Bruno hurriedly got dressed and boarded the carriage.

As Jessica said, there was still hope. Coincidentally, the investigation was scheduled for tomorrow.

Perhaps his older brother had planned to enter the imperial palace today, talk with His Majesty, and then inform the investigator.

By tomorrow, the investigator’s questions would likely become more blatant.

To prevent that, today was the only chance!

“We’ve arrived.”

As soon as the coachman’s voice was heard and the carriage stopped, Bruno rushed to the club.

He knew the daily routine of the nobles who frequented the club all too well.

They spent the night playing cards and drinking heavily at the club, only returning to their mansions to sleep when daylight came.

As dawn was already breaking, most had probably gone home by now.

To meet that person. Above all else, that person needed to be there.

Bruno looked around the now quiet club with an anxious face, about to start running.

Then he made eye contact with ‘that person’ with snow-white hair sitting in the corner.

“Count Scala!”

Upon discovering the count, Bruno walked in one breath to the table where he was seated.

“I thought you’d be begging the duke by now.”

As Bruno sat down across from him, the dignified Count Scala smiled while holding up his glass.

Between the black leather gloves gripping the glass, sparkling jewels glinted in the dim lighting.

“Judging by your disheveled appearance, it seems you came looking for me in a hurry.”

“…It appears we were both looking for each other. It seems you were waiting, knowing I would come.”

For someone who might be executed tomorrow, he was overflowing with spirit.

The count lowered the glass he was bringing to his lips and shook his head.

“Don’t reveal your hand so obviously. You keep trying to win, so others keep reading you. Even with such provocation, tsk tsk.”

Bruno, who had furrowed his brow, quickly relaxed his expression.

“Why bother hiding? If you anticipated my arrival, you must have also anticipated the hand I would bring.”

Bruno laughed, brushing off the count’s words with his characteristic glibness.

Count Scala, who had been staring intently at Bruno, also curled his lips into a smile to match Bruno’s laughter.

“It seems you weren’t such a useless card after all, my boy. …Let’s go inside to talk.”

*

Eriel entered the room Maribel had guided her to and sat at the table.

It was a very small room, with nothing but a single table in the center.

“The rules of the room are the same as before. After I leave, don’t say anything and remain as you are. When you’ve heard everything you want to hear, quietly exit.”

Eriel nodded to Maribel.

Maribel bowed with a bright smile, then left the room.

That’s when it happened.

“…I didn’t know the club had a place like this?”

Bruno’s voice resonated as if he were right next to her.

Eriel slowly turned her head to the side, looking at the smooth wall.

“Sit down first.”

Eriel swallowed hard and listened carefully to the middle-aged man’s voice responding to Bruno’s words.

…A familiar voice. It was definitely, definitely the voice of a man Eriel knew well. Who was it again?

“First, Bruno, I’d like to hear your story.”

As the middle-aged man’s voice resonated once more, Eriel’s shoulders twitched as she recalled the man’s name.

This voice… it’s Count Scala!

To think that a count from an ancient family was behind Bruno! But isn’t he one of the most prominent figures in the imperial faction?

Why would he… Damian? It’s difficult to think of him as a traitor.

Eriel’s wide eyes trembled with unease.

If he wasn’t a traitor, then there must be internal strife within the imperial faction.

And if that’s the case, this was clearly Count Scala’s independent move.

“A few days ago, when I asked the investigator, he said they had completed the investigation into the club’s investors.”

Bruno began to voice what Eriel had also heard.

“There’s no way they could have completed the investigation in such a short time. Moreover, it’s even more implausible that they found absolutely nothing.”

The sound of someone sipping tea could be heard.

Eriel listened intently to Bruno’s words, extremely tense.

“To think you even bribed the imperial investigator, I can hardly fathom the extent of your influence, Count. However, even for someone like you, taking the life of Duke Genova was nearly impossible. That’s why you approached me, isn’t it?”

“…Is that so? Then what conditions do you have for me?”

“I’ll decide my brother’s fate, so please change it to some vicious crime guilds threatening me. And make the rebellion the work of those crime guilds, not me.”

