Breeding Instinct - Chapter 6: Full Moon III (2)

“That may be true… But was it necessary to bring your mother into this?”

Seeing the look of displeasure on the Emperor’s face, Heinrich was convinced he had struck the right chord. Though they were his parents, the two of them had always been very close. That’s why he believed bringing up his mother would help resolve the most important matter—Kanna.

It wasn’t something Damian had asked for, but in a way, it was a wedding gift he was sending in advance.

“The Chepal Empire, unlike other nations, has long been a land where women’s strength is valued. Women like Mother, who are devoted to their households, have always supported the internal affairs of noble families. Because of that, when the men faced crises, they could go off to war with peace of mind. When the nation struggled during times of war, it wasn’t men’s strength that brought swift recovery—it was the strength of women.”

“You’re right, but what does that have to do with that woman?”

“How does it not?”

“Explain the connection properly.”

Though he presented it as a gift for Damian, Heinrich had also prepared for the worst-case scenario.

“It becomes precedent, Father.”

“…Hmph.”

“If we leave the second daughter of House Mecklen to suffer like this, do you truly believe there won’t be another like her in the future? Surely not. You know better than anyone, Father—human nature isn’t so noble.”

The Emperor was clearly pleased by the Crown Prince’s reasoning, yet he pressed further.

“What you’re saying is still only speculation.”

“Perhaps. I can’t provide hard evidence now. But when a similar issue arises again, Your Majesty will have no choice but to respond the same way. The precedent will already have been set.”

Heinrich insisted that, for the sake of the future, Kanna needed to be restored to her rightful place. He also took this chance to push firmly for the abolition of slave auctions.

“I can no longer turn a blind eye to the slave auctions. They are the root cause of this entire affair.”

The Emperor, who had long tolerated the auctions by deliberately ignoring them, sighed at his son’s resolute declaration.

“That won’t be so easily done.”

“I can dismantle them completely.”

“But you yourself just said it—human nature doesn’t change.”

What he meant was that humans cannot let go of their greed.

Heinrich was caught off guard by that truth. But that didn’t mean he could back down. He still hoped that if Damian’s descendants ever founded a nation of their own, it might one day stand as an equal ally to Chepal.

“I beg Your Majesty—please elevate Duke Royce to Grand Duke and entrust him with safeguarding the Chepal Empire from the beasts. It’s a time when the nobles need a central pillar.”

The Emperor felt as though he had been thoroughly outmanoeuvred by his son, but this once, he wanted to take the Crown Prince’s side. Gazing at the glasses he had set down earlier, he sensed it was time for him to begin stepping back.

“Very well. I’ll place my seal on it. You deliver the news to the Duke yourself.”

“Father!”

Heinrich, who had prepared a few talking points just in case, couldn’t hide his joy—though he still had more cards left to play. But the next words from the Emperor immediately wiped the smile from his face.

“But on one condition.”

“…A condition?”

“As you yourself so passionately claimed, shouldn’t you demonstrate the importance of the inner court through your own actions?”

“If that’s what you mean, the Crown Princess is fulfilling her duties admirably.”

“The most important part of the inner court is the heir. So, write and submit a pledge that you will present me with a royal grandson within one year. Only then will I stamp the seal.”

At those words, Heinrich’s face turned pale. He had deliberately postponed having children because there was still much he wanted to do. Somehow, his father had figured that out—and his expression was utterly unyielding.

“Will you write the pledge?”

The Emperor held up the seal engraved with the national crest of Chepal, and Heinrich had no choice but to lower his head.

It did feel like an extravagant wedding gift for Damian.

So instead, Heinrich made a firm decision: he would thoroughly bleed Count Liffe and Baron Mecklen dry through taxes.

* * *

As usual, Damian woke up and sluggishly moved his stiff body. Kanna was still nestled in his arms. She didn’t stir in the slightest. Thinking she must be exhausted, he gently wrapped her in the bedding and left the bedroom quietly.

Standing outside, Landon offered a basin of prepared washing water and assisted him. Seeing Landon carefully watching his mood, Damian couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

“I won’t say you were entirely blameless, but I’m not planning to scold you. So stop tiptoeing around me.”

“Master…”

“I know you have a soft spot for Moritz. You probably felt sorry for him. He barely received any love from our parents, and his so-called older brother was always cold to him.”

“I never thought that, sir. I only hoped Second Young Master would grow attached to the family and stay.”

“Well, it would’ve been nice if that were the case.”

Though he wasn’t without anger toward Moritz, Damian found it painful to look his younger brother in the eyes—it reminded him of their late mother. When their parents died suddenly in a carriage accident, Moritz had still been very young.

Of course, Damian had been young too, but the emptiness felt by someone with a place and someone without one must have been vastly different.

“Bring Moritz to the dining room.”

“Master…”

“Giving him one last chance would let Mother rest in peace.”

“Yes… of course…”

Landon nodded in agreement and left first. Damian returned to the bedroom to check on Kanna. It hadn’t been long since she’d left the estate, yet she’d already grown visibly gaunt.

Alongside his worry, he also felt annoyed at how she’d left the house without a word.

“You make me angry… because you don’t seem to know how beautiful you are.”

