Chapter 124…
“…O-of course.”
“But what you brought doesn’t seem to be anything special.”
Not special?
Castleton clenched the fist resting on his knee.
Rikaion, still sitting with his back straight, spoke again.
“I’m disappointed this time, but I trust the sharp eye of my Duke Castleton. Next time, I expect you to bring me something I truly want.”
Only now did Castleton finally understand what the Crown Prince wanted.
It wasn’t wine or perfume.
He wanted Elizabeth… truly.
Castleton stared for a moment into the prince’s red eyes, then forced open his stiff lips to answer.
“…I understand what you mean, Your Highness.”
At his reply, Rikaion’s lips curved upward in satisfaction.
That evening, upon returning to the Bailey estate, Castleton urgently summoned Dale.
Dale entered his office after the sudden call and asked calmly:
“You want me to bring Miss Cynthia back?”
“Yes. Is she still staying at the Lumanov ducal residence?”
“I’m not sure. We haven’t contacted her since then…”
“Well, whatever! Whether it’s by making a new contract with her or by kidnapping her, bring her to me immediately. Right now!”
Castleton paced restlessly, his expression anxious.
“Kidnap her…? What on earth is going on?”
“The Crown Prince is looking for her.”
“His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“Yes, this is quite a headache.”
Castleton ran both hands through his hair as if his mind were in chaos.
‘I have come to warn the Bailey family not to ever lay a hand on Miss Cynthia White again.’
The young duke’s final words and resolute gaze surfaced in Castleton’s mind.
Opposing the Lumanov dukedom had been a difficult decision—but now the opponent was the Crown Prince.
If he didn’t retrieve Cynthia and present her before the Crown Prince at once, he risked far worse than losing the registration for the jewelry guild. He could face harsher restrictions, pressure… perhaps even forever lose the Crown Prince’s favor.
“What’s so special about that lowborn girl that everyone is obsessed with her?!”
Castleton spat the words through clenched teeth.
Until now, he had never made a wrong decision regarding matters of the family. Ending the contract with Cynthia White early had also been a strategic move for the family’s safety.
But to think that was the wrong choice? A bitter taste lingered in his mouth.
It was like having possessed something everyone else wanted—only to lose it in an instant without realizing.
As Castleton muttered unintelligible curses, Dale bowed and answered quietly:
“I’ll find her right away.”
“Bring her no matter what. Offer a contract fee greater than last time—four times higher. No, tell her we’ll treat her in a manner truly befitting Elizabeth Bailey!”
“Understood.”
Dale turned and left the office.
Walking down the hallway, his expression unchanged, he finally sighed softly and raked a hand through his hair.
“This won’t be easy…”
“Dale came looking for me?”
Cynthia paused mid-bite during her late breakfast in the first-floor dining hall. Ruth, who had brought her the news, nodded.
“Yes! He asked for you and even said your full name. I was going to send him away, but I remembered you two seemed somewhat close before…”
“Why would Dale…? How did he even know I’m here?”
“It’s suspicious, right? Should I tell him no one like that is here and send him off?”
Ruth narrowed her eyes suspiciously, but Cynthia shook her head after a brief thought.
“No! Let me just finish this and I’ll go. If Dale came all the way here, it must be something important.”
She popped a tomato into her mouth and stood. Ruth nodded and led the way.
“He’s waiting in the drawing room.”
“Is he with anyone else?”
“No. He came alone.”
As Cynthia followed her, she felt relieved that Tessian was out on external business today. If he were here, he would have reacted sharply to anyone from the Bailey family and thrown Dale out before he reached the door.
But Dale wasn’t exactly a Bailey…
With a mix of unexpected fondness and curiosity, Cynthia stepped into the drawing room.
“Dale…?”
“Miss Cynthia!”
Dale rose from the soft sofa, turning toward her.
With clothes perfectly ironed and hair slicked back without a strand out of place, he looked exactly like the impeccably composed Bailey butler she remembered.
Cynthia held back a smile and sat opposite him.
“Dale, you really haven’t changed at all!”
“You… have changed a little, Miss Cynthia. It’s been a long time.”
He stared quietly at her, now with her original eye color restored. Feeling shy, Cynthia quickly redirected the conversation.
“S-so… how did you know I was here?”
“It seems you’ve forgotten that I’m the Bailey family butler.”
“What? I know that very well! I meant why you came here!”
Always nitpicking!
Cynthia scowled at him.
“Don’t tell me the Bailey family wants me back? Offering more money and a new contract?”
“…”
“…Wait. Are you serious?”
It had just been a joke…
Cynthia blinked at Dale’s awkward silence.
“No way, right?”
“Well, since it’s already exposed… yes. Something like that. The contract fee is four times the previous one.”
He adjusted his glasses. Cynthia’s face twisted in disbelief.
“What?! Has the Duke of Bailey lost his mind? How can I go back to someone who tried to kill me?”
“Kill you?”
Dale’s expression hardened in shock.
Oh… he didn’t know?
Seeing his stiffened face, Cynthia realized Dale truly might not have been aware.
Before she left the Bailey estate, he had often advised her quietly—telling her to be careful, insisting she switch carriages. Looking back, perhaps Dale truly hadn’t known Castleton intended to kill her.
But Dale is still a Bailey man…
That unreadable expression behind his flawless facade—Cynthia couldn’t know what lay beneath.
She began to regret coming alone.
“It’s in the past, so forget it.”
“No. Please explain. Did His Grace truly attempt to kill you?”
“Forget that. Why are you here? You don’t have much time before the Duke returns.”
“Miss Cynthia.”
Dale’s voice was firm.
Why is he acting like this? Cynthia looked at him uneasily.
“…Yes?”
“Please answer. Did His Grace try to harm you?”
Why keep bringing this up?
Cynthia didn’t want to revisit that horrible day. And returning to the Bailey estate was the last thing she wanted.
She frowned.
“Yes. He did. The coachman who took me away that day brought me to an isolated forest to kill me. I survived only because the Duke happened to be there.”
“…I see…”
“I don’t even want to think about it. So if you’re here to tell me to go back to the Baileys, stop right now, Dale.”
Dale bowed his head deeply, covering his face with his hand. After a moment, he spoke.
“Then allow me to apologize in his stead. I am truly sorry, Miss Cynthia.”
“But you didn’t know…”
“I suspected something, but I never imagined he would go that far. I should have been more vigilant…”
Cynthia scratched her cheek awkwardly.
“That’s enough. I’m the one who ignored your warning and stayed in that carriage, so don’t blame yourself.”
“…I take pride in my position, but moments like this make me question everything.”
His voice was low, drained—nothing like his usual crisp professionalism.
Cynthia, taken aback by the unfamiliar vulnerability, spoke again.
“You knew the Bailey family was dirty. Why are you acting so unlike yourself?”
“Even so, this time they crossed the line. I thought something like this would never happen again…”
“What? ‘Again’? What does that mean?”
