VRGB 06

Chapter 6

‘What the…?’

He lifted his head and looked around. Every gentleman in the club awkwardly turned away whenever their eyes met his.

But once he turned his head, they would sneak glances back at him as if unable to contain their curiosity—it was obvious even from the corner of his eye.

‘What in the world is going on?’

A dreadful premonition crept over him.

Baron Varden desperately looked around at the gentlemen, hoping someone would approach and explain the strange atmosphere, or at least offer a hint.

But as if on cue, everyone avoided his gaze—either hiding behind their newspapers or suddenly pretending to be absorbed in conversation with those beside them.

‘There!’

Amid the crowd, the baron spotted a familiar face, and his eyes lit up.

The man who made eye contact with him quickly buried his face in his book, but the baron was already striding over to him.

Even without looking, he could feel the stares sticking to him with every step.

He quickly took the seat across from the man and greeted him.

“Lord Exinum.”

“Ahem, Baron Varden.”

At this point, the viscount could no longer feign ignorance.

Viscount Exinum, as if surprised by the baron’s approach, finally lowered his book and gave a slight nod.

The baron leaned in and whispered.

“The atmosphere is strange. What on earth is going on?”

“Well… That is… Hmm. I’m not sure how to explain.”

“So something has happened, hasn’t it? Please, speak plainly!”

Frustrated, the baron leaned in further.

The viscount awkwardly pulled away and grabbed the newspaper lying on the windowsill.

“I take it you haven’t read today’s paper yet?”

“No, not yet. I meant to, but something felt off… What’s in there?”

Without waiting, the baron snatched the newspaper from his hands.

“Front page,” the viscount said, pulling out his cigarette case. He glanced sideways at the baron.

Everyone in the club was now openly staring at him. Even the attendant who was serving brandy stood frozen, still holding the glass. But since the gentleman who ordered the drink was also staring wide-eyed in the baron’s direction, no one complained.

The baron’s eyes grew as wide as dessert spoons as he scanned the page.

“What is this nonsense?!”

“Duke Desmier Appointed Guardian of Count Estel’s Heir”

“On the morning of the 10th, His Majesty the Emperor officially appointed Duke Desmier as guardian of Miss Kalia Estel and acting Count of Estel.”

“Duke Desmier had requested an urgent audience with His Majesty on the night of the 9th, after which he was appointed both guardian of Miss Estel and acting Count in charge of the Estelia estate. The Duke stated, ‘The late Duchess was very close with the Countess of Estel. In a recently discovered diary, we learned that she was also Miss Kalia’s godmother, which is why I requested guardianship.’”

“Accordingly, Duke Desmier will exercise full legal authority as Miss Estel’s guardian until she reaches adulthood at age 19. Miss Estel will move into the Duke’s capital residence, while the Estel estate and manor will now be managed by the Desmier household.”

“Meanwhile, the previous guardian and acting Count for the past seven years—her maternal uncle, Baron Gareth Varden—has not responded to the matter.”

“Th-this… this is outrageous!”

Baron Varden slammed the table in fury.

Viscount Exinum quickly lifted his cigarette case again.

“Ahem, Baron, please… calm yourself.”

“Do I look calm to you, Lord Exinum?! This is robbery in broad daylight!”

The baron was practically leaping in rage.

“What? The late duchess was close to Marina? I swear to you, that woman and Marina never even so much as brushed past each other in a hallway!”

“Well, that… that may be, but… Baron, calling the Duchess ‘that woman’—please, show some decorum…”

Seeing the uncomfortable expression on Exinum’s face, the baron finally composed himself and glanced around.

Everyone in the Opur Club was watching him.

Their expressions were laced with thinly veiled curiosity and, like Exinum, discomfort.

Goosebumps crawled down the baron’s neck.

Until yesterday, he believed he was one of them.

That he stood among the nobles who ruled the empire—on equal footing.

But today, after insulting a duchess still revered by many and losing the title of acting Count of Estel, Baron Varden… could no longer feel a sense of belonging.

Suddenly, the air smelled foreign, like something from a distant continent.

“L-Lord Varden! Sir!”

Just then, the club doors burst open and a servant rushed in, panting heavily.

