The End of Your Arrogance - Chapter 7.1

The archduke’s face glowed with energy as he left his wife’s room. On the other hand, Nazz, who had stayed up the whole night on the couch in the drawing room, looked as if he had aged ten years overnight.

“Your Highness, how can you be smiling at this moment? Look at my face!”

Nazz continued to nag him on their way to the main building. The knights who followed behind stayed silent, but all agreed with Nazz.

“I wouldn’t be standing here if I weren’t somewhat skilled. Yesterday you went insane!”

“I know. I’ll let you take a vacation.”

“I don’t need a… Huh? A vacation? Oh, Your Highness, you could’ve said so earlier!”

Nazz’s mood lightened up. Then he frowned. Thinking about writing the report gave him a headache.

“If it’s something to be worried about, tell me after I take a bath.”

“You don’t seem like you could be bothered, though. Your face is beaming with joy.”

“Exactly. I want to enjoy this a bit more.”

After his bath, Ilya had a simple breakfast at the office. There was usually a frown on his charming face at this time. But today, he glowed with the sun that reflected on his face. Nazz was amazed.

What kind of spell did she cast on you yesterday? Nazz wondered. He then looked at the letter in his hand and made a long face. He became more upset as he saw the seal on the fine paper.

“Now tell me. It looks like it’s from the big man.”

The priest with the blue crown. Ilya also noticed the Marquise Maduse’s seal. Nazz sighed and opened his mouth to respond cautiously.

“The letter is sent by the heir, Odin Maduse.”

“Why?”

“Since your marriage wasn’t validated…”

Ilya slammed the armrest of the chair he was sitting on and scowled.

“Always trying to get their way… what does it say?”

Nazz’s face turned pale. “It says that they’re going to come personally to… pick up Her Highness.”

The office fell dead silent.

“They say they will compensate with whatever amount of grain or cattle you demand, but the price…”

“These Maduse bastards still don’t seem to know their place.” Ilya cut Nazz off as if it wasn’t worth listening to it any further. “I was going to take a day off but here we go again. Has Sir Stas returned?

“Yes, he’s actually waiting outside right now.”

The doors opened and a knight entered. A handsome middle-aged knight brought his fist up to his chest and bowed. He had an eye patch on his left eye.

“I returned last night after finishing the mission on the East Coast. May the splendor of the black eagle be with you.”

“It must have been rough. You are all bones! Thank you for doing such a great job.”

Ilya went straight to the point as soon as Stas took a seat. “Did you find out who’s getting married to Odin Maduse?”

Ilya had listened carefully to what his wife had told him. The very next day, he had sent Stas to investigate.

“Marquis Vashili has a daughter. Turns out she was kicked out with her mother. His wife died but his daughter returned.”

Ilya and Nazz both frowned. Marquis Vashili was known for wooing young women from poor families. They all died within three years of marriage.

“There’s something suspicious. He sold a few islands in the East Coast to Marquis Maduse at a very low price.”

“Islands?”

“At first, I didn’t care much about it since the East Coast has a lot of islands… but they found copper in the mines recently.” Copper was a profitable mineral. It was used for bullets and cannons.

“When exactly did this happen?”

“A year ago. So, it might not be related to marriage.”

“It does sound weird. A year ago. That’s when Marquis Maduse was getting destroyed by us. Why would he buy an island, which would’ve been useless at that time anyway, especially when he barely had any money?” Ilya rested his chin on his hand and began to think. He pointed at the paper on his desk.

“Odin Maduse sent an annoying letter.”

Stas picked up the letter and read through. His other patch-less eye became razor-sharp. He scoffed.

“Your Highness, what I’m about to tell you is just my assumption.”

“Speak.”

Stas, the adjutant general, was a renowned strategist within the Black Forest Knightage. Ilya and Nazz sat up straight and focused their attention on him.

“The island that Marquis Vashili sold isn’t to make the Maduse happy. It might be for Her Highness.”

The air in the office was tense. “I don’t remember ever divorcing my wife, Sir Stas.”

Stas smiled at Ilya’s icy tone. Nazz was nervous watching the two. “You didn’t, but you’re going to, right? And… she’s beautiful.”

“Are you really calling my wife beautiful in front of me?”

Ilya’s tone became sharper. He felt uncomfortable talking about his wife as if she was an object, especially since she wasn’t in the room to defend herself. Yet, he used her like a sleeping pill, so he had no right to say anything.