The Granduke Evil
Chapter 12

Alex runs in a hurry to the Duchess's den, "Brak!" The sound of the door opening loudly. " Mrs, Young Master is Back." Alex said with a breath of breath. The Duchess's eyes opened wide when she heard the news, she immediately got up from her seat and ran out, following Alex who was running in the back.

" Open the door. " Say Ethan to the knight guarding the Castle's door, He goes inside in follow Zach behind him. While inside the castle all the Servants and butlers made rows facing each other and bowed their heads to welcome Ethan. " Welcome, Your Majesty Granduke." Say them simultaneously. A call that feels so annoying to hear that makes Ethan sick, Ethan continues to walk around ignoring them.

" Athan!!" The sound of someone shouting his name from upstairs, His steps came to a halt when he heard that voice. I looked up to see her, "Mom.." His words in the heart. The Duchess ran down the stairs,

" No, don't run, Mother." Ethan, who saw her, ran to the Duchess because he was afraid that her mother would fall down the stairs. Sure enough, Ethan's guess when he was down the Duchess's foot stairs tripped and almost wanted to fall, fortunately Ethan swiftly caught it. The Duchess hugged Ethan tightly" I told you not to run. " Say Ethan returned his mother's embrace. " ethan's.. Why did you just come back." The Duchess hugged Ethan and then saw his son's face clearly,

" Where have you been, son, I don't think I'll ever see your face again." Groping his son's face, Ethan sees the Duchess for quite a while. She imagined her mother's crying face worrying about her, who missed her son's face, "What if I was still alive there mom would also be like this, too, Remember that the mother always warmly welcomes every child and her husband to the house. Is the Duchess also a warm person like mother?" Ethan asked in his heart. " I've missed my mother so much, just like I miss the Duchess' mother must miss her son so much." Ethan said in his heart and hugged the Duchess tightly.

" I'm sorry mom, I'm sorry to worry you, and I'm sorry to make you lonely."

For the first time in her life the Duchess heard her son express such feelings, Because all this time Ethan always closed himself off from others even his own parents so sometimes can not guess the feelings of his son. Hearing Ethan talk like that he felt touched and immediately hugged his Son tightly.

Everyone in the place was also moved to see their master being able to express his feelings.

...****************...

Ethan tells Zach to return to the Country in three days, so he can rest. Ethan actually held Zach down because he wanted to leave something for Grace.

In his room Ethan pondered while looking out the window, Little by little he remembered the storyline at the beginning.

"I now remember, Not long after this Genesis Ethan went to the empire with his mother to fulfill the call of the emperor, There many nobles came. Then the Emperor announced the Competition to eradicate the Monsters in the southern region and also bring the heads of the Yang Dragon inhabiting the region. Because the reports keep coming from the southern region that their dwelling place is often disturbed by monsters. All the nobles who had come back then no one was willing to accept a contest from the Emperor because it was too dangerous for them. In the end the Emperor directly appointed Ethan without asking for his approval as before." He said, "Huh.huh sucks, I think Ethan in the world of novels is notoriously cold and cruel because he keeps going to dangerous places like that, Well just look at what will happen later." Then she put her body on the bed and closed her eyes.

Three days later .

" Zach, please give this letter to Grace later." While giving the envelope a letter.

" Okay, sir."

" just stay a few more days, don't rush home." Ethan.

" No sir, thank you I have to come back soon." Reply Zach politely.

" Huh..." Sighs. " If it's like that, can you come into my room for a second?" Ask her.

Zach just nodded, then followed Ethan from behind. Arriving at Ethan's room, he retrieves one of his collectible swords. Then give it to Zach. " This Zach accept, this is one of the swords I love, and there's magical power." Ethan said as he gave the sword to Zach.

Zach who saw it was immediately startled, "No sir how can I take your valuables." Reply Zach.

" It's true that Ethan in the novel world won't give his things easily to others, but I also have to give him my thanks." The guman is in the heart.

" No papa, accept this. If you don't want to accept it as a gift, then let's just say I gave you this sword to protect Grace. " Say Ethan.

" But sir." Sela Zach's.

" I'm talking really Zach, I may not be your master Count, but personally please use this sword to protect Grace as well as the Count." Ethan said.

Zach lowered his head, right away,

" How can I refuse Young Master's request if that's what you want, I'll accept this sword and I'll use it to protect Mr. Count as well as Miss Grace." Say it politely.

" All right, thank you."

" I'm the one who thanked you" Zach said. " It turns out he's not what people talk about, he's a good guy." Think Zach.

After delivering Zach, Ethan goes to meet his mother to eat together.

