IBMMLLWAM Chapter 063

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Cian, sitting alone in his office, was thinking about Rachel.

Looking at the pink cufflinks on his desk, he touched his lips with his fingers repeatedly. It felt like a dream that the back of Rachel’s hand had touched his lips.

Her soft skin, cooler than his own, faint scent, and the slight trembling wouldn’t leave his mind.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

It was an impulsive act.

When Rachel heard about the glass tree, she looked like she might disappear at any moment. Wanting to hold onto her somehow, he grabbed her hand.

But his damned heart wasn’t satisfied with just holding her hand. Once he held her hand, he wanted to pull her into an embrace. In the end, unable to suppress his feelings, he kissed her hand, full of selfish desire.

‘Thank goodness it was the back of her hand. She probably thought it was a greeting. If I’d grabbed somewhere else instead of her hand… Just thinking about it makes me dizzy.’

Recalling that day made him want to see her again. Actually, he felt that way every day. He wanted to see her, run to meet her, and talk with her. He wanted to keep her by his side so they would never be apart, not even for a moment.

He imagined Rachel sitting in the chair on one side of the office. When he stared at her intently, she must have sensed his gaze as she turned her head and smiled.

Even though he knew it was just his imagination, he felt like his whole body was melting.

He wanted to hold her. To possess her. To capture her.

He wanted to tell her. To stay here. To stay by his side, with him.

‘Was I always like this? I’ve never been so obsessed with anything before.’

Not even with the throne or the truth about his father’s death.

Rachel’s presence was like a spark setting fire to Cian’s life. When she entered, everything became hot and intense, as if his mind and heart were engulfed in flames.

Cian didn’t dislike it. In fact, he welcomed it. As he became aware of and accepted his feelings for Rachel, he felt a strange sense of liberation. He wanted her to ignite him even more.

He closed his eyes, fingers still touching his lips.

“…I miss you.”

“Then why don’t you go see her?”

At the sudden voice, he opened his eyes.

Nick was standing in front of the desk, having approached without Cian noticing.

“Falling in love makes even Your Highness look like an ordinary human. It’s nice to see.”

“Nick. When did you come in?”

“I came in just now. I knocked and stood in front of you, but you didn’t notice even though your eyes were open.”

Oh my god. What the hell was he doing?

He quickly put the cufflinks in the drawer and wiped a hand down his face.

“Sorry for making you wait.”

“No problem. I may not like it as much as Duke Stefan, but I don’t mind seeing this side of you, Your Highness.”

“…Let’s stop there and start today’s report. Have they caught Theodore?

“I’m on my way to deliver orders to the capital guard. The search should start in earnest today. Are you sure it’s alright to handle it through the city guards and not directly?”

It wasn’t alright, but there was no other choice.

If he met Theodore face-to-face, he wasn’t sure he could restrain himself from punching him or drawing a sword.

‘Theodore once received Rachel’s affection. If I met him now, blinded by jealousy, who knows what I might do.’

He tried to console himself, thinking he’d made the right decision, and struggled to suppress his jealousy

.

* * *

 

Recently, Sigar had been busier than ever. He was reviewing documents he had never looked at before and meeting with people he had never allowed into the palace, giving them instructions. Today was no different.

“So, how is the task progressing?”

“Yes! As you ordered, we are increasing the supply of salt and sugar to the Empire and the capital. While we can’t yet match the Iacobs merchant company, our Rodotu Merchant Company is steadily increasing its supply.”

“Let me know if you need more funds. I’ll provide whatever is necessary.”

“I’m deeply grateful.”

Count Rodotu bowed his head repeatedly in gratitude.

Sigar smiled with satisfaction.

“It doesn’t matter how much money it takes. You must procure more salt and sugar than the Iacobs and supply it at a cheaper price. We need to eliminate their place.”

“Leave it to us.”

Sigar decided to use his wealth to get rid of the detestable Iacobs.

He deliberately used his personal fortune instead of the national treasury. After Iacobs disappeared, he wanted to put the money he earned into his own pocket instead of the national treasury.

He contacted a foreign merchant who was trading with Iacobs. He offered to buy goods at a higher price than Iacobs, but made it a condition that they should not trade with him. He then sold the goods he obtained at a lower price than Iacobs.

Now Iacobs will not be able to get new salt and sugar, nor will they be able to sell the salt and sugar they already have.

