Yes. He must admit it if it’s true. He cannot deny the presence of Duke Fraser. In this realm – no, on this continent – there is hardly anyone who can ignore the man. 

Besides, since their first meeting yesterday, Curtis has shattered Delfion’s expectations on several occasions. 

“You were using an unregistered location as a branch.” 

“It was originally used as a warehouse, but only when there was an excessive amount of goods…” 

“So you used it as a branch.”

Curtis burst in unannounced, overturned the secret branch of the Ackman Trading Company, and then turned his gaze on the entire organisation with an eerily indifferent expression. 

The branch manager, drenched in sweat, tried to explain that they had broken no Imperial law – but who was he dealing with? None other than Curtis Fraser. 

Eventually, with no other choice, the manager had to contact headquarters, and Curtis’ unauthorised intrusion was seamlessly transformed into an Imperial law enforcement raid. 

Delfion, the owner of the trading company, watched the scene from afar, unable to hide his shock.

“Duke Fraser? He does everything fair and by the book. I’ve heard that he doesn’t tolerate any exceptions or deviations. As long as you stick to the rules, he’s not too difficult to deal with. Well, the Duke himself is a difficult person to deal with, but still.” 

But the assessment of Curtis that Delfion had accepted until then was completely overturned. 

Strict in his principles? Always by the book? A man who, although clearly making things up on the spot, delivered his improvisations so naturally and with such airtight logic that no one could refute them? 

First hit by the unexpected choice of words telling him to get lost, then by the unexpected attack on his trading company, Delfion was still reeling when Curtis suddenly disappeared.

And today, it happened again.

“T-The head office hasn’t sent anyone yet! Please, just give us a little more time!”
“I’m not here for that today, so calm down. Just take this lady to whoever she’s staying with.”

Curtis strolled into the branch like he owned the place, his presence as commanding as ever. But this time, he wasn’t alone—by his side stood one of the twins from the Gruy estate.

The moment Delfion laid eyes on the twin, a cold realization struck him. Curtis had come for Dalia.

If he hadn’t stepped outside at that exact moment, he would have been forced to watch, powerless, as Dalia was whisked away—like a man realizing, too late, that his nose had been cut from his face.

Come to think of it, the widespread rumours that Duke Fraser has no interest whatsoever in his Duchess seem completely unfounded. If anything, he seems to have more than enough interest… 

“Well, gentlemen, I hate to be rude, but I think it’s time for you to leave.” 

Delfion had watched the tense standoff between Dalia and Curtis, waiting for the right moment to intervene. But his hopes were dashed when Sonia effortlessly blocked his attempt. 

‘I really can’t deal with those twins.’ 

Muttering to himself in frustration, Delfion tried to delay his departure, aiming to leave after Curtis. But Curtis, unconcerned, didn’t even look at him before turning on his heel and leaving first.

Feeling as if he had somehow lost, Delfion strode out with long, determined steps. 

Click. 

The sound of the door closing was immediately followed by Sonia pressing dramatically against it, her expression filled with solemn determination. 

“What are you doing?” 

“I don’t know if this door is soundproof or not. I just want to make sure they’re really gone.” 

With extreme caution, Sonia pressed her ear to the door, her eyes darting around in concentration. 

Dalia, unable to stop her, found herself holding her breath as well. Minutes passed in silence. 

“Ugh. No matter how many times I hear the Duke’s voice, I just can’t get used to it.” 

Sonia shivered slightly and rubbed her ears before whispering softly. 

“My lady, be careful.” 

“Huh?”

“Duke Fraser.” 

“The Duke? I wonder if he has done anything to harm you……”

“No, I doubt he even knows I exist. That’s not what I meant. I’m talking about the way he looks at you!” 

Dalia tilted her head, clearly confused by Sonia’s words. Frustrated, Sonia clutched her chest as if to calm herself. 

“He’s half in love with you!” 

“What? That’s impossible.”

The firm denial came so fast that there wasn’t even a pause for breath, leaving Sonia gaping in shock. 

How could she not notice those eyes?

“My lady, did you happen to sell your keen sense of perception to the Ackman Trading Company?” 

Sonia looked around playfully, as if searching for something, mimicking the act of searching for Dalia’s lack of perception. But Dalia just gave her a light push and let out a small laugh. 

“You and I mean nothing to him. Half gone, you say? That look of his is just that – utterly meaningless.”

Though some of it still lingered in her mind, Dalia brushed the back of her hand before shaking her head. 

