Chapter 121

As if he felt a bit better after drinking good wine, he dropped his voice softly.

“For example… Your wife, Margaret, who is the maid of Elias’s wife, or your brother Liu, who works at the stable of this house…”

But the barbaric nature of his language was deeper than before.

The man, who turned white at Ober’s mention of his family members, spit out his saliva and stretched his trembling arm.

“Marquis, please don’t touch my family…! ”

“Shut up. Do you think I summoned you here to hear your begging like that?”

Ober stepped back from his standing position, out of the man’s. The long shadow of his body covered the man who lay face down.

“As of now, let me relocate the moles. Keep an eye on Elias, Duke Hubble’s son, well when you go back. In particular, monitor the movement of those who watch him, even though they are not my moles. Have half of the moles monitor Duke Kling’s words and deeds, and the rest of them watch Elias’s wife.”

“Yes, sure, will do. So, please have mercy on me, Marquis. Please. please…”

“Erez. My goodwill does not arise indefinitely. If you bring me a satisfactory result, of course, I’ll give you a corresponding reward. By the way, I like fast and accurate information. Waiting long is not my cup of tea.”

“Absolutely. I’ll meet your expectations by all means. So, please wait for a little longer.”

“Get lost!”

“Yes, sir… ”

The man stood up wobbly. Ober stared at him with a cold expression on his face when he adjusted his clothes and turned in a hurry. As the door opened, Giyom, waiting outside, came in, bowing to him.

“Sir, Lonstat’s daughter is repeatedly asking to see you.”

“Is that stupid girl still in the mansion? I clearly told you to convey to her that I was busy, right?”

“Yes, I did. But she keeps insisting on seeing you, saying she wants to meet you even for a brief moment.”

Ober waved his hand strongly as if he was sick and tired of her.

“I’m sure she has been forced to come under Earl Lonstat’s strong pressure. I just don’t know how many days he has been protesting against me. How annoying! Never let her in here. If her mother goes back, I think she will also follow suit.”

“Got it, sir.”

After he was done with his business, Giyom left the room.

Massaging his nape that felt hurt, Ober slowly retraced what happened last night.

Mrs. Chester looked surprisingly happy after she returned from Hubble’s house in the evening.

When he looked at her with an embarrassed expression, not knowing what she was up to, she whispered happily that she would soon draw a new card.

She advised him that he prepare some moles just in case, as she had a good idea. Her new card was Elias. He was Hubble’s only son as well as his biggest headache. He was often despised because of his hot temperament and his lack of political acumen, but he was an easy prey for political manipulation.

Although Elias was stupid, he was not comparable to the duke’s collateral relatives by blood.

He was ambitious for political power, but very clumsy in calculating political dividends in the real world. Though he was foolish, he had lots of wealth, which meant people didn’t need to be wary of him while they could get lots of political benefits by using him.

Anyway, he had great potential as Mrs. Chester’s new political target.

Ober double checked his plans by turning the glasses round in the air habitually.

The sound of him stamping the ground with his hard shoe heels echoed through the floor at regular intervals.

He unconsciously walked toward the window where the sunlight was pouring in.

When he stood in front of the window where the warm sunlight was pouring in, he had a good view of the outside courtyard.

The lush gardens in the early summer were more vibrant under the sun.

With lots of complicated thoughts in mind, he looked at the fountain giving off a pure white stream, the flowers that Mrs. Chester took care of, and the statue where parrots were playing around leisurely.

‘… Wait a minute. Parrot?’

His gaze suddenly ran backwards as if he was chasing something.

His dark eyes finally stopped as if they were stuck in one place.

He noticed a familiar woman hanging about in front of the flower garden.

***

“I’m honored to see you, Lady Marianne!”

“May the Goddess protect you, Sir Ober!”

Marianne greeted him with a bright smile, raising her dress hem slightly.

At the same time, Ober naturally reached out.

Suddenly her shoulders stiffened. Unfortunately, the man who snatched Ober’s hands and pressed on them forcibly the other day was not with her at the moment. This place was a battlefield for her only. In the end, she looked back at Cordelli, who was supporting her, and inevitably put her hands on his. Although his hands were warm, She felt creepy when his scary breathing and forehead passed through the back of her hands one by one.

“Did you come to see my mother, Marianne?”

“Oh no. I just came to see the flowers here. Your mother gave me Adenium as a gift during the eve of the recent ball. She told me I could come and see the flower garden here as there are so many rare and strange flowers.”

“Oh, that’s why you were in the garden. If you had let me know in advance, I would have greeted you in person and shown you around.”

Ober made eye contact with her with a kind smile.

“I’m fine. Besides, I thought you were in the palace because it’s still during the day when you are busy with work.”

Of course she was lying to him. She would never come to the flower garden if she had known Ober was there. In fact, she deliberately came at this time because she was tipped off that Mrs. Chester was scheduled to go out at this time.

So, Marianne, only grumbling deep inside, was just looking at her surroundings.

On one side of the spacious room was a sofa and a table apparently reserved for guests. She was impressed with the showcases of art and wine bottles and antique desks in the back. The large vault and drawers were placed around the desk as if they served as a wall, showing the identity of the room openly.

“Wow, this place…Is it your study, Sir Ober?”

“Sort of. It’s like my private office. I like to use my study and office separately, so I deliberately separated them.”

“Oh, I see. I didn’t know it because my father likes to use them together.”

Marianne looked around and laughed brightly. At the same time, she tried to recollect the way back to the entrance that she came through with Cordelli.

Although she wasn’t sure, the room was obviously designed as a secret place of the main building. Ober said it was a private office apart from his study room and the parlour. She felt she had to grasp its structure instinctively.

If she told Cordelli about this, she would certainly reply like, ‘Yeah, that’s why you shouldn’t live in the capital.’

“I think this is my first time seeing your private space. I like the atmosphere of the room. By the way… Did I interrupt your work with my sudden visit?”

“No, not at all. I’ve already done my work. While I was taking a break, I happened to notice you, so I told my servant to escort you here quickly.”

“Would it be okay for me to look around a little more? I would like to see the paintings and handicrafts over there…”

“I’m sorry to hear that. I didn’t think you were estranged from me enough to ask for my permission.”

Ober stroked her back, replying slyly.

Stunned, she pushed his chest with her hands. She realized that she had made a mistake right after she pushed him unconsciously.

Looking down at her hands, which apparently tried to stop him, he raised his head with cold eyes.

He showed extreme displeasure that made her feel goosebumps. In a moment, his chilly gaze was accompanied by a slight suspicion and light betrayal.

‘Is he upset? What should I do? I shouldn’t hurt his feelings.’

Marianne quickly put her brain to work, blaming herself for having acted to him instinctively.

Soon she looked at the maids over her shoulders with a perplexed expression and then looked up at Ober with a pleading look.

“However…”

Unfortunately but fortunately for her, Ober was the type of man who reacted sensitively to the words and moods of the other party.

He immediately noticed her hesitating and sized up her gaze at him. He softened his rigid expression furtively and said, “You don’t have to be concerned about it, but if you’re still uncomfortable, let me try to make yourself at home.”

His ashen eyes stared at Marianne’s back. A maid with the mansion bowed out when Ober gestured at her. But Cordelli did not move from where she was standing.

Her eyes were even burning with anger as if she was pretty much upset about something.