Breeding Instinct - Chapter 6: Full Moon III (5)

As soon as the carriage stopped, Paula came rushing over. The moment the door opened, she screamed a string of curses.

“You filthy little brat!”

Paula, who had climbed halfway into the carriage to grab Kanna by the hair, froze when she saw Moritz scowling beside her.

“So this is how House Mecklen treats its guests?”

“And… who might you be…?”

“I came in a duke’s carriage, and you don’t even recognize who I am?”

“…My apologies.”

“Hah. Unbelievable.”

At Moritz’s cutting words, Kanna bowed her head slightly in apology.

“I’ll apologize on her behalf, Young Master.”

Moritz noticed that Kanna had deliberately emphasized his title. He had thought she was naïve, but clearly—she knew exactly what she was doing.

“If you were going to come with the young master, you should’ve told us in advance. You gave your mother quite a shock.”

Trying to save face, Paula raised her voice. But Kanna looked at her coldly, her eyes like frost.

“If you hadn’t charged in to grab me, I might have had the chance to introduce him properly.”

“…You really don’t let anything go, do you.”

“No. I plan not to, from now on.”

Paula was visibly thrown off by Kanna’s refusal to back down, not even a little. On the other hand, Kanna had already burned away any lingering attachment to this so-called family the moment she read that threatening letter.

She would rather be alone than continue to call people like them “family.”

“Well, aren’t you going to get out?”

At Paula’s prompt, Kanna showed what she had brought. When Paula saw the silk handkerchief holding the jewelry, she immediately reached out to snatch it. Moritz frowned instinctively at such an undignified display.

But Kanna’s reflexes were faster. She quickly pulled the handkerchief behind her back and said,

“Bring me a signed letter, with Father’s seal, confirming that I’ve been removed from the family registry.”

“What?”

“If you do that, I’ll give you all this—and more.”

“More?”

“Yes. There are still some pieces of jewelry left at the house.”

“…You managed to collect all that in such a short time. And yet you never shared a thing with your family.”

“You never gave me anything either. So why do you keep expecting things from me?”

“You think raising a child is easy? You could at least—”

Kanna had grown tired of Paula’s endless excuses. She had always blamed Kanna for everything—as if it were her fault for simply being born this way.

“I wore my sister’s hand-me-downs. Her shoes. I was lucky to get even one proper meal a day. So tell me—where exactly did all that money go?”

With each cold, precise word, Kanna cut deeper. This time, Paula had no retort. She couldn’t even open her mouth.

“…One meal a day? That can’t be true.”

“Ask the head maid if you want.”

Muttering that the maid must’ve stolen from the food budget, Paula turned away angrily. Kanna, growing impatient, pressed again.

“Please bring the letter quickly. Then I’ll give this to you, and I’ll return tomorrow with the rest.”

“Then wait inside for a moment.”

“No. I’ll wait here with the young master. That was our agreement. I need to keep him company.”

Paula had originally planned to drag Kanna into the house and lock her up—but with Moritz watching, she had no choice but to drop it.

“So as long as we give you the document, we get everything?”

“Yes. Make sure Father signs it, and you put your seal next to it.”

“…So picky. Fine.”

Blinded by the sight of glittering jewels, Paula asked no further questions. She quickly climbed down and went inside.

“…You lie pretty well.”

Kanna blinked at Moritz’s comment and replied lightly,

“I learned from you, Young Master.”

Her earlier encounter with Moritz had taught her how the world worked. And during her rest, she’d asked Marie many questions. Marie had worked in a produce market before coming to the duke’s estate—she knew plenty.

“You really leave me speechless.”

Moritz didn’t mind that this once-naïve girl had learned to get tough. Kanna waited, scanning the estate for signs of the others while Paula fetched the document.

Before long, Paula returned with a sheet of paper. Since the count was away, it had been easy enough to forge his seal.

“There. Satisfied?”

Kanna checked the contents. It was official. She had been removed from the family registry. Just seeing it stirred strange feelings in her—somewhere between sorrow and relief.

Without another word, she handed Paula the jewelry. Paula’s grin stretched wide as she took it, fully convinced Kanna would return the next day with more. Without even a farewell, she climbed down from the carriage. Moritz could only stare in disbelief.

“Let’s go.”

Kanna shut the carriage door and spoke toward the driver’s seat. The carriage, which had been still, began to move and soon picked up speed.

Inside the quiet cabin, as Kanna stared at the certificate, Moritz asked,

“Are you really coming again tomorrow?”

“I can’t. If I go back tonight, I’m going to get scolded.”

“Pfft—ha! Hahaha!”

Moritz burst out laughing, unable to hold it in. He kept chuckling until the duke’s estate came into view—then, suddenly, he spoke again.

“What I want in return… is for you to leave with me. What do you say?”

Moritz no longer cared whether his brother came looking for him or for Kanna. It didn’t matter. If Kanna was by his side, he felt like life might be okay.

“After all, my brother has everything. Taking you wouldn’t even scratch him.”

Kanna only lowered her gaze. He wasn’t wrong.

“…I’ll leave. I want to live my own life.”

“Even though life with me would be easier?”

“If it’s not by my master’s side, then anywhere is the same.”

Her quiet response made Moritz click his tongue in annoyance, though he didn’t say more.

“Fine. I’ll tell you the exact date we’ll leave—in about a week.”

“…Okay.”

The moment she replied, Kanna felt it—there was no turning back now. She was leaving his side sooner than she’d hoped, but… maybe it was inevitable.

The carriage passed through the duke’s main gate. No sooner had it reached the entrance than the door flew open—and there stood Damian, eyes blazing. He glared at Moritz, then wordlessly grabbed Kanna and pulled her inside.

Seeing his brother like that stung Moritz once again. But not long after, just thinking about stealing Kanna away from him… filled him with a rush of thrilling satisfaction.