“This… I hadn’t intended to tell anyone, but I felt I must inform the Viscount.”

Joshua began to speak slowly, like an old fox.

“It was about a month ago. I heard it by chance. Due to recent silk trade dealings, I’ve had to visit Duke Bronte occasionally. On that day, I was heading to his chambers as usual to report on business matters.”
“Go on.”
“I arrived at his door, intending to knock. Just at that moment, I heard voices from inside the room. He was talking with someone. Normally, a steward should not eavesdrop on his master’s conversations, but a single word caught my ear.”
“What was it?”

He looked at me warily.

“It was the Viscount’s name, Edward Radner.”
“Hmm.”

A faint smile touched Joshua’s lips.
His speech quickened, and he seemed to exert himself, raising and lowering his voice like a cult leader, trying to persuade me.

“I listened closely to the conversation. Wouldn’t I be among the last to have seen you before the Viscount took your title?”
“Well…”
“But here’s the thing; he was talking with Young Lady Ania.
“What was the content?”

Joshua glanced around at my question as if about to divulge forbidden knowledge.
But I already knew it was going to be dramatic.

He leaned in close to my ear, slowly revealing his face.

“The Duke is trying to take over Viscount Radner’s company using Miss Ania.”
“Ah, it seems the Duke Bronte is scheming something.”

He seemed surprised by my dry response, narrowing his eyes.

“That’s right. Due to recent failed business deals…”
“People become aggressive when they’re in a hurry. So Duke Bronte is aiming for my money using Ania Bronte.”
“Exactly!”

***

Joshua silently cheered inside.

“That fool… he took the bait.”

Edward’s expression changed.
Initially wary, now his face was tinged with curiosity.

Despite being the head of a huge company and a Viscount, Edward Radner was still just twenty-three.
Too young to have experienced and understood the world fully.

So, it was entirely plausible for him to believe the rumors that posed a threat to him.

‘No, it wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for my eloquence.’

Joshua was confident in his abilities.
After all, he had spent thirty years as a political advisor in the influential Bronte family, closest to the Emperor.
He was as knowledgeable about the psychology of noble families as anyone could be.

So convincing a young lord who had suddenly risen to his position without any preparation was no trouble.

“So you must be cautious of Ania Bronte. Since I have information about the Bronte family, I’m sure I can help the Viscount.”

The plan was going smoothly.
Now, the high-nosed young Viscount would become his loyal follower.

He would be wary of the Bronte family and keep an eye on Valentine’s movements.
He would also doubt those around him.

There are two ways to destroy a person.

The first is to create invisible enemies, and the second is to make those around them suspicious.

He had fulfilled both. It wouldn’t be long before Edward collapsed.

Moreover, wasn’t Ania Bronte the woman Edward Radner loved so dearly?

Though it was known to the public as a strategic marriage, Joshua could see through it.

Whenever he saw Ania Bronte, he could see how deeply Edward was in love with the young lady, losing himself.

Love is suspicion and obsession.
Romantic love, as described by poets, is a tale fit for children’s stories.
Real love is far more sticky and erratic than that.

The more you love, the deeper the suspicion.
That’s why couples deeply in love often hire detectives and resort to infidelity, as it’s so common.

So profound love is suspicion.
It blinds the person.

Edward would be no exception.

‘It’s only a matter of–’

As Joshua smiled at the future where Duke Bronte would be in his hands, he was suddenly startled by a chilling voice.

He felt the knife at his throat dig deeper.

“But what to do with you? I don’t need your help.”
“…What’s this?!”

Cold sweat ran down Joshua’s forehead.

It wasn’t because the sharp blade was pressed against his neck.

It was the gaze of the man threatening him.
He wasn’t facing a human.

***

Ania regained her senses, grabbing her disheveled hair and getting up around three minutes after Edward had disappeared into the alley.

She wasn’t particularly weak when it came to alcohol, but whether it was due to nerves or hastily drinking, she seemed to have lost consciousness due to the sudden rush of intoxication.

Thinking so, Ania held onto her head.

“Are you awake?”

At the knight’s question, Ania nodded faintly.

She saw the knight smiling slightly in the mirror.

“And Edward?”
“If you mean the Viscount, he went into that inner alley momentarily. Probably to light up a cigar.”
“Is that so.”

A cigar.

Even though he said he’d quit.

Ania knew well enough that it was hard to quit smoking or drinking, but it still stung a little that Edward broke his promise and lit up a cigarette again.

“He’ll be back soon.”

Even with the knight’s words, Ania opened the car door.

“I need to see his face.”
“He’ll be back soon.”
“I’m just going to check. He just broke a promise with me. I want to hear his reasons.”
“Oh dear.”

The elderly knight finally closed his mouth lightly, clicking his tongue.

“It seems this old man’s unnecessary words…”
“It’s okay. I won’t tell Edward.”
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t.”

Ania smiled at the knight before quietly stepping out of the car.
Despite his words, Edward’s voice could be faintly heard from the alleyway.

Intent on receiving a kiss as punishment for not keeping their promise, Ania suddenly pressed herself against the wall as another voice abruptly sounded.

‘Who’s there…?’

In the silhouette cast under the streetlamp, Ania recognized the figure of an elderly man.

She listened carefully.

“The Duke… using Miss Ania…”

The voice was faint, mentioning her name.
Ania soon recognized the identity of that voice.

Advisor Joshua.

The cunning individual who always stood by her father’s side, spewing manipulation and trying to pick faults in her behavior, always eager to cause trouble.

‘Why would Edward be with that man…?’

Ania held her breath.

“So you must be cautious of Ania Bronte.”

Ania bit her lower lip.

‘Joshua…!’

She had always been suspicious of him… How dare he stoop to such tactics?
Creating nonexistent incidents to sow discord between her and Edward.

Ania couldn’t bear it and hurriedly entered the alley.
She had to tell Edward immediately not to listen to that old fox’s words.
But as soon as Ania disappeared into the alley’s darkness, she was startled.

Edward swiftly moved, and it seemed like the small dagger in his hand was pointed not at Ania but at Joshua’s throat.

“But what to do with you? I don’t need your help.”
“…What’s this?!”
“Why should I believe what you say?”
“You must believe me! Ania Bronte has already betrayed you once!”

Ania stood dumbfounded, staring at Edward standing under the streetlamp.
His gaze was sharp, almost animalistic.

“Betrayal…? The betrayal came from your side, not from Ania. Valentine Bronte, and now, from you, advisor Joshua.”
“You know nothing! Valentine Bronte is targeting your property…!”

Joshua’s words halted abruptly.
As Edward’s blade grazed Joshua’s throat, a thin line of blood trickled down.

Joshua swallowed hard, struggling for words, while Edward stared at him with a gaze that could kill.

“Do not insult Ania.”
“I’m not insulting her…”
“No matter what nonsense you spout, it doesn’t matter. I will believe Ania even if she says she wants to kill me.”
“Why on earth…!”
“Because it has to be that way.”

Edward’s eyes, once shining brightly, softened into a gentle curve as his lips twisted into a smile.

“I’ve wronged Ania too much.”

Edward chuckled.

“So, no matter what you say, I’ll trust Ania, even if your words are the truth.”

As Edward lowered his blade, Joshua collapsed to the ground, his legs giving out, before quickly fleeing.

Watching from afar, Ania could only stare blankly at Edward under the streetlamp.

Her heart raced so much it felt like it might burst, unable to even look at the man’s face.

Author’s Notes

Edward is not a villain…

He’s quite a cool guy.