Chapter 18

Sip.

Erin took a mouthful of the non-alcoholic drink in front of her and glanced up at the ceiling.

Somehow, she felt a sense of déjà vu.

‘Feels just like that time.’

When she first interviewed clinical trial candidates.

Back then, she’d had to exercise considerable patience to endure the nonsense her counterpart was spouting.

Today wasn’t much different.

“…So, what do you think?”

“About what?”

“Is it true that Duke Aston has several mistresses?”

At least the questions weren’t as crude or vulgar as back then, so it was more bearable.

‘So… they do know.’

There was no way the reporters didn’t know that her sponsor was Duke Aston. As she suspected, they couldn’t openly write articles because of the Duke’s pressure.

‘That must be why they’re trying to dig up dirt on the Duke.’

The reporter kept asking questions about Duke Aston, blatantly revealing his intentions. It was clear he’d called Erin here to investigate the Duke.

From Erin’s perspective, the fact that they weren’t trying to dig into her own affairs was actually a relief, but she couldn’t speak carelessly about the Duke either.

Erin shrugged and answered nonchalantly.

“How would I know?”

“If not, then why does he support something like birth control pills?”

“That’s up to His Grace. He doesn’t just support contraceptives.”

The number of scientists and artists the Duke sponsored or supported could fill more than ten wagons.

It was obvious why they singled her out. Her birth control experiment was the most controversial and ripe for sensational articles these days.

“A medicine that could cause infertility… Supporting something like that…”

“It doesn’t cause infertility. Actually, the current contraceptives are much worse for your health.”

“So the rumor that the Duke wants to make his political enemies infertile is true…”

Ah, this is pointless.

Since the other party ignored her words, Erin decided to ignore his as well. She resolved to stick to “no comment.”

“Ugh. I’m not saying anything.”

“…….”

“You must know that a sponsored party is obliged not to disclose information about their sponsor carelessly.”

As Erin clammed up and just sipped her drink, the reporter narrowed his eyes, apparently ready to change tactics.

“Hm. Or is the other rumor true?”

“What rumor?”

“The one that says you’re his mistress—or rather, his lover.”

“Pfft!”

Erin spat out her drink, soaking the front of the reporter’s shirt, but she didn’t feel sorry. The reporter only looked mildly annoyed and quickly composed himself.

Erin didn’t hide her astonishment as she replied.

“I’ve never even met him. It’s amazing that such a rumor exists.”

“Don’t dodge. Just tell me.”

“I have nothing to tell you. Why would His Grace get involved with me? Maybe if he married a high-ranking noble lady…”

“Don’t play dumb. It’s well known that the Duke avoids marriage.”

Blink.

Erin blinked at the unfamiliar story. The reporter grumbled and continued.

“He’s rejected all sorts of prestigious matches, clinging to his mysterious image. It’s the talk of the social scene.”

Hmm. She’d never attended any social gatherings, so she didn’t know.

“There’s even a rumor that the Duke is trying to end his own lineage…”

Wow. The reporter seemed to know more about the Duke than Erin did—assuming what he said was true.

“Oh, is that why he’s supporting your birth control research? Because he supposedly hates his own bloodline…”

“You might as well write a novel about it.”

She hadn’t meant to say it out loud, but it slipped out. The reporter’s face twisted, and Erin considered just getting up and leaving.

“I really have nothing to say.”

“…….”

“You asked for this meeting, but it’s not even about my experiment—it’s about the Duke. May I leave now?”

Just as Erin stood to go, the reporter’s eyes flashed.

“Ah, right. You did come all the way here to meet me. Was it perhaps…”

“Perhaps what?”

“Was it because of your assistant?”

Flinch.

She flinched for a moment, but Erin tried to turn away as if nothing had happened. If Ash’s importance to her was revealed, the reporter would latch onto it.

But the reporter didn’t miss her hesitation.

He gave a sly smile and spoke.

“Then how about your assistant?”

“If you’re thinking of threatening me with my assistant, that’s a poor choice…”

“No, no. I’m starting to figure things out. To persuade someone like you, Lady Leshamur, I need to offer information too.”

“Suddenly?”

Erin was caught off guard by the reporter’s change in strategy.

He pressed on, determined not to miss his opening.

“Did you know your assistant has someone backing him?”

“What?”

“You didn’t know? Just as you don’t know much about your sponsor, the Duke.”

Erin slowly turned her head at the reporter’s mocking words.

‘Backing?’

Surely he couldn’t be talking about her.

She dismissed the idea, but memories flashed through her mind.

Ash, insisting he had plenty of savings and buying her all sorts of clothes at the tailor.

Even when she offered to pay, Ash always insisted that a gentleman couldn’t let a lady pay for meals, always covering the bills at restaurants and dessert shops.

‘Now that I think about it…’

The money Ash had spent recently couldn’t possibly be covered by his salary. It might even have far exceeded what she paid him.

He claimed to save, but Erin’s payments were never enough for real savings.

Ash spent all day with her—he couldn’t have had a side job…

And then there was Ash’s home.

The furniture and decorations had a refined, expensive feel.

Ash said the previous tenant left everything behind, but now that she thought about it, the room suited Ash’s taste perfectly.

His everyday clothes, the neatly organized desk and stationery in the lab.

If all those expensive-looking things were actually purchased by Ash…

‘…If he has other backing, it’s possible.’

Her rational mind agreed before she knew it. Thud. Her heart dropped to the floor.

Could he have a noblewoman patron? That seemed plausible. If so…

‘…What does it matter if Ash has backing?’

Even as she thought that, Erin found herself turning back to the reporter.

He seemed to both want to tell her and not want to, licking his lips as if hoping to extract more information about the Duke from her.

Seeing that face, Erin’s sinking heart turned cold.

Right. It was all just an attempt to shake her…

“Who knows? Maybe another noble sent your assistant as a spy to steal your experiment.”

That might be it!

‘What?’

To Erin, who’d only imagined Ash being a noblewoman’s lover, this was completely unexpected.

The problem was…

‘Why does it sound so plausible?’

Ash was always gentle, but strict when needed. Why was he so sweet to her, a superior he’d soon part ways with?

Suddenly, the puzzle pieces seemed to fall into place.

Her mind, already shaken once, conjured another scene:

Ash, taking orders from an unknown noble to seduce her and steal the results of her clinical trial.

‘…No!’

Erin shook her head, chasing away the wild thoughts.

‘Ash as an industrial spy…’

Better that than being a noblewoman’s lover, but…

‘Don’t get swayed. You know he’s just saying that to shake you, Erin Leshamur.’

She was overthinking, just because she cared so much about Ash.

Erin steadied herself.

‘Sure, he’s been spending a lot lately…’

But that’s no reason to believe such lies.

Regaining her composure, Erin sighed and turned away.

“I really don’t know anything. My assistant’s private life isn’t my concern.”

“Hey, Lady Leshamur!”

“I understand your desperation for a scoop, since Duke Aston is so reclusive, but this is getting repetitive.”

“……!”

“Let’s end this pointless conversation here.”

Erin finished speaking and tried to leave the shop.

“Ah?!”

A sharp grip on her wrist made her cry out softly. The reporter, excited, was pulling her toward him without any consideration.

“Lady! I gave you good information, you can’t just leave!”

“What good information? That was just a one-sided attempt to stir things up!”

“Ha! You think it’s baseless, but I’ve actually seen your assistant meet with another noble’s secretary several times!”