Chapter 17
As Damon sat frozen under the overwhelming pressure, Richard’s sharp gaze briefly shifted to the woman beside him.
Startled, the woman — who had been staring blankly at the duke — gasped softly and quickly pulled her half-open neckline closed.
Richard smiled politely, as if he hadn’t seen a thing, and spoke in a calm voice.
“Did I come at a bad time?”
The tone was soft and pleasant, yet something in it made Damon’s spine stiffen — it felt like a reprimand.
He hurriedly stood up and said,
“Of course not! How could there ever be a bad time when a man of your status visits?”
“I see. That’s good.”
Without waiting for an invitation, Richard sat down gracefully on the sofa — in Damon’s seat, no less — clearly asserting who held the higher ground here.
Damon’s brow twitched for a moment, but he forced a strained smile onto his face. He couldn’t afford to show irritation toward a member of the royal family.
He quickly signaled the woman beside him to leave. She glanced at the two men with annoyance before reluctantly walking out.
Click.
When the door closed, Damon sat opposite Richard, putting on a shallow smile.
“Would you like something to drink? I’m afraid we don’t have the kind of tea a nobleman of your taste would enjoy.”
Though the words were polite, the sarcasm beneath them was obvious.
Richard, however, merely smiled.
“That’s fine. I didn’t expect much to begin with.”
A crack appeared in Damon’s smile. He had tried to belittle the duke — and ended up being the one humiliated instead.
Grinding his teeth quietly, Damon forced his expression back under control, though his strained smile never fully recovered.
“So then,” he asked, “what brings such a distinguished guest to my humble establishment? Surely, you didn’t come here by mistake — you know what kind of business I run.”
He already had a guess as to why Richard was here, but he wanted to hear it directly.
And just as he suspected, Richard’s calm smile didn’t waver.
“I heard that my wife owes you a debt.”
“Ah, yes. She does — quite a large one, in fact. Though I imagine to a man like you, that sum is no more than pocket change.”
The thinly veiled mockery made the knights behind Richard frown immediately.
Before they could step forward, Richard turned his head slightly and gave them a small look — a silent order to stay put.
They obeyed.
Then Richard looked back at Damon.
“You seem rather bold. Is that because you have someone powerful backing you?”
“Who knows?” Damon replied with a smirk, his voice deliberately vague.
Richard’s golden eyes narrowed slightly — then curved in a faint smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Perhaps. But that’s none of my concern. Let’s get to the point.”
His tone turned firm.
“I don’t want you visiting my wife again — not until the debt’s term is over.”
“So the duke is paying off the lady’s debt for her, then?” Damon asked, eyes glinting.
Richard didn’t answer.
His silence was enough to confirm Damon’s suspicions.
“I knew it,” Damon said, lips curling. “I wondered how the proud duchess suddenly started paying so well. I never thought she’d stoop to asking her husband for help.”
Richard ignored the jab.
“So, your answer?”
Damon grinned — the kind of grin that made one’s skin crawl.
“I’m afraid that’s difficult. A creditor has the right — and obligation — to check whether the debtor is keeping up with payments.”
“Difficult, you say…”
Richard’s expression changed. His eyes, which had been warm just moments ago, turned razor-sharp.
Damon flinched.
Richard’s voice dropped low, quiet but cold enough to chill the air.
“Would you give the same answer… even if that debtor’s husband were me?”
“W-what do you mean?”
“I am the Duke of Olden — and a member of the imperial family.”
Richard’s smile vanished completely. Damon’s forced grin stiffened instantly.
Looking down at him with a gaze that brooked no argument, Richard continued,
“And Aileen is my wife.”
“…”
“Tell me, what kind of husband would welcome another man visiting his wife regularly?”
Damon opened his mouth to respond, but Richard spoke first.
“The debt will be paid off within a year. So don’t come near her again.”
“But—”
“And whoever it is that’s backing you,” Richard interrupted, his tone still calm but his eyes glinting with authority, “you’d best remember something. Remember who I am. And remember whose wife she is.”
Damon’s jaw locked shut.
He understood perfectly. Richard wasn’t just reminding him of his status — he was warning him that touching Aileen meant provoking the imperial family itself.
Richard stood, his shadow falling over Damon as he looked down coldly.
“And one more thing,” he said softly.
“This isn’t a request — it’s a warning.”
❧ ❧ ❧
Richard left the building soon after.
Once they were alone, one of his knights spoke carefully.
