ICM Chapter 108

From the main house, servants had been coming outside since earlier, discreetly observing the mansion’s main gate. This was already the third time a servant had gone back and forth between the main gate and the main house to announce visitors.

“Do you think they’ll be able to enter today?”

“See those knights behind the carriage? If they’re determined to force their way in, we won’t be able to stop them, right?”

“Come on, no matter what, would a prestigious family act so brutishly?”

“What about His Grace, who’s turning away guests at the door?”

The servant lowered his voice to a whisper and spoke to his colleague.

“Well, they did show up without any prior notice.”

“That’s one way to look at it. But it’s not like they’re from a family that would be turned away anywhere else.”

They’ll come in today, no they won’t, they’ll be driven away. Amid the back and forth speculation, the servants quietly began placing bets among themselves. After some more time passed, they finally saw the main gate opening.

“Oh, oh. They’re coming in. They’re coming!”

“My goodness, the Knight Commander is in quite a state.”

The moment the carriage passed through the main gate, the mansion’s knights rushed out in a group and waited in front of the main house. It didn’t seem to be in preparation for any emergency, but rather to avoid being overwhelmed in a show of force.

However, there wasn’t just one carriage approaching across the garden. Behind the large carriage pulled by six horses, three more carriages followed in a line.

When the door of the first carriage opened, it was Pelburn who greeted the guests. Pelburn’s expression seemed both astounded and half-resigned.

“Welcome. I am Pelburn Coltern, Knight Commander of Igraine.”

“Don’t pretend to be pleased when you’re not.”

Drushia spat out curtly as he passed by Pelburn. Pelburn bowed his head to Drushia and whispered quietly.

“Are you going to keep doing this? If Your Grace acts this way, it’s only the young lady who will be put in a difficult position.”

“If there’s a mountain, you must cross it, and if a wall blocks your way, you must make a door. When the high ground is right before your eyes, who’s going to make the path if you just sit with your hands folded?”

“Ha, you certainly speak well.”

“I don’t just speak well, I do everything else well too.”

“Your Grace, please moderate yourself.”

Pelburn ground his teeth and followed behind Drushia. Meanwhile, porters began taking large chests out of the carriages and setting them down in front of the entrance.

These weren’t just any chests, but ones made from expensive rosewood. The intricate patterns carved on their surfaces gleamed differently depending on the lighting, making them look like works of art in themselves. These were precious items usually used only on special occasions, such as when high nobles or wealthy families sent marriage gifts.

Moreover, what was contained in each box were special imported fabrics, decorations, accessories, and other items for attending banquets – things not produced within the empire.

The servants who had been wary of the name Talion sparkled their eyes as they watched the chests being lined up in the middle of the hall. Among them was Mia, who had just rushed over from the training ground.

No one dared to examine the gift boxes readily. Given who had brought the gifts, it was difficult to accept them with pure intentions.

“Isn’t that fur?”

One maid whispered to her colleague beside her. As she said, white fur was protruding from a slightly open chest.

“The lid isn’t properly closed?”

While no one else stepped forward, Mia moved over and slightly lifted the chest lid. In an instant, the pure white mass contained inside caught everyone’s attention.

“Oh my.”

“It’s fur. And completely white at that.”

“Where did that come from?”

In the empire where there wasn’t much snow, beasts with white fur could hardly be seen even in winter. Therefore, white fur was as precious as diamonds.

That wasn’t all. Among the items brought later was a long chest with two lids side by side. The chest was so large that two adult men had to carry it together – it was mainly used for sending wedding gifts.

The servants who recognized the meaning exchanged glances while keeping their mouths shut. Questions about what unknown affairs might be in progress passed silently among them.

Whether fortunately or unfortunately, Weive didn’t come outside, so he didn’t witness this tremendous amount of gifts directly. Instead, Ashika, who had rushed over after hearing the news, stood speechless in the middle of the hall.

“Ashika.”

Spotting her, Drushia walked across the hall without hesitation. His bright blue eyes, clear as an autumn sky, shone with an eerie intensity as he approached.

“…What is all this…”

She couldn’t finish her words. What is all this about? What are you trying to do? She couldn’t even ask. The man’s intense aura as he approached with large strides made her instinctively want to step backward.

But she couldn’t even do that. If she tried to flee, she felt from the persistence in his gaze that he would immediately bind her limbs and drag her away.

The man who had been approaching as if to devour her immediately stopped just one step away. As if that was the maximum restraint he could exercise.

The eyes looking down at Ashika flashed with inexplicable elation. The deep blue color seemed to burn with an eerie feeling.

“Um…”

Ashika unconsciously swallowed her dry saliva. Whether he didn’t notice her tension or not, Drushia quickly scanned Ashika from head to toe.

His gaze examined everything one by one: her naturally flowing black hair and makeup-free white face, her exposed white neckline, her dress neatly buttoned up front with a ribbon tied at the chest, and even the delicate lace on the sleeves covering the back of her hands – his gaze stopped at her fingertips.

