The Song of Flowers - Chapter 2: The Heir of the Lord (7)

Mel, who was following closely behind, showed her distaste and quickly bowed her head.

As the middle-aged man approached, he grinned at Adele.

“Adele, it’s been a while. How have you been?”

“Have you been well, Lord Brody?”

“Oh, oh, call me uncle. You’re like a niece to me.”

A sinister light lingered in Merlon’s eyes as he looked down at the girl standing there.

‘That’s true.’

Merlon had a secret hobby that no one knew about. He enjoyed sadistic sexual acts targeting young girls.

He didn’t enjoy such acts from the beginning. In his youth, he had his own sense of morality and despised those who did perverted things.

Time changed him or brought out his hidden nature, but the darkness slowly consumed him. He smiled on the outside, but inside, he was always filled with anger.

He bowed his head in front of his sister-in-law and kept himself safe in Rebas Castle. He released his suppressed desires by going to the continent. His position in the Rebas family was ridiculous, but when he went to the continent with money, he was treated almost like a king.

Those who were intoxicated by the taste of money he spread offered him all kinds of entertainment. Among them was the secretly popular pedophilia among the nobility. He was fascinated by the perfect dominating relationship targeting children. He indulged in perverted sexual behavior.

Some nobles on the continent bought and sold children. Gender did not matter. They sold boys or girls depending on their preferences. In some cases, parents sold their children as a means of subsistence, but most of them were victims of crime. Human trafficking targeting children with beautiful appearances was frequent.

In the continent where the caste system was strong, the perverted sexual behavior of high-ranking nobles was only subject to moral condemnation. What would be treated as a serious crime in Haran was considered entertainment on the continent.

However, not long ago, there was an incident that turned the continent upside down. A huge human trafficking organization that transcended borders was discovered. The number of nobles directly involved was not small, and the identities of some of the high-ranking nobles who bought children through the organization were revealed, and they became the subject of tremendous criticism. In some countries, the kings came forward and stripped the nobles of their titles or executed them.

The atmosphere was chaotic and they were trying to hide their bodies. Malone was disheartened that he could no longer enjoy the pleasure he had been enjoying.

Malone looked at Adele and smacked his lips.

‘It would be nice if he could grow a year or two older, but it would be nice if he could stay like this. He doesn’t grow. How fantastic.’

Just imagining how soft the child’s white skin would be made his mouth water. When his sister-in-law was healthy, he couldn’t dare to look down on her. But now his world was coming.

Malone knew how to wait. He had waited for a long time, lowering his body, so he could meet today. He could approach slowly and become a benevolent guardian. If he had the position of guardian, a helpless child under his protection would be easy prey.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to pray in front of the bedroom to pray for the lord’s speedy recovery.”

Adele didn’t say straight out that she was going to see Basil. She thought Malone would pick a fight if he knew.

“How admirable. Even if it’s just for the sake of your sincerity, your sister-in-law should get up soon.”

Mallon was speaking in a very gentle tone, but Adele felt goosebumps. Adele had disliked him for a long time. She couldn’t explain it exactly in words. Even when her grandmother was healthy, she felt uncomfortable with the way Mallon would sometimes look at her.

“It’s not easy to meet like this in a big castle. I also have some time. Shall we go have tea?”

“Thank you for your kind words, but I’ll leave it for another time. I’m… … .”

“Why are you keeping your distance like this? I told you to think of me as your uncle.”

Mel was standing behind Adele, but then slowly stepped out to the side.

“Didn’t I tell you not to be difficult?”

Mallon quickly approached and grabbed Adele’s hand. Adele, who couldn’t avoid it, tried to shake it off, trembling. However, the evil power of a grown man could not be shaken off by the strength of a girl.

“Miss! Let go of this!”

Mel grabbed Malone’s arm and shook it. Adele quickly pulled her hand away and hid behind Mel.

“Cheeky… … .”

Malone glared at Mel fiercely. How ridiculous she looked, shielding Adele as if she were some mother animal protecting her young. Her fearful eyes only heightened his sadistic urges. He raised his hand, ready to slap her across the face.

“Lord Brody.”

A low, firm voice interrupted. Malone turned his head, keeping his hand raised.

A man with dark hair, dressed in a formal uniform, stood nearby, staring at Malone without expression. Behind him stood another man, also in uniform, though with different colors and rank insignia on his shoulders.

Adele breathed a sigh of relief. It was Alan Coe. He wasn’t the type to overlook such a situation.

“Well, if it isn’t Sir Coe,” Malone sneered, lowering his hand, his annoyance at being interrupted clear in his tone.

“I haven’t seen you around. Where have you been?”

“I was on the continent, fulfilling my duties. I’m on my way to report to Steward Basil.”

