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“So you should go and talk to His Majesty.”
“His Majesty’s health is not good these days, so it’s hard to even see him. What are you talking about?!”
“Or even to His Majesty the Crown Prince!”
“You mean because you don’t know that the Crown Prince and the Archduke are as close as brothers? Why don’t you go and complain to Her Majesty the Empress?”
The atmosphere that had just been bright with Ian’s compliments became sensitive again as soon as Sophia’s name appeared.
“Then you just let Sophia go to the duchy?”
Ian said a little nervously.
“If it becomes known to people, strange rumors will spread again.”
It makes no sense to say that a man and a woman who are not married are living under the same roof.
If this happens, even if the marriage breaks down, Sophia will turn the scandal around.
Besides, doesn’t Killian live alone?
The former Duke and his wife passed away long ago, and the imperial family that took care of Killian lives in the Imperial Palace.
Even if there were servants, there was only Killian who actually lived in the duchy.
The fact that a young man and a woman living alone in the same house was controversial in itself.
“Yes! That girl appeared on the front page of a weekly magazine, and she seems to be eager to get people’s attention.”
The Countess spoke of her disgust.
“Then, why don’t we just bring Sophia back from the Archduke’s residence?”
“You want me to go to the Archduke’s residence and forcefully bring her back? Do you mean to go and fight the Archduke?”
Count Frauss shook his head.
If they send someone to bring her back, there would be a quarrel.
He shouldn’t do anything that would make his relationship with the Archduke worse.
If the rumors that the two are living together would be a bit of a blemish on Sophia’s name, it would be good since that would actually be an excuse to keep Killian firmly in check.
For now, it was his position to watch.
Ian put his fork down at the Count’s attitude.
“Ian?”
“I’ll just get up.”
Without a few drinks, Ian got up and left the dining room first.
Like the annoying second hand of a clock, his steps traversed the hallway with a steady, nervous beat.
‘You’re crazy, Sophia Frauss.’
Does it make sense for a woman to go to a man’s house alone and live there?
No, it was clear that Sophia was not aware of the seriousness of it at all.
Since she has never socialized and was only at home, she doesn’t know what a man could do.
Killian was also a man in his twenties with a lot of energy. No matter how many rumors said he was not interested in women, it may be different if he lives under the same roof with one.
‘No, it’s definitely different.’
Ian remembered the eyes of Killian who had come to Frauss.
The act of invading the mansion, even committing rudeness, and his eyes staring tenaciously through the window.
A man who doesn’t even care about Sophia acted like that?
It was ridiculous.
Stupid Sophia would have liked it just because the Archduke had come to visit her…
‘When an ignorant idiot walks into the tiger’s den with its own feet…’
Entering the room, he glanced through the window into the attic of the annex Sophia used to be in, and then turned his head away.
The thoughts of what Sophia, who would be in the duchy, was doing now, or, how she spent last nights, keeps flowing in his mind.
Maybe Killian had already touched Sophia.
When it came to that thought, strength entered Ian’s jaw.
Even his parents, who have sent Sophia to the duchy, did not understand.
She was their daughter though, and a member of this family, so shouldn’t that be the least of the worries?
A strange feeling ran through his mind.
It was as if the dog had been taken away, as if he had been beaten by someone else, or as if his beloved sword had been broken and completely ruined.
There was no way to name this strange feeling, but it was clear that it was very unpleasant.
‘I can’t leave it like this either.’
He picked up a sword that had been placed on one side of the room.
Just as he was wearing a sword around his waist, he saw two horses approaching the Frauss mansion through the window.
Somewhere ahead was a familiar black steed.
Recognizing it, Ian ran downstairs without delay.
“Young master!”
When the servants saw him running out suddenly, they called him, but Ian did not stop.
When he ran to the front door of the Frauss, the two horses had just reached the front gate.
As he expected, it was Killian Viprons Rivelon and his attendant knights.
“You are back from the Islands, Sir Ian Frauss.”
Killian got off his horse and greeted him shamelessly.
Ian’s face wrinkled coldly.
“You have the courage to visit Frauss after committing that?”
He stared at him through the black grate without opening the door to Killian.
“Ah, I apologize once again for breaking the front gate last time.”
