Late at night, Rapha was entertaining an important foreign guest. The organization’s second-in-command, Maddox, was also by his side.

“There are over a hundred Hamilton general stores throughout Galdencia. You certainly won’t regret it.”

From the beginning, Allen didn’t want to deal with Rapha. He disliked the disreputable organization of gypsy origin.

However, since Rapha had offered the largest sum, refusing would clearly result in a loss.

“The Hamilton name alone is worth money.”

Allen was irritated by Rapha’s words.

“Let’s not use the Hamilton name. As you know, the Hamilton family are traitors. Customers wouldn’t want that either.”

It was unpleasant that the name remained all over Galdencia. He wanted to erase all traces of Hamilton, which is why he was selling the stores.

“Hey! We have our people in Galdencia too, so we know. Most people there say Richard Hamilton fell victim to a false accusation. The reputation of Hamilton stores is still good.”

This was troublesome… Allen shook his head. He had quoted a high price thinking he might deal with even a gangster organization.

“We won’t use it, so don’t worry. Instead, how about lowering the price a bit?”

The sharp-witted Rapha immediately sensed Allen’s thoughts and tried to renegotiate the price.

“Lower the price…”

Allen fell into contemplation with his fingers interlocked. In fact, when he announced the sale of the stores, every newspaper in Galdencia simultaneously published articles expressing concern.

And since they bore the stigma of being traitors, there were so many trying to take advantage by offering rock-bottom prices. So he had planned to finalize the deal with these people while in Rubeck.

But if they asked to lower the price further here, there should be some benefit for him too. Suddenly, something flashed through Allen’s mind.

“How about getting rid of Duke Courtois? If you do that, I might sell at the price you want.”

At Allen’s words, Rapha and Maddox silently looked at each other. Soon, the two burst into loud laughter.

“Who did you ask us to get rid of? Duke Courtois? He’s practically second-in-command of the Rubeck Empire, and you’re asking us gypsies to eliminate him?”

“Why, are you not confident?”

He honestly thought it was a good move to have him die at the hands of utterly base thugs, as there would be no repercussions.

They were originally a bunch who only did vile things like sewer rats anyway. Besides, weren’t they the type to smuggle anything, be it opium or whatever, as long as there was money in it?

“He’s not an easy opponent. We might end up bleeding ourselves.”

Rapha shuddered at the mere thought of Duke Courtois. He had thought it was just because he was a war hero. But he was a man who had been willing to blow up this entire district just to obtain one medicinal decoction.

It was the first time in his life he had encountered such an extreme individual. Negotiation or persuasion didn’t work at all with him. Moreover, he was a man who lacked even the basic concept of pleading or bowing his head to others.

“Let’s pretend this never happened.”

Maddox waved his hands at Allen, refusing.

While Allen could just return to his country once the deal was done, it was obvious that the organization that killed Rubeck’s war hero would all be arrested and hanged.

By the way, not only was Terran tough, but Allen was no pushover either.

‘Asking us to kill a duke while selling stores. He’s got some nerve.’

Or maybe he had gotten a taste of money and was now acting recklessly, not fearing the world.

‘He must be blinded. Just because you have money doesn’t mean the world bends to your will.’

When Rapha refused, Allen persistently pressed on.

“Then, let’s do this. I’ll lower the price, so instead of killing anyone, do something else for me.”

“Something else?”

“Isn’t it your specialty to handle things without anyone knowing who did it?”

“Stop beating around the bush and say it.”

“Send the Duke’s fiancée to Galdencia.”

Allen was confident that if only Grace fell into his hands, he could make her forget Terran. After all, no woman had ever resisted his advances.

It wasn’t just because he desired Grace. He really wanted to see Terran’s madness as he went berserk watching his fiancée change her heart.

Terran was the one who first used tactics to toy with people. So he had to get revenge.

Rapha and Maddox pondered. It was fortunate that it wasn’t about killing the Duke, but kidnapping his fiancée…

Honestly, it wasn’t that difficult a task. Kidnapping was their specialty, after all.

* * *

Lea’s disappointment was immeasurable. She thought she’d make a big splash just by wearing the lace dress Chainer had painstakingly made, but it only damaged her reputation.

“You were too ahead of your time.”

Pauline, who had heard about the party from Lea, also seemed greatly disappointed.

“Is that so? What if it had been a little less daring?”

“No matter how pretty a dress you wore, the noble ladies would have been jealous of you, miss.”

In the end, it meant the approach was wrong. To their eyes, it only looked like an annoying attempt to attract attention by wearing revealing clothes, and they barely noticed the dress itself.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. When Pauline opened it immediately, James was there.

“Miss, the Duke is looking for you.”

“Where is he?”

“He’s in the reception room.”

“I’ll be right down.”

Lea checked her appearance. Since the day of the party, she had deliberately avoided Terran. She felt annoyed at him for hitting the nail on the head of her failure, and on the other hand, she felt confused.