“People who throw looks like that around for no reason are called lunatics! But there’s no way Duke Fraser is mad, is there?” 

“Sure, sure. More importantly, what exactly were you trying to warn me about?”

When Dalia waved her hand dismissively and moved on, Sonia pouted, looking utterly wronged. Of course, even with that expression, she didn’t stop moving, her quick steps keeping pace. 

“The Duke’s gaze is…” 

“Yes, yes. What kind of warning were you trying to give me? Has something great happened to your family?”

“My family is perfectly fine. My warning is that the Duke’s eyes are half gone……”

Knock, knock. 

“Dalia.” 

At the sound of Curtis’s voice following the knock, Sonia immediately clamped both hands over her mouth, her neck recoiling like a startled turtle.

Despite Sonia’s reaction, Dalia remained calm and answered steadily. 

“Come in.” 

At her permission, the door opened – to reveal not just one person, but two. 

“Dal-!” 

Delfion’s face lit up as he began to call out to her, but Curtis spoke first. 

“It seems you’re not ready yet.” 

Dalia, who had given Delfion a brief nod of greeting, looked at Curtis with a puzzled expression. 

“Ready for what?”

“Ah, my lady! I’ll pack at once. I took care of the important things earlier, so the rest will be done in no time!” 

Sonia, who had been standing close to Dalia, suddenly stood up like a soldier under command, her voice loud and determined. Without hesitation, she began to rummage through the room, quickly overturning things in her haste to pack. 

“To prepare for your return.” 

“Return? But I…” 

Hadn’t she made it clear that, as the Duchess of Fraser, she had no intention of setting foot on the Duke’s estate ever again?

Dalia’s emerald eyes shone with a sharp intelligence, just on the edge of piercing. 

“For now, let’s return to the Gruy estate.” 

What did he mean by for now?

The qualifier unsettled her, but regardless, it was time to go home. After all, this had been an escape to avoid Curtis. Now that she was facing him, it was only natural that it would come to an end. 

“That’s right. I should go back. Home.” 

The moment she referred to the Gruy estate as home, Curtis’s lips tightened, while the corner of Delfion’s eyes crinkled in amusement.

Sonia, scurrying around like a squirrel, expertly collected everything that had even briefly touched Dalia’s hands and packed it away with uncanny precision. 

“I’ll go first! See you later, my lady!” 

With a bag almost as big as herself strapped tightly to her back, Sonia nearly fled the room. 

Even as she left, she gave Dalia a desperate look, silently conveying her message: 

Watch out for those crazy eyes!

Of course, Dalia dismissed Sonia’s antics with an exasperated sigh, dismissing her warning as an unnecessary fuss. 

She took a moment to look around the room she had spent the last few days in, as if she were seeing it all over again.

She hadn’t even lasted a year – barely a few months – before she crossed paths with Curtis again. She hadn’t even had time to collect her thoughts… 

Come to think of it, she never got an answer. 

Why had he gone to such lengths to find her? 

Before she realised it, her thoughts had drifted back to Curtis, her focus naturally settling on the man standing before her. 

Sensing the shift in her attention with keen intuition, Delfion suddenly blurted out, completely out of context – 

“I’m coming too!”

Delfion stepped boldly forward and added, 

“I will escort you to the Gruy estate.” 

While he managed to get Dalia’s attention, he unfortunately also earned the full brunt of Curtis’ icy stare. 

Dalia blinked in confusion, momentarily unable to process Delfion’s completely unexpected declaration. But Curtis, his gaze now icy, looked down at him and spoke in a dangerously cool tone. 

“Is there a reason for you to accompany us?” 

“Of course. Dalia came here with me, so it’s only right that I accompany her on the way back.”

Delfion subtly emphasised the words “with me” as he straightened his back and squared his shoulders, determined not to be intimidated by Curtis. 

But the moment their eyes locked, he jumped. 

He hadn’t really wanted to know what it felt like to be overwhelmed by another’s gaze, but there he was. 

Fighting his instinct to avert his eyes, Delfion forced himself to maintain an air of nonchalance. His ability to hide his emotions was impeccable – after all, even while hiding his true identity as the head of the Ackman Trading Company, he had successfully navigated numerous high-stakes deals. 

The only problem was his opponent. 

Curtis saw right through him and crushed him with just a few words. 

“Do you really think there’s any place for a third party to interfere in the affairs of a husband and wife?”