SMR | Chapter 97

~Chapter 97~

“I told you before,” Cedric said coldly. “If you want investment from the Kailas family, your company must submit documents detailing every ingredient, the suppliers, and the active components in your medicine. I’ll review it, and then decide.”

Albert Kingsley let out an amused laugh, as if Cedric’s seriousness was just silly.

“Come on, Cedric. Why make this so difficult? Let’s keep things simple between us.”

Cedric remained firm. “Why should I?”

Albert leaned in slightly, his smile sharpening, as though he had been waiting for that question.

“You want your father’s brooch back, don’t you?” he said smoothly. “That ruby brooch. Wasn’t that something your uncle handed you personally before he passed?”

Harriet, hidden behind a bush, gasped—but quickly covered her mouth with both hands.

‘It was Albert Kingsley?! He’s the one trying to pick a fight with the Kailas family? But why? He’s a nobleman. He could live comfortably as Cedric’s cousin without stirring up trouble… Why provoke him?’

She couldn’t understand it. Being a close relative of a duke should have brought Albert more than enough benefits already. Why push further and risk everything?

“So, it was you,” Cedric said coldly.

But Albert didn’t even flinch.

“I don’t know what kind of idea you’ve got in that head of yours,” he replied, waving a hand lazily. You’re jumping to conclusions. I happened to see the brooch at a private auction. That’s all.”

“Private auction?” Cedric raised a brow. “That’s the first time I’ve heard of such a place.”

“You don’t know everything, you know. Anyway, I bought it with a lot of money, just to make sure it didn’t end up in the wrong hands. So, show a little appreciation.”

Cedric said nothing. Silence settled over the courtyard like a thick fog.

From her hiding spot, Harriet shivered. Was it just the sudden breeze—or was it Cedric’s anger that made her skin crawl?

‘One thing’s for sure… Albert just crossed a line he shouldn’t have.’

She knew well enough that Cedric Kailas’s calm appearance didn’t mean he was gentle inside, far from it. In fact, Harriet almost felt bad for Albert. But if this were a contest about who had the upper hand—Albert might have just won this round.

Harriet thought about her own parents—how much she missed them. If her mother or father had handed her something meaningful before they died… something to “keep safe,” she would never let it out of her hands for the rest of her life.

So, at that moment, she understood exactly how much that brooch meant to Cedric.

And then Cedric said:

“I refuse.”

“What?” Albert said, stunned.

Even Harriet blurted it out—“What?”—before slapping both hands over her mouth and shrinking further behind the bush. Thankfully, no one heard her.

“Cedric, what’s your problem?” Albert demanded. “I’m not asking you for a fortune. I’m offering guaranteed returns. Plus, I’m giving you back your uncle’s brooch—you lost it through your own carelessness!”

It sounded, on the surface, like an incredibly generous offer.

But Cedric’s expression didn’t soften. His voice was cold and steady.

“How do I know you bought it and didn’t steal it?” he asked. “Besides, my father would never want me to be blackmailed over something so petty.”

“Cedr—!”

“That brooch? It’s not even that valuable, financially. If you really bought it at an auction, you probably overpaid.”

And with that, Cedric walked past both Albert and Prince Michael, heading straight for the exit.

The two men—along with Harriet, who was still hiding—stood frozen, watching his back retreat into the distance.

“That arrogant bastard!” Albert finally snapped, cursing loudly despite being in front of the prince.

Prince Michael glanced anxiously between the two directions—toward Cedric and back at Albert—clearly flustered.

“P-Please calm down. I’ll try to talk to the Duke again. Maybe I can persuade him.”

“No need,” Albert said sharply. “Looks like my dear cousin doesn’t care about his father’s keepsake after all.”

“But still,” Michael tried, “it was the former Duke’s… shouldn’t it be returned?”

“Returned?” Albert scoffed. “Why should I?”

He gave a small laugh, clearly enjoying himself now.