“What happened to your hand?”

Finally, a voice flowed from Drushia’s mouth. He frowned with a displeased expression. Ashika clutched her fingertips where blood had beaded.

“I cut it on paper.”

Actually, she had hurt her hand while panicking after hearing that Drushia had come. It was a small wound on her fingertip, but who would have thought he’d ask about it.

‘What, was he checking to see if there were any scratches?’

Having finally examined her thoroughly to his satisfaction, Drushia’s gaze returned to Ashika’s face. This time, his gaze, which seemed more relaxed than before, looked down at her silently.

She couldn’t ask if he had something to say or why he was acting this way because his blue eyes looked moist.

“…Drushia.”

With that single call, his eyes that had been welling up as if about to cry curved beautifully. The smile drawn brightly by pulling his lips was both unfamiliar and well-suited to him, making her heart flutter again.

Feeling heat rise to her face, Ashika averted her gaze.

“Ahem, hmm. Um… would the guest please proceed to the reception room…”

It was Weive’s aide who broke the tension between the two. He cleared the atmosphere on behalf of the silent servants and knights.

“Ah, the reception room. Right.”

The sticky gaze that had been clinging to Ashika throughout finally broke away. Unintentionally, the two ended up following the aide side by side to the reception room on the second floor.

When the reception room door opened and Weive, who had been waiting inside, spotted the two people, he stiffened coldly. His expression showed that he didn’t like the fact that Ashika and Drushia were together.

He rose from his seat to greet the guest, but only briefly – he didn’t offer the other person a chair and sat back down.

“Ashika, one person is sufficient to greet the guest – myself.”

It was a gentle instruction for her to leave.

In the past, she would have accepted obediently, but not now. However, it wasn’t easy to go against her grandfather’s wishes in front of another person either. As Ashika hesitated to respond, Drushia spoke first.

“It’s been a while, Duke Igraine. I trust you’ve been well?”

Drushia naturally brought up this unwelcome greeting, even managing a smile.

A slight tremor passed over Weive’s face. From his perspective, Drushia was like a ruffian intruder. An intruder who came without notice and threw a tantrum demanding the door be opened.

It was a face Ashika hadn’t seen in several days – even Weive’s. Whether he had deliberately chosen the timing, Weive, who had been absent throughout, had returned just on the day Drushia visited.

“I had been well, but thanks to you, troubles are about to arise. So I’d prefer if you sent my granddaughter away first.”

“No. I cannot have a conversation excluding the person directly involved.”

“Whatever we discuss, it’s a matter that must be settled at my level.”

“Do you still think Ashika is a child who needs protection like a greenhouse flower?”

At the direct rebuke, Weive’s grip on the chair’s armrest tightened. Instead of refuting Drushia, he turned to look at Ashika.

“Ashika. Did you hear what I said?”

“…I’m sorry, Grandfather.”

After hesitating, Ashika quietly bowed her head, showing her refusal.

Weive’s angry gaze turned not to Ashika but to Drushia. It was a look that asked what he had done to make that obedient child rebel against him.

It had been a whole month. The time Ashika had left home and disappeared without a trace. After shocking Weive by aggressively pursuing the broken engagement, when he tried to force the marriage through, she had left home. Even the threat of stripping her of her successor status hadn’t worked.

‘Where does that determination come from?’

Had what he had seen as young and gentle not actually been her true nature? Though she was his own blood, she was truly a child whose inner thoughts were hard to fathom.

When Ashika showed no signs of backing down, Weive let out a long sigh.

“Sit down.”

“Yes.”

Ashika quietly answered and sat on the sofa across from Weive. Instead of taking a seat, Drushia stood behind Ashika. Like a guard knight, as if that was his rightful place. Weive’s eyebrows twitched at that natural movement.

“So what’s the reason for this rude visit?”

Even at the somewhat rude tone, Drushia didn’t mind. With a more hardened face than ever, he slowly opened his mouth.

“I need Duke Igraine’s cooperation.”

“Aren’t you already getting sufficient cooperation? Surely Duke Talion doesn’t mean matrimonial alliance when you speak of cooperation?”

“Are you willing to permit even that?”

“Drushia!”

As Ashika turned around, Drushia gently grasped her shoulder.

“Duke Igraine, what’s about to happen will be difficult for Igraine to handle alone. Whether it’s matrimonial alliance or whatever, we need clear evidence that Igraine and Talion are allies.”

What’s about to happen. Drushia was giving a warning. Weive narrowed his brow and sharpened his attention to gauge Drushia’s intentions.

“What’s about to happen? You’re not going to say the same thing as last time, are you? I told you then – the current relationship between our two families is sufficient.”

“Duke Igraine.”

The conversation kept going in circles. The stubborn Weive tried not to give any opening to either Drushia or Ashika.

“The Grand Duke’s castle has been opened.”

“What?”

Weive jumped up from his seat in surprise, and Ashika clasped her hands tightly together. She never expected Drushia to bring up even that topic.