors isn’t impossible. Haven’t we seen someone try something like that before?”

“Yes, but it’s impossible to make it pure white. Back then, it was closer to gray, not white.”

“What’s important is that there are ways to do it. If they’ve refined the magic since then, it wouldn’t be impossible. It could also be the power of a magical artifact.”

White hair and brilliant golden eyes were indeed characteristics of the Duke’s bloodline. Given that this fact was widely known, many had attempted to exploit it. Hence, none of them were quick to dismiss their suspicions.

“Even if that’s the case, they could be distant relatives of the Duke’s family.”

“Though unlikely… it’s a possibility.”

“Haa… If I had known this would happen, I would’ve insisted that Her Grace stay.”

The butler let out a quiet sigh, a bitter expression crossing his face. The magic division leader, who had been silently listening, finally spoke with a serious look.

“We detected no magical reactions.”

“Does that mean…”

“It means neither magic nor a magical artifact was used to alter the hair color. It also means that Sir Panton hasn’t been affected by mind control magic.”

“Ah…”

“Whether that’s good or bad news remains to be seen.”

The fact that Panton wasn’t under mind control magic could be good news, implying that he was in his right mind. However, it could also mean something worse—that he had been physically brainwashed and completely swayed to the Demon King’s side.

Faced with the possibility that what they had dismissed as a scam might be the truth, a deep sense of concern weighed heavily on everyone’s faces. The head maid, who had been silently pursing her lips, finally spoke, her expression as dignified as ever.

“For now, let’s observe them closely until Her Grace returns.”

“That seems like the best course of action.”

“If possible, let’s approach them in a friendly manner and gather information.”

Thus, the meeting for the day concluded.

***

‘Wow, this place is amazing.’

Lian wandered around, wide-eyed, after being told he could explore the castle. Since the place hadn’t been described in detail in the original novel, it caught his attention even more.

The first thing that stood out upon entering the castle was the towering ceiling. It was adorned with intricate wooden carvings and delicate stonework, and a large chandelier hung in the center.

The hallways were long and wide, their floors polished with gleaming marble, making every step echo throughout the quiet space. Large vases filled with fresh winter flowers were placed here and there, breathing life into the castle’s interior.

Each room in the castle had a unique purpose and theme, making it all the more enjoyable to explore.

‘The fanciest rooms I’ve seen so far are probably mine and Iris’s. I guess it’s their way of thanking me for bringing Iris here?’

Lian had become so accustomed to the idea of dropping Iris off at the Duke’s estate that he had completely forgotten to clarify that he and Iris weren’t actually siblings or that Iris was truly of the Duke’s bloodline.

Because of this, Lian was blissfully unaware that he was being mistaken for the Duke’s child. He was simply excited to explore the magnificent castle, thinking, ‘When else would I get to see a place like this?’

End of Chapter.