Chapter 12

Chapter 12

“What about Elliot?”

“Young Master is sleeping.”

“Right.”

Alexei, nodding his head, strides toward his office.

“I have to finish some work, bring a cup of coffee to the office. And…”

Alexei, trying to ask about Anriche, shook his head and swallowed his word. Without even asking, she must be sleeping well in a fluffy and warm bed. She’s the woman who values ​​herself the most in the world, so she must be taking care of her body.

“Well, my Lord.”

However, the butler who followed Alexei opened his mouth.

Alexei glanced back. “What’s going on?”

“Today, the Madam brought Liliana to the townhouse.”

“…Liliana?”

Alexei’s steps paused.

‘Why did she bring Liliana?’

Apparently, he was told that she was doing well with Baron Londini.

‘Surely… Is she going to put Liliana by her side and harass her?’

The blue eyes stood sharply.

“That is….” The butler slowly explained.

Liliana wasn’t living comfortably in Baron Londini, in fact, she was being treated like a maid at the Londini Orphanage.

That’s why Anriche brought Liliana.

She fed Liliana well, dressed well, and treated her well.

“…Madam is sleeping with Miss Liliana now.”

So, the butler concluded.

At the moment, Alexei narrowed his eyebrows.

“Wait, did you say that Liliana was being treated like a maid?”

“Yes, she was.”

“…But Meg never said anything like that.”

When he decided to entrust Liliana to the Rondini family, Alexei had instructed Meg to check periodically to see if Liliana was doing well. He was supposed to have left the matters of Liliana to the mistress, Anriche…

‘She wasn’t interested in Liliana at all.’

Rather, she said that for a low-ranking girl to be included in the family, Liliana was fortunate enough.

So, the person he thought of after the dilemma was Meg, a maid, who had been with Duke Valois.

‘Lady Liliana is doing very well.’ That was Meg’s usual reply.

Alexei was caught up in a strange sense of incongruity.

“…Since the words of the Madam and Meg are so different, it seems that we have to reveal the truth.”

The butler, watching Alexei’s eyes, carefully added.

He nodded heavily.

“Yes, it should be.”

Alexei, who was in trouble for a while, opened his mouth.

“Just keep silent for now.”

“Understood.”

“Though, I’m not saying just bury it.” Alexei firmly added.

“The butler should investigate this matter separately.”

“Me?”

“Yes. You’ll have to proceed in secret so no one would know about this matter.”

“…I will take your orders.” The butler, who gave a reliable answer, glanced sideways at Alexei.

“So, you won’t ask Madam and Meg directly?”

“….”

Alexei was silent for a moment.

In his heart, he wanted to hold onto Anriche right away and ask,’What happened?’

Though on the other hand, Meg was also a very loyal maid. Rather than be suspicious of Meg, it was reasonable for Anriche to think of driving a wedge between Meg and Alexei.

Regardless…

‘…At least today, didn’t she seem to care for Liliana?’

It was surprising.

Anriche, whom he knew, was annoyed even with her own son, so he wasn’t allowed to play with his mother.

Of course, even a broken watch says the correct time twice a day.

Anriche’s actions are probably of that kind, but…

“She’s the mistress of Valois.”

This fact has not changed.

And the mistress of Valois deserves the respect appropriate for that position. No matter how suspicious he was of her, Alexei couldn’t show his suspicion of her at a time when clear facts were not yet known.

“In fact, it is not too late to make a judgment after the facts become clear.”

“Yes, Lord.” The butler politely bowed his head.

“By the way, the family of Baron Londini dares to act like that…”

Alexei’s voice was suddenly quiet.

‘We will take care of Liliana until she reaches adulthood.’

‘No matter how close, couldn’t we, the relatives, take care of her more carefully?’

Were all those good words a lie?

He thought they were friendly and kind-hearted enough to run an orphanage. Because of that, he entrusted the only daughter left by his precious close friend to them.

By the way… he didn’t expect Baron Ron Dini to be abusing Liliana like that behind his back.

Alexei grinds his teeth.

He didn’t know before he heard the story about Liliana, but when he heard it, there were many things that were suspicious. For instance…

“Did Baron Ron Dini recently build an orphanage?”

