I was reincarnated into a merciless evil noble and stand at the pinnacle of the magical world, wielding control over magic.~ Just when I had given up on having a heroine, she came to me on her own accord~

Chapter 4: Ernst Lindblum’s Monologue

Despite asking for time, Vanitas’ revelation pierced deep into our hearts. We couldn’t simply brush off or evade the truth as mere childish nonsense. There was a sense of recognition.

Vanitas, our son, Vanny.

When Vanny was young, he was incredibly cute and adorable. Our first child. As a father and the head of the Lindblum duchy, I constantly thought about setting a good example, even when he couldn’t speak yet, and Lavinia would often scold me for being too overprotective.

He was kind, intelligent, and a source of pride for us. He had a good reputation among the subjects and was considerate of others, always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need.

But gradually, Vanny changed. He started lashing out violently at those around him, uttering hurtful words, and seeking slaves who would fulfill his every desire, using them to take out his frustrations on their daughters with violence.

His behavior caused people to treat him like a dangerous object, avoiding him whenever possible. The violence escalated, and eventually, even we couldn’t oppose him anymore.

Lavinia was hit the hardest by Vanny’s transformation. She couldn’t forget the Vanny from the past.

“Sometime, someday, he will return to us. Like he was in those days, kind and calling me ‘Mom’ with such energy… Ernst, I’m hopeless. I can’t forget those days.”

Lavinia lived in the past.

I was the same.

We dreamed that Vanny would someday return to his former gentle self. We closed our eyes to the harm he caused.

But those days of passive observation took a sudden turn.

Vanny went out with the slave girls and fell into a swamp known as the bottomless marsh.

The cautious and mistrustful Vanny ended up in a swamp?

It was hard to believe, but seeing Vanny’s weakened state when they brought him back, we were greatly alarmed.

We called for Dr. Dominic immediately.

However, even the renowned physician couldn’t determine the cause, and his fever only continued to rise.

In this sudden turn of events, we couldn’t grasp the situation.

Let me state the conclusion.

On the day he developed a high fever, Vanny died.

To be precise, he died and then came back to life.

His breathing stopped, and according to Dr. Dominic’s diagnosis, his heart had definitely stopped for a short time.

The child who weakly called out our names on that day… was no longer there.

Holding his hand that carried an almost unnatural heat was all we could do until the very end.

“I am… not your son, Vanitas Lindblum.”

That’s right.

You are not Vanny.

Vanny would never look us straight in the eyes and talk.

He’d never go a day without showing his emotions, never refrain from venting his anger on others, especially the slaves.

You are different.

Their demeanor was resolute, never averting their gaze.

The abyss-like jet-black eyes were not the eyes that harbored vulnerability within like Vanny.

They were eyes with an irresistible and captivating allure, as if pulling you in.

“Lavinia… Let’s talk to Vanitas once more.”

“Talk to Vanny…?”

Supporting Lavinia as she faced the harsh reality and wiped away her tears.

If they didn’t talk, they would have to confront the person residing within Vanny.

Lavinia was utterly worn out, but there was no escaping the fact that they would have to face this eventually.

“Vanny is… already gone from that time, isn’t he?”

I couldn’t find the right words to respond to Lavinia’s sorrowful murmuring.

It was frustratingly unbearable.

===

If you like this novel, Please leave ratings and review in NovelUpdates.>>HERE