Chapter 99
He had expected that he would be exposed someday, but when the moment actually arrived, Ian’s heart still sank. He began running through the various business and political ties targeting Count Parden, thinking hard about what he should do next.
Since it’s come to this, perhaps…
While feeling the unease of having his tail stepped on, Ian wondered if he should just openly tighten the noose around Count Parden. That was when Aisha’s voice cut through his tangled thoughts.
Ian.
The vision of Aisha before his eyes was smiling brightly, unlike the day before. Her face was lit with a happy, clear smile, and her voice was cheerful. It was only an illusion, but the moment he saw and heard it, Ian froze.
…Strange.
Though his complicated feelings remained, his fingertips turned cold as his reason returned. He grasped something he had nearly overlooked while drowning in the worry of being exposed.
…Ungrateful bastard.
He recalled Edward’s cryptic words, along with the expression he had worn at the time. If Edward had truly known that Ian’s aim was revenge, would he, with his cautious nature, have dared to show open hostility?
Of course not. It’s much more likely he sensed the business dealings and felt betrayed…
Ian judged that Edward—and by extension, Count Parden—likely did not know that his ultimate goal was revenge. And even if the Count did know, the fact that he had killed Wilkins was still strange.
He was the one who fed him gold and sent him to another country. So why kill him now?
Of course, as the Duke had subtly suggested, it could have been because he feared an old buried crime might be exposed. But even so, there were too many suspicious points.
How had the Count even known that Wilkins was being brought back to the Empire? And if he knew, why hadn’t he dealt with him earlier—why wait until he entered the capital to strike?
Naturally, it was possible everything had just lined up by coincidence. Though who could say what the odds of that were.
No need to act rashly. I’ll see how far… no, how much the Count actually knows, based on his next moves.
Ian also remembered that the Duke had not answered when he asked why the attack had happened. At the same time, his suspicion shifted.
…The one I can trust least is him.
Ian muttered inwardly as he once more examined Wilkins’s corpse, lying in the cold underground chamber. The Duke, watching Ian from the corner of his eye, let out a sigh audible only to himself.
The carriage rolled away down the road. From the window, Duke Levantus watched the carriage carrying Ian recede from the estate, clicking his tongue in disapproval.
“…Tch. He’s done for.”
The brown-haired man standing behind him sensed his master’s displeasure and stiffened with tension. The Duke ignored his subordinate’s unease, keeping his gaze fixed outside as he spoke.
“Leak little bits about the Marquis’s schemes to Count Parden.”
“Sir? But…”
The man hesitated, as if urging his master to reconsider, but the Duke paid him no mind. Still staring at the distant carriage, he continued.
“It’s a shame to throw away over two years of work, but the beast I’ve raised is showing signs of baring its fangs at its master instead of bringing down the prey. Worse, if I’m not careful, it may side with the prey and turn against me.”
“…”
“So now I’ll have to provoke both beast and prey into fighting each other. At the very least, that will keep them from thinking of attacking me—and if I’m lucky…”
The carriage had now shrunk to a mere dot. When it disappeared entirely from sight, the Duke narrowed his eyes and murmured:
“…I’ll be able to take both down once they’re completely worn out.”
The Emperor granted an audience to the delegation from the Kingdom of Asta much sooner than expected. As a result, Iskan, who had been staying at the Parden estate, was headed to the Imperial Palace just three days later.
For Aisha, who had been avoiding Iskan and practically locking herself in her room ever since receiving his shocking proposal, this was a blessing. When she heard he would be leaving, she let out a breath of relief without realizing it.
Still… he’s an important guest of the family. I should see him off.
On the day of his departure, Aisha thought it over for a long time before leaving her room. Iskan, who had been looking around for her, broke into a bright smile when she appeared, running over to her at once.
“It’s such a shame I have to leave already.”
“…”
“But don’t worry too much. We’ll see each other again soon. And next time we meet, I truly hope—”
“…”
“—that you’ll have had a change of heart and give me a good answer.”
His friendly smile was as dazzling as his handsome features. But Aisha only found it burdensome that he was drawing close and speaking so suggestively about his proposal.
“Your Highness.”
Edward, having heard of the incident from Aisha, stepped in to stand between his sister and Iskan. Noticing something odd in the crown prince’s gaze, Daniel quickly moved behind Aisha and gently pulled her back.
