The Empire was abuzz with a single issue recently.

Even at a roadside café in the southern part of the Empire, everyone was discussing the same topic. Some passionately argued while holding newspapers, others sneered, and still others passed through selling postcards.

“After all that grand boasting throughout the Empire, how fitting.”

“The marriage was too stimulating for such an old man.”

“Indeed. Haha. Look at this. Even dressed in black from head to toe, her beauty remains undimmed.”

“I’d gladly let my heart stop if I could see her in person just once.”

Amid the whispering crowd, a man entered holding a newspaper. He strode with long legs to find an empty seat and sat down.

His appearance momentarily silenced the chattering people.

The man possessed striking looks rarely seen in the southern region or even throughout the Empire, with an innate nobility and wealth emanating from his entire being.

Someone examining his golden hair like sunshine, sapphire-blue eyes hidden beneath long eyelashes, his prominent and sharp nose bridge extending elegantly from his brow bone, and his smooth, flowing jawline, murmured faintly.

“Klen von Leschel……”

At this whispered comment, those nearby exclaimed, “Ah!”

Klen von Leschel was famous for rapidly rising as a merchant in recent years, amassing wealth that ranked among the highest in the Empire. Over the past year, he had gradually entered provincial social circles, attracting attention once more with his handsome appearance.

Everyone stealthily glanced at him, unable to look away. Meanwhile, a waiter brought out coffee that Klen had ordered before sitting down.

“Your coffee, sir.”

The waiter with hair braided into two plaits set down the coffee without taking her eyes off his radiant face.

“Thank you.”

Klen gently raised his gaze to respond.

The waiter felt her heart drop at the brief moment their eyes met and his soft baritone voice reached her ears.

“Yes. Enjoy your coffee.”

The waiter answered shyly with flushed cheeks, then returned inside the café with lingering reluctance.

Only after the waiter completely disappeared did the noise around him resume.

Klen indifferently opened his newspaper, unconcerned whether people paid attention to him or not. He immediately sneered at the photo and headline that caught his eye.

The headline adorning the front page read: “Wedding Turns to Funeral. What Future for Marquis Batl’s New Bride?” Below it was a large photo of a woman dressed entirely in black.

Even a three-year-old child could tell she was Marquis Batl’s new bride.

[The wedding of Marquis Batl (69) scheduled for March at an undisclosed location transformed into a funeral.

Marquis Batl breathed his last at what would have been his third marriage, following the deaths of two previous wives. Cause of death: heart attack.

According to testimony from his closest confidants, Marquis Batl had existing health issues and was quite excited about marrying Lavian Adelaide von Elder (20), considered the Empire’s greatest beauty.

The bride who literally stopped the groom’s heart, Lady Lavian of the Elder family, has been described as a widow or a witch who devoured her husband due to this incident… (omitted)…

Since Lavian did not complete the marriage vows, she cannot be recognized as his official wife. Who will inherit the vast fortune of Marquis Batl, who left no heir? All eyes are on this development.]

“Would you like to buy a postcard?”

A boy with curly hair approached him as he read the article, thrusting forward several postcards.

Klen placed the newspaper on the table and alternately looked at the child and the postcards before chuckling. The postcards clearly showed Lavian attending the funeral dressed in black.

Klen took out a bill from his wallet as he stood up.

The boy, expectantly smiling, asked:

“How many would you like? We have various angles available.”

The tall, well-built man approaching 188cm cast a dark shadow over the child’s head.

Though somewhat intimidating, the boy maintained his smile and didn’t hesitate to continue selling his postcards.

“What poor taste.”

Klen coldly spat out these words. At this sharp remark, the boy sensed something was wrong and quickly fled.

With his mood for coffee ruined, Klen tucked a bill under a flower vase and walked away.

˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

Though it was only March, the southern Empire already exuded summer fragrances.

Klen, who had perfectly wrapped his toned body in expensive clothes despite the hot weather as if to cover the traces of his past, only removed his jacket after entering his office completely.

“Master.”

Amelia, with her luscious red hair neatly tied up, entered after a light knock. Without looking at her, Klen opened the stacked documents and spoke.

“What is it?”

“A marriage proposal has arrived.”

His hand flipping through documents stopped, and he raised his head.

Klen checked the clock on the wall, wondering if he had overworked Amelia to the point of her talking nonsense.

The muscles in his neck stood out as he quickly turned his head, and sunlight settled on his cheeks.

“Have you lost your mind?”

“I merely informed you of a marriage proposal, I haven’t lost my mind. And no, I’m not suffering from heat exhaustion either.”

Amelia, with a very serious face, held out what she was carrying.

A crack appeared between Klen’s brows as it landed on the desk with a thud.

“Look here. It says ‘Baron Klen von Leschel,’ doesn’t it?”

