Chapter 105
The eyes of Harold and the Marchioness Mayer met silently in the air.
Harold narrowed his eyes as he read her expression. He could tell that she wasn’t asking out of genuine curiosity.
“You already know what I’ll do. Yet you still ask, Marchioness.”
“There’s no harm in confirming it.”
As expected, Harold gave a faint smirk. Then the reason for her confirmation must be…
“Duke, I have a request.”
“Please, speak freely.”
“Duke, I want to deal with Count Garcia myself.”
Her golden eyes gleamed with a sharp, icy fire.
When she first thought there might be a connection between Diana and her long-lost sister, she had once again looked into her mother’s background.
A niece she had never met. But she often wondered how her estranged sister was doing and imagined what her niece might be like.
Sometimes she pictured her as a pretty girl like her sister. Other times, a boy. And sometimes, a child who resembled that knight.
She had thought, “I hope the child doesn’t look like that man,” but even if they did, she was sure she’d love them anyway.
As her own face aged, she imagined her sister aging with her. She pictured her niece growing up.
Even without ever meeting the child, she had grown attached.
She couldn’t help but feel affection.
She had always hoped that her headstrong sister, who once declared she’d never return home, might one day break that promise and visit.
But…
They had been so close.
So close—yet she couldn’t protect them.
The bandits who murdered her sister had already been executed.
The Countess of Garcia, who tormented and killed Melonie, was also dead and buried.
But one remained. The main culprit who destroyed Melonie’s life. The man who never took responsibility and ignored her death.
The one who even tried to discard Diana like she was worthless.
Count Garcia was still alive.
“I’ll show Count Garcia the depths of hell.”
This was her long-overdue act of atonement—the reason she had pulled herself together after learning the truth.
Then Harold asked her,
“Are you going to kill Count Garcia?”
“No. Death isn’t enough to be called hell, Duke.”
Finally satisfied with her answer, Harold offered his hand.
“Very well. Then let me give you a gift as a token of our partnership.”
“I won’t refuse.”
The Marchioness shook his hand. Harold checked his pocket watch as he let go.
“My aide, Evan, will deliver the gift tomorrow. I believe you’ll be pleased.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”
“Duke.”
As he was about to go, the Marchioness called him back.
“Thank you for finding Melonie.”
She bowed her head to him. Her pale pink hair, neatly tied, caught his eyes.
‘She really is family.’
Harold looked at her, faintly seeing Diana’s image overlap with hers.
Count Garcia arrived at the party and greeted the host.
He glanced around—and for a moment, locked eyes with a familiar face.
‘Viscount Trassi is here too.’
Usually, Trassi would rush over the moment he saw Count Garcia, eager to flatter him like a loyal servant.
Garcia expected the same this time.
But Viscount Trassi turned away and kept talking to others.
Garcia frowned.
‘Did he not see me?’
He was sure they had made eye contact.
Eventually, Garcia approached him.
“Viscount Trassi, what a surprise to see you here.”
“…”
Trassi froze for a second, then forced a smile.
“Count Garcia. It’s been a while.”
The viscount, whose face resembled a sneaky rat, grinned.
“Heh. Seems like there are days you don’t even notice I’m here.”
“Ah, well… ha ha…”
“Oh, I heard your business has been booming lately. That’s good news after all your struggles.”
“Thank you. But Count…”
Trassi’s smile turned awkward.
“I’m in the middle of something important right now. Sorry, but we’ll talk another time.”
Without waiting for a reply, Trassi quickly left with the others. Garcia tried calling him back, but Trassi didn’t look back and vanished into the crowd.
Embarrassed, Garcia coughed and turned to another familiar face.
“Count Ex, I heard you’re hosting a party soon. But I didn’t receive the usual invitation. Was there an issue?”
“Ah… the invitation.”
“Yes. I thought maybe it was missed by mistake.”
“It wasn’t a mistake.”
“…What?”
“The Duke and Duchess of Baisen will be attending that day. I’m sorry to say this, especially considering your family’s long-standing ties with mine, but I’d rather not upset the Duke. I hope you understand.”
Count Ex bowed politely and walked past Garcia.
“Ha!”
Garcia clenched his fists, his pride wounded, but remained at the party until the end.
As soon as he got into his carriage, he exploded in anger.
“Two-faced cowards! Do they think the Duke will reward them for this?”
He thought of all the nobles who had avoided him or whispered behind his back.
“How dare they!”
Garcia understood what was happening.
He had lost his powerful backer.
He had offended someone who now held absolute power: Harold Baisen, fully recovered and more commanding than ever. And his damned daughter made sure everyone knew about it.
“Damn it.”
He should’ve been more careful when trying to reunite Kaiden and Diana.
He let out a bitter sigh.
“Harold Baisen won’t stop here.”
“I’ve worked too hard to get here.”
With bloodshot eyes, Garcia whispered,
“I won’t let it end like this.”
He had no intention of losing even a drop of his hard-earned power.
He had to turn things around—no matter what.
As he thought through every possible solution, the carriage came to a stop.
The count pulled his coat tighter against the bitter cold and stepped out.
The coachman quietly bowed. Garcia walked toward his mansion.
“So quiet today.”
The staff had been avoiding him for days because of his foul mood.
But today, the silence felt deeper. He found it odd.
“No matter.”
He brushed off the doubt.
Silence was better than someone triggering his temper.
He needed time to think. To plan his next move.
“The only way out is…”
As he stepped into the mansion, he froze.
In the main hall stood the entire 2nd Imperial Knight Order.
And at the front—he locked eyes with the Minister of Finance.
kaiden you got what you deserved~