For Lennox, people who said they'd do anything for money were actually easier to handle.
If you pay them well enough, at least they don't harbor any useless thoughts.
Fortunately, he had plenty of money.
"No refunds."
"You gave me a defective product, and still—"
"If you want a refund, we need to be sure the medicine is actually at fault. The drug did its job. It could just be that your wife has an unusual constitution."
Coolroad kept talking nonstop, trying every way possible to avoid giving a refund.
"Bring me a small sample of your wife's blood. Better yet, have her come in person. I'll identify the cause within a week."
"And if it really is the medicine that's at fault?"
Coolroad snorted.
"That's impossible. I'm a genius."
"..."
"If something goes wrong, it means the world is at fault—not me."
To be this unhinged must be a requirement for being the Master of the Magic Tower.
"I hope you won't lose that confidence once the results come out."
"Of course, of course."
At least for a while, there would be no more talk of refunds.
In high spirits, Claude even hummed a tune as he hugged the pile of gold coins to his chest. His gaze overflowed with affection.
"Do you intend to die clutching all that money?"
Unable to comprehend Claude's excessive love for wealth, Lennox finally spoke up.
"There are plenty of things to spend it on."
"Like what?"
Claude paused. After a brief moment of thought, he scratched his head.
"Now that you mention it… what was it again? I forgot."
He truly was an absurd eccentric.
Meanwhile, in the heart of the capital…
In this always-crowded place, there was one shop strangely known for turning customers away.
"We're very sorry. Please do visit us again next time."
"Our apologies."
It was a famous boutique—one that didn't bat an eye even when nobles came through its doors.
They always treated customers politely, but they had never once given anyone special treatment.
Except now.
"Is she really coming?"
"I told you, yes!"
The staff whispered excitedly in hushed voices.
Ding—
The guest walked in.
At that moment, the employees held their breath.
Distinct black hair and crimson eyes.
A terrifyingly cold expression, so intimidating that just looking at her made one's knees go weak.
"Is this the place?"
It was Glessia Winteren.
Beside her, a woman with pink hair answered casually, as if the oppressive aura meant nothing.
"This is my gift."
"Why?"
"We're family. Of course I can buy you a few outfits."
"..."
"Is that… not okay?"
Estelle looked at her with pleading eyes.
In that moment, without passing through her thoughts, words slipped out of Glessia's mouth.
"I'll accept."
"Me too!"
"Good. Duren, let's pick out clothes together with Aunt."
"Yeah!"
Soon Estelle's voice followed.
We'll buy it, we'll buy it.
We'll buy everything.
"I'm sleepy…"
In the end, the exhausted Duren pretended to sleep and then actually dozed off.
"Lady Lea, are you tired?"
"Mm… no? No."
Glessia, who had been wearing a dazed expression, quickly shook her head.
"Do everything you want, Tia."
Because of her five years in hiding, whenever people thought of the Winteren name now, they only remembered Lennox's notorious reputation—but Glessia was no less formidable in character.
"Lady Lea, try this."
Estelle casually slipped a guest snack into Glessia's mouth.
Everyone was shocked to see her open her mouth so obediently, like a baby bird.
"It's good, right?"
"Mm… mmm."
Honestly, it was a flavor she wasn't sure about.
But not wanting to disappoint Estelle, Glessia nodded earnestly.
"Right?"
Estelle took out a handkerchief and, as if used to it, gently wiped the sugar powder from Glessia's lips.
Glessia squeezed her eyes shut and tried her best to stay still, as docile as possible.
She looked just like a beast hiding its claws.
"Eek!"
"D-Duke! Greetings, sir!"
Just then, Lennox stepped into the shop.
With two Winterens present, the pressure in the air became overwhelming.
Everyone's hands trembled slightly as they struggled to calm their pounding hearts.
Some employees were even having trouble breathing.
"Have you finished your urgent business?"
Seeing Estelle remain so composed, everyone thought: So this is the standard one must reach to be the Duke's wife, and marveled.
"For the most part. And you?"
"I think I've just about bought everything I need."
"Then let's return."
But just as Lennox was about to leave, something caught his eye.
A flower-shaped hairpin, crafted from yellow diamond and platinum.
"Shall I show it to you?"
He nodded.
Taking the hairpin, Lennox held it up to Estelle's hair.
"It suits you."
"I already have several similar ones among the wedding gifts I received."
"Is that so."
He had handed over whatever back then, without any idea what exactly he'd given her.
Somehow, he felt a pang of regret, thinking she might not accept this one either.
"Excuse me, just a moment."
With an awkward hand, Lennox brushed Estelle's hair.
I should've paid closer attention last time when Duren was decorating his aunt.
Then I might've been able to place the pin more beautifully.
As Lennox was feeling a twinge of regret, his eyes suddenly met Estelle's, wide in surprise.
"Let's pay together."
"Y-Yes, my lord!"
Startled, Estelle was about to ask what on earth he was doing, but Lennox was quicker, leaving her to shut her mouth again.
