CHAPTER 109…….
“Ah! I can’t let go… ugh…!”
Feydan was almost dragged by Deon’s men to Duke Zahir’s mansion.
His subordinates roughly pushed him into the reception room and shut the door behind him.
Left alone, Feydan bit his lips and racked his brain.
‘This time, they’ll definitely demand the interest… What should I do?’
Lost in thought, he suddenly caught a faint scent of flowers.
It was drifting in through the open window.
‘Wait, this is the second floor… If I jump from here…’
Feydan hurried to the window and looked around.
But with the walls so high and the guards so vigilant, even if he managed to jump safely to the ground floor, escaping would be impossible.
Resigning himself to giving up on running, he began thinking of an excuse to postpone the interest payment.
At that moment:
“Not easy to catch a glimpse of you, Duke.”
The reception room door opened, and Deon appeared. He was in a knight’s gown, as if he had been in the mansion the whole time.
“Y-your Highness.”
“Why are you pacing by the window? Sit and wait comfortably.”
Feydan, worried that his attempt to escape might be discovered, quickly turned and sat in his seat.
He carefully opened his mouth, gauging Deon’s expression:
“It seems you were resting… I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“Exactly. If you had just paid the interest on the promised date, I wouldn’t have needed to call you here.”
Feydan had expected the topic of money, of course, but he hadn’t anticipated that Deon would go straight to the point—and he flinched.
“I-I’m sorry. I’ve been… distracted…”
“So the interest is ready, then?”
“Well… I don’t have cash on hand at the moment…”
“So, you’re saying you’re unable to pay the interest?”
“I… I poured all my liquid funds into this business, putting everything on the line. So…”
“And it failed, I presume. Miserably enough that you can’t even pay the interest, let alone the principal.”
“……”
“It’s unfortunate your endeavor didn’t succeed, but what can I do? I’m not one to dig up the earth to make a living either.”
Feydan hung his head low.
He had never, in his life, had his pride so openly trampled by someone else.
His whole body trembled with humiliation, but the hardest part was…
That he couldn’t even argue against it.
Suppressing his boiling anger, Feydan parted his trembling lips and bowed before Deon.
“Please, give me just a little more time. As you know, selling assets takes time. Give me four days, and I will repay you without fail…”
“Duke. You’re not the first person to speak to me like that, you know?”
Deon’s flat, chilling voice settled over Feydan like a shadow.
“The fate of those who spoke like that was all too similar—boringly so.”
“……”
“They eventually couldn’t handle their debts, ran away, were caught, had their assets seized, and ended up wandering the streets in a life worse than death—at least, that’s the rumor.”
Feydan instinctively felt it.
He wanted to argue, to deny it.
But he knew that if things continued as they were, his end would not be much different from those in Deon’s story.
“I-I… I will be different. Just give me a little more time!”
“You should be different. You must. It’s unfair for someone who’s lived diligently all this time to meet such a fate. Meanwhile, the woman who betrayed you is thriving.”
Deon’s words naturally brought Leticia to Feydan’s mind.
The one responsible for dragging him into such misery.
Watching Feydan’s face contort, Deon sighed, almost as if feeling pity.
“So… I have a proposal for you.”
A proposal?
Feydan looked at Deon, puzzled.
“At the upcoming hunting festival, meet Lady Chloe and persuade her.”
The name, coming out of nowhere, left him dumbfounded.
“Leticia…?”
“I haven’t heard of a formal divorce between the two of you yet. So, perhaps the wife could help pay her husband’s debt?”
At that moment, Feydan recalled Leticia’s reaction at the café earlier:
“In the end, it’s your own fault you’re in this situation.”
There was no way Leticia would willingly pay his debt.
Just as he was about to argue that persuading her was impossible, Deon added:
“Ah, of course, if words don’t work, you may need to use some force.”
Feydan froze at the word force.
‘Force… you mean…?’
Could it be exactly what he thought?
“You mean… force…?”
Deon clicked his tongue in disdain.
“Do I really have to tell you that as well? Or are you too principled to act?”
It was only then that Feydan understood the meaning of Deon’s force, and his gaze wavered.
“Think carefully. That woman has betrayed you and insulted you, even while you’ve been considerate.”
“……”
“Even if you remain loyal, you’ll just be a fool.”
Feydan, silently listening, began to steel his eyes.
Deon was right. If he stayed passive, he would only end up pitiful.
Leticia, the one who abandoned him, would flourish.
The thought alone made his anger surge, grinding his teeth.
Watching this, Deon smiled with satisfaction and threw the final bait.
“Well? Will you accept my proposal?”
Watching the carriage carrying Feydan depart, Deon left the reception room.
A satisfied smile lingered on his lips as he headed toward the bedroom.
“Just as she said it would turn out.”
When Deon entered the bedroom, she greeted him.
“Welcome back, Your Highness.”
It was Elise.
She stepped forward as if she had been waiting, slipping into Deon’s arms and asking,
“Did Feydan understand your proposal?”
“Yes. Everything went exactly as you said. At first, he hesitated foolishly, but after I pushed him a bit, he quickly resolved himself.”
Deon planned to deal with Ludian at the hunting festival.
But since the founding festival incident, Idris had been watching his every move.
The plan was at high risk of failing.
Then, he thought of a way to divert Idris’s attention.
What if he put Leticia, Idris’s lover, in danger?
Idris would naturally focus on Leticia, and the guards around Ludian would inevitably falter.
Just as he devised the plan to bring Leticia down, the tea party incident occurred.
The enemy of my enemy can be a friend.
Seizing the opportunity, Deon brought Elise, who bore a grudge against Leticia.
Elise carried out her role flawlessly.
“Use Feydan Farnese, Your Highness.”
“…Duke Farnese?”
“He’s consumed by his inferiority complex toward Leticia Chloe.”
“Ah.”
“If you corner him and make him believe that all his misfortunes are caused by Leticia Chloe, he’ll quickly fall in line.”
Everything went according to her plan.
Without lifting a hand himself, Deon could put Leticia in danger.
“But… she’s your old lover. Are you sure it’s okay not to greet her?”
Elise’s eyes narrowed.
“I’ve told you many times—I’m ashamed of the past me who trusted him.”
Elise nestled into Deon’s embrace and whispered,
“Now, I have only you, my Emperor.”
Deon leisurely held her close.
Since everything had gone according to her plan, he could afford a brief moment of tenderness.
The day of the hunting festival arrived.
Idris and I boarded the carriage wearing the couple’s riding outfits specially made by Amon for today.
The suddenly humid weather felt stifling.
Opening the windows and drawing back the curtains, cool air filled the carriage.
The forest, lush and deep green in summer, stretched before us.
As I gazed around, a gentle voice, soft as a summer breeze, spoke nearby:
“The weather is perfect. A good day for my pupil to show their skill.”
“My pupil?”
“The student I’ve been diligently training in riding for some time.”
Idris’s gaze turned toward me.
Finally understanding, I smiled lightly and replied,
“I’ll do my best to live up to your expectations, Master.”
Exchanging lighthearted jokes as usual, the carriage arrived at the royal hunting grounds.
Escorted by Idris, I stepped down, catching the eyes of the assembled nobles.
Among them, I also met Feydan’s gaze.
