The common room's large doors opened, revealing the duke, standing next to the unlit fireplace with a glass of wine in hand, gazing out the window with his back to the door. Taking a long drink to finish off his glass, Hades turned to face his son, his demeanor solemn.
"Father... you were looking for me?" He nodded, and gestured for Dokja to sit on the sofa. The both of them sat across from each other, Dokja's hands on his lap as he fidgeted. "May I ask why you requested me here, Father?" Hades paused for a moment before answering.
"Yes… I need to talk to you about something of utmost importance." Dokja frowned, trying to wrack his head about what it could be. Was it about the poisoning? He had thought his family had already resolved the issue after talking it through with him. Did they suspect he was involved somehow? Or did they find out the truth of what Yoo Joonghyuk did to him?
"May I ask what it is, Father?" No, Dokja didn't want to believe they'd lie to his face like that, after how much trust they'd given him, he wanted to return it with his own. But he couldn't think of many other ideas.
Hades wordlessly pulled out a newspaper before Dokja could continue his speculation. Reading the title of the main article, his body ran cold, and he snatched the newspaper from the duke's hands. As he scanned the paper, letter by letter, he felt his heart drop, his hands started to tremble.
A Commoner's child?
New information released has called the Underworld Duchy's heirs into question. It's possible that Sir Kim Dokja, the eldest heir of the Underworld Duchy, may not be blood related to either Duke Hades nor Duchess Persephone. Rather, he was born a commoner and was adapted into noble status. Does this mean the Underworld Duchy's true heir is the second child, Sir Kim Namwoon?
Dokja couldn't grasp the words in front of him, or rather, he desperately didn't want to. He wished he could close his eyes right there and forget them forever, maybe then they'd vanish. He was too frightened to look at the duke, not knowing what this meant to him. Dokja could shake the feeling that he was guilty of some crime. In a way, he had.
He had replaced the true 'Kim Dokja', taking his place without his family knowing. He was not 'Kim Dokja', the son that the duke and duchess raised alongside Kim Namwoon. He was already an imposter, a version of 'Kim
Dokja' that was never supposed to have a loving family.
Dokja heard the door opening again and saw the duchess and Kim Namwoon rushing towards him out of the corner of his eyes. Looking back at the newspaper, he found dark splotches had started forming in the paper, only then realizing that he had started crying. Persephone had come over and started holding him tightly, as if she were trying to anchor him down.
Kim Namwoon placed a hand on his shoulder. Kim Dokja only clenched tighter to the newspaper, having no idea what to do. Being in this world had caused him to become selfish, as he freely indulged in the many luxuries that were handed to him. But after all this time, he should've known it was too good to be true. He didn't deserve this level of affection, love, or even a family. After all he was not the son of Hades and Persephone or the heir to the ducal of the underworld, He had never been a part of this family.
He was merely a murderer's son Kim Dokja.
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Dokja picked up a stone and hurled it into the river, watching as it splashed pathetically. He had walked to a forest clearing, close enough to the town to hear its hustle and bustle, but still filled with vibrant flora and animals.
Though, it wasn't as if he was really in a state of mind to appreciate the picturesque environment. He clenched his teeth and hurled another stone into the river. This time it actually skimmed the water a few times before sinking.
No development like this had ever happened in the novel, with 'Kim Dokja's' childhood remaining ambiguous for the most part. The earliest part of his life described was his enrollment into the royal academy, where he first encountered the crown prince. It seemed his actions didn't only affect the path that the novel would take,
but could also rewrite the background of his character, along with those around him. Dokja wondered bitterly if this was the
story's way of correcting his presence, as if he was a disease that had invaded.
The revelation forcefully made its way into his mind again.
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The duchess bent her head and murmured, "It's true that you are not our son". Dokja felt her trembling as she spoke. Dokja couldn't bring himself to look at his mothe Persephone, but he listened to her words carefully.
"We find you one day in the countryside, on the side of a long-abandoned road, wrapped in a blanket in a basket.".Persephone's voice was heavy, Dokja could tell she was holding back tears.
"Why…why did you even take me in?" Dokja felt her tears fall onto his palm as the duke immediately came to her side to hold her.
"You know, before you and your brother came to us, I was on my fourth miscarriage..." she mourned, grinning bitterly. Hades walked over to her side. "Every day I prayed to god to let me have a child. It had been our dream at
the time, to finally start a family together." Persephone held onto her husband's hand.
"Darling, are you sure—," but the duchess shook her head.
"No, I'm alright" She quickly wiped away her tears and took a breath, preparing herself."So, your father decided to take me on a tour of the province. I was on the verge of giving up, and he just wanted to see me at peace again."
Persephone placed her hand on Dokja's cheek. He turned to her in surprise as she started caressing his face. "But all my fears and doubts disappeared the moment I saw you. I don't know why, but I knew as soon as my eyes landed on you, I knew that you were my son, that I needed to give you the best life that I could." Persephone's eyes shone with a level of love that overwhelmed Dokja, "You're my son, one of the happiest things that happened to us,our miracle".
Kim Dokja was wracked with shudders as he started weeping, "Kim Dokja...no matter what happens, you're our child, nothing's going to change just because I'm not the one who gave birth to you, I promise." Persephone pulled him into her arms, her hold tight. Hades and Kim Namwoon were quick to join her.
He could feel her heartbeat and the warmth of her embrace. Slowly, he brought his arms up and wrapped it around her body. "I'm sorry," I'm sorry 'Kim Dokja', for being selfish, for wanting to experience your family's love. I know I have no right to it, but
I just want to feel it until I leave this world.
Dokja had thought back to his own family, the one that had hurt him every day. The one that had sold his story. The one that neglected him. Just for a bit more, he'll savor this.
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Dokja stood up to leave. If he spent any more time in the forest, then they… his family would start to get worried about him again. But a sparkle of light from the river made him pause in his tracks. Getting closer to it, Dokja
peered through the shallow waters, something metal was caught on a small rock.
Pulling it out of the river, Dokja had to do a double take. It was a silver necklace with the charm of a crescent moon and a sword, a crystal embedded in its handle. The necklace was simple but elegant, he felt sorry for whoever lost it.
Dokja was deciding if he should give the necklace to someone (Jung Heewon, maybe Kim Namwoon?) when individuals started emerging from the darkness of the forest and surrounded him. Dokja gulped as they drew their swords and pointed them at him.
Why does the world hate me so much?