As Iskan craned his neck to try and see Aisha between her brothers, Count Parden, who had been silently watching, cleared his throat.
“Ahem. Your Highness, it’s time.”
Even his aide Imir came forward with an expression urging him to hurry. Iskan’s face turned regretful. After a brief hesitation, he called out toward Aisha, who stood behind Edward.
“Aisha. Please, at least keep your promise to dance with me.”
It was not a playful tone, but a courteous, formal request. At first, Aisha looked puzzled, then recalled the moment before the dinner when she had promised to dance with him at the welcoming banquet.
Though she wanted to avoid meeting him after that outrageous proposal to be his seventh wife, she considered the family’s ongoing dealings and decided that a single dance would not be too much. She stepped out from between her brothers and nodded.
Iskan’s face lit up with a radiant smile as he boarded the carriage. Count Parden, fearing the crown prince might say something else unnecessary to his daughter, urged the driver to depart quickly.
The carriage sped away faster than usual, soon passing through the main gates. As it vanished down the road, the three Parden siblings turned back toward the mansion.
“That crown prince is… seriously insane.”
As they entered the house, Daniel spat curses at Iskan several times. Having just learned the details from Edward, he was outraged that Iskan had proposed to his sister—especially knowing the man already had six wives.
“Six wives… and he proposes to you? Honestly, why do the weird ones always end up chasing after you?”
Daniel, after several more insults aimed at Iskan, suddenly glanced at Aisha walking beside him and made a snide remark. Realizing instantly who he was including in his comment about “weird ones,” Aisha’s face darkened, and Edward’s expression hardened as well.
“Daniel.”
Edward’s voice was stern. Though Daniel flinched at his brother’s expression, his irritation soon flared and he grumbled loudly.
“What? It’s true. Honestly, the problem is this family still hasn’t cut ties with that bastard.”
Ever since witnessing Ian and Helen together, Daniel had assumed that, like him, his mother and Edward wanted Aisha to sever ties with Ian. But for some reason, both had gone quiet, and Aisha herself said nothing about Ian.
The family had fallen silent without him, and Daniel believed they were all avoiding the issue—something that gnawed at him daily.
“Daniel!”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it. I’m going. I guess someone like me, who only stirs up trouble at home, should just disappear.”
With an exaggerated shrug, Daniel left. Edward shot him one last glare but, knowing how his younger brother felt, said nothing more.
I can’t explain it to him…
Edward looked after his retreating brother with a heavy expression. He too wanted Aisha and Ian to break off the engagement. But after recently learning of Ian’s scheming and the strange matters surrounding him, he could not speak carelessly.
Mother, Aisha is not the same as before. And we’ve already uncovered exactly what that ungrateful bastard has been doing behind our backs. There’s nothing more to consider. We need to tell her everything, have her cut him off completely, and push for the annulment—no matter what Father says.
Just wait a little longer. It’ll all be settled by the end of this month.
What… is there something I don’t know? Aside from the business issues?
…I can’t tell you yet. But even when it’s resolved, the outcome for Aisha will be the same. Your father may want to give Ian another chance, but… there’s no way. The insolent wretch.
Though Marisa’s voice was filled with anger, Edward had clearly seen that her eyes held more bitterness than fury, and so he asked no further.
“Don’t dwell on it.”
“…Okay.”
Suppressing a rising headache, Edward glanced at Aisha. She, too, was looking after Daniel’s back, then nodded faintly and resumed walking.
“That young lady…”
It was just as the siblings were crossing the first-floor hall toward the stairs when a maid hesitantly approached, holding out a letter to Aisha.
The seal of the Marquis of Lloyd was stamped clearly upon it. Aisha’s expression tightened ever so slightly, but she did not refuse it. She took the letter, broke the seal on the spot, and began to read.
The letter was fairly long, but most of the opening was pleasantries and meaningless chatter. The true purpose lay at the end:
This upcoming banquet will be an important occasion, with many guests attending. I remember what you said before, but… as your fiancé, I would like the chance to be your partner.
It was a careful request from Ian, asking her to accompany him to the welcoming banquet for the Asta Kingdom’s delegation. Aisha let out a short, incredulous laugh without meaning to.
Technically, it was a reasonable request for a fiancé to make. But the circumstances were hardly ordinary. It had only been the other day that she had shouted she didn’t want to see him, didn’t even want to think about him—and now he sent her a letter under the pretext of the banquet?
Aisha’s mood sank sharply.
