Chapter 12: A Secret Between Us

“If you accept my proposal, I’ll clear all the debts of the Prudence viscountcy.”

With her slender voice, pitch-black eyes followed the sound.

Even at such a surprising offer, Albion’s expression didn’t waver.

Instead, he simply gazed at Leilia with an impassive face.

“All right.”

He broke the silence with a low, succinct answer that echoed in the air.

At the unexpected response, Leilia’s lips twisted up at one corner.

Then she relaxed her posture and looked at Albion.

Though it had declined, the Prudence viscountcy was once a deep-rooted founding family that had helped the previous emperor.

She had been confident he would be unable to refuse, but she hadn’t expected him to agree this easily.

“That’s unexpected. I didn’t think you’d accept so quickly.”

Leilia replied briefly, opening the glass container on the table.

Then, out of habit, she dropped a sugar cube into her teacup.

Albion spoke.

“There’s no future left for a fallen noble.”

Until just a few years ago, the Prudence family had been one of the most prominent.

But perhaps because its power had grown too great, the previous emperor clipped its wings just before the current emperor, Igret, ascended the throne.

The count’s title was demoted to viscount, and they were buried under a mountain of debt for any number of reasons.

Unable to bear the shock, the Viscount Prudence lost his mind.

The eldest son, who was the actual head of the family, gave up the inheritance, and naturally, the responsibility fell to the second son—Albion Prudence, this unfortunate man.

“Once I fell, I realized it. Noble authority, the reputation I was supposed to defend—none of that is of any use to me anymore.”

“So you’re just going to offer your body so obediently? How straightforward.”

“You’re not looking for a purely physical relationship, are you? Now that our deal is struck, tell me the real reason. What do you want me to do, hidden from the eyes of the Duke of Liston?”

“That’s a rather dangerous thing to say. I’m quite certain I asked you to be my lover.”

“If all you wanted was a little amusement, I’ll accept that too. But you wouldn’t have gone through the trouble of finding me just for that. After all, we’ve never met, never crossed paths before.”

Even after only a few words exchanged, Albion seemed to see right through her.

As he’d said, she had no real interest in having a lover.

She simply needed a plausible reason to bring in an outsider without suspicion, and having a “lover” was the best excuse.

It wasn’t because she wanted a life of indulgence.

“I’ve heard your information network is quite something, Sir Albion. You also travel abroad quite often, don’t you?”

Leilia took a sip of tea, smiling faintly.

Not long ago, the tea had tasted bitter and astringent, but now it felt just right on her tongue. M

As her long, pale fingers set down the cup, she lifted her gaze.

Albion’s neat figure reflected clearly in her transparent eyes.

“My work does give me more freedom than most nobles. Since I handle so many languages, I also have access to a wide range of information.”

“I’ll get straight to the point. I’d like you to become my intelligence network.”

“If you’re willing to clear thirty million vercs in one go, this must be a fairly dangerous request.”

“I always pay what the job is worth.”

“What kind of work do you want?”

“Inquiry, analysis, and tracking. As quickly as possible. You’ll need to move discreetly.”

“Could you be more specific?”

“There are things I need to know. I’ll give you the details later. For now, investigate the immediate priorities.”

“Who is the target?”

“Night Rabbit. That’s what everyone calls them, apparently.”

For a moment, Albion’s eyes trembled.

No wonder—the “Night Rabbit” mainly operated in the black market.

A place rife with illegal trades and filthy alleys, utterly unsuited for high-ranking nobles.

After a moment’s thought, he folded his hands and looked at Leilia.

“Night Rabbit… That one’s a seasoned fixture in the underworld. But I can’t imagine someone like you needing to find them. Nor should you have any connection.”

“That’s exactly why I called on you instead of anyone else.”

“You’re telling me not to ask for your reasons, then?”

Leilia nodded slightly and smiled softly.

There was a reason she’d called Albion here.

Night Rabbit had disappeared, and she’d lost the keepsake too.

The only remaining hope, the alibu fruit, could only be found in Gridana, its native habitat—and that was Liston’s territory.

Was there ever such a twisted connection?

As she recalled, her brow furrowed quietly.

Her hands and feet were bound, and she’d been pushed to her limits.

Now, she needed a breakthrough.

She’d never fully trusted the kid she’d met at the docks anyway, so she needed someone to gather information on her behalf.

Clever, yet pitifully desperate.

Someone who never drew attention no matter what he did, a man the world had already forgotten.

And most importantly, someone beyond the reach of Duke Liston.

The perfect candidate was Albion Prudence—this unlucky man.

“Find out everything you can about that person. It would be even better if you could bring them to me.”

“So you have unfinished business. Understood.”

Perhaps because of her earlier warning, Albion replied gently, maintaining an invisible distance.

Then he rose from his seat and bowed politely. Leilia took her time watching him.