“Your Grace… are you alright?”
“Alright? What’s there to be alright about? I just had a short conversation.”
Richard shrugged casually, but his knight looked at him with a strange expression.
It was the first time he’d ever seen his master openly use his royal status.
Normally, Richard avoided mentioning that he was part of the imperial family. Not because he hid it — but because he simply disliked relying on that identity.
And yet today, he’d declared it without hesitation — to protect Aileen.
Sensing what the knight was thinking, Richard chuckled softly.
“Sometimes, being royalty has its uses.”
“…Indeed, Your Grace.”
The knight smiled faintly and followed as Richard climbed into the carriage.
As they began the ride back, Richard’s gaze turned thoughtful.
Aileen should be on her way home by now…
❧ ❧ ❧
“I actually bought it…”
Aileen stared at the small box in her hands, a mix of excitement and nervousness in her eyes.
She frowned slightly, turning the box over, then glanced at Kane beside her.
“Do you think Richard will like it? What do you think, Kane?”
Since he was Richard’s knight, she assumed he’d know the duke’s preferences.
Without hesitation, Kane replied seriously,
“I’m sure His Grace will like it.”
“But what if it’s not his taste?”
“He’ll still like it — because it’s a gift from you, my lady.”
Aileen couldn’t help but chuckle awkwardly. Kane wasn’t exactly the most neutral source of advice.
I guess I’ll just have to give it to him and see how he reacts.
She smiled and stepped into the carriage with his help.
Inside lay another box — the dessert she’d bought earlier for Adrian.
Before visiting the Dexter Company, Aileen had set aside a bit of her own money for herself and her brother. She didn’t want to depend entirely on the household funds — it made her feel like she was burdening Richard.
Even this gift, in truth, was partly to ease that guilt.
I hope he likes it, she thought.
Richard could buy anything he wanted — he was a duke, after all. The small gift she’d purchased cost maybe five hundred slons at most.
What if he didn’t like it?
He’d probably still smile politely, of course — but that might make her feel even worse.
As her thoughts tangled, she sighed quietly. By then, the carriage had arrived at the mansion.
“Sis!”
Adrian came running out to greet her before the carriage even stopped.
Aileen quickly tucked Richard’s gift inside her bag and smiled warmly at her brother.
“Adrian, you behaved yourself while I was gone, right?”
“What do you take me for, Sis? I was good! Totally behaved!”
His puffed-up cheeks made her laugh. She reached out and gently rubbed them.
“I know, I know.”
“But what’s that?” he asked suddenly, eyes wide.
Kane was just then lifting a box out of the carriage.
Aileen smiled mysteriously.
“Remember that cake you said you wanted to try?”
“You mean— wait, really?”
Adrian’s eyes sparkled like stars.
Aileen nodded. “Sorry it took me so long to buy it.”
“You’re the best, Sis!”
He jumped up to kiss her cheek several times before eagerly taking the box from Kane — still a little wary of the knight but too excited to care much.
Watching her brother run off with a grin, Aileen called after him,
“Adrian! You can eat it after dinner, okay?”
“Got it!” he shouted back.
His cheerful voice made her smile, but also a little worried.
As she sighed softly, she suddenly realized how quiet the mansion was.
Handing her hat to a maid, she asked,
“Where’s Richard?”
“The Duke has stepped out for a short while, my lady.”
“Stepped out?”
She tilted her head, puzzled.
He had still been in the mansion when she’d left earlier… hadn’t he?
Before she could think further, the sound of a carriage reached her ears. She turned and saw a familiar coach approaching the gate.
It was Richard’s.
Aileen went out to greet him.
Moments later, the carriage stopped, and he stepped out.
“Richard!”
“Ail…en?”
He paused mid-word, caught off guard.
She was smiling at him — brightly, beautifully, like sunlight.
Richard blinked, momentarily at a loss for words.
Unaware of his surprise, Aileen simply beamed and asked,
“Where did you go?”
“I had a small errand nearby. You seem to be in a good mood.”
“I am!” she said eagerly, then realized how loud she’d sounded and coughed softly.
“You were right — there was nothing to worry about. I didn’t need to push myself so hard.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
He smiled gently — his usual calm, mild smile back in place.
Meanwhile, Aileen hesitated, shifting from foot to foot as if unsure. Richard noticed and tilted his head.
“Is something wrong?”
“Um… Richard,” she began, lowering her voice shyly,
“I actually… bought a little gift for you.”
