Chapter 31 - 31

At the childish voice, and Charlize's composed appearance in contrast, Askin's blue eyes trembled slightly.

Charlize saw this clearly, but Askin quickly moved first and mounted his horse.

Watching him leave in an instant, Charlize clicked her tongue.

'It was satisfying, but...'

She wondered if she had gone too far.

'I wish Yoon Ji-hoo from my past life had this kind of spirit. He would have cursed out Manager Park and Section Chief Kim.'

She tried to think of something else.

Otherwise, the face of that man shedding tears kept coming to mind.

Even when Askin's gaze wavered, Charlize felt like she was the one doing the bullying.

"...Ugh, just don't be so handsome."

Making me worry for no reason.

Ugh, Charlize groaned, holding her forehead.

Meanwhile, at the same time.

Askin rode off in a different direction from the road back to his territory, accompanied by his aide-de-camp, Ben.

"You said Viscount Child went this way?"

"Yes, confirmed."

It was Ian Child, whom he had seen when he first arrived. He wanted to see that man again.

So, while Askin was chasing him, the Ian he was looking for was deep in conversation with his aide and long-time friend, Shomoer, inside the carriage returning to the mansion.

"What are you thinking about so hard, young master?"

"Young master? Since it's just us, why don't you speak informally?"

"I must start with honorifics as a courtesy, right?"

As Aide Shomoer adjusted his posture comfortably, Ian chuckled.

"So, what are you thinking about?"

"Just... thinking about the most beautiful woman in the Empire?"

"...Countess Altsbeit?"

"Correct."

Ian rubbed his chin. Shomoer wore a mischievous expression.

"Do you know that two are considered the most beautiful women in the Empire?"

"One would be the Countess, who's the other?"

"Someone you've seen too. The Duke of Lemut."

Shomoer explained, saying he was a man called beautiful.

Recalling Askin Lemut's appearance, Ian nodded.

Certainly, while he was handsome in a masculine way, he also fit the description of 'beautiful' rather than 'handsome'.

"I heard the Duke of Lemut has a younger sister who looks just like him. Wouldn't she be more fitting as the empire's greatest beauty? Ian, you've never seen the sister, have you?"

"No."

The Countess of Lemut was a person only talked about in rumors.

Besides, Ian wasn't interested in her, so he quickly lost enthusiasm.

"But what kind of person is the Countess Altsbeit?"

"Huh? Didn't you ask that before? Wait, are you interested in that Countess?"

"Well... maybe? Still just interest, though."

Shomoer was shocked by Ian's light reply.

The precious descendant of Child is having dangerous curiosity that could ruin the family line! As a friend and aide who cared for the young master, he couldn't stand it.

"Drop it. Don't even make eye contact! Got it?!"

"Why are you making such a fuss?"

"You don't know because you've been away from the Empire for so long! That woman is truly wicked."

Feeling something had to be done, Shomoer vividly listed Charlize Altsbeit's evil deeds and rumors.

"Do you know how many precious noble children have been ruined by that woman's hands? Playing with three or four men is nothing. When she drinks, not only does she use violence herself, but she also incites others through her knights. Plus, she loves starting fights. How many people do you think have died? You don't know because you were away, but the story about her messing with the Holy Knight Commander and forcefully dragging Lopenheim the Spirit Master's disciple to threaten her is really famous!"

Shomoer mentioned Charlize's evil deeds, even spitting in his excitement.

"Do you know how shocked I was watching from afar when you handed her that drink earlier? It wouldn't have been strange if that bottle had flown straight at your head. Really."

However, Ian had stopped listening around halfway. Instead, lost in thought, he suddenly smiled.

"Shomoer, don't say that. Find out more about the Countess."

"Did you even hear me?!"

This guy is interested in a truly dangerous woman! His friend and young master has always been like this since he was young.

He'd be interested in a flower on a cliff, or want to climb to the top of a tree no one else cared about!

He'd easily develop dangerous curiosity and do whatever it takes to satisfy it once he had it.

'That expression earlier was definitely flustered, and though brief, she was nervous.'

According to Shomoer, she was a shameless villainess who couldn't even feel sorry.

