“Bawin.”

“That doesn’t seem like the proper attitude to take towards the young lady.”

“Lo-Lord Rockin.”

The designer was greatly flustered by Bawin’s sudden appearance.

Although the Rockin family was merely a viscount house, the amount they invested in various salons was considerable.

This place was no exception. They were able to operate the salon without difficulty thanks to investment from the Rockin family.

The designer moved with a humble attitude, unlike earlier, at his appearance.

“I apologize, my lord.”

The designer bowed to Bawin in apology.

“Shouldn’t you be apologizing to this person instead of me?”

“Pardon? Ah…”

But Bawin pointed it out. He said the target of the apology was wrong.

The designer’s mind raced in confusion.

Why was he personally stepping in to help Aria Hersher?

Was there still something to be gained from her?

Everyone in the capital already knew that the Hersher family was in a precarious position.

The area in front of the Hersher mansion, which used to be crowded with visitors, was now so empty you couldn’t even see a single fly.

In the current situation where people’s attitudes towards the Hersher family had clearly changed, it was incomprehensible that Bawin, who was known for his shrewdness, would act this way.

“Hey, can’t you see me right now? To not even greet me when you’re just a viscount. Your liver must have grown outside your body.”

Lloyd felt the same way.

Lloyd glared at Bawin with narrowed brows.

He disliked Bawin.

If he had waited just a bit longer, Aria would surely have asked him for help. After all, it would be difficult for her to get out of this troublesome situation on her own.

So he had been waiting for the right timing, but the situation changed with Bawin’s appearance.

The distress that had been clearly visible on Aria’s face had now completely disappeared.

Right now, she was looking solely at Bawin.

“I don’t think we’re close enough to exchange greetings.”

“Ha, did I just hear that wrong?”

“Lloyd, stop it.”

Aria, belatedly realizing that Lloyd was also present, quickly warned him. She meant for him to stop showing that ruffian-like temperament even when outside.

“Aria, are you taking his side?”

“What are you talking about now?”

“You are! Right now, you’re taking his side instead of mine!”

“When did I ever do that!”

Lloyd felt even worse thinking that Aria was taking Bawin’s side instead of his.

As they were engaged to be married, he thought Aria should unconditionally take his side. Regardless of what had happened before.

On the other hand, Aria was dumbfounded by Lloyd’s behavior.

She did not want the current situation to escalate into a big commotion. If a disturbance broke out now, people’s attention would surely be drawn.

Aria did not want to be seen with Lloyd anymore. So she wanted to quickly and quietly get away from here.

“Let go!”

“Just give up already and come to my side!”

But Lloyd, seemingly having no such intention, roughly grabbed Aria’s arm and pulled her.

Aria, with her arm seized, struggled but could not overcome Lloyd’s strength.

Meanwhile, Bawin, who had been quietly watching, opened his mouth.

“How pathetic.”

“What did you just say?”

“I said it’s pathetic.”

A sardonic smile spread across Bawin’s lips.

Lloyd was truly a man who left one at a loss for words.

He had never felt pity for Aria before, but today, for the first time, he found her pitiful.

However, that sympathy faded away quickly.

Perhaps it was only natural for her to experience such things.

In his view, they were truly a well-matched pair.

“You bastard!”

“Kyaa!”

Lloyd finally exploded at Bawin’s provocation.

He was in an even more sensitive state with Aria present.

He still wanted to show only his best side to her, but everything went awry due to Bawin’s sudden appearance.

Lloyd shoved Aria aside and rushed at Bawin with his fist clenched.

He wanted to leave a fist mark on that snow-white face somehow. He thought that might make Aria look at him.

“People fear those who have nothing to lose.”

Bawin found Lloyd’s behavior ridiculous.

“But I rather find it amusing.”

Bawin aimed the cane in his hand precisely at Lloyd’s side.

Lloyd couldn’t help but take the hit, not expecting him to target the side of all places.

“Agh!”

“I wonder, do you truly have nothing to lose?”

Lloyd was already in pain from being hit by Aria earlier.

In that state, when Bawin struck him hard, he couldn’t endure and fell to the ground, crying out in pain.

The one who had been shouting angrily and showing murderous intent just moments ago suddenly became weak.

Bawin let out a scornful laugh.

