“Don’t you dare touch another man’s wife.”
Milena stepped down in front of the auction house, listening to Jenny’s advice on things to be cautious about. The security provided by the Silbert knights was tight, but they were all stopped. This was because weapons were not allowed inside the auction house.
Her lips parted slightly at the size of the auction house. She, who usually thought of information brokers as meeting in back alleys, was surprised to hear that they conducted their business openly in broad daylight. The auction house building was as magnificent as an opera house. At its size and luxury, Milena was glad she had listened to Jenny’s advice.
‘You must go as elegant as possible! Go all out and dress in the highest quality!’
Jenny had stopped Milena from simply throwing on a robe, as she had planned to, thinking she would be walking through back alleys. Jenny had taken extra care to dress her up. She was wearing a dress that Blanc had brought. It was a sample item that he had given her, saying he had brought it. Despite being a sample, it boasted a quality no less than a finished product.
After completing the procedure to enter the information guild at the auction house, from the moment she walked on the red carpet, Jenny was looking around. Milena was busy looking around with her. With the soft music playing in the background, the columns supporting the building were all decorated with beautiful sculptures. The massive hallway was reminiscent of an art gallery.
As she walked, admiring the art that pleased her eyes, she spotted a familiar person with red hair among the busy staff.
“Isn’t that Gerard?”
It was at the same moment she saw Gerard. Gerard, who was carrying a box, froze in place and looked at Milena.
“My lady?”
“Gerard, what are you doing here?”
Gerard, who had been standing still as Milena approached, quickly shot a look at Jenny, who was standing by his side, asking for an explanation.
‘What is this? Why did you come here?! And you brought my lady with you!’
‘I’ve been trying to contact you, but you never replied! I did what I could.’
The siblings, who were intensely exchanging glances, looked at each other with resentment.
“Gerard?”
“Ah, I’m running an errand for my lord… Um, and what about you, my lady?”
“I’m here to make a request.”
Gerard looked at Jenny with a strangely distorted face.
“A request? Not to attend the auction? The auction area isn’t in this section…”
His voice was filled with desperation, as if he were saying, ‘Please tell me it’s not true.’
“I didn’t know it was this big. Maybe I’ll participate in an auction later?”
This place was like a new world to her. Everything she saw in the capital was new, which sparked a throbbing curiosity in her.
“More importantly, if you’re on an errand, where is Lexion?”
She didn’t know what he was so busy with. Or what he was doing. No one at the mansion knew of his whereabouts. It was while Gerard was at a loss for how to answer.
“Milena Rastia?”
A heavy resonance made a corner of her heart sink. Her body reacted first to the all-too-familiar voice. Even though the spell Lariette had cast was broken, the five years of her life were etched into her body. She slowly turned around and met the silver-gray eyes of the man who was watching her from afar.
The husband of her sister. A man she had pined for for five years, but he was nothing more or less than that. He was a man she thought she would never see again in her life. Her eyelashes trembled at his persistent gaze.
“Calion Luxen.”
Why is he here? Before she could even question it, the Grand Duke Calion, clad in superiority and coldness, strode toward her.
She had left the Grand Duke’s castle, having given up her life as the villainess who had so desperately loved her brother-in-law. She thought she would never meet the Grand Duke again. Was that a naive thought? What kind of twisted fate was this, that their connection was so persistent?
The distance between her and the approaching man was a burden, but she pulled herself together.
‘I’m no longer afraid of you.’
She had no intention of dying in her sister’s place or bearing his child. The fear she had felt for the man who had those preposterous thoughts was now a thing of the past. She had escaped that horrible environment and met a new family.
‘You are a Silbert. No one can treat you carelessly.’
The words of the Grand Duchess, who treated her with kindness like her own mother, were etched in her heart.
‘If anyone treats you carelessly, tell me, your mother. The Silberts repay everything twofold.’
Her heart warmed at the thought of having such strong allies. The scary thing about habits, perhaps. Her body, which had unconsciously tensed up, relaxed. There was nothing to bind her anymore.
