Chapter 16

 

“If you are uncomfortable, you can wait outside.”

 

Before arriving at the destination and stepping outside, Iona spoke as if she was considerate of Leroy.

 

It was true that he regretted going along a bit after learning who she was trying to meet, but Leroy did not back down on his decision.

 

Leroy answered as if swallowing a sigh.

 

“… …I will go with you.”

 

In the first place, he was determined now.

 

Leroy, who didn't know that he would be with her even secretly like this, didn't have extra clothes ready, but he solved the problem simply by changing his top with Jonas.

 

Although the size was small, it was not to the extent that clothes were torn, but it was just enough to wear.

 

He abandoned Jonas, who had a needlessly splendid appearance, and stood next to Iona.

 

They had to walk a little longer to reach the destination because they were conscious of eyes and stopped the carriage far away. Taking advantage of that gap, Leroy asked Iona.

 

"Who else besides me knows you're here today?"

 

“Meetings with a person like this are always best kept secret.”

 

"..."

 

“If it wasn’t for my adoptive father’s errands, I would not have come here, especially today.”

 

Even after learning that Iona came to see her adoptive father's mistress, not anyone else, there were still uneasy feelings inside Leroy.

 

Iona smiled as if she guessed what Leroy was thinking.

 

"It's not the right place to meet with a man I might marry, after all."

 

It was for this reason that Iona rejected his proposal to move together.

 

Being a despised family, they were even more reluctant to show their flaws to others.

 

If Leroy hadn't talked about trust, Iona would have somehow gotten away with him.

 

Just because she decided to live for him didn't mean that she would show him all the secrets without hiding anything.

 

Iona added, lightly taping on her low chin.

 

“So I thought it was the right time to create an alibi. No one would think I would go see her on a day like today.”

 

Leroy wholeheartedly agreed with that opinion.

 

Hearing her words, he also thought of the question of why. Clearly, her choice was right.

 

If he had any questions, it was the purpose, not the timing.

 

“May I ask why you want to meet her?”

 

“Well, it’s hard to explain, but… …In the long run, this is for the Duke.”

 

“For me?”

 

“Come with me, you will know.”

 

Iona, who answered plainly, took a step ahead of Leroy.

 

'Is it because the sun hasn't set yet?' 

 

The building Iona found looked like an ordinary house.

 

The common entrance was not separately locked. The two opened the door and walked up the narrow stairs one after another.

 

As soon as they reached the top floor, Iona approached the door directly in front of her.

 

She knocked silently.

 

"I'm going to sleep more, Betty."

 

A sleepy voice came from the other side of the door.

 

Iona didn't care and knocked again.

 

It seemed that the constant noise seemed to have fueled the other person. After a while, angry footsteps approached.

 

"Can't you hear me saying I'm sleeping! I slept late last night!"

 

The one who suddenly opened the door and appeared was a woman with a tired face.

 

The woman who found the strange visitor hesitated without backing down at her anger.

 

Iona slowly flipped back the hat of the robe that was covering her face.

 

“Hello, Miss Fleur. Can we talk in a minute?”

 

“… …Deme Modrov? Why are you here...”

 

“I have something to tell you.”

 

"You're a knight by name, but you don't know manners at all."

 

With a hint of sophistication, Fleur glanced at Leroy, who was standing behind Iona.

 

As if she hadn't even recognized him because of his unusual appearance, Fleur quickly turned her attention to Iona and said, meekly stepping back.

 

“Let’s hear what you’re talking about.”

 

Iona and Leroy silently followed her inside.

 

The interior was very messy, probably because the owner didn't have the personality to clean up well.

 

It was a time when Iona examined the bottles and the hem of her clothes on the floor with a dry gaze. Fleur ushered them to the couch.

 

She sat down first and asked.

 

"Yes, did you come to ask me to break up with your father?"

 

Fleur, blatantly sarcastic, picked up the cigar lying on the table.

 

Soon, a strong smell of tobacco spread around.

 

It seemed to be an action to subdue the steamer, but Iona, who had worked under the smoker for a long time, was not particularly affected.

 

Iona answered calmly.

 

“The Countess's death anniversary is approaching. It is better to pass the bad times quietly.”

 

“Ah, the date… …Has it already been that time?”

 

“If my father's mistress came to visit him on my mother's death day and behaved abusively, there would be nothing more disastrous than that as a child. Isn't it?”

 

At the unfamiliar sound, Fleur sucked in the tobacco and frowned.

 

No matter how much she was a street woman, she had enough brains to not go against the heart of a man who gave her money.

 

While Fleur was puzzled, Iona continued to make absurd assumptions.

 

“Of course, this would not be a particularly wise move for the person in question either. An angry landlord might say goodbye.”

 

"What the hell are you talking about...”

 

“This is consolation money.”

 

Interrupting Fleur's words, Iona took out a heavy pouch from her bosom. At first glance, it seemed to contain a considerable amount of money.

 

Looking at Fleur with a bewildered expression, Iona added leisurely.

 

“Once things work out between you two, I’ll give you twice as much.”

 

Only then did Fleur fully understand Iona's meaning.

 

Iona was now asking her to 'make a mess at the count's house in time for the former countess's anniversary'.

 

Feeling like waking up, she hurriedly rubbed the cigarette off.

 

Even in the sudden situation, she instinctively bounced from the abacus.

 

“…He's an aristocrat who's been captured for a while. I wouldn’t be able to make ends meet with ordinary money, would I ?”

 

Fleur tried not to look at the money bag on the table. Because she wanted to get a win in this deal.

 

However, Iona lightly retorted as if she knew for sure that Fleur was bluffing.

 

“Count Modrov doesn't date a woman for a long time. Even his longest-serving lover didn't last two years. It's already been over a year since he met Miss Fleur, so I guess I'll have at least a year's worth of money left from the count.”

 

Iona was well aware that Hayden didn't spend a lot of money on a woman.

 

He had no interest in sharing knowledge with the opposite sex, so he deliberately chose to meet only women of low status.

 

It was proof that Fleur had never had an affair with Count like Hayden, who was famous in the social world.

 

Iona said as if driving a wedge.

 

“There are many people who can replace Miss Fleur. You wouldn't be naive enough to believe that the Count would be faithful to one woman.”

 

Fleur also felt that Hayden's visits were gradually diminishing.

 

'Was it because he had a new girl?'

 

Then, as Iona said, it might have been better to take the money presented to her now.

 

Fleur stared at Iona and picked up the pouch.

 

She pulled the string and untied it, and a glittering gold coin caught her eye. Fleur, whose gaze was captured by the brilliance, was speechless for a moment.

 

Fleur opened her mouth after a while.

 

“If I break up with Count Modrov, it doubles, right?”

 

"Of course."

 

Iona answered without hesitation. Her low, businesslike voice sounded quite believable.

 

Fleur, who quickly regained her composure, pulled the ribbon back and tightened it with a bewitching smile.

 

“If I do what you want, what will you get?”

 

“It would be beneficial for the Count to not be in an unnecessary relationship with any women.”

 

“Yes, it is. You are very filial.”

 

Fleur smiled like she was having fun.