"I've come to see Lord Kallion."
Even with a sword at his throat, the man's calm voice made Kallion frown.
"You broke into my mansion just to see me?"
The man slowly pulled back his hood to reveal a familiar face.
Kallion's expression hardened.
"You're…."
"It's been a while, my lord."
Despite the greeting, Kallion didn't lower his sword.
"Quite a dramatic entrance."
"The guards wouldn't let me in. I had no choice. Please forgive me."
"Then what do you want?" Kallion asked, still cautious.
The man—Jerad—closed his eyes briefly, then looked straight into Kallion's eyes.
"Lady Yuliana is not the one who leaked the information to Silverstel."
Kallion stared at him.
"How can you be so sure?"
Jerad slowly reached into his clothes to take something out.
Kallion raised his sword slightly, pressing the blade against Jerad's skin.
But Jerad didn't flinch. He simply said:
"You'll understand once you see this."
Kallion finally lowered his sword, and Jerad handed him a piece of paper.
It was an official order—a command telling someone to stay low for a while so as not to get caught. It suggested someone had intentionally framed Lady Yuliana.
Kallion looked at Jerad, expecting an explanation.
"I'm a member of the Schultz family's secret unit," Jerad said.
Kallion's face darkened.
The Schultz family was a long-time vassal of Valdormer and had even hosted a banquet recently. They were supposed to be loyal.
"Recently, the Schultz lord fell into gambling in the capital. The family lost a lot of money."
"So they sold Valdormer's information to Silverstel for cash?"
"Most likely, yes. We were told to gather information only after they had already made a deal with Silverstel."
It made sense. The second son of the Silverstel family, Lloyd, had attended the Schultz banquet. At the time, Kallion didn't question it because of their joint mining project.
Now he realized—the Schultz family had betrayed Valdormer.
Kallion's blood boiled. He thought about how harshly he had treated Yuliana, even trying to force himself on her. He remembered her crying.
Damn it.
He ran a hand through his messy hair and looked at Jerad again.
"What if this document is fake?"
"Then you can come to the Schultz estate and verify it yourself. I'll be there."
"You're willing to betray your own family?"
Jerad hesitated, then said:
"It's better than betraying the woman who saved my life."
Seeing Jerad's serious expression, Kallion nodded.
"Thanks. I'll leave tomorrow."
Jerad bowed.
"I'll be waiting at the Schultz mansion."
And with that, he vanished out the window.
Kallion stared into the darkness where Jerad had disappeared, then sighed and brushed back his hair.
That sly fox.
So Lloyd, who's been working with Schultz, lied to my face?
And Yuliana—she protected a man like that?
Kallion felt both guilt for doubting Yuliana and a strange anger.
At Lloyd for fooling them, at Yuliana for trusting him, and at himself for being so bothered by their relationship.
Nothing made sense anymore.
***
The next day
Kallion began preparing to visit the Schultz estate. Layla, his secretary, followed him curiously.
"Why the sudden visit to the Schultz estate?"
Kallion didn't answer. He just gave her a cold stare.
She flinched.
"I'm going alone."
Layla couldn't argue with his icy tone. He looked down at her and warned:
"Don't disappoint me again, Layla."
It was the first time since the orphanage incident that she heard that disappointed tone from him.
Layla's hands trembled.
All because of that Heister woman.
Yuliana was changing her perfect Lord Kallion—and she hated it.
***
At the Schultz Estate
Kallion's carriage arrived unexpectedly.
The Schultz lord ran out in a panic.
"L-Lord Kallion! You didn't send word—what brings you here?"
Kallion calmly replied:
"The rumor from the vassal meeting."
"The one about Lady Yuliana stealing information?"
"Yes. What's your opinion? Do you believe it too?"
The Schultz lord hesitated, then said:
"Well… I didn't speak during the meeting, but I agree with Lord Felix. Smoke doesn't rise without fire, after all!"
"I see."
Encouraged by Kallion's neutral tone, the Schultz lord grew bolder.
"That Heister woman? Who knows what dark motives she had for coming to Valdormer!"
"Is that so."
"Why don't you stay for dinner? Our new chef is excellent—"
Before he could finish, Kallion raised a hand.
From behind a pillar, Jerad appeared.
The Schultz lord's eyes widened.
"What are you doing here?! I'm so sorry, Lord Kallion. He's one of mine—he still needs to learn manners—"
Kallion's eyebrow twitched.
"He's yours, then?"
"Yes, he's part of our secret unit. If you'd like, we can lend him to you—"
Kallion raised a hand again, cutting him off.
Then he said in a casual tone:
"Arrest him."
"Pardon?"
Before the Schultz lord could process what was happening—
BANG!
The mansion doors burst open.
Soldiers bearing the Valdormer crest stormed in.
The Schultz lord watched in shock as his arms were pinned behind him and he was tied up.
"W-what is this?! Lord Kallion! I've always been loyal to Valdormer—how can you treat me this way?!"
Kallion sneered.
"Loyal?"
His violet eyes glared sharply.
"Then why did a 'loyal' man sell Valdormer's secrets to Silverstel?"