She's beautiful.
Just meeting her eyes made the thought leap out of him as if it were instinct.
"Thank you."
"It's nothing."
Was this, too, just part of pretending to be an ordinary married couple?
Realizing the situation a beat late, Estelle played along, responding as if it were natural.
Unable to take his eyes off her, Lennox easily lifted the now-sleeping Duren into his arms.
"Farewell!"
"Please get home safely!"
The employees, who had seen the Winterens off with utmost respect, whispered among themselves.
"They touched, right?"
"They touched."
Lennox… touched someone?
That was something unthinkable.
There were already plenty of people who had died merely for almost coming into contact with him.
When news of his marriage had first spread, everyone said the same thing:
Within a short time, either Estelle or Lennox would surely end up dead.
"Who started that rumor, anyway?"
"Honestly, I even placed a bet on it…"
"Which side?"
"At this point, does it even matter? I need to place a new bet!"
"What, you're wagering again?"
"That couple's going to last a lifetime. All-in."
"Have you heard the news?"
"You mean her? Of course!"
The Duke and Duchess of Winteren had returned to the capital.
And now, their names never stopped coming up in the mouths of the city's people.
Especially Estelle's story.
"They say she caused another scene yesterday."
Supposedly, she ransacked a boutique in the capital.
She was also said to be buying up prime plots of land, claiming she would build a villa where Maya could play.
And she supposedly poured a fortune into some penniless merchant's fanciful adventure.
A foolish,
vain,
and extravagant woman—
That was the image etched into the minds of the people of the capital.
"Duchess of Winteren! I've composed a song for the sake of your beauty!"
At the Winteren manor, early in the morning, the voice of some man singing rang out.
Estelle woke to the dreadful sound of a song praising her looks.
It was the worst.
And not just for Estelle.
"Now even flies are starting to gather."
Lennox, who had woken before her, frowned as he stared out the window.
Murderous intent seethed within him.
"Do you know him? If not, you don't have to answer."
Though she hadn't seen his face clearly, Estelle was certain he was a stranger.
The reason such a man had come barging in early in the morning was simple.
"Beautiful lady, grant me some gold—!"
Please invest in me, too.
Ever since Estelle had given a penniless adventurer enough money to set sail, more and more people like this had begun to appear.
"Go back to sleep. I'll take care of him."
Lennox stepped outside.
A short scream rang out, and then the singing ceased.
Clack—
The noise stopped, and only after a long while did Lennox return.
It wasn't her imagination—his attire was different from when he had gone out.
He must have taken care of it personally, then washed up afterward.
It wasn't hard to guess what had happened outside.
"Even useless trash is making a fuss, trying to get a coin out of this."
"Maybe I look easy to exploit."
Lennox, who had been raking a hand roughly through his hair, suddenly froze.
"Wait. I'll go back to that man."
To make sure no one ever underestimated him again, Lennox decided he would give the man who sang that dreadful song an unforgettable nightmare.
"Right now? We need to have breakfast with Duren."
"..."
"Then after breakfast."
"You have to take Duren on a walk."
"…After that."
Dealing with the unwelcome visitor kept slipping further down the list of priorities.
"Estelle. I'm not saying you shouldn't spend money, but…"
After a moment of hesitation, Lennox spoke carefully.
"At the very least, how about cutting back on sponsorships? I'm saying this because it feels like people like that will keep flocking to you."
"I'll try."
I'll try—a gentle refusal.
Lennox had once suspected that there might be some hidden motive behind Estelle's recent extravagance.
But she spent her money so haphazardly, in ways so unpredictable, that no pattern emerged.
And yet… she doesn't seem like the type to enjoy luxury for its own sake.
She wasn't someone who liked showing off either.
Instead…
She seemed more like the type who enjoyed having her own little jewelry box to occasionally look through.
There were rare people like that.
Pushing aside his doubts, Lennox brought up another matter.
"Come to think of it, I'll be needing some of your blood. Is that all right?"
"My blood?"
"The Master of the Magic Tower wants to know the physical condition of someone after taking mandrake. It would be important data for humanity."
I want to check because you seem unwell.
But he couldn't say that outright—he was hiding the fact that Estelle was sick.
"If you doubt his intentions, then you could just visit the Tower Master yourself and be examined directly."
The sudden suggestion made Estelle hesitate.
It was true she was flaunting her wealth to lure the Tower Master out, but this sort of encounter was out of the question.
If it's the Tower Master, he might discover my secret just from blood alone…
That she was immune to demonic energy.
And he'd also know the truth of my current condition.
If he learned that even after taking the mandrake medicine her body had not improved…
He might do everything in his power to annul this contract.
A contract so one-sidedly unfair to Estelle that even Glessia had been appalled.
If this man—who hated wasting time—suddenly decided to change his contractual wife, she would have no choice but to accept it.
In the end, she absolutely had to avoid giving blood.
But if she flatly refused without reason, wouldn't that only make him suspicious?
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