Despite there being more than ten people in the spacious lobby, it was as quiet as if no one was there. Everyone was intently watching the mental battle between Herald and Fredrick without even making a sound of breath.

Just the fact that Herald Braden, the hero of the Empire, and Fredrick Benjamin, the owner of this trading company, were fighting was interesting enough. But judging by the atmosphere, it seemed to be a fight over a lover, making it even more thrilling.

When Fredrick mentioned something about a prince, scratching Herald’s nerves, the onlookers’ interest and curiosity were further heightened. People looked at Herald, anticipating how he would respond.

The same went for Lily. The only difference was that instead of anticipation, she was filled with worry and anxiety. And that worry was directed towards Herald, not herself.

Who was worrying about whom, Herald’s lips curled in derision. To him, Fredrick Benjamin was nothing more than a bug. A trivial bug that no matter how much it struggled, could not leave a single wound on his body.

But Lily was different. She was wounded by Fredrick’s attacks, and those wounds would become permanent scars that would haunt her for a long time to come. Even now, the person most harmed was Lily. Despite that, Herald didn’t like that she was worrying about someone else.

What he disliked the most was Fredrick Benjamin. It angered him that Fredrick held Lily’s mother’s life and death, her sorest point, in his hands and threatened her with it, and that he treated her like his property. But what irked Herald’s nerves the most was the surname and titles that followed Fredrick’s name.

Fredrick Benjamin. Viscount Benjamin and Liliana Benjamin’s husband.

It was also disgusting that he pretended not to know that Herald’s coming here was not a coincidence and asked about it. He seemed to expect that Herald would be flustered and not say anything or make up some strange excuse, but it was an absurd delusion.

Herald was not flustered at all. Rather, his unpleasant feeling only intensified. To the point where he wanted to twist Fredrick Benjamin’s neck right away.

Fortunately or unfortunately, his consideration for Lily’s reputation was still greater than that desire, so he could endure it.

“There’s no way it’s a coincidence.”

Herald answered, looking at Fredrick with an expression not much different from before.

“Everything is the inevitable result of my efforts. Relying solely on coincidence and hoping for good results doesn’t suit my taste.”

“Oh, that’s similar to me. I also prefer to obtain things through effort rather than relying on luck,” Fredrick added with a grin.

“I already knew that Viscount and I had similar tastes in women, but I didn’t know our dispositions were similar as well.”

Herald, instantly understanding that the taste Fredrick was referring to was ‘taste in women’, laughed as if in derision and tilted his head askew.

“Well.”

His lowered voice was eerie. The momentary disappearance of the hypocritical smile made it feel even colder. As if the surrounding temperature had dropped a few degrees, the onlookers shivered and rubbed their arms. Fredrick also seemed to have a hard time withstanding the momentum this time, flinching and furrowing his brows.

“I don’t know if your tastes and dispositions are similar to mine, but one thing is for certain. Unlike you, I have an eye for people.”

As he said that, Herald took Lily’s hand that was clutching the innocent hem of her skirt. At the comforting sensation enveloping her hand, her frozen face relaxed, but only for a moment. Her anxiously trembling green eyes glanced around at the others. That sight irked Herald.

“As you said, I’m the prince from a fairy tale, so I’ll go rescue the princess in danger.”

That was why. Even though he knew he shouldn’t do this, that it would rather put her in a difficult position, Herald took Lily and left the trading company.

As Herald, Lily, and Emily who followed after them disappeared, the eyes of the onlookers naturally focused on Fredrick. Under their gazes filled with pity as if looking at the loser, Fredrick’s mind twisted like a coiled snake. With gloomily darkened eyes, Fredrick traced their trail and swept over his slightly reddened cheeks.

He had expected from the beginning that Herald would take Lily with him. Because there was no way he would leave alone the woman he liked when she was in trouble. Someone of Herald Braden’s standing could do as he pleased without caring about others’ eyes.

But Lily was different. Her position was not very good, and she was the type to care a lot about others’ gazes. So he was confident that in such a public place, she would choose him. Then, when Herald got angry and tried to forcibly take Lily away, Fredrick planned to publicly humiliate him by throwing back the words Herald had said.

Fredrick deliberately provoked Herald’s temper and carefully followed the steps. During that process, Herald’s reactions were a bit more lackluster than expected, which was a little concerning, but the way he looked at Lily was the same, so Fredrick was reassured. Lily’s reaction was also exactly as anticipated.

