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Chapter 99

After a long pause, Kayden spoke.

"...Did that bastard contact you because he's ill or something?"

"Huh?"

At Kayden's unexpected question, Emilia blinked.

When someone said they had something to talk about regarding their ex-fiancé, was that usually the first question?

She studied his face, but he didn't seem to be joking.

"What do you mean by that?"

At her bewildered expression, Kayden relaxed his face.

He gave a small shake of his head.

"Never mind. Forget I asked."

"But I can't just forget it..."

She was curious about the context behind that question.

Avoiding her gaze, Kayden eventually explained.

"Some people try to latch onto you by contacting you after a breakup."

"Ah."

Emilia nodded in understanding.

He wasn't entirely wrong.

After all, Cedric had been the one at fault—and now he was trying to sell her information to curry favor with someone else.

As Emilia frowned and fell into thought, Kayden spoke.

"So, what is it about your ex-fiancé?"

"Ah, well—the reason I came to the capital was because he cheated on me."

Emilia smiled awkwardly as she began.

"And he seems to hold quite a grudge against me."

With a small sigh, she glanced at Kayden.

His expression had gone stiffer than before.

Come to think of it—

Kayden didn't seem like the type to have eyes for other women while married.

She had no concrete basis for that, but looking back on their time together, she felt it was probably true.

Then a random curiosity crossed her mind.

How would Kayden treat a real wife?

He already went out of his way to care for her, his sham wife.

Surely, if she were his real wife...

Just then, Kayden spoke with a cold, low gaze.

"...So it wasn't just a simple falling out."

At his voice from right in front of her, Emilia flinched.

Stop the idle thoughts.

She quickly shook off the distraction and nodded.

"Well, yes."

"If I'd known that, I wouldn't have let it end there..."

"Pardon?"

At her puzzled look, Kayden answered casually.

"Nothing."

At his quick denial, Emilia tilted her head and continued.

"Anyway, that's not the main point. Apparently, the Empress approached him—to get information about me."

"...The Empress?"

Kayden raised an eyebrow.

Emilia nodded.

"Yes. It's clearly not for any good reason, and my ex-fiancé would have spilled everything he knows about me."

She looked a little troubled.

"There was an incident when I was at the orphanage."

She went on to explain how she'd been framed and kicked out after uncovering the director's double ledgers.

"..."

Kayden was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"You."

He paused, choosing his words, and Emilia tilted her head.

"...?"

"Even as a child, you were quite reckless."

"That's a bit harsh."

Emilia made a displeased face.

After all, she'd done it to help the orphanage children.

Just then, Kayden let out a soft laugh.

"It was a compliment."

"...Pardon?"

At the unexpected words, Emilia blinked.

She'd never expected to hear praise—something she'd never even heard as a child—especially from Kayden.

"Why the reaction?"

"No, it's just..."

Emilia's eyes darted.

She felt too shy to say it aloud.

Meanwhile, Kayden seemed deep in thought and asked.

"Do you remember which families you sent the ledgers to?"

Emilia immediately nodded.

"Yes, of course. The Eberwine family, the Leonhardt family, and finally the Crovell family."

She hadn't copied many, so she'd only sent them to the main donors.

"Understood."

"What do you mean?"

Emilia looked puzzled, and Kayden answered calmly.

"I'll contact them—it might help."

Emilia's eyes widened.

Of course, with Kayden's influence, he could get a response from those families right away.

Kayden continued.

"And about the woman you met when you went out with Ivan—she was from the same orphanage, wasn't she? She might be able to testify about what happened. What's her name?"

"Ah, Sophia!"

Emilia's voice rose slightly—she hadn't even thought of asking Sophia.

"I'll find her soon as well."

Everything moved at lightning speed, as if he'd been waiting for her to ask.

Watching him, Emilia murmured as if realizing something.

"A powerful husband is pretty reliable, isn't he."

Finding someone in this vast capital with just a name—she couldn't have imagined doing that alone.

"You're just now figuring that out?"

Kayden lifted the corner of his mouth, looking satisfied.

---

At the House of Farizian.

A heavy silence hung over the study.

Maurice stood before his father's desk, head bowed. Cold sweat trickled down his spine.

Damn it... where did it all start going wrong?

He gritted his teeth.

Things had started to go awry the day the Duke of Valen visited the company.

One thing after another had gone wrong, and now it had spiraled beyond repair.

First, because he'd offended the Duke, the deal with the ducal house was broken.

If that were all, it would be a relief—but when it came to light that he'd used the Duke's name to attract investors, his other businesses began to suffer.

Some had even gone under in a matter of months.

The biggest problem was Kaliana.

The territory he'd been so sure he would soon claim had slipped through his fingers.

His plan had been simple.

Take Kaliana's territory—which his father so desperately wanted—and use that achievement to surpass his brothers and secure either a title or more businesses.

Honestly, Maurice couldn't understand what was so special about that tiny territory that his father was so obsessed with it.

But the Count of Farizian had repeatedly insisted he must have that land.

And Maurice had been pressuring Kaliana quite effectively—until a document from the imperial household arrived at the estate.

It ordered the return of all water taxes he'd collected from other territories.

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