CH 14.1

Natasha became contemplative.

She considered the pieces of jewelry she was wearing now as her lifeline.

As an expert in luxury items, she found these rare gems by sifting through various jewelers in the capital.

Some of her rings were imported from far away countries.

The reason why they weren’t burned in the fire was that she had always worn them.

However, the Marquis of Milose, who was too blinded by his investments, urged Natasha.

“Give all the pieces of jewelry you’re wearing to the Grand Duke.”

“Ha! But….”

“Come on.”

At the fierce call, Natasha’s face crumpled as she removed her necklace, earrings, and rings.

The Marquis handed her treasures politely to Cade.

“That’s all I’ve prepared for you, Your Grace. Please take it easy. Oops!”

Before he could finish his sentence, a man popped out from behind Cade and collected all the jewels.

The Marquis trembled with surprise at the almost bandit-like movement.

‘These barbarians didn’t have a shred of decency… scaring me all the damn time!’

Even as he went on a business trip to the capital, his heart had almost dropped multiple times because of the Grand Duke’s subordinates.

Every time he looked over his shoulder or sideways, he could see that these six murderers, as well as the Grand Duke, possessed this dark and wild, animalistic aura around them.

The Marquis had almost died of a heart attack at an age… Well, over the age of infidelity.

“It wouldn’t have been that much!”

Even as the Marquis spoke profusely to the Grand Duke, the bastards often interrupted at the wrong time and poked fun at him.

“The food here is good!”

When he booked the most fancy restaurant at Hindel to serve them, the bandits ate up nearly thirty servings which completely emptied his pockets.

He had never spent so much money eating out in his entire life!

The total amount was so large that he wanted to bow down to Cade—-who only drank wine during the meal——and thank him for slightly reducing the food expenses.

‘You’ll see. I’ll take back all the money I had spent on those rotten barbarians from this marriage, Your Grace.’

The Marquis of Milrose re-established his formalities and let out a humble laugh.

“I’m glad you’re staying for another night at my mansion, Your Grace. Even though it’s already late, we should talk more about wedding arrangements in the drawing room—-”

“I agree it’s already late, so I might as well take a break. See you later.”

As soon as Cade finished speaking, his men stretched their limbs before heading towards the guest room on the first floor.

“How about you, Cherryl?” The Marquis asked.

Cherryl lowered her head and curtsied. “I should go, too.”

The atmosphere had suddenly turned so desolate that it put the Marquis in a daze.

‘Ugh. I guess I’ll just have to put up with this.’

Hopefully, this business will benefit him in the long term.

The Marquis greeted Cade with reluctance.

“Take a good rest, Your Grace. I’ll see you off tomorrow morning.”

Cherryl chuckled when she saw her father grovel at the Grand Duke.

Even though his one and only daughter would leave for the North forever, he always begged for the Grand Duke’s attention until the end.

Cade couldn’t even care less.

As she climbed the stairs, she peeped under the railing to see the butler talking to the Marquis while pointing to another guest room on the first floor.

Perhaps, he had told him that their bedroom was burnt black and a temporary bedroom was prepared over there.

The Marquis couldn’t make a loud noise due to the presence of a valuable guest inside his mansion.

Fists clenched with anger, the Marquis calmly headed to the guest room with Natasha.

Cade’s men were on the other side of the room, so he might be able to sleep well.

When Cade’s party arrived at the mansion, Lucy told her that she thought she heard thunder in the guest room on the first floor the following day.

Ob, how loud those men had snored!

Because of the thunder-like snores, the servants passing the hallways assumed it was raining heavily outside and that they had to check the windows constantly.

Cade didn’t seem to snore, but she still found it interesting that her father and Natasha had to listen to the men’s loud snores all night.

As she rushed her steps with foolish thoughts, Cherryl found Cade climbing the stairs next to her.

“Oh my god!”

She was so surprised that she let out a shriek.

Cherryl placed her hands on her chest as she stood there.

Cade merely glanced over his shoulder as he walked past her down the hall.

“Your Grace?”

Cherryl followed after him.

An unusual thought crossed her mind when she saw him walk boldly toward her bedroom.

“No way.”

She raised her eyebrows, hoping he wasn’t thinking of sleeping in her bed.

No matter how much Cherryl had expressed her intention of marrying him, it was definitely not this.

“Your Grace, where are you going?”

Cherryl called Cade in a rather prickly voice.

“Where am I going? I’m going to rest.”

“Are you following me?”

“Aren’t you the one following me?”

Dumbfounded, Cherryl paused for a moment.

Then she tried to catch up with Cade again but it was all in vain.

The difference between the length of their steps was too wide.

Cherryl stared at Cade’s broad shoulders and spoke, “You’ll be in trouble!”

“Why would I be?”

“I mean——I know we’re about to get married, but… we can’t spend our first night together right now. Not yet.”

“Our first night?”

Cade suddenly stopped and straightened his spine.

Cherryl also halted when her nose bumped into his stiff back, knocking the wind out of her.

“Ah! My nose—-”

“What do you mean, Lady Cherryl?”

As she clutched her sore nose, Cade turned around and noticed her pale complexion.

He stiffened.

Anyway, how can a human body be so hard?

Her nose hurt so much that she’s afraid she might have had a nosebleed.