<h4>Chapter 28.1</h4>


    “Is the Duke in the neutral area? I feel like he could visit the capital at least once,” Count Garion said as he sipped the top-quality wine.


    Sitting across from him, ude smiled at the Count, “If the north falls, then the empire falls. Father moves only if necessary.”


    The Countughed to himself, “But still, my daughter is getting engaged. I was thinking about getting them married when the princess and Marquis Kieran got engaged.” He wanted to do this so that he could invite the Duke to the wedding.


    ude stared at the youngster, who was thirteen years old at most, while she moved her fork as elegantly as she could around the te on the table. The Count’s child blushed and brushed her hair behind her ears when she saw ude staring at her.


    Canillian had shown up in Cosoar around the same age, so he wasn’t sure why he felt differently about this idea. And Canillian had looked much younger and smaller than her.


    ude noticed that the Count was observing him, and he smiled as he replied, “I’ll let him know. You won’t have a chance unless he stays in the capital.”


    “Really?”


    “Of course. A good asion like this should be a celebration.” The young Duke epted his suggestion cheerfully. The joyful Count then ordered the most expensive wine to be brought, as if the Duke himself had epted the proposal. It had been worthwhile to be persistent and wait.


    Only a few minutes ago, the Count had been agitated because the young Duke hadn’t arrived at the agreed time. The food was all ready, his daughter was all dressed up, and a card awaited him. But, the young Duke waste, and the food had gotten cold, which had annoyed the Count immensely.


    Although ude had arrived at the Count’s mansion an hourte, he didn’t cause a scene about it and instead had run outside barefoot to greet him. There was no greater honor than if Duke Ihar attended the wedding. To add to that, ude Del Ihar was the representative of the Duke, and it was almost a certainty that he was to be the next Duke. It was a time in the empire when connections with the right people equaled power, and Count Garion felt like he’d just gotten the best supporter.


    “Anyway, were you very busy?” The Count chuckled, “I was worried when you didn’t show at the promised time. Was there perhaps car trouble?”


    ude raised an eyebrow as he could read the Count’s mind when he purposely emphasized the time. “There was some business that I needed to attend to, which is yet to be taken care of. I’ve enjoyed my meal, so would you excuse me?” Although the top-ss wine ordered hadn’t yet made it to the table, ude stood up and wiped his mouth with a napkin. Chairs then scraped loudly on the floor as everyone got up in respect.


    The flustered Count hurriedly brought a card over and handed it to him. “It’s the invitation. Please, attend. I’ll await a reply.”


    “Thank you.”


    “And please let the Duke know that I’ll be at his service, soe find me if necessary.”


    “Yes, I shall do so.”


    After shaking hands with the Count, ude walked across the garden in bloom, and the sunlight warmed his smiling face. But the moment he stepped into the carriage which awaited him, the spring light like the smile on his face disappeared. And ude clenched his fists the moment the door closed. The Count had a sad look on his face when he’d said goodbye, and ude wondered if he thought he was leaving too early.


    “Where should I take you, Master?”


    “To Canillian.”


    “Yes, Master.”


    The attache looked perplexed as he observed ude’s face when he let out a sigh and brushed his bangs back with his hands. ude quickly corrected himself as if he’d made a mistake, “I’ll go to the townhouse today.”


    “Yes, sir.”


    ude had been nning on canceling the meal with Count, but because it was rted to the reputation of Duke Ihar’s family, he couldn’t. If it hadn’t been a prearranged dinner, there was no way he would’ve left Canillian with the sly Ian Sergio. The damn prince liked guys. Otherwise, there was no way he would show desire, outright like that, to Canillian.


    He recalled what Ian had said, “I have no intention of rolling around on the sofa. And Sir ude, I will take the prince to the Marquis ce. Please leave.” ude let out a scoff to such absurdity. And it irritated him that Canillian called Prince Sergio by his first name, Ian. Not Ian Sergio, just Ian.


    ude loosened his tie while leaning against the backseat of the carriage. He looked a mess with his untidy hair and an untucked shirt. Although ude felt frustrated, Ian wasn’t someone he should be concerned about, because like Canillian had said, Ian Sergio was a guest of the Marquis, and if he was here, that meant that Kieran Vale wasn’t too far behind. There was no way that Kieran, who cared about his sibling so much, would leave some weird person like Ian beside Canillian. And ude chose to believe that.


    At the moment he was erasing the thought of Canillian, through rationalization, the attache spoke, “Master, it’s Sir Ivan.”


    Ivan was in front of the Duke’s mansion, and when he saw the carriage approaching, he dismounted the horse. ude opened the window when the carriage came to a stop.


    Ivan walked straight up to the carriage and said, “At your service, young Duke.”


    “Did you find it?”


    “Yes. That night, only one stableman drove the greenndo carriage. When I went to him, he said he drove some nobledy to the statue of Saint Mateo. And he was paid handsomely with one gold piece.”


    ude nodded while he thought about this. The statue of Saint Mateo was beside his townhouse. And the only noble house around was the Duke’s mansion. “If the stableman’s words are true, that means thedy isn’t noble.” Or, maybe.