CH 23

One step, another step.

It was a creepy, unnoticeable walk. It was like a dream.

“What a very affectionate aunt.”

“……”

“That’s why our wolf will eventually lower his tail.”

The Saintess blinked the blue eyes that mirrored the Duke and turned her gaze to the painting of the huge hanging on the wall.

Gray wolf, the symbol of the House of Duke Richard.

Just like the alpha wolf will do anything to protect its pack, the Duke will not give up on Elaine Winter. He knew very well that what underlies within that fragile person was the love for her family.

The young beast bared his fangs. He stood in a crooked position, with one hand in his pocket, staring at the enemy as if he wanted to rip her to shreds.

“I would have abandoned Marquis Elaine Winter a long time ago.”

“Of course, that is if it were you. But, Saintess, thankfully enough. I’m not you.”

I can even make a list of the people you have shown mercy to.

When confronted with the Young Duke’s sarcasm, Wirea merely smiled softly. That doesn’t make Marquis Elaine Winter’s terrible tragedy any less tragic.

He wondered if Elaine could even imagine such a thing. The fact that her brother and sister-in-law, the former duchess, were killed by the temple.

“I find it puzzling that she would blindly join the adversary responsible for the deaths of her loved ones. That’s wonderful, Duke.”

“So you’re admitting to me that the temple was the enemy who killed my parents. That’s great.”

“Oh my, you knew?”

You already knew. What a shock.

Bertrand chewed on that reply before pulling himself together.

He understood he could never easily kill the woman in front of him, and his best bet at this time was to squelch humiliation.

He looked back at the sound of the door opening and closing. As she ran, Elaine’s brown hair fluttered. Her deep affection, which lay beneath her worries, became suffocating.

Elaine was essentially a person who genuinely cared about her family. Because of this, she fainted when the former duke and his wife passed away, and without Bertrand, she likely never would have gotten back up.

The prospect of losing her little nephew was too much for her to take.

Such an obsessive wish led to her craving for an absolute being that she became a devout—blind—believer.

“I know it well. Even the moment I give up on my aunt, the next mercy of the temple will be directed to her.”

“How wise.”

“Now you’re even graciously admitting that you’ll kill my aunt. How incredible.”

The running woman’s brown hair fluttered in the morning light. An achingly warm glow emanated from it.

Bertrand smiled bitterly. Between his slowly opening and closing eyelids, the view was only hazy.

…I know that weakness is not a sin. Your innate nature can never be sinful.

So, Auntie. Even though I know that your weakness is not a sin, that blonde lady beside you wielding around using your weakness is a sin.

“Bertrand.”

Your weakness is sometimes so distant.

“Here’s the potion. How do you feel? You don’t think you’re going to faint?”

Bertrand smiled as brightly as he could at Elaine, who was about to cry.

I’m fine, Auntie. It’s just that I’ve been running all night.

“It doesn’t taste bad, so drink it all at once. Okay?”

“Yes, leave it to me. I’ll go to my bedroom first—”

“Then you’re going to hide it away!”

Of course I would. As if I’ll take that potion when it comes from such a clear source, damn it.

Bertrand closed his eyes at the sight of Wirea’s twirling smile and thought about killing her and dying, too.

“No. It’s not a bad drug. I thought you’d become virtuous!”

“……”

“Would you like some candy?”

I’ll be delighted…

Bertrand sighed and took the potion. It was a great pity that he couldn’t do anything because he was in front of his aunt. While Jeron, who had been fidgety until now, slightly widened his eyes, Wirea smiled brightly as she observed.

The neck of the boy who drank the whole potion at once shook.

“Then, Auntie.”

When he returned the finished bottle, Elaine’s face shimmered with pride and love. Bertrand was kissed on the forehead once again, and he took a step back with an embarrassed smile.

“I’m tired because I came back from a long trip. May I go in first?”

“Mhm mhm, okay. I’m sorry for holding you even though you’re tired. Shall we take a good rest and have dinner together tonight?”

“Yes. Thank you for your welcome.”

“Right, I missed you so much!”

Wirea smiled quietly next to Elaine, who was blowing a hand kiss. Shortly after saying his goodbyes to her, Bertrand rushed to his room. Jeron quickly followed.

Upon entering his bedroom, Bertrand immediately put his finger in his mouth. After stimulating his uvula and vomiting the potion he had just received, he gargled the water Jeron provided him.

“The bathroom is ready, Your Highness.”

“Thanks.”

“Would you like me to assist you in your bath?”

“Mhm.”

He fell asleep while immersing himself in the bathtub for the first time in a long time. Bertrand dropped his head and massaged his eyes, and Jeron felt relief at seeing the boy to whom so much burden had been entrusted.