“Yes, I heard so.”

“Where did the money used for the extension come from?”

…Such as the source of funds casually used by Baron Rondini.

“That is….” The butler couldn’t answer quickly, and he mumbled for a while.

He doesn’t even know.

Alexei’s eyes were sharp.

“You don’t know?”

“…I’m sorry because Meg has been saying that it’s all right.”

The butler didn’t know what to do and looked at Alexei’s eyes.

‘I was too complacent.’ Alexei reflected deeply in his heart.

Of course, there is a reason he couldn’t pay attention to Liliana. He was the only Duke of the Empire, and he was the emperor’s trusted friend. Alexei was busy with his duties for the country and the duke’s work, so he couldn’t afford to pay attention to her that much.

‘But, this wasn’t how things were supposed to be.’

At least for the butler, he should have ordered him to keep an eye on Liliana. He shouldn’t just trust Baron Rondini and Meg.

“…No. It’s true that I have believed in Meg all this time.”

Honestly, this problem wasn’t something to blame the butler.

The master didn’t even order it. If he was moving at his own will, it’s like an act of overtaking the master.

Moreover, the butler was always suffering from overwork while doing housework because of the negligent mistress. He wouldn’t have had enough time to care for Baron Rondini.

Alexei, who opened and closed his eyes again, asked a question.

“How much money does Baron Londini take for Liliana’s living expenses?”

“That will be about a thousand grossen.”

In response, there was a deep wrinkle in Alexei’s brow.

If it was a thousand grossen, it was almost as much as the cost of living for three years in a common household’s house. Even though they had received such a large sum, they were raising Liliana no less than a maid.

Probably, the money was intercepted in the middle.

“In the future, make sure that the people from Baron Londini have no access to Aberyt’s property.” Alexei said in a cold voice.

“When Liliana reaches adulthood, the fortune returns to her.”

“Understood.” The butler nodded and bowed down.

Alexei squeezed the tip of his lips.

“Also, make sure to put a claim into the tax department of the Imperial Palace.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“So, that a tax investigation can go into the orphanage run by Baron Londini.”

“What? Tax investigation?” The butler’s eyes widened.

However, Alexei was determined.

“Yeah. If we’re going to proceed, we have to be sure.”

“Yes. Can I put the claim directly from the duke?”

“Do it.” Alexei nodded his head.

The butler continued asking.

“Would you like me to bring your coffee straight to the office?”

“No, do it in thirty minutes. I’m thinking of going upstairs and seeing Elliot.”

Elliot’s fiancée came into the house, and somehow Alexei missed her.

“All right. I’ll tell the kitchen that.”

Alexei nodded, turning his steps toward Elliot’s room.

***

Alexei opened the door, being careful not to make any noise.

The room wasn’t very dark because the moonlight was seeping through the white curtains.

Alexei silently approached the bedside.

Elliot pulled the blanket tightly into his arms, and he was lying asleep. The fluttering sound of breath tickled his ears.

“…Cute.”

Alexei smiled happily.

Most people think that Elliot resembles him a lot, but Alexei’s idea was a little different. The temperament inherited from Alexei and the unique ebony-like hair of Valois adds to it.

Nevertheless, Elliot does resemble Anriche a lot. With the dense features, violet eyes, and an elegant neck like a deer.

“…”

Alexei reached out his hand and arranged the scattered hair over Elliot’s forehead.

Looking at it, when he first met Anriche…

‘I thought I would somehow have a happy marriage.’

The young lady of the renowned Marquis of Saxony.

When they first met, she was aristocratic, graceful, and beautiful. They were married in a political marriage, but he thought it was all right. Even though it wasn’t a burning love like flames, there was trust between each other.

He believed that her confidence would lead to a stable marriage, and he did not doubt. Of course, that belief has turned into cold ashes from knowing Anriche’s reality.

‘Oh, useless thoughts.’

When Alexei shook his head, Elliot raised his eyelid.

Underneath the rich black lashes, his bright violet-colored eyes looked straight at Alexei.

It was a look that resembled Anriche.