Chapter 20
His origins were shrouded in mystery. No one knew which country he came from or who his parents were. Despite the interference of the count’s family, he safely inherited the title of Count of Peaceon.
After he inherited both the title and the merchant guild, the Peaceon family’s business entered a golden age. Though I wasn’t interested at the time and didn’t pay much attention, I clearly remembered that at every imperial palace party, many noblewomen would proudly show off items they had bought from the Peaceon family’s guild. It became a trend to purchase their goods—clothing, shoes, jewelry, and other luxury items targeted at women.
His strategy of targeting noblewomen was brilliant. Women indulged in luxury spent money like water. I was one of those women. No, when it came to luxury, I wasn’t second to anyone.
Back then, I had never seen the count’s heir in person. My nanny handled all the arrangements, and I only needed to tell her what I wanted. Just one word from me, and I would always have what I desired. I had never felt the need to meet him personally.
When I finally did see him, he was very different from what I had imagined. He didn’t have the plump figure or friendly impression typical of merchants. Tall, with a well-balanced physique and sharp features, he looked more like a knight than a merchant. His short, gray hair reminded me of a soldier.
“Evan!”
Elle stretched her hand toward him.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he took Elle from me. His actions as he lifted the child were practiced and familiar. He raised Elle to meet his gaze, even though he knew she couldn’t see—almost as if it were instinctual.
“Elle, you snuck away from your nanny again, didn’t you?”
Elle didn’t respond and simply wrapped her arms around his neck. Elle was very shy and barely warmed up to anyone. I was surprised to see her so naturally hugging him—it meant he was that familiar to her.
“Evan, I want to see Father.”
He gently patted Elle’s back with his large hand.
“Yes, Elle wants to see Father.”
“Mm.”
“Father misses Elle very much, too. But he’s sick right now. Let’s wait a little and visit him later.”
“When?”
“When Elle eats well, sleeps well, and becomes even prettier?”
“I’m already pretty!”
Elle pouted at his teasing. His pale gray-blue eyes were filled with affection as he looked at her. He rubbed his cheek against hers.
“Yes, our Elle is so very pretty.”
Adjusting Elle in his arms, he gave a subtle nod to me and the Marquis. It was a gesture to enter the room while Elle wasn’t paying attention. Despite his sharp appearance, his eyes were full of warmth.
As Evan carried Elle up to the child’s room, the Marquis and I entered the Count’s bedroom. Contrary to my expectations, the room was not crowded. Only the Count and his wife were there. She greeted me with a faint smile, as if barely holding back tears. She bent down and whispered something into the Count’s ear. Slowly, the Count opened his eyes.
He turned his head toward me. Even that simple movement seemed to take all his strength. He slowly reached out a trembling, bony hand toward me.
“Vionne…”
The Countess called to me, seeing me hesitate. I looked between the Count’s outstretched hand and the sorrowful smile on her face. She nodded gently.
I walked over and took the Count’s wrinkled hand. His thin hand felt like it was made of nothing but bone and skin. The Count smiled weakly at me. His wrinkled face, speckled with age spots, carried the shadow of death.
It wasn’t the first time I had to say goodbye to someone dear. I had experienced this many times when I was Lee Jia. Yet, this moment was always unbearable.
“Th… ank… you…”
Even speaking seemed difficult for him. I held his hand tightly with both of mine. His other hand rested on top of mine.
“Be… hap… py. My gra… ndchild…”
He gently stroked my hand as he forced out the words. That warmth overwhelmed me, and tears streamed down my face. He slowly patted the back of my hand, trying to comfort me. I couldn’t stop crying. The Count turned his gaze to the Marquis behind me.
“Pl… ease…”
He couldn’t finish. His eyes closed, and the strength left his hand.
“Grandfather?”
I called, shaking his hand. The Countess rushed to his side, shaking his body.
“My dear, please wake up. Please! Just once…”
But he did not move. Tears finally fell from the Countess’s eyes. She collapsed onto his chest, wrapping herself around his body. Her body shook with sobs.
