Dr. Brown was considered one of the best skilled physicians in the Empire.
He sought to heal not only physical ailments but also mental sufferings. So he studied healing and other magical arts alongside his medical practice.
It was only natural that he would become a physician for the Grand Duchy of Conler, who was known for its curses. But the Grand Duke’s curse was relentless and persistent, and Brown, a mere mortal, often felt small in front of Conler castle.
Dr. Brown, who resigned shortly after Estin took over the title, was filled with remorse at the news that Helena, the Grand Duchess, had died, thinking that he would have been able to save her if he had stayed a little longer.
When he heard that his child had returned, he didn’t visit the Grand Duchy with the thought that he could meet her later in life. His aging body had weakened, and he was afraid to face the curse in such a weakened state.
But when he heard that Estin had fallen under a curse and lost his memory, he knew that if he did not see him this time, he would not be able to close his eyes in peace.
He realized that this was the least he could do for Estin Conler before his life ended.
Even after Dr. Brown had stepped down as his physician, Estin continued to send him money for research.
“Logan will be here soon.”
Moreover, to top it off, Logan Riley, whom Dr. Brown had briefly taught, was also working at the Ducal House.
Logan Riley was a nerd, but he was the student who understood what Dr. Brown was doing best.
He had expected him to continue his studies at the Academy and earn a doctorate like himself, but he didn’t expect him to become a private tutor at the Grand Duchy, so he was a little surprised.
But as he talked to Logan, he realized that being a tutor was just a façade. And that there are things he can’t tell him.
“Hello, Dr. Brown.”
Logan stepped into the office with a polite bow. He seemed to be in an oddly good mood today. He appeared to get along well with everyone and even seemed cheerful on the surface, but Logan was generally cynical.
Dr. Brown accepted Logan’s greeting, but observed him. He tapped his fingers lightly on his knee in a rhythm. Why does that guy look so happy?
“What’s the matter?”
“Yes?”
“You seem a little more excited than usual.”
Estin asked why Logan seemed a little out of sorts. Dr. Brown was curious, too, and looked back and forth between Estin and Logan with interest.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I just met someone really interesting yesterday.”
“Was it your day off yesterday?”
“Did you get any good news?”
Lucas interrupted Estin and Logan’s languid conversation. He wondered if it was about Mary Conler. Logan sensed his concern and thought for a moment.
Logan remembered Arsene’s reaction to his every word yesterday.
Well, at least he knew she was doing well, so that was good news.
Can I tell him?
Arsene, who had been berating Logan for a long time, had disappeared at the end, telling him that Mary was doing well and that he shouldn’t tell anyone about his visit.
Logan hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.
“I met Arsene yesterday.”
“Arsene?”
Lucas jumped up from his seat, his face displaying a mixture of anger and astonishment at the mention of that name. Even Estin, with his nonchalant expression, couldn’t hide his anger and surprise.
Dr. Brown, hearing the name for the first time, couldn’t help but be baffled by Estin and Lucas’ reactions.
“Where did you meet him? No, why did you meet him? Did you just let that bastard off the hook? How do you know it was him? Have you ever seen him before?”
“First, please calm down and have a seat,” Logan calmly advised Lucas, who was visibly agitated.
Sometimes Theodore would play a prank on Mary, and whenever she showed signs of becoming agitated, she would put her hand over his and gently bob it up and down. Lucas needed that gesture now.
Lucas sat down at Logan’s urging. Estin stared at him intently.
“I met him on my way back from going out. He revealed his identity first and approached me,” Logan explained.
Even though Arsene told him never to tell……. Logan didn’t feel the need to follow the kidnapper’s request.
His employer was Estin Conler, not Arsene.
Logan thought Arsene should pay a reasonable price if he wanted him to cover his mouth instead of threatening him.
“Miss Mary seems to be doing well.”
A sigh-like sigh escaped from Lucas’ side
It seemed like an overwhelming wave of emotions hit him, as he buried his face in his hands.
Although he scolded Estin for not eating and sleeping properly, Lucas also couldn’t sleep and eat well after Mary disappeared.
“Thank goodness, thank goodness…….”
As long as Mary was safe, that was all that mattered.
Lucas had to act as usual so that Estin, who had not yet fully recovered, would not get worse, the three brothers and Rex would not fall apart, and the employees of the Grand Duke would not be shaken.
Seeing Lucas, who was experiencing a wave of emotions, Estin, who was the first to witness Lucas letting go of his tension, patted his shoulder. It was a rough but affectionate gesture of comfort.
“But why did the damn kidnapper find you?”
Estin casually asked in an indifferent tone, but his choice of words revealed how furious he was at Arsene.
Dr. Brown heard the word kidnapper and suddenly understood why Estin and Lucas had reacted the way they had, but why had Arsene sought out Logan? Logan just shrugged.
“He wanted information about the god of the underworld, so I gave him the notes and he disappeared.”
“You just gave it to him?”
“No. Before I gave him the notes, I asked him where Miss Mary was and when she would be back, and he said he couldn’t tell me where she was, and he didn’t know when she would be back.”
“If you had called Hestia before giving it to him, we could have taken him hostage!”
Lucas expressed his deepest regret by fiercely striking his palm with his fist. As if his palm were that Arsene.
“Miss Mary sent him to me because she wanted the notes, and I can’t help but give it to him.”
“……that child wanted it?”
“Did you say the god of the underworld?”
Dr. Brown, who had been silent as he watched the young people engage in unintelligible conversation, repeated one word that could not be overlooked.
“Yes, that……. I think he’s the one who put the curse on Grand Duke Estin.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that important story?”
Lucas bowed his head to Dr. Brown’s rebuke.
“Why didn’t you just say he was the victim of a curse?”
“I told him not to tell you, because if we told you it was connected to the god of the underworld, you’d surely start researching about him, and I didn’t want you to get in unnecessary danger in your old age.”
“But you should have told me…”
At Estin’s explanation, Dr. Brown was struck by an unknown emotion.
Did he know that he had run away because he was tired of the Grand Duke’s curse?
He hated himself for running away and leaving Estin, whom he considered his grandchild, behind.
“And I’ve been continuously studying the underworld god.”
Finally coming to his senses, Dr. Brown looked at Estin as a patient to be treated, not a grandchild.
After leaving the Grand Duchy and seeking atonement, Dr. Brown had been providing medical services in Conler’s Tana District. Kidnappings were common in the lawless district, and patients he had seen the previous week would suddenly disappear.
It was a secret-like story that was shared with Dr. Brown, who was constantly worried about those children.
Since then, Dr. Brown has continued his research into the underworld.
“And Logan has been doing research on that, too, hasn’t he?”
“Yes. I’ve been following his every move to some extent.”
“And you know what kind of sorcery he uses?”
“Yes, it’s a sorcery called Yusa.”
“Yes, it is magic created by a man who was called the god of death in ancient times. It’s so eerie that it could only be referred to as sorcery or a curse.”
Logan nodded. Dr. Brown said nothing more, just crossed his arms and dropped his head, deep in thought.
When he lifted his head again, his eyes sparkled with a sharp brightness, a strange gleam that somehow matched the deeply entrenched wrinkles.
“My Lord, would it be alright if I borrowed Logan for a while?”
“Logan?”
“Yes. I need to do some research with Logan. It has something to do with that serpentine beast you defeated.”
