* * *

Fersen, who was dragged to the Duke’s mansion, was locked in a room for a while and couldn’t come out. It was due to both physical and emotional injuries, but more so because of the wrath incurred from the Duke.

The Duke was enraged to a level never seen before.

If it was a past where no expectations were held, it might have been different, but a bit of expectation was held only to be shattered to pieces so ludicrously.

Due to this, after much contemplation, the Duke even thought that adopting another child might be a better idea, expressing his anger by flipping the table.

– Adoption, adoption! To think that I considered bringing someone of no blood relation to be my successor!

The Duke seemed to be going mad for real. Every night he was tormented by nightmares, fearing the fall of his noble house.

‘I can never leave it like that.’

He had to resort to any means to restore the dignity of his family. A sensible successor was needed to replace the foolish Fersen.

The Duke heaved a deep sigh. The first thing that needed to be dealt with were the nobles who dared to scheme against the Duchy.

* * *

As if to prove the Duke’s nightmares weren’t unfounded, rumors about Fersen widely spread through whispers and talks.

If he hadn’t run away, the rumors wouldn’t have spread this far. Unfortunately, due to the Duke’s servants searching every nook and cranny of the capital to find the runaway Fersen, everyone’s attention was gathered as to what happened.

“Healthy people wouldn’t have such a search party, perhaps he’s ill somewhere?”

“If you say he’s ill, where do you mean?”

“The head, the head. He was such a cheerful young man, but he’s been acting strangely since last year. There were stories about him losing in court after detaining young lady Peils at the New Year’s party too.”

The nobles who heard this reasonable assumption widened their eyes. Among them, someone threw in a new tidbit.

“I thought it was because of a recent failed contract with the Imperial Palace.”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh! I heard that too. My goodness, young lord Roldrian committed such an absurd act. How could he lie to the imperial family?”

Everyone joined in belittling Fersen, and the only one who benefited from this was Antes.

Given the level of detail, it was certain that someone in the know had spread the rumors.

* * *

In the midst of the unfolding situation, Luna, facing the man leisurely sipping tea on the opposite side, asked with a slightly grim face:

“It was spread by the young lord, right?”

“Right.”

Without even asking what was spread, Antes answered with a bright smile.

“It was right to spread it. Just returning the favor.”

My goodness, so bold.

It wasn’t about rebuking him for doing such a thing. It was just that it was remarkable how he could turn a sucker punch into a victory in the game.

“But I have one question. What happened to the nobles who broke the delivery date and left the Empire?”

“Ah, that?”

For some reason, Antes made a very disrespectful expression. What on earth did he do to make that face? Luna’s eyes narrowed.

“I was going to mention it anyway as Lady might be curious. Just this morning, I thought of when to bring it up, and now seems like a good time.”

* * *

Nobles who had left the Empire returned to the capital, and a short while later, came to Antes, looking as if they had been struck by lightning, each holding a document in their hand.

“Yo-yo-young lord! Wha-what should we do about this?!”

Antes took the document from the hand that was shaking like an aspen and read it.

“A claim for damages, huh.”

It was a claim for damages sent to the nobles from the Ducal house for missing the supply deadline.

Looking unfazed, Antes drew a futile smile from Baron Kotn, who asked:

“It’s, it’s alright, isn’t it? We can ignore this, right? As the young lord said, there wasn’t a clause regarding missing the supply deadline in the contract.”

They had delayed the supply relying on Antes’s words, and now Viscount Gamay was also holding a claim of the same content, waiting for Antes’s response.

Unable to solve it themselves and still seeking advice from others like an immature child, no wonder they ended up in such a situation.

Any sensible person would have initially doubted a contract that offered to raise the rate even while paying a penalty.

“Breaking the supply deadline itself is not a problem, but it’s a fact that it caused damages, so you need to repay the claimed amount.”

“…?!”

“…Yes?!”

What did he just say? The nobles reacted as if they had heard hallucinations.

“What on earth are you talking about! Didn’t you say it would be fine since there was no clause?!”

Just because there was no clause, the damage caused doesn’t disappear, why are they so short-sighted?

With such brains, it was a wonder how they managed business, Antes mocked them.

“That’s for when there’s no damage. If there’s damage, compensation is duly needed. You were willing to do anything if only the contract could be terminated, and now you argue over something odd.”

The nobles were stunned as Antes drew the line, refusing to help further.

