* * *

Fersen couldn’t return to the mansion and stayed in a hotel, chasing the whereabouts of the missing nobles.

The delivery deadline had already passed, and it was highly likely that someone from the palace had visited the Duke’s estate.

He had no idea what kind of trouble he’d face if he returned before resolving the issue. Moreover, he had no intention of letting the culprits who deceived him get away.

After much struggle, Fersen received some good news. He had made contact with one of the servants of Baron Kotn.

With eyes burning red with anger, Fersen met him right away. The servant, who had no idea why, met a furious noble, shivered like a branch and begged for forgiveness for a crime he didn’t commit.

“Pl, please forgive me just this once!”

“Tell me where your master is!”

Fersen, who had no interest in anything else, shouted at him. The servant was startled and hastily answered.

“I, I only heard that he left the Empire for a while! I don’t know exactly where he is so I can’t tell you…!”

He left the Empire! Fersen held his forehead against the sudden headache. He seemed paralyzed by the earnest intent to deceive him.

“Then why is the mansion empty? Afraid of getting caught, is that it?!”

“I, I don’t know…! Suddenly he gave all the servants a week off and left the mansion, that’s all I know…!”

“Damn it!”

Eventually, Fersen couldn’t contain his anger, kicked his chair, and flipped the table. He kicked the sofa and threw things around.

The terrified servant covered his head with his arms and struggled to swallow his cries.

After venting his anger for a while, Fersen left the hotel without even grabbing his coat. His destination was Antares Merchant Guild.

* * *

“Thanks to you, a big mistake was avoided. I really appreciate it.”

The head of the Imperial Palace Management Department expressed his gratitude to Antes.

When he first heard from the Crown Prince’s aide to contact Antares Merchant Guild, he wondered what it was about, but it turned out that he had exactly the items that were lacking.

He sent a contract termination notice to the guild of the Rodrian Duke family who had missed the delivery deadline, and visited to sign a new contract with Antares Merchant Guild.

Despite the rude request to receive the items first due to lack of time, Antes responded with a bright smile agreeing to do so.

It was like a scene of a beautiful god bestowing mercy on foolish humans.

“Not at all. I am also happy to have a good business partner unexpectedly.”

Antes maintained his ironclad expression. He too had encountered this fortune quite coincidentally.

“But how did the Crown Prince’s aide know that Antares Merchant Guild had exactly the necessary items? It’s really curious.”

It was a mystery how he introduced the guild when the delivery deadline had just passed a day ago, and how he knew there was a problem.

In response, Antes once again put on an ironclad expression and answered with a gentle laugh.

“It seems that the Prince and I have some acquaintance, so he gave a favor. You probably know what kind of goods I deal with.”

Antes didn’t particularly want to flaunt my connection with Callion, but it had to be nipped in the bud before the person in charge started to harbor unnecessary suspicions.

If it became known that there was a connection between the Crown Prince and himself, even if any other suspicion arose, it couldn’t be spoken out loud.

“Ah! I see! That makes sense then. You have a connection with the Crown Prince.”

As expected, the expression of the Imperial Palace official softened greatly. It had been quite soft to begin with, but now it was almost meltingly soft.

“Please review the contract, and if there are no issues, I would appreciate your signature. I hope to have good relations for a long time to come.”

Since there were no more doubts, the contract proceeded smoothly. Antes quietly reviewed the contract when an unwelcome guest visited the guild.

“Antes! Where the hell are you?!”

It was Fersen. There was no evidence, but in his mind, Antes was already the culprit of this matter.

Fortunately, it seemed he was caught by the employees on the first floor, but they couldn’t stop him from using force and shouting.

“I’m sorry, but it seems there’s a commotion downstairs, may I excuse myself for a moment?”

His voice reached the second floor reception room, so Antes briefly excused himself.

Occasional swearing was heard, which looked quite serious, so the official cautiously followed behind Antes.

As they went down to the first floor, Fersen, who was being held by the guild employees, was seen venting his anger. His eyes were burning red, confirming that something was definitely wrong.

“What the hell is this behavior?”

Antes, watching this pitiful display, asked with his arms folded.

“You! You did it!”

