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Chapter : 10
After Rachel finished speaking with Cian and came out alone, Theodore entered from the opposite entrance of the hall.
The appearance of a dark and unfamiliar man made Theodore wary.
“Rachel. Who is this?”
“He’s an informant from the Guild. I hired him for an investigation.”
“The Guild, informant, investigation.”
It was often said that the guilty always overreacted first. Perhaps because he had something to feel guilty about, Theodore grew tense and stared sharply at Cian.
Noticing that he was being targeted, Cian politely bowed toward Theodore.
“You must be Count Elosa. A pleasure to meet you. I am Cian, an informant from the Guild.”
“Yes. You said you were hired by Rachel?”
“Yes.”
Cian’s gaze, hidden behind his eyepatch, landed precisely on Theodore.
Still shaken from earlier in the morning—when he had felt a terrifying killing intent from his son—Theodore was extremely on edge. He straightened his shrinking shoulders and forced strength into his voice.
“And what is it?”
“I thought the Count must be very happy.”
As if hearing something absurd, Theodore lifted only one corner of his mouth in a mocking smile.
“Happy? You speak so freely about things you know nothing of.”
“I apologize. I thought a man who receives such a gift from his wife would be happy.”
“Such a gift?”
Theodore turned to Rachel, and she shrugged.
It wasn’t anything meaningful. Better to get rid of it quickly.
“I prepared it because I wanted to give you a gift. It’s said to symbolize, ‘I will love you forever.’ I thought you’d be happy to wear it on your cufflinks at His Highness the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet tomorrow.”
From a distance, Berengela hurried over and opened the box. A pink diamond emitted a brilliant glow.
A middle-aged woman’s laughter rang out, and Theodore awkwardly pretended to be pleased.
While answering questions like “How did you prepare such a gift?”, Cian disappeared without a trace.
The reaction at the banquet was exactly as expected.
“Oh my, Count Elosa! Aren’t those cufflinks extremely rare?”
“I heard there were rumors that the couple’s relationship wasn’t good since the Count always appears alone at official events, but it seems it was all false! How enviable, Count Elosa.”
“I heard it must be incredibly expensive. How did you even obtain it?”
“It was said only one pair was imported from a neighboring country into the Empire. Everyone was wondering who would get such a rare item, and it turns out it wasn’t even an Emperor or a Duke, but a Count! How surprising!”
“Hahaha…”
Theodore gave an awkward laugh, while Berengela stood surrounded by noblewomen, speaking excitedly.
“Our Countess Elosa is truly wonderful. She prepared this gift apologizing for not appearing at official events due to poor health. She is a wise and considerate person.”
“Oh my, Lady Berengela. You must be so happy. How did you raise such a daughter-in-law?”
Whenever she had called her foolish behind her back, now she was inventing praise as smoothly as flowing water.
Unlike Berengela, Theodore responded politely to those who approached him and stayed in a corner of the banquet hall.
“Count, are you unwell? Perhaps you overexerted yourself preparing for the banquet.”
“Ah, yes. I’m a little tired, but I’m fine.”
He did not look fine at all.
Ever since entering the hall, Theodore had been glancing around like a restless dog needing to go somewhere. It looked like he was searching for something, but there were too many people approaching him because of the cufflinks, leaving him flustered.
What exactly was he looking for?
Wasn’t he the one who prepared everything to impress high-ranking nobles?
Even though nobles were approaching him kindly first, why was he acting like that?
Annoyed by her son, Berengela poked Theodore in the side several times.
Pretending to converse while checking her mood, Theodore only managed it for a moment before scanning the hall again.
At that moment, a trumpet sounded: pooo— and the hosts of the banquet entered.
The ten-year-old Crown Prince Artreyuu arrived in a golden palanquin. Behind him followed Emperor Sigar, Empress Beatrix, Empress Dowager Belwinder, the Great Saint Tityenis, and finally Cian.
It was a dazzling procession, but Rachel’s eyes only followed Cian.
So that’s what he looked like.
He was someone barely mentioned in the original story. She had no idea what he looked like—but he was far more striking than she had imagined.
Black hair completely hidden beneath a hood, golden eyes that flashed like fire beneath it, a sharp nose and jawline like a blade, and neatly shaped red lips—all perfectly harmonized into a stunning face.
His face was beautiful, but his tall height and broad shoulders added to an overwhelming presence. His trained muscles, balanced physique, elegant yet dignified movements, and commanding posture were beyond words. Even his gaze as he scanned the surroundings carried authority.
It almost felt like a waste that such a face had been hidden under a cloak and eyepatch. Of course, revealing it would have ruined his disguise entirely.
He’s on another level. Theodore is handsome, but compared to the Grand Duke, he’s just a monkey.
As the group ascended the platform and sat on the throne, the nobles bowed.
“Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”
“Since today is the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet, enjoy yourselves.”
At the Emperor Sigar’s command, the banquet became lively again.
Even as the banquet progressed, Theodore still wandered restlessly as if searching for something.
“What are you looking for?”
“Oh, it’s nothing… gasp.”
Theodore, who had been answering absentmindedly, suddenly froze when he saw who had spoken.
It was Cian.
People began gathering around.
“It’s the Grand Duke. Why is His Highness here?”
“He usually just makes an appearance and leaves.”
“Does he have some connection with Count Elosa?”
“And my, he is truly beautiful. Just looking at him makes me happy.”
Berengela immediately seized the opportunity and bowed first.
“I greet Your Highness the Grand Duke. I am Berengela Elosa, mother of Count Elosa.”
“Cian Dikarshinyak.”
His tone was neither warm nor cold—simply neutral. It was very different from when he had been acting as the informant named Alias.
Rachel also bowed.
“Pleased to meet you. I am Rachel Elosa, wife of Count Elosa.”
Cian nodded and met Rachel’s eyes.
Are you ready to receive the evidence?
Of course.
Finally, Theodore greeted him. His voice trembled from obvious panic.
“Ah, h-hello… no, I mean, I greet you. I am Theodore Elosa, C-Count.”
“So you are the rumored Count Elosa.”
Though his voice was low, Theodore flinched.
“I heard you received cufflinks with a pink diamond from your wife.”
“Ah, yes…”
“That is something I have always wanted as well. I’m envious. It seems your marriage is very harmonious.”
Both Theodore—hiding his affair—and Rachel—preparing for divorce without his knowledge—remained composed, but neither could compare to Cian. He looked at the cufflinks he himself had obtained as if seeing them for the first time, sighing sincerely as though truly envious.
Rachel was impressed. He’s such a good actor. He really looks like he means it.
After the greetings, noble ladies quickly surrounded Cian, their cheeks flushed red as they tried desperately to speak to him.
“Grand Duke, if you would accept my gift…”
“I can tell you stories about the Elosa couple’s love life…”
“If you’re curious about how they promised marriage in their youth…”
Berengela joined the crowd and threw herself into them like a zombie among fresh prey.
Rachel shook her head and stepped back.
When she escaped the crowd, Theodore was nowhere to be seen.
After the storm passed, the banquet hall dimmed. It was time for dancing. Everyone found partners and moved to the center.
Cian was subtly pressured by several women to dance, but he refused all of them. Theodore, who was supposed to ask Rachel for a dance, was still missing.
The two of them stood alone in a corner of the hall as the dance began.
Cian’s gaze briefly brushed Rachel’s face.
“Are you not going to dance?”
“I didn’t come here to dance.”
“I see.”
“When will you give me the evidence? I’m in a hurry.”
The lighting had dimmed, the crowd’s attention had drifted away—if anything was to be passed secretly, now was the perfect moment.
Cian pushed himself off the wall.
“Very well. This seems like the right time. Follow me.”
Rachel followed him as he walked through the edge of the hall toward the terrace-lined area.
Each terrace was covered with curtains, signaling couples engaged in private affairs.
A man and woman would enter, draw the curtain, and share intimate moments behind it. No one was allowed to disturb them until they chose to open it themselves. It was an unspoken rule of noble society.
These terraces were widely used by noble youths—and would continue to be used in the future. No matter status or rank, everyone used them. Hidden, and sometimes beautiful.
Cian stopped in front of one curtained terrace.
“What I am about to show you will be undeniable proof of your husband’s affair. I worry you may be shocked or distressed. Are you alright with that?”
“I already know the truth. There’s no reason to be shocked.”
“The human heart is not so simple.”
“Even if I am shocked, it doesn’t matter. I don’t plan to change my mind.”
“…Understood.”
Cian lightly grasped the edge of the curtain. Several nearby nobles were startled but did not dare question him.
He raised his arm as if to open it immediately. More eyes turned. The music in the hall began to slow.
Is he really going to open it? Even if he’s the Grand Duke, can he do that?
All eyes were drawn to him.
Rachel also wondered the same thing.
What is he planning? Wasn’t he just going to hand something over inside?
Cian raised a finger to his lips.
“Now then, excuse me.”
Riiiip!
The thick curtain was torn down by his hand and fell to the floor.
“Kyah!”
Some screamed and closed their eyes—but most eyes remained fixed on the scene inside the terrace.
A man and woman entangled in passion froze in place.
Theodore and Jane.
On Theodore’s cuff was the pink diamond cufflink Rachel had given him.
Cian whispered,
“How is it, Madam? My ‘definitive’ proof of your husband’s affair?”
Wearing the symbol of his wife’s love while embracing another woman, Theodore Elosa’s shameful affair was exposed in the most humiliating way possible before the entire imperial banquet.
