Chapter 123

I was in the middle of laying into the Constellations.

A maid came to tell me Duke Ruthius was summoning me. From the tearful look on her face, I could tell the situation was serious.

‘Don’t tell me he heard about the clip.’

The Duke wasn’t a Hunter, so he couldn’t have seen the post himself. How on earth did he find out so quickly?

“…Alex, you damn fool. It was you again, wasn’t it?”

It was obvious. Alex must have tattled to the Duke.

The Duke was the type to raise hell if I so much as got a nosebleed.

Of course, he didn’t fret like other parents, wailing about his daughter dying. He would simply grow colder, his demeanor becoming much sharper.

I used to mistake that cold fury for anger over damaged goods, but I knew better now. He was genuinely worried about me.

“Ugh, this is driving me crazy…”

I slumped down, clutching my head in frustration.

This was exactly why I’d snuck up to my bedroom to avoid him the moment I got back to the manor.

Getting a nosebleed on my own was one thing, but bleeding at someone else’s hand was a different matter entirely.

Even I would lose my mind if my kid came home beaten up. Why would the Duke be any different? He’d just channel his rage into a colder fury.

‘Maybe I should heal it now…’

I had deliberately refused Johan’s healing to create a dramatic effect for my meeting with the Emperor.

All I had to do was get through this one crisis. It felt like such a waste to heal it now…

‘Ah, whatever. What’s the worst that can happen? A lecture? I’ll just have to bear it.’

I glared at the chat window, seething. It was infuriating that even now, the culprit hadn’t been found.

“What did I do to deserve this humiliation? It’s bad enough I have to get a lecture from the Duke, but how am I supposed to show my face in public tomorrow? It’s so mortifying… And it’s all your fault!”

[system : Anonymous Constellation has sponsored 100,000 points.]

“Are you kidding me? I don’t want it! Do you take me for a beggar…?”

[system : Anonymous Constellation has sponsored 300,000 points.]

“You didn’t even find the culprit… What good is a sponsorship? There’s a traitor in your midst. I don’t trust any of you anymore.”

[system : Anonymous Constellation has sponsored 500,000 points.]

“…”

A wave of self-loathing washed over me.

The truth was, my anger had melted away like snow the moment that 300,000-point sponsorship came through. So this is what they call financial therapy.

‘I guess I really am just a slave to points.’

“…Don’t do it again. I was genuinely upset, you know.”

I held back a reaction, clinging to my last shred of pride… but even I could tell the venom had drained from my voice.

I trudged down to the Duke’s office.

Alex was already there.

‘Figures…’

I shot him a glare as I sat down beside him, and his eyes widened.

“What?”

Don’t play innocent. You’re the one who tattled.

“Sycophant…”

“What did you say?”

Just as Alex was about to retort, the Duke’s icy voice cut through the air.

“Sit.”

“…Yes.”

As I sat on the sofa, I felt the Duke’s eyes on me. He was openly studying the corner of my mouth and my slightly swollen cheek.

“I hear you were struck by the First Prince.”

“…”

“The number one ranker, beaten by a non-Hunter. How utterly absurd.”

“I couldn’t just strike a non-Hunter.”

“And why not?”

“…Pardon?”

“It seems you still don’t understand. I established a guild for you to grant you power that no one would dare challenge. And you have achieved that.”

“…”

“No one can look down on you now. Not even the Emperor can treat you carelessly. You are aware of this, are you not?”

“I know.”

“And yet, you allow yourself to be disrespected, unable to even retaliate. What, precisely, has changed from before you had a guild?”

“…”

“Of course, the magnanimity of the powerful is important. But that means showing clemency to those who respect you, not embracing your enemies. An enemy must be eliminated.”

Spoken like a true knight who once commanded on the battlefields of his prime. The Duke was merciless toward his enemies.

I, on the other hand, was reluctant to use my strength against a non-Hunter.

No matter how angry I was, I always held back if my opponent was an ordinary person—a habit from my past life as an athlete.

“I apologize.”

“I did not summon you to hear such words. I want you to understand the power you possess and act in accordance with your station.”

“I understand.”

“Astell, you are the head of the most powerful force in this world. Show benevolence to those who follow you, and instill fear in those who disrespect you. Even if they are royalty.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The Duke paused and took a sip of his wine.

I was surprised it was over so quickly. I’d expected to be lectured all night.

“What are your plans now? Seeing as you haven’t healed your injury, it doesn’t seem like you intend to let this go quietly.”

As expected, the Duke saw right through everything.

