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That hairy man was about to press his face against Mari’s hand.
Calix instinctively walked over to Mari.
“Take your hand off.”
A low voice escaped Calix’s lips.
When Ludik looked up, red eyes were fiercely staring him down.
“Yikes!”
Startled, Ludik quickly let go of Mari’s hand and stepped back.
“Y-Your Grace of the Cliff Castle…!”
He accidentally blurted it out and immediately covered his mouth.
Mari tilted her head and asked,
“Calix? Did you have some other business?”
“Yes, I was just about to leave.”
“Oh, so you stopped by to buy something?”
“······.”
Calix didn’t reply and simply stared down at Ludik.
“Eep!”
Ludik couldn’t lift his head, feeling nervous even though he had done nothing wrong.
“Well then, Ludik, I’ll be counting on you.”
Mari, unaware of the tension, extended her hand for a handshake.
“Uh…”
Unlike when he kissed the back of her hand, Ludik now just stared at the offered handshake. He wasn’t used to women offering a handshake first.
“Um…”
He glanced nervously at Calix again.
But Calix was still silently staring daggers at him. It was hard to tell whether he wanted him to accept the handshake or not.
‘Ah, screw it!’
Ludik tightly shut his eyes and shouted,
“P-Pleased to be working with you!”
He cautiously took Mari’s hand and shook it.
“Well then, see you again soon.”
“Y-Yes, take care, my lady!”
“Calix? I’ll head out first.”
“···Very well.”
After finishing her business, Mari happily left the Ludik Trading Company.
Ludik looked around, wondering if it was okay to go back inside now.
But Calix stood firmly in front of him, not showing any sign of moving aside.
“Y-Your Grace?”
Ludik was unsure whether he could return inside or if the duke had something to say.
‘Why is the Duke of Bloodstone here? He has nothing to do with our affairs… right?’
Then, a realization struck Ludik.
Wasn’t the Duke of the Cliff Castle notorious for demolishing buildings?
‘No way! He’s here to claim this building too!’
If the duke wanted it, Ludik would be powerless to stop him.
This man ranked right below the king—or arguably had more financial power than the king.
‘Even if he pays the full price! This building has been in our family for three generations!’
But if he threatened to cause trouble, there’d be no way to resist.
“You.”
A cold voice cut through the air.
“Y-Yes!”
Ludik stood at attention and tried to put on a respectful expression.
“Please, speak!”
He didn’t care whether the duke wore a mask or had scars—he knew his place.
This masked man was the absolute authority here.
“You know that the daughter of the Count of Whitehouse has started an interior design business, don’t you?”
The absolute authority spoke slowly, with an ominous tone—like, “You know what you did.”
“Yes? Y-Yes! Of course!”
Ludik replied with forced energy.
“Did you know that the Bloodstone family is the primary investor in that business?”
“What?”
Ludik’s face turned pale.
‘So that’s what this is about!’
He immediately understood.
The duke was directly involved in the business and was here to ensure everything went well.
‘So he’s not here to take over the building!’
Relieved, Ludik let out a deep sigh.
“Whew, if that’s all, you should’ve said so earlier. Don’t worry! The Ludik Company stands for honesty and integrity! We’re known for fair and reasonable prices with all our partners.”
“······.”
Calix’s lips remained tightly shut.
His expression said, Of course you’d say that, yet something still seemed to displease him.
Even Josh didn’t look impressed.
It was clear Ludik considered the Count’s daughter just another client among many.
‘Our lord is personally paying attention to this, and this guy…’
If Ludik kept this attitude, they’d have to give him a warning.
Josh clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“Hey, treating all clients equally? Do you see the Bloodstone family as just some random house?”
“Pardon? I-I didn’t mean that…”
“So you’re saying the Count’s daughter is just another customer? Even though our Duke invested in her business?”
“W-What?!”
“My lord, this won’t do. How can the Count’s daughter work comfortably under such conditions?”
“······.”
Calix’s expression turned even more unpleasant after hearing Josh.
“What if she can’t get her materials on time because this guy prioritizes other clients?”
Calix’s eyes narrowed into slits.
“Ludik, was it?”
Calix finally spoke.
The shadow of his tall figure and broad shoulders loomed over Ludik.
Only then did Ludik realize he had made a big mistake.
“Y-Yes…!”
