Chapter 14

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Chapter 14

Zagnac smiled and gently pulled the cake placed in front of Daniel towards him. Daniel didn’t even pay attention to the cake as he was excitedly looking at the paperwork.

Zagnac, who was satisfied with the appearance, put a bite of the cake in his mouth again.

Azela had no idea how long it had been since someone ate her food like this. She was thankful, lonely, though at the same time, ashamed. Abruptly, what Irene once said, ‘I’m sure there are people who enjoy Madam’s food!’ came to her mind.

“By the way… You seem to be making a big misunderstanding.”

After swallowing all the cake in his mouth, Zagnac rubbed his stomach lightly and uttered with a satisfied smile. At his words, Daniel, who had a bloated dream while looking at the documents, glanced at him with a puzzled expression.

“Yes? What is that…”

“It is true that I want to start a business with the Todd family. I thought they felt credible.”

“Yes… But, what is the big misunderstanding?”

“Although the one I want to entrust it to is not you, Count.”

“…Yes?”

At that, Daniel stared at him with a puzzled expression.

Zagnac, who smiled at how funny the expression was, took the document from his hand and gently placed it on Azela’s lap, who was sitting next to him.

“I would like to entrust it to you, Countess Todd.”

Zagnac clasped his hands and leaned back on the chair. At his words, Daniel turned his head with a puzzled expression and looked at her. Azela also looked at the paperwork on her lap and Zagnac with a puzzled expression.

“M, me…?”

At her startled question, Zagnac nodded his head briefly without the slightest hesitation.

“Hold on, Duke Ferial.”

Daniel pressed his forehead with a confused expression and smirked as if the situation was ridiculous. As he stared at Duke Ferial, he turned his gaze to see Azela, who still had a puzzled expression.

“Azela doesn’t know anything about these things.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t know where you heard about it, but I advise you to reconsider.”

Said Daniel, taking the papers from Azela’s lap. To him, she was no longer a companion, though an enemy on the same path.

In response to his reaction, Zagnac caressed his chin and put on a troubled expression.

“Count Todd, you don’t seem to love your wife very much.”

“…It’s a matter of our privacy. I don’t think this is an issue to be discussed here.”

“Oh, of course, it is. Don’t get me wrong. For I have no intention of accusing you of abandoning your wife and departing in search of a burning new love.”

Zagnac spread his arms wide and smiled with an impressive businessman’s smile. However, his words only made Daniel’s expression even worse. The papers in his hand were crumpled.

As if expecting such a reaction, Zagnac continued his speech with a satisfied smile.

“Nevertheless, it’s very different from what I’ve heard.”

“…What?”

“I heard that Countess Todd, Azela Vellista was the one who kept the Todd family, who had been in the outskirts alive until now. In other words, Todd meant the Countess. What a great reputation… Of course, and even in the Capital, we could hear stories from time to time.”

At his words, Daniel bit his teeth since he had nothing to object to. Zagnac stared at him with his chin clenched as if he had expected it.

It was her work to make the Todd family, who was not known in the outskirts, receive the title of count, and she even moved to the outskirts. At that time, Azela, who had excellent swordsmanship skills that were ranked among the top five in the Empire, was admired by everyone and she was also the woman everyone loved.

Even the Emperor tried his best to match her with the Prince.

The man she chose and loved was Daniel Todd, who wasn’t much to see at the time. He wasn’t good at swordsmanship, didn’t have power in his family nor did he have much money either.

It was just because of ‘love.’ That was only one thing.

Azela was foolish enough to risk everything for love, and in other words, she was innocent.

“…You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Daniel, who spoke in a low voice, sharply grinding his teeth, reached out his hand and held her hand tightly. He gripped her so tightly that Azela wrinkled her eyebrows.

“After Azela got married, she put everything down. She did not wield swords and was even less involved in politics. Azela today is not what she used to be. She has no eyes to see. She is just part of this mansion.”

Daniel looked at Azela and spoke strongly. It was as if he was speaking to Azela, not Zagnac.

‘You are a part of this mansion.’

If it was the usual her, her heart would be pounding when she heard those words, but the present Azela didn’t feel anything. His words didn’t even reach deep into her ears anymore.

“You’re talking too much with your wife beside you. Of course, I am not in the business of meddling.”

“So, the business is with me…”

“But, I know what you mean.”

At the sight of Zagnac nodding his head, Daniel’s stern expression shone brightly again. Even if it wasn’t for Azela, it was something he could do with his own strength.

When Daniel, with a determined expression, reached out to shake his hand, Zagnac said with an apologetic expression on his face.

“Unfortunately, I came here with Countess Todd in mind in the first place…”

He tilted his torso and took the papers in Daniel’s hand again before rolling them up and putting them in his pocket. Daniel’s expression turned white as the papers that had slipped out of his hand disappeared from his sight.

On the other hand, Zagnac smiled as if there was nothing more fun than watching the power-stricken face crumble.

“If Countess Todd agrees with the opinion of Count Todd, then let this be a story that never happened. Today, I just went out to the fresh air, and I happened to stop by for tea.”

As Zagnac drank the rest of the tea at once and stood up from the sofa without any regrets, Daniel, with a surprised expression, didn’t know what to do.

He would never want to miss a great opportunity like this because it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that would never come again for the Todd family to wield so much wealth and power together.

It was absolutely impossible to miss it just for this reason.

“Wa, wait.”

Almost on the verge of crying, he waved his hand to the air, although Zagnac left the parlor without glancing at him.

Confused, Daniel hurriedly followed him, and Azela followed them.

“Du, Duke Ferial.”

“Thanks for the delicious tea and great cake. Oh, you haven’t even touched the cake, but I recommend trying it out if you have time. It was better than anything I had ever eaten.”

“Wa, wait a minute. Let’s talk again…!”

“Please, forget the story inside and also forget what I showed you. If this spreads to other people, I’ll also be in a difficult position.”

Zagnac showed no sign of stopping, as though he really planned to go back like this.

Daniel stopped walking and looked at Azela who was following him and Zagnac, who was getting farther and farther away before shouting out loudly.

“I, I understand!”

As soon as Daniel shouted, Zagnac’s feet stood still as if they had been bound. Just in case he wanted to leave, Daniel hurriedly stopped in front of him and continued.

“If Duke Ferial wants it, we’ll have a business plan with Azela.”

He cried out mournfully and urgently. After all, Azela was his wife and a member of the Todd family. Besides, she was a woman whom he had control over her will. No matter what he used to say, Azela always looked at him and always had a smile on her face.

He looked at Azela with trembling eyes. The figure with an empty expression was different from usual. Yes, there would be no problem…

Thinking that, Daniel turned to Zagnac in a cold sweat.

“Would it be okay if you had the business with Azela? She is also a member of the Todd family, anyway.”

“This is true.”

At his words, Zagnac smiled broadly. It was as if he was seeing the devil in front of his eyes, and it was so bizarre that goosebumps rose all over Daniel’s body.

“If Count Todd has said this, I can’t help it.”

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