Chapter 10

“I’ll take the alimony in the form of your entire fortune.”

A wave of exhaustion washed over me.

The pompous smirk. The way he leaned back, chest puffed like a rooster. The lazy, appraising look in his eyes. It was obvious—he wasn’t here to treat me as an equal in business. He had come to look down on me.

“I’m well aware of Graham Bank’s reputation,” he began, “but let’s not pretend that isn’t all thanks to the family name backing it.”

To speak in such a condescending tone when he was the one here to borrow money—I almost laughed aloud. Though to be fair, Baron Setra wasn’t the only one to blame.

Over the past few days, I had met a stream of men just like him. They barged in insisting they had to speak directly with the bank’s president, refused to be helped by anyone else, and then behaved exactly like this once they got their meeting.

It was uncanny. As if they had rehearsed the lines together.

“You’re just a vault full of money right now,” he said, grinning. “Leave it to people like me to decide whether a venture’s worth investing in. I’m sure you brought a business plan that’s at least somewhat decent.”

He ran a hand through his hair with dramatic flair. I recalled hearing that the previous Baron Setra had recently passed away, and the title had gone to his second son—the firstborn having died some years ago. The second son was known for being a good-for-nothing scoundrel.

And now he thought he could run a business?

“What kind of business are you proposing, exactly?” I asked.

“Well…”
He dragged the word out, blinking slowly at me before flashing a smug smile.

“There are a number of ideas I’m tossing around. Why don’t we move somewhere more private? I could give you all the details there.”

Then came the look. A slow, obvious scan of my figure, dripping with implication.

Ah. So he had no proposal.

My tone turned cold.
“You don’t have a proper business plan at all, do you?”

I stood up.

“Let’s consider this meeting concluded. I’ll be rejecting your proposal.”

I no longer wanted to waste breath speaking to him.

What was wrong with all of them?

The only reason these men waltzed so brazenly into Graham Bank was because its current head happened to be a young woman.

“Hey! Sit down—now!”

Baron Setra raised his voice and lunged forward, trying to grab my wrist.

I brushed him off easily.

I’ve taken more than a few self-defense lessons. Did he really think a scrawny little rat like him could overpower me?

True, I had inherited my mother’s frail bones and couldn’t pursue swordsmanship or martial arts too deeply—but still. If I’d been born with a sturdier frame, I’d have swept every fencing tournament in Estus by now.

“Gah!”

When he reached for me again, I twisted his wrist and bent it back sharply.

“Aaaah! Ow! OW! She’s trying to kill me! Somebody help me!”

Baron Setra shrieked like a pig being slaughtered.

Moments later, the doors burst open and several bank employees rushed in.

Scenes like this had become a near-daily occurrence ever since I took over Graham Bank.

The employees shook their heads with a practiced sigh and escorted the wailing baron out.

I collapsed back into my chair with a long, weary exhale.

These men only saw what was on the surface. That I was young. That I was a woman. That the previous Marquess Graham had passed.

But what they didn’t realize was this:

Since the very day of his death, I’ve been the one running this bank.

Did they really think Egbert was behind all the bank’s accomplishments? Or were they just testing the waters because I looked like an easy mark?

“Disgusting,” I muttered.

I really ought to hire a secretary who looked absolutely terrifying. Someone bulky enough that just the sight of their biceps would make people yelp, “Mother of mercy!”

With steely resolve, I walked onto the Royal Connors Academy campus and secured the secretary I had my eye on.

The graduation ceremony began at 11 a.m., but guests were allowed to take their seats from 9 a.m. I sat in the audience with my newly appointed secretary behind me, feeling immensely satisfied.

Even just having him standing there brought a comforting sense of security.

As I waited for the ceremony to begin, the empty seat beside me was suddenly filled.

A soft yet strikingly sharp scent wafted in.

It felt… familiar.

Almost involuntarily, I turned my head.

“Oh.”

The man gave me a subtle nod.

It was Baldwin. The first time I’d seen him since the banquet.

Of course. The Grand Duchy of Constantine would’ve received an invitation as well.

“It’s been a while, Your Grace. I never got to thank you properly for that evening…”

Baldwin was staring straight at my lips. I knew he was reading what I said—nothing more—but still, the space between us felt far too small.

His gaze carried weight. Golden lashes cast soft shadows over his amethyst eyes.

