CH 22

Diello’s gaze fixated on the spot where Krua had vanished, making it an exceptionally peculiar night for him. Despite his weariness and the desperate need for rest, an unusual tension prevented him from drifting off to sleep.

After careful contemplation, he realized that the source of this unease was the serene bride who lay peacefully before him.

Moreover…

He looked down at his own hand.

“She’s an Alors…”

He muttered to himself.

Could Alors create such heat as well? Not only that, her breath and subtle movements created ripples that dominated his thoughts, making it impossible for him to fall asleep.

‘We promised to only hold hands and sleep.’

He thought, regretting how those words now felt strangely disquieting.

Nevertheless, he had spent the night intertwined with Krua’s hand. Occasionally, he would tighten his grip and then release it, only to find himself squinting and rising from his bed, trying to dispel the maddening sensations that lingered in his mind.

* * *

Today, his bride had chosen to sit in the garden, taking advantage of the beautiful weather as the necessary documents for her work were neatly arranged on a simple outdoor table. It was a refreshing change of environment, but Diello didn’t accompany Krua outside.

“….”

Instead, he chose to watch her from the terrace.

Standing behind him was Rick, attired in black attire, prepared to deliver his report. Having successfully completed the previous mission, hehad brought fresh information.

“You sent Krua Alors a maintenance fee for dignity, right?”

As Diello asked, Rick replied with a cheerful face.

“Yes, it’s about 1/10 of the amount.”

That was still a considerable sum of money for personal use. Diello narrowed his eyes. He had an idea of where his bride would spend that money. She wouldn’t use it to buy clothes or engage in social activities like other noblewomen. Instead, she would use it to pursue her future plans.

From the terrace, Krua’s face appeared radiant with joy.

“….”

Diello raised an eyebrow slightly.

Whoosh…

It felt as if he could hear the sound of the waves when he looked at her. The sparkling sea, glistening water… her radiant appearance stood out even there.

“Krua…”

Diello called out her name and tilted his head slightly. As far as he knew, the next successor of the Alors family had already been practically determined. It was Krua’s brother, Pentas Alors, and supposedly, his qualities surpassed those of Krua.

His brows furrowed even more at the thought.

‘How could Pentas possess greater qualities beyond hers?’

If that were the case, there would have been no need for Alors to resort to the underhanded tactic of using the fake Ferro in Argenta. After all, Pentas could easily vanquish the enemy with his formidable abilities to manipulate fire, which was inherently incompatible with water.

Furthermore, Diello had yet to acquire Ferro in Argenta.

‘…It would have been faster to declare war if their goal was to destroy Argenta.’

However, Alors didn’t do that.

Why?

Was Pentas lacking in abilities? If so, it didn’t make sense for him to use Krua, who had such strong abilities, as a disposable card. Of course, it was possible that Krua had been concealing her own abilities.

“….”

Why did she call him an accomplice?

Diello thought about the words he heard from her on their wedding day as a short sigh escaped his lips.

“Even if I was an accomplice, my bride…”

He mumbled softly.

She told him that he was the card to make Alors lower their guard.

He smiled awkwardly.

“If you’re trying to hide your abilities, you should hide them from me, too…”

How could he not be tempted by the powerful abilities he saw in the ocean? Especially in Argenta, where he had to protect the endless sea with fire.

Diello retreated from the terrace.

At that moment, another informant entered his room hastily. The informant approached him silently and bowed.

“My lord, there is someone who wishes to have a secret meeting with you.”

“Secret meeting?”

Diello furrowed his brows. He had a bad hunch about this.

* * *

“…Ha.”

Diello let out a short breath as he saw the real Ferro in front of him. It was a sigh that was close to being exasperated.

“Well, well, it’s been a while. I never thought I would come here on my own.”

The woman spread out her hands, revealing an old bracelet dangling from her wrist. The white pearl attached to the bracelet had lost its luster and was dimly shining.

Apart from the accessory, she had nothing in her hands, not even a weapon strapped to her waist.

“We met when we were young, but it’s been a long time, hasn’t it?”

Even when he entered the room, the woman with dark brown hair remained seated on the sofa without getting up.

As reported, she was a woman that he knew.

“….”

Diello rubbed his temples and shut his eyes.

Despite the public belief that his parents, the former Duke and Duchess of Argenta, had perished in a carriage accident, the truth diverged from that narrative. And contrary to the misconception held by many, he was well aware of the truth.

“Nice to see you again.”

Before him stood a brazen woman who was speaking audaciously. She was the one who had escaped Argenta with the assistance of Alors just before his parents’ demise, providing valuable information about the Duke and Duchess of Argenta.

