~Chapter 75~
“Don’t come here again. Stop coming to the mansion through my father too.”
Her words were short, firm, and cold. They carried the will to no longer tolerate his reckless behavior.
The door clicked shut, leaving Wudian standing outside, his face subtly twisted.
As the forced look of apology disappeared, a chilling aura took its place. His sharp eyes and twisted mouth revealed a frightening true nature.
“I thought you were stupid and weak.”
A mocking laugh slipped from his lips.
Wudian slowly turned and walked away from the counseling office. His steps were neither fast nor slow, but soon he brought his hand to his mouth and bit his nails—a habit that appeared whenever he was anxious.
Days in a foreign land flashed through his mind. From the moment he set foot there, he had been drawn into gambling, alcohol, and pleasure. At first, luck multiplied his money easily, but gradually he began losing, eventually losing everything.
His father, who could have supported him, was gone, and the remaining relatives were like hyenas, ready to strip him of any remaining title.
So he borrowed money. To recover his losses, he needed a huge sum to enter a bigger gambling ring.
But borrowing an enormous amount from the White Witch made him just prey in the massive gambling world.
The unpayable debt pressed down on his shoulders, and his life was even threatened.
Then, one day, a letter arrived. The sender was unknown, but its words caught his attention:
“Amelie Garnet. Your childhood fiancée might be useful.”
After pondering, faint fragments of memory surfaced. The face was blurry, the name long forgotten, but Wudian saw it as an opportunity.
He planned to use the engagement as an excuse to control her and rise again.
However, in the Viender Empire, there was an unexpected variable.
“So she actually tempted the prince.”
He clicked his tongue at the thought of Richard. From the moment they had met by chance, Richard had unsettled him with a beast-like presence and overwhelming gaze.
The look that had once looked down on him like a bug had never been forgotten. The humiliation scratched at his fragile pride, making him grind his teeth.
“Wudian Montorre.”
A low, ominous voice suddenly made Wudian flinch and turn.
Black hair, black clothes, solid build. A man clad entirely in black stood in the shadows.
By now, Wudian had walked into a deserted alley, and it was as if he had dug his own grave, standing alone with this suspicious man.
“Wh-who are you?!”
His voice trembled. Wudian instinctively stepped back.
Richard, the black-clad man, didn’t answer but approached with heavy steps. Each step made the ground seem to shake, and the enormous shadow looming over Wudian consumed his vision. It felt like a moving wall was closing in.
“D-don’t come closer! I’ll call the Peacekeepers!”
Wudian shouted desperately, but a smirk appeared on Richard’s face.
“Do you think you can call the Peacekeepers? I could kill you before you even scream, and no one would care about your death. So behave, Wudian Montorre.”
The massive shadow blocked his sight, overwhelming Wudian with an irresistible pressure.
‘Is this guy sent by the White Witch? But the deadline isn’t yet…!’
Cornered, he didn’t recognize Richard and assumed he was an agent of the White Witch.
“C-calm down! There’s still time until the repayment date!”
Fear colored his voice, but Richard’s gaze flashed.
“Just a little, wait a little longer! I’ll get the money soon─!”
“Pathetic, squirming in debt. Your life is about what I expected.”
“…What?”
“It would be wise to heed the prince’s warning, foolish Montorre.”
Wudian’s eyes shook. Damn Richard Viender! Anger surged, but fear seeped to his toes.
“Are you the one sent by the prince?!”
He shouted, trembling, but Richard only sneered coldly.
“You don’t need to know that. Just know this: if you ignore one more warning, His Highness himself will put you exactly where you belong. He isn’t patient like that.”
“This damn…!”
“If you value your life, stop talking. Even if I handle you myself, he wouldn’t care.”
Wudian’s face stiffened. His lips trembled, but he couldn’t speak. Primal fear constricted his throat.
Richard grabbed his shoulder roughly. The force made Wudian collapse to the ground, his knees wet as they touched the floor.
“This is your place, Wudian Montorre. If you want to keep even that worthless life, don’t forget your position.”
Only then did Wudian realize who stood before him. The sharp eyes, the oppressive grip, the clear hostility.
“…Richard.”
His lips were dry, and the name cracked. But Richard had already vanished, leaving no trace, like a shadow.
Wudian covered his face with shaking hands, clenching his teeth as both anger and fear surged.
“Damn! That bastard!”
His curse echoed in the empty alley but vanished into the void.
Richard climbed into his carriage and immediately removed his wig. His golden hair, soaked with sweat, fell loosely. A casual sweep revealed a tidy forehead and a refined impression.
“Did you catch Wudian Montorre?”
Lux asked, ignoring his appearance. Seeing the unwanted guest leave the counseling office, she had expected her lord to pursue Wudian.
“Yes, I caught him, but I let him go. Why?”
“No, why did you let him go?”
“I can’t kill him just because I catch him.”
“You could, though. The Montorre family would actually be glad if Wudian Montorre died.”
“I’m trying not to cross the line. If I intervene too much, Amelie might get scared.”
A ruthless romantic, indeed. Lux swallowed the words she wanted to say. Recently, the crown prince had publicly revealed his lover, showing excessive affection, and now Richard’s younger brother had outdone him. Suddenly, she understood: the reason behind her lord’s sudden change was love.
“Lux.”
“Y-yes?”
“Investigate what Wudian Montorre did while abroad. He seems in debt, so focus on money-related matters.”
“I’ve been following Your Highness and monitoring the Empress, I barely have time in a day…”
“Then work even harder.”
“…Yes.”
Tears welled up at the thought of overtime, but being strictly under Richard’s authority, she had no choice but to obey.
