By now, it felt like I was barely standing—balanced on the very tips of my toes.
Yet there were still plenty of people desperate to push me over the edge of the cliff.
Jenus stood frozen, face grim as he clutched both the lawsuit and the petition to cancel the divorce.
“This is absurd. How is any of this even real?”
Heres trembled as she read, her voice shaking with disbelief.
The contents of the petition were outrageous.
The claim was that the party at fault in this marriage wasn’t Egbert Graham, but me—Anais Barnaby.
That made me the liable party, and thus, I had no right to request a divorce—while Egbert, who didn’t want to divorce, was simply trying to keep the marriage intact.
They even listed four pieces of “evidence” to support their claim:
-
Anais Barnaby had repeatedly refused marital relations, failing in her duties as a wife.
-
Despite that, Egbert Graham had dutifully supported her parents.
-
Anais had approached Egbert with the intention of stealing the Graham Bank. Even so, Egbert had cherished and loved her, maintaining the marriage for three full years.
-
Anais had an inappropriate relationship with Jenus Vanderas, who then aided her in stealing the Graham Bank.
The petition concluded that, despite all these betrayals, Egbert forgave me and wanted to continue the marriage.
“He’s completely lost his mind.”
Even the normally composed Jenus muttered harshly, a sign of how outrageous it all was.
And they even threatened to sue if I refused the cancellation.
“Jenus.”
My voice cracked, barely coherent.
Egbert had pushed me once again.
It felt like the dark ocean below the cliff was already starting to swallow me.
I looked at Jenus in a daze.
He returned the look, equally stunned.
“This…”
My breath trembled violently. I forced myself to take a deep breath before asking:
“If we take this to court, what will happen?”
“This kind of ridiculous claim would get thrown out, right?”
Heres pleaded anxiously.
But Jenus responded with a shaky voice:
“No… even though Estus claims to uphold rule of law, this is still a class-based society. Judges and family court officers… they’re part of that same society.”
Through his glasses, I met Jenus’s eyes.
He didn’t say the words, but I could understand what he wanted to say:
Egbert is a Marquis. And I’m just a Viscount’s daughter.
After a long pause, Jenus finally spoke again.
“…I’m sorry, madam.”
Jenus looked like a man who couldn’t promise victory—and felt sorry for it.
I clenched my fists.
What good was it to have lined up a few powerful supporters behind me? Egbert was power. And he had even more people he could summon behind him.
“Jenus.”
“Yes, Madam.”
“That thing we discussed before.”
I sipped some water, trying to ease the roughness in my throat.
“The bet of a lifetime.”
“….”
“I need to find the most suitable partner for a strategic alliance.”
I forced a calm tone into my voice, as if this lawsuit meant nothing at all.
As if Egbert’s ghost would never be able to trap me again.
Jenus’s gaze wavered.
“Think of someone who is exactly what I need right now—someone helpful, someone who won’t harm the Graham Bank. I’ll be thinking too.”
“Madam…”
“Age, appearance, personality—none of it matters. You understand what I mean, right?”
Jenus nodded heavily.
“Even a foreigner is fine. Find them by the day after tomorrow. We’ll speak again then.”
“Ha… Madam, this is really…”
“I’ll meet with the most promising candidates myself.”
That was my decision.
My best move—the one that would protect me and the bank.
This was my all-in gamble—my life’s final card.
These days, a part of Baldwin’s attention always lingered on Anais and the Graham Bank.
Even Luteric had begun to notice.
Whatever the reason, the shift in Baldwin’s mindset was starting to affect those around him.
Luteric began his usual morning report.
“There’s something strange about the Graham Bank’s movements in the past two days.”
Baldwin turned his eyes silently toward him.
The heavy air pressed down on Luteric’s shoulders.
“…Jenus Vanderas has been meeting people… but this feels different. Like he’s… scouting candidates. It looks like Madam Anais Barnaby is looking for a husband.”
Baldwin blinked slowly.
A suffocating silence swept through the room. His violet eyes darkened.
Baldwin was quietly, deeply angry.
Luteric swallowed nervously.
[What proof do you have for a claim like that?]
“It’s news we got last night. A lawyer named Lorexer is preparing to file a lawsuit against Madam Anais. The client is the Marquis of Graham.”
[On what grounds?]
“It appears to be an annulment lawsuit.”
Baldwin let out a cold laugh and rubbed his forehead.
He knew the Estus court system better than anyone. He also knew just how easily they could side with Egbert.
Especially the family court—it was still run by the old guard who refused to break from past customs.
If Egbert so much as whimpered, there were plenty of old men ready to take his side.
Anais had likely made the best decision she could under the circumstances.
As the daughter of a viscount, she might as well have had no title at all. As long as Viscount Barnaby lived, Anais couldn’t inherit his rank.
For a noblewoman without a title, the only legitimate way to elevate her status was through marriage.
“Apparently, her mansion has been swarming with flies lately. With Anais’s value skyrocketing, it won’t be hard for her to seal a marriage—no matter who the groom is.”
Baldwin exhaled slowly.
He knew all this—logically. That many men desired Anais was a given.
She was clever. Rather than fall into Egbert’s clutches, she’d grab another man’s hand and fight back.
Baldwin turned his gaze toward the window.
This wasn’t his business.
It wasn’t Baldwin’s concern. Nor was it Constantine’s.
And yet… he couldn’t explain the rage bubbling inside him.
The thought of Anais being forced into another marriage—again—was infuriating.
The thought of another man standing at her side again—was even more infuriating.
Everything he’d just heard was maddening.
He even felt a strange, violent urge toward Egbert Graham.
Baldwin stood up.
A powerful impulse gripped him—he couldn’t just sit still like this.
“Where are you going?”
[I have to meet Anais. There’s something we need to discuss.]
Luteric looked visibly anxious.
“You mustn’t do anything illegal, Your Grace. Illegal acts include murder, robbery, and blackmail. You remember that, right?”
As he rattled off society’s norms, he kept a wary eye on Baldwin—who gave a chilling smile.
[Don’t worry, Luteric. I never bite unless someone bites first.]
“Your Grace…!”
Luteric was about to point out that no one had bitten Baldwin yet, but Baldwin was quicker.
[Strangely enough, even if Anais was the one bitten… I think I’d still want to tear apart the one who bit her.]
Luteric shut his mouth tight. That was one of the most extraordinary and dangerous things Baldwin had ever said.
Until now, Baldwin had always drawn clear lines—he kept everyone at arm’s length.
No one had ever succeeded in crossing into Baldwin’s inner world.
But Anais was different. Why?
“What if Madam Anais refuses, sir?”
[That’s her choice, not mine. I just want to show her there are more options.]
Luteric fidgeted nervously, but Baldwin added one more thing:
[Don’t worry. I fully intend to act like a gentleman.]
Baldwin said this with a look that was anything but gentlemanly.
In the end, Luteric failed to stop him, and Baldwin hurried toward the Graham Bank.
The only thing Luteric could do was throw himself into Baldwin’s carriage, cramming in beside him.
It was the only way he could prevent whatever might happen next.
Luteric crouched beside him in silence, holding his breath.
Baldwin sat staring out the window, his expression ice-cold.
The man who had always looked like a painting—today, he seemed more like a predator waiting for its prey.
He was dangerous.
