Translator: Nox

Chapter 23

Soon, I could look straight at the person who had alighted.

He was a man with light brown hair. He had such a gentle impression that one could easily believe he was some scholar somewhere, and he was a strikingly handsome man with long, narrow eyes.

Very pale emerald eyes turned toward me.

It was only when he strode forward that I noticed. Beneath those long, fox-like eyes was a distinct tear mole that stood out.

Perhaps because of it, the way his eyes curved as he looked at me seemed especially seductive.

“Wow, what an honor to meet the empire’s foremost beauty here. Or should I say it’s been a while?”

A voice that was languid yet affectionate captivated my ears. I didn’t react, merely arching an eyebrow.

‘What the… He’s way too handsome…’

The most handsome man I’d seen since arriving in this world was undoubtedly my fiancé.

Someone on par with him would be the tyrannical older brother. Next in line might be Noah, the supporting male lead.

In any case, all the top-tier handsome men were either characters from the novel or people connected to Charlize.

But this ridiculously handsome man who seemed to know Charlize well? And that color scheme—none of the novel’s male leads had eyes in that unusually pale, transparent shade of mint or emerald?

“What? Why are you acting like we’re acquainted?”

“Ah, I see. Is that how it is?”

When I tested him lightly, the man grinned.

“Is this our first meeting today?”

Without a hint of displeasure, he offered his hand. I didn’t take it.

The man withdrew his hand just as smoothly, without a trace of offense, placed it over his chest, and bowed courteously.

It was impeccable etiquette.

“I am the eldest son of the Child Family, Ian Child. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Altzveit.”

Ian—this name was new to me… but the family name was familiar.

‘What? Isn’t this the family Grandfather wanted to betroth me to after breaking things off with Askin?’

I committed the name firmly to memory.

And this excessively handsome face as well.

It definitely wasn’t in Charlize’s memories, but given how handsome he was and his attitude, Charlize must have gotten involved with him somehow! There was definitely something!

‘Right, he’s another one of Charlize’s karmic debts…’

Tensing up inside but keeping it hidden on the outside, I turned my back on him haughtily.

In a place like this, I needed to stay on the defensive. Instinctively raising my guard, I climbed straight into the carriage.

Having that conversation with my fiancé today was enough.

It was only after boarding the carriage that I noticed the man named Ian remained bowed politely until my carriage was far away.

For a very long time.

---

Ian slowly raised his head.

The gentle smile lingered on his face like a mask.

Still smiling, he rubbed his lips with his white-gloved hand.

‘Hmm, I wonder what that reaction was about.’

In truth, this was the first time he’d seen Charlize up close.

He had been constantly traveling to and from foreign countries, busy with work.

However, thanks to his younger brother—who had a loose tongue and loved gossip—he knew all too well the rampant rumors about the wicked duchess.

Charlize Altzveit’s beauty was truly astonishing.

People said it was a beauty that inspired vows of eternal love at first sight.

And that she possessed a viciousness that tore such love to shreds.

‘What could it be.’

Rather, Charlize seemed like a luscious fruit dangling precariously from the end of a branch.

Doesn’t the more tenuously it hangs, the more it tempts people?

He had heard that countless people, drawn in by her stunning looks or scheming to use her, had suffered bitter wounds and turned away.

But…

“…The expression ‘poisoned apple’ suits her perfectly.”

Ian murmured, staring in the direction where Charlize had vanished.

“Young Count.”

“Ah, yes.”

Ian turned at his adjutant’s call.

Hadn’t he come to this place today for an important reason?

“Let’s go.”

Before long, he met the master of this dilapidated castle, Duke Remute.

Askin Remute.

Even though he was barely holding on in this rundown castle after losing the fortune and honor built by his ancestors, he was far from someone to be dismissed.

“I am Ian Child. I have taken my ailing father’s place.”

“…Wasn’t Count Child the one who was supposed to come?”

Ian smiled faintly.