Even the red-haired lieutenant behind Calix looked grim, as if he knew Ludik’s fate already.
He even clicked his tongue in pity.
‘W-What’s going to happen to me?’
Ludik trembled under the unknown pressure.
Even though it was just a momentary shadow, the air felt like it dropped several degrees.
Though he was wearing long sleeves, goosebumps crawled up his arms.
“You.”
And then Calix slowly spoke.
“Eek!”
Ludik nearly jumped out of his skin.
“···Do as you’re told.”
“Gasp!”
Calix, with his red eyes locked onto Ludik’s, looked like a grim reaper crossing the River of Death.
“Y-Your Grace…”
Josh added with a mocking tone,
“Did you understand that clearly?”
“Yes! Of course!”
Ludik shouted at the top of his lungs.
“I, Edwaldo Ludik! Pledge my utmost honesty and loyalty! I will fully support the Countess of Whitehouse’s business as my highest priority! I will obey her every order and request without fail! I swear it!”
He placed a hand on his chest and made a loyalty pledge to a business partner who wasn’t even there.
—
Later
“Josh.”
Calix called as they exited Ludik Trading Company.
“Yes, my lord.”
“Has anyone recently moved or purchased a new building?”
“Hmm… probably Viscount Brian. He left his villa, so he must’ve set up elsewhere.”
Josh answered, not quite understanding the duke’s intent.
“Set up a meeting with him.”
“May I ask what this is about?”
“There’s something to discuss.”
Calix remained vague.
Josh tilted his head.
‘Could it be…?’
Calix wasn’t an easy man to read. Except for his habit of destroying buildings, he was very rational and strategic.
There was no way he’d meet Viscount Brian over a trivial matter.
“Are you… planning to ask a favor of Viscount Brian?”
Josh asked cautiously.
“A favor? He should be the one asking.”
“What do you mean?”
“To request interior design services.”
“······!”
Josh got chills.
Calix’s faint smile was so cold it seemed to freeze the air.
It was a smile that foretold ruthless destruction.
“My lord… didn’t you say that kind of thing isn’t something others can help with?”
“This is something she has to solve herself. No one else can do it for her.”
Calix replied.
“She has to prove herself with her skills. But she’ll need a fair chance to do it.”
—
At Cliff Castle
A plump, ruddy-faced middle-aged man flushed with anger.
“What are you talking about?”
Viscount Brian had been thrilled to be invited to Cliff Castle—a place rarely open to nobles.
Forming ties with Duke Bloodstone could provide powerful support in the future.
“And now you’re suddenly asking me to hire her for interior design?”
The Countess of Whitehouse—someone he had barely interacted with?
“A young girl with no experience? I can’t entrust her with my home’s design!”
Josh, standing behind Calix, replied calmly.
“You don’t need to worry. The Countess is a person of exceptional creativity.”
“Hmph, calling someone creative is just a polite way of saying they lack skill. Do you think I don’t know that?”
“······.”
Calix drank his tea without a word.
Viscount Brian raised his voice so loudly the parlor echoed.
“I’m already annoyed that you demolished my villa. And now you want to meddle with my new home too?”
He conveniently forgot that he sold the villa to Calix himself.
He was just upset that the place he used to live had been destroyed.
“Blowing up a perfectly fine house! Is that something a noble with honor would do?!”
Among the businesses managed by the Bloodstone family was a bank.
And it was one of the reasons Calix was infamous.
‘With all that money, he could help out bankrupt nobles once in a while. Heartless bastard!’
Calix never offered leniency to nobles who wasted money and couldn’t repay debts.
So every time a noble went bankrupt, people blamed Calix.
“Viscount, let’s be clear.”
As Viscount Brian continued ranting, Josh cut in.
“Didn’t you sell the villa to the Bloodstone family? Was there any issue with the payment?”
“N-No, there wasn’t…”
“Then whether it’s remodeled or demolished, that’s the owner’s right.”
“Still, it’s upsetting to see the villa I used to stay in destroyed…”
The viscount realized he was getting too emotional.
The Duke o
f Bloodstone was a man who not only destroyed buildings—but people as well.
‘Wait a minute. Hasn’t he been silent this whole time?’
When he looked up, Calix’s expression was chilling.
‘And come to think of it… don’t I still owe a lot of debt to the Bloodstone Bank?’
