IAEOG~

Chapter 31

“Thank you for saving my daughter. I don’t know how to repay you….”

“No, Your Grace. I did what anyone should have done.”

My father nodded approvingly at Richard’s polite response, his gaze filled with quiet affection.

Anyone who didn’t know better would have easily mistaken them for lovers.

Three days earlier—the day Theo had visited our house. Only after he left did I remember Richard, the man who had saved my life. I had completely forgotten to thank him properly.

Just as I was wondering what kind of gift would be appropriate, Father suggested,
“How about inviting Sir Richard over for a meal?”

Not a bad idea…

I had thought of giving him something expensive, but I didn’t know his tastes.

Guess that means I really don’t have any interest in him.

If the gift didn’t suit him, it would just be a pile of expensive junk anyway. And to make matters worse, his close friend Nathan was away at his estate, so I couldn’t even ask for advice.

So I sent an invitation to the relative’s mansion where Richard was staying. Two days later, he sent his acceptance.

And today, right on time for lunch, he arrived.

“It’s been a while, Lady Yvonne. I’m relieved to see you looking well.”

“That’s all thanks to you, Sir Richard.”

He smiled with the same graceful charm that matched his handsome face, handing me a bouquet of yellow tulips.

In that moment, the memory of drowning came rushing back. I could have sworn I had received yellow tulips that day too.

He probably didn’t mean anything by it…

I forced a smile, accepted the flowers, and immediately passed them to Mari.

When I led him to the dining room, I froze.

The place looked completely different—lavishly decorated, even with sculptures I’d never seen before.
Father must have gone overboard preparing for today’s guest.

While I stood there dazed, Father appeared.
“Our distinguished guest has arrived.”

“It’s an honor to see you again, Duke Lambert.”

He greeted my father smoothly, and to my surprise, Father took his seat at the table.

Wait. He’s eating with us?

I blinked several times, trying to process that. I’d expected a quiet lunch for two, not a family banquet.

“I heard you swam to save my daughter yourself. Impressive. So you’re quite the swimmer.”

“I learned when I was young, thankfully—it came in handy.”

Honestly, I was relieved Father joined us. The two of them were so caught up in conversation, I was practically invisible. So I quietly focused on the food instead.

“If I’d known something like this might happen, I would have taught my daughter to swim as well. Yvonne, perhaps you should start lessons now?”

“……”

“Yvonne?”

“Yes?”

Four eyes fixed on me at once. I’d been too busy savoring my steak to listen.

“I’m sorry, I’m not feeling very well today. Could you repeat that?”

“It’s fine, my dear. You’re still recovering. Once you’re better, you should consider learning to swim.”

“Sure.”

“I didn’t expect you to agree so easily. That’s a surprise.”

It was surprising. In any life—past or present—I’d never been one for physical activity.

Even in my previous life, I rarely went out unless Raphael insisted.
If I hadn’t been poisoned, I probably would’ve died early from poor health anyway.
Maybe swimming would help this time.

“After nearly drowning, I realized how important swimming is.”

“Indeed. I’ll have the servants clean up the garden pool while I look for an instructor.”

He looked at me proudly, like a father admiring his grown child. The attention made me shift uncomfortably, pretending to focus on my steak instead.

Wait, we have a pool?

Now that I thought about it, I vaguely remembered playing there with my mother as a child.

“I recall your mother and you used to swim there often. Anyway—Sir Richard, thank you again for saving my daughter. I don’t know how to repay you.”

“It’s nothing, Your Grace. I simply did what was right.”

“If you ever need help, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll do whatever I can.”

“In that case, may I ask something, Your Grace?”

Father nodded, giving permission. Richard hesitated briefly, then asked,
“Where is Nathan these days?”

“He’s away at the estate.”

“May I ask why?”

“I felt he’d been neglecting management lately, so I sent him to oversee things. I couldn’t go myself—I needed to stay here with Yvonne.”

