Chapter 91
“Uh? Uh…”
As Jamie grasped the situation, his face paled at once. He hesitated, fumbling for an excuse.
“The Duke said this magic stone would protect you from the dangers of the West. At the time, I had no money, and I just… wanted to give you something, so I…”
“Is that really all?”
Why do you keep making me doubt you, Jamie?
When I just look at your face, you still seem like the same innocent, bright younger brother I used to know.
“Did you know this stone had a tracking spell on it?”
“What?”
His startled expression looked completely genuine.
Maybe I only thought so because I wanted to believe it.
“You really didn’t know?”
“I swear I didn’t. Master said it was a rare stone, hard to find in Hyman, and since the West was swarming with beasts, he told me to give it to you for your safety!”
Jamie’s eyes even grew red with frustration as he protested.
“So it really was meant for me. I never imagined I’d be under surveillance even all the way out here.”
“Sis—surveillance? No, it’s not like that—”
Before Jamie could say more, Anne handed him the necklace.
“Take it back. If it really wasn’t meant to spy on me, then it doesn’t matter where it is, does it?”
Under her sharp gaze, Jamie reluctantly stuffed the necklace into his pocket.
He slouched his shoulders, stole a last glance at Anne, and trudged out of the room.
His sister, now betrothed to Hannibal Clyde, was no longer the lowly maid she once was—she was to be the lady of a great noble house.
And yet, the moment she arrived in the West, he’d burdened her with worry. Jamie’s conscience was far from easy.
“It’s not like that… really, it isn’t…”
Even if his master had once acted rashly out of lingering feelings, that was all in the past.
Besides, his master was now engaged to the Marquis’s daughter.
Jamie didn’t wish for his sister to grow close with his master, but he did desperately want to avoid needless conflict between them.
“Tch.”
Back in his own room, Jamie tossed the necklace into a drawer corner.
Later that evening, while he was tidying the bed in Gray’s room, the man called out.
“Jamie.”
“Yes?”
“I heard you met Anne today.”
“Yes.”
“Did you return the magic-stone necklace I gave you?”
Gray sat at the table, tapping it with a cheap fountain pen. His brows furrowed as though something weighed heavily on him.
“Yes… Sis said the manor was safe enough, so she gave it back, told me to use it when I return.”
Jamie forced his answer, trying to sound convincing.
How could Gray Benton know the necklace had been returned? Unless he somehow knew it was stuffed in a drawer in Jamie’s room.
But Jamie still couldn’t bring himself to openly question or accuse his master.
“I see. And she didn’t realize it was from me?”
Jamie’s eyes flickered in panic. He’d never been good at hiding his emotions, especially before his master.
Gray’s gaze sharpened.
“D-Didn’t she? I think she might have realized… That’s why she…”
“She must have found some excuse and handed it back. So that’s how it is…”
Tap. Tap. Tap. The fountain pen beat quickly against the desk. Gray’s expression grew darker, his displeasure plain.
Sensing his master’s reaction, Jamie’s chest tightened.
The master had said he’d let go once he knew Anne was doing well. Had he been checking up on her every day all this time?
Jamie fled the room, unable to meet his master’s eyes.
“Damn it.”
The moment Jamie left, Gray hurled the pen across the room.
He bit his lips again and again, then suddenly rose as if struck by a thought.
Minutes later, Gray Benton stood before Count Arthur’s door, a bottle of whiskey in hand.
“What brings you here?”
Despite his words, the count swung the door wide in welcome.
The moment the bottle hit the table, glasses and ice appeared.
The two men clinked their glasses and sat down to talk.
“Seeing how you came running the instant you saw that pen, I can tell your bond with her is no ordinary one. Who else but a maid would treasure such a cheap gift?”
Count Arthur laughed heartily, recalling the incident.
“And so, I have a favor to ask.”
Gray’s voice dropped low. At once, the count leaned forward.
“Anything. I’ll march to Hannibal right now and tell him to break off the engagement! No house could accept as a daughter-in-law a woman who already had a lover.”
Arthur’s eyes gleamed as though he already saw himself back in high office at the capital. He dabbed liquor from his lips, barely concealing his ambition.
Gray found the man’s shallow manner distasteful, but for now, he needed allies. He endured it.
At last, he spoke softly:
“Spread rumors about Anne and me.”
Meanwhile, Hannibal was startled by the shift in Anne’s attitude when he visited Miss Mighty.
She had passed him by with a hollow gaze, leaving him frozen in place. Then Victoria approached.
