Chapter 31
Askin’s blue eyes shook slightly at the voice filled with anger, contrasted by Charlize’s calm demeanor.
Charlize clearly saw it, but Askin swiftly mounted his horse first and rode off.
Watching his retreating figure vanish in an instant, Charlize clicked her tongue.
‘Feels good inside, but…’
Her chest felt refreshed, yet she worried if her words had been too harsh.
‘If my past life’s Yun Ji-hu had this kind of spirit, she would have unleashed a torrent of curses at Deputy Manager Park and Manager Kim.’
She tried to force her thoughts elsewhere.
Otherwise, the image of that man shedding tears kept resurfacing.
In fact, the moment Askin’s gaze wavered, Charlize had felt as though she were the one bullying him.
“…Ugh, he shouldn’t be so handsome.”
Making her worry for no reason.
Tsk, Charlize clutched her forehead and let out a sigh.
Meanwhile, at the same time.
Askin was galloping in a direction opposite from the road back to his territory, accompanied by his adjutant Ben.
“The Child viscount heir went this way?”
“Yes, we’ve confirmed it without a doubt.”
It was to see Ian Child again—the man he had spotted upon arriving here.
As Askin pursued him, the very Ian he sought was deep in conversation with his advisor and longtime friend Shomer inside the carriage heading back to the estate.
“What have you been thinking about for so long, young master?”
“Young master? We’re alone—speak comfortably.”
“Out of courtesy, I have to start with honorifics, right?”
As his adjutant Shomer relaxed his posture, Ian chuckled softly.
“So, what are you thinking about?”
“Just… the most beautiful woman in the empire?”
“…Lady Altzveit?”
“Correct.”
Ian rubbed his chin lightly. Shomer wore a mischievous expression.
“Did you know that two people are considered the empire’s most beautiful women?”
“One is the lady, so who’s the other?”
“Someone you’ve seen. Duke Remute.”
Shomer explained that he was the kind of person who fit the term “beauty.”
Ian nodded as he recalled Askin Remute’s appearance.
He was certainly handsome in a manly way, yet more suited to being called a beauty than a mere handsome man.
“I hear Duke Remute has a sister who looks just like him. Wouldn’t she be the true empire’s greatest beauty? Ian, you’ve never seen his sister, right?”
“No.”
Lady Remute was a figure shrouded in rampant rumors.
Moreover, Ian had no interest in her, so the topic quickly fizzled out.
“But what kind of person is Lady Altzveit?”
“Huh? Didn’t I tell you before? Wait, are you interested in that lady?”
“Well… if anything, a bit? Just curiosity for now.”
Shomer was appalled at Ian’s casual response.
To think the precious heir of the Child family was harboring a curiosity that could doom his lineage! As his friend and devoted adjutant, he couldn’t stand it.
“Drop the interest. Don’t even make eye contact! Got it?!”
“Why the fuss?”
“You’ve been away from the empire too long—you don’t know! That woman is truly vicious.”
Deeming it necessary, Shomer bluntly listed Charlize Altzveit’s misdeeds and rumors.
“Do you think only one or two noble heirs have been ruined by her hands? Toying with three or four men is nothing; not content with wielding violence herself when drunk, she even had her knights do it on her orders. And she loves inciting fights too. How many people died because of her? You might not know, but it’s famous—the incident where she messed with the Holy Knight Order captain and forcibly dragged in Spirit Mage Lopenheim’s disciple to threaten them!”
Spittle flying, Shomer recounted Charlize’s atrocities.
“Do you know how horrified I was watching from afar when you handed her that drink earlier? That bottle flying at your head wouldn’t have been surprising. Seriously.”
But Ian had stopped listening halfway through. Instead, lost in his own thoughts, he suddenly smiled brightly.
“Shomer, look into the lady more thoroughly for me.”
“Were you even listening?!”
This guy was developing an interest in a truly dangerous woman! His friend and young master had always been like this since childhood.
He’d fixate on flowers atop cliffs, or want to climb trees no one cared about!
He harbored curiosity toward dangerous things without a care, and once he did, he’d act on it no matter what.
‘That look earlier—she was clearly embarrassed, trembling just a little.’
According to Shomer, she was a brazen villainess who didn’t even feel remorse.
