Chapter : 73
“Oh my, you’re still wearing that gloomy look.”
A woman passed by Raiden, sneering. A maid quickly approached and tried to act familiar with her.
“Lady Amelia. Shall I escort you to your carriage?”
“That would be lovely, thank you.”
Amelia Marsden swayed her hips as she stepped out of the reception room but glanced back. Raiden was still lost in his thoughts, unconsciously moving his fingers.
Her eyes lingered on his high, straight nose, sharp downward-slanting eyes, thin red lips, broad torso, and long legs. Amelia hummed softly.
‘A man with a body like that and he doesn’t even know how to use it.’
As she followed the maid, she found herself strangely intrigued by Raiden.
‘But this won’t last. He’s a man, after all. He’ll change, just like the others.’
She forced a smile and walked briskly. Soon, she disappeared from view.
“……”
Silence fell over the reception room again. Raiden, who had been sitting with his legs crossed and chin resting on his hand, suddenly sighed. The maids flinched, but he didn’t notice.
‘So he didn’t react much even after seeing Amelia Marsden at the opera.’
Of course, someone nearby could tell he was slightly disturbed, but only for a moment. What kind of education do noble families give that someone could be so composed, so calm, no matter how much was prodded externally?
He was even more frustrated by Anna, who nonchalantly smiled and complimented Amelia’s acting. Later, even Amelia had to shake her head. She was truly a naturally gifted actress.
Seeing Anna remain so unaffected always left Raiden with a sense of defeat. Even though the situation had completely reversed, why…
‘Does it feel like I’m the only one hung up on this?’
He refused to allow himself to feel miserable again. His gray eyes flickered sharply, like a beast.
‘Mentioning the engagement to Himmel isn’t enough.’
If subtlety doesn’t work, increasing the intensity is another option. Yes, that should work.
His sense of relief was brief. His handsome face clouded again as he thought deeply.
‘By the way… what was that?’
He thought about Anna, whom he had been observing for several days.
[No… don’t… do that.]
[Stop! Go away!]
[Sniff… sob…]
Whenever sleep eluded her, she would invariably have nightmares. Her pale face was covered in cold sweat, her arms flailing as if to push something away. Sometimes she would silently cry, as if something was seriously wrong. Strangely, when awake, there was no sign that any of it had happened.
‘It seemed like she couldn’t remember her dreams.’
Had she experienced something truly traumatic? Something shocking enough to sob in her sleep?
‘…Who knows.’
If that were the case, perhaps it was even better she endured it. Raiden stopped pondering and abruptly stood.
“I’ll come back later.”
Leaving those few words behind, he strode out. The maids, mouths agape in surprise, hurried to follow the door Amelia had exited to report to their mistress.
“Your Highness, your Highness!”
“What’s all this commotion?”
“Well… Marquis Marcus has left.”
“Is that so?”
“Shall we send knights to fetch him?”
The silver-haired lady, lounging across the long, snow-white couch, twirled her hair around her fingers and snorted.
“Who could catch him? And if a commotion breaks out, wouldn’t my brother assume I’m at fault and come after me instead?”
“Ah…”
The maid who had spoken retreated awkwardly. The silver-haired lady, Princess Angelina, meticulously cared for her nails, her expression calm. She seemed to show no lingering concern over Raiden leaving, but the truth was slightly different.
‘The art gallery opening is imminent, and he said he needed help swaying public opinion… seems he isn’t desperate after all.’
She pouted but, in reality, it was she who needed him. Only the “medicine” Raiden provided had no side effects.
A slight, averted glance, and a trembling hand reached out. She skillfully hid her hand under her skirt.
Another maid cautiously stepped forward, wary of the princess’s mood.
“Will you truly let him go just like this?”
“Leave him be. When has he ever listened to me, anyway?”
The princess waved her hand dismissively, signaling her annoyance, and the maids shuffled out, murmuring among themselves as they tidied the reception room.