“Little Lady, come behind me.”
“My lady, we will handle this.”
Milena took a small deep breath and stopped Gerard and Jenny, who were about to step forward to protect her. She bowed respectfully to Calion, who was close enough to touch.
“I greet Your Grace.”
Following her, the siblings also hid their sour expressions and bowed their heads. The overbearing gaze, which was suffocating, swept over her.
“Why are you here?”
Milena did not show any agitation. She raised her head with a calm, indifferent expression.
“Why are you here, Your Grace?”
Ah, Milena realized that this place also served as an information guild.
‘To find Lariette.’
She realized he was here for the same reason as her. Did he find out the letter was fake? She had thought he would be searching in other regions. She didn’t expect their paths to cross in the capital like this.
Murmuring. The attention of the people around them was gathering. Calion, who let out a low breath, reached out his hand to Milena.
“Let’s go, for now.”
Just as the Grand Duke’s hand was about to touch Milena, Gerard quickly stepped forward and stopped his action.
“Your Grace, if you have business with our lady, could you please contact the ducal family separately?”
Calion’s brows furrowed at the title ‘my lady.’ Only then did he see the sparkling gem on Milena’s hand. The ring on her fourth finger looked quite expensive.
“You’re married?”
A slight sense of satisfaction rose within her as the man, who rarely showed emotion, revealed a rare look of surprise. Yes, she had escaped his clutches and was now standing on her own.
“Yes, my name was etched on a marriage contract, so I had to get married rather abruptly. Still, thanks to that, I met a good person and got married.”
“…”
“I greet you again. I am Milena Silbert, Your Grace.”
“Silbert?”
At the unexpected family name, Calion’s face hardened to the point of exuding coldness. With a face full of displeasure, she let out a sneer.
“You may be my sister’s husband on a personal level, but I am now a person of a different family. I hope you will refrain from such oppressive actions.”
‘So please just disappear. Before I have to use my family’s power.’ She said indirectly, but Calion didn’t budge. It seemed he had more business with her now. He was still a person who didn’t listen to others. He tried to roughly grab Milena’s arm, regardless of her will.
“Milena Rastia.”
“Oh my.”
The Grand Duke’s hand, which had reached out again, was stopped in futility.
“Customer.”
A man in a well-tailored white suit slipped between Milena and Calion.
“Do you still have business here?”
“Guild Master, that is none of your business. Step aside.”
The man wearing a rabbit mask tilted his head and looked down at Milena. She looked at the man with slightly widened eyes.
“Hmm, contact between customers is not allowed here. If you plan to cause a disturbance in my establishment, I may have to revoke your request.”
“…”
A sharp surge of killing intent filled the air. A tension filled the surroundings. Though there were no weapons, the Grand Duke himself was a sword master who used magic, so everyone had to be on high alert. The guards hidden everywhere, as well as the staff who were watching, all prepared for a confrontation.
Calion, who had been glaring at the man who was meeting his terrifyingly cruel aura head-on, took a step back. The information about Lariette was his priority, so he had no choice but to retreat.
“Milena Rastia, we will meet again to talk.”
“No. Your Grace. I have nothing to say, and I don’t wish to see you again.”
At her words, Calion’s eyebrows twitched, and at her next words, the man in the rabbit mask’s lips twitched.
“My husband is very jealous. It seems there will be no need for me to meet with you separately, Your Grace.”
The reactions of the two men were at odds. As if their feelings didn’t matter, she bowed her head.
“Then, I bid you a good day.”
Milena gave an elegant bow and turned away. She walked forward with dignity.
Calion stood there as if rooted to the spot, like a tragic protagonist with lingering regrets, and watched Milena. Her distinctly different atmosphere was getting on his nerves.
“Annoying.”
The Grand Duke muttered, as if chasing her lingering scent. But that thought was abruptly cut off by the man who was blocking his view.
“Customer?”
The guild master, with a strong sense of service, kindly showed him the way.
“The exit is over there.”
The gentle tone was filled with a chilling oppression.
