"Now that I think about it, you mentioned you owed my wife a favor. Would today be the day I finally hear that story?"
Leroy casually asked, leaning back against his chair.
Though his tone seemed nonchalant, Leroy’s attention was fully focused on Fin. Leroy had always felt a subtle sense of caution around this stranger, who seemed to have grown close to his wife.
"Is this not something you can talk about here?"
Leroy, with a teasing smile, pointed out Fin's delayed response.
Although the aide from Viscount Ida remained in the room, if, as Iona had mentioned, the story wasn’t a significant one, there was no real reason to choose a more private setting.
In essence, this was a simple test.
With a smile, Leroy waited for Fin’s reaction.
One might have expected Fin to be flustered by Leroy's playful interrogation, but he remained composed.
Instead of showing discomfort or casting glances at the aide across from him, Fin began speaking in a calm tone."The former acting lord’s behavior was... less than admirable. He had sticky fingers as well. Many of us who worked under him suffered greatly, but after the Countess visited, things changed."
"So, my wife saved you from an abusive superior?"
"Yes. It was a particularly difficult time for me, mentally as well... I am truly grateful for what she did."
Fin finished his words earnestly.
The aide from Viscount Ida seemed to take this as just a heartwarming story between the Duchess and her subordinates and continued with his paperwork without slowing down.
Apparently, he didn’t think this conversation was all that important.
"The head of the family left for distant lands right after the wedding, so you must have felt a bit disappointed."
"The Modrov family has always been more aligned with the central nobility. From the perspective of the common folk, there’s not much of a difference. The capital is just as far away, after all."
"I'm glad I didn’t get in the way of repaying the favor."
A faint smile played on Leroy’s lips.
This was the crux of what he had really wanted to say.
"So, once you’ve cleared your debt, do you plan on returning home?"
Fin’s position in the Duchy was rather ambiguous.
He was an outsider, after all, and it wasn’t as if Leroy had personally called him in.
His responsibilities were quite detached from the existing departments, and with the unclear motivations behind the trade relations with the Ida territory, there was no guarantee of permanence in his role.
In other words, there wasn’t much to gain from enduring the hardships of living far from home.
Most people would have nodded in agreement, treating this assignment as a short-term post.
But Fin hesitated before answering.
"It’s not my place to decide. As someone beneath my lord, I simply do as the Countess instructs."
Though Fin had deferred the decision to Iona, his response was closer to a denial. What he was really saying was that, unless Iona told him to leave, he intended to stay here.
Leroy felt his nerves, already frayed, tense even further.
‘...He’s unusually persistent.’
To claim he was merely following Iona’s orders as a subordinate?
Considering their past conversations, Leroy found this answer suspicious.
Wasn’t it because Fin had requested to be transferred here in the first place that Leroy began to be wary of him? Given how young the party was, it was hard to believe that the decisions were entirely free from personal emotions.
"Living away from home can’t be easy."
"I’m trying to adapt."
Every response was flawless and textbook.
Leroy silently gazed at Fin’s humble expression for a moment.
A soft smile curled on Leroy’s lips.
"...Right, if you ever need help, don’t hesitate to ask."
He didn’t bother adding something like, "I’m glad someone so reliable is by my wife’s side" or "It’s admirable of you."
He wasn’t in the mood for empty words.
Suddenly, he felt the urge to smoke the cigarette he had only once tasted.
‘Is this why they tell you not to pick up bad habits?’
He recalled how Iona had been startled, almost jumping out of her seat, when she discovered he’d never smoked a cigar before.
The mere thought of her face brought him an odd sense of relief.
For something as fleeting as a memory, it worked surprisingly well.
Or maybe his current state of mind was just that bad.
One thing was clear: staying here and continuing to converse with Fin was not a situation Leroy found enjoyable.
Using the excuse of wanting some fresh air, Leroy stood up and left.
Walking down the corridor, Leroy’s thoughts shifted entirely.
‘If he won’t leave on his own, I may need to push someone else to act.’