“Brother, that magic-stone necklace… did you give it to Anne just to keep track of her?”
“What are you talking about?”
As Hannibal frowned in confusion, Miss Mighty rose and joined in.
“We haven’t confirmed it yet, but from what I saw, that necklace was made solely for that function. Otherwise, they would never have used a lower-grade stone.”
So Anne must have discovered the tracking spell and taken offense.
Of course Hannibal knew of the feature. But to him it had only ever been a precaution—he had never once used it personally.
Now what? A sigh escaped him.
Seeing her brother flustered—a rare sight—Victoria nudged his arm.
“Go talk to her alone and apologize. You never told her about the necklace’s function, did you?”
“…You’re right.”
Without hesitation, Hannibal turned and hurried away.
Miss Mighty watched his retreating back and murmured:
“He’s quite sincere, isn’t he?”
“Very sincere,” Victoria replied brightly, smiling as if to reassure her teacher.
Then she clenched her fists in determination.
“I’m ready to study now, Master!”
Her eager enthusiasm for magic drew Miss Mighty’s attention back to her new pupil.
That evening, Hannibal arranged a private dinner with Anne.
He ordered the greenhouse in the rear garden to be decorated with flowers.
When work ended, he dressed carefully and had his hair groomed.
“You’re putting more effort in than for most parties,” remarked Jack as he adjusted Hannibal’s attire.
“Make sure there isn’t a single flaw.”
This was an apology, and it had to be perfect. He wanted no interruptions this time.
“Did you confirm Victoria’s plans?”
“Yes. She’s dining with Miss Mighty tonight.”
“What is she even planning to do with magic?”
“She’s learning about magic circles. She said she expects to use them often in the future.”
“…That’s reasonable.”
Perhaps Victoria was finally maturing. Hannibal nodded and studied his own reflection again and again.
He remembered how women at parties sometimes approached him with blind curiosity—until his aura of menace sent them fleeing.
Even Anne had occasionally stared at him in a daze. If his looks could help him tonight, he would be glad.
Already seated at the table, he felt sweat bead at the nape of his neck. Then a servant rushed in.
“Lady Anne is arriving.”
Hannibal shot to his feet and went to the entrance.
Anne appeared, dressed differently than she had been earlier.
But her face was clouded, her steps reluctant.
And despite everything she had heard, she still wore the magic-stone necklace.
A silent protest, perhaps? Hannibal’s heart sank. He should have told her from the start.
“My lady,” he greeted.
The chill in her voice made him force his expression calm as he guided her inside.
“The dress… suits you well.”
He wished he could say more, but the words wouldn’t come.
“Thank you, my lord.”
That distant title again. Was he still nothing more than an intimidating noble in her eyes?
He pulled out a chair for her, and though she sat politely, she still looked uncomfortable.
“Anne, please call me by my name now.”
Her face tensed.
“…Truthfully, I’m still not used to you speaking so formally to me. It feels awkward.”
Hannibal dismissed the servants, then poured water into her glass himself.
“I only spoke down to servants to establish order in my household. But you are my fiancée. How could I lower my speech while you raise yours?”
Either they both spoke casually—or both formally. There was no middle ground in his mind.
“Then you should call me by name and speak comfortably. That’s enough.”
“How could I speak to you that way?”
“Then I’ll have to start with Victoria. Household hierarchy matters.”
“No, don’t. Not because of me… after all—”
We’ll break off the engagement eventually.
Anne bit back the words, closing her lips under his watchful gaze.
But Hannibal had already understood.
A wave of suffocating disappointment crashed over him.
Yet he could not show it—not when this engagement had been forced upon her.
He forced himself to act calm, speaking again.
“But if we keep addressing each other so stiffly, others will suspect. My father, the Duke of Benton, among others.”
If they broke the engagement, Gray would openly pursue her.
Could she withstand the Duke’s power?
Hannibal’s voice grew urgent.
“At least until the Duke leaves, it’s better if you and I maintain the engagement.”
Anne nodded faintly. That single gesture brought him immense relief.
She might not hate him… but she didn’t love him either.
Hannibal wanted to know her heart, truly.
First, he had to clear up the misunderstanding. His eyes dropped to the blue-stoned necklace at her throat.
“I’m sorry, Anne Pero.”
At once, she understood what he meant. She must have heard something from Miss Mighty or Victoria.
Anne touched the gem-studded necklace and said softly:
“It was pretty. I liked it.”
But then she unclasped it from her neck and set it on the table before him.
“But I don’t want to keep it anymore.”
