Chapter 36 —
As soon as Irenea received the report, her cheek twitched slightly.
“Is this true?”
“Did something go wrong?” Julie blinked her large eyes. She had come to the estate under the pretense of being a jeweler’s daughter.
“Since Lady Cellen looked into it herself, I doubt it’s wrong…”
“It’s not that the content is wrong, so don’t worry. I’m just a little surprised.”
‘No wonder the investigation results came back so fast.’
Irenea had asked Cellen—through Hawk—to investigate two things:
First: What her uncle, Baron Kalio, had been up to lately.
Second: The current situation of the Schultz family.
A few days ago, she had sent out wedding invitations. Baron Kalio had quickly responded, saying he would attend.
But there was no way he was truly celebrating her sudden marriage—he had tried so hard to push his own people into the marquis position. He had to be up to something again.
“…So he’s in talks for a marriage alliance with the Schultz family?”
Come to think of it, it was around this time when it happened.
Baron Schultz had come to see Kalio for business, saw Fiona, and started marriage talks.
‘Right… Fiona was the one he liked first.’
Both in the past and now, Baron Kalio was after the mining rights to the sapphire mine that Baron Schultz owned. So he tried to give Schultz whatever he wanted.
But perhaps, as a father, he had a shred of affection and sent Irenea instead of Fiona.
In the end, Schultz had been very pleased to receive a young and beautiful second wife. In return, he handed over the mine’s rights and gave a huge dowry.
‘I’d rather not think about what happened after that.’
Just thinking about that filthy face made her furious. Irenea forced herself to calm down and kept reading.
“Wait, he rejected the proposal at first, but changed his mind recently? What’s that about?”
Did Baron Schultz threaten him over the mining rights?
Julie answered the confused Irenea.
“It’s about money. Baron Kalio suddenly needed a large sum.”
“Money? Did he get so poor he had to sell his daughter?”
Over the past three years, Irenea had quietly sabotaged every one of her uncle’s business ventures. Still, he owned vast wheat fields that yielded huge harvests every year.
That wealth had allowed him to buy judges or plant his people in noble houses like the Blair Marquisate.
“Well, the guy was unlucky too. He killed the Duke William’s pet.”
“His pet? Don’t tell me—the troublemaker dog he takes everywhere?”
“Yep. It happened the day after the engagement banquet at this estate.”
“Ah… I guess he picked the wrong person to mess with.”
The dog, smothered with love by its owner, was known to sneak out of the estate frequently. That day must’ve been one of those times—it ran into Baron Kalio.
“If only that poor dog had stayed inside… It wouldn’t have been beaten to death with a cane.”
“Someone even died because of that dog. Honestly, part of the blame falls on Duke William for not keeping it tied up.”
At Julie’s sharp remark, Irenea gave a bitter smile and nodded.
“It was the late Countess Elpheus who died when the dog ran in front of her carriage, right?”
“Yeah. …Oh!”
Julie suddenly remembered who that Countess was—someone closely related to Irenea. Embarrassed, she covered her mouth.
Irenea shrugged as if to say not to worry.
“So, how much did Duke William demand as compensation?”
“Twenty million larks.”
“Twenty million? That much?”
There was no way Baron Kalio had that kind of money on hand, especially in the summer. If it were harvest season, maybe.
“Duke William is a bit much too. Asking twenty million for a dog’s life?”
If they’d paid that much when the Countess died, Leonard wouldn’t have suffered so much.
“Well, originally he asked for ten million, but Baron Kalio said something like ‘It’s just a dog,’ and that doubled the amount out of spite.”
“Classic uncle.”
“Actually, I think the duke wanted him to refuse. He even challenged him to a duel—with a blood-stained glove.”
That kind of duel was a duel to the death—only ending when one person died.
“A duel to the death? Wow, Duke William was really angry.”
“Which is why Baron Kalio decided to sell his daughter instead. He’s too busy dealing with this mess to even think about disrupting your wedding.”
“That’s… actually a relief.”
There was one thing Irenea was sure of:
Fiona must feel like the sky just fell on her.
‘Fiona…’
Truthfully, Irenea didn’t hold a grudge against her. There just hadn’t been much interaction between them since her parents passed away.
Even when she’d been treated like a servant in the house, Fiona had avoided her gaze and walked away.
Irenea had once thought it was because her uncle had stolen her inheritance. But later, she found out the real reason Fiona avoided her.
