RVMPT Chapter 95

Chapter 95

Kaiden and Amanda entered the drawing room. They both greeted Duke Harold and Duchess Diana first. Harold gestured for them to sit.

Kaiden sat down, but Amanda didn’t. Instead, she raised her chin arrogantly.

“Isn’t it enough for just the Duke and Kaiden to talk about the conditions? I came here to have a pleasant tea time with the Duchess, my daughter-in-law. Boring discussions don’t suit me.”

Her eyes slid toward Diana like a snake.

“We’re family, after all. We haven’t talked much. What do you think?”

“…Mother.”

Kaiden called her, clearly unsettled by the unexpected behavior, as if asking what she was trying to do.

Amanda shrugged once but kept her eyes locked on Diana. It was clear this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision—she’d planned this from the start.

Kaiden stared at Amanda without blinking. His mind flashed back to how she complained that no one had welcomed her at the door. Was she planning to torment Diana?

Just the thought made rage boil up inside Kaiden, and he clenched his fists tightly.

‘There are things I need to take care of… she wouldn’t mistreat Diana, right?’

He tried to convince himself everything would be fine. But since he couldn’t understand Amanda’s true intentions, he couldn’t fully ignore it.

Meanwhile, Diana exchanged a subtle glance with Harold and stood up.

“Alright. Shall we move somewhere more private?”

“Oh my, I’m glad we understand each other.”

As Diana moved, Kaiden twitched as if about to stand. But he weighed the situation and remained seated. He had to think rationally—if he followed them now, Harold would definitely refuse to release Ella.

“…”

“…”

Diana and Amanda left the room. Kaiden let out a hot breath as his chest tightened with anxiety.

Let’s finish this quickly. That was the most rational choice. Kaiden looked firmly at Harold.

Soon, a servant brought tea. Harold spoke first in a calm, deep voice that naturally drew attention.

“Kaiden, it’s been a long time since we had a private talk.”

Kaiden frowned. He had expected Harold would want to wrap this up quickly too. But now he was making small talk, which didn’t make sense. 

“Yes, it has. Last time was when you came to visit me at my residence, wasn’t it?”

“Hm, I didn’t expect you to remember. I thought you might’ve forgotten.”

Harold looked Kaiden up and down as he spoke, as if belittling him.

Feeling provoked, Kaiden snapped back.

“I’m not so dull that I’d forget something from just a few months ago, brother.”

Harold gave a short laugh and shrugged lightly.

“Alright, so you didn’t forget. When I heard you confessed, I assumed you ignored my warning.”

“….”

“If you didn’t forget, that means you chose to defy me.”

His voice sank smoothly, and a wave of pressure came from him. His dark blue eyes glinted menacingly.

Kaiden’s body tensed and he gulped hard.

‘Did Diana tell Harold about my confession?’

It had been an impulsive confession, made when he wasn’t thinking clearly. But he had hoped she wouldn’t tell anyone, since nothing good would come of it. He also believed the servants had been warned to stay quiet.

‘If he knows… he’ll never let Ella go.’

Things were getting messy. Yet, strangely, Kaiden didn’t regret confessing to Diana.

At that moment, Harold reached his hand forward from his lap.

Kaiden, startled, thought Harold was about to grab his throat and jumped to his feet.

But Harold merely picked up his teacup and sipped it elegantly.

Realizing his mistake, Kaiden flushed with embarrassment. Harold set his cup down and looked up at him.

“Sit down. We haven’t even discussed the condition for releasing Lady Ella yet.”

The tension Harold had been emitting vanished as if it were never there.

Kaiden sat again, but his mind was in turmoil.

‘Something’s off about Harold.’

Given his personality, Harold would never just let a romantic confession slide.

‘What is he thinking?’

The unease crawled over Kaiden like ants. Still, if Harold was willing to negotiate, that wasn’t bad.

Kaiden swallowed the discomfort and cleared his throat.

“Please tell me the condition to release Ella.”

“There’s only one.”

Kaiden listened closely.

“Hand over your territory to me.”

“…What… what exactly are you asking for?”

“I want your land—the port city of Duggley.”

The port city of Duggley was the only territory the former duke had left to Kaiden. It was one of the empire’s five great port cities and a key region of Baisen. It symbolized that Kaiden was the true heir, after Harold die.

And now Harold was asking for it. Kaiden’s expression hardened. That land meant a great deal to him, and the thought of giving it up stirred strong resistance.

“From your expression, it seems you don’t like the idea.”

Harold smiled pleasantly and crossed his legs.

“You don’t have to agree. If you don’t want to, just get up and leave.”

“….”

Harold casually gestured toward the door with his chin. But Kaiden stayed silent.

“…I will give it to you. On one condition—it must only be passed on to the rightful heir and never sold.”

After finishing his calculations, Kaiden smiled and spoke confidently.

He was sure everything would eventually return to him once Harold was gone. Yes, everything…

Kaiden picked up the teacup, his fingers unconsciously brushing the lapel of his coat.

‘I’m not giving it away. I’m just lending it temporarily.’

And once he guessed why Harold specifically wanted that land, his resistance lessened.

That land held meaning for Harold too. Kaiden recalled the time when Harold learned their father had reserved that land for Kaiden—it was the first time Harold ever showed frustration, breaking from his usual composed mask.

Back then, Kaiden had felt a rush of satisfaction, finally seeing Harold as an equal rather than always having to look up to him. Conversely, Harold must’ve felt unbearable resentment.

‘So he wants it even knowing it’s pointless.’

Ah, truly…

While finalizing the paperwork with a legal officer, Kaiden swallowed all the bitter words in his mouth. He clenched his jaw to keep from slipping up.

Once everything was done and the official left, Harold gave a cold dismissal.

“Follow the butler and leave. I’ll send your Mother after you shortly.”

Kaiden stood up without hesitation. Then, all the words he had been holding back burst out in one sarcastic remark.

“You really are just a man after all, brother.”

Even knowing it’s pointless, Harold still clung to what he couldn’t have. Kaiden hadn’t felt victorious like this in a long time.

Harold, born with a cursed body, was destined to lose in the end.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

Kaiden bowed his head, hiding his crude sense of triumph.