Chapter 5 (Part 6)

Soon, his aide, Damon, approached him. Cardin finally spoke the words that had filled his mind.

“How’s Brienne’s condition?”

Damon briefly looked around and then whispered.

“Lord Roquek is coming.”

Cardin furrowed his eyebrows irritably. He felt a strange annoyance at not hearing the answer he wanted most. As he looked up, Roquek stood glaringly close.

Before he could speak, Cardin spoke first.

“The documents left behind have already been proven useless, haven’t they?”

“Still, that’s…”

“The rest will be revealed in court.”

Cardin coldly brushed past him and left the conference room. As he walked, he turned to Damon.

“Brienne?”

Even asking again, he felt frustrated, and his words came out harshly. Damon hesitated for a moment before speaking cautiously.

“Her infertility remains unchanged.”

Cardin stopped and turned around.

“Not that. Is Brienne bored at the estate these days, or is Mother subtly pressuring her? Did any servant say anything?”

Damon hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“There are no updates from your mother. However, Madam seems to have no time for boredom these days. She says all her time is spent preparing for the wedding…”

Cardin, deep in thought, looked ahead with a hardened face. Then he turned to his aide and said.

“Tell the doctor not to pressure Brienne too much and treat her lightly.”

“Yes.”

“What’s the next schedule?”

Damon hurriedly opened his notebook. Words flowed continuously from his mouth. Cardin silently left the palace.

He said he was overworking for the wedding, so it seemed he wouldn’t return early today either.

At that moment, Damon, watching him cautiously, spoke. Cardin looked back at him before getting into the carriage.

“Speak.”

“Yes?”

“You seemed to have something to say earlier.”

“Oh, it’s…”

“Is it news about Baron Hurrick?”

“How did you know?”

“It seemed about time to hear news.”

As Cardin got into the carriage, the aide quickly sat across from him. Cardin unbuttoned a few buttons on his shirt and gestured towards the aide.

Damon immediately responded.

“He wants to meet you.”

“Me?”

“He says he has something to discuss with you…”

Cardin slowly pondered and spoke.

“Is it possible now?”

“But you have an appointment with Marquis Gerok in an hour…”

“Isn’t Baron Hurrick here?”

“Yes.”

“I won’t talk for long, but I’ll listen.”

Since it’s Brienne’s father, he would show mercy one last time. Before killing him. Damon nodded.

“He happens to be nearby. Then we’ll go there right away.”

Damon opened the middle door of the carriage and spoke to the coachman. The carriage continued forward. It was in the same direction he was heading.

After about 20 minutes, the carriage arrived in front of a neat mansion. Before getting out of the carriage, Damon spoke first.

“I’ll meet Baron Hurrick briefly.”

Cardin got out of the carriage and looked at the mansion. It was built with marble columns, which were trendy these days, and famous for its expensive white stone.

A hollow laugh escaped him. To think Brienne was left to live so hard while he stayed in such a place.

He knew Baron Hurrick would keep the money he fraudulently obtained by faking his death, but he didn’t expect him to live so well.

Then Damon hurriedly approached.

“Fortunately, Baron Hurrick is here. This way, please.”

Cardin strode into the mansion. The Baron, wearing a green velvet robe, greeted him with an awkward smile.

“Welcome. I didn’t hear you were coming, so please wait a moment. I’ll change my clothes…”

“It’s fine. I won’t say much, just say what you have to.”

Baron Hurrick bowed his head and quickly led him to the drawing room. As soon as Cardin entered, he was impressed. Quite famous paintings hung everywhere, and hard-to-find polar bear head decorations and luxurious jewels adorned the walls.

He smiled and looked back at Baron Hurrick.

“Since when have you been living like this?”

“Ah, that is….”

“After making Brienne suffer like that….”

Before Cardin could finish his sentence, Baron Hurrick fell to his knees.

“I’m sorry.”

He bowed his head deeply and whimpered.

“It’s all my fault. Because of my wrong thinking, everything….”

“Is this what you called me here to say?”

Baron Hurrick looked up at him with wide eyes. His eyes, devoid of any sympathy, stared coldly at him.

“Apologies are too obvious now.”

Baron Hurrick hesitated to speak. He thought he might be able to sway the young head of the family, who was the same age as Brienne, but there was a unique pressure in his demeanor and gaze. It seemed nothing he said would work.

He swallowed and opened his trembling mouth.

“I heard you’re marrying Brienne.”

In the end, he intended to use his daughter again. If apologies with tears didn’t work, Brienne was his only remaining tool. Fortunately, the baron heard that this authoritative head of the family was terribly fond of Brienne.

This was a stroke of luck for him. It seemed there was still a way to survive. The baron chuckled inwardly, blinking as he barely squeezed out tears.

“She’s my only daughter, and I’m grateful you’re taking care of Brienne. This foolish father couldn’t do anything for her….”

“So, what do you want to say?”

There was a strange irritation in his tone. The Duke’s indifferent gaze was endlessly sharp. Yet, this man did not leave.

It seemed the mere mention of Brienne piqued his curiosity. Baron Hurrick smiled greedily inside and began to speak.

“I want to apologize to Brienne one last time before I die and do what I couldn’t do for her.”

“…….”

“I used to treat Brienne poorly, and living like this, I realized she’s my only blood, and above all, now that she’s getting married….”

“Now you say that?”

The low words spread coldly. Indeed, Cardin was not an easy person. Baron Hurrick squeezed out more tears and bowed his head.

“Brienne grew up without a mother, so she must have been very lonely from a young age. She must long for her mother’s embrace….”

Baron Hurrick deliberately shed tears and wiped them with his sleeve. Then he exhaled as if it was difficult. He wondered what kind of face Cardin was making now. Baron Hurrick intentionally looked up.

Cardin was merely watching silently, with no emotion, as if looking at a passing insect. It needed to be more dramatic. Baron Hurrick blinked and continued speaking sorrowfully.

“Anyway, wouldn’t it be better for me to apologize to Brienne and do well for her before I just die? Rather than being the worst father in her last memory, I want to be remembered as a father who repented and embraced Brienne. That would be better for Brienne, who only received wounds.”

Despite saying this, the baron didn’t want to die. He planned to persuade Cardin like this and then torment Brienne.

He would use her husband to beg for his life, asking if she would really kill her only father.

Brienne’s heart was as soft as her mother’s, so she would eventually grant his request.

Moreover, the baron never thought his troublesome daughter would be connected to such a family. Indeed, living long enough has its rewards.

Baron Hurrick squeezed out more tears. The salty water left stains on the luxurious carpet. He was inwardly delighted as he cried.

Judging by Cardin’s silence so far, it was as if his thoughts had already leaned in his favor.

Even Cardin, who was so cold earlier, hesitated as soon as Brienne was mentioned. In the end, Cardin would think of Brienne and spare him….

“I’ll watch and see if you repay Brienne.”

As expected! 

Baron Hurrick pressed his forehead to the floor. His forehead ached, but what did it matter? The situation had already turned in his favor.

“Yes, I will repay Brienne for everything.”

With that, Cardin brushed past him coldly. As soon as he heard the door close, Baron Hurrick raised his head stiffly.

When Cardin had come to kill him, he had only felt sorrow, but now it felt as if the whole world was in his hands. He couldn’t help but laugh.

“My daughter is connected to the Messerode family.”

Baron Hurrick burst into laughter. It was obvious that the nobles who had subtly looked down on him because of his family would soon bow their heads before him.

He was so pleased that he continued to laugh without even wiping his tears.