“Kyaaa!”

 

At that moment, Bastet released a sharp screech and leaped at Ghislain. But he casually tilted his head to avoid it, and the cat ended up crashing to the floor. A pitiful, deflating sound escaped from it.

 

Ghislain nodded and laughed.

 

“What a funny cat. You better keep an eye on it. I don’t want to hurt animals.”

 

Bastet bristled and glared at Ghislain, but it didn’t attack again. Seeing the cat act just like its owner, Ghislain couldn’t help but chuckle.

 

“Speaking of which, your head of security… Was his name Bernarf? You two seem pretty close.”

 

Ghislain recalled that after Amelia ascended to the position of Count Raypold, she married her bodyguard, Bernarf. He had thrown out the comment based on what little he knew, but Amelia completely misunderstood.

 

‘No way… Is he jealous because I’m close to my bodyguard?’

 

How could there be such a pathetic fool!

 

It was true that she was particularly close to Bernarf. After all, she had personally taken in that simple country bumpkin and raised him to where he was now. He was a talented and capable man, and she highly valued him. But their relationship was nothing like what Ghislain was insinuating.

 

As her thoughts continued, Amelia’s face suddenly turned pale.

 

‘W-what if this lunatic spreads ridiculous rumors…?’

 

If word got out that she, who was engaged, had fallen in love with her bodyguard, it would bring eternal shame to her family.

 

‘It’s a ridiculous notion, but if it comes out of this guy’s mouth, it’ll be like throwing fuel onto a fire.’

 

Many people in her domain knew that Amelia cherished Bernarf. Some even gossiped that she had picked up a pretty boy and made him head of her bodyguard unit. It was also an open secret that Bernarf had feelings for her.

 

With the current troubles caused by the Actium Merchant Guild already giving her a headache, she didn’t have the energy to handle another issue.

 

Amelia remained silent for a while, swallowing dryly before finally opening her mouth.

 

“And what about the guild… Have you been investigating me?”

 

Perhaps Ghislain liked her so much that he had snooped around, trying to dig up information. Then, when he found out she was closer to Bernarf than he expected, he might’ve been trying to extort money out of her out of spite.

 

‘If it’s a guy with no honor like him, that’s definitely possible.’

 

However, Ghislain showed no signs of jealousy or any other emotion.

 

“Well, I just know someone, that’s all. I overheard it by chance.”

 

Ghislain shrugged nonchalantly as if it were no big deal.

 

One of the most basic strategies was feeding false information to an enemy to confuse them. Amelia would likely spend quite some time agonizing over how Ghislain had discovered her secret. But no matter how much she investigated, she’d find nothing. After all, who could possibly imagine that a man who had lived in the future had died and then come back to life in the past?

 

“So, what’s it going to be? Are you giving me the money or not? I told you I’m in a hurry.”

 

Amelia ground her teeth and spoke.

 

“You… Do you think you and Ferdium will be safe after this? I don’t know where you picked up such rumors, but to make such ridiculous threats like this….”
But she couldn’t finish her sentence. Her mouth closed on its own.

 

Suddenly, an overwhelming, terrifying bloodlust began pouring out from Ghislain, who had remained calm and composed until now.

 

“Say it again. Do I think our estate will be safe?”

 

The destruction of his family and estate had been a trauma that haunted Ghislain his entire life.
And Amelia was one of the main culprits. Hearing such a threat from someone like her made it impossible for him to contain his rage.

 

The sudden change in Ghislain’s demeanor made even the surrounding knights, including Belinda, swallow nervously.

 

Just facing Ghislain head-on made Amelia feel as though her heart might stop.

 

“Threats aren’t made with words, Amelia.”

 

Ever since he had left his family, Ghislain had lived his life cutting down others on the battlefield.

 

Among those he killed were not only renowned knights and high-ranking nobles but countless other influential figures as well.

 

If he could build a castle with the corpses of those he had slain, surely there would be some like Amelia among them.