“Whatever happened during the last outing, she’s been so calm lately.”
“Indeed. In the past, she wouldn’t have let Marquis Marcus’s rudeness slide so easily.”
Once the reception room was neat, the maids stepped out and closed the door behind them.
The discord between the masters is quickly noticed by their servants. Anna’s position at the house quickly sank.
“It’s dinner time, ma’am.”
Lucy approached with a stern expression. Anna rose from her chair and glanced at her. Her frown suggested she had yet another conflict with the staff of Marcus Manor.
A sigh escaped her lips. She wanted to stop Lucy, but as always, Lucy never compromised when it came to Anna’s affairs. A headstrong servant who ignored her mistress’s orders—troublesome, yet oddly reassuring.
‘It’s hard to say anything when the mistress and servant are equally stubborn.’
Anna chuckled bitterly. Lucy cast her a sideways glance and pressed her lips tightly.
‘We should have crushed those rude fools…’
Recently, Silas had sided with them, leaving Lucy to act recklessly. Thinking of her isolated mistress and her own position made her blood boil.
‘If only the Marquis had spoken once, it would have all disappeared.’
Before the marriage, she had believed he cared for her mistress. Now, she wanted to slap herself for ever thinking that—but at times, doubt still crept in.
‘Remembering when the mistress was ill… he secretly checked on her improvement, and recently he even instructed the butler not to serve vegetables she disliked…’
She couldn’t understand his intentions. A man so hard to read… was he double-faced?
Lucy helped Anna descend the stairs silently, sighing quietly.
‘Anyway, since they’re already married, they have no choice but to stick together. The mistress can’t spend her life in a convent.’
Someone like Anna, a high-ranking noblewoman and heir of a family, might have options. But the poor mistress, hopelessly smitten by the cruel Marquis Marcus, had already relinquished all her rights.
‘When Assistant Louis came the other day, bragging and demanding the Everklein family treasures…’
Lucy’s jaw clenched. Anna glanced at her worriedly.
“What’s wrong, Lucy?”
“Nothing.”
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Lucy asked her mistress:
“So… what happened with that matter? The magical egg treasure?”
“Ah… the Pavel Egg.”
Anna smiled bitterly. The egg-shaped treasure kept in Everklein Mansion’s private gallery—Louis had demanded it be displayed at the museum opening.
‘So the papers I signed in a daze, after the chaos with the Nomen Marquis… were actually the ones giving Raiden power of attorney over all my assets.’
Normally, she would have scrutinized the documents more carefully, but at that time, under the influence of a strong sedative, she signed as instructed. If anything, she had been foolish, and Louis had cunningly taken advantage of it.
[Then annul the marriage.]
When Anna later protested upon discovering the truth, Louis’s response was curt. Annul the marriage, and the problem is solved. Anna had no words.
Louis then poured salt on the wound.
[The Everklein family debt held by the gambler has now been transferred to the Marquis. So now you repay the Marquis.]
[!]
Anna was shocked. She had assumed Raiden had already paid the gambler and restored all assets to her name. But now the debt had been shifted to him?
Noticing her surprise, Louis smiled.
[I am truly amazed. Madam, I thought you would have taken your time to repay it.]
[…Yes, I did.]
She had promised Raiden she would repay the debt. Louis’s smile grew colder and sharper.
[But judging by your reaction now, it seems you hoped the debt would simply be forgiven.]
He added lightly:
[How shameless of you.]
Anna flinched in shock.
[No! I certainly intended to repay it!]
But Louis ignored her.
[I am amazed. To consider another’s hard work as natural… truly, you are noble to the core. Yet, without knowing this, the Marquis and I assumed you would be grateful. What were we thinking?]
[Of course, I would be grateful…]
[So am I being questioned now? Do you treat those who help you this way?]
[…]
Anna realized any conversation was futile and fell silent. Louis had already decided the answer and cornered her.
No matter what she said, she was a shameless woman trying to pass off debt for free.
