ITAYA 28

~Chapter 28~

“…It feels like I’m interviewing husbands. But I think we can narrow it down to about this many.”

Hereth handed me the file with a doubtful expression, as if questioning whether we were really doing the right thing.

“Thank you, Hereth. And yes, we really are doing something like this.”

Just in case, I was planning to narrow it down to about three candidates. It would be ideal if I could choose one to marry from that list.

There were many variables to consider—after all, I needed the other party’s consent, and we’d have to reach a mutual agreement.

So we carefully reviewed everything to eliminate as many uncertainties as possible.

1. Do they have a high enough status to resolve the current situation?

2. Do they have any serious criminal history?

3. Are they overly greedy—greedy enough to covet Graham Bank?

4. Do they come from a family that could actually benefit the business of Graham Bank?

5. Are they wasteful or overly extravagant?

There were many smaller conditions, too. I let out a faint smile.

“Still, thanks to all this, I’ve learned just how many gentlemen there are in Estus.”

“We can’t be sure if they’re truly gentlemen, Madam,” Hereth said with concern.

Even Jennus didn’t look too pleased with me. Not even my own parents looked at me with such worry.

“I’m thankful to both of you. But I’m going to make the best choice—and strike the best deal. So don’t worry too much.”

I lightly flipped through the papers.

Some were twice my age. Others were on their third marriage.

There was even a man who already had five illegitimate children. When Egbert brought Chris, I had been so appalled—yet now, I felt nothing.

He must have lived a busy life to father five kids. That was all.

It must be the difference in how I felt toward the men.

If I was going to marry, this level of detachment was just right.

I paused as I looked through the file.

Baldwin Constantine.

He was one of the candidates Hereth and Jennus had selected.

It was at that moment—

“You have a visitor. He’s from Constantine. He didn’t make an appointment… What should I do?”

Hereth and Jennus turned to look at me at the same time. The timing really couldn’t have been more dramatic.

I quickly tidied the documents and hid them in the bookshelf.

“Let him in.”

Baldwin stepped into the room. Jennus and Hereth greeted him politely and exited the office.

Now alone, Baldwin and I sat facing each other in the office, surrounded by the thick smell of paper and ink.

His gaze slowly traced from the bridge of my nose down to my lips.

Without thinking, I lightly bit my lip.

Even though Baldwin was the one who had come without notice, it felt like I needed to say something—anything.

Just a moment ago, I’d remembered that Baldwin had been on the list of potential marriage candidates.

Baldwin probably never even imagined such a thing.

I could feel my cheeks flushing with inexplicable embarrassment.

I slowly exhaled.

Even the moment my lips parted slightly—Baldwin caught that with his gaze.

“Well… ahem.”

Baldwin locked eyes with me again. He was the first to speak.

[Do you remember what I said before?]

What he said before?

I blinked, not knowing what he meant.

[I told you to let me know if you needed help.]

“Ah.”

[I said it was in return for the kindness you once showed me.]

Baldwin raised the corners of his lips. He was definitely smiling—but it looked strangely brittle. It didn’t seem like he was in a particularly good mood.

Not that you could really read Baldwin’s emotions through a single expression.

People in business are experts at hiding their feelings behind their faces.

“I remember, Your Grace.”

[That’s a relief. You seemed to have forgotten.]

I shook my head.

I had always remembered—kept it in the back of my mind, like a card to play in case I ever desperately needed Baldwin. Like if Graham Bank were to face a truly catastrophic crisis.

Baldwin gazed at me steadily. This time, his eyes met mine, not my lips.

Was he hoping for something?

I couldn’t read his intention, so I gave an awkward smile.

“Ah, I read the article about your new business venture with Lakesia, Your Grace. I had no idea you were hiding a move like that—it’s really impressive.”

[It was merely something that had to be done for business.]

Reading the tide and applying it to enterprise was a skill in itself.

Baldwin was still staring intently at me. Those violet eyes betrayed no emotion.

Was he waiting for me to say something else?

I fidgeted with the hem of my dress out of nervousness.

“Um, if you haven’t eaten yet…”

Baldwin smiled.

It was a fierce kind of smile I had never seen before.

His ascetic, sharply handsome face distorted in a way I never imagined it could.

Baldwin slowly rose from his seat.

[Give it some thought. Then contact me. I’ll be waiting.]

Give what some thought?
He’ll be waiting?
Did I do something wrong…?

As I fumbled to get up from my seat, Baldwin didn’t wait for me.

He definitely wasn’t acting like his usual self…

Flustered, I bit down on my lip.

“What’s going on…”

I plopped back into the chair, replaying the conversation I’d just had with Baldwin.

Something about what Baldwin said feels like a hint…

Think harder, Anais.

Help. He mentioned offering help.

He wouldn’t have said it if there wasn’t a reason behind it.

Does Graham Bank need help right now?

Yes.

But with the contract from Constantine, things had finally started to stabilize. People who had been hesitant were now cautiously returning to Graham Bank, reassured that large-scale investments could proceed with confidence.

The gap left behind by the withdrawal of the Nine Committee’s money was large—but we were slowly patching it up. It was manageable.

So we didn’t need Constantine’s help…

Then… me?

I turned and looked at my desk—the same one where, just moments ago, I had been reviewing marriage candidates.

“…No way.”

If it was Baldwin Constantine, he’d likely already know about the current lawsuit sent by the Marquis of Graham.

I was once again standing on the edge of a suffocating crisis.

“Was he saying he’d help me…?”

If Baldwin had reached out to me as a person—

Could he have known that I was trying to escape this situation through marriage?

If that’s what he meant by help…

“Was that an indirect way of saying he’s willing to marry me…?”

My heart thudded hard in my chest.

Among all these endless candidates, Baldwin was clearly the best choice.

He met every condition.

He was also favorable toward both me and the bank.

He didn’t have any illegitimate children. He had no major character flaws. And he was incredibly handsome.

The barriers or limitations he carried didn’t matter to me in the slightest.

I swallowed hard.

Even so, the reason I hadn’t made a decision right away was because…

The wall that was Baldwin Constantine felt impossibly high.

And besides, I had heard that the reason he hadn’t married all this time was due to his own will.

But if my guess was correct—

“Then I don’t need to be agonizing over this.”

Baldwin was a businessman. I needed to calculate what he stood to gain from marrying me.

This was no different from a strategic merger or acquisition.

I shot up from my seat.

Baldwin had opened a small window for me.

I had to act before he changed his mind.

I opened the door and called in Jennus and Heres.

“We need to analyze what kind of effect a marriage between me and the Constantine family—and Duke Constantine in particular—would have.”

“What?”

Jennus looked startled by the sudden statement.

He turned to glance at the door, then looked back at me.

“Did the Duke propose this himself?”

“No. But… it feels like he did. Anyway. Let’s move quickly. We don’t have much time.”

Egbert had said that if I didn’t return to the Graham family and resume the marriage, he would proceed with the lawsuit in a month.

In that time, I had to find a husband, register the marriage, and prepare for a legal defense.

“I don’t know exactly what you mean, but… one thing’s clear. If it’s Constantine, he can solve all our problems.”

I nodded.

“What if he refuses?”

Heres asked, her eyes filled with concern. She was more perceptive than she appeared.

“If he refuses…”

The excitement that had been rising in my chest slowly subsided.

If I had misread Baldwin’s signal… then…

“We’ll need to consider other alternatives. Mr. Jennus, please prepare backup options.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Now was the time to be colder and more clear-headed than ever.

That was the only way to achieve the best possible outcome.

Don’t get carried away, Anais.