So he thought things would go as planned… but to be blindsided like this.

The fact that it was his own wife, Liliana Benjamin, who struck him from behind twice, made Fredrick even more furious.

The sound of his tightly clenched teeth grinding together was as eerie as bones being crushed. The hand clenched in rising anger left a scratch on his cheek with a faint reddish tinge.

As blood flowed from the deep cut in the flesh, Robert hurriedly held out a handkerchief. Only then realizing that his cheek was wounded, Fredrick let out a short breath and wiped the blood with the handkerchief. The wound must have been quite deep, as a considerable amount of blood stained it. His cheek also felt hot.

“I will call a doctor.”

“No need.”

A doctor for a mere wound like this? Fredrick snorted and looked around. The reactions of the people who met his eyes were largely divided into two types. Either they were startled and turned their heads away, or they looked at him with expectant eyes, hoping he would make some excuse.

The former were mostly employees of the trading company, and the latter were guests. While Fredrick committed the faces of the guests to memory, Robert, who had brought the wound medicine, held out the bottle and said,

“I will keep their mouths shut.”

It meant he would prevent what happened here from leaking out. It wasn’t difficult to silence the guests who happened to be at the trading company, as they were all in a subordinate position.

“Hmm.”

Without accepting the medicine bottle, Fredrick looked at the spot where Lily had been. His fingers, hidden beneath the handkerchief, traced the wound where the bleeding had already stopped. If it became known that he had engaged in a mental battle with Herald, and that it was a fight over a lover, who would be more affected?

Without needing deep thought, it was obviously Lily, but from the moment she chose Herald over him, she was no longer a consideration. Fredrick decided he didn’t care whether Lily got hurt or not. The same reason applied to digging up Madison Benjamin’s grave.

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason. The Second Prince’s request to find the item Madison Benjamin had stolen also played a part.

“I brought everything that was in the grave, sir.”

Fredrick recalled the words and expression of the grave robber who had returned last night, drenched in the fierce rain. Placing the soaked bag in front of Fredrick, the large man clicked his tongue as if in dismay and said,

“To think there wasn’t even a penny to be found in a noble’s grave, let alone anything of value… I recommend putting in plenty next time when reburying. That way, the ferryman of the underworld will safely take the soul to its destination.”

Lecturing despite being a mere grave robber. Fredrick was about to make a sharp retort but refrained from doing so. Because the man was going to die anyway. He showed his last benevolence towards the pitiful being who would soon no longer see the light of day.

After the grave robber left, Fredrick checked the bag he had left behind. The shabby bag was full of trash. If the name [Madison Benjamin] hadn’t been written on the notebook, he would have mistaken it for rummaging through a trash can instead of a grave.

The item the Second Prince was looking for didn’t seem to be among the trash, but just in case, Fredrick kept everything. It was even stored in the president’s office of this trading company.

So when Fredrick heard that Lily had come to see him, he pondered for a moment. He felt the urge to show her the evidence and thoroughly teach her what happens when she dares to defy him.

He thought it would be best to see her reaction first and then decide, so he refrained. It was an excellent choice. If he had acted on the momentary desire to enjoy the intoxication, shackles that would never be removed would have been placed on his ankles.

“President.”

As Robert called out, his thoughts that had momentarily strayed returned to their original path. Fredrick swept his gaze over the employees and guests who had scattered in a disorderly manner and carefully weighed the situation again.

Even if it became known that he had engaged in a fight over a lover, there would be no impact on Herald. There might be some people whispering about what happened, but they would all treat it like a passing breeze and quickly forget about it. There was even a strange custom of considering it a good thing for a hero to be fond of women.

On the other hand, Fredrick’s position had narrowed. People would find it strange that he dared to confront Herald Braden and would try to avoid associating with him. Then, not only would his reputation suffer, but it would also cause problems for his business. So it was right to silence people to prevent this matter from spreading.

That would usually be the case… but not now.

Fredrick’s lips curled in deep satisfaction as he recalled Herald’s expression, his eyes trembling to the point of being shaken by Lily’s tears, not knowing what to do.

“No, don’t stop it.”

Seizing and shaking the opponent’s weaknesses was what he did best. It was also the method that had allowed him to grow his business to this extent.

“Don’t stop it, and spread it as widely as possible so that as many people can know.”

Since there was more to gain from spreading it than hiding it, Fredrick willingly decided to accept a slight loss.