But the next moment.

Jeron’s eyes trembled as he witnessed the thing that caught on his finger.

“Your Highness, don’t tell me you’re a genius…?”

“Huh?”

“You have a couple of white hairs.”

“It’s probably the cat’s fur at Duncan Mansion. It struck me in the face as best as it could.”

Face? Hit his face? Who dares to hit our handsome duke’s face?

Jeron blew fire on the spot and undertook a serious operation to pluck out all the cat’s fur, whether or not the richest man in the empire will be furious. Bertrand struggled to change the subject with the sole intention of not wanting to lose his wonderful butler.

“And Jeron.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I’m hungry and sleepy. What should I do?”

“Sleep and eat, eat and sleep. It’s either of them.”

“Huk, you’re a genius.”

So Bertrand chose the former.

He floundered into bed after bathing, grumbled that he was hungry, and remembered the biscuits he had at Duncan Mansion.

Ah, that was really good! I forgot to bring it…

As soon as he laid his head on the pillow, the boy fell asleep.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Joshua Lington, a trainee reporter for the third-rate daily newspaper 〈The Hollain Daily〉, climbed the stairs to his room. His entire body sagged since he hadn’t slept all night.

He could, however, conduct a thorough investigation.

Yesterday, the carriage of the House of Count Artes withdrew from Duncan Mansion. To await Duncan’s retaliation, more reporters converged around Count Artes’s Top, but…

Aicila Duncan wasn’t that clueless.

She knew that taking action against the House of Count Artes would be counterproductive and may perhaps tarnish the Duncan name. A chaebol* family’s heir cannot afford to let it go so easily with just a handshake. (TL/N: Chaebol is an English transliteration of the Korean word 재벌, which means plutocracy, rich business family, or monopoly.)

“She’s not an empty-headed successor, for sure.”

Joshua continued to ramble his thoughts.

Aicila Duncan’s extremely radical show could be attributed to the fact that her known deeds were so spectacular.

Though many assume otherwise, her ‘glamorous past’ had nothing to do with Duncan. Aicila Duncan is very mindful of anything that could jeopardize Duncan’s reputation.

So.

‘We should also go to Artes’s Top.’

‘No, there’s no way that Aicila Duncan would harm Artes directly. We have to roll our brains.’

‘What do you mean? They have to hit the Top first to put pressure on Artes. The Top generates 30% of Artes’s wealth.’

‘……’

‘The southern granary accounts for 60% of the total, but even Aicila Duncan can’t touch it. The Crown Prince won’t like it after all.’

That’s right. Even if you had a monopoly on agricultural products, the people of the empire won’t be pleased. If food prices suddenly rise, not only Aicila Duncan, but also the entire House of Duncan, will face widespread condemnation across the empire.

‘What about the other 10%? Where’s the other 10%?’

‘A painting auction. It’s a structure that supports artists and monopolizes their rights to trade paintings.’

In the next moment, the other reporter and Joshua locked their gazes on each other.

This is it!

So the two ran into the Artists Guild while everyone else was flocking to Artes’s Top. To learn that all of the artists supported by the House of Artes filed a lawsuit, accusing unfair contracts and demanding contract termination.

From a common comic story to the correct answer, it was a very satisfying outcome.

The next day, Joshua opened the door while contemplating the article’s headlines. When he loosened his scarf and took off his hat with a weary face.

“AAAAAAH—!”

“I don’t think the soundproofing is very good here. Why don’t you tone down your voice?”

The woman sitting on the dining table chair calmly lifted her finger. He couldn’t help but recognize her. He could never not recognize the person they’ve been chasing after so intensively.

Aicila Duncan smiled, resting her chin on her hand.

“Sorry. Housebreaking is one of my specialties.”

“…Miss Duncan.”

“Hi, Joshua Lington.”

In her hand is a newspaper with a brilliant headline that they wrote the day before. It’s true that he somehow managed to obtain a provocative title, so Joshua’s neck turned red as soon as he saw his newspaper.

He was young enough to behave with the same brazenness as his seniors.

Aicila grinned at his silly reaction, then she took out a candy and pushed it into her mouth. The sound of a delightful biting echoed throughout the shabby living room.

“Why would the precious heir come to this humble place…?”

“If you try to engage in a sarcastic conversation with me, know that you’ll come out on the losing end. Be polite if you understand.”

“…I don’t want to hear that from an intruder.”

“You got a point. I apologize for that.”

I’m more embarrassed if you say you’re sorry.

Joshua trudged into the room as his pulse quickened. There was only him and a woman in his room, which contributed to the awkward atmosphere.

Aicila Duncan motioned for him to take a seat across from her.