“I’ve only just realized how rude the servants at the mansion have been to you. I’ve firmly instructed them never to behave that way again, and I’ve also warned the children in terms they can understand. I’ll have the nanny, who is under your mother’s influence, dismissed, so you can hire whoever you wish.”
“And…?”
“I intend to revoke your mother’s barony of Devon and seek compensation from her family for the funds she embezzled. Also, she will be instructed to stay on her estate for the time being.”
“And?”
Even with Rubiderf’s long-winded excuses, Karia’s expression remained unmoved. Her face was so bored, as if telling him to finish quickly if he had anything more to say, that Rubiderf grew increasingly anxious, losing the purpose of his words and rambling incoherently.
“Additionally, Count Livne will formally apologize to you. As for Sir Baltos, it seems you misunderstood him. He assigned Sir Miller as a guard because his skills are superior to other knights. Being called the ‘Blue Wolf,’ he’s elite in the Duchy of Pandeon…”
“And…?”
“I will make arrangements so we can spend more time together. There seems to be a strange misunderstanding that I mistreat you, but as we share peaceful time together, others will recognize that you are truly the lady of Pandeon. And…”
“Duke, please stop with the unnecessary talk. I’ve already given you a choice. So, what exactly are you trying to do?”
Accepting an apology wouldn’t be difficult. If it were sincere, it might soften her resentment a little. But Karia saw that the duke’s words were just a play to escape responsibility.
The choice she offered him was simple: report the matriarch to the crown or get a divorce. Yet nowhere in his long explanation did he address that choice.
“Just give me one chance. I will set everything right. You will never be humiliated like that again. So, please return to the place where you belong.”
“—I knew it.”
Rubiderf clasped her hands with a desperate look, pleading. His gaze was so intense and melancholy that if he were begging on the streets, he could have emptied the pockets of any noblewoman nearby.
But Karia could clearly see his selfish motives and felt disgusted. At this very moment, he wasn’t genuinely apologizing; he was trying to sway her with his most effective weapon.
In the end, he had no intention of listening to a single word she said.
“You ask for just one chance? I’ve given you countless chances before. You threw them all away like trash, and I decided I couldn’t take it anymore—that’s why I chose divorce. And now, at this moment, your suggestion is to generously return what should have always been mine? Do you think I’m that ridiculous?”
“But my lady, I truly knew nothing all this time.”
“You didn’t, of course. You wanted to remain ignorant. You had no desire to know. Don’t pretend to be innocent. In the end, the worst one here is you.”
Karia stared at his increasingly distressed face with an expression of utter cynicism.
It was as if he were asking, Are you really going to make me cry like this? Will you leave me or stay? Her expression appealing to his emotions, not reason, made her feel disgusted.
As expected… this damned man has known for a long time that I loved him.
The reason he didn’t care for or watch over her was because he was confident—confident that even if he did nothing, she would always be there behind him.
Because Rubiderf Pandeon knew from her patience, worry, and care that she loved him.
“Go back. And next time, you will have to choose an answer from the options I gave you. If you hesitate, I’ll make the choice for you.”
“—No.”
Karia tried to wrench her hand free with all her strength. But the duke, who had seemed utterly despairing just moments ago, now wore a stiff adult expression.
He tightened his grip on her wrist as if afraid she might escape and pulled her toward him.
“We’re both too worked up for this conversation to continue, my lady. Let’s return home and think things over calmly.”
“What are you doing? Trying to use force?”
“My lady, please! I’ll accept any blame later, but for now, let’s go back!”
The hotel was in the middle of an upscale shopping street frequented by nobles, and their argument was growing so intense that it began to draw attention from passersby.
Karia was calculating whether it would be worth using magic to knock the Duke of Pandeon senseless when an unfamiliar voice cut through their quarrel.
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
Before she could see who shouted in the crowded street, a staff with a lion’s head carved in wood struck the duke’s arm that was holding her. Her grip loosened, and Karia managed to put some distance between herself and Rubiderf.
“What kind of ill-mannered fool uses force on a lady?! Are you out of your mind, Duke of Pandeon?!”
Between them, a man stepped in. As Karia rubbed her reddened wrist and looked up, the first thing she noticed was his broad back and platinum blonde head. Recognizing him, she frowned.
“Count Lowell?”
Why was he here? And had he just saved her?
As the man who had scolded the duke turned, Karia saw his stern, flushed face. She was momentarily dumbfounded, which only provoked the irritable man further.
“Did you really live with a husband who dragged his wife around until her wrists bruised?”
“—‘You’? Count, did you just say ‘you’?”
“You should have at least shouted for help if you were being overpowered! Why just let it happen?!”
Having lost her composure, Karia suddenly grew angry. She’d been frustrated enough from meeting the Duke of Pandeon in the morning, and now this man suddenly appears to interfere?
“You crazy old man… What business is it of yours? Mind your own business and go your way.”
Count Lowell, who looked no more than mid-forties thanks to his training in horseback riding and swordsmanship, felt a twinge at being called ‘crazy old man,’ but he didn’t press the point, knowing he had been impolite first.
Seeing the duke finally aware of his surroundings, Lowell quickly gestured for Karia to follow. Her face twisted in displeasure at his odd movements, but she obeyed.
“Let’s go. We have business to attend to. Home… yes, the home you were buying, right?”
“You refused to sell it yesterday.”
“I changed my mind. We’re going now, immediately!”
Count Lowell made his announcement loud enough for the crowd to hear. He knew Rubiderf cared about appearances and would not stop them if Karia went with him.
As expected, the duke didn’t protest when Karia left with Lowell. He simply watched her retreating figure before finally pushing through the crowd himself.
“Seriously, nothing has changed since yesterday?!”
Karia slammed the contract outlining the sales terms onto the table. The maid serving tea flinched in surprise. Even having witnessed such tension once, it was hard for a young maid to adapt to the intense gaze war between nobles.
“If you want it to change, I’ll make it change.”
Count Lowell calmly picked up a pen and added a clause to the already detailed contract.
[32. For safety, the lessee shall employ guards to ensure at least three armed personnel are always stationed at the mansion.]
Karia groaned at yet another troublesome clause. She thought he had changed his mind for the million gold, but this wasn’t a joke—it was infuriating!
Even as she glared, ready to flip the table, Count Lowell remained composed, chin up, and said proudly:
“You can’t stay at the hotel indefinitely, so you don’t really have another choice.”
“That’s why I agreed to pay the million gold if I accept the conditions.”
“The fine wasn’t about needing money—it was to make sure you keep the contract. Yesterday, that attitude of yours… weren’t you inviting a fight?”
“You were so casual with ‘you’ earlier, and now you’re polite, old man?”
Karia’s unexpected remark made the maid stifle a laugh. Lowell shot her a sharp look but, exercising his patience, tried to reason with Karia.
“Think of it cooperatively. I want to dispose of this house, and you need a home. If you promise to follow what’s written here, I’ll sign today and hand over the mansion.”
“—Today?”
“Yes, today. Just make sure to follow the conditions.”
Since staying at the hotel tonight was impossible after all that commotion, Karia intended to spend an uncomfortable night at the forest estate. But the idea of securing this mansion immediately was undeniably tempting.
Yet, the conditions were numerous. As Karia mulled over them, cakes and pastries were placed in front of her.
