Chapter 51
Annoyed by the bitter memory, Petrix clicked his tongue without realizing it.
He pulled out a cigarette with a sharp, irritable motion, lit it, and muttered through a muffled accent.
“I think I know why you came looking for me. Unfortunately, I don’t have any information on that woman. I’ve been searching hard myself, but…”
It was a lie.
He had tried once or twice in the beginning, but after that, he hadn’t so much as lifted a finger.
The carriage his men had abandoned had been smashed to pieces.
There was no way she had survived. Even if she had somehow escaped from the wreckage, the wolves—drawn by the scent of blood—would have torn her apart.
Why cling so pathetically to something so obvious?
Petrix shrugged with feigned regret.
At that moment, Lucas spoke.
“I heard Duke Gloria sometimes invites merchants to his villa. How does one get an invitation?”
Petrix’s eyes went wide.
This bastard still thinks Duke Gloria might have seen her.
He thought the chances were slim.
If the ducal house had found the kidnapped girl, why on earth would they have kept quiet?
Still, there was another possibility.
Perhaps when they finally found Marsha, her condition had been so gruesome that they had buried her quietly, without ever revealing her identity.
An invitation, though…
It was well-known that Duke Gloria, during his inspections, would occasionally invite reputable merchants to his residence to examine and purchase their wares.
But he only extended those invitations to merchants licensed to operate in his territory.
Lucas had never been granted such a license.
His dealings had always centered on the western regions, effectively barring him from ever doing business in the duchy.
“You know as well as I do we’d never be invited. And barging in uninvited isn’t an option.”
Even if they somehow got in, they couldn’t just bring up that incident and ask whether the ducal family had seen the woman in the carriage.
The nose on those bastards… they’d sniff it out instantly.
That incident four years ago had never been made public.
If someone started poking around now, looking for the woman connected to it, suspicion would rise immediately.
They’d dig into this fool, and when they discovered his ties to me…
They’d uncover the businesses Petrix kept hidden.
Nothing good could come of drawing the ducal family’s attention.
He was determined to steer Lucas away from this course—until…
“I sent Marsha’s former fiancé. He has a business license in Gloria’s territory, so he qualifies for an invitation. But he’s such a worthless nobody, I doubt the duke would bother to call on him…”
Petrix raised his brows in surprise.
Well, well.
So he even used the man he once swore he wanted dead.
That must have stung his pride.
Still, it was true—the man had every pretext to search for her.
The ducal house wouldn’t suspect him or start digging into his background.
But would the duke invite merchants at all, if he’s truly dead… or as good as?
Then again, perhaps the duke would continue inviting them precisely to maintain the illusion of health and authority.
If that man actually enters the villa, we might learn something of the duke’s condition.
Even if not his exact state, we’d at least catch the mood of the household.
That alone could be useful for what’s to come.
Calculated that way, Lucas’s move could work to Petrix’s advantage.
But…
How the hell am I supposed to get someone into Gloria’s villa?
It was beyond his reach.
Grinding his cigarette into the ashtray, Petrix frowned and asked,
“What does the man sell?”
“At present, he’s running a business selling high-quality feed for nobles’ horses.”
“What? That’s a business? Hah. Truly insignificant. But the duke often treats these invitations as charity, so…”
Petrix rubbed his chin.
“Spread the word. Loudly. Make sure the ducal family can’t help but hear of him. Who knows? Perhaps he’ll actually be invited.”
“…Utterly useless,” Lucas muttered coldly.
And yet you came crawling to me because you could do nothing yourself.
Petrix ground his teeth.
Meanwhile, under the desk in that office, a man polishing shoes lay flat on his belly, trembling.
M-Miss Marsha…
A name he could never forget.
A name he must not forget.
***
The moment she saw the ducal villa, Marsha drew in a sharp breath before she even realized it.
She knew it belonged to the greatest noble family in the land, but she had never imagined it would be this large.
It’s not a villa at all—it’s like a king’s castle.
Even from a distance, it loomed colossal.
What would it feel like up close?
She swallowed hard and murmured,
“The villa is enormous.”
“This is one of the smaller ones.”
Claudio answered offhandedly.
Marsha turned to him, stunned.
“There are more?”
“Ten, just within Duke Gloria’s domain.”
Her eyes widened.
The Strabine territory was famed for its vastness, and the most fertile lands within it belonged to the Gloria duchy.
Of course, for the duke, ten villas were nothing. But for Marsha, the thought was overwhelming.
‘How could anyone manage all that…?’
Once again, Marsha found herself awed by Duke Gloria.
Perhaps the rumors were true—perhaps he really was the wealthiest man on the continent.
She stiffened, her nerves tightening.
The duke was known for his generosity and for looking after his people, yes—but that didn’t mean he was purely kind or merciful.
If even this ill-tempered man tiptoes around him, then the duke must be far scarier than the rumors say.
If someone displeased him, he might erase them without leaving a trace.
What if I accidentally do something to provoke him?
Worry prickled in her chest, and she shut her eyes for a moment.
Nonsense.
What business would I ever have with the duke?
I’m Mr. Dio’s servant, after all.
The villa was far too large for them to cross paths by chance.
B-but… what if we do happen to meet…?
The thought made her brow crease again in unease.
Once she left this villa, there would be no chance of sharing a space with the duke.
“Um… how long will we be staying here?” she asked carefully.
“Not long. We’ll probably leave in a few days.”
He gave a small laugh, then added, “Why? You don’t like the villa?”
“Of course not. It’s just… it makes me nervous, going somewhere crowded with such important people.”
“What are you nervous about?”
“What if I make some mistake and lose my head over it?”
“…What?”
Claudio’s voice was incredulous.
“It’s still a house where people live. Why are you imagining such dreadful things?”
“Because the duke seems like such a frightening man.”
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