The Duke left Rodinia and headed to Perington. Just the fact that he was not in the mansion felt liberating, but I tossed and turned in the darkness unable to fall asleep.

In the darkness behind my tightly closed eyelids, the face of Lord Corbin I had seen a few days ago flashed by. Vivian’s eyes, which had been trying to force sleep, slowly opened.

“Lord… Corbin? It sounds familiar somehow…”

I couldn’t remember if his appearance had been familiar. Due to my nervousness and trembling, only his bushy beard remained in my mind. I couldn’t recall what his eyes had looked like when he greeted me, what his nose was like, or how his lips were hidden beneath the beard.

“Corbin, Corbin…”

I tried to dig up the deeply buried memory by repeating the name, but nothing came to mind.

Finally, Vivian left the bed and walked to the window. What came through the wide-open door that Sophie had left was the cool breeze of an early summer night.

Knowing that this pleasure would soon disappear, I comforted myself that my sleeplessness tonight was to enjoy this pleasure.

Vivian sat on the windowsill with both legs up. The height when I glanced down was dizzying. I turned my gaze away from below and looked at the horizon that seemed endless.

The sun didn’t seem like it would rise from that horizon full of darkness. When I felt like I could never escape the despair given by the darkness, my chest tightened and I wanted to find Lake Lanua.

Vivian hugged her legs tightly and buried her face.

Father, you’re alive, right?

I hoped for an answer to my question.

Mother, did you read my letter?

I wished it would give me even a faint hope.

I can overcome this. I’m okay. I can do it. Mother, I’ll be a daughter you and Father can be proud of.

By the time Vivian raised her head, the darkness had retreated and the sky was brightening to a deep blue.

I thought it had already become that time, but I realized I must have dozed off momentarily when I buried my face. Additionally, I stroked my chest in relief that I hadn’t lost my balance and fallen down.

The dawn on the horizon, which I thought would be full of endless darkness, was dazzling. The brilliant golden sun slowly peeked out.

***

In his youth, Humphrey worked as a servant in the Baitness Baron’s house in Olrun. When the Baron’s only son died in an unfortunate accident, the Baroness half lost her mind and Baron Baitness completely disappeared.

The couple, having lost their beloved son, couldn’t find a way to alleviate their pain and fell along a winding path.

They were prepared to reach any kind of ruin and were willing to endure it.

Then one day, the Baron who seemed like he would never return, came back. The servants hoped that the Baron’s house would return to normal, but one day the Baron went out and brought back a small girl.

Baron Baitness tried to persuade the Baroness to become the guardian of the poor child. But the Baroness, who hadn’t escaped the pain of losing her son, continued to argue about the young ward.

Then another day came.

The Baroness started letting in a boy who delivered milk, and eventually, she was reminded of her dead son when she saw the boy. Because of this, the Baroness’s madness, which seemed like it would lead straight to death, gradually began to improve, and before long, the lady returned to her original self.

When the carriage bearing the Baitness crest stopped in front of the town house, the lined-up servants straightened their backs. Humphrey greeted Edwin, who appeared through the smoothly opening door, with a benevolent smile.

Back then, no one had predicted that the ill-tempered boy with fierce blue eyes would raise the Baitness name to the top of Newway. Humphrey too had worried that the boy would become a sacrifice in the Baitness Baron’s house, which was covered in thick dark clouds.

From a lowly orphan wandering the port of Olrun to the son of a baron’s family, from a mere soldier of Newway to an officer who changed Newway’s history, from a businessman who was sneered at for walking the path of failure to a nobleman of Newway who carved a new name for new money.

His tumultuous life story ended with gaining perfect status and honor.

But there was one thing. Even for the master racing on a well-paved road, there was something that caused worry from those around him.

“The measurements are written inside.”

Edwin, who had entered the mansion, handed over a folded note.

“Order dresses according to the measurements. Not flashy, but simple ones, about ten of them. If ten dresses are not enough for a woman who has no clothes at all, please order more.”

Humphrey’s wrinkled eyes blinked in disbelief. Even after moving from Rotormond to Perington here for company business, he had received countless worried letters from Baroness Baitness in Rotormond.

Whether Eddie didn’t like any women, or if he already had someone he was seeing, if so when would he get married, if there was no woman he was seeing or liked, how about creating a chance even if it seemed like a coincidence, why on earth wasn’t he getting married. Or if he perhaps liked men.

The letters that started with worries and questions always ended with expressing frustration about a son who seemed to avoid women. Humphrey too had somewhat definitively thought that his master, who never gave a glance to the flirtatious women in social circles, was not the type to like women.

But now to order a woman’s dress.

Dumbfounded, Humphrey abruptly opened the note to check. He knew it certainly wouldn’t be Charlotte since he said it was for a woman who had no clothes, but he had to confirm with his own eyes.

