To the One Who's Only Cold to Me - Chapter 76

“Think it over again, Ian.”

“No, I think it’s time for me to return to the marquisate. I shouldn’t trouble you any longer. Thank you for everything.”

“Don’t mention it”

Count Parden did not oppose Ian’s decision to leave the Parden estate. But Ian wasn’t someone who would miss the sadness on the Count’s face. So, in an unusual move for him, Ian reached out first and firmly grasped Count Parden’s hand.

“No matter where I end up, I won’t ever put you in danger.”

Ian’s words about leaving the Parden estate held many meanings. It signaled his intent to become independent as the head of the prestigious Marquisate of Lloyd. But it also meant he was drawing a clear line from the Parden family and choosing a different political path.

“Ian.”

Count Parden slowly pulled his hand away after Ian promised never to bring him harm. Then he hugged Ian tightly and said,

“You fine young man. You’ve grown up so well. Whatever you choose, you’ll succeed.”

“If you ever need help, don’t hesitate to ask. You know that, right? I care for you like a son.”

“Yes.”

Ian responded right away to the warm embrace that felt like a father’s. After giving a few more pats on Ian’s back now much broader than before Count Parden let go. Then, after a brief hesitation, he spoke again.

“Ian, before you go, can I ask one favor?”

“Please go ahead.”

“No matter where you end up, please look after Aisha.”

Ian’s face darkened at the mention of Aisha. Things had already become a bit awkward between them due to the engagement issue. And now, he didn’t know how to bring up the fact that he was leaving. He was worried that Count Parden or Aisha might misunderstand his decision.

“Sir, the engagement It’s just that I didn’t think the time was right. That’s all. There’s no other reason. So please don’t worry.”

“You fool Do you think that’s why I brought it up? Ian, I believe in you. And I understand how you feel.”

As Ian quickly explained, Count Parden chuckled and lightly patted his shoulder. Ian, who had been tense, felt his shoulders relax.

“A real man proposes to a woman when he can show her his best self at the very least, when he has no shame in front of her. That’s what you meant by saying you need more time, isn’t it?”

Count Parden’s words helped clear Ian’s clouded mind. Yes. Why did he want to succeed so quickly? Rebuilding the family? That was part of it. But every time he set a new goal, Aisha’s face came to mind first. She was the biggest reason.

He didn’t want to stand in front of Aisha as a man who was weak or dependent but as someone she could be proud of. Ian nodded seriously.

“Yes. You’re right, sir.”

Count Parden nodded gently, as if to say he trusted Ian. Then, as if he remembered something, his expression turned serious.

“Still Please hear me out, just as a father who cares deeply for his daughter.”

This time, Count Parden reached for Ian’s hand. As he held it, he pictured his daughter from her early childhood to the young woman she was now, and made a request.

“You know how Aisha only sees you. So please visit her often. Talk with her. That alone will make her happy. And when the time is right”

“Please take her hand as the wonderful man I know you’ll be. Will you promise me that?”

“Yes, I will. I promise.”

Ian squeezed the Count’s hand in response to his request. Count Parden gently patted Ian’s hand before letting go after a long pause. Then, stroking Ian’s hair like a father seeing off his son on a long journey, he said in a bittersweet voice,

“You should go now. You must have a lot to prepare, and I’ve taken up enough of your time.”

As Ian walked through the corridor beside the imperial garden, he spotted two men coming from the other direction and tensed up. One of the two, a middle-aged man walking half a step ahead with neatly slicked-back hair, was the last person Ian wanted to see.

‘Duke Levantus…’

Duke Levantus had been the happiest when Ian leaned toward the Old Nobles. As their leader, he wanted to raise young, capable nobles from prominent families. He had quietly helped Ian secure a place among them.

But Ian had avoided him as much as possible. Duke Levantus, a hardliner who had even been involved in assassinations of New Nobles, was on very bad terms with Count Parden.

Ian quickly looked away and turned around, hoping the Duke hadn’t seen him. But it seemed he was a moment too late. A deep voice called out behind him.