" Mom, I'm sorry to wait so long. " Then Ethan said and sat facing his mother.

" Nobody's father Ethan's mother hasn't waited long for you either." Said mother. " Today's the mom who chose the menu, I hope you like." Connect her.

" Whatever you give me I like it." Reply Ethan with a smile.

Seeing her son smile the Duchess's heart was delighted. " It's weird to see a warm, sweet Ethan like this, but I'm grateful to see him again. If Gioto saw her he'd be happy." His words in the heart.

" Mom why do you look at me like that, am I weird?" Ethan asked who was confused by his mother's gaze.

" No, I'm just glad to see you again, son. It still feels like a dream." Said his mother who kept staring at Ethan.

Ethan who saw his mother could only smile,

" At least because there's a mother, I'm not lonely and feel alien in this world." Say it in the heart. Ethan grabs the Duchess's hand, grabs it and then rubs it like he did while calming Grace down. " Mom don't have to worry I won't leave or leave mom again, I'll keep looking after mom." Ethan. " It's time for me to eat mother why the atmosphere is so sad this way." Ethan tries to melt the atmosphere. The Duchess simply laughed "Hahaha.yes too, if that's how quick serve her food." Duchess. " Dias please serve her food quickly." Give orders to the waiter who is there.

" Good mistress." Then serve her food.

...****************...

Sure enough, the emperor's invitation came to Dawson's residence after Ethan's month there. Ethan who sighed when he saw the invitation letter felt frustrated.

" Huh... It's only been a month, why the hell came this fast. I just got to enjoy life in this world, talking to my mom and training with the troops. Why come so soon. " Ethan grumbled while squeezing the letter.

"Ethan." Call his mother who came to his study.

" Yes mother, have you read the invitation from the emperor. " Walking over to Ethan.

" It's mom." Reply Ethan.

" If you don't want to come, you don't have to come."

" No mom, we should come. " Said Ethan with a serious facial expression.

" Okay, I'll get everything ready. " Say, Duchess said, holding Ethan's hand,

" Let's calm, son, I'll always be by your side." Connect her.

One week later, Ethan and the Duchess prepare to leave the empire. They planned to stay at the Dawson Mansion in the capital before coming to the palace, so there would be plenty of free time during their stay there. After they finished preparing, they immediately set off for the capital in escorts by the two knights who had previously come with the Duchess at the crown princess's birthday party. Ethan plans to go with a cross-time portal to the capital to get there faster. During the trip they talked like mother and child.

" ethan you haven't told me how it's been at Eryk's place all this time? " Task her mother gently.

" I don't know I don't remember much, all I remember is Grace who helped me when I was lying and dying in the woods. Then after waking up the count tried to hide my identity." Ethan said.

" Well, next time I'll thank the girl directly."

The Duchess only smiled when she heard her son's question, "He's a good and beautiful child, He's also a very cheerful child. The time nearby felt like there was a positive aura from the child. " Reply Mother.

" I think so too. " Tell Ethan.

In the middle of the journey they stopped for lunch , After which they resumed their journey. Arriving at the North Ethan region magic tower area shows his identity, Finished their examination directly through the portal. It took about two hours from the magic tower near the capital to the Dawson Mansion, Arriving at their Mansion was warmly welcomed by the servants guarding the house.

...****************...

Five days later the day Ethan had to come to the palace arrived, Ethan prepared from the morning for having to leave during the day. Likewise with the Duchess, after finishing preparing Duches down to meet Ethan who was ready first. He was silent for a long time when he saw Ethan who looked neat, and looked handsome. Ethan smiled at his mother who was going down the stairs, The smile he had just seen from Ethan's face really reminded him of his late husband. Ethan, who is now seen, is very similar to his late father, only the mask on his face distinguishes the two of them.

The Duchess walks over to Ethan. While touching his face,

" My son is so handsome, you look so much like your father Ethan. It doesn't feel like you've been born to this world for nearly nineteen years, but I can't watch you grow up like a kid your age having to go down in the battlefield since childhood, I'm sorry Ethan's mom. " Said the Duchess.

Ethan was sad when his mother said that,

" No mom, I'm not mistaken all this is the way. And thank you for giving birth and being a great mother to me." Reply to Ethan while wiping his mother's tears. " Have you not cried when the beauty is gone. " Sound Ethan.

The Duchess smiled at her son's jokes, and they walked together to board the horse-drawn carriage.

" although Ethan in this world can not show his feelings, but one thing is clear he also loves his mother very much. If the Duchess finds out that I'm the one in her son's body is someone else, she'll be sad. " Tell Ethan in a heart that immediately felt guilty.

