Chapter 77

“Mother, do you think the love potion will work on the Grand Duke?”

The conversation of three people began to flow from one person’s mouth.

“Of course! Baron Lakia said there’s no one the love potion doesn’t work on.”

“Really?”

“Mother, does that love potion work on women too?”

“I’m not sure about that.”

“Could you ask Baron Lakia? Mother, if it works on women too, how about using the love potion on Lady Meia?”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll ask, Ash.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Try to seduce him well.”

“Understood.”

“Brother, don’t even think about marrying that woman. I absolutely hate it.”

“And through the fortune teller, Diana should choose a day when she’s likely to conceive.”

Once the recreation ended, Stella’s unfocused eyes began to regain their light.

She found herself facing Theodore, who wore an expression of complex emotions.

At times like this, it’s best to retreat.

“I will take my leave now. I’ll continue eavesdropping just in case.”

Theodore let out a long sigh and said,

“Leave the household’s rats alone and eavesdrop on Baron Lakia. Find out how he acquires the love potion.”

“Understood.”

“If by any chance Lady Nordic receives the love potion from Baron Lakia, report it immediately.”

Stella could sense his anger from his icy voice that seemed to freeze the surroundings. Although he appeared calm, he was evidently very angry.

She glanced at Meia, who was beside him. There was no change in her expression. 

What could she be thinking?

“I’ll take my leave now.”

“Stella.”

“Yes, Lady Meia.”

“You’ve had to listen to dirty things. You’ve worked hard. It was very helpful.”

It was unexpected praise and comfort.

Until now, Stella had only met people who frowned upon hearing her recreations and blamed her.

Receiving praise after recreating was the first experience in Stella’s life.

“Thank you for bringing valuable information.”

With continued praise, Stella’s cheeks turned red. She stuttered in embarrassment.

“N-no, Lady Meia.”

Meia stood up, approached Stella, and held her hand as she spoke.

“Until we catch all the rats in the Grand Duke’s house, I hope you’ll endure a little longer, Stella.”

Who could possibly say no to Lady Meia when she spoke with such a beautiful smile?

“Yes, Lady Meia!”

“Stella, I’m counting on you.”

Stella’s face turned even redder at Meia’s words. She didn’t know why her heart was pounding for another woman.

But one thing was certain: she was filled with the desire to never disappoint her.

“I will never disappoint you, Lady Meia.”

“If you need any help, feel free to let me know.”

“Understood. Grand Duch… Lady Meia.”

Stella closed her mouth, almost calling her Grand Duchess, and smiled brightly.

As she disappeared into the shadows, Meia turned her head to look at Theodore.

“Those filthy rats are trying to do filthy things…”

Even if she put her body into boiling lava, her current emotions and anger would not melt away. If only this anger could disappear, she’d want to throw herself into the fiery pits of hell.

“Grand Duke.”

From Theodore’s perspective, who professes his love for Meia every day, Ash’s words must have been very provoking. Of course, Meia herself was angry. It was embarrassing and disgraceful.

But they had to acknowledge the reality that they couldn’t immediately capture those three.

The angrier they were, the cooler their heads had to be to think about how to act.

“Embezzlement, human trafficking, love potion.”

Theodore was deeply upset and angry. He had governed the territory too complacently.

If I had ruled strictly, would the vassals have embezzled? Would human trafficking have occurred?

“If I had governed well, this wouldn’t have happened. It’s all my fault. I’m sorry, Lady Meia.”

Regrets of the past, which he had ignored out of annoyance, surged like waves.

Theodore bowed his head with a troubled expression.

“When I heard the rats speaking degradingly about you behind your back, Lady Meia, do you know who I was most angry with?”

His eyes, which had been lowered, gradually turned red.

“With myself. I’m angry with myself. Why didn’t I manage the territory properly all this time? Why did I let the vassals think so little of you? If I had governed properly, Lady Meia, you wouldn’t have had to go through the trouble of catching embezzlers, and you wouldn’t have had to hear such filthy words! I regret it.”

Since his parents passed away, he had worked just enough under the pretext of being young and needing to study. He regretted every day he had spent that way, wanting to turn back time.

Tears began to flow endlessly from his eyes.

“If only I could turn back time, I would correct everything.”

Every night, he had to force himself to realize that his parents were gone. And that he had to govern the vast Grand Duke Florence. Every night, he had to force himself to accept that there were no parents to accept his resentment, longing, and anger.

