"Master, Miss Mary and her friend have come together."

"...Alright."

In one of the rooms in the mansion.

Though we hadn't yet seen inside the room, the door itself had an intricate Family Emblem, indicating it was part of an upscale space.

From behind this dignified door, we heard the voice of a man who seemed to be withering away.

Upon hearing that voice, Albus opened the door for us.

As the door opened, the first thing that caught my eye was a large bed.

The sunlight streamed through the Large Window, illuminating the bed.

Lying on that bed was a man, frail like a candle about to be snuffed out.

'That man…'

Mary's father.

Raymond Hyde.

The current Head of the Hyde Family and one of the Lillias Kingdom's most esteemed magicians.

However, his appearance was far more fragile than the man depicted in the portrait at the mansion's entrance.

His cheeks were sunken, his skin sallow.

Yet his gaze remained piercingly sharp.

He looked too weak to even hold Sujeo (eating utensils like knife and fork), but his eyes were strong and unwavering as he looked at Mary.

“You've come.”

“…Yes.”

“And who is this you've brought with you?”

“A friend from the Academy…”

“I am Ken Feinstein.”

As Mary hesitated in her introduction, I bowed my head slightly with unease.

“…Ken… Feinstein?”

At the mention of my name, Raymond's gaze turned curiously towards me.

'Does he know who I am?'

This was, without a doubt, my first visit to the Hyde family.

Even in the original game, there was no special connection known to me.

As Raymond's eyes, filled with a curious intensity, fell upon me, I couldn't help but shrink under his gaze. I didn't understand their significance.

Fortunately, his attention soon shifted back to Mary.

"So, how is the Academy?"

“…I am doing well.”

"I heard you ranked second in the entire school year this time."

"…Yes."

"Well done."

"…"

The conversation seemed like usual small talk between a father and daughter.

Yet the atmosphere felt so heavy and dark.

Even just listening beside them, the air was chilling, making me tense.

However, both of them spoke as if this were a familiar routine.

"How is your health?"

"As you can see. According to the doctors, there's not much time left."

"…"

"That's why I asked you to come quickly."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Raymond immediately got to the point.

What he was about to say now was likely the reason he summoned her.

It wasn't simply to have her witness his last moments.

Mary had explained in detail during the carriage ride here why her father had called her.

"I intend to leave you my will. Regarding this family, and all of my assets."

"…"

Mary remained silent, as if she had anticipated this.

Raymond continued, as if his daughter's silence were expected.

"After my death, the position of the head of the Hyde family will be passed to Mary Hyde. All my assets will be bequeathed to Mary Hyde as well. ...Albus."

"Yes, I have prepared the will accordingly and sent it to the Royal Family."

Albus handed over a parchment bearing the Royal Family’s seal, with the same message inscribed on it.

"All of these terms have been agreed upon by the Royal Family of Lillias, who will act as witnesses. That is all."

Raymond concluded succinctly, as if there was nothing else to discuss.

Mary, who had been listening to him, lowered her head and spoke.

"Is the conversation over?"

In response to Mary's question, Raymond gently turned his head to gaze out the bright window.

"Yes, my business here is concluded."

Mary's shoulders trembled slightly at his answer.

She cautiously lifted her head to look at me.

‘…Mary.’

Her eyes were trembling.

Like a frightened child seeking a bit of courage, she looked at me.

The reason she brought me here.

It was because she anticipated this moment and wanted me by her side.

To gain courage from having me near.

Seeing her like this, my smile met her frightened face, and Mary gently smiled back.

"Father."

Then, with renewed determination, she looked at her father, who had turned his head away from her.

"I will renounce the inheritance."

A single phrase echoed quietly in the room.

She truly struggled to speak those words.

"I will not succeed the Hyde family..."

During our journey to this mansion, I learned in detail about Mary's experiences growing up.

‘Become someone worthy of this family!’

Her father had rigorously trained her from a young age to take over the family.

And if she couldn’t keep up with the training, he would go so far as to splash water on her to push her forward.

As a result, Mary developed a trauma related to water and couldn't go outside on rainy days.

The cause of it all was the succession of the clan.

She came here with me to reject that unwanted future.

‘I have never once defied Father until now.’

On the road while riding the carriage, Mary grasped my hand with trembling hands and spoke.

‘But now I want to say it. That the future Father wants is not what I desire. So, I will refuse it.’

Even as she trembled with fear, she looked at me earnestly.

‘So Ken, please stay by my side. If you're with me... I can surely do it.’

That’s why she had asked me to come to the mansion with her.

“……”

Having finally said what she wanted to say to her father all her life, Mary was shaking.

Because she had rejected what he harshly drove her to achieve.

And knowing how he might react.

That is why she came here with me, someone she could lean on against that fear.

She felt she couldn't endure it alone.

And in response to Mary's resolute words.

Raymond, without turning his head, calmly replied.

“Do as you wish.”

A short phrase.

But those words made Mary's trembling body come to a halt.

Mary’s face, tense moments ago, now looked bewildered as she gazed at her father.

“…What?”

“I said, do as you wish.”

Only then did Raymond turn his head from the window and face his daughter again.

“Let’s consider the inheritance of the clan and the estate as void. Instead, I will convert everything to money. That’s all you will receive from me.”

Despite his daughter betraying his expectations, Raymond remained calm, gazing at Mary with a countenance even colder than hers.

Mary, unable to comprehend her father’s reaction, spoke.

“…I don’t need any money either. I refuse to inherit anything.”

“…How foolish.”

In response to Mary's answer, Raymond looked at her with a sense of pity.

“Are you really going to give up all that money over trivial emotions?”

“…Yes, I don’t want any of it.”

Mary’s resolved answer remained unwavering.

However, Raymond’s unexpected response left Mary’s eyes wavering.

Looking at his daughter, Raymond sighed quietly.

“Then don’t take anything… You should leave now.”

“F-Father…”

“The conversation is over. Leave.”

Although Mary had more to say, seeing her father already turning his back, she couldn’t utter another word.

Tears welled up in her eyes from the unfairness, as she clenched her fists, staring at her father’s back.

She then swiftly turned and headed towards the door.

“……”

Following Mary from behind, I also moved to leave the room.

"You stay here for a moment."

At Raymond's voice, I stopped in my tracks.

“…Are you talking to me?”

"Father, why Ken?"

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

With that firm remark, Mary couldn’t respond and simply looked at me with a worried expression.

Seeing the smile on my face, she lowered her head and left the room.

"…Ken Feinstein, right?"

"…Yes."

Only after Mary left did Raymond adjust his posture and look directly at me.

His gaze remained steadfast, strong, and stubborn.

"Are you the person who conquered the Tower of Tarlos?"

"……."

Through this unexpected question, I understood why he reacted to my name.

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