To love someone else's child was an unusual thing, even for the Duke, who was no stranger to the unconventional. But there was something about Dylan that drew him in, perhaps the way her golden curls bounced when she laughed, reminding him of a long-forgotten memory. Whatever the reason, he loved her like his own daughter and vowed to protect her from the harsh world that lay beyond the walls of his estate.

~

"I registered for the entrance exams myself instead of going through my tutor," Dylan explained, trying to keep still as her maid struggled to tame her thick, unruly golden curls into a proper bonnet. "They start soon, and I cannot afford to be late."

The Duke gazed into his daughter's warm brown eyes, a mixture of affection and regret swirling within him. He couldn't help but see the reflection of his best friend, the Marquis, in her features. Her golden curls, her quiet personality, everything about her reminded him of the man he had lost.

"Father?" Dylan asked as she adjusted the brim of her bonnet to look up at him.

"Are you ready to go, my dear?" he asked. The Duke's smile was bittersweet as he looked at Dylan. "It's not a long journey, so you'll arrive in no time."

Dylan nodded, showing her father the registration papers in her hands. "Everything is in order, I have it all under control. You don't need to worry at all."

The Duke smiled warmly at her. "I have no doubt you'll do well," he said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Your brother will be waiting for you at the gate, so you won't have to worry about a thing. Just focus on doing your best."

Dylan's smile faltered for a moment when her father mentioned her brother, but she quickly composed herself and gave a soft, grateful smile. "Yes, thank you."

The thought of relying on that lunatic for help is insane, she mused silently. The Duke truly has no idea.

He wrapped his arms around Dylan, pulling her into a tight embrace. She shrank under his touch, feeling uncomfortable and trapped. The sensation of his hug made her feel nauseous. She tried to push the feeling down and forced herself to comply, standing stiffly in his embrace until he released her.

"You're a good daughter," he said. "You've never caused me any trouble. How about I get you something to celebrate? Some jewellery, a new carriage perhaps?"

Dylan was a quiet child who didn't readily share her feelings, thoughts, or emotions with others. She led a simple life, abstaining from materialistic desires and never asking for money. Her predictability and calmness made her an easy child to handle and raise.

"That stuff doesn't appeal to me," she said, subconsciously stepping back from him to create more space between them. "Perhaps we can just celebrate over dinner tonight. Nothing too extravagant, I beg of you."

"As you wish," the Duke said, motioning with his hand for the servants to open the front door. "You must depart to be on time. I'll see to it that supper is ready for you when you return, with all your favourite foods."

"Thank you," Dylan said, hurrying out of the door without looking back. She felt a sense of relief wash over her as she stepped out of the suffocating atmosphere of the estate and into the fresh air. Finally, she could breathe again.

"Ruenz, wait for a moment."

Dylan flinched at the name, goosebumps crawling over every inch of her skin. That name. She wished anyone who spoke it out loud would burn in hell. Memories of the past flooded her mind, reminding her of the pain and trauma she had suffered at the hands of the man who bore it. She turned to face him, her expression guarded.

"Yes?" she asked, trying to keep her voice neutral.

He smiled, "You got this, my friend."

Dylan gave a soft smile, trying to hide the pain that his words had caused. "Thank you."

She turned away once more, her heart heavy with the weight of memories long buried. It wasn't the first time he had called her by her dead biological father's name, and each time it happened, it hurt just as much. She couldn't help but wonder if he did it on purpose, as a reminder of her past and how easily her position could be taken away.

~

The snow-white horses pulled the carriage along the stone road, their hooves creating a rhythmic echo. Their coats shone in the sunlight, accentuating the elegant design of the carriage. The Beaumon family crest was prominently displayed on its side, a powerful symbol of the Duke's status and his family's lineage. The crest, passed down from generation to generation, was a source of pride for the family and a mark of their achievements.

"Where are we?" Dylan asked. The carriage had come to a stop in a desolate area, surrounded by overgrown shrubs and towering trees, near the towering wall that marked the boundary of the academy grounds.

"Outside the academy's back wall," the maid replied, her discomfort palpable. "The young master arranged for this to be the meeting place. It's strange that it's so far from the main entrance."

He's probably trying to scare me, Dylan thought to herself. It's too early for him to kill me without a proper reason. Let's see what kind of antics he has planned.

"Perhaps we should reconsider, my lady," the maid suggested in a worried tone. "We can tell the driver to turn back and head to the front. I haven't seen another carriage for a while. It seems like we're the only ones—"

Dylan took a deep breath and interrupted her maid's suggestion. "No, we're not turning back," she said firmly, her voice steady despite the unease that settled in her stomach. "I'm not going to let him scare me out of taking this exam."

The maid looked hesitant, but ultimately gave in with a nod. "As you wish, my lady."

Although she was adopted, the maids were always cordial to Dylan and obeyed her orders. She was aware that they talked about her origins behind her back, but she didn't let it bother her. As long as they were polite and courteous to her face, that was all that truly mattered.

As Dylan stepped out of the carriage, a strong stench of decaying flesh hit her nostrils. The overpowering odour made her cover her nose and mouth with her hand. Looking around, Dylan's eyes widened in horror at the sight of dead animals scattered across the ground. Among the rotting carcasses were rats, rabbits, and even a couple of cats.

"Seven years," Dylan muttered to herself, her voice laced with bitterness and frustration. "He's been avoiding me for seven years, and the first interaction we have, he leaves me dead animals? What kind of twisted game is this?"

In the novel, upon discovering Dylan's adoption, Axil was profoundly impacted by his father's decisions. Not only did he despise Dylan's origins as a commoner, but he also couldn't comprehend why his father felt the need to bring another child into the family.

Due to the Duke's lack of communication about Dylan's adoption, misunderstandings arose between the father and son. Axil mistakenly assumed that Dylan was the result of a love affair between the Duke and a commoner, leading him to believe that his father was unfaithful to his mother when she was alive. This misunderstanding further fuelled Axil's resentment towards Dylan and his father's decision to adopt her.

Dylan's hand trembled as she lowered it from her mouth. She could feel the bile rising in her throat, threatening to spill out. "I want to leave," she said, her voice strained. "Clearly, my brother must have made a mistake. I'm sure this was all a misunderstanding."

The maid looked at Dylan with concern etched on her face. "But miss," she protested, her face scrunched with nausea. "We should call for someone. We should get you checked. What if the animal carcasses carry diseases? We must return to the estate at once!"

Dylan shook her head vehemently. "No, we can't go back. I have to take the exam. I've worked too hard for this, just take me to the exam hall."

The maid hesitated for a moment, clearly torn between her duty to Dylan's safety and her responsibility to obey her mistress's orders. In the end, she relented and nodded her agreement. "As you wish, miss," she said softly.

As Dylan prepared to board the carriage, she couldn't shake off the disturbing image of the dead animals that she had just witnessed. Her mind was consumed by thoughts of Axil and the depth of his cruelty. She knew he was capable of harm, but this was beyond anything she could have imagined.