‘If the Iacobs want to keep selling salt and sugar, they’ll have to buy it at a higher price than I do and sell it at a lower price than I do.’

Sigar grinned.

‘But they won’t be able to do that. No matter how much the Iacobs pay, I’ll pay more, and no matter how cheaply they sell, I’ll sell for less. They’re finished.’

If the Iacobs merchant company went bankrupt, it was only a matter of time before the useless Iacobs family was eliminated.

He already felt a shiver down his spine.

 

* * *

 

After finishing Graham’s swordsmanship training, Cian chatted with Rachel in the parlor as was now the usual. He used the excuse of reporting the child’s training progress, but in reality, it was a time he used to satisfy his own selfish desires.

“Graham is truly an excellent student. At his age, I struggled just to hold a sword, but he’s already drawing stars in the air with it.”

“Graham is also so delighted to have met such a wonderful teacher. The other day, he said his swordsmanship training and his teacher were his favorite things in the world.”

His heart pounded as he watched Rachel speak in a slightly quick voice, as if she was having fun. She seemed to shine brightly.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

Cian’s face stiffened imperceptibly as someone disturbed their pleasant time together.

“Countess Rachel. A guest has arrived.”

“Guest? I wasn’t expecting anyone. Who is it?”

“His Excellency Duke Stefan Iacobs.”

“Duke Stefan?”

Rachel stood up and straightened her dress.

A moment later, Stefan entered the parlor with a large bouquet of flowers, grinning as if he couldn’t contain his joy.

“Hello, Countess Rachel.”

“Your Excellency.”

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I missed you.”

Cian’s expression distorted. He disliked everything that’d happened since Stefan arrived, from the words that he had missed her to the bouquet of roses which looked to be at least a hundred.

“…Stefan. What brings you here?”

“What do you think? I had business.”

“What business could you have here.”

Cian couldn’t finish his sentence. Stefan had taken Rachel’s hand and kissed the back of it.

Rachel opened her eyes wide, not knowing what to say.

“Oh, Your Excellency? What is this all of a sudden…?”

“I wanted to say thank you. The method you taught me earlier was very effective. Thank you.”

“Ah, I’m so glad it helped.”

“Here’s a gift.”

Stefan held out the bouquet of flowers he’d been holding. As it was large, it must have been quite heavy, as Rachel’s hand dropped under its weight.

“Thank you. This is my first time receiving such a large bouquet of flowers.”

“Isn’t it pretty? The roses are in full bloom in the Iacobs garden. I asked the gardener to make a bouquet of them, and it turned out pretty well.”

“A garden full of such roses… I wonder what it looks like.”

“Come visit next time. I’ll show you around.”

Cian knew.

He knew that Stefan was aware of his feelings for Rachel, that Stefan was his closest friend, and that Stefan was just expressing his gratitude, nothing more.

‘Stefan might be doing this on purpose just to see me jealous. I know. I know that, but…’

The veins stood out on the back of his tightly clenched fist.

He wanted to grab Stefan by the collar, crush the bouquet, and press his own lips where Stefan’s had touched Rachel’s hand.

It felt like a hot storm was raging in his chest. It was so intense and fierce that he could hardly keep his composure.

He closed his eyes.

‘First Theodore, now Stefan. At this rate, I might even be jealous of the air Rachel breathes.’

He had a feeling that might actually happen soon.

It wouldn’t be long before his love for Rachel would boil over. He had to do something, somehow, before that happened.

He couldn’t push his feelings on Rachel like Theodore had.

Cian didn’t say a word to Stefan on the way back to the mansion.

He knew it was childish, but he ignored Stefan completely as he entered his office.

Nick glanced at Stefan, who stood outside the office door like an abandoned puppy.

“Welcome back, Your Highness. What happened today to make the Duke look like a child caught in the rain?”

Cian twisted his lips.

“Well, you could say he tested the limits of my patience or measured the depth of my friendship with him.”

“What? What does that mean…?”

“Don’t worry about Stefan. Just start the report.”

“But…”

Nick, about to say something, closed his mouth.

Having served Cian for ten years, Nick had never seen his superior’s golden eyes burn with such intense emotion. His hands trembled as he held the report.

He couldn’t believe he saw Cian like this. If Hyzius found out, he would be so jealous that his already white eyes would turn even whiter.

Nick swallowed dryly and began his report.