DTRAF 26

~Chapter 26~

“Ha! If that’s not a threat, then what is it?”

Duke Jizir’s face turned red with anger, and he clenched his fists.

“A threat is when you want something in return. I was simply informing you.”

“Viscount Garnet!”

“I plan to add new conditions to every trade contract of our company. No matter how small the goods, they will not be sold to the Jizir family.”

“Do you think you can survive after daring to go against my family like this?!”

Duke Jizir jumped up, unable to control his rage.

But while the Duke boiled in fury, something else appeared on Viscount Garnet’s face.

It was a deep, immeasurable emotion.

“I should be asking your second son the same thing. Did he really think he could get away with doing such a thing to my daughter?”

By throwing the Duke’s own words back at him, Viscount Garnet’s suppressed anger finally broke through.

The Duke’s already rough face twisted so fiercely, he looked like a beast in the night.

“You don’t know how fortunate it is that I hold a card that can threaten you.”

The Viscount continued, pressing the weight off his chest.

“If I didn’t have this power, then even after my daughter went through such an ordeal, I would’ve had to endure the horrible helplessness of doing nothing.”

“I—I understand. I see what you mean. Let’s calm down and resolve this with a conversation.”

As Viscount Garnet revealed the anger he had carried on his way here, Duke Jizir had no choice but to retreat.

If the Garnet Trading Company cut ties completely, then not only would the Jizir family lose direct supplies, but other merchants tied to Garnet would also refuse them.

That would mean—almost literally—there would be no way to live within the empire.

So the Duke had to soothe him, at least on the surface, and try to undo what was said.

“There’s no need to talk more. I won’t change my decision.”

“W-wait! Perhaps I didn’t consider you or your daughter’s feelings properly. If you want my son to apologize, I’ll make him do it. Tell me what you want.”

“I don’t need a worthless fake apology. What I want is for Young Lord Jizir to despair.”

His calm, flat voice sounded chilling.

The Duke’s face grew pale as if they had already crossed a river that could never be turned back.

“Do nothing for him. If you do that, then in a month, we can meet again to talk about contracts.”

“Do nothing for him? As a father, how can you say that…?”

“That is exactly why I say it. Young Lord Jizir must feel the despair of having no one to save him. And you, Duke, must feel the helplessness of being unable to stop it. Only then is it fair.”

Viscount Garnet’s firm words made Duke Jizir swallow hard.

It was as if the Viscount had already predicted every path this conversation would take and had come fully prepared.

“The Crown Prince is already handling this case, so the conclusion is practically decided. Still, I’ll be watching your choice, Duke.”

In the end, the one holding control until the last moment was Viscount Garnet.

He already knew what decision the Duke would make—but for the Jizir family and Jonagel, that decision itself would be another punishment.

“Ah, this is comfortable.”

Including the days I was unconscious, it was now my fifth day in the Imperial Palace.

I thought life here would be uncomfortable, but it was the opposite—it was too comfortable, and that was the problem.

No matter how rich the Garnet family was, the furniture and food here couldn’t be compared.

Especially this bed!

The soft mattress wrapped my whole body every time I lay down—it was the best.

“Lady Amelie, shall I prepare your meal?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Even room service was perfect.

At meal times, a feast was brought right into my bedroom. It felt like I was on a luxury vacation.

“Does she have no shame? How long is she planning to stay here?”

Well, not everyone was happy about me being here.

Some maids clearly disliked me and whispered complaints loud enough for me to hear.

At first, it felt childish, but it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible.

Among the palace maids were young ladies from high noble families. Raised with pride, they probably hated serving me, a viscount’s daughter.

“Excuse me, before the meal, could you bring me some tea?”

But so what? I wasn’t going to shrink back.

I asked the same maid who had been glaring at me. Her brow wrinkled instantly.

But I was here as Richard’s guest, so I didn’t have to endure their rudeness.

“…Yes. I’ll bring it.”

The maid left reluctantly to fetch the tea.

She wouldn’t dare do something to it, would she?

It was a small revenge, but it didn’t feel completely satisfying. Still, since she was a palace maid trained by her family, I doubted she’d do anything disgusting like spit in it.

Knock knock.

Not long after she left, there was a knock at the door.

“Lady Amelie, Viscount Garnet—”

“Amelie Garnet!”

Before the maid could even announce him, Viscount Garnet burst into the room.

“Father? How are you here already?”

Didn’t you say you’d be away for a week? Didn’t you say you were in another country?

I was bewildered by his sudden entrance, like a spirit appearing in daylight.

But judging from the way he urgently checked me over, he must have heard what happened with Jonagel and rushed here.

“Are your injuries alright?”

“Yes, I’m almost fully healed.”

I expected him to yell first, but instead, his voice was calm.

“They say His Highness saved you.”

“Yes. And he also allowed me to stay in the palace until you and Mother return.”

“I already heard that from Lysa.”

Ah, so Lysa told him.

Even busy with her mission, she still contacted my parents abroad. I was grateful.

And seeing my father drop everything and rush here—I was touched.

But that gratitude didn’t last long.

“From now on, you are forbidden from visiting the knights. And you cannot come to the palace unless you’re with me.”

“What?!”

I knew it!

Just when I thought he was calm, here came the bomb. No more visits to the knights.

‘Do you know how hard I worked to unlock that hidden achievement?!’

All my effort to build connections in the knights flashed before my eyes.

No. I couldn’t give up. Never!

If I obeyed my father, it would mean going back to being Han Yuna, stuck in bed.

“I thought you wouldn’t bring it up, but even if you oppose it, I’ll still go. My health improved thanks to the knights.”

“And after all that happened, you still say that?!”

“Yes! What did the knights do wrong?!”

Somehow, I ended up yelling back at him, matching his volume.

“They did wrong! You went to a deserted place alone, and not one knight accompanied you! I’ll fire your guard knight too, so don’t argue.”

“Why Eric?! I told him not to follow me!”

And so, the bedroom became loud with our voices clashing.

Click.

In the middle of our shouting, the door opened again, and a man entered.

“Well, well. Someone beat me to the sick visit.”

With blazing red hair like the sun, bright blue eyes, and features similar to Richard’s—

At a glance, I knew.

It was the Crown Prince, Bastian.