Chapter 221 (1/2)

Chapter 221: Chapter 221

“It’s been a while, Duke Jena Jr.”

“Don’t call me that!”

“Then, what should I call someone who doesn’t even have a title?”

When I pulled my mouth up sharply, he stared at me with an angry expression.

But he didn’t try to attack me, sensing that he was in an unfavorable situation.

After gnashing his teeth for some time, he said in a subdued voice, “…What do you want? ”

“Hmm, I like that you got my point quickly. You don’t want to make it known to the outside that the successor of the Dias family is actually an illegitimate child of the Jena family, do you?”

“I beg your pardon? Illegitimate child?”

When the countess, who was preoccupied with covering her face, shouted sharply, the man looked back at her and said, “Let her leave. It’s me you are targeting now, right?”

“Well, I don’t care, but would you feel comfortable if I let her go? What if she alone gets away with it, with the blame on you?”

“She is not such a woman. Do not judge her by your standards. ”

“Well, good. You can leave, Countess Dias. Don’t tell anybody what you saw here. I think you already know the reason why.”

“… ”

The woman, who just stared at me silently, passed by Sir League coldly out of the room.

After the rustling sound of the hem of her dress completely disappeared, Duke Jena Jr. said in an icy tone, with his arms folded, “So, tell me what you want.”

“I need your cooperation.”

“Cooperation?”

I smiled at him who was teasing me as if he thought I was ridiculous.

“It would not be too bad for you, either. So, just listen first.”

“… ”

“Why do you think you are called Duke Jena Jr.? Isn’t it because you haven’t inherited the title yet? Don’t you think it’s unfair? Even the son of the Mirwa family is now called Marquis Mirwa, as you know.”

I thought what I just said could provoke him, given his recent breakfast meeting with the emperor. Didn’t he fly off the handle at his father’s slightest provocation?

Not surprisingly, the man said nothing special while knitting his brows.

“If you help me, I will help you to take the title.”

“… How?”

“To be honest with you, I know it is none other than Duke Jena who told his subordinate to poison me, and I have the hard evidence. You know what would happen if I disclosed it, right? Not only the noble faction but also the emperor won’t overlook it. In that case, your family will be dealt a heavy blow, no matter how strong your family is in the empire.”

I said that to sound him out, but as the successor of the Jena family he was not so easily taken in. I said to the man who kept silent, smacking his lips furtively, “If you join hands with me, I can pass over this poisoning incident, on condition that your father step down, admitting his responsibility. Then, you will inherit his title naturally.”

“Well, my father was not responsible for that incident. Even if he was involved, he will not crumble because of that. Like you said, he would step down in the worst case. If that’s the case, why should I help you? Even if I sit idle, I’m supposed to inherit the title anyway.”

I said, with my mouth turned up slightly, “Did you say you would inherit his title naturally? Do you think that’s possible?”

“What the heck are you talking about? Who else could he bequeath the title to?”

When I saw his reaction as if he was very displeased, I broke into laughter. Given his sensitive reaction, he was highly likely to be persuaded this time.

“These days Lady Jena’s actions are very unusual. Even though she was adopted as your father’s foster daughter only a few months ago, she already won over the hearts of the ranking members of the noble faction and she is revered as a sacred woman at the temple.”

“… What are you talking about? Do you mean that vulgar woman could take my title?”

“Oh, of course it would be impossible under the normal circumstances. Isn’t it too absurd to think your father would give his title to a woman without any family background?”

“Then, why are you bringing up the story?”