“Pauline, Terran is a man, right?”

Lea asked Pauline as she was going down the stairs.

“I don’t think he’s a woman?”

Pauline looked at Lea strangely as she replied.

“No, that’s not what I meant. In your opinion… Never mind, forget it.”

It wouldn’t do to not only eavesdrop on the conversation with Dr. Wilson but also to reveal it to Pauline.

How humiliating would it be for Terran if he found out later? But that gaze and heat from Terran were undoubtedly things one could feel from a normal man.

‘I can’t confirm it with Dr. Wilson either.’

Lea shook her head vigorously, considering it a useless contemplation.

Before she knew it, she had arrived in front of the reception room. Having avoided him for several days, she didn’t have the confidence to face him.

“I’m here.”

When Lea quietly announced herself, both Terran and Luke turned to look at her. However, instead of teacups, the table was piled high with letters.

“Everyone out except Grace.”

At Terran’s stern voice, Lea felt a sudden fear. Was he angry because she had been avoiding him, not doing anything together like meals, walks, or tea?

“Come and sit.”

Terran spoke to Grace after Luke and Pauline had left.

“Are you still upset?”

“Yes.”

Lea answered honestly.

“I didn’t wear Chainer’s dress to look like a prostitute to men. I had my own plan, you know.”

“Who said Grace looked like a prostitute?”

“Prostitute, attention seeker, they said I was vulgar and deliberately trying to seduce men in a crass way.”

“Those bastards…!”

“Didn’t you think the same? You said you wanted to tear off the dress I was wearing because it was embarrassing, right?”

“What?”

Terran’s face contorted uncontrollably. Now that he thought about it, Grace seemed a bit slow on the uptake.

He had shown his desire like a beast in front of her, yet how could she interpret it in such a different way? No, he needed to confirm.

“What am I to Grace? Other than your fiancé.”

“Family?”

He wore a bewildered expression and was silent for a while.

He had thought that at least answering ‘a man’ would be normal.

‘Family’, she says. That’s a word that implies boredom after more than 20 years of married life, and it seems she doesn’t even understand that much.

“Ask me the same question.”

“What am I to you, Terran? Other than your fiancée.”

“My woman.”

Lea’s heart started pounding wildly again.

Suddenly, Terran seemed to be glowing and looking incredibly handsome. It was hard to believe that this Terran, who spoke like the ultimate manly man in the world, was actually impotent in reality.

At this moment, she resented God. What on earth had He done to this perfect man?

“I’ll ask again.”

Terran pressed on relentlessly.

There was a strong will to hear the words he wanted from Grace’s lips no matter what.

“What am I to Grace? Other than family.”

Lea hesitated. Now that she knew what he wanted to hear, she found it harder to speak.

She felt so embarrassed that she wanted to run away into a mouse hole if there was one. However, looking into his dark eyes that seemed like they could burn her alive, she couldn’t delay any longer.

“Fiancé… No, my man?”

Only then did the corners of Terran’s mouth lift up high.

“You misunderstood. What I said about wanting to tear off your dress.”

“But you did want to tear it off, right?”

“Yes, I said it because it was terrible to see other men looking at my woman’s smooth, bare skin.”

“!?”

“Next time, I hope you’ll only wear it in front of me. No, actually, I like it. It’s easier to take off too.”

‘An impotent man sure has a lot to say.’

Soon after, Terran beckoned to Grace with his finger. It meant for her to sit next to him.

Entranced by his gaze, Lea unknowingly approached and sat beside him.

“There’s no creature as hypocritical as humans.”

“Pardon?”

“Those are the proof. Check them out.”

Terran pointed to the pile of letters on the table, and Lea opened them one by one to check the contents. Soon, her eyes widened.

Lea repeatedly checked the letters quickly.

“Well? Am I right?”

“I heard it with my own ears. They said I looked like a prostitute.”

Lea cried out loud.

The letters from the noble ladies who had insulted her contained praise for the lace dress she wore at the party, saying it was impressive, and that they would like to know where to order it, no matter the cost, so they could have one made for themselves too.

Lea wept with emotion as she threw her arms around Terran’s neck.

Soon after, she was startled by her own action and tried to quickly move away from him. Of course, Terran caught her wrist.

“It’s too early to cry.”

“What else is there?”

Lea gazed at him with tear-filled eyes.

But his body showed an strange reaction. In the past, when Grace cried, he just thought she looked pretty, but now desire for her surged up repeatedly.

Wanting to hold a crying woman. He was definitely ill.

‘Getting excited over a crying woman, that’s perverted.’

Though it didn’t seem like he was normal in front of her either.

Terran handed Lea a letter he had set aside separately.

“It’s a letter from the Empress.”

“Is… is this real?”

Lea opened the letter from the Empress with trembling hands.

“Oh my goodness! The Empress wants to place an order too!”