INWY~37

Chapter 37

“This area doesn’t have many street lamps, so it gets quite dark. And since it’s the main road leading to the resort… well, after sunset, it doesn’t look very appealing.”

“I see. But Florian’s budget isn’t small, is it? And as I recall, two years ago you even received a royal subsidy.”

“Yes, that’s true. But since this is a coastal city, most of the funds went into reinforcing breakwaters and repairing the residential districts near the shore for summer, rather than installing lamps in the city.”

Dante gave a slight nod at the plumber’s explanation. 

Not because he agreed—far from it. 

Even considering all that, the subsidy had been significant. 

After all, he had personally ensured that the amount allotted to the resort project was larger than usual.

Tapping his arm lightly, Dante turned to Calis, who stood at the ready with notebook and pen.

“Contact the palace. Tell them to resend Florian’s administrative reports for the last three years.”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

Calis replied crisply, jotting the order down at once.

In the daytime, the road was fine, but once the sun set, the street grew unpleasantly dark. 

This wasn’t some wide highway meant only for carriages. 

Visitors to the resort would naturally want to stroll through the city, and this was the only street they’d likely pass. 

Fortunately, most of the commerce was concentrated in the center, which made this road all the more important.

Dante slowly scanned the street, then asked the plumber,

“If we were to add new lamps, how long and how much would it take?”

“At the fastest, a month to a month and a half. As for the cost…”

A month and a half. 

Dante clicked his tongue, nodded, and answered in a cold, clipped tone.

“Then begin at once. Preferably today.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The plumber folded the map he’d brought, tucked it into his bag, bowed low, and hurried away. 

If work was to start that very day, he would have to gather laborers immediately.

“Calis.”

“Y-yes, Your Grace?”

Dante’s eyes narrowed at the hesitant reply.

“Do you even review reports properly? The opening is in two months, and you only now realize the street lamps aren’t installed? Why am I only hearing this now?”

That morning, when Calis had first reported the issue with the lamps, Dante had unleashed a rare torrent of scathing insults. 

Having been berated so thoroughly, Calis still felt deflated.

“But, Your Grace! You specifically ordered me not to step outside the resort grounds while you were away. And I only learned of this problem after you returned to the capital!”

Even a cowed man wouldn’t accept being wrongly accused without protest. 

Calis muttered with his eyebrows drawn low.

“And what exactly were you doing all this time? Do your work properly, or there won’t be a second chance. If you don’t want to be dismissed, fix it.”

The merciless warning left Calis gaping, indignant.

This devil…

Then—

“What was that?”

“Wh-what? I didn’t say anything!”

Dante’s sudden, icy words made Calis jump.

He shook his head frantically.

But when he looked up again, Dante was already striding away.

“Your Grace?”

Calis trailed after him, only to stop short.

A young woman stood in Dante’s path, startled and edging backward.

“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be working?”

“Um… today’s a holiday for the café. I-I mean, a day off.”

She stammered, eyes darting nervously, as if frightened.

“A holiday?” Dante’s brow arched.

“Then that woman—”

That woman? 

Calis pricked his ears. 

Who was the Duke talking about?

Sharon bit her lip under his piercing stare.

Just as she opened her mouth, Dante raised a hand to silence her and turned his head.

Sure enough, Calis had been eavesdropping. 

Startled at being caught, he stumbled backward.

“Return.”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

Mortified, Calis bowed deeply and all but ran off, disappearing in the same direction the plumber had gone earlier.

Only when he vanished did Dante turn back, his eyes narrowing dangerously at Sharon.

“Where is she?”

Her flinch at the mention of Riena had been telling. 

She knew something.

“R-Rena is… meeting someone, Your Grace.”

Her voice trembled with fear, though a faint hint of defiance lingered.

Dante ignored it. 

His tone was cold as steel.

“Who.”

“A childhood acquaintance of mine. His name is… Noel.”

Noel. 

A man’s name. 

Dante’s golden eyes flashed.

“Where.”

“Um…”

“One second. Fail to answer, and you’ll wish I had thrown you into the sea instead.”

“…If you follow this road, there’s a library. The café right beside it.”

Sharon finally yielded under the weight of his threat. 

She felt guilty for betraying Rena, but her own life came first. 

And truthfully, the Duke looked capable of following through.

With a silent curse, she watched him stalk off immediately.

***

“Not long ago, I got a job offer. A decent one. If I work for about three years, I could easily buy a house for two.”

“I see…”

Riena’s reply was flat, her nod mechanical. 

Since Sharon had left, Noel had been rambling endlessly—about his modest upbringing, his studies, even the letters he’d received weekly. 

She was utterly drained.

And still, he continued, oblivious to her disinterest.

“Since you like the sea, I was thinking our newlywed home should be near the shore. With a good view of the waves.”

“…What?”

Her hand froze mid-stir.

Had she heard correctly?

She blinked, stunned. 

When did the conversation turn into this?

Noel leaned closer, eyes bright with anticipation.

“At first, when Sharon mentioned you, I wasn’t very interested. But meeting you in person… changed everything.”

“…”

“They say when you meet your destined one, you just know. That’s how I felt when I saw you. And your beauty… well, I was stunned.”

Her mind screamed alarms, but he went on, pulling his chair closer.

“I can’t make a grand proposal yet—times are different now. But Rena, would you consider starting a relationship with me?”

“No, Noel. I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I—”

“You’re full of nonsense.”

The voice cut like ice.

Riena’s heart plummeted. 

She snapped her head up.

Dante stood there, hands clasped behind his back, golden eyes frozen over.

He watched them both in silence, gaze sweeping between them.

“I—”

Riena almost called his name, then bit her lip shut. 

The café was crowded, already buzzing with sidelong glances at the imposing stranger. 

This was bad.

She looked at Noel. 

He was staring in shock, then his face twisted with offense.

“Who are you?” he demanded, laughter edged with disbelief. “What right do you have to interrupt our conversation?”

Her pulse pounded. 

Dante was dangerous—utterly unpredictable. 

He could not be provoked.

But before she could act—

“Urgh!”

Dante’s hand shot out, seizing Noel by the collar and hauling him upright.

Noel gasped, clawing at his grip.

“Wh-what the hell! Are you insane? Rena! If you know this man, tell him to stop!”

Thud-thud-thud.

Her heart hammered faster, harder, her face draining of all color.