Chapter 16
The dog was growling and baring its teeth, but its owner remained nowhere in sight, and the other customers had backed away in alarm.
“That’s a hunting dog. Shouldn’t someone step in?”
“Hmm. A beast that size could shred even an adult.”
They murmured among themselves, yet no one moved to intervene.
Noah’s face paled.
“S-sorry… But you tried to grab it first!”
But the sight of the terrified child seemed to agitate the dog further. It lunged, knocking Noah to the ground.
“Grrr, woof!”
“……!”
Hot breath and jagged teeth filled Noah’s vision.
‘It’s really going to bite me!’
Noah squeezed his eyes shut.
Then—
“Yelp!”
The dog, which had been bristling with aggression, suddenly whimpered and tucked its tail between its legs.
“…Are you hurt?”
A calm, deep voice followed.
Noah’s eyes flew open.
‘A black wall…?’
No—it was a man.
A striking figure with jet-black hair gripped the scruff of the massive hound with one hand. He stood so tall and solid that Noah had mistaken him for a structure, his presence both imposing and paradoxically graceful, like a black panther poised to strike.
The hunting dog whined, instinctively cowed. Its owner, finally noticing the commotion, rushed over with frantic bows and apologies.
Once the chaos subsided, the man extended a hand to Noah, still sprawled on the floor.
“Up you go.”
He hauled Noah to his feet effortlessly, as if lifting a feather.
Noah gaped up at him.
‘He’s incredible…’
Like a knight from a storybook—except this man wore head-to-toe black, as though determined to blend into shadows. Yet the austerity only sharpened his dignified aura.
‘Could he be the strong, impressive person Calyphe was searching for?’
As Noah wondered, snippets of conversation reached him:
“Who’s that child?”
“Forget the kid—the man who saved him… Could that be…?”
“Good heavens! Isn’t that Duke Ortega?”
“You’re right! The rumors about him coming to the capital were true!”
Duke Ortega?
Noah’s ears pricked.
‘Ah! The maid mentioned Calyphe’s first love—Duke Ortega!’
His heart began to race as he watched the Duke converse with a clerk who had hurried over.
“Your Grace, my apologies. The item you requested is currently being examined by another customer.”
“…Sold?”
“No, still under discussion.”
“Then reserve it. I’ll return shortly—”
Noah couldn’t hear the rest. His attention fixed solely on the Duke turning to leave.
Panicking, Noah seized the hem of the Duke’s coat.
“W-wait! You can’t go!”
The Duke glanced down, bemused. “Why not?”
Noah’s eyes darted wildly. “Um, well—!”
He had to stall him. Now.
‘If he leaves, Calyphe might marry that redheaded guy!’
A nearby whisper sliced through his panic:
“Why is Duke Ortega here alone? No attendants?”
“Must be urgent—or secretive. Maybe because of that kid…”
“Same black hair as the Duke.”
“Their faces even look similar…”
“Could he be the Duke’s illegitimate child? Ha, just a joke!”
Noah’s mind lit up. He plastered himself to the Duke’s leg like a burr and shouted:
“D-Dad! Don’t leave me!”
The store froze.
The Duke stiffened. “You’re mistaken. I’m not your father.”
“But Mom’s waiting! Please!”
Murmurs erupted around them. The Duke’s gray-blue eyes flickered—noticing, as others had, the matching black hair. He pressed a hand to his brow.
“…We should talk.”
Munch. Crunch.
Noah devoured a cookie the size of his face—a bribe from the flustered Duke.
“…Is it good?”
Noah nodded, cheeks stuffed.
Duke Ortega—Rainen—studied the black-haired boy. He resembled Rainen’s long-lost nephew in age, but nothing else. No scar on the hand, no familial features… Just another orphan, perhaps.
“…Where are your parents?”
“Sponsor,” Noah mumbled through crumbs.
“Your birth parents.”
“Don’t have any.”
Rainen sighed. Abandoned children were tragically common.
“Why call me ‘Dad’?”
“Needed to meet you. Have a request.”
“Which is?”
“Marry my sponsor.”
Rainen’s elbow slipped off his knee. “…What?”
“Her first love was you! You’re perfect and—”
Thump. Rainen shoved the cookie back into Noah’s mouth.
After a steadying breath, he said, “I wish your sponsor happiness, but I can’t comply.”
“Why?”
“I intend to marry for love.”
Noah’s eyes widened. “Oh. Didn’t think… Maybe you could start liking her?”
Rainen massaged his temples. “Unlikely. Now—where’s your guardian?”
“Second floor. But there’s a bad man—”
“Aaaah!”
A scream echoed from above. Noah bolted, cookie forgotten.
Rainen hesitated. He had no obligation to follow…
‘But my nephew would be his age. And the black hair…’
He ascended the stairs—
—and froze.
Calyphe stood on tiptoe, flicking the forehead of a cowering giant.
Thwack!
“Aaaah!”
Rainen pinched the bridge of his nose.
‘I should’ve stayed gone.’
