Chapter 38

“I don’t really understand,” Lanken admitted, confused.

“You wouldn’t yet. You’re still young,” Moslin replied. “But look at Elena—she climbed to incredible heights, yet here she is, fighting a custody battle.”

Not all nobles are created equal.

The Medleridge Trading Company, now in its third generation, holds a reputation as powerful as that of a small kingdom. As the backbone of the southeastern Fillian economy, their wealth and influence outstrip most aristocrats.

Although technically commoners, the Medleridges carry a status that most minor nobility envy and fear. Their low profile and humility are strategic; should they decide otherwise, they could crush lesser nobles with ease.

The Earl of Bechdelrace might hold a noble title and a fertile estate, but in truth, his position is only marginally comparable to that of the Medleridge family.

Elena, born a farmer’s daughter, married into such a family—a dream match for many women.

“You heard the servants yesterday, didn’t you? Elena lived the fairy-tale marriage every girl dreams of. It’s like something out of a play or poem.”

A rich, kind nobleman proposing to a humble girl from the countryside—a story so idealized it felt like fiction.

Elena’s journey fit the mold perfectly. She had worked her way up as a magician, earned a position as the bodyguard to the Earl’s sister, and eventually married him.

Handsome, kind, and noble—a man of high birth with no scandals.

“She hesitated before accepting his proposal, though,” Moslin continued. “She supposedly asked, ‘Does this mean I’ve earned your love and the right to be your Countess?’ She even rejected him once before.”

Lanken frowned. “I don’t get it. For people like us, suddenly being offered a noble title is overwhelming, of course. But isn’t that what anyone would want?”

Moslin shook her head, smiling wryly. “You’re a bit naive, Lanken. That’s Viretta’s doing, raising you like this.”

Caught off guard, Lanken turned toward her, both confused and offended.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Do you know how much trouble I go through because of her?”

Moslin chuckled at his indignation. “Do you even realize where you’d be if not for Viretta taking a liking to you? She spoiled you, made you lose touch with reality.”

“I work hard cleaning up her messes, you know!”

Ignoring his protests, Moslin twirled her finger as if dismissing his words.

“Anyway, Elena’s ready to leave the Earl for her daughter’s sake. The custody fight hasn’t been about money from the start.”

Lanken blinked, startled. “Not about money?”

Moslin nodded. “Last night and this morning, we dug into this a bit. Noble custody battles often revolve around ‘you raise the kid’ or ‘pay me child support.’ But for commoners, it’s usually a fight for financial survival.”

Elena, however, had broken the mold. Despite rising to Countess, she insisted on minimum support from the Earl. She even promised in court that she’d raise Lucy without asking for any money if the Earl was angry at her.

“That’s how she won the first two trials—turning herself from a ‘woman extorting money with a child as leverage’ into a ‘mother who genuinely loves her child.’”

“Pretty clever,” Lanken admitted.

“It’s not just clever; it shows she doesn’t care about the Earl’s status or money. Same as Viretta.”

“What?”

Lanken tilted his head, baffled. He couldn’t see the comparison between Viretta, who had grown up under the Medleridge roof, and Elena, who had fought her way up from nothing.

Moslin smirked, sensing his confusion. “Think about it. Viretta doesn’t exactly embrace Iola, does she? She’s actively trying to annul their engagement.”

“That’s because she likes him,” Lanken argued. “She doesn’t want to let her feelings complicate things.”

“She likes him, sure. But right now? She probably likes you more.”

The unexpected remark left Lanken’s cheeks flushed, though he quickly tried to dismiss the notion. “She just finds me easier to tease, that’s all.”

“Exactly,” Moslin said. “That’s why a man like Iola, who’d normally sweep a woman off her feet, doesn’t stand a chance.”

Lanken hesitated, fidgeting with his sword hilt. “Iola is… well, as a man, he’s almost perfect.”

“Oh, he’s perfect all right,” Moslin agreed. “In looks, family, skills, intelligence, kindness—he has everything. But for Viretta, that’s the problem.”

She leaned back, observing Lanken’s puzzled expression with satisfaction. “Viretta is someone who can’t live under someone else’s shadow. She’d rather struggle on her own than rely on someone better in every way.”

The realization struck Lanken like a thunderbolt. Moslin’s insight cracked open a truth he hadn’t considered before.

“But Viretta grew up under Medleridge’s protection,” he said hesitantly.

“And did that make her happy? If it had, she’d be living comfortably in a mansion, married off to one of her father’s chosen suitors by now. Instead, she’s—”

“Hunting a dragon,” Lanken finished quietly.

His gaze softened as he finally grasped the deeper motivation behind Viretta’s seemingly reckless ambitions.

“She’s spent her whole life trying to shine on her own,” Moslin said. “Struggling under a family full of stars, trying to prove her worth.”

Viretta’s countless adventures, each more outrageous than the last, suddenly made sense. She wasn’t just causing chaos for the sake of it—she was searching for her own place in the world.

“That’s why someone like Iola doesn’t work for her. A perfect partner would only steal her spotlight.”

Lanken exhaled slowly, leaning back in his chair. “So I’ll be stuck cleaning up after her until I’m old and gray?”

Despite his grumbling tone, a faint smile played on his lips—one he didn’t quite realize was there.