Chapter 54
Lester, the mayor, trembled, his eyes quivering in visible confusion. Dante glanced at him briefly before picking up the cigar case.
Click.
“Persuasion, tolerance—words that sound quite impressive on the surface. And even if you try, they rarely damage your reputation. But in truth…”
Hiss.
“In the end, it’s just another way of saying you’re powerless. Weak and incompetent men dress themselves in such words, pretending they mean something.”
The pale smoke Dante exhaled drifted lazily across the table toward the mayor.
Of course, he would never have entrusted this man with the matter in the first place. Dante had already resolved everything himself. And even if the mayor had tried, the only result would have been stirring resentment among the citizens and the council who had signed the proclamation.
That resentment would only strengthen the council’s influence. The mayor’s position would collapse into a mere figurehead, nothing but a discarded pawn.
Better, then, for this incompetent man to stay silent—simply lend Dante his name and title, and let Dante use them as he pleased.
Dante took another drag from his cigar, then tapped the ash neatly into the tray before speaking again.
“From this moment on, you will not voice any opinion on this matter, Mayor. Just as you’ve done now.”
“W-what? Then what am I supposed to…”
The mayor blinked, despair in his eyes, but Dante’s words sparked the faintest flicker of hope.
“You misunderstand. I mean you must do nothing that could tarnish your reputation, Mayor.”
Because that reputation was something Dante would need later. Without it, Lester would be utterly useless.
The mayor still looked bewildered, as though unable to fully grasp the meaning.
Dante clicked his tongue at the man’s foolish expression, then ground the half-smoked cigar firmly into the tray.
“Remember my advice well, Mayor. We’ll meet again at the opening ceremony, as per the invitation I sent.”
When Mayor Lester finally left the office, Dante restrained the urge to kick over the table. Instead, he tugged his tie loose with a rough hand.
Just last night, his mood had been rather pleasant—especially because of what had taken place on this very sofa.
Riena had been there. Responding to his words, to his touch, in every way.
She had stirred away all the useless thoughts that had haunted him for so long. He had been deeply satisfied by her responses. This time, she hadn’t resisted, hadn’t disappeared.
If she was so easy to control, why had I ever wasted so much fuss? The realization almost made him laugh at himself.
And then, curiosity had sparked. Just how far will she remain within my grasp?
So he had tested her.
As he had expected, Riena accepted it. At first she flinched, startled, but then she closed her eyes and yielded.
Even struggling, she had still received him—willingly. And the more he kissed her, the more he held her, the more excitement surged through him, until even he could not deny how much he wanted her.
Of course, she would call it a shameful, disgraceful mistake. But that hardly mattered. He had already known she would. He could accept that.
What he hadn’t expected was that something as trivial as a kiss could shake him this deeply.
Dante clenched his jaw, a vein standing out faintly near his temple.
He had been ready to be gentle with her, if that was what she wanted. Ready to follow her mercurial moods—whether denial or acceptance.
If she claimed the kiss had only been his cruel prank, he would have admitted it, gladly.
But for her to treat something so small as the end between them…
Knock, knock.
“Sir, it’s Callis.”
Dante closed his eyes briefly, exhaling, then opened them again. The storm of rage, hatred, or whatever dark emotion had clouded his golden eyes subsided, returning them to their usual light.
“Come in.”
Click.
The door opened. Callis entered and hesitated at the sight of Dante still seated on the sofa. His eyes darted nervously before he spoke.
“S-sir, you have an engagement today… I’ve come to escort you. The mayor has already left for home.”
His words carried the unspoken question: Why are you still sitting here, unprepared? Once again, it seemed to Callis that the Grand Duke was not in his right mind.
While Callis privately entertained that thought, Dante rose to his feet.
“Let’s go.”
“…Sir, um…”
Callis, startled by Dante’s sudden agreement, opened his mouth again hesitantly. His gaze flicked toward—
“…You should… straighten your tie first.”
Grinding his teeth, Callis pointed it out. It was clear today would not pass smoothly, either.
***
“A social season in Behren without the Grand Duke himself…? No wonder it feels so quiet. Still, it doesn’t make sense.”
“Well, at least the Master’s temper has calmed a little. That’s a blessing for us, isn’t it?”
In the quiet afternoon, as maids carried laundry, Noel approached from behind at a leisurely pace.
“Allow me to help with that.”
“Oh!”
Startled, one maid nearly dropped her basket, but Noel caught it smoothly with a grin.
“Far too heavy for such delicate hands.”
“Ah—you must be the new attendant, aren’t you?”
The maid blinked, then clapped her hands in recognition. Noel nodded.
“Yes. Noel Chester. And may I ask the names of two such lovely ladies?”
The maids giggled between themselves, clearly flattered. Noel straightened his shoulders, pleased with their reaction. After all, winning women’s favor was one of his many talents.
“But tell me—what sort of man is this Grand Duke, really? I hear his name everywhere I go.”
In Florian, Noel had rarely heard of him. But here, in the capital Arbern, the name of the Duke of Venachert was spoken constantly—so much that Noel had once thought it was just a common greeting.
The maid tilted her head.
“Oh my, you don’t know him? Oh, that’s right—you’re from Florian, aren’t you?”
“Haha, yes. My hometown is far from the capital. Backward and out of touch.”
“Well… the Grand Duke is, first of all, an extraordinary businessman. Even as royalty, he works relentlessly. His influence reaches everywhere. But—” she lowered her voice—“don’t ever speak of this in front of our Master.”
Noel nodded. He already knew. On his first day, he had been warned over and over that the Master, Duke Norman Winfield, despised the Grand Duke.
“And besides… he’s incredibly handsome.”
The maid flushed faintly as she continued.
“Golden hair, golden eyes—rare, breathtaking. Always perfectly dressed, too.”
Golden hair… golden eyes?
Noel’s brow furrowed. That description… it sounded exactly like the man who had once grabbed him by the collar.
“Would there happen to be… a portrait of him?”
“A portrait? Oh! During his wedding four years ago, he was photographed! I think one of the maids still has a copy. I’ll go ask.”
A short while later, the maid returned with a well-worn newspaper, its edges glossy with handling. She spread it out eagerly.
“Isn’t he handsome?”
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Noel’s mouth fell open as he stared at the grainy black-and-white photo. Even blurred, even smudged—he knew.
It was him. That same lunatic who had seized him by the collar.
His gaze shifted slowly to the figure beside the Grand Duke.
“…And this woman here…?”
“The Grand Duchess. She passed away last year in a tragic accident. Perhaps it’s fortunate her face is blurred in the photo…”
Noel blinked rapidly. Though the photo showed only a faint profile, he recognized her immediately.
The woman in the picture was Riena—the same “Rena” Sharon had once introduced him to.
Noel let out a stunned laugh.
And then the realization struck him—
He was serving in the household of Duke Norman Winfield, who was practically enemies with the Grand Duke.
The Grand Duke’s current whereabouts were unknown. His wife, the Grand Duchess, was supposed to be dead.
But Noel had seen her. Alive. Working in a small café.
His eyes gleamed.
“Sharon, I need to tell you something.”
It was the close of another ordinary workday when Riena approached, her face unusually serious. Sharon swallowed hard. So it’s finally come…
“Did you two fight again—”
“I’m going to quit the café.”
Sharon’s jaw dropped open.
“What? Why? Don’t tell me it’s becau—no, wait, never mind. What happened, Riena?”
She clapped a hand over her own mouth, catching herself before blurting the wrong thing, and stared at Riena in alarm.
