Chapter 99
Chesion quietly followed Gremory from a distance.
Eventually, Gremory climbed into a carriage engraved with the Ortega Duke’s crest. With that damn Kenneth Ortega.
Chesion debated a million times whether to block the carriage and grab Mori right then.
But he gave up. There were too many people around. A lord couldn’t be seen clinging to his lover in the middle of the street. That would be shameful not only for him but for Mori as well.
In the end, Chession decided to follow the carriage secretly. He planned to stop it once it left the city, where there were no eyes watching.
“I can’t just let Mori go like this. I don’t care if I look pathetic—I need to hear her reasons…!”
He got into a nearby rental carriage, handing the coachman a fistful of coins. The coachman didn’t recognize him and grinned widely.
“Wow, a rich gentleman! Where to, sir?”
“Follow that damn duke’s carriage.”
“Eh? That’s the Ortega Duke’s carriage. If we follow it recklessly, we might get in trouble…”
“Never mind. I’ll just find another carriage.”
“I’ll do my best to tail them!”
Chesion was dying inside. What kind of conversation were Mori and Kenneth having in that luxurious carriage? His overly vivid imagination was eating away at him.
Meanwhile, inside the carriage, the conversation was less romantic and more diabolical.
“I’m not helping you for free. If Edel asks something from Ortega in the future, you’d better comply without complaint.”
“What? I thought we agreed on jewels!”
“That’s not enough. I’m saving one of the four great ducal houses of the Empire. Do you think mere jewels suffice? Plus, I even healed your sister’s throat.”
“I already gave everything I had to that witch Lace or whatever. Now you’re trying to strip me bare too? You’re ruthless.”
“I’ll get back everything she took. If you don’t like it, I’ll just leave.”
“Ugh, fine! I’ll give you whatever you want!”
“Write the contract. Now.”
“Argh!”
Seizing the opportunity, Gremory scribbled a rough contract on the back of Lace’s portrait and handed it to Kenneth.
‘If Edel requests something from Ortega in the future, Ortega must comply without objection.’
Kenneth’s face stiffened strangely as he read the contract. It reminded him of how Catherine suffered after recklessly making a deal with a demon.
“They say you have to be extremely cautious when contracting with demons.”
“Are you scared I’ll swallow up the Ortega Duchy with this contract?”
“Just add a few clauses. Like only fulfilling requests that won’t severely harm the Ortega house.”
“This is why knowledgeable humans are such a pain.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Wait—were you actually planning to take over my duchy?”
Gremory said nothing, only staring off into the distance. Kenneth hastily scribbled the additional clauses.
Finally, the contract was complete. Though a bit cumbersome, Gremory was satisfied. Ortega would have to tread carefully around Edel now. That alone would make the sharper nobles turn favorably toward Edel—especially in places like the noble council, where tedious mind games ran rampant.
‘This contract will be useful for Chession.’
She thought of it as a bonus birthday gift and tucked it away with pride.
The carriage eventually left the city and rolled into a forest path. While staring out the window, Gremory suddenly spotted a patch of poisonous mushrooms.
“Wait. Stop the carriage.”
She leaned out the window and called to the driver. The carriage halted, and Gremory stepped down carrying a strange-looking basket.
She began picking the bright red mushrooms, carefully choosing only the freshest and largest ones.
Kenneth, who had followed her out, looked at the mushrooms with disgust.
“Hey, those are deadly poisonous! Don’t tell me you’re giving them to the Grand Duke?”
“Yeah.”
“Be honest. Are you trying to poison him?”
“Think what you want.”
Ignoring the noisy redhead, Gremory focused on picking mushrooms. Then she suddenly sensed a familiar presence and looked up.
“Huh? Chession?”
Chession strode toward them with a fierce expression. He summoned his sword and pointed its tip at Kenneth’s throat.
“You.”
“W-what is this?”
“Get out of my territory. Now.”
Kenneth stumbled back in shock. As he took one step back, Chession advanced two steps forward.