At Ian’s interrogation, Killian bowed his head.
‘What do you mean breaking the front gate? He just came back today and hadn’t heard of that.’
“Fortunately, you have restored it to a new, strong and clean gate.”
Killian shook it lightly, checking whether the black bar in front of him was firm.
However, Ian only got more angry at Killian’s reply.
“Where is Sophia?”
“Don’t worry, she is much safer than she was in Frauss.”
“Safer?”
Ian sneered at Killian’s ridiculous sound. However, Killian asked with a calm expression despite Ian’s cynicism.
“More than that, I came here because Count Frauss was at home. Is he inside?”
In response to the Archduke’s question, the servant, who had only noticed from behind, ran to call the count, who was eating.
However, Ian had no intention of giving way, regardless of the Count’s permission.
“Unless you come with Sophia, I won’t open the gate.”
When Ian came out hard, Killian laughed.
“I don’t want to break the gate twice. We are waiting for the Count to come.”
“Even if the Count allows it, I will stop him.”
“I don’t want to fight, Sir Ian.”
Killian politely raised his hands and expressed his intention to surrender. But he didn’t mean to back off.
“Last time I was very angry with Sir Ian, I apologize for that as well. I think that day was a bit too much.”
Ian bit his lip tightly at Killian’s clever apology.
When he thought of his defeat that day, even now, it keeps him from sleeping at night.
Ian was ready to fight Killian again. This time, he will be vigilant.
He placed his hand on the belt around his waist as if he was about to draw a sword.
But Killian didn’t blink an eye, and looked over Ian’s shoulder.
From afar, the Count was coming at a quick pace, wiping his lips.
“Sir Archduke Rivelon!”
During the meal, the Count rushed out and opened the gate to the butler who followed.
At the Count’s signal, the butler opened the gate.
Kylian looked at Ian, and entered Count Frauss’ mansion.
“It’s been a while, sir.”
The Count smiled broadly as he greeted them, but showed a look of embarrassment.
“Hello, Count.”
Killian said in a low voice.
The Count looked at him for a moment, and then calmed his tense heart a little.
Fortunately, there was no hostile atmosphere shown from Killian.
That was a sign that the relationship between Killian and the Frauss family wasn’t all that bad.
‘I don’t know what Sophia did to the Archduke, but it seems to have worked out for the first time.’
He knew it was best not to provoke him.
“Come inside first.”
“Father…!”
Ian was disappointed with the Count who was only kind to Killian and called him in a furious voice.
However, the Count shook his head slightly toward Ian and went into the Count’s mansion with Killian.
~*~
While tea was being prepared, Killian quietly looked around the Frauss’ reception room.
Whether it was also used as a place for business, the reception room was decorated in a rather exotic and luxurious way.
The items were probably from the south that the Frauss traded directly.
The sofa made of buffalo leather was designed to be comfortable to sit for a long time without being too deep, and on the table was a pen and ink ready to sign a contract at any time.
On one side, there was a burning incense candle that calmed people’s hearts.
“What did you come here for?”
The count asked Killian, pouring him high-quality black tea he had brought from an island in the south. Read only at pm tl.
A sweet and gentle scent spread through the white steam.
Killian opened his mouth as he saw the Count pouring tea himself.
“I came here for the military police.”
“Ahhh!”
The Count’s reaction was delayed to a task he had never thought of.
I thought it must have something to do with Sophia.
Killian took a small wad of paper from his arms and placed it on the table.
When he unwrapped the paper that had been tangled with a string, the red seed inside was revealed.
“Do you know what this is?”
Killian asked.
“I do not know… It’s my first time seeing it. Is it a jewel?”
The Count, who was looking at the seed with a serious face, tilted his head.
At first glance, the shiny, bright red seed looked like a gemstone of a rare mineral.
It had a high saturation and red color, so it was beautiful, but the black spots in the middle of the red surface created a contrast of colors, giving it a strange feeling.
“It is the seed of a plant called ‘rosary pea’ that is only found in Alvedi.”
“Oh, that’s a seed?”
Count Frauss admired the rosary pea as if curious.
“These seeds were recently discovered on the empire, and the only family that deals with Alvedi is Frauss.”
Then the Count nodded his head as if he knew why Killian had come to see him.