He had considered punishing them for the sake of fair judging, but looking at the list, they were from families friendly with his grandmother, so he had put it on hold for now. Anyway, they weren’t on the list of award winners.

‘It would be a problem if they won awards.’

Just passing the preliminary round. He could turn a blind eye to a few considering inter-family friendships and business. Even though passing the preliminary round was widely considered an honor, what the noble art students with solid family backgrounds and no need for sponsors really aimed for was the honor gained from winning awards.

That proud honor of being directly awarded by none other than the Duke of Tevant in front of everyone, being recognized by him as an artist.

He just needed to withhold that. Then he could maintain both appropriate family friendships and a semblance of fairness.

These people had received all sorts of good education, so they would do decently, and it wouldn’t look strange for such people to pass the preliminary round.

The thought that immediately followed was how admirable Annelie was for winning an award on her own in such a situation.

‘I’m seriously ill.’

But these people had insulted such a woman. The admiration he felt thinking about Annelie was immediately suppressed by cold anger that flared up. His voice flowed out coldly.

“And you question the list of award winners, causing discord? In a competition held under the name of the Duke of Tevant?”

“……”

“Do you have anything more to say?”

“T-that’s—”

“Those who couldn’t even have the confidence to pass the preliminaries and resorted to bribery. They must be creating some truly pathetic trash.”

“Y-Your Grace!”

“I said it. Your preliminary qualification is canceled, and there will be no reversal. Everyone get out.”

Elroy smiled crookedly at the eyes marked with resistance and anger directed at him. They were cowardly bastards who, despite looking so resentful, couldn’t mention the word “mistress” to his face. Elroy continued, not hiding his disgust.

“What? Should I cancel your Academy admission while I’m at it? You probably bribed your way through the entrance exam too.”

“……!”

“Well, I don’t even need to move myself.”

“Your Grace!”

“When the list of those who unfairly passed the preliminary round is published in the newspaper, the Academy will make their own judgment.”

Looking at the faces changing colors from red to blue did nothing to diminish his anger. Elroy was about to dismiss them when he added, as if remembering something:

“If you continue to spout nonsense about mistresses elsewhere,”

He needed to give a clear warning. He detested the idea of Annelie’s name being on the lips of such people.

“It won’t end with your expulsion from the Academy. I will charge you with insulting the Duke, in the name of Tevant.”

“T-that…!”

Unlike when he had mentioned charges to Annelie, this time he was completely serious. That charge alone would be enough to end their artistic careers.

Would it just end their artistic careers? Their exchanges with the Tevant family and all the business they conducted together would be thrown away. They would be driven out of all privileges and their families would suffer considerable damage.

Tevant would also suffer losses because of it. But compared to the losses they would suffer, Tevant’s losses were negligible.

Knowing this well, they quickly shut their mouths as if they had never been excitedly chattering. To continue wagging their tongues, or to have their entire family face ruin. Between these two choices, the answer was clear.

“I hope you all understand well… that I don’t make empty threats, gentlemen.”

The cynically added words were filled with anger and sincerity.

“We, we absolutely won’t do such a thing.”

“We swear, Your Grace.”

The art students, who had been exchanging glances among themselves, left with pale faces. With this, at least they wouldn’t carelessly run their mouths. Meanwhile, Jerome, instead of leaving with the others, was looking at Elroy with resentful eyes.

‘Who are you to do that.’

He too knew that Annelie had heard those harsh words, yet instead of following her, he remained among the art students. That’s why he met Elroy here.

From Elroy’s perspective, that was quite cowardly. Of course, if Jerome had followed Annelie, that would have angered him in its own way.

Just as Elroy turned his body again to look for Annelie, a servant running the event rushed over to inform him that he needed to present the awards. Elroy clicked his tongue but had no choice but to head to the hall. He told the other servants around to look for Annelie, describing her appearance. He felt like grains of sand were rolling roughly under his tongue.

“To our esteemed guests, the Duke will now offer his greetings!”

While ascending the platform without emotion and waving to people, Elroy’s thoughts remained elsewhere.

Annelie Heich.

A woman who heard through others’ mouths that she was his mistress. A woman who earned an award through her own abilities yet left after being insulted.

‘……’

Saliva slid down his parched throat. She must be angry. If she saw him, she would open her eyes wide like other times and blurt out bold words. She would push out her lips and sharply question him.

But in the end, she would accept it. She always did.

She was a woman who, even in moments when she could have pushed him away multiple times, even when he didn’t mention defamation or charges, embraced him and cried sweetly.

‘Then you too might.’

You too might be thinking the same as me. You might be dreaming of the same future.

Only then did Elroy realize why he had left such a bite mark on her hand. Because he noticed the emotion in Annelie Heich’s eyes as she not only accepted the mark but also blushed.

Elroy Tevant never made investments that resulted in losses. Mentioning marriage to someone who had no feelings would be an investment where he lost too much.

But thinking about those eyes……

She would not reject him. The moment he bit her finger and looked into those sweet eyes, he became certain.

Annelie Heich liked Elroy Tevant.

If he proposed asking her to become the Duchess, she would accept with tears. If he said he would hold a grand wedding for her, she would wave her hands with reddened cheeks, and if he suggested a honeymoon touring famous art museums around the world, she would be a woman whose eyes would shine with excitement. A woman who would forget being called a mistress and prefer good things over bad ones.

Yes. So.

‘So it’s still okay.’

She was audacious and bold yet easily showed affection, and when talking with her, she quickly understood. She would do the same this time too. She would listen to him.

Elroy tried to think that way while quickly scanning among those who had won awards. If he brought them up to the platform and gave them awards, he could call Annelie back to this place too.

He needed to see her face. Pretending to put a medal on her, he needed to whisper in her small, red ear. Without even deciding what to say, Elroy’s mind was filled only with that thought.

“Your Grace.”

While his throat burned, the Princess of Lambert had somehow ascended the platform, primly calling him and linking arms with him. He could clearly see what she was thinking without looking.

The Princess of Lambert always wanted to create scandals with Elroy. Not because she passionately loved him, but to show him off as her lover for the purpose of flaunting.

Elroy knew well that among princesses and noble ladies, a game of deliberately choosing handsome men to create scandals and show off their charm was in fashion.

‘You must be having a great time these days.’

She was a princess who had been secretly frequenting Tevant to store Lambert’s secret funds in the gallery. A few days ago, news that she had successfully acquired the gallery she had been targeting had reached him.

‘Successfully completing the contract, and incidentally showing off our relationship.’

For this greedy princess, nothing could be more enjoyable.

Elroy too, at another time, might have smiled just to humor her. If a few such trivial actions made the princess happy, and if she reconsidered a few business deals with Tevant because of it, it would be a profitable transaction for him.

However, now he had no desire to play along with such annoying games. Because there was someone he needed to find.

“This concludes the award ceremony!”

“Waaah!”

But Annelie never appeared among the crowds. He thought he had made eye contact with a woman who looked like Annelie, but she completely turned her gaze away from him. She wasn’t wearing the necklace he had given her. If it were Annelie, she wouldn’t have done that.