Obviously, It's My Child - Chapter 181
Erich always exuded a sense of ease and never regretted decisions once made. He carried himself with an attitude as if he was certain that his judgment was always flawless.
That arrogance was something Linus had admired since childhood, and it was what his mother had demanded of him.
Dignity, grace, strictness, and cool detachment. Controlled movements and refined expressions. All the qualities his mother had demanded but he had never possessed, yet Erich had exhibited since his boyhood.
Thus, Linus had once admired this cousin who was nine years older. There was a time when he believed that if he could just live those extra nine years, he too might become like him.
Linus had even envied Erich’s appearance, for he resembled the previous Emperor more than Linus himself did. Every time he saw Jared and Erich together, he wondered if he could have truly been their sibling if he looked like that.
Now, having realized that both his innate temperament and lineage, including his appearance, were not his to begin with, he harbored a deep-seated hatred for Erich.
Even the deceased Crown Prince.
If the intensity of the noble blood flowing through his veins was the source of his suffering, then their blood must have been more noble than his own.
“Ah, I see.”
Linus spoke feeling rather relieved.
He no longer harbored impossible fantasies of camaraderie from his boyhood. To him, Erich Klausener was nothing.
Or rather, Erich had always been Jared’s cousin, not his own.
Erich, seemingly oblivious to the boiling rage within Linus, sighed lightly.
“How I take care of my child is a matter for my wife and me to decide. But Linus, it seems you’ve fled on your way back to the capital.”
“……”
“I looked into the situation regarding Ernst because of you. The guards and maids have been executed.”
Linus remained silent.
“Duke Ernst must be in a hurry. He’ll need to find you before being questioned by the Empress.”
This was something Erich deliberately did not mention to Claire, knowing it would distress her.
His intelligence team had already gathered information on Ernst’s movements before Erich had even arrived at the Ludendorff estate. Knowing that Linus was here made it easy to track his movements.
Determining Ernst’s actions was even simpler. They had been following Linus’s trail in chronological order, so finding out where he had been was straightforward.
As a result, it was discovered that all the guards and maids who were supposed to escort Linus to the capital had been executed. Naturally, the servants and coachmen had also been dealt with, as there was no way they would have survived.
Following the punishment of those responsible came the search. Even the owners of the restaurants and inns Linus had visited were dragged in.
They would not be killed until useful information was obtained.
“By now, Ernst probably knows you’ve jumped into the sea.”
“So?”
“If you wish, I can help conceal your movements.”
Linus looked surprised.
Erich stared at him expressionlessly.
“I can track you to where you jumped in, but the only people who know you were washed ashore here are my wife and my guard team. If you jumped into the sea not because you wanted to die but because you wanted to escape the palace, this is the perfect opportunity.”
“Erich.”
“You can head to any place you wish, or you could choose to stay in a remote villa and recuperate. I’ll support you financially and with your living needs, so you won’t have to worry about anything else.”
Linus glared at Erich with bloodshot eyes as he sank into the sofa.
“What’s your motive?”
“I have no particular motive against you. I’m simply offering you a favor. If I wanted to remove you without killing you, I wouldn’t make this offer. I’d have you undergo a lobotomy and then hide you away in some rural area.”
Erich spoke softly.
He remembered the frail fifteen-year-old boy who had vomited at Jared’s funeral and had never even entered the funeral hall. He remembered the weak, pale face always hovering at a distance with a timid expression.
As long as that impression remained, he would have hesitated to harm Linus, even if Claire hadn’t been involved.
There is a significant difference between being capable of cruelty when necessary and willingly committing it.
But Linus was no longer that boy from back then.
Linus, unable to accept Erich’s words as a favor and instead displaying overt hostility, growled,
“What if I don’t want that?”
“Then I’ll have to contact the Empress Palace.”
“……”
“If you’re not planning to escape, you have no choice but to return.”
“Do you really believe that nothing will happen even after you’ve kept me locked up until now?”
“I didn’t keep you locked up, you couldn’t move because of pneumonia.”
Erich’s statement, strictly speaking, implied that this was what he would claim.
“If it was truly due to pneumonia that I couldn’t move, you should have at least sent word.”
“Don’t make me explain things we both already know, Linus. I’m not here to negotiate with you.”
He had saved Linus from drowning and was now protecting him.
While there might be some procedural issues and perhaps even some intrigue or manipulation about why Linus fell into the sea, in the end, neither the Empress nor Duke Ernst could publicly oppose Erich.
The most they could do was complain about a few days’ delay in communication. It wasn’t enough to create a lasting grudge against the Klausener family.
Linus clenched his teeth and replied,
“You’re not even the person who truly saved me.”
“Whether it was my command or my wife’s, what does it matter? We are both Klauseners, and it makes no difference who says it.”
“……”
“If you think the physical act of pulling you from the water is what’s important, then I can arrange a separate one for you.”
Linus was silent for a moment before speaking,
“Indeed, you have changed.”
“That’s possible.”
Erich responded calmly.
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