Watching her pour out her grief with her whole being, I found myself unable to offer even a single word of comfort. Just standing here was exhausting.
The Count—no, my grandfather—was the first person I felt true familial affection for after realizing who I truly was. His warmth and unconditional love had broken down the emotional walls I had built as Vionne.
I had known he would pass away. In fact, he had lived four years longer than expected. There had been more than enough time to prepare for this day. Still, the shock of his passing was greater than I imagined.
My body gave out, and I stumbled. I closed my eyes tightly, bracing for the pain. But instead of the hard floor, strong arms caught me.
“Are you all right?”
The Marquis’s deep voice echoed in my ears. He steadied me, studying my face. Reflected in his blue eyes, I was crying uncontrollably.
He let out a soft sigh. I flinched instinctively at the sound. The old Vionne within me still reacted to things like the Marquis’s sighs and disapproving glances, just as my heart ached whenever I faced the Crown Prince. My body still responded on its own, no matter what I thought. It was frustrating—but I had to accept it. That was also part of who I was now.
Noticing my flinch, the Marquis’s grip on my arm tightened. A flicker of emotion crossed his blue eyes. And then, without warning, he pulled me into a hug. His arms were broader and warmer than young Rant’s. Holding me gently, he whispered,
“I’ll stay like this… until your tears stop.”
And my tears… didn’t stop for quite a long time.
“This is ridiculous!”
“He must be mad! How could he!”
“Giving the merchant guild to some nobody off the street?!”
“He must’ve lost his mind. The Count went senile in his final days!”
The large reception room was as noisy as a street market. I watched the scene in silence as the so-called ‘relatives’ shouted like common thugs.
It had only been an hour since my grandfather’s funeral ended and his ashes were placed in the family mausoleum in the presence of the Countess, Elle, and me. His ashes hadn’t even cooled yet, and they were already yelling after hearing the will.
I couldn’t bring Elle to the cremation site, but I couldn’t exclude her from the mausoleum either. Elle had the right to witness her father’s final rest.
Elle was carried into the mausoleum in the Countess’s arms. No one had explained the situation to her, but she didn’t cry or fuss, as if she understood everything.
“Is Father not hurting anymore?”
“Hm?”
Startled by Elle’s sudden question, the Countess and I looked at her. Her face was calm and peaceful.
“Will he watch Elle from here now?”
“What do you mean, dear?”
The Countess asked as she adjusted her hold on Elle. Elle tilted her head.
“Evan said so… wasn’t he right?”
Our eyes met. We hadn’t been able to tell Elle that her father had died. We’d been afraid to hurt her, unsure how to break the news. While we hesitated, it seemed Evan had spoken to her in a way she could understand. The Countess buried her face in Elle’s tiny shoulder.
“Mommy, are you crying?”
“No, no…”
The Countess shook her head but didn’t lift her face. Elle’s expression gradually crumpled.
I approached and gently stroked her red hair. Was it because of the color? Her soft hair felt so warm in my hand.
“Evan was right. He’ll be watching you every day from here.”
“He’s not hurting anymore?”
“No. He’s not hurting anymore.”
“That’s good.”
Elle smiled brightly. I couldn’t bring myself to smile back. I clenched my teeth hard to hold back tears.
When we returned from the mausoleum, those who called themselves relatives were waiting.
They demanded the Countess read the will immediately. She handed Elle to the nanny and led everyone to the large reception room. The Count’s longtime steward and advisor read the will aloud before everyone. And this… was the result.
Back then, I didn’t attend my grandfather’s funeral. Of course, I wasn’t present when the will was read either. I only received my inheritance—his fortune—days later. So I never imagined things had been this chaotic.
“This is outrageous!”
“How could he leave the merchant guild to someone like that?!”
At the center of the storm was Evan, yet he said nothing. Around him was silence, as if he existed in a space apart from everyone else.
“Everyone, please calm down—”
“Calm down?! The core of Peaceon’s wealth—our merchant guild—is being handed to someone whose identity we don’t even know!”
The vultures are here