"W-What is this…?"
The Schultz family head, who tried to deny everything, now stared at Jerad standing beside Kallion.
"It was you, wasn't it?!"
Jerad simply bowed his head without a word.
"You ungrateful bastard! You bite the hand that raised you?"
Despite being restrained by guards, the Schultz lord still fought back, but Kallion scoffed coldly.
"Shouldn't I be the one saying that?"
"L-Lord Kallion! No! I would never betray Valdormer!"
As if expecting such a denial, Kallion took out the order bearing the Schultz family seal.
It was the same secret order that was meant to be destroyed after reading.
Now it was in Kallion's hands.
Realizing he couldn't deny it any longer, the Schultz lord gritted his teeth and shouted:
"You can't treat me like this! Call the Lord of Valdormer!"
He tried to use Kallion's father as leverage.
But Kallion's expression turned cold.
"You do remember my father gave me full authority, don't you?"
Dark energy began to swirl around Kallion.
Just seeing it made one's mind feel faint—this was the terrifying power of Valdormer's dark energy.
The Schultz lord turned pale, suffocating from the pressure.
"You dare bring up my father in front of me. You must have a death wish."
"I-I'm sorry…."
His face now white as a sheet, he began to choke and finally collapsed, unconscious.
Kallion stared down at him with disgust and declared:
"As of today, all power and property of the Schultz family will be seized."
At his cold command, the soldiers quickly moved to carry it out.
***
The Valdormer estate was noisy since morning.
Kate told Yuliana that Kallion had left with the army.
She couldn't help but think—did he believe she was the traitor and now march toward Heister?
A war between Heister and Valdormer… it'd be perfect if they both just ruined each other.
Though… she still needed Kallion for Denian's sake.
Just as she was thinking that, Kate burst into the room.
"M-Milady!"
Surprised by her panicked look, Yuliana raised a brow.
"L-Lord Kallion is asking for you!"
Unlike Kate, Yuliana stayed calm and stood slowly.
"Stay here."
Patting Kate's shoulder, she casually walked toward his office.
Inside, Kallion had just returned and was hanging up his coat.
"You called for me?"
She no longer had the energy to argue whether she was innocent or not.
Even if she said she didn't do it, he wouldn't believe her.
All she wanted now was to finish what was left between them and have Denian.
Kallion looked at her in silence, then spoke.
"Why don't you defend yourself?"
She answered indifferently.
"What do you mean…?"
"Why don't you deny it? Say you didn't leak the information. Why won't you explain?"
"Does it matter?"
Her dull, detached tone made Kallion raise his voice.
"Aren't you angry? Everyone's blaming you!"
But Yuliana wasn't angry—because she had no hope left in Kallion or Valdormer.
She was only enduring everything until the day she met Denian.
If Kallion threw her out, that chance would be gone too. So she had tried to clear her name… but it had all been pointless.
There was nothing she could do here.
Even if she was hated, Kallion wouldn't cancel their marriage unless undeniable proof surfaced.
He would just despise her more.
So she quietly accepted it all.
She didn't care how he saw her anymore.
All she promised herself was not to cry the next time they slept together.
Seeing her silent like a doll, Kallion dragged a hand over his face.
Trying to calm down, he gritted his teeth and said,
"Do you know the man you call your lover is the one who blamed you?"
She'd already heard that—from both Kallion and Layla.
Though she didn't believe Lloyd would say that, it didn't matter.
Lloyd was never part of her plan.
"Did you hear me? The man you hang around lied."
"So what?"
"What?"
"Even if Lloyd told the truth… would you have believed me?"
Kallion was speechless.
No matter what anyone said, he would've doubted her the most—unless he saw the truth himself.
"Don't you get it? Lloyd or my words don't matter."
What matters is what you believe.
With that, she turned and left the room.
Her expression remained calm, but inside she felt sick.
***
After the vassal meeting, Kallion had been overwhelmed with work regarding the mine auction.
Even though the culprit was found, the diamond mine situation was unresolved.
The expected auction price had skyrocketed far beyond original estimates.
Late at night, going over reports from the other lords, Kallion rubbed his aching forehead.
"Don't you get it? Lloyd or my words don't matter."
Her words echoed in his mind.
He rubbed his forehead again, walked to the window, and then sat down on the sofa in exhaustion.
He hadn't slept properly in days.
Hoping to rest, he closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep.
***
"Kallion…"
A voice gently called his name.
He slowly opened his eyes.
In front of him was Yuliana, lovingly gazing up at him.
Surprised, he looked around—the office had somehow become a bedroom.
He was now on top of Yuliana in bed.
Is this… a dream?
He froze, confused. Then she reached up and softly touched his cheek.
The feeling was so real that his pupils shook.
"Kallion, I love you."
She smiled sweetly, looking more beautiful than ever before.
Her flushed cheeks, parted lips, and dreamy expression were unlike any Yuliana he knew.
He then realized—they were making love.
His body was urgently, instinctively moving against her.
Even though he couldn't control it, he felt every sensation vividly.
Yuliana clung to him, moaning softly and wrapping her arms around him.
Her ecstatic expression and whispered breaths were enough to drive him wild.
He no longer knew if this was a dream or reality.
Their skin burned as they moved, and just as he was about to climax—
"I love you…" she moaned again.
At that moment, it was like lightning struck his brain.
His mind went blank.
He gasped and sat upright in shock.
"Hah… Hah…!"
The room was back to his office.
Yuliana was nowhere to be seen.
He was lying on the same sofa.
Was it really just a dream? How could a dream feel so real?
His face twisted in confusion, and then his eyes dropped—
To his still-tense lower body.
"…Damn it."
The curse slipped from his mouth without him realizing.