 

The harsh words of Amelia, who hadn’t even properly established her own power yet, were less significant than a cat’s scratch to him.

 

“What do you think happened to all the bastards who’ve come at me so far? Except for that cat. All of them…”

 

Ghislain paused mid-sentence.

 

Since he had returned to the past, all those people were probably still alive and well.

 

After a brief moment of contemplation, Ghislain muttered softly.
“They’re probably living healthy lives. For now.”

 

“…What?”

 

“They were fairly strong opponents.”

 

Amelia, as well as the others in the room, looked at him with bewildered expressions.
Avoiding their sharp gazes, Ghislain lowered his eyes and shook his head before speaking again.

 

“Anyway, that’s not important right now. What are you going to do?”

 

Ghislain briefly considered mentioning the Delfine Duchy but decided against it.
The situation was dangerous enough as it was; there was no need to invite even greater risk by bringing up those behind the scenes.

 

Amelia closed her eyes.

 

As absurd as it seemed, seeing Ghislain’s confident attitude made her think that he might know more than he was letting on.

 

She could kill Ghislain and his party right here if she wanted.

 

However, if she tried to deal with him and those knights as well, the commotion would inevitably grow, and she would likely be the one who ended up under suspicion.

 

‘I need to get them out of the castle first. Father and my brothers mustn’t find out.’

 

Having made her decision, she opened her eyes and spat out her words as though chewing them.

 

“…I’ll give you 20,000 gold. Take it and leave immediately.”

 

“Good. I knew you’d be decisive.”

 

“Shut up. The annulment process will begin right away.”

 

“Sure, handle it however you want.”

 

Ghislain readily agreed. After all, with that much money in hand, what was an annulment?

 

Amelia gazed at him for a moment before speaking in a subdued voice.
“You’ve changed a lot.”

 

“You’re one of the people who made me change.”

 

There was no way Amelia could ever know the true reason behind Ghislain’s transformation.
Without waiting for a response, he turned away.

 

Her voice, heavy with resentment, stopped him in his tracks.

 

“Do you really think anything will change just because someone like you has? Throwing yourself into danger over petty jealousy and money. You’re still as foolish as ever.”

 

“Think whatever you want.”

 

“You’ll regret what happened today.”

 

“I’m looking forward to it.”

 

Amelia wasn’t the type of woman to let something like this slide. She would likely try every scheme she could think of to silence Ghislain in the future.

 

Even so, it was a risk worth taking. With 20,000 gold, he would have just enough capital to start what he needed.

 

‘Amelia, this time, I’ll make sure to take your head. Don’t think you can keep running like in our previous life.’

 

As Ghislain left the audience room, his expression was just as cold and hard as Amelia’s.

 

The two, whose relationship had been bound by a formal engagement, had now crossed a river from which there would be no return.

 

* * *

 

Even long after Ghislain’s group had left, Amelia couldn’t calm her simmering anger.

 

“Ghislain Ferdium! How dare he threaten me?”

 

To be threatened by such a man and even have money extorted from her! It was undoubtedly the greatest humiliation of her life.

 

“I have to silence him, no matter what…”

 

She bit her lip, her face twisted in frustration.

 

The Duke of Delfine was a frightening man. If rumors about the secret pact they had made started to spread, he would undoubtedly cut ties without hesitation.
There was no escaping it once she had decided to join forces with him.

 

“I can’t afford to fall out of their favor until I’ve built enough power.”

 

The Delfine Duchy’s scheme was already in motion.

 

If they couldn’t flip an estate from within, like Ferdium’s, they would attack it from the outside. In regions like Raypold’s estate, where there was potential, they would invest and take control.
They were weakening the power of every estate that wasn’t allied with them.

 

“Yes, I’ll have to kill him.”

 

There was no hesitation, no guilt. In the noble society, it was common to kill even blood relatives if necessary.

 

‘First, I’ll kill him. Then, if I need an excuse, I’ll come up with one afterward.’

