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~Chapter 9~
“Duke Killian! It’s Butler Colin!”
Along with Colin’s urgent voice, loud knocks filled the sitting room.
“Come in.”
Clang.
Killian slid his sword back into its sheath as he answered, and Aisha let out a gasp of relief.
The door swung open and Butler Colin appeared immediately.
“…What is all that?”
Theorn muttered with narrowed eyes. Killian and Aisha both stared as well.
Colin’s arms were overflowing with gifts—beautifully wrapped boxes and letters stacked ridiculously thick.
“Duke, this isn’t even all of it. More gifts and letters keep pouring in right now!”
Colin nearly dumped the pile onto the table. The air filled with the strong smell of perfume.
“All of them were sent by young ladies and noblewomen! Word spread quickly that you’ve returned. They’re all congratulating you on your victory…”
Killian’s expression turned absurd. Gifts? Letters? He’d gone to war many times, but never once had anything like this happened…
Then his gaze landed on something buried under the pile—
Sunday Exposé.
“…”
Aisha instinctively avoided his eyes.
The influence of Sunday Exposé in high society was enormous. Just look at Leoric: his issue hadn’t sold that well, but he still got results. Invitations to parties flooded in, expensive gifts too.
If even Leoric benefited, then for Killian… there was no need to say more.
“Sir! More gifts have arrived—five carriages worth! And they’re still coming!”
“Dozens of new letters too! The storage room is about to burst!”
“Messengers from the Ruwendelin, Meia, and Cyrene families came. They said there’s a party the day after tomorrow, and they beg you to attend…”
Hearing all this, Theorn gaped in disbelief. Then he reached out for the gift on the top of the pile.
“Premium tea leaves.”
“…”
“And this one… women’s underwear… huh?”
Plop.
The underwear slipped from his hand and fell to the floor.
“Haa…”
Killian’s clenched fist trembled with rage. If patience could be made into human form, it would look like him at that moment. Aisha had no words—she just kept glancing nervously at him.
“Eisha!”
But it wasn’t just Colin and the servants who came in through the open door.
The children, who had been waiting anxiously outside, rushed in too.
Helen and the others ran straight to Aisha’s side and stood in front of her as if to shield her. Then, crying hard, they dropped to their knees.
“P-Please, Duke, don’t hurt Miss Aisha!”
Helen sobbed as she spoke.
“She’s such a good person… so please let her go…”
“Y-Yes, that’s right! Huu… she was wrong, we’re really sorry, so please forgive her!”
The children cried and begged like desperate little flies.
“You kids…”
Because of me, even these innocent children are suffering. Aisha hugged them tightly, her face full of sorrow.
The sitting room turned chaotic.
“Get… out.”
After a long time, Killian’s heavy voice cut through the sobbing.
“Eh? What?”
“I said get out!”
He rubbed his temple and shouted. Aisha leapt to her feet, ready to leave.
But—
“Colin. Take Aisha Ashton, her brother, and the children away.”
Take them away?
Where?
Was it for torture?
“W-Wait! Didn’t you just tell us to get out—”
“Now! Immediately! And make sure no one escapes!”
“Yes, sir.”
No matter how Aisha, the children, or Leoric protested, Colin stood firm. With help from the knights, he led them all out.
Their loud cries of “No! Please! Wait!” echoed behind.
“…”
Thud.
Killian dropped onto the sofa, pressing his hand to his forehead with an exhausted look.
‘Damn it.’
Fresh back from war, only to face this absurd mess. It was maddening.
And Killian hated this kind of attention. No—he despised it.
But this was just the beginning. He was quick to judge and quick to think. Investigations were already done. The truth: Sunday Exposé really did shake society that much.
All this… just for money? Ridiculous.
“Um, Duke Killian…”
Theorn cautiously stepped closer, nudging the underwear on the floor aside with his foot.
“What will you do with that lady?”
“I’m still thinking.”
“If you haven’t decided yet, may I offer some advice?”
Killian paused at that. He motioned for Theorn to sit, and Theorn quietly took the sofa opposite.
“As you can see, Sunday Exposé has a far greater influence among nobles than expected.”
“So?”
“What if we use that lady to our advantage?”
“…Use her?”
“Whatever the content, Sunday Exposé is the most popular magazine in Draxion. Strange rambling or not, the information inside is surprisingly specific.”
“And you still haven’t considered that makes it even less trustworthy.”
“The knights we left at her office brought this.”
Theorn handed over a neatly folded paper. Killian unfolded it with long fingers.
「Settlement Report – Year XXX, Month X」
「Information Fee – 2,500,000 Gold
Black Market Transaction – 1,700,000 Gold
P.S. to Til: I heard from a black market merchant that the actual cost of a Winters Knight uniform was 1,500,000 gold. Out of respect for our relationship, I’ll let it slide this time. You can try to squeeze more money from me, but I’d like to see some sincerity in return. – Aisha」
“Til?”
“Yes. That’s one of the names used by the leader of the underworld guild Rune. Judging by how openly it was written, Aisha Ashton likely doesn’t know that detail.”
The underworld guild, Rune.
They would do any dirty work for money. Even the Emperor himself had once tried to destroy them—and failed.
And a mere noble lady had dealings with Rune?
“Now you see. She’s not an ordinary young lady.”
“Of course not. She’s completely insane!”
“Well… that’s also true.”
How could they get out of this mess?
Or was escape even possible? Looking out the window, Killian saw the line of carriages still arriving, loaded with more gifts. He barely resisted the urge to scream.
‘Fine. If covering this up is impossible…’
His hand clenched tightly into a fist.
‘Then I’ll have to break through head-on.’
“Duke Killian…?”
“Theorn. Listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”
Having reached his decision, Killian began to speak slowly.
As his words went on, Theorn’s face twisted in shock and disbelief—but Killian didn’t care.
