* * *

Karl, after watching Lumiere fall asleep, finally left the room.

In fact, he needed sleep just as much. Since receiving Chris’s call, he had traveled for seven days with almost no rest.

The noise of the rattling train was enough to make Karl, who already had sensitive hearing, even more exhausted and irritable. Coupled with an inexplicable anxiety, sleepless nights continued.

Karl rubbed his tired and stressed face as he entered the second-floor study. The study on the west side of Lumiere’s mansion was Karl’s exclusive area. It had been designed that way from the beginning.

Karl leaned back in a chair made to fit his height and build. Less than a minute had passed.

Knock, knock, knock.

As if they had been waiting, there was a knock on the study door.

“Come in.”

The door opened as soon as Karl gave permission. The twin brothers, Arwin and Darwin, entered with stiff faces.

Their eyes, which were almost identical, showed similar emotions.

‘We’re screwed.’

‘We’re done for…’

The brothers stood before Karl, trembling in the heavy silence.

“……”

The man, looking somewhat tired, was sitting in the chair with his long legs crossed, leaning back.

His long, elegant fingers pressed against his smooth forehead as he gazed into the void.

Even though he wasn’t making a particularly scary face, the twins felt a strange fear.

This was an intimidation far beyond what their old circus master had when he swung his whip to beat them down.

‘Ah! I wish he’d just scold us or hit us.’

Standing before this coldly handsome man, the twins felt like puppies drenched in a rainstorm.

Karl Winger had an aura that was difficult to approach.

Especially when something went wrong or when something happened to Lumiere Lashantia, his demeanor grew even darker.

Today was exactly one of those days.

His golden eyes, which had been staring into space, slowly lifted.

The shadows under his eyes from fatigue made his golden eyes shine even sharper.

“Uh, um, well…”

“S-so, um…”

The twins couldn’t find the words to say as they stood before Karl, who was just silently watching them.

They recognized that look in his eyes.

It was the same look Karl had when he rescued them from the wretched circus and pointed a gun at the circus master who treated humans like livestock.

The same look of anger simmering beneath the heavy silence.

‘S-scary.’

He was the benefactor who had saved their lives.

No, he had saved more than their lives.

He had given them a new life.

The twins had clung to Karl’s trousers, begging him to use them as servants after the circus master died.

They instinctively felt that staying with this brilliant man would bring a significant turning point to their otherwise meaningless lives.

And their instincts were right.

Their lives changed dramatically and meaningfully.

They began to live lives where they could care for others, and their philosophies and thoughts also evolved.

In that sense, Karl was not just another master but also a figure of reverence for them.

But today, the brothers had failed to protect the lady they served and had disappointed Karl, their revered figure.

Arwin and Darwin couldn’t lift their heads.

“W-we’re sorry!”

“We were too complacent.”

As if competing to see who could bow lower, Arwin and Darwin pressed their foreheads to the floor and whimpered.

Karl, watching them with a stern face, let out a sigh that sounded almost like a laugh.

“…I told you not to grovel on the floor.”

People should live as people.

That was the first thing Karl had said to the twins. Only by living as a person could they avoid being devoured by those with beastly desires and monstrous power.

Lift your head and face the challenges given to you.

If you want to escape, you must do whatever it takes.

Struggling like that, whether it’s a small miracle or an unexpected opportunity, a chance will surely come.

Until then, never forget that you are a person, a human being…

Bow your head and bend only when you need to catch your breath to leap forward.

Arwin and Darwin understood this the moment they heard it from Karl.

That man was also crouching, ready to leap toward a goal. And without even knowing what that man was crouching for, they just wanted to be with him.

Chris dismissed the twins’ state with, ‘They’ve been influenced. It’s simple.’

“But we have something to say too!

“We didn’t expect Tartien to come in person!”

…Ah, Tartien.

The mention of that word caused a small crack in Karl’s expression.

Tartien.

Tartien…

There’s no place they don’t meddle.

Darwin quickly added,

“At first, we thought it was just another portrait commission. Master didn’t say anything special at first either!”

So, it started as a very ordinary visit, no different from other commissions.

About two months ago, a noble family requested a portrait of a certain woman.

They said it was a portrait to accompany a marriage proposal to a prestigious family, enclosing a massive amount of money and a polite invitation.

Initially, Lumiere declined.

The amount was uncomfortably large, and the noble family inviting her did not reveal their identity or location.

Then, the second time, someone came in person.

He was a very young and handsome gentleman. Tall, with an elegant smile, he was very charming, showing courtesy and consideration even to the servants.

What’s particularly striking was his enigmatic ash-brown hair and ocean-blue eyes.

“…Landers.”

Karl immediately recalled the charming young nobleman upon hearing the twins’ description.

Landers Tartien.

The next head of the Tartien Duchy and, at the young age of twenty-seven, the most powerful senator in the Levania Parliament.

‘Come to think of it, Landers recently returned from Geronium.’

After negotiating an exchange agreement for a whole year, he thought Landers would be quiet for a while.

‘…I was too complacent.’

Karl’s face darkened.

Interpreting this, the twins spoke faster.

“After that man visited, Master immediately accepted the portrait commission. Only later did we learn that the man was Landers Tartien.”

Since then, Lumiere had been going to the Tartien residence two or three times a week.

They had requested her to complete the portrait quickly, even if it meant overworking, and Lumiere complied.

That was just two weeks ago.

Yesterday, the twins reported that the accident happened while Lumiere was invited for a meal by the Tartien family as a gesture of thanks.

‘Why did Tartien approach Lumiere? And why did Landers himself…?’

There were plenty of painters who could have done the portrait besides Lumiere.

If it was a commission from Tartien, not only court painters but also famous or promising artists would line up for it.

So why did they approach ‘Lumiere’?

It couldn’t be that they stepped on the ‘King’s’ toes.

Lumiere and Laedro Stings had no connection at all. Even if they found some link, the ‘King’ was no match for Tartien. They always thought the powerless king, bedridden, was beneath them.

So, it must be.

‘…Were they targeting Karl Winger?’

Karl’s smile turned sinister.

Until now, Karl had been their golden goose. How much gold had he generously supplied whenever he started a business? Nobles, royals, officials, and even the bourgeoisie all took Karl’s money.

It was truly ironic and laughable.

To cause corruption in his own country where he was king. But Karl willingly committed this absurdity.

He bought power with money and earned money again under an outsider’s name. In the capital, Karien, Karl owned one-fifth of the land. The land he owned under pseudonyms amounted to nearly 20% of Levania’s territory.

This was more land than the current royal family owned. And since it was all prime land, discussing the top bourgeoisie in Levania without mentioning ‘Karl Winger’ was impossible.

‘Why are those who have been happily accepting my gifts now trying to investigate me?’