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Chapter: 14
This Is Your Last Chance
“What trouble are you planning this time?”
Before she could even greet him, a cold voice reached her, and Iana quietly met the purple eyes that resembled her own. Her cold, lofty gaze seemed to reflect both her father, Benuwa of Marseille, and herself.
“If you’re going to cry and talk about Prince Karl again, then just leave.”
Reacting harshly, the Duke of Marseille’s words made Iana flinch.
“You have a quick temper, it seems.”
Her response was unexpectedly calm—he had expected her to shout—which made the Duke frown. She must have been scheming something while she was “sick.” He didn’t expect her to achieve anything remarkable like other children. He only wished she would eat, play, and behave quietly. But in the past few years, the money Iana had wasted equaled an entire year’s budget of the duchy.
Of course, that amount wasn’t unmanageable for the House of Marseille. In fact, compared to the wealth of the Marseille family, it was barely noticeable. But he was the Duke. He knew exactly how difficult life was for the people living in his domain. He knew the hardships it took to earn even a single coin.
Rubbing his eyes, which felt gritty as if sand had gotten in them, Benuwa stood up.
“Iana, speak quickly and leave. Unlike you, the people of this household have had a long, exhausting day. Don’t you think they deserve rest?”
“It seems I’m not included among those household members, then.”
“If you’ve come to pick a quarrel…”
Iana hesitated. It seemed there was no trust left between the Duke and her. The fact that he took the time to see her now was more out of pity for the butlers and servants than any concern for her. Even if she explained her plans, she doubted he would actually listen. Yet, unwilling to waste the time she had spent waiting at the door, Iana began to speak.
“I need money.”
As expected, Benuwa let out an incredulous laugh.
“And what does Prince Karl need this time?”
Instead of answering, Iana placed the box she had been holding onto the Duke’s desk.
“What is this?”
“Collateral. Please take this as security and lend me the money.”
The Duke slowly opened the box. Inside was a brooch set with a large blue diamond. Even disregarding the craftsmanship, the sheer size of the jewel was overwhelming.
“This is…”
“A gift I received from Prince Karl not long ago. Even if I tried to sell it for money, it would attract too much attention. But I still need the money.”
Benuwa closed the box and leaned back deeply in his chair.
‘Finally, he’s ready to listen.’
As expected, he offered her the chair in front of the desk.
“Sit.”
Iana sat, and the Duke spoke again.
“What will you do with the money?”
“I want to start a business.”
“You?”
It wasn’t a laugh, but the doubt in his question was clear. Iana swallowed a deep sigh and began to speak slowly.
“Yes. I will. I’d like to borrow about a thousand francs using that jewel as collateral. The item is worth around ten thousand francs, so even if I fail, you won’t lose anything.”
“I’ve already suffered great losses because of you. This won’t even begin to make up for it.”
“Think of the losses you’ve endured so far as an investment.”
Iana said boldly.
“What?”
“You left me in the duchy without sending me to the academy. With only a few private tutors for basic lessons, what could I possibly have learned?”
The Duke had no answer—her words weren’t entirely wrong. In his effort to protect her, he had ended up raising Iana to be ignorant of the world.
She had been a child left at his doorstep by a woman he didn’t even remember. Though unmarried, the Duke had registered her as his daughter without question, but he had no idea how to raise her. He didn’t want to raise her like a young lady in the capital; he wanted her to grow intelligent and simple.
He had kept her confined to the duchy for that reason. Not because people gossiped about her being illegitimate or unknown lineage. Illegitimate? In a way, that was just a side effect of him not marrying. Moreover, since he had no plans to marry, Iana would be his only child. Naturally, he intended for her to inherit the title of Duke of Marseille.
But as soon as she arrived in the capital, she changed, behaving like the very women he despised most. At first, he thought it was inexperience; the second and third times, he blamed her lack of guidance. Recently, he had completely given up. All expectations he had for Iana had vanished.
Yet now, Iana seemed different.
Facing a daughter who had changed completely in just a few days, the Duke was lost in thought. He had heard she’d hit her head—could that really change her personality?
“What kind of business will you start?”
“I’ll be looking into that now.”
