Chapter 62
“To the Esteemed Countess Edmond,
Susan is adapting exceptionally well to her new life in Herkeni. She has become so enamored with the southern climate and environment that she openly declares she has no intention of returning to the capital.
Therefore, I humbly request that the ownership of the Bayton Guild’s shop and merchant ships, which you entrusted to Susan, be transferred to the Edens. Susan has no aptitude for managing a trading guild and expects me to handle all the troublesome affairs on her behalf.
When Susan eventually has a child, that child will inherit the title of Marquis Eden, so consider this a temporary arrangement to safeguard these assets for your future grandchild.
If you need time to think, I am happy to wait. However, I must inform you that the one losing patience here is not me, but Susan.
Sincerely,
Elliot Eden, Lord of Herkeni.”
—
It had only been a month. A mere month since Susan had rushed through her wedding and moved to the south with Elliot.
“Is this supposed to be a threat? Is he holding Susan hostage to manipulate me?”
Rita’s habit of referring to someone she disliked as “this one” didn’t change, even when it came to her son-in-law. She crumpled the letter in her fist before throwing it to the ground and grinding it under her shoe.
“How dare a mere marquis threaten Rita Edmond?”
She should have been suspicious from the start, back when Elliot was spouting a flowery confession about falling in love with Susan at first sight. Clearly, he had been scheming to ensnare her naïve daughter from the very beginning.
Rita blamed herself for momentarily overlooking the harsh truth she had learned from experience: true love didn’t exist. How could she allow her daughter to fall into the same trap she once did?
“But why Susan? The Edens have no connection to us—no grudges, no shared history, not even the faintest of ties.”
She trembled with fury, lamenting her failure to foresee this disastrous match. Her anger wasn’t only about her misjudgment; she was livid at the thought of her precious daughter’s life being tarnished.
Rita had conducted a thorough investigation into the Eden family before the marriage. She was a woman who excelled at uncovering every detail about people and their families, so it hadn’t been difficult.
Unlike Stefan, who focused on the personalities of the family members, Rita’s research prioritized their honor and wealth.
“A southern lord coveting a handful of shops and ships? It makes no sense. He’ll surely demand even more in time.”
Concluding this, Rita wasted no time summoning her subordinates. Fortunately, both her son and daughter-in-law were out of the mansion, allowing her to act without interference.
Rita’s loyal agents were scattered throughout the duchy—guards, servants, even some of the duke’s close associates were under her influence.
“We’ll have to investigate the Marquis Eden again.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Two of you will go to Herkeni to check on Susan’s well-being. The rest of you will find out where the marquis is and what he’s up to. Understood?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
After dismissing the others, one person remained in Rita’s chambers.
“What would you have me do, ma’am?”
“…Keep an eye on Stefan as usual.”
“Wouldn’t it be wiser to seek the duke’s assistance?”
Rita sneered at the suggestion.
“Nothing would change. As always, I command, and you obey. That’s all there is to it.”
“But if it concerns Miss Susan, the duke would surely—”
“Enough.” Rita cut him off with a sharp hiss, swallowing her anger.
“When did you start forming opinions? Don’t forget your place, Thomas. You’re just the Edmond family’s butler.”
“…Understood, ma’am.”
Bowing his head, Thomas turned and left the room. As he stepped out, his green eyes glinted coldly, devoid of emotion.
—
Finn shoved Aileen into the study as though tossing a piece of luggage. Aileen, who had been glaring daggers at him, redirected her gaze toward Stefan, seated on the sofa.
“Your Grace, isn’t this treatment a bit too rude?”
“……”
“I’m Susan’s friend. More importantly, I’m the friend of your wife—Rachel.”
Stefan found Aileen’s inability to recognize her wrongdoing laughable. The way she brazenly used the word “friend” without hesitation was pathetic to him.
“I apologize, Lady Blanche. Please, have a seat.”
“……”
“I’ve never had a friend in my life, so I wouldn’t know. But is stealing something precious to a friend and selling it considered friendship?”
“St-stealing and selling it? What do you mean?”
Stefan smiled faintly at her, whose face had turned bright red, and placed two bags on the table. Aileen’s eyes widened to the size of saucers when she recognized the bags immediately.
“H-how did you get those…?”
“I retrieved them on Susan’s behalf as her brother.”
“Pardon?”
“I couldn’t leave them in such a dangerous place. Who knows who else might have stolen them?”
Startled by his words, Aileen quickly opened the bags to check their contents. Seeing the gold boxes she had placed inside still intact, she let out a sigh of relief and began spinning excuses.
“Your Grace, I think there’s been some misunderstanding. These gold boxes were prepared by Rachel and me for Susan.”
“Oh, by selling the garnet ring I gave my wife?”
“Susan sent me a letter saying she urgently needed money. After reading it, Rachel told me to sell the garnet ring if necessary to help her. So, you see, it was with Rachel’s approval.”
Shifting all the blame onto Rachel, Aileen swallowed nervously, as if trying to bury the fact that she had received another letter in addition to the one from Susan.
“My wife was deceived by you into making that decision, Lady Blanche.”
“W-what do you mean by that?”
“Because there was never a letter from Susan in the first place.”
“Your Grace, I most certainly received a letter from Susan.”
“Then bring me every letter you’ve received. All of them.”
“A-all of them?”
“That includes the letters from Marquis Eden. Bring them all to me.”
As Stefan’s gaze burned into her like fire, Aileen’s shoulders slumped.
‘How much does Duke Edmond know? Could he have figured out that I introduced Marquis Eden to Susan just to humiliate her?’
It was only now, trembling in fear, that Aileen realized she had dug her own grave.
If Elliot found out about the stolen gold boxes, he’d be furious. But at this moment, Stefan sitting before her seemed like the most terrifying person in the world.
“Shall I send someone to the Blanche estate right now?”
“Pardon?”
“Have you forgotten that Duke Edmond has investigative authority within the capital?”
“……”
“If there’s evidence that someone has harmed the duchy, I have the authority to personally interrogate and gather evidence.”
At Stefan’s words, Aileen immediately prostrated herself on the floor, bowing her head.
“Your Grace, the letters I received from Marquis Eden have all been burned. I only have Susan’s letter, but if you wish, I’ll bring it to you.”
“Are you certain it was Susan’s handwriting?”
“Yes, I’m absolutely sure it was her handwriting.”
Stefan’s tense expression softened slightly, as if he found her trembling on the floor convincing.
“Lady Blanche, do not meddle in Susan and Marquis Eden’s affairs again. If you comply, I won’t hold you accountable further.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Then you may leave.”
“Th-thank you, Your Grace.”
Aileen, whose legs had gone numb from kneeling in fear, stumbled as she rose but hurried out of the room. She was desperate to leave before the duke could change his mind and summon her back.
Stefan, watching her retreating figure, offered a seemingly kind gesture.
“I’ll have someone escort you back to the Blanche estate.”
“N-no, thank you. Your words alone are more than enough.”
As Aileen scurried out of the study, Stefan muttered to himself, “It’s best if you return to the Blanche estate immediately.”
However, thinking she had narrowly escaped danger, Aileen didn’t head to the estate but instead made her way to a pawnshop. She had avoided Stefan’s wrath but didn’t want to face Elliot’s anger either.
“There were definitely gold boxes in those bags. I’ll just have to hand over the ones I pawned, even if it’s a shame.”
Unaware that Stefan had already retrieved those gold boxes as well, Aileen anxiously checked her surroundings for any followers and hurried toward the pawnshop.