“I—I’m leaving, aren’t I? Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”
“If you crawl back into my territory chasing after Mori again, I won’t let you go so easily next time.”
“Wait, Your Grace, there must be some misunderstanding…”
“Mori, stop picking mushrooms. Let’s go home.”
Chession’s voice was cold and eerie as he held back his anger. Mori blinked, not understanding.
“What? You don’t want me going to his place that badly?”
“Would anyone like it? Mori, I think I’m really disappointed in you right now.”
His face twisted. Seeing Gremory so calm in the middle of all this made his emotions boil over.
“Why are you suddenly disappointed?”
“Do you really not understand why?”
“Nope.”
“Mori, I knew you were emotionally dull compared to others, but I didn’t expect you to be this twisted.”
“Why are you so angry, anyway?”
“You said you were sick of me and then jumped into another man’s carriage. And as if that wasn’t enough, now you’re planning to poison me—with what’s in that basket!”
“?”
Gremory stared at her precious basket. It was filled with ingredients for a valuable gift. What was he even talking about?
“Help me understand, Mori. What the hell did I do so wrong that you’d go this far? I don’t think I’ve ever done anything to deserve being poisoned.”
“You’re misunderstanding. I’m not trying to poison you.”
“Then why’d you pick those mushrooms?”
“…Can’t say.”
Because it’s for a surprise.
“Mori, please!”
“Anyway, they’re not for killing you. I have my reasons.”
“What reasons?”
“Reasons I can’t tell you.”
“…We’ll talk more at home. Let’s go.”
Chession grabbed her hand and tried to pull her along, but she stood firm.
“You’re just going to leave like this?”
“What else do you want to do here?”
“We can’t let Lace keep rampaging in that redhead’s house. She might cause something worse later.”
“What? Lace?”
“Didn’t Iris tell you? Lace has taken over their house. I’m going to kick her out.”
“?”
“Guess you missed Iris. I told her to pass the message to you.”
“Hold on. Why would you go alone for something that serious?”
“They say Lace has a power that seduces men. I didn’t want you to be in danger, so I planned to go alone.”
Chession’s face turned red. Kenneth scoffed.
“Hah. I don’t know what kind of misunderstanding this is, but wasn’t it a bit much to draw your sword first?”
“…Shut up. I’ve got a headache.”
“If your head hurts, maybe you should rest at the Grand Duke’s manor. The weaker your condition, the more likely the witch will seduce you.”
“You should come to the manor too.”
“Pardon? Why me?”
“You’re a man. If she seduces men, you’re a target too.”
Kenneth couldn’t argue with that. After all, if he lost his mind again and went back to the ducal estate, who knew what would happen?
“Well… that’s true. But still, I do need to return home.”
“After Mori handles everything, then go back. You’d only get in the way otherwise.”
“But…”
“You’ll be treated with the utmost hospitality. Please come to the manor.”
“…”
A chilling and forceful invitation. With no choice, Kenneth got into Chession’s rental carriage.
It was tiny. The two men had to sit side by side all the way to the Grand Duke’s manor, sharing a painfully awkward silence.
Leaving the two behind, Gremory headed to the Ortega Duchy alone.
Later that night…
The carriage arrived at the Ortega estate.
Catherine, hiding in the bushes near the gate, trembled as she spotted her brother’s carriage and rushed out.
“Brother! Why are you so late? We’re in big trouble!”
“Uh, yeah. I’m back.”
Gremory jumped down from the carriage. When only she appeared, Catherine panicked.
“Mori? Why are you here alone? Where’s my brother?”
“He’s staying at the Edel manor for now. So, what’s the big trouble?”
“The female servants tried to kick Lace out together, but they failed! Now they’re all locked in the basement, and I’m the one who has to be that crazy witch’s handmaid!”
“Perfect. You’ve got Rilkena flowers in your garden, right?”
“Yes, but why?”
“Brew some tea with them. Right now.”