They thought that just as they became slaves to a clause in the contract, revenge was also possible through a clause. What a bolt from the blue this was.

In retrospect, Antes only offered to help with ‘contract termination’, not promising to clean up the whole affair.

That alone was enough, they had pleaded for help in the first place.

How many times would they repeat such foolish actions? It seemed like a clear solution at the time, but in hindsight, there was nothing more foolish.

“So, what should we do…!”

Yet again, the nobles sought answers from Antes. They were already trapped in his strategy, becoming puppets unable to find solutions on their own.

“Please, please help us…! The claimed amount is too large, we can’t possibly repay it…!”

In addition to the damages, the penalty was also claimed. It would have been better to have paid the penalty and terminated the contract gracefully from the beginning.

The claim that came in the name of the Duke, not Fersen, had not a trace of mercy, not a single flaw.

Once again, Antes mocked the nobles who came to him for help. Although it was as expected, yet again, they made a very foolish choice.

“Then threaten to expose the contract contents. Utilize public opinion.”

* * *

As Antes explained up to that point, Luna, who was listening excitedly as if hearing a summary of a missed drama, dropped the cookie she was about to put in her mouth.

“So, will it be done that way?”

“If not, they might lose all of their assets.”

“Oh my, this is crazy. How could they make such a choice? I understand it’s a desperate situation, but this is too much. They are leaving the Empire?”

“Well. One sure thing is, if they expose the contract, the reputations of Duke’s family and Fersen will be terribly ruined.”

It was an explanation that there was room for negotiation, but the opponent wasn’t good.

There was no way out for the nobles, and there was no one to help them.

Of course, that didn’t evoke any sympathy. It was their own making.

“I mustn’t become hostile to the young lord. I must not make him an absolute enemy.”

It would have been fine if they hadn’t done something foolish in the first place, but it was an unknown matter.

Everyone has times when they act foolishly.

“There will never be a situation where the young lady and I become enemies, so it’s a needless worry.”

“That’s something we’ll have to wait and see. Who knows? We could become enemies after parting.”

Luna’s baseless assumption made Antes uncomfortable.

Talking about parting, when he had no thoughts of breaking up, why would she think that?

“Even if we break up, I don’t think I will dislike the young lady.”

“How can you guarantee that?”

Maybe because he found it cute even when she dropped the cookie she was holding in her mouth.

If he were to put his sister Rosemary in that position, his mood would turn sour in an instant.

“Intuition.”

“Really.”

As if there could be no more perfect answer, Antes answered with a bright smile, leaving Luna speechless.

It was good to hear that they would never become enemies, but somewhere, there remained a bit of discomfort.

So, they started chatting about various things again, when an unexpected visitor came to the mansion.

“Luna!”

“Father!”

It was the Baron. He looked healthier than when he left, apparently due to his regular exercise, building his stamina.

Thanks to this, Luna, who felt relieved, gave a thumbs up to Tein who was greeting her from behind the Baron. With that, he bowed with a sense of pride.

“It’s been a long time. Have you been well?”

Before Luna could exchange proper greetings with the Baron, Antes, who had approached the Baron, greeted him with a smile that was stronger than any beauty he had seen so far.

“Oh, isn’t this young lord Antes! I was thinking of meeting you as soon as I arrived in the capital, and here you are with our Luna!”

The Baron was more pleased with the refreshing smile of Antes, that suited the early spring season, than when he met Luna.

“Yes. I was indeed waiting for when the Baron would arrive.”

“Hahaha! Really?”

The Baron laughed heartily and patted Antes on the shoulder. The height difference seemed a bit awkward, so Antes bent down a little to accommodate the Baron.

“It’s nice to see that you and our Luna still get along. I’m curious about what has happened, why don’t we talk over a glass of wine?”

“I’d be honored. Oh, before that, you probably haven’t had a tour of the mansion yet, I’ll guide you.”

“Then I am thankful! I was wanting to take a look around the mansion!”

The two left with hearty laughter towards the mansion. Tein, who was watching this, couldn’t hide his pleased expression and spoke.

“The Baron seems to be in a good mood seeing Antes after a long time.”

“…Indeed.”

But Luna’s reaction wasn’t so clear.

It was strange why her father was touring the mansion with someone else, leaving his daughter behind. Moreover, why was Antes overdoing it like that? It was indeed a curious matter.