Chapter 70
That night, instead of the anticipated Stefan, it was Rita who came. Rita seemed so despondent that she looked as if she might burst into tears at any moment.
“Dear, please help me.”
“Mother, what’s wrong?”
“That Eden Marquis or whoever he is—a complete con artist and a criminal!”
“What?”
“He’s taken Susan hostage and is demanding an enormous ransom… But I don’t have that kind of money. What should I do?”
No money? Where did all the funds for running the duchy and the money taken from the Edmond Trading Company go?
Moreover, even at this moment, Rita was draped in jewelry. Just selling those jewels could more than cover Susan’s ransom.
“Mother, I truly have no money at all.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! Are you saying Stefan didn’t give you a single penny when he entrusted the duchy to you?”
“The operating expenses of the duchy have always been managed by you, Mother.”
“…”
Realizing her mistake, Rita quickly came up with another excuse.
“Then at least give me your brother’s tuition.”
“What?”
“A life is at stake. Is studying really the issue right now?”
“Then use Miss Stella’s tuition.”
“I already sent it as a donation, so there’s nothing left.”
“I’ve already paid Remington’s tuition as well.”
“If you explain the situation properly, you might be able to get the tuition refunded.”
Such convenient logic. As ever, her own pride was paramount, while others’ dignity could be trampled without a second thought. Her mentality of ‘what’s mine is mine, and what’s yours is also mine’ remained unchanged.
‘But even when her daughter’s life hangs by a thread, she still acts this way?’
She had always fussed over her daughter as if she’d die for her, yet her brazen behavior—going around asking for money—was incomprehensible.
“Mother, instead of this…”
“The biggest problem right now is Stefan. His own sister is on the brink of death, and he’s just standing by. He’s not only taken back the merchant ships and shops he gave me, but he’s also blocked my promissory notes. How can I move with my hands tied like this?”
In the end, Rita’s issue was that her source of money had dried up, leaving her in a frustrating predicament. But what kind of situation was Susan facing then?
If Susan’s situation weren’t so dire, I wouldn’t have wanted to delve into her true intentions. However, since I was responsible for saving Susan, I gently took Rita’s hand.
“Mother, to save Miss Susan, you absolutely need His Grace’s help. You must discuss this with him.”
Rita, uncharacteristically hesitant, looked troubled. Then, her true thoughts reached me.
‘That damned Duke took back what he gave me. Why did he cancel the gift and cause this mess? And that wretched son-in-law keeps whining for it back. Ugh, my head hurts.’
In the end, as I suspected, only Stefan could solve Rita’s problem. However, what she said next left me truly bewildered.
“Dear, could you ask Stefan on my behalf?”
“Me?”
Rita gave me a servile smile as I looked at her, eyes wide in disbelief.
‘They say you’re quite skilled in bed, aren’t you? A little pillow talk, and surely the boy will do anything you ask.’
Unbelievable. I never imagined that Rita would think the same way as the immature Susan. Like mother, like daughter—not only did they look alike, but their thoughts were a mirror image. It sent chills down my spine.
“Mother, I don’t have that kind of influence…”
“No, dear. Only you can persuade Stefan.”
It seemed she couldn’t quite bring herself to say outright to use pillow talk, but the implication hung in the air.
Knowing Rita wouldn’t let go until I gave her a favorable answer, I had no choice but to nod.
“…Alright, I’ll try speaking with His Grace.”
“Thank you, dear. Really, thank you.”
Having achieved her goal, Rita pulled me into a tight embrace, patting my back. Then, without hesitation, she began pushing me toward Stefan.
“Hurry along, dear.”
“…Where to?”
“It’s clear Stefan won’t be coming back tonight, right? He seems very busy lately, so go visit him in his office.”
“At this hour?”
Outside, the dark night had settled in completely. Even the twilight that signaled the evening had long since disappeared.
“Mother, I’ll go see him in the morning.”
“There’s not much time left, I’m telling you.”
“But it’s too late now…”
Rita, who had no intention of listening to me, revealed her true intentions.