“As Cedric said—if I give it back, I lose money. So I’ll make use of it instead.”

“What… what do you mean?” the prince asked nervously.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Albert said with mock innocence, pulling something out of his coat. “Maybe I’ll offer it as a giveaway prize at our next Angelique party. It was owned by a national hero, after all. That should attract a lot of people.

“You can’t be serious!” Prince Michael gasped. “That’s… that’s your uncle’s keepsake! A national hero’s treasure—used as a party prize?!”

Albert narrowed his eyes.

“Excuse me? A party prize?”

His tone turned cold—far too bold for someone speaking to royalty.

“Are you forgetting where that medicine comes from? Do you think you became so elegant and composed on your own? You think that new grace of yours is real?”

“Watch your tone, Albert,” the prince warned, visibly shaken.

“No, you watch yours,” Albert snapped. “Your reputation is greatly improving as a result of taking Angelique. But don’t forget—it’s my company providing it. And it’s my party that promotes it.”

“Albert…”

Michael looked deeply offended but couldn’t bring himself to argue further.

Albert gave one last scornful look in the direction Cedric had gone.

“Tch. Let’s see if he can keep acting all high and mighty when his father’s keepsake ends up bouncing on some girl’s chest in one of those parties.”

With that, he spat on the floor of the Empress’s palace and turned to leave.

Prince Michael stared at the spit with disgust but then, called out by Albert, quickly followed behind him.

Only once they were both out of sight did Harriet finally let out the breath she’d been holding.

“Hoo! I… I think I just learned something I wasn’t supposed to know…”

She remembered what Trisha had told her: to be wary of the Kingsley family.

Until now, she’d thought they were just another group of polite, clever nobles. But this? This was… twisted. Cruel.

She sat quietly for a few moments, her heart pounding, trying to calm herself. As she finally started to relax, the flowers in front of her came back into focus—and with them, a burning sense of anger.

‘How dare he blackmail someone with their parents’ keepsake?’

She imagined how she would feel if someone used her mother’s or father’s belongings as an advantage against her. Just the thought filled her with boiling rage.

Now she understood why Cedric had refused.

Albert’s offer wasn’t about business. It was emotional blackmail. Cedric didn’t want to gain anything if it meant losing his pride.

If the investment had really been so beneficial, Cedric would’ve jumped at it—especially since it came from family. But he hadn’t.

‘And Cedric asked him to reveal the ingredients of the medicine, right? Why won’t they reveal it?

Angelique was being marketed as a miracle drug: good for depression, libido, and energy. If it really had no side effects, it would be a best seller across the empire.

So why the secrecy?

‘They must be hiding something. Something dangerous.’

She remembered the scene she’d just witnessed—Michael, a prince, acting like a servant to a mere viscount’s heir. And Albert, openly mocking him, completely in control.

That power imbalance could only exist if Angelique were addicted.

‘It’s a drug. A dangerous one. And Albert’s the dealer.’

That would explain everything—why nobles and royalty alike were afraid of him.

‘He’s like a drug lord. And now he’s threatening people in the palace? With a hero’s heirloom?’

Her anger boiled higher.

And then her mind flashed to Cedric’s brooch.

It had a slightly outdated design, but it was perfectly polished. A large ruby in the center, surrounded by a ring of small diamonds. Clearly loved and carefully maintained.

Cedric wore it often. Harriet had seen it on him many times.

It was precious—not just in value, but in meaning.

And now, that same brooch might be displayed at a shady Angelique party? Maybe worn by a half-dressed woman?

She could already picture it—a masquerade full of indulgence, where guests experimented with a drug that heightened pleasure.

A disgusting party where Cedric’s father’s keepsake would be mocked.

Just imagining it made her stomach churn.

She massaged her trembling legs, then finally stood up and began walking slowly toward the exit.

There was one thing she knew now with absolute certainty:

Albert Kingsley was going to pay.