Chapter 23…………………………………………………..
However, the misfortune of Baron Berkshire did not end there.
Someone appeared behind Edwin, walking at a leisurely pace.
“I heard there was some trouble, but I didn’t expect the one at the center of it to be Baron Berkshire.”
The Emperor appeared, stepping lightly as though he were out for a stroll in front of the house.
“To think you’d make me regret granting a monopoly over banking.”
“Y-Your Majesty?!”
Baron Berkshire’s legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground.
When Edwin appeared, a chill had run down his spine—but the moment he met the Emperor’s eyes, everything went dark before him.
“I didn’t know you thought of me as a parasite.”
“N-No, not at all! How could I dare think such a thing! It’s a false accusation!”
At Edwin’s words, Baron Berkshire hurriedly rubbed his hands together, insisting that could never be the case.
“More importantly, you’re safe, Your Grace! Truly, what a relief!”
“Is that so? It didn’t look that way, considering you seemed to be coveting my wife and the wealth of House Mason.”
Edwin let out a scoff.
“Were you disappointed that I survived?”
“Of course not! There must be some misunderstanding—”
“You’re saying not only am I a parasite, but now I’m blind and deaf as well? I saw and heard it myself—what misunderstanding could there be!”
Clearly displeased, Edwin turned away, then suddenly seemed to remember something and picked up the IOU lying on the floor.
Rip!
The torn pieces of the promissory note fluttered down over Baron Berkshire’s head.
“I already repaid the money I borrowed from you long ago. If there’s anything lacking, come see my agent.”
“N-No, Your Grace! That money was offered to prove my loyalty to you! How could I possibly take it back?”
“You looked ready to seize my wife and my house if I didn’t repay it. I’m too frightened to accept such money.”
Having finished speaking, Edwin summoned the knights.
“Baron Berkshire says he’s ready to leave. Escort him to the front gate.”
“Y-Your Grace! Your Grace!”
Everyone fell silent as they watched Baron Berkshire being dragged away by the knights.
There was much they wanted to say, but most of it would only offend Edwin.
In the end, the silence was broken by the one person who didn’t need to worry about Edwin’s mood.
“Didn’t I tell you? Baron Berkshire is not someone fit to be kept close.”
“……I was foolish.”
“It’s enough that you realize it now. It’s time for Berkshire to return to his proper place.”
Baron Berkshire had been Edwin’s financial lifeline.
For his sake, the Emperor had granted several monopolistic privileges favorable to his bank.
“We’ll need to find someone to replace Baron Berkshire.”
In other words, those privileges would now be revoked.
The eyes of the ladies attending the tea party sparkled.
The fall of Baron Berkshire.
Everyone was busy calculating what benefits it would bring them.
“Thank you for coming all this way, Your Majesty.”
At that moment, Trisha, the host of the tea party, stepped forward and bowed to the Emperor.
“As the host, I should have ensured there was no disturbance, yet I failed to do so. Please accept my sincere apologies.”
“There’s no need. You’re not the one who owed Baron Berkshire a debt.”
At those words, Edwin’s expression stiffened.
Still, he barely managed to compose himself and force a smile.
“Haha… I truly didn’t expect him to come running over a debt that was already repaid.”
“The debt was already paid?”
At the Emperor’s question, Edwin nodded vigorously.
“I paid it all back as soon as I returned to the capital. I heard he’d gone traveling to some remote region—he must have come straight here without even stopping by the bank.”
As he spoke, anger flared up again.
How lightly must they have regarded him, to assume he was dead and come to collect a debt?
‘Which means they wanted me dead that badly.’
He couldn’t keep someone like that by his side.
It wouldn’t be surprising if they suddenly turned and stabbed him in the back.
“Y-Your Majesty, about the banking monopoly—”
“I have no intention of leaving it in Berkshire’s hands.”
“No, I don’t care who has it, as long as it’s not Baron Berkshire.”
Edwin’s gaze reflexively turned toward Trisha.
Come to think of it, Baron Berkshire had been his accomplice in siphoning off Trisha’s dowry.
‘I’ll need to tell Aunt and have this dealt with.’
If he started meddling under the pretense of revealing the truth to Trisha, things would only get troublesome.
Just then—
“Master, the guests have arrived!”
At the butler’s words, Edwin turned his head.
Rubbing his forehead as if he had a headache, he gave an order.
“Guide them to the drawing room. I’ll follow shortly.”
With that, he left, following the Emperor toward the inner chambers.
Since it was now time for the men Edwin had invited, Trisha hurriedly began clearing up the tea party.