‘Going at night is the only way to make something happen, right? There’s even a sofa in the office—just lie there and seduce Stefan, you fool.’
My whole body trembled. It was clear that Rita saw me as nothing more than a courtesan.
“I’ll go in the morning, Mother.”
“Morning won’t do.”
“Why not?”
“…”
Perhaps even she realized how illogical that sounded, as Rita hesitated. But then, finding a convenient excuse, she teared up and struck where it hurt most.
“Do you not pity Susan at all?”
This time, I was at a loss for words. Susan, who had become a hostage because of a marriage to a stranger she hadn’t planned for, was, in a way, a sacrifice created by my return.
“I… I’ll go, Mother.”
“Right now!”
“…Yes.”
Only then did Rita, now satisfied, finally release me.
***
In the dead of night, the sound of hooves echoed unusually loudly. When the carriage seemed to stop in front of an accessory shop, Stefan’s gaze turned to the window.
Recognizing the familiar roof of the carriage, Stefan quickly extinguished the lamp. He assumed the bothersome Rita had tracked him down here.
If he turned off the lights like this, the quick-witted Finn would likely make up an excuse and send her away.
But the scent of the person entering the office was sweet.
“…Your Grace, are you here?”
It was Rachel. Stefan felt both suspicious and delighted by his wife’s unexpected visit to the office at this late hour.
‘It’s only been three days, but I’m this glad to see her…’
Amused by his own awkward fondness for his wife, Stefan let out a quiet laugh. Sitting on the sofa with his eyes closed, he opened them slightly. Even in the pitch-black darkness, his red eyes would be visible.
As expected, Rachel, who quickly located him, gave a gentle smile. Then, she set a travel bag on his desk.
“I must have disturbed your rest. I’m sorry. You seemed so busy, so I brought some fresh clothes for you.”
“Thank you, Madam.”
Rachel stood with her body pressed against the desk, looking uncomfortable. Bathed in the moonlight pouring through the window, her expression was stiff.
“Actually… I came because I wanted to ask you something.”
“Go ahead.”
“What is going on with Miss Susan?”
Perhaps it was because of his family’s unusually strong bond, but even so, Rachel’s concern for her sister-in-law felt excessive. Stefan thought Rachel’s fixation on Susan’s situation was over the top.
Due to the tangled and complicated circumstances, he couldn’t rescue Susan immediately. However, not wanting to divulge his own troubles, Stefan decided to use Rita as a shield.
“My mother is handling Susan’s matter.”
“Ah, but that’s not what I heard.”
Though Rachel’s voice trembled, it sounded resolute.
“Mother said that because you revoked the gift, she can’t save Miss Susan.”
The fact that she knew this so precisely confirmed that Rachel had surely been sent by Rita. Stefan felt foolish for having been glad to see his wife.
His frustration twisted his thoughts, and his words to Rachel came out harsher than intended.
“So, did my mother send you to ask me to reinstate the gift? Did you come here in the middle of the night just to act as her pawn?”
“…Your Grace, that’s too much.”
Her small, pale face scrunched up. Strangely, that sight made an odd anger surge within him.
‘Why can’t I just storm into Herkeni and crush the Eden Marquisate right now? Why can’t I grab that bastard by the neck and expose Rita’s schemes? It’s because of you.’
He barely held back the urge to shout this.
However, he couldn’t suppress the rage boiling up inside. He had endured and endured, even when he was branded as the son of the enemy who had killed Rachel’s parents in an instant. But now, she had come to him under Rita’s orders?
Stefan leapt up from the sofa and strode toward Rachel, who flinched and stepped back.
“Did they send you to seduce me, perhaps?”
“No.”
Rachel’s strong rejection was evident in her expression. Her violet eyes shone with a fierce light.
Seeing this, Stefan felt his reason slipping away. And yet, amidst all this, he felt a strange attraction toward Rachel. The anger that enveloped him had drowned out his rationality.
Stefan closed the distance between them, his lips pressed tightly together as he whispered:
“I don’t need a bed. But can a noble lady like yourself handle it?”
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