Chapter 36
“So it seems they were caught. Since they tried to destroy the evidence, they may face harsher punishment.”
Diego reported brightly. But Cecilia’s face showed little interest. Wasn’t she the one who had wanted to deal with that arrogant woman and see her punished? Diego found her lack of reaction puzzling.
“Aren’t you pleased?”
“I am.”
But her expression was far from that of someone pleased.
“I expected as much, so I’m not surprised.”
Cecilia explained calmly why she didn’t feel particularly overjoyed.
“Besides, something else has captured my attention.”
She no longer cared much about House Nova, stuck too deep in the mire to escape. A small nudge would be all it took to send them stumbling to ruin.
“And what has caught Your Grace’s attention?”
Diego asked. Cecilia fell silent for a moment, as if searching her memory, then met his gaze.
“Drithen Mine.”
Diego’s eyes narrowed. That was a name he certainly knew.
“A friend of mine is looking for an investment opportunity to raise a substantial sum.”
Cecilia’s tone was gentle, as if trying hard to appear free of ulterior motives.
“He’s racked up considerable debt through gambling.”
“Ah…”
Diego let out a sound—part sigh, part realization. It seemed he had figured out who she was referring to.
“I just couldn’t watch any longer. How humiliating it must be to keep reaching out to His Grace for help.”
She claimed it was pity—but her face didn’t reflect a hint of it. In fact, her utter lack of expression almost made her look amused.
“I’ve heard Drithen Mine is quite promising as an investment, so I’d like your help.”
Diego nodded. Stirring the wind and steering fools in his desired direction was an effortless task for him.
“Do you have a preferred approach?”
“There’s no need to make it obvious. We can’t have people whispering about favoritism.”
Cecilia raised her teacup as she spoke. Her voice was calm and soft, devoid of malice—at least on the surface.
“As you wish.”
But that didn’t concern Diego. His job was to fulfill the terms of their arrangement and collect his own reward.
“There’s something else I’d like to know.”
“Please, ask.”
“Is my father—Duke Rain—seeing someone?”
Diego blinked slowly.
“I’ve heard nothing of the sort. Would you like me to find out?”
He generally paid little attention to people’s private affairs, and Duke Rain’s love life was something he had never encountered before.
“If you could…”
“Your Grace, it’s Evie.”
Just as Cecilia was about to continue, Evie knocked in haste, cutting their conversation short.
“Come in.”
At her command, Evie cracked open the door, peeking inside.
“What is it?”
As Evie slipped fully into the room, Diego lifted one corner of his mouth in amusement. Noticing this, Cecilia idly fiddled with her earring, watching the subtle tension between them. Something was in the air.
“Evie?”
“Yes! His Grace the Grand Duke’s carriage is nearly here.”
Evie shot a sharp look at Diego, as if trying to send a message, then snapped to attention at Cecilia’s call.
“Already?”
There had been no word of him returning so soon. Cecilia hurried to finish preparing and went downstairs. Just then, the carriage was passing through the gate.
“Cecilia.”
Eden stepped down and greeted her warmly.
“You’ve returned early.”
“I heard about the situation with Count Nova. I thought it was news you’d want to hear sooner rather than later.”
She already knew, of course—but Cecilia looked up at him with deliberately brightened eyes.
“That news traveled quickly.”
“I had people of my own shadowing the Crown Prince’s men.”
Eden placed his arm around her waist and led her inside. It was a casual touch, but not so subtle that she didn’t notice his intentions. Still, Cecilia pretended not to and followed at his side.
“The trial will take place within a month.”
As if in exchange for his closeness, Eden whispered the trial date.
“How did they find the evidence?”
Though she’d already learned everything from Diego, Cecilia clung to Eden with feigned curiosity.
“They hid it under the maid’s skirt.”
Eden replied gently. It was, under normal circumstances, a clever move—people rarely dared to search under a woman’s skirts. If he hadn’t enlisted the royal guards and court investigators through Aster, they might have gotten away with it.
“…Cecilia?”
The thought struck her sharply. The man beside her—he could be ruthless, almost inhumanly so. In her past life, hadn’t she been tossed around like a mouse caught under a cat’s paw?
“Thank you for telling me. You’ll attend the trial, won’t you?”
Cecilia turned slightly, closing the distance between herself and Eden. Her delicate hand rested against his chest, her breath brushing his neck, making him flinch reflexively.
“…We should go.”
His voice dropped lower. Even though she was his wife, her soft touch still felt unfamiliar to him—because he had never truly held her.
“I want to go with you. Will you take me?”
Cecilia’s eyes sparkled as she pleaded with him. Eden gazed silently at his wife, now nestled against him. It was hardly what one could call a coaxing gesture, but he knew this was the most affection she could show.
“You won’t find it pleasant to witness.”
“I don’t mind.”
Eden tightened his grip around her slender waist. Cecilia did not shy away from his gaze—she had a purpose to fulfill.
“Is there something you want to say to him?”
“I want to see what becomes of a traitor.”
Cecilia answered plainly. She wanted to see House Nova fall.
“…And I want to know. What drove them to it? What did they lack—and what were they planning afterward?”
Of course, that wasn’t the only reason. In both her past and present life, she had never been able to understand what truly drove them. Not even Diego’s investigations could reveal that.
But more than anything, she worried her father might foolishly ask for leniency in court.
“In that case, I’ll arrange for you to meet him before the trial begins.”
Cecilia smiled at Eden, her face brightening.
“If that’s what you want.”
Facing her, Eden smiled gently, the picture of a kind and considerate husband—as if willing to grant her every desire.
“……”
Then, the edge of his smile faltered slightly. Cecilia’s eyes followed his, shifting quietly toward the direction he was staring.
He was looking near the window—at nothing in particular.
For a moment, she thought she saw a flash of blonde hair…
“Your Grace?”
Her voice held a note of uncertainty as she called him, and Eden’s gaze returned to her.
“Was there something outside the window?”
He parted his lips as if to ask a question, and Cecilia watched him closely, eyes fixed on his mouth.
“It’s nothing.”
The answer came flatly. His smile, as always, was unreadable.
Late that night, Count Nova and his son were dragged to the capital by the imperial guard. At that point, the only ones aware of it were the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and those directly involved. Everything had happened so suddenly.
“Father… what do we do now?”
Count Nova’s eldest son asked, his face stricken with fear.
“Father!”
But Count Nova wasn’t thinking about his own punishment. He believed he could easily handle this—after all, Curtis would never abandon him.
“Enough! I’ve got enough on my mind, so be quiet!”
What truly troubled him was the estate’s servants. If they were found guilty, they would scatter. They weren’t worth much, but losing them meant losing part of his wealth.
“Don’t worry. Duke Rain can’t cast us aside.”
Still, the thought of losing all that property made his stomach churn. If he had to pay reparations, he’d need to liquidate his assets—including them.
“Do you really think Duke Rain will spare our house?”
His son bit his lip anxiously.
“It’ll be fine. These things are usually settled through customary law. As long as Duke Rain shows mercy, we’ll manage.”
Count Nova paced in the small room, convinced that Curtis would save them.
“I’ve overseen Vester’s affairs for over twenty years. If I return the money and show repentance, there’s no way he’ll abandon me over this.”
Just then, the old door creaked open, and light spilled into the room. Both father and son turned toward it instinctively.
