Translator: Nox

Chapter 3

As the Grand Duke listened to his secretary’s report, a predatory smile spread across his lips. He stared directly into the eyes of the uninvited guest sitting across from him and spoke with deliberate clarity.

“Interesting. Understood. You may go.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

After the secretary bowed politely and withdrew, only three people remained in the room.

The Grand Duke, the courtesan, and…

Oscar von Reinhardt.

The tip of the cigarette held between Oscar’s long, straight fingers smoldered steadily, often shrouding him in plumes of smoke that escaped from between his teeth. Through the hazy grey veil, only his exceptionally blue eyes remained vivid.

He was a man born of the highest nobility. His father had been a great general of Luxen, a man so revered that a statue in his honor stood in the plaza before the Luxen Royal Palace, remaining an object of adoration nearly thirty years after his death. And what of his mother, who was rumored to be the most beautiful woman in all of East Norfolk?

Yet, he evoked images of rock-strewn mines, tunnels where not a single ray of light could penetrate, and the cold darkness of iron ore and coal. Instead of a grand and beautiful castle, he brought to mind a blackened fortress swept by fire, with crows circling above its ruins.

He was the Wolf of Luxen, a man even the King of Pelfe hesitated to deal with. He was a busy man whose private estates were larger than the entire territory of the city-state of Pelfe—a man so elusive that even his fellow Luxen nobles found it difficult to catch a glimpse of his handsome face.

When this man—who was rarely seen even by his own sovereign, let alone the King of Pelfe—had personally come to visit him, the Grand Duke’s mood had soared through the clouds.

He had every reason to be delighted.

With Oscar’s assistance, the Grand Duke had become the governor of the Pelfe Bank and gained entry into the Norfolk Royal Union Conference Hall. Consequently, the nobles of Pelfe, who had long looked down on him, finally began to treat him as a true Grand Duke. It felt as though he were on the verge of having everything.

Yes. It had felt that way.

Until the man began to make him uneasy.

“Marquis Reinhardt. What is the meaning of this rudeness?”

“Rudeness?”

The chilling blue eyes visible through the smoke were ominous.

“I believe I told you to finish what you were doing. Did I not say I would wait?”

“Marquis!”

“If you are referring to my being late, I must apologize. It seems word of our ‘secret’ meeting leaked somewhere, and some uninvited guests decided to drop by.”

Oscar spoke with a hint of amusement in his voice as he placed the cigarette back between his lips. The Grand Duke, who had actually assisted in summoning those uninvited guests, felt his heart drop at Oscar’s knowing look.

“But more importantly…”

Oscar’s voice trailed off as he gave a languid smile.

“I’m curious to know what this ‘interesting news’ might be?”

Perhaps it was the way his hair fell over his brow, but he looked strikingly at home amidst this decadent pleasure. From a man who carried the blood of ancient high nobility, there emanated the aura of a rogue who haunted back alleys.

And as a rule, such things were always more attuned to instinct.

The sexual heat that had been simmering within the Grand Duke just moments ago cooled faster than a thin pot off the flame. A chill washed away his sweat, and the fine hairs on his skin stood on end.

His instincts were screaming at him.

The man before him was furious, and he had to appease that anger by any means necessary.

The Grand Duke’s eyes darted frantically back and forth.

About three years ago.

When Oscar had first sought him out.

The man had promised to make him a true Grand Duke, and in exchange, he had demanded only two things.

First, that the Grand Duke take along a person Oscar provided whenever he attended the Norfolk Royal Union Conference Hall.

And the other…

“That vault you’ve been keeping an eye on.”

“……”

“What was the number again? Was it in the four thousands? No, that’s not it…”

The Grand Duke’s wandering gaze locked with Oscar’s. Not a trace of a smile lingered in those terrifyingly blue eyes.

The Grand Duke swallowed hard involuntarily. A voice as cold as the man’s icy gaze fell upon him.

“Vault 5555.”

Private Vault 5555 of the Pelfe Bank.

The vault Oscar von Reinhardt intended to open.

The Grand Duke clutched at his racing heart and licked his dry lips.

