Chapter 32
Askin and Ian’s gazes met in midair.
Ian suppressed the chilling intensity running down his spine and maintained his smile.
“Then I’ll accept your proposal, so let’s draw up the contract.”
“Yes, but first, I need to inform my father of this and take some time to prepare the contract, since the terms have changed.”
It was a reasonable statement. However, Askin’s expression hardened slightly at the words that followed.
“Since we’ll likely meet again at the imperial banquet celebrating the upcoming Goddess Festival, how about we finalize the contract right after the banquet?”
“Do your job properly as my granddaughter’s fiancé at the imperial banquet coming up soon.”
Askin’s displeasure surged again as he recalled the Altizeit Duke’s words.
“Just one question. Is tomorrow not possible?”
“Escorting such a large sum requires security personnel and various safety measures. Your Grace knows this better than anyone. Moreover, I need to confirm my father’s intentions once more.”
As Ian subtly emphasized the difficulties, Askin deemed it reasonable and conceded on the timeline.
He wanted to escape the Altizeit web even a moment sooner, but he knew these people were already doing their utmost for him.
“Very well. And your grace… I will surely repay it.”
Ian inwardly surmised that this man would one day wield significant influence over the empire, no matter what.
By then, the Child Family would receive double the favor they had extended to him.
“We believe that the best way to repay us is for an outstanding man like Your Grace to rise again for the empire.”
“……”
The Child Family’s essence was that of merchants.
It was just that what they placed on the scales wasn’t limited to mere wealth, goods, or commodities.
They were merchants who weighed politics and power as well.
Askin stepped down from the carriage.
Ian watched his solid retreating back and let out a sly, fox-like smile.
‘Hmm… He doesn’t even ask about the additional conditions. I’m increasingly convinced that returning to the empire was the right choice.’
Though it was a condition he had thrown out on a whim, it had now become one that must absolutely be upheld.
No matter what… he couldn’t make advances on a man who already had a fiancée.
While Askin prepared his horse to return to his territory, the Child Family’s carriage also began to depart.
Soon, Askin mounted his horse and said to Ben,
“Let’s make a quick stop somewhere.”
“Yes, Your Grace!”
That night.
Darkness was deepening.
Glancing at the time, it was 10 p.m. I let out a deep sigh and rose from the sofa.
My already complicated mind grew even more tangled.
I slipped on a fur robe and shawl, then opened the door. Sleep wouldn’t come, and I felt so stuffy that I thought a walk might help.
“……Lady, where are you going?”
As I opened the door, I saw Jet, a familiar face who must have been on duty today.
I turned my head away from his stern but handsome features.
“I feel stuffy. Going for a walk.”
I gave a curt reply and started down the corridor, sensing a quiet presence following behind.
They usually moved in pairs of two, so I wondered why he was alone, but I let it slide.
‘So stuffy.’
In truth, I couldn’t forget Askin’s fierce gaze from earlier that day, or the tears that had suddenly fallen amid his anger and fury.
That intense look was seared into my mind, filling me with worry that he might demand to break off the engagement.
……He looked like he’d made a firm resolution.
I wandered through the garden until I reached the small side gate used by the servants at its edge.
For some reason, an unfamiliar voice drifted over.
More precisely, it was the sound of an argument.
“Ah, I’m telling you, hasn’t the lady imprisoned our duke?!”
What? I was going to ignore it amid my distress, but the absurdity of it made it impossible.
Imprison whom? My fiancé?
‘Ha, ridiculous. Do you think a man like that would just let himself be imprisoned?’
The real Charlize, a master of threats, might have managed it, but I certainly couldn’t.
I racked my brain every day trying to figure out how to even have a civil conversation with that man, and came up empty.
Imprison him? My already frayed nerves ignited with anger.
‘Let’s at least see his face.’
The voices grew louder as I approached.
It was a booming voice that would have carried to the building if the gate weren’t a bit farther away.
