AOL 42

Chapter 42

A faint scent of paper lingered in the study as soft voices echoed calmly through the room.

“At this rate, the acquisition of the Barumul Mine will proceed without any issues,” the butler reported in a composed tone.

Lahan gave a slight nod and signed the document placed before him. His handwriting was smooth and elegant, without the slightest hesitation.

Watching the pen move as it absorbed ink, the butler glanced at Duke Karnox’s face.

As he gathered the signed documents, he added slowly, “I must admit, I didn’t expect Your Grace to take any interest in business matters like this. It seems I was mistaken.”

As always, the Duke gave no reply and simply reached for the next document.

The order for investigating the finances of the Lesian Ducal House had been issued by Duke Karnox right after returning from the hunting tournament.

The Barumul Mine was the largest mine in the Ekar Empire and the primary source of the immense wealth enjoyed by the Lesian Ducal House.

The sudden command to purchase shares in the Barumul Mine wasn’t questioned only by the butler, Kaelen.

Kaelen was a highly capable servant who had served the Karnox Ducal House since Lahan was young, carrying out his duties silently and flawlessly.

Even after hearing Kaelen’s words, Lahan said nothing, merely pulling out the next document.

However, when Kaelen narrowed his eyes and spoke again, Lahan’s hand froze mid-motion.

“How sincere are you, truly, about your marriage to Lady Blisha?”

The Duke slowly lowered the paper he had been holding and lifted his gaze toward Kaelen.

The butler flinched under that terrifying stare and quickly shut his mouth. He had gone too far trying to tease him this time.

Trying to defuse the situation, he pointed at the documents on the desk.

“Just sign right below here, Your Grace.”

Annoyed by the obvious statement, Lahan finally withdrew his freezing gaze.

Kaelen exhaled in relief, swallowing hard.

The Duke had been strangely in a good mood since yesterday. If not, he would have already lost his head.

Rumors of Duke Karnox utterly crushing the Lesian young master in yesterday’s duel had spread across the capital within a day.

And shortly after, rumors that Lady Blisha had accepted the Duke’s proposal followed.

Kaelen was well aware that the Duke had recently been visiting the Blisha estate almost daily.

In fact, it was Kaelen who procured the expensive gifts for the lady and the count.

What Kaelen couldn’t understand was what the Duke intended to gain from such meticulous effort.

The Blisha family was known for its unwavering loyalty to the Emperor.

Which meant they had no particular ambition for power. Thus, even a marriage to the count’s daughter would not bring any tangible benefit to the Duke.

As Kaelen pondered this in silence, a light knock echoed through the room.

A servant standing outside the door entered.

He seemed to have rushed, breathing heavily.

Kaelen frowned immediately.

“What is this commotion? Running inside the estate like that—have you no composure?”

“I—I’m sorry,” the servant stammered.

After catching his breath, he delivered his message.

“L-Lady Blisha… has arrived, Your Grace.”

Kaelen’s eyes widened.

Before he could recover from his shock, a cold voice came from behind him.

“…What did you say?”

Duke Karnox’s icy gaze pinned the servant in place.

The servant, pale as a sheet, repeated himself with trembling lips.

“L-Lady Blisha has come… for a visit.”

Even after hearing it again, Lahan did not blink, staring into empty space.

The butler carefully observed his expression. It was the first time he had seen him so visibly taken aback.

“Your Grace?” Kaelen called cautiously.

After a moment of stillness, Lahan turned to him and gave an order.

“Call the physician.”

“…Pardon?”

Outside the Mansion

After stepping down from the carriage, Isel fell silent for a moment at the sight before her.

A vast mansion stretched out before her eyes, with towering spires reaching into the sky.

The estate was adorned with ivory-colored marble.

Harris, standing beside her, let out a quiet gasp of admiration.

“Incredible…”

In the capital, noble estates clustered together, and the closer they were to the Imperial Palace, the more prestigious they were considered.

The Karnox Ducal Estate, located not far from the north gate of the Imperial Palace, was on an entirely different scale in both size and grandeur.

Its black iron fence stretched so far that the end was not even visible.

It was clear that this was a house with a history as long as the Empire itself.