“I feel terrible that you had to witness such an unpleasant scene. If given the chance, I’ll arrange another gathering to make up for today.”
The atmosphere had been quite chaotic, but no one bothered to point it out.
Everyone smiled, saying they’d had a lovely time, and left the garden as if nothing had happened.
They were likely eager to spread the news of Baron Berkshire.
‘Come to think of it, where is Lizaine…?’
She scanned the garden absentmindedly, but Lizaine was nowhere to be seen.
It seemed she had left as soon as trouble began.
Truly impressive, in a way.
Shaking her head inwardly, Trisha followed the butler toward the drawing room to greet Edwin’s guests.
And there, she encountered an unexpected visitor.
“Thank you for inviting me, Brother. And Sister-in-law.”
At Millard’s smiling greeting, his eyes gently curved, Trisha silently bowed her head.
‘I don’t remember seeing his name on the list.’
Wondering if she had been mistaken, she noticed Edwin frown.
“I don’t recall inviting you. What brings you to my house, Millard?”
“Oh dear, my apologies for not informing you beforehand.”
As he spoke, he produced an invitation, as if to prove he was not an uninvited guest.
“Lady Hestia sent me in her stead.”
“Hestia did?”
Edwin still frowned, but perhaps finding nothing more to say, he didn’t press further.
“Come to think of it, I heard there was an attempted poisoning recently.”
Edwin asked casually.
“Is my sister’s health all right?”
“……Of course.”
Millard smiled softly.
“My sister is in very good health. She was just quite shaken.”
Though he was smiling, Millard’s violet eyes gleamed sharply.
Trisha swallowed a sigh.
The one who had tried to poison Hestia was Marchioness Devon.
And yet her nephew was speaking so calmly.
‘From Millard’s perspective, it must look like Edwin is deliberately provoking him.’
Of course, Edwin wasn’t calculating enough for that.
‘He probably doesn’t even know Aunt is the real culprit.’
Even if he did, he likely wouldn’t care much.
“Before we retire to our rooms, may we be shown around the estate?”
Millard asked, as if changing the subject.
“I hear the greenhouse garden of House Mason is particularly beautiful.”
“……”
Despite owning the most beautiful garden estate in Ephelverno, he deliberately mentioned the greenhouse garden.
Trisha paused, weighing whether Millard’s words were meant as a provocation toward her, then stopped thinking about it.
Either way, as long as it wasn’t made explicit, it didn’t really matter.
“If it’s the greenhouse garden, Trisha will guide you. I have some business to attend to.”
With that, Edwin disappeared, following the Emperor.
At his lack of courtesy toward the remaining guests, no one said anything aloud, but they all clicked their tongues inwardly.
“Please follow me.”
Trisha forced a smile.
After all, Edwin had always been like this.
She guided them through the estate with a polite, moderately gentle demeanor, almost like a hired attendant.
Millard couldn’t take his eyes off her back, but whenever she turned around, he averted his gaze or struck up conversation with someone else.
Millard’s violet eyes darkened.
At the same time, Hestia had already left the Imperial Palace in a plain black carriage.
Under normal circumstances, such an outing would have been unthinkable.
Both the Emperor and Millard would have vehemently opposed it.
So Hestia used her head.
She suggested to the Emperor that, in recognition of Trisha’s merit in saving her, she attend the dinner being held at House Mason.
Millard was sent in her place as well.
Thanks to that, Hestia was able to leave the palace smoothly with her escort knights.
The reason Hestia went to such lengths to go out was because of something Trisha had said.
“It was the late Empress who urged me to meet Edwin Mason.”
Hestia needed certainty.
She had to determine whether Trisha’s words were true.
To that end, Hestia sought out a maid who had long ago retired after serving the Empress.
The maid had been the Empress’s most loyal confidante.
Opening her mouth would be impossible unless the dead Empress returned to life.
‘But I’m different.’
Hestia was the successor chosen by the Empress.
When she arrived at the meeting place and waited, the other party boarded the carriage.
“It’s been a long time, Judith.”
“Lady Hest.”
A middle-aged woman with her hood pulled low bowed toward Hestia.
As soon as the carriage door closed and they were alone, Hestia asked,
“I came because there’s something I want to ask. It’s about my mother.”
“Yes. Please ask.”
Judith’s compliant attitude made Hestia hesitate instead.
Trisha’s words had been far too shocking.
“The Empress said she would kill Millard if I didn’t marry Edwin.”
“……What?”
“She must have known that Millard had feelings for me.”
That was why, while he was away at war, she tried to get rid of Trisha.
Hestia clenched her fist tightly.
