I Refuse To Be A Character In A Novel - Chapter 28

In rare cases where the mana flowing in the body was too strong, it manifested as a red glow through the eyes because a child wasn’t able to control it.

His newborn son expressed such a case and his wife refused to hold him no matter how much the midwife urged her to.

The sight of her tired state was particularly pitiful so Zachary didn’t even attempt to persuade her.

‘It…I just…’

He assumed that she was only startled by the unusual phenomenon but her words confused him even more.

‘It doesn’t feel like it’s my child.’

‘It never did..’

What was that supposed to mean?

Normally, Zachary wouldn’t have held her words to heart as the long, painful process had weakened both her mind and body.

However, because he cared for his son more than he had planned, his wife’s attitude stirred his emotions.

A discrete anger rose in chest.

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After Jonas’ birth, his frail wife became even weaker and Zachary had to stay by her side.

Regardless of how he felt, it was his duty to show gratitude for the life she risked her own to deliver.

Soon after, war broke out against Cira, a technologically advanced kingdom that shared borders with Rasmodia.

The danger it inflicted, imposed on him as a knight of the Royal Order to lead the front lines.

After 4 long years, Zachary came back as a war hero.

✰✰✰✰✰

My father had died in my absence and I inherited the title.

The king was unexpectedly pleased.

But then again, why wouldn’t he be?

His nephew shed the blood and he received the praise.

My wife was still the same.

A faint smile, a shy blush and a short greeting.

That was it.

Our reunion after years.

A marriage with no needless affection.

We were partners.

That’s right.

I liked that word better.

But another person caught my attention.

A small boy peeking from behind his nanny’s legs.

I could immediately tell who it was from the vivid silver-white hair that resembled mine.

‘Father.’

It was a word worth the long boring marriage.

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Chapter 3 : A sense of familiarity

“You’ve done a great job, your grace.”

The butler greeted his master who came back from his hunt and received his cape and rifle.

‘What a dangerous weapon,’ He thought while looking at the rifle in his hand.

The very reason the war lasted longer than anyone had expected was due to the great weaponry Cira had introduced.

Unlike swords, axes and spears which depended on a close range battle, weapons like guns, cannons and bombs easily overwhelmed the enemy from a long distance.

While the country of Cira had undergone a dynamic shift and rose high in the world, Rasmodia was strictly limited.

The reason behind it was the fact that magic was the source on which the authority of the royal family was built on.

Even though the king himself couldn’t use magic, he feared that granting people access to inventions that could potentially replace it, would diminish the value of the royal family.

However, he couldn’t foresee the extent of the destruction left by Cira’s new weaponry.

Fortunately, Rasmodia came out victorious thanks to its great army led by Zachary Argentine’s inextinguishable black flames.

The king who awoke from his selfish desires under his people’s wrath finally authorized the development of weaponry and technological devices that weren’t based on mana stones.

If he couldn’t withhold the change of times, he might as well be on top of it.

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After a warm bath, Dylan brought a change of clothes for his master.

“Erna?”

Zachary asked indifferently while buttoning his shirt.

He wore a clean white shirt and black suit pants.

“The duchess is in the library with the young master.”

The butler answered without delay as he aided the duke dress into a blue vest embroidered with silver patterns.

“I see.”

I didn’t mean to pay that much attention.

Erna Heissentein was only a partner my father chose in order to reassure the king who had a severe inferiority complex towards his brother and now his nephew.

It didn’t matter as long as she was doing well.

It shouldn’t matter.

“How are the preparations for the departure?”

“It has all been arranged. I believe you will be traveling by carriage this time around, isn’t that right?”

Enabling the mana stone in his sword, the duke could usually reach the capital within a few minutes through a gate that connected to a room in the royal palace.

The only people who had access to it were the ones who possessed a unique mana stone fragment similar to the one the royal family owned.

However, because the mana stone was now broken, they had to go through a long journey to reach the capital.

“It can’t be helped.”

“I thought so, I have already informed the servants in Valden that you will be arriving in a few weeks.”

“Have the hotels in Issao and Gerassfeld emptied by the time we reach them. We might have to stop for a few days if the trip takes too long.”

“I will do so immediately, your grace.”

Betrayed by his body, Zachary strode towards the library.