 

She didn’t care if suspicions arose about her being responsible for Ghislain’s death. Silencing him regarding the Merchant Guild was far more important.
After all, the dead don’t speak.

 

“Bernarf! Bring Bernarf to me, now!”

 

Having made her decision, Amelia shouted.

 

Not long after, a tall, handsome man with thick blond hair entered the room.

 

“Did you call for me?”

 

“Bernarf!”

 

Meow!

 

Bernarf flinched as he saw the furious Amelia and the glaring Bastet. He asked cautiously,
“What’s going on?”

 

“Kill Ghislain. That bastard knows my secret.”

 

“What? What do you mean by that? What exactly does he know?”

 

After hearing the full story, Bernarf’s expression turned serious. He contemplated for a moment before nodding.

 

“This isn’t a good situation. But you don’t need to worry too much. He’s a pathetic man who lacks the ability to actually do anything. He probably just came here to extort money from you.”

 

“But if that bastard runs his mouth carelessly, everything could fall apart. We have to be careful right now.”

 

“He got his money, so he’ll be quiet for a while. In fact, he might stay silent and come back later asking for more.”

 

In truth, Ghislain had no intention of returning to her, but the two assumed he might come back to demand more money.

 

Given that they saw him as a petty man who would go so far as to threaten his fiancée for money, it wasn’t a stretch for them to think that way.

 

They didn’t even bother to wonder what Ghislain might actually use the money for.

 

They simply assumed he’d squander it on gambling or entertainment, or at best, use it to prop up his miserable estate a little.

 

Ghislain’s long-standing reputation as a delinquent played a significant role in shaping their perceptions. Even though they had seen a change in him, prejudice didn’t fade so easily.

 

Amelia pulled out a map from the bookshelf and pointed to a location with her finger.

 

“Kill him here. We’ll avoid prying eyes in this spot. Get the money back, too.”

 

The place Amelia pointed to was a valley surrounded by low mountains.

 

It was the quickest route from Raypold Castle to Ferdium’s estate.

 

Since it was a narrow path, an ambush could easily handle Ghislain’s small party.

 

However, Bernarf shook his head.

 

“Everyone already knows that Young Master Ghislain was here. It could raise suspicions.”

 

“What if we make it look like bandits or monsters attacked him?”

 

“If it’s discovered that we were involved, Count Ferdium’s wrath will be upon us. There’s nothing to gain from a conflict with Ferdium’s estate, especially with the important matters ahead of us.”

 

“As long as we don’t get caught, it’ll be fine. The insult he gave me is one thing, but we can’t leave a potential threat like him alone.”

 

“…We can’t use our knights.”

 

“Then send mercenaries or assassins. We’ve invested in those guys for times like this. Use them.”

 

In the end, Bernarf nodded in agreement.

 

Amelia had a point. It was risky, but as long as they didn’t leave evidence, there would be no real danger.

 

Ghislain was already an outcast within Ferdium’s territory, so no one would pay much attention to him.

 

“Understood. I’ll make sure they’re fully prepared.”

 

Amelia looked at Bernarf with cold eyes. Unlike that pathetic Ghislain, Bernarf was quite capable.

 

If Bernarf moved, taking care of someone like Ghislain would be no trouble at all.

 

“Good. Make sure it’s done quietly before any rumors spread.”

 

“I’ll handle it without issue.”

 

“Alright, go.”

 

“…I’ll finish it quickly and return.”

 

Bernarf frowned slightly, making sure Amelia couldn’t see. Thanks to Ghislain, it looked like things were going to be quite troublesome for a while.

 

Sigh, why does that bastard have to stir up such a headache…?

 

All he wanted was to stay by Amelia’s side, but the world seemed determined to make it difficult.

 

‘At least with the annulment being pushed forward, that’s a good thing for me, right?’

 

Bernarf glanced longingly at Amelia as he left the room.

 

He didn’t care about Ghislain or anything else; he just wanted to finish the task quickly and return to Amelia’s side.