Chapter 7

The article that Yvonne had made false claims came out right when public opinion was beginning to worsen. It was an easy and effective method.

After all, everyone wanted to become the owner of Rein Kleint Company.

There must have been plenty of men harboring ulterior motives toward the beauty they had coveted even before her marriage, and it wouldn’t have been difficult to create the desired reaction just by leaking a little information.

In this situation, the one benefiting was the woman in front of him, so the answer was simple.

Yvonne, a little startled by Ethan’s question, decided there was no need to hide it and spoke frankly.

“Yes. There are plenty of reporters in Aerondo who’ll write articles for a few coins. The reason I claimed my husband was violent was impulsive. I hated him and was curious how he’d react. After I came to my senses, I published a correction.”

A gentle noblewoman resorting to a cowardly scheme instead of a proper method. Ethan couldn’t really understand why she would take the long way when the easiest path was right there, but he didn’t ask further.

“So, did you find your answer? If you still have lingering feelings, it’ll be troublesome for me.”

“No. It’s quite the opposite.”

Yvonne smiled bitterly.

“He never once said he regretted divorcing me. Of course, it was an unwelcome marriage from the start, and he hates me. That’s why he kept a hidden lover.”

“A lover. Are you sure Carlisle Polshared has a hidden lover?”

“I’m sure. The person looked me in the eye and said it directly.”

Though she spoke calmly, Yvonne couldn’t hide her bitterness, and Ethan felt a bit puzzled. He was certain she hated the man, but based on what he knew of Carlisle’s character, it was hard to believe. If Carlisle had any time for women, he’d rather spend it in a bleak armory.

Nothing like this had ever come through his sources, but so what.

He’d managed to get her to say what he wanted, so it wasn’t his concern. Instead, he’d use the opportunity that had come to him.

“If you say so, Lady Yvonne, it must be true. So what are you planning to do?”

“I want him to be anxious and distressed. And I want that woman, who worships him and hides behind him, to come out on her own.”

“You’re planning a diversion. Bringing down the two together—not a bad plan. The problem is, why should I help you? As you know, I’m not desperate for women. Helping you doesn’t seem to offer me any real benefit, Lady Yvonne.”

Ethan shrugged lightly.

“Getting involved in someone else’s affair is already complicated enough in my life.”

“Didn’t you come because you want something? You didn’t spend a week visiting me because you had free time, did you, famous Marquis Ethan Inglebert.”

Ethan responded to her sarcasm with sarcasm of his own, finally letting out a laugh.

Not bad.

Though she looked like a hothouse flower, her attitude in quietly testing him was worthy of respect, Ethan thought.

“So what do you have in your hands, Lady Yvonne, soon to be the former Duchess of Polshared?”

This was what Ethan had been most curious about, even as he stretched out their time together over the past week. He glanced at Yvonne fiddling again with the bracelet on her right wrist and raised his eyebrows.

“Using the media is praiseworthy, but honestly, I don’t think you have any weaknesses of Duke Polshared, Lady Yvonne.”

Finally, as they got to the main point, Yvonne played with the rose petals Ethan brought.

“Yes. Sorry, but if you want Carlisle’s secrets like everyone else, I have nothing to offer.”

Ethan’s anticipation faded from his face.

Hearing that she knew nothing, he felt both disappointment and understanding. It was mistaken to suspect that the men of Aerondo were proposing to her just to get information about him. The Carlisle he knew would never hand over critical business secrets to his wife, nor was their marriage close enough for that.

“Well, this is awkward. I didn’t expect there to be absolutely nothing.”

“Are you disappointed?”

“I wasted my precious time.”

Ethan, sipping his tea, set down the cup.

The dull sound on the glass table echoed like the signal of the end of their meeting. With most of the tea gone, it was clear this encounter was over, at least as a matter of courtesy.

Yvonne watched the man who seemed lighthearted but was never easy.

Despite rumors that he was a libertine who neglected business for women’s beauty, he seemed just as calculating as her husband.

So, the representative of her husband’s rival company, the Marquis Inglebert, infamous for his messy private life, was exactly the person Yvonne wanted.

“Marquis, you must be very interested in information about him and Rein Kleint.”

“If I said I wasn’t tempted, it’d be a lie.”

“……”

“To be frank, I have my own people planted everywhere. I receive most information already. Unless you hold secrets beyond that, the man I know would never share important information even with the wife who shares his bed. I know you want to bluff, but not me. Many men might risk becoming the world’s worst villain, but few would risk damage to their business.”

“Ah….”

Maybe the answer was unexpected, because the woman fell deep into thought. As he watched her clear face unable to offer a rebuttal, Ethan’s interest slowly faded.

He expected something different from Carlisle Polshared’s wife, but she was just the epitome of a boring noblewoman.

Maybe he expected too much.

How disappointing.

Feeling his fleeting interest in Carlisle’s wife dissipate, Ethan began preparing to leave, reaching for his hat.

At that moment, the woman’s expression, previously blank as she sat thinking, changed slightly.

“Then how about this. Rein Kleint’s new automatic weapon, developed over the past two years.”

Ethan, who was about to stand with his hands on his knees, froze.

“The new automatic weapon powered by energy. If it’s that information, would you be willing to help me?”

* * *

The luncheon with Duke Andente ended quickly. Timed to match the departure of the ship returning home, Duke Andente expressed expectations for the next deal and wished for Carlisle’s personal affairs to be resolved, then parted ways.

People made way as they saw Duke Polshared descending the stairs.

Women blushed at his dignified figure, and men sent him looks of awe.

Carlisle, striding down the stairs, got into the waiting car, and Henry handed him several newspapers.

“Sir, these are what you requested.”

They were the extra editions that came out just before the luncheon with Duke Andente.

Snatching them, he quickly checked the articles. As if by prior arrangement, the main headline was always a photo of Yvonne and Ethan Inglebert smiling at each other in front of Lisian House.

Ha, he let out a ridiculous laugh.

“I almost fell for it.”

As expected, like father, like daughter.

They pushed him with absurd accusations, and it was strange when she suddenly claimed to have changed her mind.

He’d known she wasn’t just a gentle woman, but he hadn’t expected her to act like this.

“Didn’t I assign someone to watch Yvonne?”

“I’m sorry. Since there were no special instructions, I withdrew them last time.”

“Put someone back on her.”

Carlisle pushed the newspapers aside and leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes. He rubbed his nose with one hand, annoyance showing on his face.

Of all people.

His jaw tightened.

Ethan Inglebert.

Last year, he inherited the title of Marquis Inglebert, and now he was the head of Goldright munitions and a civilian military contractor. He was a newcomer to the munitions business, but recently Goldright had been rapidly catching up with the dominant Rein Kleint, showing off Ethan’s cunning management style.

After graduating from Aerondo Military Academy at the same time, they even served in the military together, but contrary to public belief, they were not close.

After being dishonorably discharged, Ethan spent his time running social clubs, shooting, and yachting, until he founded a civilian military company three years ago. He hired mercenaries and sent them to civil wars in various countries, making a name as a military contractor. Since last year, he began manufacturing weapons in earnest, expanding his business and quickly rising to prominence.

That much could be called the impressive progress of a company, but the problem was that his management style was highly irritating.

For nearly a year, Goldright had been the main cause of Carlisle’s irritation, constantly sabotaging Rein Kleint’s business.

Weapons released under his company’s name always matched the performance of Rein Kleint’s new weapons.

Strength, performance, even design.

Without even trying to hide it, he was obsessed with stealing everything Carlisle achieved and taking his place—a man who would do anything, truly a madman.