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

At Roen’s question, Rubin thought for a moment and then carefully nodded.

“Actually, I do have some acquaintance with the Duke.”

“With the Duchess of Roxburgh?”

“No, with Duke Reushden. It was four years ago, but I was also on the battlefield as part of the Imperial Knights. Due to personal circumstances, I was only there for six months, which is embarrassing to even mention.”

“Ah, you meant Duke Reushden. What is he like? Is he as insane as the rumors say?”

Roen spoke in a light tone.

But Rubin’s expression remained serious.

“It’s true. From what I’ve seen. Normally, he’s coldly rational, but when he draws his sword, he becomes such a fearsome presence that you’re thankful he’s on your side. To put it in words…”

“A beast obsessed with k*lling. Hungry for blood.”

At Roen’s blunt expression, Rubin seemed a bit surprised, his eyes widening, but then he nodded.

“That’s right.”

“So that’s why you’re worried about the Duchess of Roxburgh.”

“Who am I to worry about such a noble person? I’m merely concerned. I also have a younger sibling who was injured in an accident… Well, we should be going.”

As Rubin left his seat, Humbolt and Beluga followed him outside.

Left alone, Roen stood there for a moment with a thoughtful expression.

* * *

“Ma’am, what about the clients? Have they already left?”

Cecil, who was coming up the stairs with a tea tray, looked disappointed when she saw Roen standing alone.

“They just left.”

“Really? What was their request?”

“They wanted me to find the victim list of the Duchess of Roxburgh.”

“What? A victim list? Does such a thing exist?”

“No. There’s no way such a list exists without my knowledge. It seems a false rumor is circulating among the nobility.”

In a way, it was quite a bitter request. That such an absurd story about a list was being spread as if it were true.

“They must be crazy. There’s no way such a thing exists.”

Cecil glared at the closed door with displeasure.

“Tsk, if I had known they were such crazy clients, I would have come up faster. I could have spat in their tea.”

As if imagining the scene, Roen burst out laughing.

“Don’t ever do that. We’d have to close the shop if rumors like that spread.”

Roen patted Cecil’s shoulder and began to descend the stairs.

“Aren’t you angry, ma’am? After receiving such a crazy request.”

“No, I’m not. Those people don’t matter to me at all. Instead, I plan to charge them a fortune. No, better yet, I think I’ll put Viscount Beluga’s name at the very top of the victim list.”

When Roen smiled meaningfully, Cecil finally seemed satisfied and laughed along.

“Charge them five times the usual fee. No, ten times would be better.”

“Yes, that’s what I’m thinking. Who’s our next appointment?”

“Ah, it’s Lady Lucy from the Greensburgh County family. She said she wanted to purchase a love potion. Speaking of which, we’re missing a few ingredients in the storage.”

“Really? What ingredients are missing?”

“Civet cat whiskers and peacock tears.”

Both were magical ingredients used in making love potions.

Obtaining civet cat whiskers wasn’t difficult, but to get peacock tears, she would have to go back to the Recluse’s Forest.

‘Do I have to go there again?’

While Roen was contemplating this as she descended the stairs, the closed shop door opened, and a familiar lady entered.

“Simonetta!”

Lucy Greensburgh spotted Roen and smiled brightly.

“Welcome, Lady Lucy. I was just waiting for you. Cecil, could you bring the remaining love potion from the storage?”

“I’ll bring it right away.”

While Cecil went to the storage, Lucy looked at Roen with a somewhat embarrassed expression.

“Something seems to be on your mind, Lady Lucy.”

After hesitating for a moment, she finally spoke.

“Well, I did order a potion, but I think sending a love letter might be better…”

“You want me to ghostwrite a love letter now?”

Lucy nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling.

Sensing the freshness of a lady who had just fallen in love, a smile naturally formed on Roen’s lips.

“Yes. Actually, while the potion is effective, he doesn’t attend balls or parties. So I don’t have a chance to meet him.”

The nobleman Lucy had her eye on seemed to have no interest in social circles.

“Then a love letter would be better. There’s nothing like it for making an impression on someone.”

Lucy visibly relaxed at Roen’s words.

“Ma’am, here’s the potion I brought.”

Cecil handed a black box to Roen. Lucy’s name was labeled on top of the box in gold.

“Cecil, Lady Lucy has requested something else instead of the potion.”

“Does that mean this isn’t needed anymore? But it was specially made for Lady Lucy…”

Cecil looked troubled as she rubbed her fingertip over Lucy’s name on the label.

“If possible, I’d like to purchase this too. I’ve waited two weeks to receive it. Would that be alright, Simonetta?”

“Of course it’s fine. This potion was made specifically for you, Lady Lucy. Now, could you tell me who you want to send the love letter to?”

“Ah, yes. Well, he is…”

Lucy’s cheeks turned pink.

As if recalling the moment she fell in love, her brown eyes sparkled with joy.

“If it’s difficult to say his name, you can start by telling me about your first meeting.”

At Roen’s suggestion, Lucy nodded. Then, in a slightly trembling voice, she slowly began to speak.