“That vault key… have you still not found it?”

---

About two hours earlier.

Around the time Oscar and his Wolves were dealing with the uninvited guests.

The door to the VIP reception room of the Pelfe Bank slid open quietly. A pair of light brown eyes shimmered through the narrow gap.

Reddish, heavy wooden walls, matching gold-plated accents, an exceptionally plush carpet, and a staff member on duty despite the late hour.

Is this the place?

Seo-ah scanned the interior through the crack in the door before stepping inside. The carpet was as soft as it looked, completely muffling her already faint footsteps. Perhaps that was why the employee reading the newspaper failed to notice her entrance entirely.

Even as she walked to the table and placed her bag on a plush individual sofa, the employee seemed unaware of her presence.

After a moment’s hesitation, Seo-ah reached out and tapped on the table.

Knock, knock.

Though she tapped gently, the sound felt as loud as thunder to her ears. She held her breath, focusing all her senses on the other person’s movements.

Rustle.

The sound of a page turning reached her. Seo-ah slowly lifted her eyes.

“……”

The employee was still engrossed in the newspaper. She took a deep breath and tapped on the table again.

Knock, knock.

“Excuse me… hello.”

Only then did the employee, who had been boredly flipping through the evening paper, snap his head up. He jumped to his feet reflexively, and Seo-ah reflexively lowered her gaze.

“Welcome. How can I hel—”

The employee’s greeting trailed off into a brief, heavy silence.

Seo-ah felt her face prickle. She struggled to keep her head from dropping further. When she looked up, she met a pair of very clear green eyes.

As she immediately looked down again upon making eye contact, the employee asked abruptly, “How did you get in here?”

Seo-ah chewed on the question for a moment with her eyes downcast before gesturing vaguely behind her.

“…I came through the door.”

“……”

The employee blinked, appearing momentarily lost for words, before asking more specifically.

“You mean you came in alone? Without an escort?”

Seo-ah considered his words again and asked softly, “Is that not allowed?”

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

The employee was bewildered. He even looked around, wondering if he was dreaming with his eyes open. This was definitely the VIP reception room of the Pelfe Bank.

Then who on earth was this woman?

The Pelfe Bank did not discriminate against its clients. Even if a client was a commoner, they were treated with the utmost respect as long as they had the means to open an account or a vault.

The problem was that the required minimum deposit for such services was astronomical; even many nobles failed to meet the criteria. Consequently, those who crossed the threshold of the Pelfe Bank were usually owners of famous corporations, high-ranking nobles, or royalty.

The bank’s main entrance was manned not only by guards but also by staff dedicated to greeting clients. It was impossible for anyone other than a client to even linger nearby, and the rule was that a designated staff member would personally escort any arriving client. That was why he had been able to relax and read the newspaper. He expected to be notified in advance if someone was coming.

Yet, this woman, whose solitary arrival was suspicious enough, also looked incredibly out of place.

Though a cold breeze had begun to blow in the mornings and evenings, it was still summer. However, the woman was wearing a wool coat meant for the dead of winter. Moreover, it was clearly poorly maintained, as if it had been neglected for a long time, and it fit her awkwardly, like she was wearing someone else’s clothes.

Furthermore, she kept her head lowered like a criminal and avoided eye contact. Above all, there was something strange about her. The employee couldn’t quite find the words to describe the peculiar aura he felt from her in that brief moment.

Just then, the woman spoke.

“I came because I want to open a vault. Is this not the right place?”

“A vault?”

“Yes.”

Startled by the mention of a vault, the employee asked with a look of uncertainty, “Did you bring the key?”

At that question, Seo-ah let out a small sigh of relief. It seemed she had come to the right place after all.

“Yes, I brought it.”

A vault and a key.

The employee, who had been on the verge of calling the guards, gestured politely toward a chair.

“Please, have a seat.”

Seo-ah set her bag on the floor and perched on the edge of the sofa. Meanwhile, the employee cleared away the newspaper, sat across from her, and pushed a black velvet tray toward her.

“May I have the key, please?”