“This proposal, he won’t be able to reject.”

“But it’s too dangerous.”

“It’s not dangerous. And even if it is, it doesn’t matter.”

As long as I am Crayton, always.

I turned decisively, and Cheshire couldn’t say anything more, following behind me.

“Duke Pferren.”

Duke Pferren, who was speaking from a distance, noticed and urged us even more. Every time I saw him, various emotions surged, and my stomach churned, but I couldn’t continue to be defeated.

“Have you made up your mind?”

“In a moment like this, where every second is precious, I can’t afford to hesitate for long.”

“Of all the things I’ve heard from you recently, this is the most rational answer.”

“Let’s change our course and head to Nagata.”

“We should cancel what you just said.”

Duke Pferren openly licked his lips.

“Promise. I’ll make sure you can enter Nagata as quickly and easily as possible.”

“You talk well for someone who can’t handle a sword.”

“Even if I can’t use a sword, I can use something else.”

“Something else?”

“Have you forgotten who I am?”

I raised my hand above my chest. Duke Pferren’s forehead tightened slightly, but I decided not to care. I couldn’t help it even if I received hateful glances.

“Do you think I’ll help you with just this kind of thing?”

“I don’t need you to help me.”

“Then?”

“Let’s move for our own purposes. That’s it. That was the initial contract, wasn’t it?”

“…….”

I pulled the corners of my mouth forcefully.

I didn’t need to complicate things from the beginning. I erased all questions, emotions, and even thoughts. Just like at the beginning, I would only chew on the contract between us.

That way, I could keep moving forward.

“No news is coming. Why on earth is that?”

Bake anxiously rolled his feet. It had been over a day since he heard from Revianna. It was the first time there was no contact for so long since she left.

“Maybe the distance is getting farther, and that’s why the contact is delayed?”

“Do you think that’s an excuse? I clearly told her to contact me regularly.”

It was just a day. That’s what he wanted to say, but to the superiors with bloodshot eyes, such words would not be heard. Bake’s obsession with his once-beautiful wife was not a day or two.

Ceptor repeatedly gathered and spread his hands, looking at the empty bottles piled up on the desk.

Since Revianna left, Bake’s condition had been deteriorating day by day. While he still portrayed a plausible Crayton Marquis outside, the moment he returned to the mansion, he turned into that kind of person.

If there was no more contact, Ceptor could bet his annual salary that Bake would soon follow in Revianna’s footsteps.

He just hoped that before that happened, news of Revianna would arrive.
Ceptor constantly checked the superior’s mood, intermittently opening the door to glance outside. Waiting for news that could arrive at any moment was not only Bake.

“Your Excellency, finally, a letter has arrived!”

Ceptor, who spotted a servant running eagerly from a distance, was the first to get excited. It was a predictable act, but for now, he had to calm Bake down even for a moment.

No matter how well he covered it with cologne, if he kept drinking every day like this, the sour smell of alcohol would eventually permeate from him to his superior.

“A letter, you say?”

Even in his drunken state, it seemed he could hear the words he wanted to hear.

Bake, who suddenly stood up and approached the door, swaying, as Ceptor cautiously supported his staggering superior, urged the running servant hurriedly. Due to continued drinking, Bake’s body was hotter than usual, and just touching him was warm enough.

“Your Excellency, it’s an urgent letter.”

“Well, it must be. Those lazy guys who only cared about money are finally working!”

Bake, who shouted sarcastically, snatched the letter from the servant’s hand. However, in his intoxicated state, he couldn’t easily open the sealed letter.

In the end, Bake, irritated, knocked the letter to the floor, trying to open it.

“Give it to me.”

Ceptor, while preventing the drunken Bake, signaled the servant to hurry. The servant, who had been caught in the nasty drinking habit of Marquis Crayton for a while, quickly picked up the letter and handed it to Ceptor.

“Tell me. What does it say? Is she doing well? Without me?”

“Your Excellency, that…”

Ceptor bit his lip. He couldn’t bring himself to say that it wasn’t news about Revianna, but a letter from Nagata.

“Tell me quickly!”

Even in his sharp outburst, Bake seemed to be able to hear what he wanted to hear.

Ceptor, with a reluctant heart, opened the sealed letter with Nagata’s seal.

“……”

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“That’s…”

Ceptor’s throat rang loudly.

Contrary to what he expected, the letter was indeed delivering news about Revianna. However, Ceptor couldn’t bring himself to say that it was fortunate. No matter what the truth of the letter was, Bake would be angry.

With a feeling of resignation, Ceptor read the content of the letter with Nagata’s seal.

“Your Excellency, we were attacked? She?”