As Isel and Harris were overwhelmed by the estate’s presence, a knight approached them with a puzzled expression.

“What brings you here?”

Harris answered for Isel.

“We have come to visit His Grace the Duke.”

At the word “visit,” the knight raised an eyebrow as if unfamiliar with the concept.

While they exchanged confused looks, a familiar voice called out to Isel.

“Lady Blisha?”

“Sir Damon.”

It was the Duke’s aide from the day before.

Clearly surprised to see her here, he widened his eyes.

After hearing their explanation, Damon gave a slight embarrassed smile and suggested they walk through the garden while he arranged things.

Fortunately, Harris seemed to know him, so the atmosphere wasn’t too awkward.

As they walked, Isel replayed yesterday’s events in her mind.

After hearing her answer, Lahan had stopped insisting and allowed the physician to treat his wound.

She had then been hurriedly taken home by her father and brother without even confirming whether the Duke was alright.

Unable to bear her worry, she had persuaded Harris to bring her here.

Everything felt dreamlike.

But one fact remained clear in her mind.

She had agreed to Duke Karnox’s proposal without thinking.

Now that she thought about it, she had no idea what possessed her to answer so lightly.

Of course, he had been injured, but still…

The biggest problem was that she didn’t dislike him.

Rather than dislike…

Her wandering thoughts were interrupted.

“Miss?” Harris called.

“Hmm?”

“This way.”

Without realizing it, they had already reached the entrance of the mansion.

A servant who had rushed ahead opened the door, wiping sweat from his forehead.

Inside, the mansion was even more magnificent than it appeared from the outside.

Tall columns stretched toward the ceiling, classical artworks adorned the halls, and deep red carpets lined the corridors.

The servant guided them with a tense expression.

Instead of heading toward the reception room, however, they were led deeper inside.

Harris noticed first.

“Where are we going?”

“His Grace is not in a condition to receive guests in the reception room… I’ve been instructed to guide you to his bedroom.”

“Is he that unwell?”

At Isel’s worried question, the servant avoided her gaze.

“Yes… it seems so.”

Though suspicious, Isel’s concern for the Duke prevented her from noticing.

Eventually, they stopped before a large wooden door carved with almond blossoms.

“This is the room.”

The servant opened the door.

Harris was told to wait outside.

Isel stepped inside.

Soft sunlight filtered through thin linen curtains, falling gently across the bed.

She froze the moment she saw the person lying there.

Lahan lay with his eyes closed, black hair slightly disheveled across his brow.

Isel pressed her lips together.

“The Duke’s guest has arrived,” the servant announced quietly.

Lahan slowly opened his eyes.

Seeing Isel, he smiled faintly and spoke as he slightly lifted himself.

“Isel.”

“Your Grace…”

Her voice trembled with concern.

She hurried to his side and asked the physician standing nearby,

“Is the injury very serious? Serious enough that he must lie like this?”

“Ah? No, I mean… well…”

The physician stammered under her worried gaze.

In truth, the Duke’s injury was barely even worth calling an injury.

The blade had been clean, and thanks to his monstrous recovery ability, it was already healing.

For an ordinary person, it might have been serious, but for Duke Karnox, it was nothing compared to his usual battlefield wounds.

Even after returning from the Lesian estate, he had resumed his daily life without calling for a physician.

But now he had been abruptly summoned and given a very strange order.

The physician glanced at the Duke.

Lahan’s golden eyes, half-lidded, flashed coldly for a brief moment.

A suffocating pressure washed over him, as if a blade were pressed against his throat.

He nodded frantically.

“Yes! It is… a rather deep wound, so His Grace seems to still be unwell.”

Though he didn’t understand, it was clear he was meant to say this.

Cold sweat gathered on his forehead.

“Oh my….”

Isel’s face turned pale.

She looked even worse than the supposedly injured Duke.

As the physician struggled internally, a low groan came from the bed.

“Ugh…”

“Your Grace, are you alright?!”

Isel instinctively grabbed Lahan’s hand resting on the blanket.

His hand was firm but weak, and his expression twisted in pain.

Seeing that, she felt as if she were the one hurting.

“It must hurt so much…”

At her whisper, Lahan slowly nodded.