Edwin, who had stopped walking, turned to look at the silent Humphrey. Humphrey quickly folded the note and composed his expression.

“Yes. I’ll prepare it.”

“Send the dresses to the mansion in Rodinia.”

“…Yes, Master.”

The measurements I saw briefly were not Charlotte’s. There was no need to think hard about whose measurements they might be. And that too was something Baroness Baitness had been worried about.

‘Surely not the only daughter of the former owner of the Grand Mansion in Rodinia, Eveline…’

Humphrey took a deep breath. Since this was an urgent matter, he thought he should scribble a letter to send to the Baroness tonight.

It felt as if the Baroness’s sigh, laden with concern, was blowing in on the open breeze.

***

The mansion in Perington was not as grand as the Duke’s mansion in Rodinia, but its splendor was renowned enough to be counted among the best even in the capital.

As soon as Edwin arrived at the mansion, he made his way to where Lord Corbin was waiting. The two who had met recently exchanged greetings of reunion.

As usual, Corbin started the conversation with praise. He extolled Edwin’s ability to amass great wealth at a young age, receive a duke’s title, and be welcomed by both the people and the upper class of Newway.

Moreover, Corbin, who listed numerous incidents where Edwin had distinguished himself on the battlefield, expressed great regret that he was not a Preston. Edwin humbly said that it was all just luck.

“Anyway, we were all in a situation that wasn’t very hopeful, but now that we have the great hope of Duke Baitness, everyone’s morale has risen. If it’s as you say, our plan will proceed without disagreement. Moreover, since it’s such a meaningful person, he too will be more than pleased.”

Edwin, who smiled coolly, twirled his brandy glass and looked at the waves in the glass.

“Am I any different? I truly met this hope by chance, so it felt like I found the missing screw in my plan. I too didn’t know about his existence, so I’m quite pleased. Because I can secure legitimacy, you see.”

“Isn’t it amazing how connections work? To think we were such desperately needed counterparts to each other. It feels like we’ve met a destined love.”

Corbin burst into hearty laughter. Edwin raised his brandy glass in agreement.

“Until I received the letter, I felt distant because he was a nobleman from another country, but now that I realize it, he feels more like a blood brother. Moreover, until I set foot on Newway’s soil, I was quite scared because terrifying rumors had reached even Preston.”

“As you can see, I’m not much of a man.”

“If you don’t mind, may I ask a personal question?”

Corbin’s attitude became more relaxed, thinking they had become quite close. Edwin also smiled in permission.

“You’re outstanding in many ways and could have easily captured the hearts of Newway’s women, so why haven’t you married? If you’re okay with it, I’d like to arrange a meeting with my youngest daughter.”

Edwin calmly put down his brandy glass.

“What Lord Corbin, I, and he are trying to do is not an easy task. I don’t want to make a beloved wife a widow.”

Despite the ceremonial tone wrapped in packaging, there was some sincerity in it. That sincerity was probably because the word ‘widow’ was used, and Corbin’s eyes trembled slightly in apparent surprise.

Having just mentioned his youngest daughter, he broke out in a cold sweat for no reason. Pulling at the corners of his mouth, he gulped down the brandy he couldn’t even drink, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere.

“It seems it’s about time I should hear. How is the situation on your side? I’d like to hear in detail about the situation inside the palace. And about Mayer’s condition too.”

The flexible air suddenly became tense, and the corners of the bushy-bearded mouth turned downward. Conversely, the gentle eyes hardened, and anger boiled in the deeply set eyes.

“The King is tyrannical, and the nobles are all clinging to such a king, enjoying unprecedented power. Recently, when Duke Hoover raised a word about taxes and war, the King executed the Duke on the spot.”

Corbin’s clenched fist trembled slightly. He seemed to vividly recall that day, filled with anger.

“With a king who neglects state affairs and brings countless mistresses into the palace, pursuing only pleasure and debauchery, how can he see the citizens trembling with anxiety due to the war that broke out in the neighboring country? Or can he see the plight of the citizens who are dying from the indiscriminate exploitation of the nobles?”

The anger had now turned into tears, wetting Corbin’s eyes.

“If I had known it would be like this, back then, Eveline’s words…”

“Even if you regret it now, nothing will change.”

Although it was in agreement with the firm tone, Corbin’s eyes were covered with irreversible regret.

“Soon, we will pull Mayer down from the throne.”

Edwin, who was certain, deliberately caused fierce waves in the crystal glass. He plunged into the low contemplation he had created.

“With the most appropriate words at the forefront, by my own hand.”

The now calm brandy flowed between Edwin’s lips.

Today too, the alcohol was sweet. The satisfied smile was more peaceful than ever.

“So I want to meet him soon. Is he not ready yet?”