Chapter 160 (2/2)

“But Madam.”

Ian tensed up and called her nervously. He was nervous at the thought he wouldn’t even get what she had promised at first.

Artizea knew his anxiety as if looking into the palm of his hand.

It wasn’t bad

His greed is great, but he has no gambler temperament. He seems to have a good brain, but that doesn’t mean he’s much smarter than usual.

Like Skyla, he was not thoroughly educated from an early age and trained as a high-ranking noble.

In other words, he would be just a petty criminal.

As long as she doesn’t strangely twist his ego while making him the Marquis, he’ll be easy to handle.

‘On the looks, it’s not bad compared to the rough life.’

Artizea thought for a moment. A new idea came to mind.

What could be the reason Marquisate Rosan couldn’t do what Marquisate Luden did?

Of course, the form would be quite different from what Ian thought.

Just as when Marquisate Luden was involved in the succession of the title, it was Marchioness Camellia that was the subject of the master-servant contract, not the Marquis.

Anyway, that was for later. For now, it was just a passing idea.

Artizea answered Ian with a darkened face.

“I don’t like those who don’t have any power and try to secure something with an uncertain price in the future.”

“Madam ….”

“But from my point of view, it is very embarrassing not to be able to do what I have been commanded to do. So, I’ll pretend I haven’t heard of it.”

Ian let out a sigh of relief as well.

“Thank you, madam.”

“Then, will Heir Apparent accept my offer?”

“I’ll, I’ll think about it. I am nothing to your master, but to me my life is precious.”

“Yes. Just think it through.”

Artizea didn’t say any more.

Ian could not hide his nervousness and stood up. He realized that there was no possibility that good conditions would be offered just because he held on longer.

The men came in and took Ian, who was blindfolded again, out.

Artizea also ordered his eyes that had been watching secretly to be closed.

Eventually, at the point when he got the offer and decided to come this way, Ian had to know that he couldn’t go back the way he was.

Freil asked.

“Have you decided?”

“Decided?”

“Yes. I was wondering if you had chosen Mr. Ian as the Marquis of Camellia. Lady Skyla has already come to see you three times, but you turned her down, right?”

“It might look like that. It would be better if even Skyla thought that way.”

“Lady Skyla has not yet decided to pledge her allegiance to Your Grace. If she doesn’t think Your Grace’s trust can be trusted, she’ll go all the way to Grand Duke Roygar.”

And, in Freil’s judgment, the only thing Ian had better than Skyla was that his purpose was well-rounded.

It could have been important. So they can feel at ease.

It was understandable if it was in the sense of reducing the variables rather than trying to bring Marquisate Camellia into power.

Artizea smiled brightly.

“Skyla’s position is a bit vague. In any case, just because she remains fully loyal to Grand Duke Roygar, following Marchioness Camellia as she is now, there is no guarantee that she will be able to fully exercise her rights as Marchioness Camellia in the future.”

“But at least the inheritance itself will be stable. Now, she will inherit the property and interests as it is, and she will become the Marquis of Camelia herself. Wouldn’t the political position be more stable than that of the current Marchioness?”

Freil objected.

“If His Majesty makes it difficult to inherit the title, there is a risk that she will turn into an enemy.”

Artizea continued.

“She’s been here three times already, haven’t she? it’s okay.”

“Your Grace.”

“I’m sure she knows who is in a bad position. She’ll be making her fourth visit soon.”

As if she had already made an appointment with Skyla, Artizea said calmly.

“As long as there are only a few things that can be achieved by attaching to Grand Duke Roygar, Skyla has no choice but to consider many things.”

“Lady Skyla has an active personality.”

“Yes. And as I said before, Sir Freil, it is the heart above all else that moves people.”

No matter how rational a person may appear, their judgment is ultimately influenced by their emotions.

The decision was more so than the judgment.

A lot of people act because they want to do it, and they decide because they can’t help it.

Skyla is resentful at the Marquisate Luden’s behaviour toward Marchioness Camellia.

And there is a resentment towards the Marchioness Camellia herself for accepting it obediently.

It would twist Skyla’s judgment. Especially since she respects and loves her mother.

And just as Artizea said, Skyla visited the next afternoon.

＊＊＊

Until her third visit, Skyla felt relaxed despite being rejected. It was only natural that Artizea, who had suffered from great troubles with her pregnancy, could not easily meet people.

But on her fourth visit, she didn’t have that much leeway. She failed to follow the rule of sneaking in through Alice’s back door.

The information network of Marchioness Camellia had already caught on that Ian had entered the capital.

Marchioness Camellia was not so concerned when news came that Ian had disappeared from where he was living.

But the matter was different if he had come to the capital.