So what was that expression? And the subtle shift in her face the moment she saw Askin Remute. Why had she looked at him with such desperation?
He couldn’t shake the pity he had felt.
’Now I’m curious.’
Regrettably, the curiosity he had tried not to nurture had fully blossomed.
The moment Ian resolved himself, the carriage screeched to a halt.
Ian, trained in swordsmanship, braced himself and didn’t tumble, but Shomer, merely an ordinary civil official, rolled about with a clatter.
“Ugh, hey, what the—? You’re fine and I’m…!”
“What is it?”
Ian opened the door and stepped out.
There, blocking the carriage’s path, was a person.
Surprisingly… Askin Remute. The Duke of Remute, whom he had just parted from.
Encountering someone he had been thinking about alongside Lady Altzveit felt strangely wondrous.
“Well, if it isn’t Duke Remute. We met at Altzveit Castle just moments ago—what brings you all the way here?”
Though inwardly flustered, Ian greeted him calmly.
His etiquette was flawless and smooth.
“I hurried here because I have something to say to you. I apologize for suddenly blocking your carriage.”
“Not at all, Your Grace. If it was urgent, it’s understandable. I get it.”
Ian gestured toward the carriage door.
“Would you like to come in?”
As he invited him inside and mentioned the soundproofing magic, Askin nodded and entered.
With two large men now aboard, the carriage felt even narrower than before.
“What brings you here?”
The situation seemed urgent, so Ian figured they could skip the pleasantries and get to the point—and that was exactly what Askin wanted.
“I’ll borrow money from the Child family. I’ll accept the terms you proposed.”
“……”
“The conditions remain the same, I presume?”
Ian looked surprised. Soon, he reverted to his usual gentle expression and nodded.
Of course, he was inwardly curious why Askin had suddenly chased after him to accept.
Was it related to Lady Altzveit, perhaps?
“But I’d like to ask if it’s alright to proceed slightly differently from our prior discussions.”
Askin calmly explained that the amount had increased.
Even so, he maintained a cool, composed demeanor to the end, saying they should talk if the larger sum posed issues.
“Hmm, the increased amount is no problem at all.”
Though the sum had startled him a bit.
Fortunately, it was within what the Child family could handle.
“However, since the amount has changed, I’d like to add one more condition on our side.”
“What is it?”
Ian smiled brightly.
“You must break off your engagement with Lady Altzveit.”
Askin froze.
He had planned to break it off anyway. He had decided to ally with the Child family for that very purpose.
But the added condition irked him. It was because it sparked an ominous premonition.
After a brief moment of thought, Askin asked.
“Are you perhaps planning to send a Child lady to the Remute ducal family? If so, I’ll consider the Child family no different from the Altzveits.”
“…My, I’ve caused a misunderstanding.”
Ian did have a younger sister, to be precise, twin siblings.
“A man like Your Grace would surely be to my sister’s liking, but that’s not the condition at all. Rather, my clever sister dreams of free love over political marriages, so have no worries.”
As Ian subtly showed his affection for his sister and spoke clearly, Askin’s icy expression softened slightly.
It was a faint emotion, but Ian’s pride in his sister didn’t feel unfamiliar for some reason.
“If the misunderstanding is cleared, may I take that as your acceptance of the condition?”
Askin was about to say yes.
But for a fleeting moment, that woman’s face flashed in his mind.
Of all things, the moment she was being dragged away by the knight’s hand against her will. And…
“Just one question. Why borrow such dirty money?”
“……”
“When you were desperate, it wasn’t dirty?”
The recent moment when she had sharply questioned him yet somehow looked more hurt herself.
Askin slowly closed and opened his eyes. His eyelids tried to erase the image.
It didn’t erase cleanly.
“I’ll accept.”
“An excellent choice.”
It was undoubtedly the right decision, yet amid the subtle, gnawing unease, Askin changed the subject.
Make the contract firm. It was a lesson learned from the Altzveit deal.
“…If I repay the debt to the Child family midway, do I have to settle the remaining interest all at once?”
At Askin’s probing question, Ian smiled slyly.
“What are you saying? Once you’ve repaid the principal, what remaining interest would there be? The Child family isn’t some usurer like the Altzveits. If anything, our house is more like Your Grace’s devoted followers.”