TWOTCL༘ ೀ⋆｡

XXXlV

⭑. ݁ ˖₊˚✩.𖥔 ݁ ˖๋ ࣭ ⭑.𖥔 ݁ ˖₊˚✩.𖥔 ݁ ˖๋ ࣭

Lexus’s grumbling response to Jewel’s question was audible.

“Why did you come back so early?”

“Ah, my dear Jewel, listen without being surprised. It seems the Duke has finally gone mad.”

Lexus, glaring at the Duke behind him, complained to his fiancée.

“I thought I was going to die during the hunt. That crazy lion… no, the Duke, drove us so hard that we completed a five-hour schedule in just one hour! Before, when we went hunting, he would keep us out until dawn or even a whole day… Did he hide some imperial security secret here? Or did His Majesty order him to exercise me? What’s wrong with him?”

As Lexus whined to his fiancée with a childish voice and rubbed his skin, a few noble ladies gossiped among themselves. However, the engaged couple continued their affectionate display without caring.

Roxana, used to such scenes, looked straight at the horses the men had ridden. The horses, foaming at the mouth, showed clear signs of overwork. The other noble young men who had gone hunting with them were clutching their waists and arms, groaning in pain. Wailing could be heard here and there.

What on earth…?

Roxana couldn’t hide her astonishment.

If the beastmen, who had twice the stamina and strength of humans, were complaining of such pain, it was obvious how harshly the Duke had driven them.

The true cause of all this was striding across the indoor garden with a ferocious aura. Hadeon, reaching Roxana with his imposing figure, looked down at her as if to crush her and asked,

“Where is she?”

“What?”

Startled by Hadeon’s intimidating presence, Roxana instinctively stepped back and questioned.

“Did you lose something? I don’t know what you’re looking for.”

Though she responded sharply, Roxana instinctively took a step closer to her brother, a man of their family. Women of their bloodline were generally weaker in strength and aura compared to the men, so even Roxana found it hard to face Duke Lark alone. Of course, her brother, who should protect her, was only clinging to his own mate without any intention to help.

Still, Roxana faced Hadeon with the dignity befitting a woman of her bloodline.

“What is this behavior, Hadeon? Show some manners.”

“Manners? Didn’t the lady break them first?”

At Hadeon’s cynical remark, Roxana’s eyes widened.

“Me?”

“You lost the item I entrusted to you. I can’t find it anywhere. Where is she?”

Hadeon asked coldly, as if demanding an answer.

With a defiant laugh, Roxana lifted her chin.

“Are you asking me this now? Do you realize the huge mistake you’ve made?”

Roxana’s voice, sharp-eyed, naturally exuded the aristocratic arrogance and confidence of a lady born into the marquis family.

“You can’t be unaware that there have been talks of an engagement between our two families.”

A faint smile appeared on Hadeon’s lips. She wasn’t wrong. Roxana was currently the woman most likely to bear his child in a few years, barring any other variables.