Come to think of it, our family rarely visited the estate. The stewards managed everything.
In fact, I’d lived twenty years without ever going there.

When Mari mentioned Nathan was away, I had thought it odd.
Still, Richard seemed particularly interested in him to ask so many questions.

“Then one more thing, if I may. Does Nathan, by any chance, know how to use magic?”

“He doesn’t.”

Magic?

What a strange question. I tilted my head but didn’t stop cutting my steak.

This steak is divine.

It melted in my mouth—so soft, so perfectly cooked.
But just then, a chill ran down my spine. I froze and lifted my gaze.

What… is this?

My father was staring at Richard with a look I had never seen before—cold, sharp, and deadly serious.

Four days earlier.

“You must’ve had a long journey,” Nathan said, spreading his arms wide in welcome.

After Yvonne’s near-drowning, Nathan had been ordered by his father to return to the Lambert estate.

Of course, he knew the real reason.
His father wanted to separate him from Yvonne.

Still, he didn’t mind. After all, he would inherit the territory one day anyway.

“You’re really a good friend, coming all this way,” Nathan grinned.

“I have something to ask,” Richard replied.

“Then come in.”

But instead of taking him to the guest room, Nathan led him into his office.
“Sit down.”

He took the head seat like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Richard sat opposite him, quietly.

“Why the office?”

“Don’t I look good here?” Nathan leaned lazily against the backrest, smirking.

Richard frowned, unimpressed.
“It’s just a chair.”

“It’s not just a chair,” Nathan said, running his hand along the armrest.
“It’ll soon belong to Duke Nathan Lambert.”

“Duke Nathan Lambert…? You?”

“Of course. Who else? The title passes to me once my sister marries.”

“So it’s already been decided with your family?”

Nathan shrugged. “Naturally. Once my sister’s wed, Father will hand me the title. Then this estate will be mine.”

“Good for you,” Richard replied flatly—while silently vowing to make sure that never happened.

“I really hope you marry my sister soon,” Nathan added with a sly grin.

“So that’s why you introduced Lady Yvonne to me, wasn’t it? To gain the title.”

It had always seemed suspicious—how insistently Nathan had pushed him to meet Yvonne.
Richard had refused several times; after all, the Ferronando Empire was far from his own.
But Nathan had persisted, almost desperately. And when Richard finally met her… he had fallen.

“That’s not true. I just thought you two would make a good match.”

Richard saw through the lie instantly. He’d merely been a tool in Nathan’s scheme to inherit the title.

Still, he didn’t regret meeting her—not one bit.

“Oh, by the way, my sister woke up yesterday. Isn’t that a relief?”

“It is. I should pay her a visit soon.”

“I hope she opens her heart to you. You saved her, after all—she might already be fond of you.”

Richard’s eyes darkened.
That day on the lake still haunted him.

He had no proof—only suspicion. But he was almost certain Nathan had done something to overturn the boat.
There wasn’t enough evidence to confront him.
And Nathan had convincingly played the role of the innocent, even claiming to have been ill and coughing up blood that day.

“You’ll marry my sister, and I’ll become Duke Lambert. Perfect, isn’t it?” Nathan smiled.

No, Richard thought.

He wanted Yvonne not just because she was beautiful—but because she was a duke’s daughter.

As the second son of Duke Silerven, he’d always lived in his brother’s shadow.
The title, the recognition—everything went to his elder brother.

Richard had always been ambitious. And the moment he saw Yvonne, he’d made up his mind.

He would marry her, and take the Lambert title for himself.

But as the saying goes, like attracts like. Nathan was just as calculating.

There was only one way Nathan could secure the title.

“Are you sure you didn’t capsize the boat yourself?”

“I swear I didn’t. You saw me when I got home—coughing up blood. I was sick. I couldn’t have done anything.”

Nathan sighed, sounding wounded—but his expression didn’t match his words.

Richard clenched his jaw.
I’ll find out how you did it, he swore silently.
And I’ll drag you down, no matter what it takes.