Chapter 21

“…What you want, Lord Latrian, is for me to betray Lady Arcitina, right?”

“That’s not betrayal. Remember how Aris set the condition: ‘use whatever means necessary.’”

Leaning back on the table, he spoke calmly.

“That means Aris already expects I’ll try to win you over.”

At Latrian’s continued words, Hailey unconsciously parted her lips.

“She knows?”

“Of course. Aris never sets a condition without a reason. The fact that she said that means she intends for you to come to me—even if it’s because you were persuaded.”

Hailey let out a groan.

What was with these siblings? Even while reading each other’s intentions and thoughts, they pretended not to know at a masterful level.

From the moment the head of the family made the proposal, Hailey had felt she should avoid getting involved—and her instincts had been right. If things were going to be this complicated, she shouldn’t have accepted. But at this point, it was no longer a matter of choice.

“That promise… that you’d protect me even if discord arose between the two of you… You’ll keep it, right?”

At her words, Latrian’s eyes softened gently.

“Of course.”

Hailey let out a sigh, feeling utterly empty inside.

‘Hailey. Some may call it foolish, but our ‘Perlo’ walks the right path. Keeping ‘faith’ is the first step.’

Even if she’d sold her pride as a noble, she hadn’t sold the teachings of the Perlo family. That was her last remaining comfort. And now, Latrian was reaching out, asking for even that—while holding in his other hand what she desperately wanted. If there had been any other option, she would never have accepted his outrageous proposal.

But now, she truly had nothing left.

Hailey felt bitter at the reality of having to throw away the family teachings she had cherished so long. As she broke down a part of herself inside, she opened her mouth with a sense of resignation.

“I accept your proposal.”

“Welcome to the team, Hailey.”

Latrian extended his hand, but Hailey coldly slapped it away. The smack echoed through the basement.

“Don’t get the wrong idea. I didn’t accept it willingly.”

Even as he rubbed his reddened hand, he kept chuckling. The victor, as always, was relaxed at heart.

“Now then, let’s hear what your request is. Not as your superior, but as the master of Rotsan, I’ll listen.”

Normally, information guild masters would be busy rubbing their hands in front of clients.

But Rotsan was different. The master of Rotsan sat with his legs crossed and his chin raised in the most arrogant manner.

Hailey calmed her boiling emotions and spoke.

“I want to know about the Perlo family. The reason our family fell into ruin.”

Latrian lowered his gaze. He tapped the table with his fingers, organizing his thoughts—just like Arcitina. The time he spent pondering was also as brief as hers.

“The recall of the investment from the regular merchant fleet, the fire at the shipyard building the large sailboat, the sudden illness of Family Head Rontana Perlo. Are you suggesting there was another cause?”

Hailey unconsciously opened her mouth. These were exactly the events she had experienced over the past two years, and the core reasons for the Perlo family’s downfall.

“And the fact that you still want to commission this means you’re suspicious of something?”

“Up to that point… I don’t know.”

“Not at all?”

“No…”

“Hm. This might be uncomfortable to hear, but each of the things I just mentioned is enough to shake a family. Even a solid Mart noble family could falter if that many misfortunes struck in a row. Isn’t it possible you were just very unlucky?”

Most people had said the Perlo family was simply cursed with bad luck. But—

Hailey clenched her hands tightly.

“It’s just too frequent for that.”

“What is?”

“The premise of ‘why did it have to be then.’”

Hailey recalled the not-so-distant past, memories that stung just to think about.

“Why was it that the merchant fleet’s investment was withdrawn at that exact time? Why did the shipyard building our family’s ship catch fire then? And why did my father collapse right when I was away at the academy, unable to handle things immediately?”

Any one of those misfortunes could have happened. But they all struck in quick succession, as if someone was waiting for it. Each one was plausible, but looking at the whole picture, it was strange.

“Maybe it really was just bad luck. But maybe it wasn’t.”

“You’re thinking there might be someone behind it…?”

“Yes. It’s just my suspicion.”

