NHVTP 09

Episode 009

“Thank you for inviting me today, Ian.”

When she called him by his name instead of “young duke,” Ian chuckled.

“So you finally call me that.”

“A promise is a promise.”

Had he noticed that her tone was somehow calm?

Ian stared intently at her.

“I’m the one pleased to invite you, Diana.”

Though he didn’t seem very pleased.

“If you don’t mind, after tea I’ll show you around the duke’s mansion. I’m sure you’ll like it.”

If there were a contest for saying things one doesn’t mean, Ian would win alone.

Soon after, the butler Hermann brought the tea.

As Hermann left the study, Diana politely declined.

“Thank you for the thought, but I’m not very interested in touring the mansion.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, I think it would be better to discuss something more important.”

Ian Crawford once again displayed his remarkable looks.

His polished smile sparkled like a jewel long polished.

Even if he deserved a perfect score, it somehow felt unsettling.

“I have no idea what topic Diana might bring up.”

“Lord Ian, I’m not a fool. Don’t worry, I won’t pretend I didn’t hear anything after coming all this way.”

His flawless smile paired with denying so naturally wasn’t a one-time act.

Diana was no longer sure if he was a man or a lie machine.

What kind of childhood produces such a person?

“If you’re going to keep pretending not to know, I’ll be clear. Is casino management harder than you expected?”

“…You always surprise me, even today beyond expectations.”

Despite being surprised, her face was calm.

“I’m curious why you suddenly changed your attitude after saying you heard nothing. May I ask why?”

“I’d like to ask you too. Why did you suddenly send an invitation and ask me to call you by your name, after saying it’s not the time to marry?”

“Because I became interested in you, Diana.”

“In a good way, or a bad way?”

“Surprisingly, I learned through this that those two can coexist.”

Ian’s gaze pierced her.

“So why did you change your mind?”

“You said you hate hypocrisy.”

“Hahaha, it can’t be just that.”

Ian’s tone was light, ignoring her question.

“It seems the ‘parent card’ works quite well on Diana.”

“…”

“Then, how do you plan to make Diana pay for eavesdropping on a forbidden conversation?”

His voice grew just a little calmer, but Diana’s body hairs stood on end.

“Wrong premise.”

But she wouldn’t show weakness here.

This was a hierarchy battle where any slight gap meant being devoured.

“I didn’t eavesdrop. I was the one already in the lounge.”

“Hmm.”

“If you look closely, I’m the victim, and you, Lord Ian, are threatening me.”

“Even if so, what difference does it make?”

His shameless reply came without changing expression.

“To me, killing you to silence you seems less straightforward than this solution. Do you agree?”

Is he crazy? Would I agree?

Diana glared at him.

“I don’t understand why you insist on such a losing option.”

Calmly, she placed a hand on her chest and answered.

“Lord Ian, I am ‘Wellington.’ In one year, I will become the wealthiest heiress in this kingdom.”

“And what does that have to do with this matter?”

“I’m probably the only ‘new noble’ trained systematically in managing and running the businesses my father left behind.”

Diana stopped beating around the bush.

“Isn’t managing a casino hard?”

“…”

“Isn’t there more to worry about than expected?”

Like clichés in movies or novels, characters have clichés too.

The narrow-eyed villain’s defining cliché:

“A foolish subordinate who only brings frustrating news after being entrusted.”

Though Ian was competent in the original novel, he was still the villain.

He was repeatedly punished according to justice, and the main cause was always his subordinates.

Subordinates who only made trouble and endangered their master.

“I’d be more helpful as an assistant than those.”

“Oh?”

“I’ll help you run the casino. Of course, there are conditions.”

“Did you say conditions?”

“I can’t only do things that lose me money, can I?”

Ian looked like he had never heard such inconsistent words before.

“Understandable. You’re trembling with fear from threats, yet you kindly offer help.”

Still, he seemed intrigued by the situation.

He nodded as if encouraging her to hear more.

“I’ll help run the casino if you take responsibility as my fake lover meanwhile.”

“…Fake lover?”

Diana clearly saw Ian almost spill his tea but manage to set it down.

“Recently, there are quite a few ‘true nobles’ who regard me as a thorn in their side because of Lord Ian.”

In the Emerald Kingdom now, there were two types of nobility:

True nobles who ruled and dominated through inherited lands.

And new nobles who built their family fortune through business.

True nobles considered direct commercial transactions vulgar.

They despised new nobles and fought endlessly.

But not all true nobles were like that.

Some accepted change and followed new nobles into commerce and investment.

Diana’s family, the Wellingtons, were such new nobles.

Her father was a younger son who inherited little, but built significant wealth through risky ventures.

Three years ago, the family was promoted from barons to counts during land reforms, sparking controversy among true nobles.

It was a sign that the rigid hierarchy was shifting.

Though the king’s judgment played a role, true nobles saw the Wellingtons as traitors to noble pride.

They openly mocked them as representatives of the new nobles.

“That factionalism is just childish…”

The conflict deepened; true nobles increasingly tried to exclude new nobles through marriage restrictions.

In such a climate, Diana had three private meetings with Ian.

“My reputation might be ruined in a year.”

“I didn’t expect you to care about that.”

“I have to. When men meet and break up, they get briefly gossiped about. But women get dirty rumors that stick much longer and spread more easily.”

Ian surely knew the rumors in society by now.

But he probably didn’t care.

“So please act as my deeply enamored young duke.”

“…”

“I want us to pretend you’re so smitten with me you follow me around, and I reluctantly accept as your lover.”

Despite knowing his piercing gaze was getting harsher, Diana shamelessly spoke.

“And at the end, I’ll reject you spectacularly. Saying I don’t like men like you.”

“Isn’t that a rather personal emotion for a lady to maintain face?”

“Isn’t that just your misunderstanding?”

“Hahaha.”

He seemed annoyed.

As Diana spoke clearly, Ian gradually loosened his posture, even resting his chin on his hand.

“An unusual idea. But how about this? Instead of killing the Wellingtons, I keep them alive, marry Diana, and keep you as my servant till death?”

“That sounds like a personal emotion, doesn’t it?”

“You’re mistaken.”

Diana stared brazenly at the shameless man.

She had many arguments to make but first wanted to confirm something important.

“Good. Then let’s leave that aside for now. I want to ask one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Lord Ian, do you truly want to be engaged to me?”

“…”

“Do you sincerely want to marry me and become family?”

At that moment, the fake smile on Ian Crawford’s face vanished for the first time.