Chapter 50

"First, announce that Dian Poitier has leased the entire Ivory Palace indefinitely. Then, when people start to wonder, spread the rumor about her pregnancy. However, no one must know that the source of the lease payment for the Ivory Palace is me."

"Yes, I understand."

Following the Duke of Despina's orders, Renox rushed to the palace administration office at the speed of light and conveyed his intention to lease the entire Ivory Palace in Dian Poitier's name. When the surprised staff member asked him twice, Renox became extremely angry. After hastily signing the necessary documents for the lease, Renox threatened to have the Queen's approval properly obtained and then disappeared. The other staff members, who had been hiding in fear of Renox's tyranny, finally came out and glanced at the documents he had left behind.

"Is she really going to pay this much and lease it?"

"Now? Really?"

The total lease amount for the Ivory Palace, set by the Queen, was astronomically high, almost equivalent to telling people not to lease it.

"Do you want to fail?"

Someone could have asked that, such was the unbelievable storm that Renox left behind. ＊ ＊ ＊ After leaving the administration office, Renox rushed to Dian and called out to his sister with a bright smile.

"Dian!"

However, for some reason, Dian's expression was completely different from a few hours ago.

"What's wrong?"

Frightened, Renox quickly approached her and asked, but Dian remained silent. Normally, she would have burst out in anger, but Renox, thinking of the baby, asked carefully.

"Is something wrong?"

"… I'm tired."

Dian did not want to recount her miserable story. She lacked the energy, and all she wanted was to sleep. She closed her eyes and lay down. Renox was taken aback by his sister's sudden change.

'Why is she like this?'

Frowning, he turned to Lorraine, who was standing nearby, but a maid could not speak out of turn if Dian did not speak. With a frustrated look, Renox stared at Dian, took a deep breath, and tried to calm her down.

"I have some good news."

Dian opened her eyes and looked at him. Renox looked down at her and smiled.

"Pack your bags. Let's go back to the Ivory Palace."

At his words, Dian's eyes widened, and she sat up.

"… What?"

Renox, knowing she would react this way, repeated himself.

"Pack your bags. We're going back to the Ivory Palace. The Queen just needs to approve it. She said she would if we want it."

"Approval… Big brother, did you say you want to lease the Ivory Palace?"

Dian, who had momentarily hoped that the Emperor might have ordered the Ivory Palace to be returned to her, looked at Renox with a cold face.

"Of course! You need to be at ease for our nephew to be born healthy. Let's go back to the Ivory Palace. Your big brother has leased the entire palace!"

Dian's expression showed that she did not even want to respond to Renox's confident words.

"Why? Don't you want to?"

"For how many months? If we run out of money, we'll have to come out again? The social circle will be buzzing. How amusing."

"Don't worry about money."

At the irresponsible words of her big brother, Dian finally exploded.

"Idiot! How can you not worry about money?! Do you know how expensive the Queen set the monthly lease for the Ivory Palace?!"

Dian's scolding made Renox boil with anger.

'How dare she?!'

"Enough! Go and retrieve the contract before the Queen approves it!"

"Ah, really!!"

He jumped up, breathing heavily, but he gathered his patience for the baby in her womb. He glared at Dian and ordered Lorraine.

"You, go out for a moment."

Lorraine looked at Dian in surprise. Dian nodded toward the door, and Lorraine hurried out. Once they were alone, Renox sat back down next to the bed. He took a deep breath and spoke softly.

"The Duke of Despina is the one leasing it."

"… What?"

"The Duke of Despina is the one leasing it."

Dian's expression froze at his words. She bit her lip and glared at Renox with red eyes.

"Did you go and tell him already? Couldn't you hold it in?! I told you not to say anything?!"

At her scolding, Renox, after a moment's hesitation, straightened up and barked back.

"Why shouldn't I tell him? You're pregnant, right?! Everyone will find out eventually, so what's the problem?! The Duke was very pleased. He was very happy! He said he wanted to return the Ivory Palace first!"

"To that snake-like, cunning guy! He only wants to use us. He'll drain us dry and then throw us away mercilessly! Get a grip!"

"Ungrateful. If it weren't for him, you and I would still be in the gutter."

Renox growled at the angry Dian.

"Ha… Really, talking about gratitude."

Dian's frustration soared at her brother's blind trust. Muttering about wearing a head ornament, Renox glared at Dian. Dian always called him stupid and subtly ignored him. If he weren't a mage, he would have undoubtedly ended up in the slums. Renox leaned toward her and whispered.

"And even if you have a child, you will need the Duke of Despina's power."

His next words were cruel and without any consideration.

"Your child will be a bastard, right? For the child to be our salvation, it will be difficult without the Duke's power. Our smart sister wouldn't not know that, right?"

Dian's eyes reddened, and she clenched her fists tightly. No matter what, you shouldn't say such things.

"… Get out. Go away."

With a voice full of anger, Renox shrugged and stood up.

"Pack your bags."

Dian glared at Renox as he closed the door and left. ＊ ＊ ＊ Meanwhile, Adel returned to the palace and subtly observed Lady Gix, then sighed in relief. She had braced herself for a scolding upon her return, but there was none. Borrowing a jacket from Lionel in the middle of the way was a stroke of luck. If she hadn't worn that jacket, it would have been more than just a scolding; her health would have worsened. Thinking about this, the warm temperature that had enveloped her shoulders and back came to mind. The broad, sturdy shoulders that had shielded her from the cold wind. Protection, a word that didn't suit her at all. Adelaide was always the one who protected others, not the one who needed protection. Nevertheless, Adelaide didn't dislike Lionel's actions. To be more honest, she wanted to lean on him. So, she walked that path with him. When the wind, passing through withered leaves, seeped through the jacket, the heavy musk scent that had risen to her nose still lingered. It made her chest feel ticklish.

"Using good perfume, I see."

"Huh?"

When Lady Gix, who was styling the Queen's hair, asked, Adel quickly pushed her thoughts aside.

"No."

Lady Gix finished braiding the Queen's hair. The Queen's hair was straight and so soft that even when braided carefully, it would often come undone.

"May I ask where you went?"

"I just met the Duke of Despina."

"Is that so?"

"By the way, why doesn't the Duke of Despina have an heir?"

"He tried to have children with three different wives, but all attempts failed."

"Even so, he has no children…"

Lady Gix did not continue, and Adel did not ask further. After a moment, Lady Gix skillfully tied the end of the braid and stepped back.

"Take good care of the Duke of Despina."

Adel slowly nodded at the old lady's light advice.

"I should."

"He is the one who took in and raised the Poitier siblings and has continued to support them."

Lady Gix, whenever she had time, passed on her vast mental directory to Adel, and Adel absorbed it into her memory, excluding the old lady's subjective opinions. At that moment, a maid knocked and cautiously entered the room. Lady Gix stepped forward and asked what the matter was, and the maid handed over a document.

"It's from the administration office."

"Administration office? Understood. You may go."

After the maid left, Lady Gix immediately handed the document to Adel. The Queen calmly took out the document and began to read it carefully. Lady Gix observed the Queen's expression as she read. When Adel finally looked up from the document, Lady Gix asked calmly.

"What is it about?"

"… Dian Poitier wants to lease the Ivory Palace."

"Really? Dian Poitier?"

Adel, surprised by Lady Gix's question, handed her the document.

"The term is indefinite. Not a specific room, but the entire palace, as before. The amount is astronomical, isn't it?"

Lady Gix quickly took the document and read it.

"An astronomical amount for an indefinite period… What on earth is going on?"

Adel rubbed her furrowed brow with her finger. She needed to find out the full story. The first person who came to mind