"Now that I think about it, you mentioned you owed my wife a favor. Would today be the day I finally hear that story?"
Leroy casually asked, leaning back against his chair.
Though his tone seemed nonchalant, Leroyâs attention was fully focused on Fin. Leroy had always felt a subtle sense of caution around this stranger, who seemed to have grown close to his wife.
"Is this not something you can talk about here?"
Leroy, with a teasing smile, pointed out Fin's delayed response.
Although the aide from Viscount Ida remained in the room, if, as Iona had mentioned, the story wasnât a significant one, there was no real reason to choose a more private setting.
In essence, this was a simple test.
With a smile, Leroy waited for Finâs reaction.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
One might have expected Fin to be flustered by Leroy's playful interrogation, but he remained composed.
Instead of showing discomfort or casting glances at the aide across from him, Fin began speaking in a calm tone.
"The former acting lordâs behavior was... less than admirable. He had sticky fingers as well. Many of us who worked under him suffered greatly, but after the Countess visited, things changed."
"So, my wife saved you from an abusive superior?"
"Yes. It was a particularly difficult time for me, mentally as well... I am truly grateful for what she did."
Fin finished his words earnestly.
The aide from Viscount Ida seemed to take this as just a heartwarming story between the Duchess and her subordinates and continued with his paperwork without slowing down.
Apparently, he didnât think this conversation was all that important.
"The head of the family left for distant lands right after the wedding, so you must have felt a bit disappointed."
"The Modrov family has always been more aligned with the central nobility. From the perspective of the common folk, thereâs not much of a difference. The capital is just as far away, after all."
"I'm glad I didnât get in the way of repaying the favor."
A faint smile played on Leroyâs lips.
This was the crux of what he had really wanted to say.
"So, once youâve cleared your debt, do you plan on returning home?"
Finâs position in the Duchy was rather ambiguous.
He was an outsider, after all, and it wasnât as if Leroy had personally called him in.
His responsibilities were quite detached from the existing departments, and with the unclear motivations behind the trade relations with the Ida territory, there was no guarantee of permanence in his role.
In other words, there wasnât much to gain from enduring the hardships of living far from home.
Most people would have nodded in agreement, treating this assignment as a short-term post.
But Fin hesitated before answering.
"Itâs not my place to decide. As someone beneath my lord, I simply do as the Countess instructs."
Though Fin had deferred the decision to Iona, his response was closer to a denial. What he was really saying was that, unless Iona told him to leave, he intended to stay here.
Leroy felt his nerves, already frayed, tense even further.
â...Heâs unusually persistent.â
To claim he was merely following Ionaâs orders as a subordinate?
Considering their past conversations, Leroy found this answer suspicious.
Wasnât it because Fin had requested to be transferred here in the first place that Leroy began to be wary of him? Given how young the party was, it was hard to believe that the decisions were entirely free from personal emotions.
"Living away from home canât be easy."
"Iâm trying to adapt."
Every response was flawless and textbook.
Leroy silently gazed at Finâs humble expression for a moment.
A soft smile curled on Leroyâs lips.
"...Right, if you ever need help, donât hesitate to ask."
He didnât bother adding something like, "Iâm glad someone so reliable is by my wifeâs side" or "Itâs admirable of you."
He wasnât in the mood for empty words.
Suddenly, he felt the urge to smoke the cigarette he had only once tasted.
âIs this why they tell you not to pick up bad habits?â
He recalled how Iona had been startled, almost jumping out of her seat, when she discovered heâd never smoked a cigar before.
The mere thought of her face brought him an odd sense of relief.
For something as fleeting as a memory, it worked surprisingly well.
Or maybe his current state of mind was just that bad.
One thing was clear: staying here and continuing to converse with Fin was not a situation Leroy found enjoyable.
Using the excuse of wanting some fresh air, Leroy stood up and left.
Walking down the corridor, Leroyâs thoughts shifted entirely.
âIf he wonât leave on his own, I may need to push someone else to act.â
Whether it was because of their past connection or simply her nature, Iona was excessively cooperative with Leroy. It was almost as though, in her mind, she had replaced the crown prince with him as her lord.