“What?”

“You smuggled the nobles abroad and blocked the delivery of goods!”

Fersen couldn’t contain his anger and raged. Antes laughed it off as if he heard something ridiculous.

“Why would I do such a thing? Do you have any evidence?”

“The only one who would do such a thing is you! It’s revenge for me taking away your business contacts!”

Eventually, someone among the guild employees chuckled at the claim of no evidence. It wasn’t because Fersen’s words were hollow. It was pathetic.

Compared to Antes, who was biding his time to retaliate even after being hit from behind, it was a pathetic display.

‘Such a person is the heir to the sole Duke family of the Empire.’

Although it was Fersen who violated the deadline and voided the contract, the Imperial Palace’s official felt a sigh of relief, thinking it might be a good thing.

“You shouldn’t have stirred things up if you were incapable. Especially if you’re as foolish as you. Did you think anyone could lead the guild?”

Antes gave a response that could be taken neither negatively nor positively. Interpreting it as a perfect confession, Fersen vented his anger on Antes again.

“Never! I will never let you go! Not your guild! Not your family! Never!”

“Do as you wish. I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ll do. So many people have seen you telling me you’ll get back at me.”

With those words, Antes gestured to get Fersen out. In the past, he would have savored this situation slowly over three days, but now there were more enjoyable things.

To see such a side of him, he thought he could associate with people he didn’t particularly like.

Now the tables had turned, and the time with Luna, who started dating him with such thoughts, was more enjoyable than seeing his pitiful figure.

“Let go, you bastards! Let go, do you hear?!”

Fersen, held by the robust employees, was dragged out in a pitiful manner.

Soon, the employees who threw him in front of the guild dusted their hands and disappeared into the building.

“Ma-master Fersen?!”

A servant of the Duke’s family, who happened to visit Antares Merchant Guild to look for Fersen, discovered him in that disgraceful state.

Why is young master Fersen in such a state…?! He was treated as if being thrown out like a dirty insect, and the servant was at a loss for words.

“Ma-master Fersen! The Duke is looking for you! Lady Granada is also very worried!”

He couldn’t say that he was angry. It wasn’t just a little angry; he wanted to tear Fersen apart.

Despite not saying it, Fersen, sensing it, hastily fled the scene. He couldn’t return to the Duke until the matter was resolved.

“Master Fersen! Young master Fersen!”

After that, the servant felt relieved. However, Fersen, who mounted the horse tied behind the guild, got out of the distance faster than he did.

“Master Fersen!”

Needing to hurry, but as the time got late, the Duke’s anger surged, leaving the servant shuffling his feet, not knowing what to do.

* * *

“Has young master Fersen not come here by any chance?”

Luna frowned at the unexpected visitor. When he said he came from the Ducal House of Rodrian, Luna wondered what he was talking about.

“No. Why would he come here?”

He’s not a runaway teenager, why is he looking for his master in someone else’s house?

Momentarily hesitating at Luna’s cold response, the servant relayed a request.

“…Then, if master Fersen happens to visit, please contact the Duke’s house.”

“…Ah, yes. Well, if he visits, I’ll do so.”

It was indeed a strange request, but not a difficult one, so Luna responded affirmatively.

Then, after a polite farewell, he hurriedly left Luna’s mansion.

“Miss, what on earth? Why is he looking for young lord Fersen here?”

“Well, that’s what I want to ask. But he’s gone.”

“Could he possibly have run away? Even at the age of twenty-two?”

Laura laughed heartily at that.

Of course, a twenty-two-year-old could run away if there was a reason, but it was a bit absurd if it was the heir of a Duke’s house.

Thus, dismissing the servant’s visit lightly, Luna began reading the letter she received from the Baron. The servant’s visit had interrupted her.

The work was on track, and he could afford a short break, saying he would visit the capital soon.

It wasn’t the Baron’s unilateral decision. Based on the reports received so far, Luna, who thought it would be fine, suggested it first.

‘I’ll see my father’s face after a long time.’

I wonder if he has become healthier with Tein’s spartan guidance. As she was writing a letter to send to the Baron with such thoughts, someone visited Luna’s mansion.