The Duke tapped his desk with a finger, leaning back as if deep in thought. Perhaps he was disappointed she didn’t already have a plan, but he couldn’t lie.
“Shall I help you?”
Iana stared at him blankly for a moment, then quickly recovered and spoke.
“Oh! No, I’ll handle it myself.”
“Very well.”
He opened a drawer, took out a stack of promissory notes, wrote the amount in the blank space with a pen, tore it off, and handed it to her.
“This is your last chance.”
Judging by his calm, subdued gaze, it seemed he still didn’t fully trust her. Iana understood his distrust perfectly.
“Thank you.”
But as soon as she saw the amount written on the note, her eyes went wide.
‘Twenty thousand francs!’
Seeing her wide-eyed expression, the Duke quietly said,
“I’ll say it again: this is your last chance, Iana.”
Clearly, if she failed again, it would mean being expelled from the family. Iana glanced at him. She had only intended to gauge his expression, yet their eyes met. Contrary to her expectation of seeing a scowl, the Duke nodded with a calm smile.
“It’s late, so you may leave for today. We’ll continue tomorrow morning.”
Though she had plans starting tomorrow, she had no intention of starting the day with indigestion. She smiled and replied.
“Yes, Father.”
Finishing his words, the Duke gestured for her to leave. As she backed out, the black door closed behind her. Her back was soaked with cold sweat from the tension. Though it was already past midnight, Lu and Yvonne were waiting outside.
“Milady!”
Lu’s voice, tense with worry that it might get loud like last time, trembled. Just thinking about how the young lady would handle the Duke’s temper after getting out of bed was nerve-wracking. Every servant in the house feared him; no matter how loud Iana got, she was no match for His Grace.
“Are you all right?”
Despite her tears, Lu carefully checked Iana for any injuries.
“I’m fine. Nothing happened.”
Yet contrary to her words, her back was drenched in sweat. Yvonne quickly removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
“And the errands?”
“I checked out a few good shops, but since I’m not sure what kind of business Milady will start, we postponed making any contracts.”
“Tomorrow, go out with me again. Now that funds are secured, we need to start in earnest.”
Yvonne’s gaze fell on the top of Iana’s head.
“Do you really plan to buy Colmar? Wouldn’t it be much more relaxing to enjoy the beautiful, pleasant climate of the south? Everything is already set up there without any effort from you.”
Iana laughed softly.
“You’re right. Buying a house in the south and lazing around would indeed be more productive. But I like Colmar. Yvonne, do you know when people feel the most comforted?”
Yvonne remained silent.
“When they realize that someone else struggled as much as they did. That’s when they grasp the universality of tragedy. That’s why people pay to watch sad plays or operas.”
“Perhaps it’s because the actors are so beautiful, Milady?”
Lu interjected. Iana laughed heartily.
“That could be part of it, Lu. But I think people want to see that they aren’t the only ones suffering. I found comfort in the harsh nature of Colmar.”
The wild fields, the cliffs battered by ruthless waves, the heavy gray clouds above. But precisely because of that environment, when a ray of sunlight broke through the gloomy clouds, the soft green grass and shy wildflowers covering the land became even more moving.
“But how did you go to Colmar, Milady? It’s far north, quite a distance from the Marseille territory in the southeast.”
Iana was momentarily speechless at Lu’s sharp, casual question. How could she explain that she had been to Colmar when, unlike Alice Lemacien, she had never traveled beyond her duchy or the capital?
“You never said you went there yourself. You just said you received deep comfort. Perhaps Milady read about it in a book.”
Yvonne said.
“Ah, I see! That makes sense. Since you arrived at the mansion, I’ve attended you, but except for banquets, small gatherings, or shopping, you rarely went out.”
Iana glanced at Yvonne. He nodded to Lu’s comment.
“But still, it can’t have been easy. Colmar is practically on the border between the Valu and Empire, and the Kingdom of Toulouse, isn’t it?”
“That may be true, but the Belligeum Strait lies between Colmar and Toulouse. The rough waves make it difficult to sail recklessly, so neither Toulouse nor the Empire bothers with Colmar.”
