Blackening the Affectionate Male Lead (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 118

“You’re absolutely right. Since Your Grace stands on Prince Chester’s side, it must be difficult for you to judge this matter impartially. After all, you are the one who has already produced an heir—surely you have no reason to involve yourself in such petty affairs, do you?”

“You haven’t been on the council long enough yet to understand properly.”

“Everyone, please—enough of this.”

Earl Edington chimed in agreement with Count Debeche. It was Baron Leonhardt who stepped in to calm them down. He even seemed visibly uneasy, almost anxious. Even those aligned with the king cast cautious glances toward Whitney.

Yet Earl Edington refused to stop.

“I understand. You likely hadn’t the chance to receive a proper education and had to adapt hastily to royal customs, so you probably don’t fully grasp the situation. After all, didn’t I myself—despite having a legitimate debt owed to your ducal house—suddenly get pressured to repay it immediately?”

“Considering the intertwined interests between our houses, had you approached it that way, wouldn’t it have put you in an awkward position? Weren’t you also overseeing their territory?”

“Well… since I’ve only recently become the head of the house…”

Whitney, listening to their exchange, deepened her smile. Then she spoke softly toward them.

“Diamond.”

At that word, the three houses flinched. Whitney sipped her tea slowly, savoring their reactions. Then, with feigned innocence, she continued.

“After all, I was this year’s ‘star,’ wasn’t I? And ‘star’ can also be called ‘diamond,’ right? Since I’ve only just become the head of the house, I’ve been busy resolving the corruption and various messes my mother left behind. Honestly, isn’t it only right that debts be repaid? Or is House Edington truly in such dire straits that repayment became impossible? If so, you should’ve just told me—I’d have given you some leeway.”

Earl Edington’s expression twisted sharply. Whitney lightly brushed the rim of her teacup and stared him straight in the eye. Seeing his reddened face, she felt even more tempted to tease him.

“Then again, you declined my invitation, so I suppose you never had the chance to speak with me. You must already know about House Orleans’ goodwill—lending that money without demanding even a single coin in interest. And yet, it’s been ten whole years since you borrowed it… surely that’s not sudden anymore. I’m beginning to wonder if House Edington might actually be in trouble.”

“Haha! Not at all. That’s precisely why we repaid it. We’re still quite stable, so no need for such concerns, Duke Orleans.”

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