Chapter 30 - 30

Unable to continue speaking, I clutched my chest. I bit my lip hard.

"Wait, wait a minute. Askin."

"My will won't change. I fully intend to break this engagement."

"Hoh, that's different from what my granddaughter conveyed? Just recently, she brought the interest."

Grandfather stroked his beard.

Unlike his leisurely action, his eyes held sharp, aged anger.

"No, were you sleeping in different beds? Tsk tsk, I told you to win his heart, you foolish girl. In the end, this old man has to hear such words from the likes of the Lemut boy. You've sullied Altsbeit."

"Grandfather."

"Be quiet."

Grandfather glared at me with angry eyes.

I easily recognized the anger contained within.

"Charlize, you leave."

And also the fact that he didn't consider me a valid conversation partner.

"I gave you several chances. But it was that bastard who kicked them away. Just think he wasn't your match."

"Wait a minute, Grandfather. This is..."

"What are you doing!"

But before I could say anything, I was blocked by knights who rushed in, and my words couldn't continue.

'What is it. They are my escort knights, though...'

Strangely, all the knights were wearing masks, as if prepared.

I realized immediately.

This was a tactic to prevent Charlize from remembering their faces and retaliating. Someone lifted my body.

"Let go!"

I struggled in frustration, but the arm lifting me didn't budge.

"Grandfather! Grandfather!"

Over the knight's large shoulder, I saw Grandfather's cold face.

"This old man will give you whatever you want. Just go play with it."

At that moment, I saw my grandfather's figure, treating people like tools. At the same time, I realized.

I bit my lip hard.

For a moment, I thought my eyes met Askin's.

He looked surprised, but he was blocked by the knights, so I couldn't be sure.

* * *

"Now that my cute granddaughter is gone, let's continue."

"..."

"Let's settle this, with your despicable face."

Askin slightly frowned.

The Duke of Altsbeit was prattling on in front of him, but it didn't register well.

Because the face of that woman, being dragged away like luggage, left a lingering afterimage.

Wasn't she a woman raised like a most precious princess?

Wasn't she the woman this Altsbeit cherished and gave only the best things in the world?

But the woman being dragged away seemed to have no strength to protest herself.

Because that Duke didn't even give her a chance to speak.

Askin felt confused.

"I'll give you one last chance. Will you truly break off the engagement with my granddaughter, Altsbeit?"

But this was what he had wished for most.

Freedom.

Askin acknowledged that an obstacle had appeared in his heart, but this sudden stone could not overcome his years of desire and will.

"Of course I want to break the engagement. My will remains unchanged."

"...You're an irritating bastard to the end."

The Duke of Altsbeit smiled with a bitter edge.

The Duke of Altsbeit is the head of the noble faction, a man who surpasses even the Imperial Family in wealth and riches.

Few dare to act so arrogantly and confidently before him, a man of power. One of them is his grandson, Emperor Roxidian, and the other is this Duke of Lemut.

'A man who owns nothing but a shabby territory, a lanky body, and some skill with a sword...'

That was the problem.

Though he was being harsh, the truth was that this man possessed excessively strong and outstanding abilities.

Just the fact that he led a Great Subjugation at the mere age of twenty and pioneered the 'Yellow Road' proves it.

If the Imperial Family hadn't taken the rights to the Yellow Road for the state in exchange for a 2000-year-old herb back then, he might not be speaking as if he were superior now.

"Fine, if your will is so firm. Good. Then repay all the borrowed money at once."

"I will. Do you want it in cash?"

"I'll accept it regardless, as a special favor."

Askin's brow twitched.

The Duke of Altsbeit leisurely stroked his beard and curled his lips.

"I have something prepared for this very situation, but I didn't think I'd actually have to use it."

The Duke of Altsbeit extended his hand, and his aide behind him quickly handed over a parchment.

It was fast, as if prepared.

