“What’s going on! May I come in?”
“Don’t come in! It’s an order!”
“But my Lord!”
Hearing the yelling, the butler knocked on the door anxiously from outside, but the Count could not care less. He lowered his posture and made eye contact with the Viscountess.
When their eyes met, the woman’s eyes fluttered.
“The reason I came here today is that I want to ask you something.”
“...”
“You have that thing, right? Hand ‘it’ over to me.”
At Count Chase’s words, the Viscountess’ eyes widened. As her agitated face came to sight, Count Chase knew she had ‘the thing’.
I was a bit sceptical at first.
The Count’s gaze fell. Initially, he did not suspect her. In fact, it did not matter to him whether his sister had it. He had already cut off all support with the thought that Irene would never see his sister again.
But once he saw the letter from Friedan Viscountcy addressed to Irene, the Count realised that his sister was trying to contact Irene once again. Although he set off immediately, he somewhat doubted that Irene had not met his sister.
But it’s not too late.
Regarding Irene not having much to say and his sister visibly trembling, the Count knew it was not too late.
“The artefact that person left behind…you still have it.”
“...”
“Hand it over to me. Then I will help your people. I will make sure they will no longer shiver from cold so that you can rest in peace later on.”
“...!”
At the Count’s whispering, Madame Friedan stared at him, not batting an eye. It was not long before her lips slowly parted, and a faint sound was heard. The Count bent down and brought his ear closer to her mouth.
“Ah, Ivan…”
“Yes.”
“...Stop...spewing…nonsense...Get...lost.”
“...”
But the answer that came back was not what he wanted. When the Count straightened his posture again, a faint smile formed on the Viscountess’ lips. Seconds later, an annoying ear-splitting sound was heard when the woman deliberately tried holding her breath. Since she was not breathing over the allowable amount of time, the machine that checked her breathing sounded an alert. Whilst the alarm stirred the entire mansion, the Count slowly rose from his seat. Instantaneously, the butler and a few servants barged into the room.
“Madame!”
The butler urgently examined the condition of his mistress. Only then could she barely breathe normally again. It was a short time of less than a minute, but to the Viscountess, who was on the verge of death, it was no different from risking her life.
Upon receiving care from the servants, Viscountess Friedan glared at the Count fiercely.
“I’m sorry, Count. My mistress is no longer in a state to deal with guests. Please go back.”
“…I see.”
The Count answered quietly at the butler’s stern tone. Before leaving, he did not forget to leave a few last words for his sister, who was panting roughly.
“I understood what you meant. But do not forget what tragedy that selfish choice will bring.
“Sir!”
At his implication of death, the butler shouted with a pale complexion. Usually, he would have punished such an impertinent butler, but the Count left the room without further exclamation.
“Have you said your farewell?”
As the Count left the room, a familiar voice came from his side. The Count turned his head to confirm its owner’s identity.
“…Duke Kristen, no, should I say, Grand Duke Kristen now?”
“You can call me whatever you want. The title doesn’t matter much.”
“…Arrogant. Don’t you feel the slightest bit of guilt for the turmoil that has happened because of you?”
“Do you really think this turmoil happened because of me?” Noel replied nonchalantly at the Count’s criticising words.
“Isn’t that, right? Irene wouldn’t have run away from home if it were not for you, and she would not have turned away from her sister and her family!”
As the Count screamed, Noel grew colder.
“It was you and your family that left Irene no choice but to move out of her house.”
“Fine! There is no need for further discussion. The future of the Grand Duchy is bright all right.”
The more he talked, the less likely it made sense. No, to be precise, it felt like his reasoning was continuously rebutted. Eventually, the Count kept his mouth shut and tried to stride past Noel. Nonetheless, the Count could not take a single step away because of Noel’s following remark.
“Is Irene really your daughter?”
“This again? Are you going to admonish me for being a terrible father who doesn’t know much about his daughter?”
“Why did you separate Irene from the world?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about...”
“Why did you try to marry her to Boris Gertin and block her contact with the Viscountess, who was trying to get in touch with her?”
“...”
“It was as if you were trying to hide Irene from the world.”