Chapter 109

Sabrina, seated on the plush sofa of the VIP room, took a sip of water. Despite having visited many parts of the Imperial Palace, this room was entirely new to her.

“This is nice. Comfortable.”

As Sabrina looked around the room with a thrilled expression, she heard the sound of the door opening.

Click.

The familiar face that entered caught her attention, and her hand, which was about to set the glass down, froze mid-air. The person who stepped into the room also halted, standing silently in the doorway and staring at her.

“……”

“……”

It was Sabrina who broke the awkward silence first.

“It’s been a while, Clayton.”

“……”

“I haven’t seen you around much lately. I was looking for you.”

Clayton nodded. 

“I went down to the estate for a while. There were some matters concerning the family.”

“I see…”

Clayton walked across the room and sat down across from Sabrina. Sensing the silence would stretch further, Sabrina spoke again.

“How is the Marquis doing? Is he coming today? I should greet him.”

“Yes, he is doing well. He’ll be here today as well.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Sabrina smiled faintly.

“My father hasn’t been bothering the Marquis too much, has he…?”

Clayton immediately shook his head.

“No. He’s been rather quiet lately. In fact, I found it a bit odd.”

“Oh.”

“It seems he’s given up. Was there something that happened recently?”

At Clayton’s words, Sabrina’s eyes narrowed. There was only one plausible reason for the Viscount of Wintlet to suddenly abandon his plans to cling to the Marquisate of Hatchet.

‘He must have found an easier and more convincing source of wealth. Something like the Ducal House of Evenheim.’

A cold smile played on Sabrina’s lips. 

‘Of course, it’s just a fleeting dream that will soon shatter.’

Looking directly into Clayton’s eyes, Sabrina spoke.

“I’m not entirely certain, but I have my suspicions.”

“What are they?”

“I’ll tell you later. Not today, but later.”

Sabrina smiled slightly, and Clayton’s stiff expression began to soften. After a brief silence, Sabrina slowly opened her mouth again.

“Clayton.”

Clayton’s gray eyes turned toward her, and his lips curved slightly, as if he already knew what she was about to say.

“Yes.”

Sabrina met his gaze directly and said, 

“I feel like I owe you an answer for what you said back then.”

“……”

“I’m sorry. And… thank you.”

Clayton nodded at her words.

“I understand.”

Turning his head, he gazed at the painting hanging on the wall and spoke.

“To be honest, I feel sorry.”

Sabrina’s eyes widened.

“Sorry? To me? For what?”

“For making you uncomfortable just so I could feel at ease.”

Sabrina quickly shook her head.

“No, no. That wasn’t the case.”

She looked at him directly.

“Clayton, you’re a truly good person. It’s a joy to know that someone as good as you saw me in a positive light.”

“……”

“I’m the one who should apologize. If I’d been more perceptive, I wouldn’t have caused you so much distress.”

At her words, Clayton chuckled.

“Thanks to your lack of perceptiveness, I was able to hold you in my heart for a little longer.”

“That’s…”

“If you had known, you would’ve pushed me away much sooner.”

Sabrina fell silent, knowing his words were true. Clayton, as if understanding her thoughts, lowered his lashes and smiled.

“Sabrina.”

“Yes.”

Clayton’s gaze settled on her. He waited until she looked at him before speaking.

“I enjoyed the time I spent liking you. I felt emotions I never would have otherwise, and it was quite pleasant.”

Clayton lifted the corners of his mouth slightly.

“If you ask whether I feel regret, I’d have to say yes…”

“……”

“But I have no regrets about liking someone worth liking.”

Clayton spoke each word with sincerity.

“I’ll take care of the remaining emotions myself. So please, don’t feel sorry or awkward. After all, we’ll continue to see each other.”

Clayton extended his hand toward Sabrina.

“Let’s get along from now on.”

Sabrina stared at the hand held out to her, then smiled and nodded. She grasped his hand firmly for a moment before letting go and replied, 

“Yes, let’s do that.”

At that moment, a knock came from the closed door. Both of their gazes shifted toward it. The door opened slightly, and a servant entered, bowing.

“The banquet has begun. Please proceed down this hallway.”

At the servant’s words, Clayton stood up lightly.

“Let’s go.”

Clayton smiled, his expression free of any lingering awkwardness. Seeing his face, Sabrina’s own smile brightened.

“Yes, let’s go.”

***

“I believe this has been an unusually cold year.”

Chase’s voice, standing atop the podium, silenced the room.

“The entire Empire has been in turmoil due to various events. Horrific incidents that are difficult to even speak of occurred one after another, and through them, many of the hidden corruptions came to light. I believe you all feel the same sorrow as I do.”

Chase scanned the crowd in the banquet hall as he continued.

“However, I think this pain has served as an opportunity to uproot the decay and rebuild the foundation of the Empire. This was thanks to those who showed courage as bright as light amidst the darkness. Therefore, I would like to express my gratitude to them as we close this unusually long year.”

Chase called out two names.

“Clayton Hatchet. And Sabrina Wintlet, step forward.”

As Chase looked at Clayton and Sabrina in turn, he spoke again.

“In recognition of their significant contributions to apprehending the underground organization that threatened the Empire’s security, I hereby award Clayton Hatchet and Sabrina Wintlet this medal. Additionally, I bestow upon them the baronies of Rondo and Salem, respectively.”

