Chapter 32 - 32

Askin and Ian's eyes met in the air.

Ian barely suppressed the chilling feeling down his spine and maintained his smile.

"Then I will accept your offer. Let's draw up the contract."

"Yes. However, I first need to inform my father of this and have time to draw up the contract. Since the conditions have changed."

It was reasonable. But the next words made Askin's expression harden slightly.

"We will probably see each other again at the Imperial banquet celebrating the upcoming Goddess Festival, so how about we sign the contract right after the banquet?"

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

The Duke of Altsbeit's words came to mind, and Askin felt displeased again.

"Let me ask one thing. Is it difficult to do it tomorrow, right away?"

"To transport a large sum of money, we need security personnel and must ensure safety in many ways. Your Excellency knows this better than anyone. Besides, I need to ask my father once more for his exact intentions."

As Ian subtly expressed difficulty, Askin thought it was reasonable and chose to concede on the timing.

He wanted to escape Altsbeit's web as soon as possible, but he knew they were already doing their best.

"I understand. And... I will definitely repay your kindness."

Ian inwardly guessed that this man would have a significant impact on the Empire in the future.

Then, the Child family would be repaid many times over for the kindness they showed this man.

"We believe that someone as excellent as Your Excellency reviving for the sake of the Empire is the way to repay our kindness."

"..."

The essence of the Child family is that of merchants.

It's just that what they put on the scales is not just simple wealth, goods, and products.

They were merchants who put even politics and power on the scales.

Askin got off the carriage.

Ian watched his firm back and let out a small, fox-like laugh.

'Hmm... He didn't ask about the additional condition at all. I'm starting to think returning to the Empire was a good decision.'

Although it was a condition made on a whim, it had become a condition that would definitely be kept from now on.

After all, no matter what... you shouldn't make advances towards someone who has a fiance.

While Askin was preparing his horse to return to his territory, the Child family's carriage also started moving.

Soon after mounting his horse, Askin spoke to Ben.

"I need to stop by somewhere for a bit before going back."

"Yes, Your Excellency!"

* * *

That night.

The darkness was deepening.

Checking the time, it was 10 o'clock. I let out a deep sigh and got up from the sofa.

My already tangled mind became even more complicated.

I put on a fluffy robe and shawl and opened the door. I couldn't sleep and felt suffocated, so I thought I'd take a walk.

"...Countess, where are you going?"

When I opened the door, I saw Jet, a familiar face, as if he was on duty today.

I looked at his blunt but handsome face and then turned my head away.

"For a walk. I feel suffocated."

After answering briefly and walking down the hallway, I felt a presence quietly following me.

Usually they move in pairs, so I wondered why he was alone, but I just let it be.

'I feel suffocated.'

Actually, I couldn't forget Askin's fierce gaze from the afternoon, the anger, and the tears dropping as if broken.

The sight was so fierce and stuck in my mind, I was worried the engagement might be broken.

...His face seemed to have made a firm decision.

I came out to the garden and moved around a bit before reaching the end, arriving at a small side door used by servants.

I heard an unfamiliar voice for some reason.

Exactly, it was a voice arguing.

"Oh, come on! Isn't the Countess holding our Duke captive?!"

What is this. My mind was troubled, so I tried to just pass by, but the content was so absurd I couldn't ignore it.

Who am I holding captive? My fiance?

'Hah, ridiculous. Is he the kind of person who would let himself be held captive?'

Maybe the real Charlize, a master of threats, could have done it, but there's no way I could.

I struggle every day trying to figure out how to have a proper conversation with that man, but I can't find an answer.

What captivity? My already troubled mood flared up with anger.

'Let me see your face.'

As I got closer, the voice grew gradually louder.

It was a loud voice that would have been heard inside the building if the entrance wasn't so far away.

"I know you're in here! Let me see our Duke!"

"Oh, come on, I said he's not here. Can't you hear me?"

"I can't hear you, I'm really desperate! Let me see the Duke who's been taken captive!"

The person looking for Askin was a man wearing servant's clothes, and the one retorting was a gatekeeper of Altsbeit.

As I approached without deliberately muffling my footsteps, the two men looked towards me as if by agreement.

The soldier's eyes widened as if they would tear.

"C-Countess!"

The gatekeeper hurriedly knelt down.

Without glancing at the gatekeeper, I looked at the servant. He looked like a servant of the Lemut household no matter how I saw it.

Why is he looking for that man at our house at this time?

The servant, seeing me directly, forgot he had been shouting and froze.

But only for a moment. He knelt down, trembling, and clasped his hands, begging.

"C-C-Countess! Please let me see the Duke! I-I beg of you!"

He had been cursing a moment ago, but now his voice was very earnest.

I became even more puzzled. No, I mean, at this hour when darkness is falling, why is he looking for that man here?

"Why are you looking for my fiance here?"

"Well, because his whereabouts are un-known... Surely he's here..."

"He's not?"

At my words, disbelief rose on the servant's face.

I laughed out loud.

"How offensive. Would I lie to a mere servant?"

"..."

Then the servant's face turned pale. It seemed he didn't think it was wrong.

"I h-heard that the Duke d-definitely headed to the Altsbeit residence during the day."

"That's right. And he went back."

After turning the residence upside down and messing up my head too, that is.

At my words, even despair began to tinge the servant's face.

It seemed he thought I had taken him captive because that man came here and didn't return to his territory without any word.

Judging by Charlize's track record, it's certainly imaginable.

But even the real Charlize probably couldn't do that. It seemed she was afraid that would really be the end with Askin.

"I said he went back."

At my declaration, the despair on the servant's face grew even deeper.

"Why are you causing a ruckus in someone else's residence?"

"..."

Hah, look at this. He's slandering me as a kidnapper while not mentioning what he brought himself, and he's being rude.

I frowned and gestured to the nearby gatekeeper and Jet, who was behind me.

"Throw him out."

Before the gatekeeper could move, Jet moved like the wind and dragged the servant away.

"Oh, C-Countess... I dare to ask. I-if you happen to see the Duke, please tell him that Lady Aria is in g-great danger..."

"...What?"

I raised my hand. Then, Jet, who was moving, stopped.

"What does that mean? Explain properly."

"B-but..."

"Do you want to be disposed of like the rumors?"

"...Eek! Lady Aria is very sick. She needs to see the Duke right away."

Aria is sick, but Askin's whereabouts are unknown.

This surely isn't a situation Askin intended.

Because that man cares for his younger sister more than anything in the world.

And Aria's condition seemed serious.

If it were something that could be resolved by a physician in the territory, the servant wouldn't have rushed to the Altsbeit residence.

I recalled Aria's face from the last time I saw her.

'...She was haggard, but seemed fine.'

Whatever it is, Aria absolutely must not die now.

First, my own lifeline is tied to that pretty young lady.

...And I don't want her to die either.

"Jet, immediately summon a healing mage and the family physician."

Saying this, I took off three bracelets from my arm.

I held out all these priceless items to Jet.

"Throw them to the healing mage."

"...Yes."

Jet looked at me once before running off.

"...The Duke won't just sit still if he knows."

"I don't care. Hurry now. As fast as possible."

At my urgent voice, Jet nodded without further questions.

Not long after, I heard news that the healing mage and the family physician arrived safely at the Lemut territory and that Aria received treatment from them.

The news came when dawn was deep.

'She passed the crisis and her life is perfectly safe.'

Only after hearing that news did I stop forcing my eyes to stay open and fall asleep like a puppet with its strings cut.