Chapter 5
“Stanley, do you know a woman named Merian?”
“Merian?”
Stanley turned his head toward the lady of the Elmenhardt estate. Merian… who was that again?
“She has short, red hair like this, green eyes, and today she was wearing a pink dress.”
Ines raised her hands, describing the woman’s appearance. At that, Stanley finally understood.
“Ah, you must mean the woman who occasionally visits the Duke’s office.”
“Occasionally?”
That single word pressed heavily on Ines’s chest.
So, while she knew nothing about it, this woman named Merian had been visiting the mansion regularly.
Seeing Ines’s shocked face, Stanley hurried to explain.
“As far as I know, she is simply a woman who runs errands for the Duke. She usually brings stories not reported in the papers. Hidden scandals among the nobles, or incidents happening far away in the slums.”
“How would she know such things?”
“Merian is very famous in the capital’s nightlife district. Oh! But of course, that does not mean the Duke goes to such places! The Duke is known for being very clean and strict—he despises such things.”
Stanley’s words tumbled on and on. His pale face showed his worry for his mistress, who looked as if she might faint at any moment.
“I can guarantee, Madam, there is nothing between them that you should suspect.”
“Then why does he need her information?”
Ines still couldn’t understand. Why would Kallion bring such a woman into his mansion just to talk with her?
“In the Delphias Empire, information is power, Madam,” Stanley replied quietly. “And I’d bet my fortune that Merian does not only visit this house.”
The old butler’s eyes grew sharp. His entire fortune wasn’t necessary to prove the point, but Ines understood what he meant. She gave a small nod.
“Alright then.”
She started to turn away—but stopped.
Information is power.
And right now, she needed information just as much as her husband did. To keep watch on a suspicious man like Kallion, she needed information—and someone to gather it for her.
Ines turned back to Stanley.
“Stanley, could you find someone for me?”
“I saw it with my own eyes. He’s really dead.”
“The cause?”
“Unknown. I just came back from the police station. Honestly, they don’t seem to care. Just another worthless old man from the slums dying—it isn’t worth their time.”
Merian lifted her chin as she spoke. She glanced at her nails, blew on them, then looked down at the young Duke Elmenhardt, who was absorbed in papers at his desk.
“Why are you so interested in that old man, anyway?”
“You don’t need to know that.”
“If you keep secrets from me, maybe I’ll start keeping mine too.”
“You’re getting bolder.”
Encouraged by his less cold response, Merian walked closer and perched herself on the edge of his desk. She leaned toward him with a teasing smile.
“Your wife, the Duchess—she’s very pretty. Just as I heard.”
At the mention of his wife, the Duke’s expression instantly hardened.
Did I say something wrong?
But curiosity flared in Merian. She decided to push a little more.
“She looked surprised. I guess you never mentioned me?”
“Why would I?”
“Well, most noble ladies are shocked when they see me.”
At last, Kallion raised his head from the papers. Merian shrugged.
“Was Ines surprised?”
“Very. I mean, what woman wouldn’t be shocked to find a young, attractive woman coming in and out of her husband’s office?”
At that, Kallion’s expression softened strangely, almost as if he were pleased. The sight made irritation rise inside Merian.
“But I think Duchess Ines was even more surprised than most. After all, you stopped me from greeting her directly.”
“What do you mean?”
“Usually, when I bump into wives, their husbands rush to explain—‘It’s not what you think, she’s just here for information, don’t misunderstand, blah blah…’”
“Only guilty men make excuses.”
Losing interest, kallion dropped his gaze back to the papers.
Merian bent lower, pushing herself into his line of sight. He clicked his tongue.
“Stop being annoying and get out.”
“Introduce me to your wife. I’d love to be friends with her.”
“You’re insane. You, with Ines?”
“You don’t treat her all that differently from me anyway. You ignore us both. In that case—”
Kallion cursed under his breath and stood up suddenly.
Startled, Merian looked up at him with wide eyes.
“Enough, Merian.”
His golden eyes burned coldly as he stared down at her. The look froze her tongue. She had always known him to be cold and hard, but today she had clearly pushed too far.
“It was just a joke, Duke.”
“Get out. Don’t come back until I call you.”
“Fine.”
Merian slid down from the desk, grabbed her bag, and walked toward the door without argument. Years of experience told her when to push and when to retreat. Right now, it was definitely time to retreat.
She reached for the handle when his chilling voice cut through the air behind her.
“If you go near Ines…”
“I won’t.”
“You’ll die first.”
This was no joke.
Merian swallowed hard, clutching the doorknob. He’s far too sensitive about that woman… She made a firm decision—never again would she bring up the Duchess in front of him.
“…Then goodbye, Duke.”
Kallion gave no reply.
“Duchess Elmenhardt.”
“Reyven!!”
Ines leapt from her seat as soon as she saw the neatly dressed young man Stanley had brought in. With a wide smile, she held out both arms toward him.
“How have you been? It’s been so long!”
“I’ve been well. And you, Madam?”
Reyven glanced nervously at Stanley, who stood just behind. Catching the look, Ines signaled with her eyes. Stanley bowed and quietly left the drawing room.
“Now it’s just us, Reyven. So stop with the formal speech.”
“You’ve grown a bit rough with your words.”
“Seeing you brings back old times.”
Reyven gave a small laugh and shook his head.
“What if someone overhears?”
“Then they’ll just think the Madam is happy to see an old friend.”
Ines tilted her head, studying him.
Reyven was her childhood friend from the same neighborhood. Back then, he had always been smaller than her—but now he had grown tall, a full-grown young man.
Feeling oddly nostalgic, she reached up and tousled his brown hair like before. He burst out laughing, lifting his head.
“Your hands barely reach now.”
“Don’t get cocky just because you grew taller.”
“Careful, Ines. You might hurt yourself.”
“Fine, fine. Enough teasing. Sit down with me, Reyven.”
They sat together on the sofa. Reyven’s gaze softened as he looked at her. His childhood friend was now the elegant lady of House Elmenhardt. Pride warmed him, but there was also bitterness. Between them now lay a gulf that could never be crossed.
“You look good. Better than before.”
“Thanks.”
“That’s good to hear. But… why did you call me? Not just because you were bored, I assume.”
“Well, actually—”
“Wait.”
He reached out suddenly, brushing away a loose thread caught in her hair.
“Still as careless as ever.”
“Must’ve stuck there when I put on this new dress.”
Ines’s heart ached unexpectedly. Reyven had always taken care of her like an older brother. With all the confusion of her husband and her uncertain future, meeting an old friend made her heart feel soft and weak again.
A wild thought came to her—I could tell him everything, and we could find a way together.
“Why do you look so sad?”
Noticing the sudden shadow on her face, Reyven’s voice grew serious. His hand hovered awkwardly, neither touching her nor withdrawing, as if unsure whether to comfort her.
“What are you doing…”
Ines tried to laugh weakly—but just then, the door to the drawing room burst open.
She froze.
“…Kallion?”
“I heard we had a guest.”
The Duke’s golden eyes fell on the scene before him: his wife sitting close with a young man.
A cold smile spread across his face.
“I didn’t know it was a man.”
