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“Yes.”
“I told you that you looked very similar to the person in that portrait. There’s a reason for that.”
The Duke slowly turned to face him.
His silver hair, shining even brighter today, captivated Felix’s gaze.
“She is your biological mother.”
“……”
Felix clenched his fist tightly and held his breath.
At the same time, the image of the Duchess in the portrait flashed through his mind.
Her long, slender eyes and the slightly upturned corners of her lips felt similar to his own, but…
More than anything, it was her dewy, translucent light green eyes that resembled his.
The moment he recalled that fact, Felix’s heart pounded violently.
However, he still couldn’t believe the reality before him.
No way, it couldn’t be.
Could someone as insignificant as him really be Duke Argenta’s son?
He had spent half his life being mistreated in an orphanage before running away, wandering the streets, and joining a mercenary group, experiencing dirty work.
Then, he was lucky enough to enter the academy, meet Ayla, and even become the Duke’s disciple…
He thought that was it.
He never expected anything more.
Yet, the Duke’s reaction caused a small expectation to bloom deep within his heart.
Then, Duke Argenta uttered the decisive words.
“More than anything, the area where you were last found before entering the orphanage is the same area where my son went missing.”
“……”
“Delpore Street in the Duran Region. Is that correct?”
Felix was startled by his words.
It was because the Duke knew something he had never told anyone.
As he said, Felix could still vividly recall the dim scenery of Delpore Street, even now that he was grown.
It was the oldest place he could remember.
Soon, Felix’s chest ached as if it were being squeezed.
He asked in a trembling voice.
“That’s right. How did you find out about that, Your Grace…?”
He stopped speaking and hurriedly shook his head.
“No, more than that, what were the results of the test?”
Instead of answering, Duke Argenta strode towards Felix.
Then, he reached out and hugged Felix tightly. He could feel the Duke’s body trembling slightly against his.
At that moment, Felix realized the answer he would give.
‘Really… I was the Duke’s son.’
As the clear realization dawned on him, his eyes widened in shock.
He had always thought he had been abandoned by his parents.
But that wasn’t true.
Parents who loved him enough to search for him all this time existed.
It was a well-known fact that Duke Argenta had lost his son long ago.
After becoming his disciple, Felix learned that the Duke had never given up on finding his son.
Seeing that, he thought it was a truly unfortunate thing.
Soon, tears of joy welled up in Felix’s eyes.
‘I wasn’t abandoned.’
Duke Argenta slowly released Felix and said in a trembling voice.
“You are my son. You are the rightful Heir of the Argenta Dukedom.”
The Duke’s face was also terribly distorted as he said those words.
He seemed unable to control his emotions, his eyes filled with tears.
“That’s why I brought you to this Greenhouse.”
His wife, who had always been weak, began to suffer after their son went missing.
It was because of the guilt of not being able to protect her young son.
“Your mother’s name was Liliana. She… worried about you until the moment she died. I wanted to show that Liliana that you had returned safely.”
Liliana had been half out of her mind since Felix’s disappearance.
She never left the Greenhouse and always murmured her child’s name.
And until her last moment, she longed for her missing son.
He had sworn to her that he would find Felix and bring him back, no matter what.
Finally, that oath had been fulfilled.
Deep joy overflowed in Duke Argenta’s eyes. He looked at Felix and murmured as if making a vow.
“Now I will give you everything back. I will give you all the glory you should have received as you grew up as the Heir of the Argenta Dukedom.”
Felix felt an indescribable emotion at the Duke’s almost solemn vow.
Duke Argenta looked at Felix and took a deep breath.
How long had he waited for this moment?
He was deeply moved by the fact that the face, now faded in his memory, was vividly present before him.
Duke Argenta stroked Felix’s cheek and whispered softly.
“My son.”
He hugged Felix tightly once more.
The mistakes and wounds of his youth, the lost time, flashed through his mind.
But in the end, after a long time, he had regained his true family.
That fact alone melted away the burden that had been accumulated in his heart like snow.
They spent the entire evening together that day, sharing a meaningful moment.
Duke Argenta was curious about many things about Felix.
How he had lived, if he had had any difficulties, what he liked and disliked.
They had a lot of conversations, as they had been separated for a long time.
When he heard about all the hardships Felix had experienced as a child, he even showed a hint of murderous intent.
“So many bastards treated you badly? How dare they….”
Felix spoke with an indifferent expression to the Duke, who was furious as if it were his own affair.
“It’s all in the past. Too much time has passed to be caught up in such things one by one.”
“……”
“And thanks to that, I’m only experiencing good things now.”
“Felix….”
“I’m really okay. I don’t think those times were in vain for me.”
He believed that thanks to the experiences of being oppressed by others since childhood, he was able to grow up strong.
He had to become stronger to protect himself.
Thanks to that, he honed his swordsmanship, caught the eye of Duke Argenta, and even revealed the fact that he was his lost family.
So now Felix could cleanly forget the past.
However, Duke Argenta looked at his son with even more pity after hearing his words.
The Duke looked at Felix and said in an affectionate voice.
“You’ve grown up wonderfully.”
Felix smiled awkwardly at the look in his eyes, which was a mixture of worry and pride.
It was quite unfamiliar for someone to show him unconditional favor.
So he still couldn’t quite believe it.
‘I’ve lived my whole life thinking I’d never have a family.’
Felix scratched his cheek with an awkward expression.
‘Wait, does that mean I have to call the Duke ‘Father’ from now on….’
But he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
He had been alone since birth and had lived his life considering that fact as his identity.
A being left alone in the world.
Someone who didn’t belong to anyone or anywhere.
And now he had a father.
Moreover, the person was someone who was the dream of all knights.
The fact felt so overwhelming that it took him some time to accept the reality.
Duke Argenta didn’t rush Felix. He understood Felix’s feelings about suddenly reuniting with his family.
“By the way, it seems that your friend Ayla cares about you a lot.”
“Yes? Ayla does?”
Felix was startled as soon as Ayla’s name came up.
Seeing his son’s cheeks redden, the Duke burst into hearty laughter.
“Haha, you rascal. Do you like her that much?”
“…More than that, why did you suddenly bring up Ayla?”
Felix changed the subject, feeling embarrassed. Then, the Duke replied with a deep smile.
“When I ran into her at the ball, she told me about you. After hearing that, I began to think that you might be my son.”
“I see….”
Felix’s mouth dropped open in surprise as he learned the situation.
‘How can I ever repay Ayla for this favor?’
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