Chapter 6

“Ari Eriant?!”

The owner of the information guild, or more precisely, Shuan Eriant, sprang to his feet. He quickly approached me, stopping just in front of my nose.

I stood my ground and did not retreat. Shuan’s eyes seemed to blaze with intensity.

“How do you know that?”

“What do you mean? The whereabouts of Ari Eriant? Or the identity of the guild owner?”

Shuan, frustrated by my teasing tone, tore off his mask. He now acted as if his identity no longer mattered in the slightest.

Shuan knelt on one knee before me.

“If that information is certain, then this guild has no reason to exist. I can transfer it to you at any time.“

“It’s certain. The only difficulty is finding a way to get her out.”

“Where, where is she?“

Shuan’s voice was desperate.

The Marquis of Eriant had two children. One was Shuan Eriant, who stood before me now, and the other was Ari Eriant, the most beautiful woman in the Empire. Ari was so lovely that she had countless suitors.

Then, Ari suddenly disappeared. Many suitors set out to become the prince who would rescue her. The Marquis of Eriant even offered an enormous reward.

Despite this, Ari never returned to her family.

Her mother, the Marchioness of Eriant, busy managing social affairs, seemed to have almost given up looking for her daughter. But Shuan was different.

Shuan did everything he could to find his sister. He hoped that if she was alive, he could find some trace of her.

The Night Owl Information Guild was created for this reason. Despite the hassle, he personally met people and gathered information with all his efforts. The guild was nurtured with such earnestness that no amount of money could persuade him to sell it.

Neither money nor power could move him. Only information about Ari could sway Shuan’s heart.

I looked down at Shuan, kneeling at my feet, and spoke slowly.

“Lady Eriant is… imprisoned in the palace of the second prince.“

“What…?“

“It means she has become the consort of Prince Cain.”

In the Empire, no one but the Emperor was allowed to keep a consort. However, following the Emperor’s example, it was impossible to prevent arrogant nobles or wealthy individuals from secretly keeping consorts.

But the princes were an exception. Despite their significant rights, they were forbidden from keeping consorts.

Having a consort was considered a bid for the throne.

Historically, princes who kept many consorts to produce numerous offspring often used them to consolidate their power.

“Cain must be insane…”

Shuan looked utterly bewildered. It was extremely risky for a prince to keep a consort and hide it from the Emperor’s eyes.

On top of that, abducting a marquis’s daughter without permission to make her his consort was unbelievable.

While feeling relieved that his sister was alive, Shuan’s heart raced at the thought of her being involved in such a dangerous situation.

“Prince Cain is greedy, especially for beautiful women. He would not leave the most beautiful woman in the Empire alone. Moreover, he probably thought it was killing two birds with one stone since the Marquis of Eriant could influence the throne’s future.“

“Do you think our family would just accept that?!“

“Lord Eriant.”

I looked at him with a clear gaze. Shuan’s face twisted in pain as if he realized something from my eyes. He shook his head.

“That’s impossible. Mother wouldn’t know about this.“

“Do you really think she doesn’t know?”

Shuan struck the floor. His gentle demeanor had vanished, his clenched fists trembled, and his intense anger was palpable.

“If that information is certain, the Night Owl Information Guild is yours, Laila Winsley.”

Laila nodded. The information was sure, and the truth was unchangeable. Laila was confident.

“After you confirm it, you’ll have to help me. It will also help you retrieve your sister.“

“Understood.“

“Send the message to my home. Don’t forget to act like a close, noble lady friend. The name Lethe would be good.“

“Alright. Anything else?”

With nothing else to convey, I shook my head and turned to leave. Suddenly, I stopped and turned back, having thought of something.

“Within a few months, I will be marrying Grand Duke Zen. After that, send messages to Grand Duke Zen’s residence.”

Shuan started to say something but then stopped. I did not press further and left after a slight nod. The tavern remained noisy.

After Laila left, Shuan returned to his chair and fell into thought.

“How did Lady Winsley know that information?”

He unconsciously twirled a pen and muttered again. While her beautiful blonde hair and knightly, toned body were attractive, what captivated Shuan was different. Her voice, confident and unwavering even in critical situations, had a compelling power.

“It’s a pity that such a woman is marrying that monster duke.”

Shuan stared quietly outside, thinking of the audacious woman who had just been in front of him.

It was impressive enough that she had boldly entered through routes that any noble lady would naturally avoid. But people with tragic stories often managed to do such things.

“It must have taken effort just to find out the location of the Night Owl Information Guild. She knew my identity and exactly what I wanted.”

What did she have to possess such vast information? And what information did she still need from this place? That was even more suspicious.

***

Meanwhile, unaware that Shuan had taken an interest in her, Laila headed toward the waiting carriage.

