Chapter 196

 

“I heard from Peter. You have something you want in exchange for keeping the secret.”

 

“Well, yes, we did have that conversation…”

 

Iona trailed off meaningfully, her words hanging in the air before she continued slowly.

 

“But it seems the value of that secret has risen a bit since then.”

 

What was originally just a small scheme for Peter to earn some pocket money had now escalated into the root of a murder case.

 

If Iona revealed that Peter was the one who had addicted Dieter to the drugs, Peter would not only lose his knighthood but would also be ostracized from every noble family, doomed to wander the streets.

 

Carmen would never allow her lover Peter to face such a fate.

 

“I understand. I wasn’t unprepared for you to take this approach. Normally, we would have handled things more carefully… but we simply didn’t have time. That’s why we decided it would be better to pay the higher price to ensure your silence.”

 

Though Carmen didn’t reveal why she felt they were out of time, Iona felt as if she already knew exactly what had happened.

 

‘So, the note I sent must have worked.’

 

It had been Iona who had slipped a note into Carmen’s room, pretending it was from Count Setabara.

 

Knowing that Carmen, caught in a scandal with Peter, might withdraw, Iona had deliberately baited her.

 

Since Iona had already pieced together the nature of Carmen’s relationship with Count Setabara, crafting a few cryptic words hadn’t been difficult.

 

‘And it seems this woman was already in a fragile mental state.’

 

Meanwhile, Peter had hidden himself by building a network of associates who shielded him from scrutiny. He had deliberately shared the secret with more people, using them as decoys and witnesses to spread rumors and create an atmosphere of suspicion.

 

To frame Dieter as the murderer of his own father, witnesses were needed to testify to his severe drug addiction.

 

‘Last time, I didn’t have enough time to intervene. But if preparations are made in advance, silencing these addicts isn’t that difficult.’

 

The method was simple: supply them with highly addictive drugs and demand their silence in return.

 

Some of the lower-quality ingredients caused such extreme cravings that people would even sell out their own family for another dose.

 

Convincing them to alter their testimonies was easy.

 

For those who had already spent years indulging in debauchery, resistance to such substances was unlikely.

 

The issue, however, was that Carmen and Peter had been caught red-handed by Iona in their attempt to addict Dieter.

 

Now, they were at a crossroads: abandon their long-laid plans or push forward at any cost. In the end, they were forced to choose the latter, inadvertently handing Iona the very weapon to control them.

 

“Very well, Lady Viscountess. Let’s not drag this out. I’ll tell you what I want.”

 

Iona clasped her hands together, resting them neatly on her lap, as she spoke lightly.

 

“Leave this land with Sir Peter.”

 

Carmen’s lips parted slightly in shock.

 

Her blank expression made it clear she hadn’t expected such a demand. She stared at Iona, her face half-dazed.

 

To make it clearer, Iona elaborated, choosing her words carefully.

 

“We will cover the expenses. It would be best if you crossed over to Bardem, but if you’re worried about Count Setabara finding you, I can arrange for you to relocate to an inland region instead. Of course, you’ll have to erase all traces of your past, but I don’t think that will be too difficult.”

 

‘After all, you’ve done it once before.’

 

Iona’s casual tone belied the weight of her statement, causing Carmen’s face to drain of all color.

 

Iona wasn’t joking.

 

The price Carmen had anticipated before meeting with Iona was something entirely different. She had expected demands that would negatively impact the management of the estate—a disadvantageous treaty, perhaps—something that might destabilize the region but leave her position secure.

 

But now, Iona’s aim was none other than Carmen herself.

 

Carmen struggled to maintain her composure but couldn’t hide her unease. She stammered, trying to form a response.

 

“…How… how do you even know that…”

 

“Your origins, you mean? It wasn’t that difficult to uncover.”

 

“Until now…”

 

“It probably didn’t matter. Lord Viscount Ida wouldn’t have cared whether his new bride’s background was spotless, as long as she had dealings with Count Setabara.”

 

Iona cut Carmen off, her tone sharp but not unkind. She simply wanted to avoid wasting time on pointless exchanges.

 

Iona’s voice turned businesslike as she continued.

 

“You know as well as I do that this is just a bothersome scandal. You were formally recognized as part of the Setabara family, and on the surface, your marriage to Viscount Ida appears perfectly normal. Your past status is irrelevant at this point.”

 

“…”

 

“I’m merely stating the facts. This deal is hardly a loss for you.”

 

Carmen sat silently with her head bowed, listening to Iona’s words as they poured into her ears.

 

It wasn’t the revelation that Iona knew about her lowly origins that shocked her.

 

Whispers had long circulated that Count Setabara had taken her from an orphanage, and Carmen had always suspected that her true background might not remain entirely hidden.

 

After all, her rough, scarred hands and the callouses on her feet betrayed her past. Despite softening over the years spent as a noblewoman, her skin still bore traces of her former life, starkly different from the unblemished skin of noble ladies who had never labored a day in their lives.

 

What truly unsettled Carmen was something else entirely.

 

“You… never intended to join hands with me, did you?”

 

Carmen raised her head, her fingers clenching into fists atop her lap.

 

She couldn’t detect a single ounce of goodwill in the actions of someone who had not only discovered her vulnerabilities but had meticulously investigated them.

 

Her expectation that some unfair trade might at least be on the table now seemed like nothing more than foolish self-delusion.

 

This was blackmail.

 

While Carmen’s breath came out in harsh gasps, Iona remained composed, her face calm and detached.

 

Locking eyes with Carmen, Iona calmly delivered her next set of demands.

 

“There are two conditions. First, you leave the estate. Second, you deal with the maid standing behind you. That’s all.”

 

Carmen shot up from her seat, slamming the table as she rose.

 

“You’re being unreasonable! What fault does my maid have for you to target her like this?!”

 

“I know she’s not just a maid. Does that answer your question?”

 

“Ugh…!”

 

Carmen froze, her expression betraying her shock.

 

She hadn’t expected her secret to extend to this. The maid, Amaia, also looked taken aback, her face showing a rare flicker of unease.

 

A faint sigh escaped Amaia’s lips before she finally spoke.

 

“Why are you trying to kill me?”

 

Iona stood, running her hand along the top of the sofa as she slowly circled toward Amaia, stopping directly in front of her.

 

Looking down at Amaia with a detached gaze, Iona answered plainly.

 

“Because I can’t be sure you’ll side with me.”

 

“If you learn who I serve, you’ll regret this.”

 

“Do you think I’m acting out of ignorance?”

 

Amaia’s eyes wavered ever so slightly.

 

“Is this betrayal?”

 

“Isn’t that why I married the duke, who your master considers a thorn in their side?”

 

“I thought there was an unspoken agreement…”

 

“You were mistaken. And the longer that misconception lasts, the better it is for me.”

 

‘Better until the moment I sink my teeth into her neck myself’, Iona thought.

 

A tense silence hung in the air between Iona and Amaia.

 

Then, suddenly, Iona saw something flash coldly in Amaia’s eyes.

 

In an instant, Amaia pulled a dagger from her sleeve and lunged at Iona with deadly speed.

 

Iona sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the strike, and drew her sword from her hip.

 

It was a recent acquisition—purchased alongside Leroy’s gift—a blade slightly smaller than his and fondly dubbed “The Power of Love.”

--- End Of The Chapter ----

 

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