To think that such a person was considered among the noblest of nobles.

He truly couldn’t believe it.

‘Even that status will come to an end soon enough.’

Bawin refrained from mentioning that here.

It was a fact that everyone would know soon enough anyway.

Though no one had told him, as befitting the operator of the empire’s best information guild, Bawin already knew everything.

What Lysander’s ring was, who had it, and even the predicament that Lloyd, now collapsed on the ground, was in.

‘Enjoy it while you can. Your future will be a thorny path even without my intervention.’

Once, Bawin had considered bringing down the Grand Duchy if Lloyd inherited it.

Clea had been his greatest benefactor.

She had saved his family from the brink of ruin and, in the process, revealed inner workings he had failed to grasp.

Although the process may not have been rational, to Bawin she was like a ray of light.

Therefore, if she did not ultimately overturn this situation, Bawin was prepared to burn everything down.

The Grand Duchy of Percy led by Lloyd.

The Hersher Duchy that dared to challenge his family.

And finally, even the imperial family that stood by and watched.

‘Fortunately, that won’t be necessary now.’

The slowly simmering anger still remained in a corner of his heart.

However, thanks to the one who helped him, that anger would not be expressed outwardly.

“Bawin, thank you for helping me.”

When Aria approached with an innocent face like a princess saved by a prince, Bawin almost furrowed his brow. But he held back.

No one with normal thinking could utter such words.

It would be more normal to shout angrily like Lloyd, demanding to know what this was all about.

But Aria approached Bawin without even glancing at Lloyd.

“Ah, Aria.”

Then, as she naturally tried to fall into his arms, she spoke to a servant, perhaps disturbed by Lloyd’s voice.

“Send Lloyd to the carriage.”

“Aria! Aria!”

Lloyd called her name repeatedly in a plaintive voice.

However, even the Hersher family’s servants thought that having Lloyd around would do no good in the current situation, so they dragged him away.

“Now that the noisy person is gone, it’s quiet.”

Bawin spoke in the silence that fell.

No one objected to his words.

“Since this is fate, how about we have a private conversation?”

“Alright. Let’s do that then.”

Though the Duchy’s people glared with daggers in their eyes at Bawin’s words, Aria agreed first, leaving them with nothing to say.

“Then shall we move to another place?”

* * *

“Bawin, thank you for saving me.”

“Not at all. It’s only natural to help someone in distress.”

Aria was very glad to see Bawin.

If it weren’t for him, she didn’t know what she might have done in another outburst.

She didn’t want to reveal herself treating others badly while losing her temper.

So she had been at a loss for what to do, when Bawin appeared at just the right moment.

Moreover, the reason Aria had come out was to somehow meet Bawin and ask for his help.

She had planned to send a letter to the Rockin viscounty residence while looking at dresses, asking to meet at the salon.

“So you came out personally to get fitted for a dress?”

“Yes. I came out to get some fresh air after a long time as well.”

It was strange by normal people’s standards.

It’s not unusual for nobles to visit salons directly, but it’s different for a family at the ducal level.

Those who value honor and authority might laugh at it, but Bawin didn’t make an issue of it.

He too had been devising ways to meet Aria.

He had even considered sneaking into the ducal residence to meet her.

But just then, a spy he had planted in the ducal residence brought news. News that Aria would be visiting a salon within his reach.

He was delighted and moved immediately, and fortunately was able to meet Aria.

“Seeing you reminds me of something I heard recently.”

Bawin threw out a topic first.

Naturally, Aria showed interest at his words about being reminded of something upon seeing her.

Not knowing how his words might affect her.

“Aren’t you curious about what design of dress the bride will wear at this wedding?”

The dress the bride will wear.

Aria almost bit her lip. She knew all too well who the bride he was referring to was.

“You don’t happen to know, do you?”

The bride’s dress, which would adorn the beginning and end of the wedding, was confidential. So it was absolutely impossible to know before the wedding.

Others would try their best not to overlap with the bride’s dress and design, but Aria was different.

She wanted to ruin that wedding somehow.

“I found out with great difficulty, for your sake.”

Aria did not doubt Bawin’s words at all.

Having received help from him several times already, Bawin was classified as a trustworthy figure in Aria’s mind.

His words sounded all too sweet to Aria.