“Could she have given that list to His Majesty that day?”

As soon as they sat down, Viscount Beluga spoke with an anxious face.

“Surely she wouldn’t go that far? She’s still the head of the Roxburgh ducal family.”

“Is this the time to say such things? The Duchess of Roxburgh has already thrown her family’s honor and reputation into the gutter. Not only is she obsessed with men, she made a public proposal to Duke Reushden out of nowhere, and now she’s even created a list of potential husbands? And now she’s met with His Majesty. We’re inevitably going to be the monster duchess’s next victims.”

Viscount Beluga’s face turned pale. He even trembled as if everything he said was true.

“Viscount Beluga, there’s no need to shake like that. The first person she publicly proposed to was Duke Reushden, so no matter how desperate she is, I doubt she’d set her sights on you as a husband.”

At Count Humbolt’s joke, Viscount Beluga made a sullen face.

Duke Reushden was known for his looks not only in Adrian but throughout the continent of Taran.

In comparison, Viscount Beluga’s face was so inferior that it couldn’t even touch the tip of Duke Reushden’s foot.

“Do you think the Duchess of Roxburgh is in her right mind? From the way she’s acting, it seems like she’s just trying to catch anyone. If I’m unlucky enough to be chosen… I don’t even want to think about it. The thought is so horrifying I’d rather die.”

Viscount Beluga, seemingly offended, showed more hostility toward the Duchess of Roxburgh than usual.

“Viscount Beluga, you’d better stop. While the Duchess of Roxburgh’s actions may not be rational, she doesn’t deserve to be criticized by you without reason.”

Count Rubin Gerard reprimanded Beluga with a displeased expression.

Attacked by both of them simultaneously, the embarrassed Viscount Beluga spoke in a grumpy voice.

“Come to think of it, Count Gerard seems very generous toward the Duchess of Roxburgh. Could it be that you have feelings for her?”

“Are you mad! Viscount Beluga, no matter how angry you are, to speak so rudely to the Count. You’d better apologize immediately.”

At Count Humbolt’s rebuke, Viscount Beluga seemed to realize his behavior had gone too far and began to gauge Count Rubin Gerard’s reaction.

“I apologize, Count. I’ve been on edge lately…”

“It’s all right, Viscount Beluga. It’s not entirely wrong, after all.”

“What?”

“Is that really true?”

Both men turned their heads toward Rubin with surprised expressions.

However, Rubin himself remained calm.

“Is that so surprising? I don’t see the need to harbor hostility toward someone who has never harmed me.”

Only then did the two men’s expressions soften slightly.

They seemed to have misunderstood Rubin’s statement as meaning he had feelings for the monster Duchess of Roxburgh.

“And here I thought the Count was planning to marry the Duchess.”

Count Humbolt made a joke, apparently trying to lighten the mood.

Once again, a strange silence fell. It was because Rubin, who should have denied it, remained quiet.

As if what had been said wasn’t wrong.

The sudden silence made the atmosphere between the three men awkward again.

Fortunately, the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs drew their attention to Roen.

“I am Simonetta, the owner of this shop.”

Unlike Rubin Gerard and Humbolt, who greeted her with familiarity, Viscount Beluga stood with a flushed face.

“It’s you two. I see you’ve brought a friend today. Have you come to find another book?”

Roen recognized the two men and addressed them.

“Unfortunately, this time we’ve come to see if we could obtain a certain list.”

“What kind of list…?”

“Ah, I should explain better. Actually, the reason we came here is to obtain the rumored list of potential husbands that the Duchess of Roxburgh has compiled.”

For a moment, Roen’s brow furrowed.

‘A list of potential husbands for the Duchess of Roxburgh? Did such a thing exist without my knowledge?’

Hiding her confusion, Roen asked the three men for a more detailed explanation.

“This is the first I’ve heard of it. Are you certain such a thing exists?”

Until then, Viscount Beluga, who had been standing as if enchanted by Roen’s appearance, cleared his throat and interjected.

“Actually, no one knows for certain if the list exists. The rumor has spread so widely among the nobility that we came here to confirm it. Frankly, with the Duchess of Roxburgh going crazy over men, it’s hard to deny its existence. Above all, if her public proposal to Duke Reushden is rejected, it’s obvious she’ll be looking for her next victim.”

Viscount Beluga openly looked Roen up and down with his eyes.

‘What’s with this behavior? It’s unbearable to watch.’

Roen clicked her tongue as she observed Viscount Beluga looking at her with unpleasant eyes.

She tried so hard to ignore him that her cheek twitched.

“By the way, Simonetta, I’m sure you’ve seen the absurd article about the Duchess of Roxburgh in the newspaper?”

“Yes. I saw that article this morning as well.”

At Roen’s affirmation, Viscount Beluga sighed deeply and now openly expressed his displeasure.

