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Chapter 8
You May End It Here
“Do you think I’d remember?”
Leopold countered while gesturing toward the mountain of documents piled on his desk.
Even today alone, there were dozens of papers that needed processing. He handled and approved them as they came; there was no way he could remember every single one in detail.
“Ah, r-right. Haha. To be fair, it makes sense that Your Grace wouldn’t remember—it was a contract signed five years ago…”
“So while I was still on the battlefield.”
“Yes. Back then, Baron Hernandez borrowed money in order to compensate the victims for the enormous debts. He used his estate and the railway operating rights as collateral.”
“Is that so?”
Leopold stroked his chin with an intrigued expression.
“How large was the debt?”
“I believe… around three billion crowns.”
Three billion crowns.
That amount could buy five luxury mansions in the capital’s most prestigious districts. More than that—it was comparable to the value of one of the Otero ducal house’s gold mines, through which nearly all currency passed.
To bear that level of compensation alone—it did seem somewhat unfair.
But that was their problem, not his.
Besides, he was the creditor here.
“Ah, right! I completely forgot I had a copy here.”
Raul hurriedly pulled something out from his desk drawer.
[Debt Fulfillment Contract]
Debtor: Diego Hernandez
Creditor: Hector Otero von Bern
Debt Amount: 2,000,000,000 crowns
Contract Date: March 10, 1881
Fulfillment Deadline: March 10, 1886
The debtor must repay the creditor the full amount, including principal and interest, within the designated period. Should unforeseen circumstances arise regarding the debtor, responsibility shall pass to the debtor’s descendants.
◉ Collateral Details
Collateral Assets:
- Hernandez Baronial Estate (“Collateral Asset 1”)
- Bern Railway Operating Rights (“Collateral Asset 2”)
Total Value of Collateral Assets: 2,000,000,000 crowns
◉ Debt Fulfillment Conditions
- If the debtor fails to repay the debt by the designated date, ownership of Collateral Asset 1 and Collateral Asset 2 shall automatically transfer in full to the creditor.
- Interest rates may fluctuate according to market conditions. (Current interest rate: 1%)
Leopold slowly read through the copy of the debt contract written five years ago.
The seals of both families were stamped clearly on the signature line.
Diego Hernandez was most likely Violetta Hernandez’s biological father.
Just as Hector Otero was his own trash of a father.
Raul continued speaking.
“As you can see, even after the deadline passed this March, the debt still hadn’t been fully repaid. So I showed Your Grace this copy and the ‘Transfer of Collateral Ownership’ documents, and asked whether we should proceed according to Condition One.”
Listening to Raul’s explanation, Leopold searched his memory.
Right.
He vaguely remembered hearing something like that.
So that was why the name Hernandez had sounded familiar.
It had been such an obvious process that he’d approved it without a second thought and moved on. Since it had been such a fleeting moment, it made sense he’d forgotten it just as quickly.
Though admittedly, part of him had suspected the sense of familiarity came from something tied to stronger emotions.
But memory was always unreliable.
Still, this was no longer something he could simply dismiss with an “I see.”
A month ago, the silver-haired woman’s value had been no more than a speck of dust.
Now, that was no longer the case.
Especially with a debt relationship of this magnitude.
She could become a far more useful card.
“So then,” Leopold asked, “does the Hernandez family know yet?”
“Ah—no, not yet. Mr. Crank is still reviewing everything one last time. If there are no issues, it’ll probably be delivered sometime this week.”
Crank was the veteran lawyer and legal advisor who had handled the Otero duchy’s affairs for years.
Once again, Leopold tapped his fingers lightly against the desk.
Then, after a moment, he spoke.
“Tell them not to send it.”
“…Pardon?”
Raul blinked wide-eyed as if he’d misheard.
“Don’t notify the Hernandez side,” Leopold said smoothly. “I’ll handle it personally.”
The corners of his lips curled upward.
Raul looked puzzled, but answered hesitantly.
“Ah… yes. I’ll send word immediately. And…”
He glanced toward the desk clock.
“You should probably begin preparing soon. Her Imperial Highness is likely to arrive any moment now.”
“Why does she insist on coming here?”
“Well… perhaps she’s trying to play the role of your fiancée?”
Raul shrugged.
Leopold snorted in disdain.
“Fiancée, my ass.”
“Even if you dislike it, just endure it for today. Who knows?”
“What.”
“They say good fortune comes to those who endure. Maybe blessings will just fall from the sky!”
“Blessings? Revenge would be more believable.”
Leopold waved his hand dismissively, signaling him to leave.
Understanding immediately, Raul bowed politely and turned to go.
Then—
Bang!
With sudden commotion, the office doors swung open violently.
A familiar figure strode in as though she owned the place.
“Ah, my lord. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? My fiancé, Leo?”