“I know he’s here! Let me see our duke!”
“Ah, I’m telling you, he’s not here. Are you deaf?”
“I can’t hear you! I’m really in a hurry! Let me see our imprisoned duke!”
The man searching for Askin was dressed as a servant, and his opponent was an Altizeit gatekeeper.
As I approached without muffling my footsteps, both men turned toward me in unison, as if on cue.
The guard’s eyes widened enormously.
“L-Lady!”
The gatekeeper hurriedly dropped to his knees.
I ignored him and looked toward the servant. No matter how I saw it, he looked like a Remute household servant.
Why was someone from Remute searching for that man in our house at this hour?
The servant, upon actually seeing me, froze, forgetting his earlier shouting.
But only for a moment—he began trembling and knelt, clasping his hands in desperate plea.
“L-L-Lady! Please let me see the duke! P-Please, I beg you!”
His earlier outburst was forgotten; his voice brimmed with earnest desperation.
I grew even more puzzled. No, why on earth was he searching for that man here at this late hour when darkness had fallen?
“Why are you looking for my fiancé here?”
“B-Because his whereabouts have become u-unknown… Naturally, he must be here……”
“He’s not.”
At my words, disbelief flooded the servant’s face.
I let out a short laugh.
“How insulting. Do you think I’d lie to a mere servant?”
“……”
His face drained of color. He didn’t seem to think it was wrong.
“I-I heard that the d-duke definitely headed to the Altizeit mansion during the day.”
“Yes, and he left.”
After turning the mansion upside down and leaving my mind in utter chaos, that is.
Now despair crept into the servant’s expression at my words.
It seemed he thought I’d imprisoned the man since he’d come here and hadn’t returned to the territory without any word.
Given Charlize’s past behavior, it was an understandable assumption.
Even the real Charlize probably couldn’t have pulled that off. She must have been too afraid of truly ending things with Askin.
“He left.”
At my declaration, the despair dawning on the servant’s face deepened.
“Why are you causing a scene at someone else’s mansion?”
“……”
Ha, look at this. He brands me a kidnapper while refusing to explain his own claims and acting rude to boot.
I frowned and beckoned to the nearby gatekeeper and Jet behind me.
“Chase him off.”
Before the gatekeeper could move, Jet shot forward like the wind and dragged the servant away.
“Ah, L-Lady…… I have a humble request. Sh-Should you see the duke, please tell him that Lady Aria is in very grave condition!”
“……What?”
I raised my hand. Jet halted immediately.
“What does that mean? Explain properly.”
“B-But.”
“Do you want to end up like the rumors say?”
“……Hic! Lady Aria is very ill. She needs to see the duke right now.”
Aria was sick, and Askin was missing.
This surely wasn’t a situation Askin had intended.
That man cherished his little sister more than anything in the world.
And Aria’s condition seemed serious.
If it could have been handled by the territory’s physicians, the servant wouldn’t have rushed all the way to the Altizeit mansion.
I recalled the last time I’d seen Aria’s face.
‘……She looked pale, but fine.’
Whatever it was, Aria absolutely could not die now.
For one thing, my own lifeline was tied to that pretty young lady.
……And I didn’t want her to die either.
“Jet, summon a healing mage and the family physician immediately.”
With that, I removed three bracelets from my arm.
I handed these priceless items to Jet.
“Toss them to the healing mage.”
“……Yes.”
Jet glanced at me just before dashing off.
“……If the duke finds out, he won’t stay quiet.”
“I don’t care. Hurry, as fast as possible.”
At my urgent tone, Jet nodded without further questions.
Not long after, the healing mage and family physician arrived safely at Remute Territory, and word came that Aria had received their treatment.
The message arrived deep into the night.
‘She’s passed the crisis, and her life is in no danger.’
Only then did I finally stop forcing my bleary eyes open and collapse into sleep like a puppet with cut strings.