To be precise, she was a betrayer of Argenta.

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…And she claimed to be his Ferro?

“…Have you confirmed it?”

When Diello turned to the informant, the informant nodded firmly.

“Yes. She’s definitely the real Ferro.”

Venia, the woman who presented herself as Ferro, gazed at Diello with unwavering confidence. Even if she had divulged information extending beyond his parents, Argenta wouldn’t be able to harm her as long as she was the real Ferro.

Let alone harming her, they would have to safeguard her.

Venia’s laughter grew stronger.

“It seems like the first time since the previous Duke and Duchess of Argenta died, right?”

Diello thought she was shamelessly babbling.

He narrowed his eyes. His luck was terrible. Of all people, it had to be the one who betrayed his parents to the enemy.

“Don’t look at me like that. I walked in here perfectly fine. It surprised you, didn’t it?”

Venia shrugged her shoulders. Then, Diello replied in a subdued voice.

“A little.”

Simultaneously, he regarded the informant with a frosty stare. How had they allowed an individual who betrayed Argenta to saunter in so casually?

Even if it turned out that she was indeed his Ferro, didn’t it imply that they had maintained silence until her true nature came to light? Shouldn’t they have launched an assault the instant they laid eyes on her?

“Don’t blame them too much. They couldn’t touch me either.”

Venia said.

“Huh…?”

When he glanced back at Venia at her words, instead of answering, she tapped the teacup.

And then…

Splash!

The water in the cup surged up under her ‘water manipulation’ ability.

“….!”

Diello paused for a moment.

…Water manipulation? How could someone who was originally an Argenta possess it?

Nevertheless, with his heightened senses, Diello discerned an unusual aura emanating from the abilities she exhibited. It diverged from the pristine control over water displayed by Krua Alors. Instead, it carried a subtly murky sensation.

His brows knitted together in deep contemplation.

It was at that moment he spoke…

“I told them not to touch me because the Duke of Alors is behind me.”

“Oh…”

Diello exclaimed without any enthusiasm at her words. It was clearly a lie. The Duke of Alors had already sent Krua away as Ferro.

‘If he knew that this woman was the real Ferro, he would have either bought her or killed her.’

In truth, it was highly likely that the Duke of Alors was unaware of this woman’s true identity as the real Ferro and her presence here. The enigmatic and murky nature of her power indicated that it wasn’t acquired through conventional means.

Had the Duke directly bestowed such abilities upon her, the sensation would have been different.

…So, what secret was this betrayer concealing?

“….”

Diello sat down on the sofa opposite Venia with a deep smile.

“By the way, you surprised me.”

She spoke to him.

It seemed that she thought, as the real Ferro, she had nothing to fear or lose, and her nonchalant demeanor reflected that. She casually rested her arm on the sofa and crossed her legs with an air of ease.

“I didn’t think the Diello Argenta, who couldn’t even properly burn a single flower, would be capable of such things.”

She uncrossed her legs and moved closer to Diello, taking a seat.

“Your parents’ death.”

He raised an eyebrow at her sudden words.

“It seemed like Duke Alors believed that his plan was successful, but I know the truth, as I was the one shuttling between Alors and Argenta at the time.”

Venia laughed.

“You witnessed the deaths of the previous Duke and Duchess.”

As Diello’s expression turned cold at her words, she continued to whisper her words.

“You could have saved them, but you didn’t, did you?”

Her face revealed confidence and arrogance.

“Hmm, I’m the Ferro. No matter what I do, you can’t cause me harm, can you?”

As if sensing her thoughts, he smiled coldly. It was a smile completely different from the one he showed to Krua.

“Why does the Ferro have to be someone like you?”

He sighed, making Venia burst into laughter.

“Yes, why me?”

Confidently, she rolled up her sleeve, proudly displaying the unmistakable inscription of ‘Diello Argenta’ on her arm. The fresh healing indicated that it had been intentionally revealed, similar to something Krua would do.

Yet, the distinct presence of the name confirmed its authenticity.

Venia shook her arm.

“I’m not so bad either, considering I knew your secret and still decided to help you.”

Presumably, she had deliberately circulated rumors to entangle herself within Argenta’s information network. Diello maintained a silent, piercing gaze directed at her.

Growing increasingly audacious, Venia persisted in her speech.

“But then, what about that imposter?”

She pointed outside, referring to Krua.

Diello’s judgment began to distort again. Even though the word ‘imposter’ was true, he furrowed his brow.