Whether it was because of their past connection or simply her nature, Iona was excessively cooperative with Leroy. It was almost as though, in her mind, she had replaced the crown prince with him as her lord.
It wasn’t exactly the attitude of a spouse, and Leroy hadn’t been particularly thrilled by it. However, it was a useful card at the moment.
If he wanted Fin to leave, Iona would readily comply with his wishes.
‘But doing that would make things look a bit strange.’
If it caused friction with Iona, it would only backfire on him.
Leroy needed to arrange the situation in a way that benefited him.
For instance, how about this approach: he could suggest that, given how difficult it must be for such a young aide to endure this distant posting, they send Fin back home and even arrange a promotion for him there. If done right...
"That guy’s no ordinary fellow."
It was Jonas, who had quietly followed him, quick to catch on.
Leroy halted and called out Jonas’ name, as if to stop him from speaking further.
"Jonas."
"He’s either a sly fox... or a bear with nerves of steel," Jonas continued, completely ignoring Leroy’s warning and babbling on.
"That look he gives her? It’s not the look of someone simply admiring their superior. His eyes are dripping with honey."
"Didn’t he say she saved his life?"
"Yeah, that’s what got me curious. So I dug into it with the boys. Turns out the former acting lord was a real piece of trash, even got violent. Then the Countess swoops in and saves the day. Beautiful woman rescues a guy from an abusive boss? If it were me, I’d fall for her on the spot."
"..."
Apparently, Leroy wasn’t the only one who had been wary of the handsome young man who’d recently entered the scene.
Leroy rubbed his temples, feeling as though he had been dragged down to Jonas’ level.
"Don’t go making a fuss over something that’s not even certain."
"But doesn’t it bother you, Your Grace? It’s not like we’re the only ones thinking this. A person’s instincts…"
Leroy cut him off, speaking firmly.
"Even if it’s true, he doesn’t strike me as someone who would act on a whim."
In other words, there was no need to blow this out of proportion.
As long as there was no commotion, this little ripple would quietly settle. His wife, for one, was completely oblivious to these kinds of situations, and it didn’t seem like Fin had come here with any grand motives, either.
The proof was in Fin’s gaze. There wasn’t even a trace of competition in his eyes when he looked at Leroy.
It seemed he was simply content to admire Iona from afar.
Or perhaps he hadn’t even realized his own feelings, overwhelmed by respect or admiration.
"And that’s exactly the problem—he won’t blow himself up."
Jonas pointed out the uncomfortable truth.
Leroy didn’t argue. It was a statement that matched his own thoughts perfectly.
If Fin had actually harbored any audacious hopes of being with Iona, Leroy wouldn’t have been so concerned. He would have simply given a well-timed warning and dismissed him.
The issue was that Fin wasn’t the type to cause trouble in the first place.
With his polite and kind demeanor, his respectful behavior, well-groomed appearance, and diligent attitude—it was hard to find fault with him.
While personal preferences might vary, no one could deny that Fin was a good man.
And that, more than anything, was what bothered Leroy the most.
The fact that Fin was objectively a decent man made him feel even worse.
He couldn’t deal with Fin the way he had with other competitors who had approached Iona with less honorable intentions.
"Jonas, return to your post."
"What? Sir?"
Leroy didn’t bother repeating himself. He simply gave Jonas a steady look.
Understanding the unspoken command, Jonas belatedly replied, "Yes, sir!" and hurriedly scurried off.
Leroy swallowed a sigh and resumed walking.
No matter the outcome, it seemed necessary to discuss Fin with Iona.
At the very least, he would dig into what had happened between them, uncover the details of their conversations, and gauge the depth of their connection.
That should at least stop the persistent, wasteful thoughts that kept surfacing in his mind.
Things like what had happened in Modrov, what they had talked about, and how much of a bond they had formed.
Having organized his thoughts, Leroy quickened his pace toward the training grounds when he suddenly heard a familiar voice nearby.
“I—I trust you, my lady. I’ll live an upright life from now on, and I’ll work hard to become someone worthy in your eyes. Please, believe me! I swear I’ll turn over a new leaf!”
--- End Of The Chapter ----
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