“Isn’t she completely insane? For the Roxburgh ducal family to publish such an absurd public proposal in the newspaper. She’s clearly thrown away her family’s honor and reputation. It seems she feels no shame as a lady. Begging for marriage—does that make any sense?”

“Viscount Beluga, you’d better stop.”

Count Humbolt, seemingly embarrassed, reprimanded Viscount Beluga while checking Roen’s expression.

Unfortunately, Viscount Beluga was not a particularly perceptive person.

“Stop? Why should I? What’s the reason we came here? To find that absurd list of victims, right? I refuse. To become the husband of the monster duchess. If I were to get married and go to bed on the wedding night, I’d probably never be able to stand at attention again, trembling with fear and becoming disabled from the trauma.”

Delusion is a disease. And the Viscount Beluga before her had a severe case.

Roen was dumbfounded by his outrageous statement.

Seeing him so agitated about a non-existent list of potential husbands for the Duchess of Roxburgh, she could imagine his status in society.

“That’s unfortunate. To become disabled.”

Roen pretended to be sympathetic as she glanced at the area between Viscount Beluga’s legs.

At this, Viscount Beluga’s face turned bright red, and he quickly denied it.

“No, I didn’t mean I’m disabled now, but that I might become so…”

Viscount Beluga looked as if he might pull down his pants to prove it right then and there.

“Well, that’s a relief, but you should be careful. If you’re so prone to becoming disabled, your future bride would be quite pitiful.”

When Roen gave him a sympathetic look as if she knew everything, Viscount Beluga’s face turned crimson with shame.

He then lowered his head, unable to say anything more.

“Ahem, ahem, let’s set that aside and get to the main point.”

Count Humbolt hastily changed the subject as if trying to clear the atmosphere.

“So all I need to do is find this list of Roxburgh’s victims for you?”

Roen deliberately emphasized the word “victims.”

At her words, Viscount Beluga, who had been hanging his head with a sour expression, looked up, but Roen didn’t even give him a glance.

“Well, to put it simply, yes. Can you find it for us, Simonetta?”

“If it exists, finding it shouldn’t be difficult, Count Humbolt. But first, I’d like to know the source of this rumor.”

“Well, we don’t exactly… It’s just talk going around the social clubs.”

Count Humbolt scratched his head as he answered.

It seemed they had become frightened by rumors circulating among the nobility and came to her.

They were nothing but cowards.

“Then I’ll confirm whether this victim list exists, and then let you know which nobles are on it. Is that how I should understand this request?”

When Roen clarified, Count Humbolt and Viscount Beluga nodded.

“Count Gerard, it seems you have some reservations.”

She addressed Rubin, who had been silent until now.

Rubin Gerard, standing slightly over six feet tall with blonde hair and blue eyes, was a handsome man.

Many of the ladies who visited the Emporium were infatuated with Count Rubin Gerard and requested love letters to him.

Moreover, most of the books she had procured for him required a high level of intellect.

With his good looks and intelligence, it was no wonder he was popular.

“Well…”

When Rubin had trouble speaking, Roen looked at him with surprise. It was in contrast to his usual straightforward behavior.

“Feel free to speak openly, Count Gerard.”

“I was wondering if our request might be too rude…”

“Ah, I see what you mean. Not at all. I’ve had even more outrageous requests…”

“No, I meant it would be rude to the Duchess of Roxburgh. If the rumor is false and that absurd list doesn’t exist, this could be devastating for the Duchess.”

Roen’s expression subtly changed.

And for the first time, her eyes became serious as she looked at Count Rubin Gerard.

This was the first time. The first time she had heard someone express concern for the Duchess of Roxburgh.

“There you go again, Count. You don’t really have feelings for that Duchess, do you?”

Viscount Beluga spoke as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Viscount Beluga, didn’t I tell you to watch your mouth? Surely you understand that this too would be harmful to the Duchess?”

At Rubin’s rebuke, Viscount Beluga shook his head as if giving up.

“Fine, I won’t say another word about the Duchess. When that victim list comes out, I hope you’ll raise your hand and marry the Duchess. After being rejected in a public proposal, the Duchess will need some comfort.”

Looking at Viscount Beluga, who was sarcastic until the end, Rubin sighed.

“I understand your concern, Count Gerard. If I happen to meet the Duchess, I’ll convey your sentiments.”

“No, that won’t be necessary.”

Rubin waved his hand, unable to hide his embarrassment.

Seeing this, Roen almost burst out laughing.

Come to think of it, had she met Count Rubin Gerard before?

No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t recall.

Their first meeting was two years ago when he came to the shop looking for a book.

“Well, we should be going now.”

Rubin seemed uncomfortable and was about to leave. Roen stopped him as he was hurriedly getting up.

“Count Gerard, there’s just one thing I’d like to ask…”

“Ah, yes.”

“It seems to me that you’re concerned about the Duchess of Roxburgh. Is there any particular reason? Perhaps a personal connection…?”