“Do you know how Fiona’s doing now?”
“She’s locked in her room. In case she tries to run away.”
“Really? Uncle’s harsh.”
“He probably knows if she runs away, he’ll be the one to die.”
“And even in that situation, he doesn’t think to beg me for help?”
He’d rather sell his daughter than bend his pride. Unbelievable.
“I think it’s lucky, actually. If you refused, he probably would’ve spread rumors about you being an ungrateful niece. We’re lucky he’s too desperate to try that.”
“So you’re saying it’s a given I’d refuse?”
Julie’s mouth dropped.
“Y-You’re not going to help him, right?”
“Of course not.”
What kind of fool would help that man?
‘Fiona is pitiful though.’
Thinking of the abuse she had suffered at Baron Schultz’s hands, Irenea burned the report she’d been holding.
Julie, still licking the chocolate off her fingers, looked at Irenea’s dark expression and cautiously asked,
“Nothing else you want to know?”
“Not really… But if Fiona tries to contact me secretly, help her a little. Make it look like she has someone on the inside.”
“You’re… going to help her?”
“Let’s call it a deal. There’s something I need to get from her.”
‘Don’t be shocked, Lin. I found someone who can prove your uncle planned that accident.’
“Oh, right. Lady Irenea, Master told me to deliver a message.”
“A message? What is it? Arrest or lockdown?”
Julie’s eyes widened in surprise at Irenea’s sharp guess.
Seeing her expression, Irenea just smiled deeply.
—Knock knock.
The sound of a knock made Julie jump. She hurried to wipe her mouth and sat up straight, hands neatly on her knees.
Irenea smiled gently and told them to come in.
The person who entered was Damond, who brought news about Leonard.
“After greeting the guests in the annex, the young master heard Miss Janice had gone out and went after her.”
“Really? He must be tired from traveling…”
But she knew he wouldn’t rest until he made sure Janice was safe. It made sense he went to find her.
While Irenea nodded, understanding, Damond hesitated for a moment before finally asking,
“…Aren’t you… upset?”
“Huh?”
“I mean…” he cleared his throat, realizing he was being too forward.
Only then did Irenea understand what he was trying to ask. She gave a small laugh, as if to say, “You’re worrying about the wrong thing.”
“He’s seeing family after a long time. It’s natural he’s concerned.”
“But now… you’re his family too.”
“Technically, not yet.”
She knew very well: no matter how much she thought about him, he didn’t think about her the same way.
But she decided not to be sad about that.
Just being alive, able to see him again and talk to him—was enough.
“Anyway, since my fiancé has arrived, we’ll need to prepare a dinner tonight. I can finally introduce him to Ellie and Charlotte as their future brother-in-law.”
Hearing Irenea’s bright voice, Damond sighed.
“Yes… I’ll tell the chef to make sure everything’s perfect.”
Our lady doesn’t lose to anyone, he thought.
But still, it felt like she was the one clinging to her fiancé.
It made Damond feel a little bitter.
‘Tonight’s dinner… every course will be tailored to the lady’s taste.’
That would be his silent way of getting revenge.
“So how on earth did you end up engaged to the Marquis of Blair?!”
‘Ugh, I shouldn’t have come.’
Janice, who always got blunt when angry, now looked ready to grab him by the collar.
She used to be a shy, quiet girl—when did she become so fierce?
It was his fault. He’d let her spend too much time with mercenaries.
Honestly, he should be thankful she didn’t throw insults like they did.
“Are you ignoring me?”
“…If I leave you alone, maybe you’ll figure it out.”
“What did you say?”
“Lower your voice. There’s only—ah, just us here.”
They were in the capital’s most exclusive flower shop, one that carried every flower listed in any botanical guide.
It also happened to be owned by the Marquis of Blair.
Janice had been escorted to the VIP room—or rather, a VIP garden. It was like a maze, with hedges dividing the space.
Only Janice and Leonard were inside. Her escort knights and Lady Sarah had been left outside—by Janice’s order.
“These flowers are so pretty. But their scents are all mixing… I’m getting a headache.”
“You’re really not going to tell me?”
“Why are they all white? No… they’re almost silvery.”
She murmured quietly, but Leonard caught it.
Her cheeks turned a soft peach color at his words, glowing with emotion.
And in his mind, one face surfaced—silver-haired, from his dreams.
The face of the knight who had been visiting his dreams far too often lately.