I had forgotten, but I was still patient, and wandering outside all night made my body creak and groan.

“My Lady, are you alright?”

It seemed my steps had wavered. At the coachman’s inquiry, I waved a hand in response and climbed into the carriage. The coachman drove as slowly as possible. However, when the wheels hit a bump, the carriage jolted violently. My stomach churned, and I tasted the metallic tang of blood in my throat.

“Ugh…”

I spat blood into a handkerchief and wiped my mouth. I tossed the blood-stained handkerchief out into the darkness.

I had to hide my condition thoroughly. If my family discovered it, I would end up in a hospital rather than getting married.

* * *

The Marchioness of Eriant’s party was fast approaching.

Shortly before attending the party, I sent a letter to Julian.

“I will attend the party at the Marquis of Eriant’s residence. I will publicly declare that I am your fiancée. I hope you won’t be too surprised by your audacious fiancée and sending this brief letter.”

Julian likely wouldn’t appreciate a fiancée who announced their engagement everywhere.

But staying in the shadows didn’t stop people from talking about me. It was better to act boldly as if I had won him over.

I tied back my blonde hair with a bright blue ribbon adorned with small pearls, which gave it a luxurious yet cute look.

The Marchioness of Eriant’s parties were renowned for their extravagance, so I had to put extra effort into my appearance. I decided to wear the blue dress I had made but never dared to wear. I wore the lace gloves I had prepared for this day and twirled around. Anna clapped approvingly.

“My Lady! You look stunning!“

“I love it too. But I need to change my earrings.“

“What should we change them to?”

Anna and I buried our heads in the jewelry box, searching for the perfect earrings. The sparkling jewels made Anna’s eyes shine with excitement. Even I was mesmerized as I ran my fingers over the fabulous gems.

Knock, knock. A soft knock was followed by the door opening slightly, revealing my mother. She looked elegant and composed but seemed anxious due to her dawdling daughter.

“Laila, you’ll be late for the party at this rate!”

I rushed out of the room after my mother’s worried exclamation. In a flurry, I got into the carriage while Anna continued to fix my hair. I nervously adjusted my bangs, looking outside.

The Marquis of Eriant’s mansion was magnificent. It was bright and lively as if no tragedy had befallen their My Ladying daughter. The Marchioness of Eriant greeted the guests with a wide smile.

“Lady Winsley, I’m delighted you could attend my party. Let’s create some wonderful connections.“

“Thank you for the invitation. It’s an honor.”

I lifted my skirt and curtsied deeply. Being invited to the Marchioness of Eriant’s party was a sign of one’s significance in society. Here, one could form precious connections and gather rare information.

As I entered the party, I saw Shuan raising a champagne glass in a greeting from a corner. He wore a light-colored suit that matched his bright, constantly smiling face.

I returned his nod and slowly made my way toward him.

“Eriant’s young master doesn’t usually attend his mother’s parties, I heard,“ I said, wearing my social smile. He mirrored my smile as he responded.

“I became quite curious about this party when I heard Lady Winsley would be attending.”

Why would he be curious about a party when our relationship is purely professional?

In my past life, he was single-mindedly focused on finding his sister.

Back then, I had requested information from Shuan about “evidence of the second prince’s treason.“ While investigating my request, Shuan discovered that the second prince had a hidden consort, who turned out to be his own sister, Ari Eriant.

But in this life, I had provided that information directly. There was no need to take a roundabout route when a quicker one was available. Naturally, he would be curious about where I had obtained such information, and thus, it was only logical for him to be interested in me.

The disparity between this life and the previous one made me dizzy and happy. Perhaps I could save my family, too.

“You are said to be ‘the most beautiful woman‘ at this party.”

I met his gaze smoothly. No matter what other reasons he claimed, his primary concern was undoubtedly his sister, Ari Eriant, who was the “most beautiful woman in the world.“

“It takes a lot of time to achieve this level of adornment,“ I said with a sigh, hinting that more time was needed to rescue Ari Eriant. Shuan seemed to understand immediately and asked,

“Is there anything this gentleman can do to help?“

“Yes, it would be even better if you helped.”

I clapped my gloved hands in a playful imitation of a frivolous lady, making only a tiny rustling sound.

“I am willing to assist with anything involving a lady.”

Shuan bent down and extended his hand to me. I placed my hand over him, and he respectfully kissed the back of it. There was no s*xual connotation; it was simply a gesture of respect toward a lady.

However, this act drew everyone’s attention.

I was the fiancée of the Grand Duke of Zan, rumored to be a monster, and Shuan was the handsome scion of a marquisate.

Some people found this scene amusing, but it annoyed someone greatly.

“How cozy you are with another man right after ending your engagement, Lady Winsley,“ said my former fiancé and husband from my past life, Kazak Amber, as he approached.