“If my father had come in person, Your Excellency, it surely would have caught the Altzveit’s eye before our plans could even take shape.”

“You’re not as foolish as I expected.”

With this, Ian realized that Duke Remute had just been testing him and the Child Family.

But he wasn’t particularly offended.

“Your Excellency, have you made up your mind?”

Askin showed no expression whatsoever. Indeed.

The Child Family had offered him a loan to pay off Askin Remute’s debts in exchange for his cooperation.

However, unlike the Altzveits’ terms—which came with forced engagements or interest that could never be repaid even in a lifetime—this was different.

The condition was repayment of the principal only. They were lending him an enormous sum without even charging interest.

It was an astonishingly generous deal that would baffle Askin.

“Just one question. Why is the Child Family willing to bear such massive losses to extend this hand?”

To Ian, this man was like a pearl buried in the dirt—no, one of those millennium pearls discovered only once every thousand years.

Though regrettably shrouded in mud at present, he was destined to shine upon the world.

“My father and I daringly believe Your Excellency’s talents are being wasted. You could view it as noblesse oblige—using our wealth to make the world turn better, striving for justice.”

Ian extended his palm. To him, Askin Remute was an exceedingly steadfast man.

“I know Your Excellency has endured treatment far worse than the loans warrant, being tossed about by debts. Please don’t stake your life on such things—put your abilities to better use.”

A polite smile appeared on his face.

Pretending to be harmless was his longtime specialty.

“Moreover, our Child Family built one of the five great trading conglomerates. As beneficiaries of the ‘Yellow Road’ that Your Excellency developed, we owe you a longstanding debt.”

Yellow Road.

It was named thus because it was a road built across the yellow wasteland.

In the past, the western reaches of the empire had vast wastelands swarming with countless monsters, and the one who subjugated them to carve out a safe path for merchant caravans was none other than Askin Remute, standing before him.

He had accomplished this feat at the tender age of twenty.

Askin offered no response to Ian’s words.

Ian felt both doubt and curiosity.

‘Father said he was practically won over already, but from what I see today, that’s not the case. Did something happen in the interim to change his heart?’

Askin had all but confirmed he would accept the Childs’ proposal; today was just to hear the final word—or so he had been told. Yet today, it didn’t seem so.

Ian spoke to the deliberating Askin.

“We wish to help, but regrettably, our family isn’t entirely at leisure either—your understanding would be appreciated.”

“By when must I give my answer?”

“Please provide your final response within a week. If the deadline passes, we’ll consider the deal void.”

Ian finished speaking and rose from his seat.

A sudden curiosity struck him.

What was causing this man—who had previously shown such firm resolve—to hesitate?

It was personal curiosity. His occasional fits of curiosity were a bad habit.

He had a premonition that uncovering the reason might spark an interest he couldn’t contain, coupled with anxiety that it would spell trouble.

“Ah, come to think of it. I heard an intriguing story on my way in today.”

He could still rein in this curiosity for now.

Determined not to indulge it, Ian changed the subject.

“It seems Lady Altzveit recently helped the flood victims from the disaster that struck this territory?”

Askin’s eyebrow twitched. Ian was mildly surprised.

Had he touched a sore spot?

“To express their gratitude, the territory’s people voluntarily gathered local specialties and waited for the lady today—Your Excellency’s subjects seem to be ones who know how to repay a favor.”

The carriage had been piled high with goods on entry, reigniting his curiosity enough to halt and inquire about the situation.

The fact that the Altzveit lady had voluntarily aided the territory’s people was surprising enough in itself…

But what was even more astonishing was Askin’s reaction upon hearing this.

‘Why is he so shocked?’

Ian cocked his head at Askin’s demeanor, which was as if he had been completely unaware.

Charlize and Askin. By rumor, theirs was a relationship where Askin harbored one-sided hatred for her.

Like a mischievous cat, the curiosity kept poking its head up.

“Then, Your Excellency, I await a positive reply.”

Ian bowed courteously.