Above the flickering candle, his cold eyes glimmered and faded into the darkness, over and over. At last, he snapped his fingers, and Roana approached as if on cue.

“Bring me everything related to the Perlo family. I’ll judge for myself, so don’t sort or refine it.”

“All of it?”

“Yes.”

Roana’s delicate eyebrows twitched violently.

“The scope is unclear…”

“Don’t make a fuss.”

“If it’s unclear, it’ll take longer to compile.”

“That’s why I didn’t set a deadline.”

“But if I take too long, won’t you get mad?”

“You know me well.”

At the end of Roana’s sigh, a muttered “d*mn” could be heard, but Latrian ignored it with perfect ease.

“Understood. I’ll have the first report by the end of next month.”

“Next month? That soon?”

Startled, Hailey shot to her feet. Latrian chuckled at her reaction.

“Why are you excited? It’s not like I’m giving you the information.”

“What?”

“This isn’t charity, it’s a transaction. You understand what that means, right?”

Hailey bit her lip to swallow a curse. She even endured the pain of her nails digging into her palm.

“Fine. What do I have to do from now on?”

“From now on…”

With his chin resting on his clasped hands, Latrian smiled brightly.

“Just get along with me.”

Hailey demonstrated tremendous patience. In that moment, she managed not to blurt out, ‘Are you crazy?’ even though it was on the tip of her tongue.

* * *

When a person acts out of character, it means they’re about to die; when a mansion isn’t its usual self, it means something big has happened. That’s why Denny Manais was deeply troubled right now.

The annex was quiet. Just a few days ago, it had been filled with screams, but now it was eerily silent in comparison.

His gaze turned to the bird statue perched at the end of the fountain. In the Mart Republic, a bird holding a blade of grass in its beak was considered a symbol of ‘peace’, greeting ships that had survived long voyages and returned home.

As Denny pondered the situation, his eyes sparkled as if he’d had an epiphany.

“Is the age of peace finally coming?”

“No way. This soon?”

Akrender family’s aide, Milo, and Denny were headed to the annex from early morning. They wanted to cheer on Hailey, who’d been caught between two whales, and to send a look of comfort to Latrian, whom they couldn’t quite bring themselves to dislike. Of course, they also wanted to peek in advance at whatever chaos might unfold today and prepare accordingly.

At Milo’s retort, Denny gestured toward the annex.

“Then how do you explain this silence?”

“A step back for two steps forward, a brief truce before a bigger war?”

“Should I tell Basen to stand by? I hope nobody gets bruised or hurt anymore.”

“Denny. Lord Latrian’s 21 now. He’s long past the age where he needs to be fed milk on schedule. Treating him like a baby is why he gets sick of you.”

“That may be true, but you’re not one to talk, with ointment in your pocket.”

When Denny pointed at Milo’s bulging pocket, Milo quickly coughed and looked away.

“It’s because Lady Aris—no, the head of the family—cares.”

“You’re not planning to apply it yourself, are you?”

“Would he hate it?”

“In my opinion, Lord Latrian dislikes you more than he dislikes me.”

“…I’d rather be cursed at.”

“Pffft.”

Denny recalled the day Latrian was born.

Such strange days were rare at the Akrender family mansion.

The former head of the family, who had ruled the Republic, went pale; the always gentle Madam strode to the birthing room like a general heading to war. Arcitina, who rarely cried as a child, clung to her mother and sobbed all day.

In that unbearably tense atmosphere, Latrian’s first cries instantly eased everyone’s nerves. The tiny breath felt at his fingertips was still vivid, even twenty years later.

Though he always thought Latrian’s temper needed fixing, his heart always softened. As did most people in the Akrender mansion.

Denny supported his head with clasped hands and lamented.

“How did I end up in this wretched one-sided love, suffering for 21 years?”

“There’s no one in this mansion who dislikes Lat…”

“There is now, though.”

Arriving in front of the annex, Denny naturally cut off Milo’s words. Milo nodded in agreement.