Chapter 16
“How long has it been?”
“I thought Count Meitner had forgotten all about us.”
The familiar faces that Michael had grown up seeing were nothing new.
He rarely attended the regular gatherings, which were held at fixed intervals. This time, however, Tobias had insisted he join, especially since it was right before Michael’s wedding.
Of course, his reason for coming today wasn’t entirely due to Tobias’s urging.
“It’s been a while since we’ve seen you here.”
Michael raised his glass and clinked it with practiced ease.
The amber liquid inside swayed as the small group of about ten people gathered around the oval table continued to drink.
The dimly lit room was filled with conversations about a variety of topics.
“Do you know how much I spent on that auction?”
“So, did you get the painting?”
“Of course. Otherwise, I would’ve stormed into the auction house myself.”
“By the way, have you heard? That undeveloped area west of Arden is set for major development starting next year.”
“Is that confirmed?”
“Probably. It came from a reliable source.”
Michael barely paid attention to the chaotic chatter around him, letting the words pass by. Then, someone directed a question his way.
“Michael, how do you feel about getting married tomorrow?”
The question came from a tipsy man, his voice slightly slurred.
Michael’s eyes, sharp as ever, turned toward the source of the voice—Erik Sade, the only son of the Marquis of Sade.
With Erik bringing up the topic, Michael instantly became the center of attention. Before he could even respond, voices chimed in from all directions.
“Honestly, I didn’t believe it when I first heard about the wedding.”
“So, when are you going to invite us over? Everyone’s eager to attend a dinner hosted by the Countess of Meitner.”
Surrounded by questions and stares, Michael simply took a sip from his glass.
His half-lowered grayish-blue eyes disappeared behind the rim of the glass, only to reappear moments later. His gaze casually swept across the table, and with an almost curious tone, he asked,
“So, what bets did you place?”
“What?”
The abrupt question caught Erik off guard. Confused, he asked for clarification, but Michael, spinning his glass in his hand, smirked.
“The tragic Meitner and the cursed Bernadotte coming together. I hear there’s a big betting pool on how it’ll end.”
His tone was light, almost as if he were humming a cheerful tune.
At first, no one understood the meaning behind his words, but the room quickly grew tense as realization set in.
Michael watched their shifting expressions in silence, then casually tapped his finger on the table. The rhythmic tapping continued as if counting beats, breaking the uneasy silence.
The group exchanged silent glances, no one daring to speak. What unsettled them most was Michael’s attitude.
“I wanted to join in, but am I too late? I hear the stakes have gotten pretty high, and I wouldn’t want to miss out.”
Michael’s relaxed demeanor made him seem genuinely amused by the situation.
Normally, discovering that a betting pool had been organized around one’s marriage—especially one predicting a tragic outcome—would provoke anger. But instead of being offended, Michael was acting as though he wanted to participate, which left everyone feeling even more uneasy.
Erik Sade had been the one to start the betting pool. One night, during a casual conversation, he’d said,
“Michael’s getting married to Adeline of Lecern?
It feels like the Meitner family tragedy is about to repeat itself.”
“Now that you mention it, Erik’s right. Her first fiancé died, and the man she was supposed to marry after that died too.
She’s bad luck. What do you think?”
“I don’t know. I think Adeline might not be able to handle life at Castle Meitner and end up leaving instead.”
“No, no. I bet 1 million gold that Michael might follow in his parents’ footsteps.
It’s tragic, but considering what happened to his family, I just have a bad feeling.”
Erik’s comment had set the tone, and soon others joined in, turning a harmless conversation into a full-fledged betting pool. The stakes escalated quickly, and people even started speculating about Michael’s inheritance if he were to die.
“What happens to his fortune if Michael dies?”
“Well, if he doesn’t have children, Adeline won’t be able to claim it. It’ll probably go to the Meitner family’s distant relatives.”
“Michael’s closest relative is… Erik, isn’t it?”
“Well, technically, yes.”
Erik, being a distant cousin of Michael, was in a position to claim the title and estate if the situation arose.
Though he waved off the suggestion, the thought lingered.
Tobias, recalling that night, cleared his throat awkwardly.
While he hadn’t actively participated, he also hadn’t stopped the conversation from spiraling out of control.
The instigator, Erik, now avoided Michael’s gaze, pretending to focus elsewhere.
Breaking the heavy silence, Michael spoke up again.
“Why is everyone so quiet all of a sudden? Did I say something wrong?”
Michael’s calm words were followed by his gently setting his glass down. Tobias, trying to ease the tension, forced a smile and answered.
“It’s probably just a misunderstanding. Michael, you know how rumors are—they change completely once they start spreading.”
“Do they?”
“Of course! Your marriage has been a hot topic, after all.”
Tobias nodded, trying to sound convincing. Michael’s faint smile showed he saw through the excuse, but he didn’t press further.
Tobias quickly tried to shift the conversation.
“Oh, right! Remember I mentioned my cousin starting a new business?”
Michael merely shrugged, disinterested. He hadn’t come to ruin the gathering or confront anyone.
He already knew that many of the people here had placed bets on his untimely demise.
His only curiosity had been how they’d react when confronted.
But now, he’d lost interest.
After Tobias rambled on a bit longer, Michael finished his drink and stood up, ready to leave.
His tall frame made him stand out as he strode confidently toward the exit, indifferent to the uneasy atmosphere he left behind.
