Chapter 79

79. If You Really Like Her

“……!”

Puck! Running quickly, Callion kicked the man in the shin.

“Ouch!”

The man lost his balance and fell to the ground. Callion held his sword to the man’s throat, nuzzled his back, and asked low.

“Who are you?”

“…….”

“Who sent you here? If you don’t speak the truth, I’ll slit your throat right here.”

“I, I’m…….”

“Just a moment, Your Grace!”

Roella, who had caught up to the situation, stopped Callion. The man at Callion’s feet struggled to raise his head. His face was vaguely familiar in the moonlight.

Adelaide spoke, a step ahead of Roella.

“Lord Owens?”

While Callion was taken aback, Roella pushed Callion’s foot off the man’s back and helped him up. Callion furrowed his brow as he examined the dirt-covered face.

“Martin Owens…….”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Callion led the two of them to an empty barracks. Despite Roella’s explanation that they were secretly meeting as lovers, Callion’s expression remained stern.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace.”

Roella apologized softly, her face pale. Martin Owens, wiping the dirt from his face, bowed low.

“I am so sorry, Your Graces, Duke and Duchess.”

Adelaide looked between the two of them.

“There’s no need to apologize to me. It would have been better if you had told us in advance.”

“That’s because…… I was afraid my father would find out…….”

Roella replied, her voice crawling.

She understood why she wanted to keep it a secret, Hayward Changeling would have been very upset if he found out, but it’s a good thing they found out, what if someone else had seen it.

Adelaide shook her head nervously, and Martin Owens interrupted.

“It’s all my fault, My Lady. I forced Lady Roella to come, so you have only me to blame.”

“No, I said I wanted to see you.”

“No, you didn’t, and it’s my fault for following you here without consulting you.”

“Don’t say that, Martin. You’ve done nothing wrong.”

“…….”

Callion furrowed his brow at the mournful dialogue, like lovers who had been separated for life.

This isn’t just a trip; it’s an expedition for food. He hoped they hadn’t been discovered, but once they were, there was no turning back.

“I am not taking issue with your coming to see Lady Roella, but rather, I am pointing out that you infiltrated the military camp in the middle of the night without permission. Mr. Martin Owens.”

“I apologise, Your Grace. I’ve barely seen her in two years, and if we part ways this time, I don’t think I’ll see her again for a while…….”

Martin Owens stammered out a lame excuse. Roella burst into tears, saying that they had only written to each other for two years because it was too far to travel to meet. Adelaide raised an eyebrow.

“If you love her so much, why don’t you just ask her to marry you?”

“My parents wouldn’t approve.”

Martin Owens added to Roella’s answer.

“Our family is too small compared to the Changelings, and I don’t think the Changeling would approve, and my parents would…….”

“There are many more beautiful and healthy girls in noble families than me.”

True enough. The Owenses are greedy men, and they will not welcome Roella. It might be different if Changelings were a more powerful figure in the capital.

As they both said, it was a relationship that neither family would be happy about.

“So do you intend to continue meeting like this?”

Callion asked sharply. Martin Owens lowered his gaze weakly.

“I’m not sure…… I can cut ties with my parents for Lady Roella’s sake, but I don’t see how I can make her happy when I’m penniless.”

“Isn’t that why you’re looking for a way to break away from your family and become independent?”

Adelaide said.

“By publishing a newspaper.”

“……!”

Martin Owens’s eyes widened. His mouth dropped open in shock, and after a long moment, he turned to Adelaide.

“Oh, you knew about that?”

“How could a newspaper publish without knowing who the publisher is?”

“Uh…….”

“Thanks to that, I got a lot of help.”

Adelaide smiled lightly. After a moment of silence, Callion spoke up.

“I forgive you for publishing the false article because you helped me.”

“I apologise. Your Grace.”

Martin Owens dropped his head to the floor.

“My family has offended you in many ways.”

It wasn’t just an apology for the newspaper article. Callion’s expression hardened slightly.

“When I think about the wrongs my parents have done to you, I have nothing to say, even if I have ten mouths. As their son, I apologize on their behalf.”

Martin Owens was not like his parents.

He was intelligent, ambitious, and still harbored an untainted sense of justice. It remained to be seen how he would change when confronted with reality and setbacks, but he seemed like a promising prospect not to be broken easily.

