“Because of you, more than a hundred Bayen elders and ten times the number of divine beings are waiting for me. So you should tell a story worth that much.”

Looking at the only Duke of Tiendaviss, Iel Bayen, Ivy thought.

More eccentric than the reputation in the world.

As Duke Bayen said, Ivy did request an audience. However, she was prepared for rejection or a long wait, as it was a meeting with a noble.

Unexpectedly, the Duke called Ivy to Bayen Castle on the very day Ivy sent the letter.

That’s what he said after doing that.

‘As expected, a great manipulation as rumored…’

When Ivy laughed silently at the forced blame-shifting, the Duke added one more glass and put his feet on the stool. Then, closing his eyes, he leaned against the sofa. It was a posture preparing for acupuncture in earnest.

“Well, go ahead.”

The intention of the Duke of Bayen, who spoke so well-preparedly, was one.

It’s good if you talk about boring things. But if I fall asleep, the curses of the meeting room are all yours.

In the face of this obvious pressure, Ivy secretly swallowed a sigh. Then, she looked at Duke Bayen, who stretched out his legs leisurely.

The Duke, with his short white hair combed back, was wearing a conquering attire close to a uniform today as well. Despite being in his seventies, his body was remarkably straight, regardless of his age. If you covered his face, full of wrinkles, he could be mistaken for a young man with a lean body.

The refined old man had supported Ivy as the next saint for the past two years. However, it wasn’t because he had any special favor or friendship with Ivy. He was just a staunch opportunist.

Duke Bayen appointed Ivy as the next saint as soon as Ivy appeared. The reason was very simple: the person who purifies water, whether a commoner or a noble, naturally had to be the one who sang the best.

The Duke’s somewhat peculiar personality was also fully revealed in the reputation collected by the underground sisters.

-A true warrior. Scary or respectable.

-Not bad, but not kind either. A weirdo who is hard to please.

-Doesn’t like anything. Liking today doesn’t mean liking tomorrow.

-Dislikes are treacherous, incompetent, and young people who dream annoyingly.

-The most said thing among the people of Duke Bayen. ‘Please retire, Lady!’

Thus, Ivy had not approached Duke Bayen for a long time because he was a difficult person to deal with. In the first place, the Duke didn’t like someone approaching him recklessly.

So, they only exchanged greetings now and then, and this was the first time Ivy had approached and dominated him first. But unexpectedly, from the beginning, she received a very grand treatment.

‘Indeed, all great nobles are strange…’

Although the Duke openly pressed her, Ivy calmly raised her cup, thinking.
Already in a precarious position as a commoner, Ivy still had to carefully conceal her curse. The problem was not being exploited as a weakness, but once news of such a curse reached the Tower Lord’s ears, it could spell the end, no matter what the stakes or reasons.

Roheekah Sedro, who had many sins and secrets, would never expose Ivy’s flaws to the outside world. Therefore, Ivy pondered quietly on how to persuade the cantankerous old lady with the fewest words possible.

As the silence prolonged, the wrinkles on Duke Bayen’s forehead deepened slightly.

It was only after Ivy saw that that she finally spoke.

Outside the office door, the secretary of Duke Bayen, who was fidgeting nervously, awkwardly greeted Ivy as she came out.

In response, the infamous Ivy Ariahte, with her two disgusting faces, smiled beautifully and greeted him before passing by.

‘To walk around so carefreely…’

The Duke’s secretary, watching Ivy finish the audience and leave, silently clicked his tongue. Then, abruptly regaining his senses, he knocked on the office door.

“Your Grace, you should go back to the meeting now… Uh, Your Grace!”

The secretary timidly extended his head out of the office and, upon seeing Duke Bayen taking out a bottle of liquor from the shelf, was horrified.

“Y-Your Grace, everyone is waiting in the meeting room…”

“The meeting is over. Tell those bastards to go home.”

At the Duke’s irresponsible statement, the secretary frowned.

Whether or not, the Duke stood by the window with a half-filled glass in hand. Then, gazing leisurely outside, he looked at something.

The secretary, rolling his eyes alone, approached the window with a resentful feeling and quietly followed the Duke’s gaze. Through the window, he saw Ivy Ariahte passing through the corridor. The gaze of the nobleman was precisely following the girl.

The secretary wondered what the situation was, but he didn’t dare to ask directly. Instead, he mumbled timidly.

“She returned more quickly than expected…”

“Still, she said everything.”

“Excuse me?”

“Boldly speaking.”

Saying so, Duke Bayen chuckled. Although his expression was quite fierce, the secretary immediately understood. The Duke was enjoying himself more than expected.