But what was that expression? And the subtle change in her demeanor the moment she saw Askin Lemut. Why was she looking at him so urgently?

Why did I feel a twinge of pity?

'I'm curious.'

Regrettably, it was the moment the curiosity he had tried not to have finally blossomed.

Just as Ian decided, the carriage suddenly screeched to a halt.

Ian, having learned swordsmanship, quickly braced himself. But Shomoer, only an ordinary civil servant, tumbled about.

"Ugh, hey, what is it? You're fine and..."

"What is it?"

Ian opened the door and got out.

And he found someone blocking the carriage.

Amazingly... Askin Lemut. The Duke of Lemut, whom he had just parted ways with.

Meeting the very person he had been thinking about along with the Countess Altsbeit felt strange and wondrous.

"Oh my, isn't this the Duke of Lemut? We just saw each other at Altsbeit Castle, but what brings you all the way here?"

Ian greeted him calmly, though inwardly flustered.

Flawless, gentle etiquette.

"I ran here because I had something to say to you. It was rude to suddenly block your carriage."

"Not at all, Your Excellency. If it was urgent, it can't be helped. I understand."

Ian pointed towards the door.

"Would you like to come inside?"

He invited him into the carriage and hinted that a soundproofing spell was cast. Askin nodded and entered.

Perhaps because two large men had entered, the carriage felt narrower than before.

"What is the matter?"

Since it seemed urgent, Ian thought it best to skip formalities and get to the point, which was also what Askin wanted.

"I want to borrow money from the Child family. I will accept the conditions you proposed."

"..."

"The conditions will be the same, right?"

Ian looked surprised. Soon, his usual gentle expression returned, and he nodded.

Answering 'of course', he inwardly wondered why Askin had suddenly chased after him and accepted.

Could it be related to the Countess Altsbeit?

"However, I'd like to ask if it would be alright to proceed slightly differently from what we originally discussed."

Askin calmly explained that the amount had increased.

Showing a quiet, cold demeanor, he said to tell him if the increased amount was a problem.

"Hmm, the increased amount is not a problem at all."

Of course, he was a bit surprised by the size of the increase.

Fortunately, it was a level the Child family could handle.

"Instead, since the amount has changed, I will propose one more condition on my side."

"What is it?"

Ian smiled brightly.

"Please, you must break off the engagement with the Countess Altsbeit."

Askin paused.

He had intended to break it off anyway. He had decided to join hands with Child precisely to end the engagement.

But the additional condition made Askin feel displeased. Because it gave him an ominous feeling.

Askin, lost in thought for a moment, asked.

"Are you perhaps trying to send the Child daughter to the Lemut Ducal house? If that's the case, I would consider Child no different from Altsbeit."

"...Oh my, I've caused a misunderstanding."

Admittedly, Ian did have a younger sister. To be precise, he had a twin brother and sister.

"A man like Your Excellency would surely like my sister, but that's not the condition at all. Rather, my sister is a smart girl who dreams of free love over an arranged marriage, so don't worry."

Ian, showing subtle affection for his sibling, spoke clearly, and Askin's cold expression softened slightly.

Perhaps because the sight of Ian with pride in his younger sister, albeit faint, seemed somehow not unfamiliar.

"Now that the misunderstanding is cleared, can I assume you accept the condition?"

Askin was about to say yes.

But for a very brief moment, that woman's face flashed through his mind.

The moment she was being forcibly dragged away by a knight. And...

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

"..."

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

Until the moment earlier when she questioned him fiercely, yet somehow looked like she was the one more hurt.

Askin slowly closed his eyes, then opened them. His eyelids tried to erase the image.

It didn't erase cleanly.

"I accept."

"It will be an excellent choice."

Though it was clearly a good choice, a subtly nagging discomfort made Askin bring up another topic.

A contract must be clear. He learned that lesson from his contract with Altsbeit.

"...If I end up repaying the debt owed to the Child family in the middle, should the remaining interest be handled all at once?"

In response to Askin's probing question, Ian smiled gently.

"What do you mean? If you repay the remaining principal, what remaining interest would there be? The Child family is not a usurer like Altsbeit. Rather, our family is closer to being Your Excellency's pure followers."