“Have you met with the Emperor?”

“I lodged a formal protest about the First Prince ransacking the manor. I also delivered the dress.”

“Did he say anything?”

“It seems he has already checked the guest list for the Central Auction House. Since your name is on it, he has nothing to say, even if he is suspicious.”

“Did you deliver the dress properly?”

“He was baffled.”

It was only a matter of time before the Emperor discovered what Igrid had done. I smirked.

“The matter of selecting the Crown Prince will be resolved soon, then.”

“Not quite. He said that since the Second Prince has left the palace, he will coordinate the timing and make the announcement upon his return.”

In other words, he intended to postpone the selection of the Crown Prince until Dante’s return.

“He’s certainly quick-witted.”

Not only did he use Dante’s disappearance to his advantage, but he also bought himself more time.

The Duke chuckled.

“He has always been a clever man.”

“We can’t afford to give him any more time. I’ll meet with the Emperor myself. That’s why I left my injury untreated.”

“It doesn’t look good for you, known as the Second Prince’s lover, to be coming and going from the imperial palace. It could also have a negative impact on the guild. I will handle it.”

“That may be so, but…”

“Astell, trust me. I am Axion Ruthius, the Duke.”

‘Oh…’

That was actually pretty cool.

“Alright. I’ll wait for now.”

I bid the Duke farewell and headed up to my bedroom.

‘I’ve saved up a few points, maybe I should check the shop? Oh, and I need to figure out what to say to Johan tomorrow…’

I was mentally running through my to-do list when I turned around. Alex, who had been trailing me like a lost puppy, froze.

“Why do you keep following me?”

“…I’m not following you.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah.”

We reached the fourth floor, and Alex was still right behind me. It looked like he was about to follow me straight into my room.

I blocked the bedroom door.

“I’m tired. Can you stop bothering me and get lost?”

“…Let me tell you inside.”

“No. Say it here.”

“Why? Got something to hide?”

Alex glared back at me.

The nerve of him.

“Who are you to raise your voice, you sycophant?”

“Sycophant?”

“You told the Duke I got slapped! Do you enjoy living like this? You little toady!”

“What? I didn’t say anything!”

“Then who was it, if not you? How would the Duke, who isn’t even a Hunter, have seen the clip?!”

“I-I don’t, don’t know about that… B-but it really wasn’t me!”

Alex stammered, sweating profusely.

My anger cooled as I watched him. He was a terrible liar.

“Fine, I get it. You’re not a toady. Happy now? I’m going inside.”

“W-wait!”

Alex grabbed my arm and looked around. Then, he lowered his voice to a whisper.

“Tell me the truth. The Second Prince is in your bedroom, isn’t he?”

“Why would you look for someone who’s staying in the guest house in my bedroom?”

“Are you going to keep lying? I just came from the guest house.”

“He’s not there?”

“I’m asking because he wasn’t there!”

“Huh? That can’t be…”

But he clearly said he was going to the guest house…?

‘Was he lying?’

Wow, how could he lie so smoothly without batting an eye? I almost wanted to tell Alex to take notes.

‘So where did that man go?’

“What are you thinking? You said you were only pretending to be lovers for strategic reasons! But you’re letting him into your bedroom? Huh? You can’t be doing that!”

‘I doubt he went for a walk just because he felt cooped up…’

He doesn’t know his way around the manor, and I’d repeatedly warned him not to be seen by the staff.

‘He even said himself that he didn’t feel confined.’

Then where could he be?

“Even if he’s the next emperor, the Second Prince is off-limits. I told you, giving your heart to a man like that will be the end of you! You’ll be the only one who suffers! End it now before you regret it.”

“Hmm…”

“Now, hurry up and tell him to leave… What are you doing? I said kick him out, right in front of your big brother!”

“You’re distracting me, just be quiet! I’m trying to think!”

“Thinking about what!”

“Where that bastard ran off to!”

Alex blinked his large eyes.

“…He-he wasn’t here? Really?”

I threw open the bedroom door.

“Look, see! Is he here? Is he in here?”

“Oh… He really isn’t here?”

“How many times do I have to tell you?”

“What! Then this is serious! Where is he?”

“I don’t know either.”

In that moment, a scene flashed through my mind.

“It’s Igrid.”

Dante’s languid voice and his ominously alluring smile.

“Don’t tell me…”

“Why, why? Do you think you know where he is?”

I prayed I was wrong, but unfortunately, my suspicion was probably correct.

I let out a deep sigh.

“Where is the First Prince’s palace.”