“No, it’s certain. There are reports that Countess Clovis argued vehemently with her mother-in-law about the death of the countess. There are also testimonies from servants that he doesn’t leave the countess’s room all day long.”

The moment he heard Russell’s words, a fury akin to pouring oil on a lit fire engulfed him, and Valtter’s anger intensified.

After Odette’s death, he easily became enraged over trivial matters.

The fact that the world continued to turn normally despite the disappearance of the person who meant more to him than anything else made him uncontrollably furious every time he felt it. However, this was different.
Valtter, disgusted by the sight of the mastermind responsible for pushing Odette to death, wanted to kill him right away in his grief. However…

“Do I have the right to…?”

Anyway, he was the one Odette chose and the one she loved.

“Unlike me, who is nothing…”

When these thoughts reached him, everything seemed futile. Eventually, instead of expressing anger, he bit his lips and turned away.

“Regretting after death is pointless. Things could have changed if you had done something while alive.”

Louis’ foolish remark was unclear whether it was directed at his own foolishness or at Valtter.

Perhaps both foolishnesses were all the same, so distinguishing between them might be meaningless.

Fortunately, Valtter got a second chance.

A second chance to save Odette, to undo regret.

The timing and the situation were perfect, except for one thing.

“If the problem lies in what happened after my disappearance…”

According to imperial law, when a married person dies, all their property is inherited by their spouse. Of course, if Valtter dies, all the property and rights he possesses as the head of the Ertman Duchy will go to Arnold, but…

“That’s not a big deal.”

Turning a few family-name properties into his name wasn’t a difficult task. Besides, Valtter’s wealth was already abundant.

It meant he could inherit the property to Odette if he wanted to. Only, when Valtter is “dead.”

According to imperial law, if a spouse is missing, they are not considered dead, and inheritance is not granted. At least, a spouse must be missing for more than 20 years and be officially recognized as dead for inheritance and remarriage to be possible.

“20 years is too long.”

Certainly, there should be a signboard saying the master of Ertman. But in a situation where Ertman is a shield for him, the absence of Valtter might be poisonous.

Without Valtter, the actual empty state of Ertman could attract vultures eager to plunder.

Even if Arnold stands in as the head, he has long retired from the social scene.

It was clear that Odette would be the one to receive all the attacks.

“I can’t let that happen.”

And once again, Valtter easily presented a solution.

If preventing the state of being missing is unavoidable and the problem lies in becoming missing, the solution is simple, isn’t it?

“Die before that happens.”

If Valtter Ertman dies and makes it clear that he died before becoming missing, wouldn’t that solve everything?

So, intentionally, Valtter openly moved around without hiding his identity at social events, engaging in a business equivalent to a hornet’s nest.

In the past, when Cedric engaged in this hornet’s nest and died, it was a double-edged sword that saved Cedric, advanced his death, and benefitted Valtter.
“Of course, Louis Clovis deliberately led to this news catching your interest.”

It was already known that Louis was involved in smuggling. Although the range he touched now seemed less deep than in the past, considering the fact that he had intervened, it was only a matter of time before Valtter fell for the bait he set.

“Originally, I didn’t plan to go in such a hurry, but…”

Because Louis found memories more, and faster than expected, there was no choice but to hurry the action.

“Because Odette loves Louis Clovis.”

It was essential to prevent Louis from approaching Odette without reason. If Louis’s memories were unclear, it could have been easily stopped.

“According to Elodie Montuare, it seems like he has almost remembered everything.”

Valtter clicked his tongue inwardly. The documents stated that those around the user would also be affected when using the relic, and perhaps those influences were elements created to interfere with the user. The warning given by the one he made a deal with was probably about those things.

By now, whether it was unfortunate or whatever, he had to admit that it was quite annoying.

“Every time I try to do something, obstacles keep popping up.”

Thanks to that, even getting married to Odette took quite a long time. Moreover, unlike the past, Odette was perceived as a wicked and reckless person.

“I’ve heard the words ‘bad person’ several times today.”

Valtter chuckled as he recalled Odette’s face, which he had glared at while hesitating, and then he playfully poked the sleeping face of his wife.

“Ung…”

Muttering in her sleep, Odette, who was poked on her cheek, wrinkled her forehead as if expressing her annoyance.

When someone tells you not to do something, it often makes you want to do it more.

Valtter, with a mischievous smile, poked a few more times, then stopped as if his wife might wake up.

“My wife, my wife.”

It was an unfamiliar pronunciation, especially considering that it referred to Odette. Valtter stared at Odette for a long time, savoring that pronunciation.

“Now that we’re married, there shouldn’t be any more disturbances.”

He said so, unaware of the existence of a looming tsunami just before it struck him.