It wasnât exactly the attitude of a spouse, and Leroy hadnât been particularly thrilled by it. However, it was a useful card at the moment.
If he wanted Fin to leave, Iona would readily comply with his wishes.
âBut doing that would make things look a bit strange.â
If it caused friction with Iona, it would only backfire on him.
Leroy needed to arrange the situation in a way that benefited him.
For instance, how about this approach: he could suggest that, given how difficult it must be for such a young aide to endure this distant posting, they send Fin back home and even arrange a promotion for him there. If done right...
"That guyâs no ordinary fellow."
It was Jonas, who had quietly followed him, quick to catch on.
Leroy halted and called out Jonasâ name, as if to stop him from speaking further.
"Jonas."
"Heâs either a sly fox... or a bear with nerves of steel," Jonas continued, completely ignoring Leroyâs warning and babbling on.
"That look he gives her? Itâs not the look of someone simply admiring their superior. His eyes are dripping with honey."
"Didnât he say she saved his life?"
"Yeah, thatâs what got me curious. So I dug into it with the boys. Turns out the former acting lord was a real piece of trash, even got violent. Then the Countess swoops in and saves the day. Beautiful woman rescues a guy from an abusive boss? If it were me, Iâd fall for her on the spot."
"..."
Apparently, Leroy wasnât the only one who had been wary of the handsome young man whoâd recently entered the scene.
Leroy rubbed his temples, feeling as though he had been dragged down to Jonasâ level.
"Donât go making a fuss over something thatâs not even certain."
"But doesnât it bother you, Your Grace? Itâs not like weâre the only ones thinking this. A personâs instinctsâ¦"
Leroy cut him off, speaking firmly.
"Even if itâs true, he doesnât strike me as someone who would act on a whim."
In other words, there was no need to blow this out of proportion.
As long as there was no commotion, this little ripple would quietly settle. His wife, for one, was completely oblivious to these kinds of situations, and it didnât seem like Fin had come here with any grand motives, either.
The proof was in Finâs gaze. There wasnât even a trace of competition in his eyes when he looked at Leroy.
It seemed he was simply content to admire Iona from afar.
Or perhaps he hadnât even realized his own feelings, overwhelmed by respect or admiration.
"And thatâs exactly the problemâhe wonât blow himself up."
Jonas pointed out the uncomfortable truth.
Leroy didnât argue. It was a statement that matched his own thoughts perfectly.
If Fin had actually harbored any audacious hopes of being with Iona, Leroy wouldnât have been so concerned. He would have simply given a well-timed warning and dismissed him.
The issue was that Fin wasnât the type to cause trouble in the first place.
With his polite and kind demeanor, his respectful behavior, well-groomed appearance, and diligent attitudeâit was hard to find fault with him.
While personal preferences might vary, no one could deny that Fin was a good man.
And that, more than anything, was what bothered Leroy the most.
The fact that Fin was objectively a decent man made him feel even worse.
He couldnât deal with Fin the way he had with other competitors who had approached Iona with less honorable intentions.
"Jonas, return to your post."
"What? Sir?"
Leroy didnât bother repeating himself. He simply gave Jonas a steady look.
Understanding the unspoken command, Jonas belatedly replied, "Yes, sir!" and hurriedly scurried off.
Leroy swallowed a sigh and resumed walking.
No matter the outcome, it seemed necessary to discuss Fin with Iona.
At the very least, he would dig into what had happened between them, uncover the details of their conversations, and gauge the depth of their connection.
That should at least stop the persistent, wasteful thoughts that kept surfacing in his mind.
Things like what had happened in Modrov, what they had talked about, and how much of a bond they had formed.
Having organized his thoughts, Leroy quickened his pace toward the training grounds when he suddenly heard a familiar voice nearby.
âIâI trust you, my lady. Iâll live an upright life from now on, and Iâll work hard to become someone worthy in your eyes. Please, believe me! I swear Iâll turn over a new leaf!â
--- End Of The Chapter ----
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