“…?”
“Write down the names of all the women who were your partners. Below that, write ‘I admit to having committed adultery with these women’ and sign it.”
“What is this…!”
“By the way, about those property documents from earlier. Aria hasn’t signed them yet.”
When I threatened that he would lose everything, including the gold mine, if he didn’t do as told, Nyx gritted his teeth but complied with my words.
Even then, he arrogantly tried to omit a few names, so I frowned and demanded corrections.
“Why are you leaving out Layla? She’s the most recent one you dated.”
“Lady Layla is innocent—”
“That’s not my concern. I clearly told you to write down all the women who were your partners.”
Nyx hesitated for a moment, but when I mentioned the property documents again, he wrote down Layla’s name. He signed below it too.
Love bound by money was this shallow.
Next, I was about to take out my engagement cancellation document but paused.
By the time this document is submitted, Nyx probably won’t be a Count anymore. Would his signature still be valid?
Still, I decided to get his signature just in case.
‘I’ll get signatures from both Aria and Nyx, and submit two copies.’
And so, I obtained everything I needed.
Despite trembling with displeasure and shame, Nyx signed all the documents without a word, as instructed.
Phew, the power of a gold mine is truly remarkable.
‘Unfortunately, it will soon become an abandoned mine.’
By the time he finished signing the last document, quite some time had passed since I arrived here.
Just then, the guard who had been watching me signaled that it was time for me to leave, so I prepared to go.
“Good job. As a reward, I’ll tell you something.”
Nyx’s eyes, which had been full of murderous intent while signing, now looked quite lifeless.
Aria should have seen this… It was a bit regrettable, but I thought there was no point in continuing to look at someone for whom I had no good feelings.
‘I should tell Aria later to use this as material to laugh about when she thinks of divorce.’
“You’ve stood as a guarantor quite a lot. There are even some due today or tomorrow.”
As if he already knew, Nyx’s face soured. But soon after, he smiled vilely.
“Those were made in the name of Count Valentine. Aria will pay them off gradually.”
“No. You signed that you would take them.”
Nyx furrowed his brow, asking what I meant. I furrowed my brow as well.
“I’m talking about the property documents. You said you’d take everything of Valentine’s, didn’t you?”
“That was just the assets-“
“You see, a family’s assets include not just the plusses, but the minuses too. You signed that you’d take everything except the title, territory, and mansion. With your own hands.”
I nodded towards Nyx’s two hands gripping the iron bars.
Not understanding the situation, Nyx blinked blankly.
It wasn’t until the guard called me to leave once more that he grasped the situation and lunged at me, or more precisely, at the document bag I was holding.
“Give it to me!”
Bang!
The iron bars clashed loudly as he collided with them. Like a madman, Nyx flailed his arms wildly.
“Give it to me right now!”
“Oh, and about that gold mine you were so proud of, I heard the reserves are almost depleted. It’s on its last legs. Aria has been hiding it from you, worried you’d get depressed.”
His attempts to snatch the bag became more violent. With bloodshot eyes, he looked like a demon would latch onto him as a friend if the labyrinth opened.
I deliberately stayed just one step out of reach. Nyx, driven mad by the elusive bag, screamed in frustration.
“Aaaah! You crazy, aaaah!”
Guards rushed in at the prisoner’s outburst. They subdued Nyx with practiced ease.
I waited for Nyx’s shouting to subside, then ordered one of the guards, who was panting heavily.
“That man has a very bad record. I hope I never see him in the capital again.”
I nodded towards my shadow, which was writhing on its own. Seeing this, the guard bowed deeply.
“Understood, Lady Labyrinth.”
Good. Power is truly exhilarating.
I learned a lot from my conversation with the Count. With those realizations deeply etched in my heart, I left the prison.
Now it was time to recover the money Count Valentine squandered and make Aria wealthy.
*** *** *** *** ***
“W-What is this!”
Layla, the eldest daughter of the Count Essite family, nearly fainted from a letter from the government office early in the morning.