“Reporting, huh…” Malone chuckled mockingly.

“You’re always the same, Sir Coe, the model of a loyal knight.”

“I’m simply doing my duty as a knight.”

“Well then, continue on your way. A man must be flexible sometimes, you know. Occasionally, one must turn a blind eye.”

“That’s not flexibility; that’s cowardice.”

“Are you implying that I’m a coward?”

“I’m offering advice.”

“Advice?” Malone’s tone sharpened.

“Maintain the dignity befitting your rank. If Lord Levas learns of your mistreatment of the servants, he won’t be pleased.”

Malone’s face twisted with frustration. The mention of the Lord—his bedridden sister-in-law—caused him to flinch. Though she was barely clinging to life, she still held power over him, and he hated how that fear crept into his heart, stoking his anger and irritation.

“If someone has done wrong, they should be punished. Don’t you also discipline knights who make mistakes, Sir Coe?”

Malone couldn’t lash out carelessly. Coe wasn’t an easy target. He wasn’t just any knight; he was the captain of the knight order and the heir to the powerful Coe family. To cross them would make life difficult in the eastern territories.

“Of course. I have the authority to punish knights. But Lord Brody, you don’t have the authority to punish servants.”

“Are you insulting me right now?”

“If I’m mistaken, I can verify it right now.”

As Alan raised his hand, the knight standing behind him stepped forward.

“Yes, Captain.”

“Go and—”

“Enough!”

Malone shouted, his face flushed red with rage. Embarrassing him in front of a mere maid! He felt his insides boiling over. In the past, he would have swallowed his pride and backed down, but he had tasted power now, and his former meekness had all but disappeared from his memory.

“This isn’t the continent.”

“…What did you say?”

Malone’s eyes flickered.

‘What does he know?’

Their eyes met in a fierce, silent clash.

‘There’s no way he knows.’

Malone had never revealed his perverse hobbies while in Haran. Only a select few accompanied him on his trips to the continent. Publicly, it was known that Malone frequently traveled there, though he had masked his true intentions by claiming it was for gambling.

“Perhaps Sir Coe could use a bit more foresight. One never knows what the future holds.”

Despite Malone’s provocation, Alan’s expression remained unchanged.

“Allow me to offer you some advice as well. Lord Brody should watch his words and actions. I tend to skip verbal warnings when I lose patience.”

Malone’s face contorted in anger.

“…I’ll remember that. You should remember my words as well.”

Malone ground out his words, then turned away, his eyes gleaming with malice as he retreated down the corridor.

‘Arrogant bastard.’

Once Malone disappeared from view, Adele finally exhaled the breath she’d been holding.

“Thank you for your help, Sir Coe.”

“It was nothing significant. Has anything like this happened before?” Alan asked.

“No, I rarely run into Lord Brody,” Adele replied.

“I’ll make sure to tell the guards to be more vigilant around the southern tower.”

Adele felt deeply grateful for Alan’s concern. Now she understood why Kelvin was so eager to become a knight. If knights like Alan Coe were what she encountered every day, it was easy to see why knighthood seemed so noble.

“Where were you headed?”

“I had some business, but I think I’ll just return for today.”

Alan gave an order to his subordinate.

“Escort the lady to the southern tower.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Thank you.”

Adele didn’t refuse Alan’s kindness. It wasn’t until she stepped into the southern tower that she finally let out a sigh of relief. At the same time, Mel exhaled loudly as well, and when their eyes met, they both burst into laughter.

“Thank you, Mel, for protecting me.”

“No, Miss. I didn’t do much. It was Sir Coe who handled everything.”

“You didn’t know the knights were coming, and you still stood up for me. You were very brave.”

Mel laughed sheepishly, clearly embarrassed.

“I feel like drinking something sweet to calm my nerves.”

“I’ll go make some milk tea right away.”

As Adele headed to her room, her thoughts wandered.

‘I wonder how the search for Grandmother’s heir is going.’

She had wanted to ask Alan about it, but she couldn’t admit to overhearing the conversation in the garden, so she remained silent.

Adele’s steps slowed as a thought crossed her mind.

‘…Sir Coe has returned from the continent.’

She had heard that Alan had been away for months. Kelvin had complained that after Paul’s death, Paul’s business dealings on the continent had come to a halt, and it was Alan who had gone there to settle things.

“The captain’s absence has delayed knight training again. Ugh, I only have one more session before I can be knighted!” Kelvin had grumbled.

But Adele knew something that Kelvin didn’t. Alan hadn’t gone to the continent just to handle that business.

Earlier, Alan had told Malone he had returned from a mission.

‘If Sir Coe went to the continent to find Grandmother’s heir, he wouldn’t have returned until he completed the task.’

Her heart raced.

‘He’s found the heir.’