WARDV 31

CHAPTER 31

…And I regretted my decision the moment we arrived at the plaza.

“Oh my, isn’t that His Grace, the Duke of Delua?”

“And next to him… that’s the Duchess of Farnese, isn’t it?”

There were people who didn’t recognize my face, but not a single soul failed to recognize Idris, once a crown prince.

Because of that, we drew attention wherever we went.

Of course, I had braced myself for situations like this from the moment I proposed a contractual relationship with him…

‘But I can’t concentrate like this!’

The stares and hushed whispers following us were scattering my focus — and I was supposed to be checking out dress shops.

“That shop’s design isn’t bad, but it doesn’t suit popular tastes. And this one seems completely behind the trends…”

…And yet the very cause of this commotion was acting like it was just another day, focusing diligently on his mission.

I looked up at him with a mix of frustration and bemusement. Sensing my gaze, Idris looked back at me.

“What does that look mean? If you keep staring like that, my heart’s going to flutter.”

I let out a sigh and let his cheesy, now-familiar jokes pass in one ear and out the other.

‘Still, I can’t just send back someone who came all this way to help.’

I was about to suggest we head back, thinking Idris must have had other matters to attend to anyway, when—

“Daddy!”

A frightened child’s voice rang out from nearby.

When we looked toward the sound…

A little girl, maybe six or seven years old, was crying, surrounded by three men. At her side lay a man — her father, it seemed — groaning on the ground, clutching a shop’s signboard to his chest.

“Hah, really now. Look, people are going to think we beat him up. Who told him to protect the sign instead of himself?”

As the crowd’s attention gathered, the men started shouting defensively.

“Uh, we didn’t beat up an innocent guy or anything! This guy owes us money! And we weren’t trying to hit him — he just got in the way himself!”

“I didn’t skip out. I just asked for a little more time to pay it back…”

“We said we need the money now. If you don’t pay, it’s the same as running off with it, isn’t it?”

As I watched the exchange between the collectors and the man, I frowned.

Idris did the same, muttering in a cold tone.

“A classic loan shark tactic.”

They lend generously at first, then suddenly demand repayment ahead of the agreed date.

“I feel for him, but we can’t get involved. Let’s go.”

Idris added this as he gently took my hand to lead me away.

But I stood firm.

‘He’s right.’

Feeling sorry isn’t a reason to interfere. Helping that man won’t change anything.

Even if we help him now, he’ll just fall into debt again.

Unless the loan system itself is reformed, people like him will continue to appear. Countless of them.

But still…

“Hey. Hold on.”

Even if nothing changes, even if the cycle continues endlessly—

‘My actions aren’t meaningless.’

To someone — especially that frightened child and her father, who just wants to protect her — this brief interference might mean the world.

It wasn’t grand salvation. But in this moment, it could be everything.

“…Leticia?”

Ignoring Idris calling my name behind me, I stepped between the collectors and the man.

“You. Who are you with?”

The men clearly didn’t like me butting in, but they still answered readily enough.

“We’re from the Lumada Merchant Guild, milady. Is there a problem?”

Lumada Merchant Guild.

My brows furrowed at the name that slipped from their mouths.

The Lumada Guild was operated by Grand Duke Zahir — Deon.

Deon Zahir, the second prince and Idris’s older brother, was a man I personally held a grudge against.

‘He even made a pass at me after I was already married.’

No wonder they dared to harass someone so openly in broad daylight.

They had powerful backing — and that’s why they were warning me not to get involved in a grand duke’s affairs.

‘But actually, this works in my favor.’

If the one backing them is a grand duke, this will be easier to resolve.

I smirked crookedly and turned to the man crouched beside me.

“So, how much do you owe?”

The man blinked at me, stunned for a moment, then replied,

“500,000 gold…”

“500,000 gold… That’s certainly not a small sum.”

At my words, the man lowered his head in shame, while the collectors perked up, thinking I was siding with them.

“But.”

I continued with a twisted smile.

“Surely the wealthy Grand Duke Zahir wouldn’t go bankrupt over that amount?”

500,000 gold is just a little more than what an affluent commoner couple might earn in a year.

A large sum, yes — but pocket change for someone who runs a vast merchant guild like Deon.

“Unless… the Zahir household’s finances have taken a turn for the worse and I wasn’t informed?”

Feigning concern, I watched the collectors waver.

‘There are too many listening ears — they can’t risk tarnishing Deon’s reputation.’

I was about to drive the point home when Idris stepped in.

“Oh dear, if I had known my brother was in such financial trouble, I would’ve helped. Surely I wouldn’t turn my back on my only sibling in a time of need.”

“Th-that’s not what this is…!”

The collectors grew flustered as murmurs about the Zahir family spread through the crowd.

Sensing the perfect moment, I delivered the final blow.

“Hmmm… if that’s not the case, then surely you’re not trying to squeeze out extra interest before the payment date?”

The men looked stunned, speechless.

A moment later—

“W-we understand the circumstances, so we’ll let it slide for this week. But he’d better have the money ready next week!”

Hastily glancing at the watching crowd, the collectors muttered their villain-exit lines and bolted.

Smirking at their retreating backs, I locked eyes with Idris.

He let out a sigh and chuckled as if to say, “Who could ever stop you?”

I returned a smile to my perfect partner.

That’s when—

“Daddy! Waaah!”

“I’m sorry, Aria… I’m so sorry…”

The child, who had been too scared to approach, suddenly ran forward and threw herself into her father’s arms.

‘Aria…’

The name pulled at a long-buried memory.

‘At least we didn’t leave her with an even worse trauma today.’

With that thought, I helped the man lift the shop’s fallen sign.

Then something on the sign caught my attention.

[Aria’s Starlight Dresses]

Looking between the shop name and the dresses inside, I heard the man speak.

“If you don’t mind… I’d love to offer you both a cup of tea. Do you have a moment?”

I glanced toward Idris as if asking for his opinion, and he simply shrugged his shoulders in agreement.

We followed the man into the store.

He went upstairs to prepare the tea, leaving us alone with Aria on the first floor.

The girl had hidden behind the staircase, peeking at us with just her eyes visible.

She seemed shy, but curious — as if wanting to interact but not quite brave enough to approach.

I was about to speak when Idris beat me to it.

“Hello there, little lady. What’s your name?”

Surprisingly, Idris seemed very good with children.

‘Ah, probably because of the young crown prince.’

I recalled the little prince who’d come running to Idris at the palace not long ago and nodded inwardly.

After hesitating a moment, the girl quietly answered.

“…Aria.”