"The engagement between Altsbeit and Lemut was a contract using money as collateral. As you know, you are the one who first broke it midway. Therefore, a penalty fee is incurred according to the contract."

"...I know."

He had expected this much. But the next words made Askin's expression harden.

"You will pay an additional fifty percent on the total interest to be paid in the future."

"That's ridiculous!"

As Askin raised his voice, the Duke of Altsbeit chuckled as if he had expected that.

"You can't do that, Duke. I lent you the money expecting to receive interest. If you now say you don't need it and want to repay it early, it's a loss for me. I originally had opportunities to lend it elsewhere at better interest, but I couldn't because I lent it to you. So, I am the one who has incurred a greater loss."

The Duke of Altsbeit argued strongly and pointed at the parchment.

"Stamp that document."

Askin was momentarily conflicted about the increased amount.

As if expecting that, the Duke of Altsbeit now brought out a new document.

"How about this one instead? This is the contract you signed before. If you transfer all the territories you manage, I have it set so that all debts are extinguished. It's the last consideration I'm giving to the man who almost became my son-in-law."

There was no consideration anywhere. Askin shuddered at the Duke of Altsbeit, who now coveted even the territories his ancestors had built with blood, sweat, and tears.

How much effort had he made to escape this man and his swarming family?

Askin said nothing in front of the document with the increased amount and the other offer.

Then the Duke of Altsbeit chuckled, took the contract first, and stepped back.

"After all, either way, the path to treating your sister will become hopeless, won't it?"

"..."

A horrible, indescribable feeling of being an insect caught in a web.

It was a familiar feeling he had been experiencing for years.

"Just do your job properly as my granddaughter's fiance at the upcoming Imperial banquet."

Feeling a sense of conquest, the Duke of Altsbeit turned away.

"Oh, and I received the interest you sent recently. Repaying four times the interest, indeed your ability is remarkable."

At the same time, the Duke of Altsbeit once again resolved not to let go of this golden goose easily if he could help it.

Break the engagement? Can he truly do it?

Askin Lemut will be caught in the web once again. By some means.

The Marquis of Altsbeit left, satisfied.

'...There should still be interest left, but he said it was delivered?'

Leaving Askin feeling confused.

Soon, the confusion subsided from Askin's face, replaced by cold anger.

* * *

Askin immediately returned to the horse he had ridden. And amazingly, he ran into Charlize, who had run to the stables.

'Ugh, what do I do?'

Charlize, who had been forcibly taken away, had been struggling with worry.

She had just shouted at the escort knights who had grabbed her, like the real Charlize would have, to escape.

"I will block them. Please go."

The escort knights, trembling in fear of Charlize's retaliation, had been firmly following the Duke of Altsbeit's orders. But surprisingly, only Jet took her side, allowing her to slip away easily.

As soon as she was free, she ran to the window to check Askin's location, then ran to the stables.

And the moment Charlize saw Askin's face, she paused, unable to even say what she intended.

Because on his beautiful face was an anger incomparable to before.

Confusion and anger tangled messily on his expression as he looked at Charlize.

"...What nonsense are you here to spout now? No, have you come to threaten me?"

Charlize tried to say no.

But the next moment, when she saw the tear drop, overflowing with anger, she was speechless.

It was just a single drop. The man who didn't even bother to wipe away the falling tear was unrealistically beautiful.

'...Oh my god, a handsome man is even crying.'

It wasn't a statement fitting the moment, but he was so beautiful that she was speechless.

"I wondered where you learned such dirty methods, using children... Like grandfather, like granddaughter, I see."

"Askin."

"I'll repay that dirty money soon, so just prepare to break off the engagement."

Charlize felt a slight pain near her heart. This man is serious.

She didn't know what her grandfather said, but it certainly wasn't pleasant. Charlize understood Askin, but at the same time, she felt wronged and angry.

"Let me ask you one thing. Why did you borrow such dirty money?"

"..."

"Wasn't it dirty when you were desperate?"