Chapter 78

“Hush.”

At the squeaking sound, they shut their mouths as if they had made a promise and returned to their seats. Stories that could not be shared were scattered in the air, but everyone was so good at managing their facial expressions that they could not even show signs of regret.

Among them, Count Opel took a step further and spoke to Rian Felice, who had just come in.

“I think you made a mistake earlier. Count Felice.”

Rian Felice looked at Opel with a disheartened look.

Rian also clearly knew that he was wrong. The reason why Chancellor Montello stood up for Rian earlier may have been purely because of political calculations.

He couldn’t tell if Opel was smiling and approaching him even if he was brave now, or if he had any other plans. But Rian couldn’t show it either, and he forced himself to smile.

“The title of dismissal is excessive. There is definitely a dismissal of the Marquis of Montello, right? Please speak comfortably.”

“My my, you’re even humble. Okay, senior secretary. I look forward to your kind cooperation.”

“Oh… Yes.”

Opel’s good laugh made others laugh silently. Opel, who had the most complaints, eventually looked funny and sad watching himself flatter Rian.

“Then I’m busy, so I’ll get going.”

Rian, who tried to change his department as soon as possible, was not very happy with the friendly Opel.

For a few days after coming here, Rian had to learn his work without being able to move.

Compared to other aristocrats who were leisurely, this place had too much work.

I didn’t become a nobleman to die just to work like this.

The meaning of Duke of Hamilton was that Rian wanted to see through the country’s overall affairs there and lead the political world in the future, but Rian’s plan was different.

In the end, it will be a world dominated by money.

He intended to build his strength by accumulating wealth using the top of Deniz as a stepping stone. He was planning all kinds of illegal transactions through the continental distribution network at the top.

Rian sat at his desk for a while and thought while rummaging through the documents, but eventually, he couldn’t stand it anymore and went outside.

As he wandered outside for a while, someone waved at him from the bushes.

Rian went there after confirming that there was no one around him. A servant was hiding there who was acting as his hands and feet.

“Did you find out? What happened at the merchant group?”

Rian was now tied up and unable to directly engage in the merchant group. In this way, he sent a servant to listen to them indirectly and convey their intentions.

“It’s said to have signed a deal with the Grand Duke of Tertius.”

“What? Is that true? Did you find her?”

“In the end, he couldn’t find the woman who ran away, and he urgently found another similar person and sent her away.”

“…That’s what happened? Grand Duke was fooled by her?”

It was a pleasure to have a deal, but it was a little strange that she gladly passed over without any doubt about the band at the prestigious.

“Yes, someone said she’s much prettier than the last woman. The Grand Duke said to tie her up for a few days, so she’s not coming back now. Well, she and the Grand Duke knew each other when they were young…”

“That’s… That’s even weirder.”

Rian, who had known Dana all along, could not have known Dana if she had ties to the Great Tertius.

In particular, the Grand Duke and Dana couldn’t have known each other when they were young. The current Grand Duke Tertius was the only son of the Duke.

Even if the merchant’s daughter and the son of a great noble barely met, what kind of relationship will there be?

I think it’s an excuse to just hold her. You must have liked her, huh? What kind of woman are you… I should have seen her beforehand.

Rian moistened his lower lip with his tongue as if he was disappointed.

“Let me know as soon as the woman comes back. And now that we’ve made a deal, you’ll let me know the information that comes and goes to the Grand Duke.”

“Yes, then I’ll get going.”

Rian threw a gold coin over the servant’s palm. The servant bowed flatly and disappeared into the road quickly.

“Ha, this is really frustrating. The imperial court ladies have no room.”

He looked around, looked through the women working in the imperial palace, grumbled, and returned to the office. He still had to set up the face of the Duke of Hamilton, so he could not be away for too long.

* * *

When Leon untied his tie in frustration, Dana, who was standing next to him, unconsciously took it and hung it.

Leon wasn’t in a bad situation, but Dana looked expressionless as if she was thinking hard about something.

“I heard what happened during the day.”

“What? Oh… Terra’s work.”

“I was wondering what you would do with that maid. It’s a lot lamer than I thought.”

“What… were you expecting?”

When Dana blinked and asked with an innocent face, Leon took off his shirt and answered casually.

“I wouldn’t have been surprised if you cut her tongue.”

“What are you talking about?”

“If you didn’t tell me, she would have died today anyway.”

“…”

Sometimes, she was not used to talking casually about people’s lives, but she didn’t insist.

A maid was also employed by this castle, but before she did she was a landowner. The lord was the owner and king of the territories by the law.

It was natural in this social class that the servant could not escape death even if they touched the things the owner loved.

Of course, Leon was strict with his usual servants, but that did not mean he killed recklessly. It was because Dana was involved in his brutal performance.