I had never seen him from this close before.

With elegant precision, Baldwin reached into his coat and pulled out a small notebook and a fountain pen.

Even such a mundane gesture felt refined—because it was Baldwin.

He scribbled a note and turned it toward me:

[And now?]

“Ah…”

I blinked, realizing I had been momentarily lost in thought. Embarrassed, I gave a sheepish smile and picked up where I left off.

“I’d really like to return the favor somehow, Your Grace.”

Of course, I meant it—his help that day had been invaluable. But I’d be lying if I said there weren’t other motives. Strengthening ties with the Grand Duchy of Constantine could prove immensely beneficial for Graham Bank.

Baldwin’s pen moved again.

[I’ll be visiting Graham Bank soon. Perhaps we could have dinner that evening.]

He’s coming to the bank?

Now that he mentioned it, I vaguely remembered someone saying a major client had booked an appointment.

Without a secretary, my staff had been managing reservations directly. There were occasional lapses in communication. I hadn’t paid much attention, assuming everything would sort itself out once I had someone in place.

So that visit was from Constantine.

My heart gave a small, startled flutter.

“I’ll make a reservation at a lovely restaurant,” I replied with a smile. “We’d be honored to have you, Your Grace.”

Baldwin gave a faint, elegant nod.

It was fascinating. Despite being unable to hear, he had no trouble communicating at all.
Just how much effort must it have taken to behave that naturally?

Even from this close, his profile was impeccably composed—like a portrait drawn by a master’s hand.

During my marriage, I often heard people mention Baldwin—mostly because Egbert couldn’t seem to stop talking about him.

“I just don’t get what makes that guy so special. Anais, between the two of us, who do you think is better?”
“If you take away the title of Grand Duke, what’s so great about him?”
“Tell me, Anais. You’re smart—why does everyone go around praising that deaf idiot like he’s some kind of genius?”

Why Egbert felt so insecure around Baldwin, I’ll never know.

Maybe that’s why Baldwin didn’t feel unfamiliar to me now.
It wasn’t him that felt strange—just the fact that he was sitting so close. I doubted he meant to close the distance on purpose.

He was much taller than me, with shoulders that easily eclipsed mine. Someone once said the Constantine family had naval ancestry, which would explain their size and stamina.

Just then, our feet brushed.

No matter how hard I tried not to notice, I couldn’t not notice. I quickly tucked my foot back under my dress and forced my gaze forward.

Inhale. Exhale. Focus on the graduation ceremony.

But instead, my thoughts slipped into the past.

To the day I first met Baldwin Constantine.

My whole body had felt stiff with nerves. I had entered the academy with my grandfather’s sponsorship, and the pressure to prove myself was immense.

First impressions are everything.

I bit my lip and let out a deep breath. I’d volunteered as a ceremony guide partly to make myself visible to the professors.

Everything—my grades, my behavior—would be reported to my grandfather. I couldn’t afford a single misstep.

A tall shadow fell over me. I reacted instantly, greeting the figure without hesitation.

“Hello! I’ll be guiding you to Kenneth Hall for the graduation ceremony!”

I was rambling before he even asked. When I met the stranger’s gaze, my mind suddenly went blank.

“You just keep walking straight, then turn right, and you’ll—uh…”

Only after I finished explaining did I truly see him.

Baldwin Constantine.

One of the most well-known figures in the Estus Empire. The tragic heir who had taken over the Constantine Grand Duchy at a young age.
Deaf, they said.

My mouth went dry from the sudden tension.

What do I do?

Be respectful. Be clear.

“I tend to speak a little fast—I’ve been trying to fix it, but it’s a work in progress. If you need me to explain anything again… Actually, would you like me to walk you there? It’s a bit of a tricky route.”

Baldwin gave a slight nod.

Back then, the only thought in my head was: I have to do this right.

I kept checking—was he walking comfortably? Was I going too fast? Did I seem strange to him?

“This is Kenneth Hall! Congratulations on your graduation!”

The corners of Baldwin’s eyes crinkled ever so slightly. I’d heard he rarely smiled.

A soft breeze stirred inside my chest.

I did well, I thought. Relief bloomed gently—until the next moment.

“…Oh no.”

A quiet groan slipped out.

Why would a graduating student not know where Kenneth Hall is?

You idiot!