" Ethan while you're at the mansion why don't you stop by the Eryk Residence or see Grace? " Task her mother who was sitting next to her at the time.

" No papa, it's just that if I met Grace I felt guilty. " Reply Ethan.

" I feel guilty for not being able to say goodbye properly when I'm coming back, and he won't see me then either." Ethan said in his heart.

" Why is that?"

" It's nothing Mom. " Reply Ethan with a smile.

After an hour's drive from the mansion, they finally arrived at the imperial palace. They both got off the horse carriage and became the center of attention.

" God is not that young Granduke who just got in Lantik yesterday."

" Yes reportedly after receiving a mission from the emperor he lay sick for almost a month."

" God is so weak for him."

The rumour that was clearly heard in Ethan's ear made him upset, "Fool I can hear, at least if you want to whisper softly again your voice." Ethan's grumpy, but what concerns Ethan is not the talk of the nobles, but the feelings of his mother. Seeing her mother instantly moody as soon as she directly clasped her mother's hand tightly, the Duchess immediately looked at her son and smiled.

They continued to walk past the nobles who were in the room to face the emperor, They missed the head and crossed one of his hands to the chest, "Greetings to the imperial sun. " Say Ethan politely.

The Emperor smiled at Ethan,

" How are you, my nephew, I heard you just recovered from your illness." Emperor Saying.

" my news is good thanks to you, Your Majesty." Reply Ethan.

" Please enjoy the meal." Emperor.

" Thank you, my lord." He lowered his head and left the place.

While greeting the guests who come there, Ethan accidentally crosses paths with Count and Grace. The Count lowered his head and greeted Ethan, "Greetings to Verhant's imperial sword."

" Thank you, sir. " Reply Ethan.

" How are you, your majesty?" Ask Count.

" My news is good, thanks to you Mr. count."

Then Grace and Ethan's eyes accidentally cross paths. " Greetings to the imperial sword of Verhant." Grace said in greeting.

" He should have recognized me." Think Ethan. " Ah thank you." Reply Ethan.

" How are you, Retha, I didn't think you'd come here." Count.

" My good news is Eryk, Of course I have to come with my son. " Reply.

" Ah I'm so awkward starting the conversation, 'cause Grace hasn't even replied to my letter until now." Ethan mutters in his heart and takes his eyes off.

Not long after they chatted, the Emperor announced the Competition.

" Now, I invite you all to gather here because there is something I want to announce. Because the southern region is often attacked by monsters, there have been many reports and complaints from people living in the southern region lately. I will hold a competition to defeat the monsters in the southern region and bring the heart of the Dragon who is the leader of the monsters before me, Of course the reward is worth the danger you will face. " Said the emperor.

" I'm sorry, Sire, how we were able to plunge directly into the southern region is clearly clearly putting our lives at risk." Said one of the nobles.

" Right, Sire, we don't want to put our lives at risk." Follow one of them.

" How yes, do you really not want to. I'm not forcing it, but it's hard like this too. Marques Xavier I'll send as a messenger to the west, so there's nothing else I can send." The emperor said while thinking.

" Sire, isn't there still a young Granduke Dawson." Said one of the nobles who was there.

Ethan, the Duchess, and the Count immediately looked towards the voice. Ethan clenched his hands tightly in annoyance, "Who's the one who said that stupid thing, I think I want to hit him in the mouth." Ethan grumbled in his heart.

" Ah, but she's healthy how could I send her. But last time I gave you a mission, you did Ethan. Don't you mind if you have to go exterminate the monsters again, Ethan." Ask emperor.

There was a moment of silence, and Ethan replied, "If that be my command, I will do it to you." While bowing his head.

" Alright Ethan, it's been determined that young Granduke Dawson will set out to the south to eradicate the monsters." Said the Emperor loudly. " Then what gift do you want Ethan." The emperor asked.

" I'll think about it later, Sire." Reply Ethan.

Ethan's face turned cold instantly, a sense of annoyance and anger enveloping him. " Something is strange, this is different from the one in the novel. Who's the one who asked Ethan to go south. I have to find out." Ethan's gum in the heart.

" Abel please take care and take mom tomorrow to the duchy." Say it to one of his Knights. " And you're Alex coming with me, I'm going back to Duchy right now. " Say Ethan while inviting the other knight.

When Ethan was about to leave, there was a hand holding him. " Where are you going?" Apparently Grace. Ethan took off the hand. " Where else of course I have to go back to prepare everything." Ethan said coldly, Then left Grace. " I'm sorry Grace, next time I'll see you right, and we can spend time together like we used to. "