“It’s not fair for children to atone for their parents’ sins.”

“…….”

“And it’s not a sin that can be atoned for with just a few apologies. We’re talking about what the Count Owens did in Tiflis.”

“……I am aware of it.”

Martin Owens dropped his gaze. Adelaide took Callion’s hand lightly and said,

“You’re right, my lord, but a wrong needs to be righted.”

Martin Owens realised she was trying to appease him. But he didn’t have a positive answer.

“My parents…… will not be able to help you.”

A shade passed over his face. Adelaide remembered Margaret’s comment.

“It’s just that…… looked a little strange. His eyes were glassy, like he was drunk, his gait unsteady, and he had a peculiar scent.”

“Is it because of velido?”

Martin nodded in response to the straightforward question.

“They’re both addicted to Velido, especially my father, who can’t sleep without it.”

“Is it something they can’t quit?”

“They’ve tried several times but failed. It’s gotten to the point where doctors say it’s better to indulge than to suffer without it…”

“So that’s why the Count of Owens hasn’t made any public appearances.”

“Yes, Your Grace. The Marquis of Flanders’ affairs have left them with no means of saving Velido, and they are forced to rely on His Majesty.”

Martin Owens finished his words with difficulty. It was the first time Roella had heard of this, and tears welled up in her eyes.

“Martin…….”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, Roella. That’s why I can’t ask you to marry me.”

He shook his head in despair.

Was Owenses the only one addicted to Velido?

Elkius had deliberately distributed Velido to get his hands on people. Many of those caught in his web were like Lord Owens.

“Such temporary measures will not solve the problem.”

“I know. But…….”

“Have you not seen the end of the Marquis of Flanders? His Majesty is not one to spare a hand that has become useless.”

Adelaide countered Callion’s words.

“If you want to save your parents, start by securing the ledger with His Majesty.”

“You mean the ledger……?”

“Yes. His Majesty may use Velido as bait to demand the ledgers, and the moment you give them to him, the Owens family will be finished.”

“I see.”

“Then, whether you send him to a sanatorium or call in a doctor, do whatever you can to get Count Owens to break the Velidos. It’s only a matter of time before he follows in the footsteps of the Marquis of Flanders.”

“I will do as you say, Your Grace.”

“If you succeed, you will be able to propose to Lady Roella with dignity.”

Martin Owens, who understood at once what was meant without a long explanation, clenched his fist resolutely.

Adelaide patted Roella on the shoulder and rose to her feet.

“If you truly love her, don’t give up.”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

After burying the night’s commotion in secrecy, the group headed back south. As they approached the south, the weather grew hotter.

‘It would be really difficult if there wasn’t enough water in this weather.’

Even while sitting still in the carriage, sweat poured down like rain. Adelaide wiped her face with her handkerchief.

“It’s quite hot, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Even in summer, Tiflis is cool at night, so I’ve never experienced heat like this.”

“It’ll be cooler once we get into the castle. We’ll be there soon; just hang in there.”

Roella smiled as she looked out the window. Even though it was hot, she didn’t break a sweat. Adelaide fanned herself as she sat quietly in the carriage.

“Isn’t it hot for you, Lady Roella?”

“I’m used to it; I’m fine; just change your clothes when you get there.”

“I should, though I’m sure the clothes I brought will be hot.”

“I’ll let you borrow my clothes.”

As they chatted, the castle loomed closer. The carriage carrying Adelaide was the first to enter the castle. While the steward led the carts to the stables, Callion assisted Adelaide and Roella.

“Be careful getting off.”

The carriage doors opened and a gust of hot air rushed in. Adelaide hesitantly stepped out of the carriage, the heat stifling her breath.

“It’s quiet.”

Callion said, looking around at the stillness of the castle. A messenger should have announced their arrival before entering the estate, but no one had come to greet them.

“It’s hot,” Roella said cheerfully as she stepped out of the carriage behind him.

“It’s hot, so let’s get inside, Your Grace.”

Adelaide walked away in confusion as she saw Roella naturally heading towards the castle.

Was this really the castle of Hayward Changeling?

There were hardly any people inside the castle. As she looked around the castle with a sinking feeling, she heard footsteps.

“Hmm?”

A middle-aged woman with a dignified appearance threw down the tray she was carrying and came running at a furious pace.

“Baby!”