66. Doubts About Each Other

“Sasha, please show Kali to the bedroom she’ll be using.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Sasha led Kali out to guide her to the room where she would stay.

Once Kali had left, Dean spoke up.

“She received the highest marks among all the candidates I interviewed. If I had thought she was unfit, I wouldn’t have brought her to see you, no matter how much she pleaded.”

“I assumed you’d bring her if she passed your interview, Count Winters.”

Larael replied with a smile.

“And as for the building to use as an office, it seems purchasing one will be difficult. There are almost no vacancies… For now, I’ve handed the documents over to Lady Layton, so she’ll handle it well.”

Dean felt a pang of regret, thinking that Kali would now be handling the tasks he used to do.

“Even with a secretary, if you ever need help, just call on me and I’ll come right away.”

“Thank you, truly.”

Dean suddenly felt shy at Larael’s words. He hadn’t said it just to hear her gratitude, but her response made him awkwardly brush back his hair and clear his throat.

“Anyway, thanks to Your Highness, my good days are over now.”

Larael tilted her head, not understanding what he meant.

“This summer’s unprecedented drought drew a lot of attention to me because of the proposal I made to His Majesty the Emperor. I never expected it. I didn’t think I’d get involved in politics like this…”

“Ah…”

Larael nodded, finally understanding.

“Sorry for the trouble.”

“No, I didn’t say it to get an apology. It’s just that all the attention is a bit bothersome. Well, I’ll be going now, Your Highness.”

When Dean stood up with a look full of regret, Larael rose as well.

“If it weren’t for you, Count Winters, I would have had a hard time. Thank you so much for your help.”

“Then, from now on, could you call me ‘Dean’ instead of ‘Count Winters’?”

Dean asked cautiously. He really wanted to hear his name spoken in her voice.

“That’s no trouble at all. Thank you, Dean.”

Dean’s heart swelled until he thought it might burst. For a moment, he forgot where he was, feeling dazed.

Everything around him seemed to blur, and it felt as if a dazzling light was shining on both him and Larael. He almost reached for Larael’s hand to kiss it in a gesture of respect.

“Dean, when will I see you next?”

Larael’s words snapped Dean out of his thoughts, and he trembled slightly. The idea of not seeing her until she contacted him made him anxious.

“Your Highness, on second thought, I should personally explain the buildings I shortlisted to Lady Layton. One of them is even mine. Anyway, when Lady Layton returns, I’ll take her to see them.”

Dean sat back down on the sofa, slipping in a bit of pride about his building.

“Could it be that you have feelings for Lady Layton?”

Larael teased.

“Your Highness! What are you saying?”

Dean overreacted, jumping to his feet. His face turned red and his breathing grew rough. It was the first time he, usually so composed and suave, had ever lost his temper like that.

“It was just a joke.”

Larael meekly said it was a joke, trying to soothe him, but Dean stiffly bid her farewell and left the room.

“Joanna, did I make a mistake?”

“Your Highness, in my opinion… no. I’ve heard that Count Winters is extremely popular in social circles. He’ll handle things well on his own; perhaps it’s best not to get involved.”

Joanna recalled stories she’d heard from Lillian and Kara, who weren’t present. Larael nodded at Joanna’s words, sinking into thought.

***

Dean couldn’t help but laugh wryly when he received the request that had come into Four Seasons.

“All information about me? And the client is even the Grand Duke of Vellaus??”

He was baffled—why had he become the Grand Duke’s target?

“He wants to know even how many forks the Winters family owns? Even I don’t know that!”

Zahara burst out laughing at Dean’s words. She was one of the few who knew Dean Winters was the master of Four Seasons, and his right hand.

“What on earth have you been up to lately?”

Dean glared at Zahara.

“What do you mean, ‘been up to’?”

“There’s also a note requesting clarification of your relationship with Her Highness the Empress Consort.”

Dean, who had been flustered, suddenly grew cold at Zahara’s words and leaned back deeply in his chair.

“So that’s what this is about?”

He scoffed and shook his head.

Dean pressed his temples with his elbows on the desk.

“Lady Nox and the Grand Duke of Vellaus must have had a relationship from before. Otherwise, the Empress Consort wouldn’t have tried to connect the two. Then why did the Grand Duke get engaged to Larael? And why is he so obsessed with her, even going so far as to investigate me?”

The more he thought about it, the less sense it made.

“Was Fenrir’s attack on the Emperor really aimed at him? Or was it targeting the Empress Consort? Surely the Duke of Anderman is backing the Grand Duke of Vellaus…”

“Of course it was the Emperor. There’s nothing to gain by killing the Empress Consort. She doesn’t have a powerful family…”

Zahara began to voice her opinion but stopped at Dean’s sharp glare.

“Pass on to the Grand Duke only the information we have about Count Winters. Note my relationship with the Empress as just running errands for the Marchioness of Argen.”

“Yes.”

“And find out how the Grand Duke of Vellaus and Larael Hedway met. As detailed as possible.”

He had his suspicions, but nothing should be confirmed until it was clear. If he didn’t understand, he’d start over from the beginning. That was Dean’s own rule.

‘Larael, what secret are you hiding?’

Dean wanted to know everything about Larael and share her secrets. As he thought of her, his eyes lost focus, and he recalled the red lips that had called his name.

He laughed at himself for thinking such things. Zahara frowned and looked at him curiously, but when Dean met her gaze, he quickly straightened his face and stopped smiling.

“What are you doing? Go on, get out.”

***

Edward was leaning his chin on the armrest, watching Larael speak. A faint smile played on his lips.

“I’ve hired Lady Kali Layton as my secretary.”

“You don’t have to report every detail to me. If you’re using reports as an excuse to see me…”
Larael ignored Edward’s teasing and continued.

“Count Winters was a great help.”

At the mention of Count Winters, Edward’s eyebrow twitched slightly. He got up from his chair and sat down beside Larael on the sofa. Larael shifted away as soon as he sat down.

“Your Majesty. I just wanted to say this before I go.”

She knew Edward had taken time out of his work for this unscheduled visit, and she felt sorry for his aides.

But seeing Edward come and sit beside her made her smile unconsciously, so she bit her lip to hold it back.

“By the way, Larael, what will you do if Lady Layton asks you to help her relative who’s currently in prison? Hiring her could bring you criticism.”

“I don’t know everything about Kali yet, but I don’t think that will happen. She’s made her position clear about that. And… I’m aware of the rumors about me. Whatever people say, I don’t pay them any mind.”

Edward was taken aback by her expression and answer, which almost seemed forlorn.

He hadn’t meant to hurt her; he was only worried. But seeing her face, as if she had transcended everything, made his heart sink.

“Larael, we’ve caught the wizard who unleashed Fenrir to harm us. He’ll be executed soon.”