Edwick couldn’t leave the study as the evening deepened, thanks to the letter he received in the afternoon.

It was from Jade. It was neatly written in Jade’s distinctive handwriting, stating that he would arrive at the Marquisate late at night.

Because of this, he couldn’t keep his promise with Ibelia. The reason for the repeated visits from Jade, who had sought him out again early in the morning, was as clear as day – it must be related to the Crown Prince at the palace. Therefore, Edwick had no choice but to further postpone his promise with Ibelia.

He needed to be certain about Khalif, and it seemed that the direction of the conversation with Ibelia would be determined once that was settled. Didn’t he promise his daughter just a few days ago that he would find the best solution without delay?

So, for Ibelia, who was struggling, he needed to make a decision as soon as possible.

Coincidentally, a letter arrived from Jade, and now the moment to make the best decision was approaching.

Edwick exhaled the breath held in his throat as he reached for the teacup prepared by the butler. Though it had been brought out a while ago, there was no warmth left, but it was sufficient to quench his thirst.

In this way, as he occasionally sipped the cup to quench the returning thirst, it happened when he tilted the teacup for the third time – a solid knocking sound echoed through the study.

As if waiting for it, Edwick rose from his seat. Soon, the door opened, and through it appeared Jade, who had been waiting.

“Father.”

“Yeah, Jade. You’ve come.”

Edwick approached Jade as if he had been waiting for him and then carefully took his son’s hand and led him to the area with a sofa.

Jade seemed exhausted. It was not something Edwick couldn’t understand at all.

The distance from the capital to the Marquisate was one that even seasoned knights would take two full days to cover. Yet, he accomplished it in less than a week.

Considering that he had to return after completing such a long journey, it must have been burdensome and arduous.

Instead of expressing gratitude verbally, Edwick held Jade’s hand several times in silence.

“Your face is quite bruised.”

“I got a lot of wind while riding, so that’s why. Don’t worry; I’m perfectly fine.”

Jade sat down opposite Edwick, trying to look nonchalant. In fact, he was quite fatigued, but he couldn’t show it. The weight of the burden his father was already carrying would not be light.

Jade put on his usual mischievous smile. Even so, Edwick did not easily ease his expression, but he didn’t put in more effort to lighten the mood.

There was something important Edwick had to convey to him.

“I could have come sooner, but Lord Dwight didn’t easily open his mouth, so it took longer than expected.”

“… What did he say?”

Edwick asked with a tense expression. Watching him like that, Jade couldn’t easily let his lips loosen.
He let out a heavy sigh as he reconsidered the shocking story he had heard from Jadis.

[…May I ask where you’re from?]

Jadis sent a wary gaze towards Jadis, who tried hard to maintain his usual sunny expression.

[I am Jadis Caroline, the son of Viscountess Caroline.] [Caroline, the Viscountess?]

Dwight Jadis put on a more guarded expression than before, with a face that seemed even more frightened upon hearing Jadis’s name.

As if he had seen a ghost, he couldn’t move for a while, and when Jadis didn’t get to the point, he tried to leave, saying he had nothing to say.

At first, Jadis thought he would wait until Jadis calmed down. So he silently waited for Jadis, who had entered the house, to come out.

However, no matter how long he waited, Jadis didn’t show any intention of coming out of the house. As the time became longer without any indication, Jadis couldn’t wait for Jadis any longer.

He had been guarding the shabby house of Jadis for a long time, but now he hid in the nearby bushes. When Jadis finally revealed himself outside the house, it was after quite some time had passed.

Jadis seized the opportunity and surrounded Jadis with the knights who had gone to the territory with him. In an instant, Jadis, whose face turned pale, shouted at Jadis with a hoarse and intense voice.

[Why on earth are you doing this to me?] [I simply came because I was curious. I clearly told you that, but seeing how you’re avoiding me so desperately, it seems like you’ve already caught on to the questions I’m going to ask.]

Jadis pointed out Jadis’s suspicious behavior straightforwardly. Terrified by Jadis’s words, Jadis couldn’t keep his eyes still, trembling with his shoulders. It was an action that strengthened Jadis’s assumption.

Jadis already felt like he had heard the answer. But since it was not a trivial matter, he had to hear it directly from Jadis.

Without hesitation, Jadis reached out a hefty pouch in front of Jadis. When he did, Jadis looked alternately at Jadis and the pouch with suspicious eyes.

[Wh-What is this?]