Amelia spread her hand to point at the letters on the envelope, emphasizing the word “baron” in particular.

“What madman calls me a baron?”

Perhaps because she had emphasized “baron,” Klen’s gaze turned menacing.

Amelia thought that she would never get used to those predatory eyes, but she struggled to maintain a composed expression.

“You’ll know when you see it.”

“The world has clearly gone mad.”

Klen frowned as the newspaper content came to mind again, and opened the ivory-colored photo album adorned with gold embellishments. His hand momentarily paused at the partially revealed portrait through the slightly opened gap, then quickly opened it completely as if nothing had happened.

“A proposal reeking of rot.”

Klen couldn’t help but laugh mockingly.

This wasn’t a marriage proposal. Anyone could see it was clearly a transaction, a contract.

He didn’t suppress his hollow laughter as he fiddled with the corner of the photo album. The portrait’s subject was the lady of the Elder family he had just seen in the newspaper.

Klen murmured while keeping his eyes on the portrait.

“Lavian Adelaide von Elder.”

“Yes. The eldest daughter of the currently famous Elder family. Count Elder must be quite desperate. I heard they were a prestigious family until the previous generation, but now……”

Amelia shortened her words, thinking how pathetic Count Elder was, though she had never seen his face.

“Didn’t the marquis pay off their debts in exchange for the marriage?”

“Only half, they say. The rest was to be paid after the wedding.”

“Clever.”

“She received condolence money after the marquis’s sudden death, but it won’t last long. I hear even the mansion they live in now is about to be foreclosed.”

“What’s the point of raising her so preciously?”

“What else could be the purpose of raising her so preciously? Like most noble families, the Elder family has no sons, so the purpose of raising a daughter is all too obvious.”

Amelia shrugged her shoulders.

Klen briefly fixed his gaze on her red hair swaying at her elbows, then looked back down at the portrait.

“They intended to sell her to a good family. Especially now that they’re desperate for money.”

“Despite not having completed the wedding ceremony, Miss Lavian is still treated as his wife because of what Marquis Batl did. Some even call her a widow.”

Amelia shook her head regretfully while looking at the portrait. She didn’t want to sympathize with nobles who lived well no matter what they did, but this time she felt a little concerned.

“No family would readily extend a hand. They’re the kind who fuss over such things.”

“But waiting until people forget would be too late for her marriageable age, debt settlement, or anything else.”

Klen agreed while idly tapping the portrait.

“That’s true.”

“It’s now difficult to expect a prestigious family that would satisfy them, so they probably want to at least recover some money. Their goal would be achieved as long as the other party is rich, regardless of who they are.”

“Though I carry a title myself, they put on airs about nobility and such, yet what they do is filthy. They’re the most elegant yet most vulgar group.”

“Sometimes being blatant seems better.”

Amelia responded plainly with a cynical smile.

Klen also chuckled and rested his chin on his hand while looking at the portrait.

“What are you thinking of doing?”

Since Klen had never shown any interest in this area, Amelia carefully asked to gauge his thoughts.

“Well.”

Klen responded indifferently while focusing on the portrait.

The woman in the open photo album was smiling. It almost seemed as if she was looking right at him.

‘A portrait in this day and age.’

Most people now preferred photographs to portraits. He thought they were quite behind the times. Yet he couldn’t deny that this made it more intriguing.

“The previous count might have been different, but the current Count Elder doesn’t wield much power and might hit rock bottom, so I wouldn’t recommend it. If you’re going to marry anyway, wouldn’t it be better with a family with more future prospects?”

Despite Amelia’s advice, Klen showed no reaction.

Without even a change in expression, Amelia was unable to discern his thoughts.

He released his propped arm, turned his chair, and quietly closed his eyes.

‘Though I hate to admit it, there’s a limit to how far I can advance into central society with my power alone. A count’s family… That’s high enough to easily mingle in places with important people. This could be a good opportunity.’

After staying like that for a while, he straightened his chair and slowly parted his lips.

“Isn’t that better? A high-ranking noble with good bloodlines, and I can even hold her weaknesses against her.”

Klen carefully examined the portrait with its luxurious gold decorations again. It was an excellent condition for a contract marriage.

Klen drew a satisfied curve on his lips and looked once more at the platinum-blonde beauty smiling softly under the sunlight.

He soon closed what he was looking at, held it in his hand, stood up, paced briefly, then dropped the portrait into his desk drawer.

Klen took out his pocket watch to check the time, put it back in his pocket, and said:

“Look into airship tickets. I need to move up my schedule and go to the capital.”

Klen overturned his original plan in an instant and made a new one.

He decided to first acquire a virtuous wife of noble bloodline who would conceal his origins and his past of amassing wealth without distinguishing between good and evil.