Chapter 38
“The families that bought business rights are selling off their estates to pay the balance.”
At Heros’s words, I let out a quiet laugh. I could clearly imagine the faces of those imperial faction nobles, their eyes reddened with greed.
“They probably had fevers and foggy minds from the Ret flu, so some who bought under the mood might have regretted it once they got home.”
“That’s why you took half the payment upfront so they couldn’t cancel the contracts.”
I nodded at Heros’s words.
They’d pour in more money just to recover their losses, but in truth, the business rights I sold were ‘a setting sun’, so their losses would only deepen.
Of course, none of them realised that yet.
“As expected of you, my lady.”
Heros spoke in admiration just as a servant knocked and announced a visitor outside.
“My lady, Young Marquis Philios Regallo has come to pay the Regallo family’s balance.”
Even after being drenched in water last time, his shamelessness is impressive.
Until now, I had always dumped protective water barriers on Philios whenever I saw his face, but today there was no need since he brought money.
“Do you want to handle it, Heros? We just need to get the payment.”
“Understood.”
However, a long while after Philios entered, I heard loud arguing.
“What’s going on?”
Opening the door, a servant explained what was happening in the reception room.
“Young Marquis insists on handing the money directly to you alone, my lady. Butler Heros is firmly refusing.”
I knew it. What trashy drama is he pulling now.
I thought of just stealing the money outright, but there were still many nobles left to pay their balances, and I couldn’t risk provoking them too.
Besides, treating customers politely was basic business ethics.
“You searched him properly on the way in, right?”
“Yes, he carried no weapons.”
“Then tell him I’ll come in. Have Heros step out.”
I slipped a small dagger into my pocket as I spoke.
Philios couldn’t wield a blade properly anyway. I avoided him because he was filthy, not because I feared him.
No matter what nonsense he spews, as long as I get the money, it’s fine.
A while later, Heros emerged from the reception room to stop me.
“My lady.”
“If he tries anything foolish, I’ll just kill him, so don’t worry.”
“But…!”
I brushed past Heros’s shoulder and flung open the reception room door.
The ugly man who had been sitting jumped up with a pleased expression.
“Oh! Katrin, my fiancée.”
Even as I frowned instantly, he clasped his hands together and wailed pathetically as if he’d longed for me endlessly.
“I brought the payment thinking I’d sell my soul if I could just see your face once more.”
“Your soul is worthless even for free.”
“Don’t say that. I know I was wrong before, please forgive—”
He spread his arms towards me but flinched and awkwardly lowered them, probably cowed by Heros’s cold gaze earlier.
What a coward.
“Step aside.”
He gestured to Heros to close the door, saying he wouldn’t move.
Heros wouldn’t listen to him anyway.
Still, I was interested in the Regallo payment, so I needed to collect the money.
I turned to order Heros to wait outside when—
“Officials have arrived from the magistrate.”
Noisy voices sounded behind me.
“They’re here to arrest a criminal.”
Soon, several soldiers stopped near my reception room door.
“A criminal?”
A magistrate official I didn’t recognise greeted me and explained the situation.
“Evidence has emerged of an illegal drug trade banned by the empire today.”
He pointed at Philios.
“Young Marquis Philios Regallo, to be exact.”
He never disappoints with his depravity.
Philios jolted like lightning struck him and sprang up.
“W-what are you talking about? I would never do such a thing.”
“Search him.”
At the official’s command, soldiers rifled through Philios’s pockets and pulled out a suspicious-looking pouch of white pills.
“Come along for questioning. What are you doing? Escort the Young Marquis.”
Soldiers rushed forward and grabbed his shoulders.
“Thank you for your cooperation, my lady.”
“By the way, what kind of drug is it?”
I asked the official as he was about to leave.
“It muddles a person’s mind for nefarious use.”
When I looked at Philios with disgust, he shook his hands frantically as if denying it, but I didn’t care.
I gestured to the official to hurry up and take the trash away.
“K-Katrin. This is a misunderstanding. You think I’d do that? I don’t even know who put this in my pocket—”
“Sure.”
“Wait, Katrin!”
Filthy scum.
I could guess why Philios had insisted on being alone with me.
Not that I would ever fall prey to his pathetic schemes.
“My lady. Are you alright?”
“Of course. But I wonder – can magistrate officials really arrest someone this quickly for illegal drugs?”
The official said they caught him trading today. They’d need to analyse the drug to confirm its effect, wouldn’t they?
“There must have been a victim.”
That sounded reasonable. I shot an even more scornful glare at Philios’s retreating figure.
A criminal indeed. Did he try to target another woman again?
Inside the old office, Etias’s expression remained calm as he flipped through documents.
Despite the cold weather, the cramped room had no proper heating device, yet today he worked without even wearing his jacket.
Piles of paperwork dumped on his desk by officials who disapproved of him towered high.
Still, he examined them all without a hint of annoyance.
“……”
After checking one stack, Etias suddenly stood up.
Rolling up the sleeves of his white shirt revealed his lightly muscled forearms.
‘…It’s hot.’
He brushed his bangs back with a hand.
“Hoo…”
He was fully aware of the lingering side effects.
Earlier, he had used Dark Veil in haste to catch the illegal drug dealer. Because of that, he couldn’t keep the man as a witness or a criminal.
If word spread about his ability, it would become troublesome.
So, Etias had ordered his men to strip the dealer naked and abandon him in the middle of the Frozen Lands.
Then, Etias himself consumed the drug.
He described its effects as symptoms after ingesting suspicious illegal substances, filing an emergency accusation against Philios Regallo, who currently carried the drug.
Thus, Philios Regallo was swiftly arrested.
While enduring the drug’s effects and processing documents, a knock sounded and someone stepped into his office.
“Hello.”
Hearing the familiar voice, Etias’s blue eyes flickered.
A woman appeared, too dazzling for this shabby room, dressed in a calm sky-blue gown.
Her rounded forehead, distinct eyes with purple irises, and softly swaying pink hair – somehow all of it struck him several times more intensely today.
“…Why is the window open again? This room is freezing.”
Katrin pulled her shawl tighter around her dress as she approached him, shivering.
She frowned as she scolded him.
“And what are you wearing, Your Highness? Are you trying to catch a cold?”
It made sense. Even though the indoor temperature was below freezing, he wore only a thin shirt with rolled-up sleeves.
His jacket, which didn’t even provide real warmth, hung over his chair.
She had even sent a note telling him to buy warm clothes. Where had he spent that money?
“….”
Etias stared at Katrin for a moment before his lips parted.
“…Don’t worry about it. And.”
He lowered his gaze and issued an expulsion order.
“The arrest hearing documents for Fadelmon are currently pending in parliament. Once decided, they’ll be sent to your residence. So leave now.”
Though Katrin likely had no idea, Etias felt extremely uncomfortable. The heat within him surged even hotter the moment she entered the room.
It felt like a sweet scent drifted from her.
Her amethyst eyes always stood out, but today he wondered if they had always been so deep and radiant.
“Well, fine. But… are you sick?”
Not knowing his internal turmoil, Katrin stepped closer, studying his face with concern.
His perfectly handsome features looked unchanged, but today they felt oddly unfamiliar.
His cheeks seemed slightly flushed too.
‘What is this? His heart rate on the Watch was normal…’
Panicked by worry, she leaned in even closer to inspect him when—
“…Stop.”
Etias abruptly stepped back and turned his head away. A rough, shaky breath escaped his lips.