[Dear Madame,
We have received documents accusing you and the former Count Valentine. This violates Imperial Law Articles 37 and 53, and additionally, according to Article 171…
…We are sending copies of the submitted evidence… However, as the accuser does not wish for your punishment…
We order you to pay 10 billion gold as compensation to the accuser who suffered massive damages.
If you refuse, this may be enforced.]
10 billion gold… 10 billion gold?
She knew the empire had created a system to curb rampant adultery by allowing compensation claims with evidence, but she never thought she’d be on the receiving end.
Layla hurriedly examined the items sent as evidence.
Most were witness testimonies of seeing her and Count Valentine together, there was also a handwritten document from the Count admitting to his infidelity with Layla, and then-
“Eek!”
Layla was shocked when she found an oblong stone rolling around in the envelope and picked it up.
As soon as she placed it on her palm, a conversation between her and Count Valentine played out.
“Count, who do you like more, me or your wife?”
“Of course it’s you, my Lady. Sigh, I’m sick and tired of having that so-called wife. If it weren’t for the title, I would have divorced her long ago!”
Startled, Layla dropped the recording stone. It rolled under the bed.
Who could have done this, and when?
Unfortunately, there was no time to leisurely ponder who was behind this.
The conversation between her and the Count continued to play from the recording stone.
“I only have you, Lady Essite. I love you, my Lady.”
“Me too, Count. How about that southern resort for our honeymoon?”
Layla lay flat on the floor, reaching under the bed. It had gone in so deep that her fingertips could barely touch it.
She tried to roll it out with her fingertips, but frustratingly, it only went in deeper.
“Why won’t it come out!”
She frantically looked around the room for something to use as a stick. If anyone were to hear this, it would be the ultimate humiliation!
Knock knock.
“My Lady, how would you like your breakfast-“
“Last night was so good, Count.”
The maid’s knocking suddenly stopped. She had heard the conversation from the recording stone.
It wasn’t a quiet sound, so even someone outside the room could hear it clearly.
Flustered, Layla froze in her sitting position. As she stared at the closed door in that state, she could feel the presence outside the room quickly disappearing.
“Damn it!”
Layla bit her lip. Damn it, why now of all times, damn it!
She kept uttering vulgar words that noble ladies wouldn’t use.
It was only after a while that she managed to retrieve the dust-covered recording stone from under the bed and stop the audio playback.
Layla immediately rushed to Duval’s room.
“Brother!”
Bang!
As she burst in unceremoniously, Duval, who was adjusting his cravat in front of the mirror, frowned. It seemed he was about to go out somewhere.
Layla grabbed the hem of his coat with urgent hands.
“I need money.”
“What money?”
“Can you lend me 10 billion gold?”
“What?”
At the absurd amount, his hand stopped adjusting his cravat. Duval, who had been glancing at Layla’s reflection in the mirror, finally turned around.
“10 billion?”
“Can you lend it to me or not?”
“I can’t.”
“Why? Didn’t you say your recent business venture was a huge success?”
Layla was right.
The Essite family had an excellent sense for art, such as paintings and sculptures, enough to hold separate exhibitions.
Duval, who inherited this talent from his father, had recently opened an accessory shop targeting women, which became a huge success.
In just a few months, he had made a 500% profit compared to the initial investment.
However, currently, 80% of that money had gone into the Sielle Romance Manipulation Guild. He didn’t even have 3 billion in hand, let alone 10 billion.
Not wanting to hurt his pride by explaining this, he decided to make an excuse.
“I used it for personal reasons.”
“Ah, this won’t do… Don’t you know anywhere we can borrow money? …No, you have to solve this for me!”
Layla, who had been nervously biting her nails, rushed at him.
“You’re the one who told me to get close to Count Valentine!”
“What happened?”
“I got a notice from the government office. They say I’m responsible for the divorce and that I have to pay compensation to Aria Valentine!”
“What?”
Duval’s voice rose in shock.
Leave a Reply