Was it because he refused the engagement with Maria Tartien?

Or because he declined the co-management of the opera house?

For hiding Dr. Roishi at Jurbon University?

There were too many plausible reasons to pinpoint just one.

Or maybe it was a combination of all these reasons.

‘But even so, that doesn’t justify targeting Lumiere.’

Moreover, if they had directly caused the carriage accident, Lumiere wouldn’t have survived. She was slightly injured, but her injuries were minor.

Of course, the ridiculous result of amnesia occurred.

‘It’s clear that Tartien approached suspiciously, but it’s uncertain if they caused the carriage accident.’

But they definitely approached Lumiere with some intention. While it’s unclear whose mistake led to the accident, it’s certain they intended to do something through Lumiere.

‘…How dare they touch Lumiere.’

If they had stepped on the tail of the puppet king ‘Laedro Stings,’ the matter would have been much simpler. But they found and touched Lumiere, whom he had hidden so well.

This was unforgivable.

He was determined to track down what happened in his absence and make them pay dearly for touching her.

Lumiere.

Thinking of Lumiere’s eyes looking at him as if he were a stranger, he felt suffocated, as if someone had blocked his airway.

He wanted to hold the sleeping Lumiere right away and tell her he was here, apologize for being late, and plead for her prank to stop. If she said it was all a joke with those rosy lips, he would laugh it off and remind her of how they loved each other, ensuring she never forgot it again.

Ah… Lumiere’s amnesia was a harsh punishment for his complacency.

Karl rubbed his tired eyes with his fist and quickly ordered the twins.

“Both of you, put your heads together and write down everything that happened in this mansion while I was away. I’ll decide what’s important. Just write it all down in chronological order without leaving anything out.”

The twins, who were extremely tense, simultaneously shouted, ‘Yes!’ and quickly left the study.

Through the large study window, the dawn was beginning to break.

Thick fog covered the city under the deep purple sky.

The sound of urgent horse hooves cutting through the dawn fog could be heard.

Karl looked out the window at a short, stout man hurriedly dismounting a carriage.

It seemed his capable secretary, Chris Gunther, had brought the doctor.

* * *

“She, she’s in a deep sleep, so I only performed a brief examination. It will take more time to check her condition thoroughly.”

Nore Lyman wiped his cold sweat as he explained the examination situation to the towering man before him.

Externally, there were no visible injuries, and her breathing and pulse were normal.

Her body temperature was also within the normal range, making it difficult to conduct any special examination on a sleeping patient.

If there was an issue with her memory, it was likely a problem with her head, particularly her brain, but there were no visible signs of trauma on her head.

Yet, before the golden eyes staring at him as if demanding another answer, Nore Lyman felt nervous.

“Th-the patient’s will and emotions are more important in memory issues than one might think. First, the patient needs to feel comfortable, and continuous counseling from those around her should help with memory recovery…”

“Will and emotions…”

The man’s voice, muttering leisurely, was chillingly low and fine.

Nore, a poor doctor from the rural Kegel Mountains, had to struggle not to tremble under the pressure of encountering such a big shot for the first time.

‘The Count of Cissus. To think I’d meet him in person!’

When the man who woke him up at dawn mentioned the name ‘Count Cissus,’ Nore almost fainted.

Without even thinking about why such a big shot would seek out a lowly doctor like himself, he hurriedly packed his medical bag.

The master of art and music, the one who engulfed the wealth and pleasures of Karien!

‘The owner of the heavenly island of Berhe, the big hand from across the sea. Karl Winger!’

Though not a noble of Levania, he was treated more preciously than most nobles in this country.

It was said that there wasn’t a noble in Karien whose wallet hadn’t been touched by him.

The curious thing was that despite his fame, there was surprisingly little accurate information about him.

The royal family of Berhe didn’t particularly share stories about him, and his activities began and ended on the secretive island of Cissus.

The most famous person in Levania was, in fact, the most secretive.

Nobles were even more enthusiastic about this.

That was the nature of nobles.

The more they know, the more they get bored; the less they know, the more interested they become.

It was rare for a noble to be diligent and sharp enough to question what they didn’t know.

The arrogance and complacency of nobles, who always lived off inherited loyalty, shone even in such matters.

About six years ago, Karl Winger entered the urban development project of Karien and amassed enormous capital.

In the project to build 26 roads and 6 parks, ‘Karl Winger’ won bids for 22 constructions.

Every road he constructed had beautiful street trees, and the gas lamps incorporating the latest technology shone like starlight, showing another kind of beauty at night.

Thanks to those gas lamps, night culture began to develop on the roads he touched.

The place that benefited the most was Opera Street.

Within approximately 1 kilometer, there were various theaters sprouting up like mushrooms.

Karl bought and demolished five theaters near the central square and built two large, luxurious ivory-colored buildings.

[Cissus Opera House.]

A place that devoured both the day and night of Karien.

A gathering place for pleasure, art, culture, and entertainment.

The first and second floors hosted plays and operas, while the third floor housed luxury salons and galleries for nobles. But the most important part was the underground floor.

A members-only club lounge that opened at night.

‘The Grey Club.’

All kinds of capital from Levania gathered there.

Only those with money could spend money. Likewise, only those with power could abuse their power.

Commoners couldn’t even dream of the wealth and assets that changed hands incessantly in ‘The Grey Club’ overnight.

Nobles, indulging in pleasure, wanted to get closer to Karl Winger. They willingly squandered their assets for the art and pleasure he provided.

They offered their honor, dedicated their time, and wielded their power for him. So, no one could criticize him for appearing only when he felt like it or for showing selective kindness.

Who would dare speak harshly to Karl Winger? To fall out of his favor meant expulsion from the art world and becoming a pariah in society.

‘…To meet such a big shot in person.’

Nore swallowed dryly as he glanced at the man standing before him. He had read gossip about ‘Karl Winger’ in the daily papers too.

Some said he was as handsome as a sculpture, others said he had a stern and sharp appearance like a soldier.

Some even said he looked sickly, while others claimed his face was disfigured from an illness in his youth.

Now he saw that all those were nonsense.

Karl Winger was a beautiful man.

Tall with a sharp gaze, broad shoulders, and a well-fitted suit. His elegant and aristocratic aura was enough to mesmerize anyone who saw him.

It was more surprising that such a beautiful man’s appearance wasn’t widely known. Karl Winger was lost in thought, gazing out at the dim city beyond the window.

An agonizingly silent time passed.

“Dr. Lyman, it would be best if you stayed at this mansion for the time being.”

Karl spoke briefly in a dry voice, as if concluding his thoughts.

“…Pardon, what?”

“Stay at the mansion and take care of Lumiere. My secretary will manage your clinic. You’ll be compensated generously.”

“Ah, y-yes… I understand.”

Fortunately, Nore Lyman was a quick-witted man. He immediately thought of what he needed to bring without further words.

* * *

“Yaaawn… Ugh! I’m so sleepy I could die.”

It was just dawn.

Thanks to the diligent twins opening the wooden windows early, the dim light of dawn seeped into the mansion.

Cindy rubbed her heavy shoulders and trudged to the kitchen. She hadn’t slept well last night and still felt tired.

‘It was such a crazy day.’

From the morning when Tartien’s carriage arrived to the early dawn when the black carriage showed up.

It was like a storm.

‘I’m this tired, imagine how tired Miss Lumiere must be.’