No matter how far he’d fallen, one couldn’t hide inborn depth.

His speech, gestures, even the way he moved his hands—all bore the marks of careful upbringing, unlike a certain someone else.

‘What am I going to do, when I have to mix bodies and share beds with someone like that every day?’

‘I told you. Satisfying your urges right away is inefficient. That’s just… base release.’

Through the silence, an image of Carlisle flashed through her mind like mist on water, and Leilia’s once-calm brow twisted in irritation.

She quickly collected herself, however.

“Drop by from time to time and keep me company. Of course, on the surface it’ll have to look like secret meetings between lovers.”

“I suppose I’ll need to practice my acting, then.”

“If you can. I’m very curious to see just how capable you are.”

After a moment’s silence, Albion bent one knee to the floor.

He lowered himself smoothly, closing the distance between them.

His pale, strong hand carefully covered hers.

Years of wielding a pen had left Albion’s index and middle fingers callused.

“You’ll find I exceed your expectations.”

Albion answered shortly and pressed his lips to the back of her hand.

Even in the suddenness of the moment, Leilia’s expression didn’t change.

She simply watched him with that same impassive gaze.

“I’ll look forward to it.”

“But do you trust me, my lady?”

“There’s no way. I don’t trust people.”

Leilia whispered softly as she lowered herself.

Then, smiling brightly, she gently caressed Albion’s cheek.

“Instead, I trust your desperation, Sir Albion. Because I’m your only salvation.”

***

She left the mansion and was on her way to the trading office.

For once, Carlisle’s face in the carriage was openly displeased.

‘Disgusting. Absolutely revolting.’

How could she always be so aloof, so sharp-tongued? There was nothing obedient about my wife. Maybe that’s why she was suddenly so interesting, whether as a person or as a woman.

‘Was it Ethan? The one she wanted to handle her tasks.’

‘Now that I’m a member of Liston, you should get used to receiving orders.’

Of all the servants, she’d singled out Ethan.

He needed a well-trained pet, not just any mad dog biting at random.

But watching her flout the rules so brazenly was oddly entertaining.

The more I look, the more amusing she gets.

Carlisle tapped the seat, recalling the moment he’d left the parlor—or, to be exact, thinking about the outsider who’d been standing there as a guest.

He paused, then turned to Ethan.

“Wasn’t his father the late Baron Prudence? The one who committed s*icide a few years ago?”

“That’s right. Albion Prudence is the second son. Since his older brother Meldion gave up the inheritance, he’s practically the head now.”

“A meeting of two losers… I can’t quite picture it. Anyway, what about what I asked you to look into? Her past, her present, everything around her—I thought I told you to dig up everything. Why haven’t I heard anything?”

“Well…”

Ethan trailed off, hesitating.

Carlisle’s brow furrowed into a deep groove, the pressure increasing as his thick fingers tapped the seat again.

“For the past few years, she hasn’t done anything.”

At that, Carlisle let out a snort of laughter.

His massive frame leaned forward threateningly.

“She hasn’t done anything? And you expect me to believe that?”

“As I reported before, she’s never appeared at any official function. She hasn’t met anyone, called anyone, or sought anyone out. There was some external interaction when she was young, but it’s irrelevant. Since her mother, Lady Adela, died, she’s stayed in the mansion.”

“Then how do you explain what I saw? Are you telling me she invited a stranger into my house without even knowing who he was?”

“As far as my investigation goes, there’s no connection between the duchess and the Prudence family. That’s what’s so confusing.”

Silence filled the moving carriage.

Ethan shrank, barely breathing, nervously biting his lip as he awaited a response.

Carlisle finally settled back and lifted his chin.

“Either you missed something or you’re lying to me. Which do you think it is, Ethan? Did you overlook something, or are you deceiving me?”

His voice was so cold it gave Ethan chills.

He stared at the floor, feeling Carlisle’s gaze burning into him.

“I would never dare lie to you, sir. I’ll check again to see if I missed anything. I’ll also look more closely into their relationship—”

“No, not that.”

Carlisle cut him off, taking a cigar from his coat.

With a low sigh, the well-dried leaf glowed red.

The cramped carriage quickly filled with his smoke.

Through the pale smoke, his crimson eyes flashed sharply, his lips curled as if he was enjoying the whole situation.

Watching him, sweat broke out along Ethan’s spine.

“The girl she always keeps by her side—what was her name again? She seems quite fond of her.”

“Her name is Timo. She’s the only one the madam brought with her.”

“There was an easy way, but you went looking far afield.”

As if he already foresaw the trouble ahead, Ethan bit his lip hard.

After a moment of thought, Carlisle took a deep drag from his cigar and stubbed it out without care.

Carlisle spoke.

“Bring her here. Or drag her if you have to.”

“……”

“I think I need to see for myself.”