“I first saw him at Uriel Square. You’ll remember it too, Simonetta. The victory parade that happened recently.”

Roen felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

Nevertheless, she maintained a calm demeanor and listened attentively to Lucy.

“Yes, I remember. It was truly magnificent. Not just the crowds that filled the square, but the impressive sight of the knights returning victorious from the conquest.”

Roen recalled Duke Reushden riding a black horse across the square.

Dressed entirely in black, he stood out prominently among the cheering people who were showering flower petals.

Despite the celebration being in his honor, his expression remained cold, and he seemed displeased with the welcome ceremony.

‘That indifferent gaze even appeared arrogant.’

Yet despite his attitude, his perfect face had captivated the hearts of everyone present.

In fact, the cool, unapproachable aura combined with his perfect face made him even more special.

For a brief moment, Roen had made eye contact with him.

His silver-blue eyes had touched her face like a sharp blade.

Feeling an inexplicable embarrassment, Roen had pulled her coat’s hood over her head to hide her face, and the next moment, a sharp dagger had grazed her arm.

It was a cold sensation that sent chills down her spine.

Roen instinctively scanned her surroundings, searching for the assassin.

But before her eyes could find the assassin, she regained her senses at the strong scent of blood entering her nostrils.

She quickly wrapped her arm with her thick coat, making sure the blood didn’t flow out.

The deadly poison flowing in her body was fatal enough to take the life of an ordinary person.

She needed to leave that place immediately.

If her blood accidentally touched someone else, they would die just like her parents had ten years ago.

Suppressing the rising fear, she struggled to push through the crowd and escape.

And the moment she entered a deserted alley, she lost consciousness.

Fortunately, she had been safe because Cecil was with her, but thinking about that time still gave her goosebumps for various reasons.

The dagger that had grazed her arm at that time had been coated with a deadly poison for which there was no antidote.

“It seems he’s a knight.”

“Yes. Even though I only saw him briefly from a distance, he was truly beautiful. Especially his eyes. I’ve never seen eyes so deep and cold in my life.”

“Are you saying only his eyes were beautiful, Lady Lucy?”

Cecil, who had been listening to Lucy’s words, said playfully.

Lucy, who had been lost in her daydream, quickly shook her head.

Her bright smile and flushed face were unmistakably those of someone in love.

“Cecil, he’s beautiful in every way, to the point of perfection. His tall stature, his body trained in swordsmanship. And his cool demeanor with that melancholic face is so s*xy it makes my heart race.”

Lucy quickly covered her cheeks with both hands, seemingly embarrassed by her own words.

At that moment, Roen realized who Lucy was talking about.

Tsk, her ominous premonitions never failed.

Jean Saint Louis Reushden.

It was clear that he was the one Lucy had fallen for at first sight and wanted to send a love letter to.

“Duke Reushden, I presume.”

When Roen stated it definitively, Lucy nodded shyly.

“Duke Reushden? But he’s the one Duchess Roxburgh has publicly proposed to.”

Cecil carefully spoke while gauging Roen’s reaction. Lucy’s expression immediately darkened, and she bit her lip.

“That’s actually why I decided to send a love letter. If things continue like this, our Duke might become a victim of Roxburgh’s monster Duchess.”

Lucy’s face took on a solemn expression as she clenched her fist.

As if she were determined to rescue the handsome Duke from the monster Duchess of Roxburgh.

“That’s admirable, Lady Lucy. You’re like a gallant knight from a fairy tale. Though the genders are reversed.”

Roen spoke as if nothing was wrong, but Cecil’s lips twitched in disapproval.

Fortunately, Lucy didn’t seem to notice the atmosphere between the two.

“Yes, I intend to rescue him. Simonetta, when will the love letter be ready?”

“I think three days should be enough. Shall I send it to your residence once it’s completed?”

“No, there’s no need for that. I’d like you to deliver it directly to the Duke. I heard that’s possible too.”

For just a brief moment, a troubled look appeared and disappeared in Roen’s eyes.

The thought of delivering a love letter to Duke Reushden was awkward.

No, on second thought, it seemed like a good idea.

After all, she had boldly declared that she would interfere with his marriage to the Duchess of Roxburgh.

It might be amusing to visit him with another woman’s love letter just a few days later.

He would surely mock her actions, but it was quite intriguing.

“It’s possible, but… Would you not consider delivering it yourself, Lady Lucy? It could be an opportunity to make an impression on the Duke.”

At Roen’s words, Lucy looked tempted. She seemed to be considering it. But then she shook her head.

“I don’t think I can do that. I’m scared. It would surely cause a scandal. If I were rejected, not only would my reputation suffer, but my father wouldn’t stand for it. Plus, I’d be ridiculed by other ladies.”

Roen nodded as if she had no choice.

She had momentarily forgotten how sensitive Adrian Empire’s social circles were to rumors.

And how it was a frightening place that could bring someone down in an instant.

“I was thoughtless. Don’t worry, Lady Lucy. I’ll deliver the love letter to the Duke personally.”

“I’m counting on you, Simonetta.”