He was seriously considering gouging out the gatekeeper’s eyeballs for leering at her so strangely. And not just him—Damian had memorized the faces of all the men who’d been sneaking glances at her nearby.

To help her rest fully, he released a strong wave of pheromones, then rose and stepped outside. As he descended the stairs, he came across Moritz but said nothing and continued walking toward the dining room.

Moritz, tense and anxious, silently followed behind his brother. He’d wanted so badly to see Damian’s face contorted in rage, yet now that he was finally in front of him, he couldn’t say a word. The self-loathing crept in.

Once inside the dining room, the two sat at their respective seats and began eating in silence. Moritz quietly glanced over at his brother, who was elegantly cutting into a large steak. Then, without warning, Damian spoke.

“Was it fun?”

“…Brother.”

“You must’ve wanted something—just like the last time you returned.”

Moritz had no response. He had tried to frame it as if he had been cast out, but the truth was, he had run away.

Lowering his head in shame, Moritz soon raised it again—his eyes now filled with venom as he glared at Damian.

“If I ask for something, will you give it to me?”

“Yeah. Honestly, I prefer when you’re that blunt and transactional.”

“…Then, give me that girl.”

Moritz was convinced that the one his brother cherished most was Kanna. After all, he had charged in covered in the blood of magical beasts just to get to her. He had never shown that kind of concern for his own little brother—not once.

“You’ve learned how to say some truly arrogant things, haven’t you?”
Damian set down his knife and fork. Dabbing his lips with a napkin, he shot a chilling glare and warned:

“The bastard who dared try some pathetic move on Kanna…”

“She’s just a slave, isn’t she?!”

Moritz suddenly shouted, but as soon as his eyes met Damian’s, he felt crushed by the weight of that gaze. Damian didn’t say a word, yet Moritz’s whole body began to tremble. It felt like he was prey, standing before a predator. He even let out an involuntary hiccup.

The fierce exchange between the brothers had all the nearby servants watching nervously. Among them was Emma. Seeing Moritz frozen in place before Damian, she quietly ducked behind another servant to hide.

But ironically, that movement caught Moritz’s attention.

“…I only judged based on what I heard from that maid, Brother.”

Emma let out a silent scream and froze where she stood. Staring into a pair of golden and crimson eyes, she collapsed on the spot.

“Oh my—!”

The startled maids rushed to lift her, but Damian’s voice stopped them.

“Bring her here.”

He picked up his knife and fork again, slicing into the blood-soaked steak and placing a large piece into his mouth, chewing slowly. The way he ate looked eerily like a predator devouring its prey, and the servants around him couldn’t help but feel uneasy. Why did he seem so graceful, and yet so terrifying?

As ordered, the unconscious Emma was laid on the floor beside the dining table. Still chewing, Damian spoke, though it was unclear to whom he was speaking.

“Discipline requires an example.”

It was clear, without being said, that Emma was about to become that example. Moritz didn’t know how to deal with this situation. Surrounded by unfamiliar servants, humiliation crawled under his skin.

“Excuse me, Master.”

At that moment, Landon approached.

“Count Liffe has arrived… What should we do? He’s come very early, without any appointment.”

Damian let out a scoff. The absurdity of it all made him laugh out loud, exposing his teeth. The servants felt a chill run down their spines—something about that laugh was more disturbing than comforting.

Moritz felt it too. Compared to his brother’s earlier expressionless gaze, this smiling version was far more frightening.

“So he’s not quite as much of a fool as I thought. Let him in.”

“Yes, understood. Shall I escort him to the parlor?”

“No, bring him here.”

“Yes, sir.”

Landon quickly left the dining hall and returned shortly after with Count Liffe in tow. The count spotted Damian still dining and gave a respectful bow.

“My apologies for the early visit, Your Grace.”

“Hmm, it’s fine. Has the Count had breakfast yet?”

“I came in such haste, I’ve yet to eat.”

“Perfect. The new chef makes an excellent steak.”

Count Liffe shivered at Damian’s bright, welcoming smile. He couldn’t quite place what was wrong, but something about it chilled him. And since he hadn’t been offered a seat, he stood there awkwardly.

“Landon, tell the chef to prepare a steak—just like the one I’m having.”

“Yes, Master.”

Landon realized that Damian hadn’t told the count to sit, so he quietly made his way to the kitchen. In the meantime, Damian continued eating in silence.

Since the duke wasn’t speaking first, the count said nothing either. He thought it would be rude to speak first when he’d come here to ask a favor. Moritz also kept glancing nervously at Damian while forcing himself to continue eating.

Soon, Landon returned with a large plate bearing a thick steak. Unsure of what to do next, he looked to Damian, who gave a simple glance toward the floor.

“…Please enjoy, Count.”

Count Liffe stared, stunned, as the steak was set on the floor right in front of where he was standing. Damian, in an unbothered tone, said to Landon,

“Shouldn’t you bring him cutlery as well?”

“Yes, Master.”

“What are you waiting for, Count? Didn’t you say you hadn’t eaten yet? Go ahead.”

Only then did Count Liffe realize—this was punishment. Of course, he should’ve known Damian wouldn’t let things slide easily.

For the sake of his house, he sat on the floor and accepted the knife and fork from Landon, cutting the steak as best he could. His protruding belly made it hard to keep a proper posture, and slicing the meat was anything but graceful.