The room stirred slightly at Chase’s words. However, no one was more surprised than Sabrina herself.

“……!”

Clayton seemed composed, perhaps having anticipated this or been informed beforehand. After receiving the gleaming gold medal and plaque, Clayton stepped aside, and an astonished Sabrina took his place.

“Congratulations, Sabrina.”

Chase whispered softly as he handed her a familiar box.

“This also needs to be returned to you.”

“Oh.”

Sabrina chuckled softly. When she opened the box, the pearl inside shone brilliantly, having endured all the hardships and still radiating beauty. It had now become her most cherished medal.

Meeting Chase’s eyes, Sabrina whispered, 

“So this is why you told me not to worry? And why you said to look forward to it?”

Chase shook his head with a smile.

“No, this was all your doing.”

“……”

“You fought and won against your name.”

Sabrina bit her lip, her nose stinging with emotion. The words “fought and won against your name” were the most gratifying and moving she had ever heard.

Salem.

Sabrina repeated the new name given to her in her mind. It tickled a corner of her heart. Though it still felt unfamiliar, the thought of being free from the shackles of Wintlet and stepping into the world filled her with satisfaction.

As Chase watched Sabrina’s cheeks flush like a young girl’s, he bent slightly and whispered, 

“I haven’t given you my gift yet, so look forward to it.”

And it was exactly a week later that Sabrina received Chase’s gift.

***

“Do I really just need to sign here?”

Sabrina Wintlet’s eyes widened to their limits. The stern-looking man nodded in response.

“Yes.”

Sliding a document across the table, he spoke again.

“If you just sign this renunciation of inheritance, your legal ties to the Wintlet family will be completely severed.”

Sabrina’s heart pounded rapidly. The man’s words were so sweet they felt unreal.

“I didn’t know such a thing was possible. I’ve looked into it myself, but…”

“Normally, it wouldn’t be easy. Of course not. When His Majesty first mentioned it, even I doubted whether it could realistically be done.”

The man adjusted his glasses and shook his head.

“But the Wintlet Viscountcy has been openly bragging about it. The viscount and his children have spread the word far and wide that they kicked you out of the family. Because of that, there are plenty of witnesses.”

“Ah…”

Sabrina let out a hollow laugh.

“So that actually worked to my advantage.”

“Indeed.”

After a brief moment of thought, Sabrina tilted her head slightly.

“But will the Wintlet family just let it slide? They’re not the type to stay quiet.”

“They probably will.”

“What?”

The man shrugged.

“There was a little… pressure involved.”

Pressure?

Sabrina frowned slightly. Chase must have done something, but she couldn’t quite figure out what it was.

“The Wintlet Trading Company was subjected to a tax audit, and… let’s just say some issues came to light.”

“Issues?”

Sabrina’s face grew uneasy. The man waved his hand dismissively, as if it were nothing.

“It’s a trick that’s been circulating quietly among merchants lately, and it’s notoriously difficult to catch. But…”

He rubbed his fingertips together and smirked.

“If you’re determined to catch it and dig deep enough, it’s bound to come to light.”

“Then…”

“They likely won’t face punishment. But the amount they’ll have to pay, including back taxes and penalties, is substantial…”

The man scribbled some numbers onto the paper in front of him.

“By my estimate, about this much?”

Scribble.

Sabrina’s jaw dropped as she saw the figure he had written.

“T-this much? Of course, by law, penalties can be quite severe. They’d have to pay several times the original amount. But…”

Sabrina tilted her head in confusion.

“With the Wintlet family’s finances, they can’t possibly handle that amount.”

“No, probably not.”

The man leaned back in his chair and continued.

“They’ve already had to put their capital mansion up for sale. They’re also selling parts of their estate.”

“…”

“So, they won’t be able to enter the capital for a while. With nowhere to stay and no one to rely on… It’ll take them quite a long time to recover.”

It took Sabrina a moment to fully grasp the man’s words.

Freedom. Liberation.

And the moment she fully understood their meaning, her large eyes filled with tears.

‘It’s over.’

Memories of the past flashed before her eyes one by one.

The times she prepared for exams in secret, hiding from her family.

The long hours she endured, pretending not to hear the malicious rumors her family spread about her.

The struggles she faced trying to sever ties with her family, who wanted to leech off her achievements.

When that didn’t work, Archer tried to exploit Elena for his gain.

It had been a relentless and exhausting chain of toxic relationships.

‘It’s truly over now. I’m free.’

Sabrina buried her face in her hands to hide her reddened eyes. She wiped away the tears pooling at the corners of her eyes and smiled brightly as she expressed her gratitude.

“Thank you for all your efforts. I understand.”

“I’ll take care of the paperwork and handle the rest. There’s nothing more for you to do, Madame.”

The man stood up, straightening his clothes. He gave Sabrina a meaningful smile and bowed.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Sabrina returned the gesture, bowing her head in response.

“Thank you. You’ve worked hard as well.”

As the man turned to leave the room, he suddenly paused and turned back.

“By the way, His Majesty mentioned in passing that you’re looking for a house these days?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected comment, Sabrina’s eyes widened.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I thought I remembered correctly.”

The man smiled faintly and added casually.

“I heard the Wintlets are selling their mansion at quite a bargain. That just came to mind.”