Chapter 84

 Adel looked sullen, as if the month he had spent separated from me for the social season had felt very long. While it was true that he was genuinely sulky, his demeanor clearly showed his strong desire to spend time with me. I willingly stayed by the child’s side and decided to soothe his mood. That’s why I was watching Adel’s training from the side…

‘Nine saved me.’

Remembering that moment, I slumped forward onto the desk. I was alone in the office, so I could act comfortably without worrying about others. The coolness of the desk’s cold surface felt pleasant.

‘Nine…’

In that moment when he saved me, Nine’s eyes were as gentle as they were before he lost his memory. That’s why I was so happy and missed being held in his arms and being worried over with such kind eyes that I started to cry.

‘I thought he might have regained his memory.’

The hope I had briefly harbored vanished as Nine immediately fled the scene as if escaping. The gentleness I saw then was nothing more than an unconscious kindness easily offered to anyone. That his gaze seemed so tender toward me must have been an illusion created by my own longing. Even knowing that, I couldn’t help but cling to that fleeting hope. In that moment, I realized.

‘I won’t be able to give up on Nine.’

It was a shame that I had resolved to step back, considering things like the original story’s narrative force and the happiness of Nine and the Eclipse Duchy. If our hearts hadn’t connected before, it might have been different. But now, having tasted the memory of his love, I was a person who simply could not give up on Nine.

Knock. Knock.

A visitor arrived at that moment. Having sent Annie away and intending to enjoy my alone time fully, I got up with a displeased feeling.

“…Come in.”

And I was startled to see the person who opened the door and entered.

“Ahem. It’s me.”

“…Duke?”

It was Nine. As I stood up in surprise and approached him, I felt Nine momentarily hesitate, seemingly surprised himself. I calmed my surprised heart and asked him.

“What is the matter?”

“It’s nothing much, but…”

I gestured for him to sit on the sofa so he could enter comfortably. As Nine entered the office, three people who seemed to have been waiting behind him also entered the office. They were Iris, Norman, and Van. I quickly deduced the reason for their visit. Because the main storyline of the original novel included not only the romance between the two leads but also Iris’s revenge.

‘It looks like the scene where Iris reveals her identity and asks for help is already over.’

I didn’t show my surprise and sat on the sofa opposite them. Van did not sit and took out the tea set and leaves prepared in the office to serve the tea. As the tea was set up amidst a brief silence, Nine broke the ice.

“I came because I heard Lady Iris’s story and wished to discuss it.”

At his words, I looked at Iris. Understanding my intent for her to speak, Iris explained the circumstances, which I already knew from reading the original novel. As she recounted her story, identifying herself as the niece of the current Count Laurel and the biological daughter of the former Count, Iris, fitting for a heroine, did not look pitiful or submissive.

“And the subordinates of my uncle, the current Count Laurel, tried to kill me. If a monster hadn’t coincidentally appeared, and if the Duke hadn’t happened to be passing by, I would have been…”

‘It’s not coincidence, but destiny.’

The guidance of destiny, which was only wicked to me, was a piece of luck for her. I felt a pointless surge of jealousy toward her but didn’t show it. I knew this jealousy was pointless and that directing it at her was useless. Iris, speaking next, now had anger mixed in her voice.

“The Count’s subordinates told me, as if offering one last act of mercy before killing me. They said that my uncle was behind my mother’s carriage accident and even my father’s death!”

I recalled how Iris’s revenge ended in the original novel. Iris’s uncle, the current Count Laurel, Hawkman Laurel, was a person who already greatly coveted the Count title. After becoming obsessed with a cult, he began to stop at nothing, committing countless crimes. In the end, all his crimes were exposed by Nine, and he met his end on the execution ground.

‘While punishing Hawkman, the two of them confirmed their feelings for each other, became lovers, and got engaged.’

But unlike the original story, the current Nine was already married to me. And I had no intention of readily yielding either the position of his lover or the position of the Duchess.

As Iris’s story concluded, Norman looked at me and asked.

“What are your thoughts, Lady Chacha?”

I lifted the teacup, took a sip as if deep in thought, and then replied.

“Simply helping the Lady on humanitarian grounds offers no benefit to the Duchy.”

“…”

“It might sound heartless, but this is not a matter we can casually jump into.”

At my words, Norman and Nine nodded. Since Nine had also led the family as the Duke for over eight years, it seemed he could not simply agree to such a matter like a naive person or a philanthropist.

‘And the reason they came to see me…’

I glanced sideways at Nine. Perhaps it was because they couldn’t think of any profit or justification, other than humanitarian reasons, that would persuade the vassals?

‘And it seems they came to me on Norman’s recommendation.’

If that weren’t the case, the issue would have been settled with the decision of Nine, the final authority. They could have sought advice from other vassals or Van, even if not me. But seeing Nine, who had previously viewed me with discomfort, deliberately come here, it seemed they were struggling to find an alternative.

‘This is not something to casually consider and dismiss.’

There were many risks in diving into this matter merely because the Count was an evil person. Firstly, the very act of the Duchy intervening in the affairs of a Count’s family, despite the legitimacy of Iris’s request for help, was a concern; secondly, the dissatisfaction of the vassals who followed Nine was another. The former carried the risk of giving justification for an outside attack, similar to when military activity was initiated in the capital, while the latter was a matter of the vassals’ pride and satisfaction. They were not philanthropists. It is generally a reason for respect when the master they serve is humane. However, if that mercy and compassion are exercised for only one person, and if others who did not make that decision are entangled in the process, it will inevitably be viewed differently. Moreover, the Count’s affair seemed to be a situation where conflict was unavoidable. Blood would inevitably be shed, and that blood would surely be the burden of the vassals who followed their master. Who would welcome such a sacrifice for a kindness offered to only one person, with no benefit in return?

‘They would likely think it was driven by self-interest.’

Of course, there would be some who would share Iris’s indignation, but not all the numerous vassals would feel that way.

‘Furthermore, a proper lord must, of course, weigh the pros and cons.’

Even without considering their feelings, Nine, from his position, naturally had to obtain compensation for offering help. If only for the sake of those who followed him.

“…I see your point.”

At my words, Iris couldn’t hide her disappointed expression. Seeing her bright demeanor, she must have thought we would willingly step forward against injustice, even while explaining the situation. Because Iris surely would have done so herself. I smiled faintly at the disappointed Iris. Iris, who seemed surprised by the sudden smile, stiffened with a look of confusion. Seeing her reaction, I spoke to her.

“However, there is something the Lady can do to receive the Eclipse’s support.”

“Pardon?”

Perhaps because my words were unexpected, she, who had been stiff, started rambling incoherently.

“Even though I am the daughter of the former Count, I have lived as a commoner until now…”

“That’s why there is something only the Lady can do.”

Iris’s eyes trembled. But she, who had been wavering at my words, eventually looked at me with a firm gaze, as if she had made up her mind.

“What should I do?”

I smiled sweetly. Then, I took her tightly clenched hand and spoke softly. The story I was proposing was a future that had never come to pass even in the original novel. I spoke my mind, confronting the original story head-on, precisely because I could not give up on Nine.

“When your revenge is complete, take over the Count title, Lady.”

“What?!”

“If the Lady promises to unconditionally grant the Duchy three requests after she becomes the Count Laurel, the Eclipse can offer its support.”

In the original novel, due to her inexperience in noble life, Iris nominated someone else as the successor to Count Laurel and became engaged to Nine. But was that really necessary? A heroine as courageous as her should be able to do anything. At my words, the eyes of Nine and Norman, who were nearby, widened.