He desperately wanted to erase the days he had spent studying and leaving everything to the vassals while resenting everything.

Meia approached him, who was crying, and quietly embraced him as she spoke.

“Regretting means you’re reflecting.”

Tears fell like raindrops onto her face.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for making you listen to such filthy stories, Lady Meia.”

Without saying anything, Meia hugged Theodore and patted his back.

She continued to stroke his eyes, wiping away his tears.

“What’s past is past, and you need to let it go.”

How much did those rats look down on the Grand Duke’s house?

Meia was upset and angry, but the person who was most upset and angry was probably Theodore in front of her.

Perhaps this incident would change him significantly.

After crying for a while, his tears eventually subsided. She looked up at him.

Her heart ached at the face marked with deep regret.

“I’m sorry, Lady Meia.”

“Mei.”

“What?”

“When we’re alone, you promised to call me Mei. Would you call me Mei, Grand Duke Theodore?”

His face, already red from crying, started to turn even redder.

“Are you serious?”

“From now on, call me Mei.”

“Mei…”

“Theo? Ter? Terry? What’s your nickname, Grand Duke?”

“It’s Theo.”

“We’re similar. Both our nicknames are just from our names.”

Tears flowed again from Theodore’s eyes.

“I’m sorry. I keep crying.”

“You can cry as much as you want in front of me.”

Every time she saw the face that looked like it wanted to cry, she secretly wanted to tease him more.

“Shall we start playing with the rats in earnest from tomorrow, Theo?”

They would throw bait to the rats and enjoy watching them bite and fight each other.

Who would be the last rat standing?

“Once you’ve regretted and reflected, let’s correct everything so you won’t regret it anymore.”

*

Grand Mage Puring was stressed from receiving constant urgent messages from Prince Demian.

Of course, the reply was always, “The mage tasked with it hasn’t found it yet.”

The stress from the possibility of Prince Demian visiting again made Puring’s stomach ache.

At that moment, a letter arrived from his favorite disciple, Meia Hatzbellua.

The content was just two words.

[Dark Magic]

He had definitely taught Meia to run if she ever encountered someone related to dark magic. But dark magic!

Puring was so shocked that he couldn’t just sit there.

Could there be a significant crisis approaching the Grand Duke’s house?

He was very worried about Meia.

Puring immediately packed his things, left the Mage Tower, and went straight to the teleportation area.

A mage in a brown robe appeared and greeted Puring politely.

“Hello, Grand Mage Puring!”

“To the Florence territory of the Sirius Empire, quickly!”

“Understood. I’ll prepare it.”

Puring arrived at the entrance of the Grand Duke’s house.

‘The knights guarding the entrance have changed.’

“I am Mage Puring. I’ve come to see Lady Meia.”

“Please wait a moment.”

And the door of the Grand Duke’s house opened.

As soon as she heard that Puring had arrived, Meia dressed lightly and went down to the entrance of the mansion to wait.

“Lady, you should have waited comfortably in your room.”

“No, Hannah. I wanted to wait outside.”

“By the way, the flower decoration in your hair is very pretty. What kind of flower is it?”

“Hibiscus.”

“Hibiscus?”

“Isn’t it pretty?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll give you a flower ornament as a gift too, Hannah. What kind of flower do you like?”

“It’s okay, Lady Meia.”

“I won’t ask twice.”

“Yes, it’s okay.”

The more Hannah got to know Meia, the more she liked her.

When her master was suffering from lovesickness and only sought out Lady Meia, she was indescribably upset. 

What kind of person is the lady? Is she a good person? What if she’s just a pretty face?

She had many worries. But after meeting Meia, she had no worries.

Aside from her beauty, she was smart, well-spoken, and seemed to be a source of strength for the stoic Theodore. She liked her. Moreover, she was very considerate.

She didn’t treat the subordinates harshly, nor was she picky. She didn’t force things or use her status to belittle them. Recently, when she generously forgave the rude Young Lady Diana, the maids present were moved to tears.

<Lady Meia is not just about being pretty!>

<That’s right.>

<I want to serve her by her side.>

<Her hair is mysterious, her eyes are clear, her nose is sharp, and her lips are as red as cherries.>

The servants admired having the most noble and respected master.

Many servants and maids working in the Grand Duke’s house even fought over who would serve Lady Meia’s meal, leading to a rotation system.

Hannah was honestly only grateful to Meia.