Eriel, who had been listening quietly, tightly gripped the folds of her dress.

How dare he, how dare he to my husband…!

“Hmm… Unfortunately, nothing is impossible.”

The count suddenly corrected Bruno’s words and set his teacup down on the table with a clank.

“The reason I set you up, Bruno, was simply to tease Damian. Isn’t it strange? That Damian takes the lead in everything instead of you. You’re not even his full brother, but a half-brother. Ah, of course, I know. That Damian is a more emotional and responsible man than one might think.”

“You mean to tease him…?”

“But it’s still strange. Even if such a cold-hearted man has a sentimental side and a sense of responsibility, it’s odd that he would cover up all the misdeeds of a mere half-noble courtesan like you. Don’t be disappointed. I simply intended to remove anything that could become a burden to Damian, who is to become the leader of the imperial faction.”

“What on earth do you mean by that…?”

Bruno’s trembling voice echoed.

“I intended to make Damian a more perfect leader for the imperial faction.”

*

At that moment, Jessica also arrived at the duke’s mansion.

She wore the most modest clothes she owned and even dressed Derek in the most modest clothes.

Derek often played with Lucy, and she calculated that seeing the child’s face might soften Eriel’s heart.

“I apologize.”

However, the butler’s apology was heard.

The butler, who had blocked them from even entering inside the door, bowed his head to Jessica.

“I have received orders not to accept any outside guests for the time being.”

“Butler. The child has walked here in the scorching sun, isn’t it too much to turn us away at the door like this? Have you really conveyed this to the lady? If we go in and talk first, I’m sure the lady won’t treat us so poorly.”

“As you know, it hasn’t been long since Lady Lucy was kidnapped, so we are strictly prohibiting guest entry into the mansion.”

“Just say it’s Derek and Jessica. Tell them Derek is waiting too. Why don’t you try telling Lucy? The young lady might want to play with our Derek. After such a big incident, she might want to see a friend her own age. Hmm?”

“I’m sorry.”

As the butler was about to turn away despite Jessica’s pleading, Jessica quickly grabbed him.

“How can the duke’s family treat us like this! Even if we’re half-siblings, we’re victims too! We’re victims too! Shouldn’t you at least hear our side of the story?”

Loud voices started to be heard.

No matter how much the butler tried to persuade Jessica, she had no intention of leaving.

Finally, as the butler with a hardened face was about to turn away completely from Jessica, Derek, standing next to her, added:

“You mere butler. When I grow up, I’ll have you fired.”

At Derek’s words, both the butler who was trying to turn away and Jessica who heard it beside him suddenly looked down at the child.

“…Derek!”

Jessica grabbed Derek first.

As the butler, his face completely distorted, briefly met eyes with the child glaring at him and turned away, that’s when it happened.

“I’m curious. How exactly do you plan to fire the butler when you grow up?”

Damian was standing there, looking down coldly.

The startled butler quickly stepped aside from Damian’s path and bowed deeply.

“My lord, I apologize.”

It seemed Damian had come out himself when he heard the commotion.

Damian, who had dismissed the butler, met Derek’s eyes and spoke to Jessica.

“I’ll allow only the child into the mansion.”

“My lord! Derek’s words just now were merely the child trying to protect his mother, thinking the butler was pushing me away too harshly. And the child is still young… he’ll look for his mother.”

“Then, you may enter as well. However, wait in the reception room. While I talk with Derek.”

“Pardon? What do you need to discuss with Derek…?”

Jessica asked with a confused face, surprised by Damian’s sudden desire to speak with Derek.

But Damian had already turned and gone inside. The butler guided Derek and Jessica in.

As soon as they entered alone, Lucy slowly came down the stairs from the second floor.

“Oh? Big Brother Derek!”

Jessica’s face also lit up with expectation at the sight of Lucy’s bright smile.

Perhaps something might happen since Lucy and Derek were close? They used to play well together with marbles, didn’t they?

“Elder brother, I’m sorry. Dad found out about the secret we promised to keep that time.”

Lucy, who had fully descended to the first floor, said to Derek with a sullen face.

Jessica, who overheard this from the side, tilted her head.

A secret…?