“Marquis Lloyd? May I have a word?”

Now that his name had been called, there was no avoiding it. Ian closed his eyes tightly, then turned around with a composed expression.

“You may leave now,” Duke Levantus told the man behind him after briefly glancing at Ian’s blank face.

The man looked Ian up and down with displeasure before walking away. Once they were alone, the Duke stepped a bit closer.

“I was disappointed you didn’t come to the last meeting but to run into you here, Marquis.”

He gave Ian’s shoulder a friendly pat, but Ian unlike with Count Parden stiffened and pushed the Duke’s hand away. The Duke didn’t seem offended and calmly withdrew his hand.

“Don’t be so wary. I just have something to tell you about your late parents.”

Ian’s eyes widened. His parents’ deaths were only ever brought up by thoughtless classmates trying to provoke him. But now, this unexpected man mentioned them with a meaningful expression. Ian spoke without thinking.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re a smart man. By now, after graduation, you must’ve noticed a few odd things about your family. Isn’t the Lloyd family’s financial state strange?”

Ian fell silent. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, the Duke was right. The finances of the Lloyd family didn’t make sense.

Though they still owned buildings, land, and heirlooms, they had no liquid assets no cash, no gold, no jewels. They had enormous debt and had to rely on Count Parden even to pay a few remaining servants.

While at the academy, he thought his father’s business had simply failed. But the more he looked into it afterward, the stranger things became.

‘Sir, why didn’t you tell me sooner? I’ll pay you back with interest.’

‘Don’t worry. It was just servant wages and interest on some debts. Not a big amount. I can cover that much for you, Ian.’

‘No, I’ll repay every bit. And please don’t concern yourself with the Lloyds anymore. It’s my responsibility now.’

‘You stubborn boy… Fine, I understand.’

Even though Ian was thankful to Count Parden, he couldn’t shake his suspicions. If the debt came from failed business, so be it but it didn’t make sense for a creditor to wait so patiently without seizing property or charging high interest.

‘Did they say anything else about the debt?’

‘Nothing special. Just told me to repay it slowly’

Even if the Parden family paid the interest, it was odd for the creditor not to press for repayment in over ten years. Especially when the interest rate was so low compared to the amount borrowed. Ian couldn’t help but feel suspicious, despite the relief.

“Arca Trading Company.”

Duke Levantus finally said the creditor’s name as he watched Ian closely. Debt was a family’s shame, and Ian’s eyes sharpened.

“The Lloyd family still owes money to that company, don’t they?”

“Did you ever look into the Arca Trading Company?”

“By your face, you did. Then tell me, haven’t you ever thought it strange how generous they are with the Lloyd family?”

“This is my family’s business. I don’t appreciate the interference.”

Ian couldn’t hide his displeasure at the Duke poking at his family’s secrets. But deep in his eyes, there was still suspicion. The Duke noticed the faint tremble in Ian’s eyes and smirked.

“From the Lloyds’ point of view, it’s not so bad. The company isn’t seizing property over the debt. But it’s strange. Money-hungry merchants don’t usually act so politely.”

“Marquis, do you know why your father owed such a huge debt to Arca?”

“Businesses can fall apart in an instant. It’s not uncommon.”

“Uncommon, he says You really don’t know anything. Of course they wouldn’t have told you.”

The Duke clicked his tongue, and Ian clenched his fists at the condescending look. Even so, he didn’t move. That alone told the Duke Ian was waiting to hear more.

With narrowed eyes, the Duke continued.

“Yes, your father is to blame for the debt. But don’t you wonder how a man clever enough to trade directly with the emperor could fall so fast? Or why Arca keeps helping your family for no reason?”

“Guilt is a heavy feeling. And if two lives are involved that debt of yours might feel like a feather by comparison.”

The Duke’s words grew more meaningful, and Ian’s heartbeat sped up. A sense of dread washed over him. With piercing blue eyes full of suspicion, the Duke whispered like a serpent tempting the first man.

“Ian, I have something to show you. Actually, that’s why I invited you before, but you turned down every offer. So I never got the chance.”

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