The Grand Duchess Escape

At the time when Asella was in the carriage staring down at the sleeping Mariel.

Calix was giving instructions to Ryzen.

“I will follow your orders.”

After that, Calix added, thinking of the slender, light-weight figure he had felt when he helped Asella to her feet.

“Make sure there are no shortcomings. It won’t be easy since she will have to ride in a carriage for a whole week.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

It was a challenging journey for a woman who had lived in the mansion all her life. She would be spending a week on the road. She would also have to take care of her younger sister, and there would be many difficulties he could not think of, let alone imagine.

But she obviously wasn’t going to mention those difficulties.

He remembered how Asella had looked when they were supposed to kiss after their vows. He could clearly see her shaking her head stubbornly when he told her he wouldn’t do anything if she didn’t want to.

‘I guess she felt she had to accept it.’

Even if it was something that she didn’t want…

This marriage was no different as well. He knew how Asella felt about marrying him from the very first meeting.

‘…’

Her glassy blue eyes were filled with an indescribable fear. It wasn’t just a matter of feeling reserved and nervous towards the husband she met for the first time.

The reason why she agreed to marry him, despite her fear of him, was probably…

‘Mariel Chartus.’

It was probably for the sake of her only sister. If she refused to do it then, who knows what Philip would do to the child in revenge?

She was very attached to her sister; something that Calix noticed right away.

“Your Excellency.”

Somewhere along the way, Philip had crept up to him.

Calix, whose thoughts were interrupted, frowned instantly.

‘What’s he doing here?’

Philip’s eyes were greedy as he rubbed his hands together. He studied Calix’s face and opened his mouth carefully.

“I have something to tell you, Your Excellency.”

Calix raised his chin in annoyance; it was as if he meant, ‘Cut the chase and get straight to the point’, which, in all honesty, was something Philip had been waiting for.

“It’s about the gold bars we’ve agreed on; only half of the amount came, so I was wondering what happened…”

Calix turned his head to the side without replying. He looked at Ryzen, demanding an explanation, and Ryzen nodded.

“I’m sorry, Your Excellency. Half of the amount was brought from the residence in the Royal capital, but the rest was coming from the Duchy and has been delayed. I have been informed that they will arrive within the next few days.”

“I see! I see!”

Philip exclaimed in delight. Calix looked down at him blankly and spat the words out.

“I’ll give you twice as much.”

“What?”

Philip’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Instead, give me Mariel Chartus.”

“Um, what does that mean…”

“Give up custody, parental rights, everything.”

Philip’s face darkened; he was stunned by all means. This was not something he had expected at all.

But that didn’t stop his mind from calculating what was happening quickly, trying to figure out why the Grand Duke would make such a sudden proposal.

‘I don’t think it’s because of Asella alone, right? Is it for the possibility of Mariel’s awakening?’

Mariel’s tenth birthday was just around the corner. Because of this, people around the area were paying close attention, waiting for her awakening and what abilities she would acquire. In that aspect, Mariel was quite a valuable commodity.

Even if she didn’t have any other abilities, it was okay because he could just keep her around for a few more years and sell her off to the right family at the right time when she came of age.

But could he get this much of a price for Mariel’s marriage?

The enormous wedding present he received this time was only possible because Asella’s partner was Calix Benvito.

“Four times the amount.”

Philip gasped.

Four times the amount of gold he was about to receive! It was a tremendous amount of money that left his mouth hanging open.

At the same time, Philip calculated that he might be able to get a little more out of her, depending on what he does next.

“You know, Your Excellency, Mariel is my precious daughter. How can I exchange her for money? Even if you gave me a million gold, it would still be nothing.”

“Therefore?”

Calix was starting to lose his temper.

He didn’t feel the need to continue this tedious conversation any longer. He brushed his flowing hair and looked at Philip with a cold expression.

Under the icy cold gaze, Philip shuddered hastily and added a few words.

“Oh, of course, Mariel would be delighted to spend time with her sister, so…”

Philip, who had been watching the situation, cautiously brought up the actual topic.

“As a father, I already feel really lonely as my eldest daughter has gotten married and is leaving me, and now I have to let my second daughter go as well? Please try to understand my feelings a bit more…”

Ryzen’s face distorted relentlessly as he listened in silence.

Ultimately, what Philip was asking for was more money.

His behavior was no different from trading goods, making Ryzen want to throw up. Even though he was a nobleman, he couldn’t find any grace or nobility in him.

‘What a disgusting human being.’

A deep contempt flashed across Ryzen’s face as he looked at Philip.

It seemed that it was not the arms that needed to be cut off but his head, which was full of cunning and vile thoughts.

‘Truly, the previous Marquis Chartus was not very lucky, was she?’

There was a reason why Adele had remarried Philip, but Ryzen still felt that Adele should have refused to marry him by any means necessary.

‘I don’t think there was any way around it.’

Even so, Philip’s words did not seem to stop. Shortly, Calix’s patience reached its limit.

“Stop.”