Princess Erika.
Of course.
As if there’d ever be such a thing as luck in his life.
A bitter smile flickered across Leopold’s face.
“Raul, you may go. I, his wife, will escort him myself.”
The princess smiled sweetly as she gently pushed the bewildered Raul aside.
Startled, he hurried out of the room.
The moment the door shut, Erika immediately walked toward Leopold.
The closer she came, the more the sour scent of alcohol pierced the air.
Leopold frowned sharply.
But something else irritated him even more.
“Who exactly is my wife?”
“We’re going to be married eventually anyway.”
“You say that with remarkable confidence. Brave of you.”
Leopold replied coldly.
Erika clenched her fists.
“Do you realize we’ve been engaged for four years?”
“I wasn’t aware. Though I suppose now I know it’ll last four years longer.”
“Leo…!”
Her furious shout split through the office.
Ignoring it entirely, Leopold calmly organized the papers on his desk before standing.
Then he raised his dry gaze toward her.
“If you dislike that so much…”
A chilly smile slipped between his lips.
“You’re welcome to end things here.”
At those humiliating words, Erika’s face flushed red with shame.
She was a princess.
His fiancée.
How could he possibly treat her this cruelly?
Even after enduring it for four years, his cold mockery remained unbearable.
At this point, shouldn’t he at least feel jealous?
She bit hard against the inside of her cheek.
Her anxious gaze chased after Leopold as he allowed the servants to prepare him for departure.
Without sparing her even a glance.
She’d believed that securing the engagement meant she possessed him.
But perhaps that belief itself had been nothing more than a mirage.
Leopold had even spread false scandals to humiliate her.
At least if he were genuinely cheating like she was…
Of course, her affairs were partly for amusement—but mostly to get his attention.
A desperate scream of:
Look at me. Don’t you care that I’m with another man?
And Erika had realized long ago that the rumors surrounding Leopold were fake.
Which only twisted her insides further.
It felt as though his entire existence was screaming for their engagement to end.
The humiliation was unbearable.
Leopold knew perfectly well she was chasing after his scandals, and yet the fake rumors never stopped.
If anything, he seemed to flaunt them even more deliberately.
To anyone watching, she looked worth even less than the women in those pathetic scandals.
That crushing reality trampled Erika’s pride again and again.
And yet—whether it was love or obsession—her feelings for him refused to die.
Do you know how hard it was to make this man mine?
There was no way she’d hand him over to some other woman now.
Erika bit her lip anxiously.
Her heated green eyes locked onto Leopold.
“There will never be a broken engagement. Do you understand?”
She warned him through gritted teeth.
Just then, having finished preparing to leave, Leopold dismissed the attendants and walked toward her.
Slowly.
With that maddeningly handsome face and long strides.
Step by step.
Ridiculously enough, the closer he came, the more wildly Erika’s heart pounded.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
When he finally stopped right before her, she unconsciously fidgeted with her curled fingers.
Leopold suddenly grabbed her chin and tilted it upward.
Their gazes clashed sharply in midair, utterly opposite in temperature.
“And if I don’t understand?”
His arrogant, low voice murmured through a faint smile.
Unable to contain herself, Erika shouted back.
“You don’t get a choice!”
“Is that so?”
“Have you forgotten the weakness of yours that I hold?!”
Leopold raised one eyebrow and let out a hollow laugh.
At that dangerous smile, Erika faltered before adding quickly,
“I-if you don’t want to see your mother thrown into prison, you’d better behave!”
The moment she finished speaking, the smile vanished from Leopold’s face.
A sharp crease formed between his brows.
Only after seeing that reaction did Erika finally calm down, smiling triumphantly.
You should’ve acted like this from the start.
No matter what happened, she was the one holding his leash.
She alone possessed the weakness capable of restraining this wild beast of a man.
That was how she’d forced the engagement in the first place.
Whenever he resisted, she only needed to tighten the leash again like this.
Yes.
In the end, this man belonged to her.
Drunk on victory, Erika slowly removed the hand gripping her face.
Her regained composure seeped into her gestures and voice.
“You only have one year left now, don’t you?”
She whispered while smoothing the collar of his coat.
“Until you’re officially recognized with the title.”
“That has nothing to do with Your Highness.”
“Oh? Why wouldn’t it?”
Erika widened her eyes innocently on purpose.
Leopold closed his eyes briefly as if exhausted beyond measure, then let out a deep sigh.
Afterward, he enunciated every word toward her deliberately.
“In the end, this relationship will break apart.”
“And I will make sure it does.”
“Hah. You really don’t understand the situation, do you?”
Erika sneered, cutting him off.
“Why do you think Father summoned us today? At a time like this—when there’s only one year left?”
“……”
“He’s telling us to prepare for the wedding. Right? Don’t you remember?”