He scanned the room and ran toward the baron, nearly in tears.

“M-my lord, you must return to the manor immediately!”

“What now?!”

The baron roared, but even as he raised his voice, the article he’d just read replayed coldly in his mind.

“S-someone from the Desmier estate showed up and said w-we all have to leave…”

The servant was close to sobbing as he tried to explain the situation, but nothing could compare to the shock the baron was feeling in that moment.

“…Let’s go.”

Baron Varden stormed out the door. His servant staggered after him, and the baron’s fedora, loosened in the chaos, fluttered to the ground.

After the two had vanished like the wind, the gentlemen of Opur Club began chatting excitedly about what kind of seismic shift this event would cause in the empire.

The baron, having whipped the horses mercilessly the whole way, arrived at the manor in record time and tumbled out of the carriage.

The once-proud Estel estate was now a marketplace of chaos.

“No! This is our home! No one can throw us out! Put that down immediately!”

The baroness had discarded all noble dignity, shouting through tears as she clung desperately to the Desmier servants removing their belongings.

Unwilling to lay hands on a noble lady, the servants looked deeply uncomfortable and hesitated.

“What… What is the meaning of this?”

“My dear!”

The baron approached with a hollow expression. The servant backed away, abandoning the luggage for now.

The baroness collapsed into her husband’s arms, sobbing.

“Someone from the Desmier family suddenly showed up and said we have to leave… that we’re being evicted! It’s not true, is it? Why would the Duke’s household suddenly appear?!”

She pounded her fists against his chest in anguish. The baron held her, watching as their servants, clothes, and household items were all unceremoniously expelled from the estate.

Then both the baron and baroness froze in horror at what they saw.

“Helena!”

The baroness screamed and ran toward the front door.

“Hello, Uncle. Aunt.”

Helena stepped out unsteadily, pale. Behind her appeared Kalia.

“You… You dare… You did this to us?” the baron stammered, staring in disbelief.

Kalia murmured, as if to herself, “Family is family, huh? You all react the same.”

She smiled faintly.

“Of course. Did you like my gift?”

Her violet irises shimmered beneath her half-closed eyes.

“I told you, didn’t I? You’d find out soon.”

After my outburst last night, I had been locked up in the third-floor punishment room, lying awake all night.

I hadn’t had a single sip of water, but I didn’t care. The anticipation alone was enough to soothe my thirst.

In the morning, I watched through the small window as the baron left in his carriage, and then waited patiently.

The duke had always been efficient—it was a marvel, even in the past.

Sure enough, before long, carriages bearing the Desmier crest began rolling in, one after another.

‘Finally!’

A thrill coursed through me.

The fools guarding the manor entrance couldn’t even attempt to stop them.

They merely panicked, stumbling about until someone began stepping out of the lead carriage—and then opened the gate immediately.

Using the dusty window as a mirror, I fixed my hair. Time to greet the guests.

The glass was small and murky, but it still reflected my messy black hair and pale face clearly enough.

The noise downstairs grew louder and closer.

Knock knock.

Two polite knocks. A click, and the door opened.

Behind the trembling Ashley—who held the key—stood unfamiliar servants, lined up down the hallway.

At the front was an elderly man with white-streaked hair who bowed deeply to me.

“I’ve come to escort you, Lady Estel.”

A wide smile spread across my face in the reflection.

I turned around as the man lifted his head.

“I am Obed Miller, steward of the House of Desmier. By the Duke’s command, I’ve come to escort you.”

“Pleased to meet you, Sir Obed.”

Whatever the duke had told him, the professional butler betrayed no expression.

He spoke efficiently, no wasted words.

“Please tell me what you wish to bring to the Duke’s residence, and I will pack it.”

“There’s nothing I want to take.”

I turned to the side and locked eyes with Ashley, still trembling by the door.

“There’s only something I want to throw away.”

I stepped closer to the door. Ashley’s trembling intensified.

Standing beside her, I watched the color drain from her face, and I savored it.

I grabbed the edge of her spotless white apron.

I had waited so long for this moment!

“Ashley, you’re fired.”

“No!”

Ashley let out a scream.