KYDC chapter 46

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“Not only do you refuse to marry in place of your runaway cousin, you also find it difficult to immediately return the dowry. Even if I agree to take care of succession matters, you still hold your head high and make demands, despite not being in a position to do so. Surely, you recognize that this is evidence of the considerable leniency I’m showing you, don’t you?”

Sweat trickled down my back as I avoided his gaze.

“I hope you clearly remember that, right now, I could easily demand you to marry in place of Miss Bertha with no other options available to you.”

His words grated on my pride, as if they had snapped something deep within me. If things hadn’t gotten so complicated, maybe we could have been tolerable friends.

But now, forget it. It’s not like I’m doing this for my own benefit either, yet here he is, grinding his teeth at me as if he’s the one with the upper hand.

Annoyed by his insolent response, I hardened my expression and replied.

“If you need such quick repayment, I’ll stop all development projects immediately and secure the funds in cash.”

As I widened my eyes, ready to call through the communications channel and announce the sale of my shares, Hernan clicked his tongue and let out a dry laugh.

“No, you won’t.”

The confidence in his voice made my blood run cold.

“Do you have any basis for that claim?”

When I refused to back down, Hernan replied with a stiff expression.

“Do you honestly believe someone who can’t rest until they’ve micromanaged every little detail would ever hand over management shares to someone else?”

“……”

I couldn’t respond immediately, and Hernan smugly added, “I know all too well that Everdeen won’t tolerate the constant meddling of old folks who do nothing but point fingers while clutching the wealth and authority handed down by their parents.”

The way he delivered that long statement, without a single pause in his breath, left me speechless.

I didn’t reply, instead pulling the blanket over my head and closing my eyes.

In reality, all I could do was rely on his mercy.

What was I even thinking?

My face flushed with embarrassment.

If he ordered me to his side by force, I’d have no choice but to obey due to the contract we’d made.

As that realization sank in, I was overwhelmed by the thought that I was merely a pawn in his hands.

Hernan left, leaving behind a light warning as if to dismiss my childish sulking.

“I’ll come by before 9 p.m. tomorrow. Have all your work completed by then.”

Even kindergarteners aren’t told to sleep by 9 p.m.!

Couldn’t he cut me some slack until 10 or 11 at least?

I’m not a growing child!

Though I had countless things to argue about, I didn’t want to exchange a single word more with Hernan.

After tossing out that near-threat, he returned once again, right before 9 p.m., to my office-turned-room, as always.

“I’ve already finished everything.”

Not wanting to remain in the same space as him any longer, I placed the estimate from the specialist in charge of construction on the desk and immediately headed toward my bedroom.

I could sense Pori, the small creature perched on my shoulder, fidgeting and glancing nervously at Hernan as if wanting to go over to him.

But I didn’t care.

If you want to go to him, then get down and walk over.

I knew I was being petty, directing my frustration toward a small animal, but I couldn’t help it.

I didn’t even care that Hernan seemed to be quietly watching me as I left the room.

“……”

Whether he stared for ten minutes or a hundred years, it wasn’t my problem.

I wasn’t going to play along with his games.

Let him shut up and finish his work before returning to Nirvan.

And who thinks I’ll do what he wants so easily?

Out of pure defiance, I wound up the alarm clock so it would ring loudly at 3 a.m.

“If I can’t stay up late, I’ll just wake up early.”

With that thought, I went to bed, a scowl still plastered on my face, only to realize soon that Hernan was far more insidious than I had anticipated.

Brrrrrr-. Brrrrrr-.

Awoken by the familiar alarm, I rubbed my eyes and sighed in relief.

Good.

The hallway lights would all be off, so I just needed a small lamp to quietly slip into the office and grab the documents.

But the moment I opened the door, I nearly fainted on the spot.

“Mr. Everdeen.”

Hernan was standing there, arms crossed, faintly illuminated by the bluish glow in the dark.

“I told you to sleep by 9 p.m. That doesn’t mean waking up obscenely early is acceptable.”

What the hell is wrong with this guy? I almost screamed but quickly covered my mouth.

“No, I-I just—what are you even doing here at this time…?”

Stammering in disbelief, I was at a loss for words.

Hernan seized my shoulders and, with a firm push, spun me around and shoved me back into the room.

“The alarm was too loud for me to get any sleep, so don’t bother with any of your little tricks. Rest until sunrise.”

What kind of madness is this?

I’d heard that in countries where people value quality of life, working too much overtime annoys the boss.

But here too?

He works late into the night with a drink in hand, so why can’t I?

The frustration was eating me up, but… I’d collapsed three times already, and he hadn’t once.

Left with no choice, I begrudgingly buried my head in my pillow.

“Try that again, and I’ll personally move your bed to my room.”

As Hernan pulled the blanket over my shoulders, he left that chilling threat.

The last thing I wanted was that.

Silently, I pulled the blanket all the way over my head and squeezed my eyes shut.

Seriously, what a weirdo.

Are you my overbearing male lead or some sort of summer camp drill instructor?

It’s absurd how this man, who locked up my servants and controlled their lives to stop me from escaping, was now threatening to move my bed over a simple 3 a.m. wake-up call.

I couldn’t figure out where or how things had gone so wrong.

The one good thing?

For all his threats, even Hernan was too busy to be everywhere.

He’d launched an extensive audit to crack down on corrupt landlords, like Baron Ladin, who had exploited their tenants or hidden things from the central government.

At least now he couldn’t pop into my office every few minutes, offering this or that snack.

I had some peace and quiet to focus on my work.

“Tch.”

It was frustrating not being able to make the most of my day, but I had to finish everything in six months.

No sooner had I made up my mind when, of course, another disturbance erupted.

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“So, the rumors were true. I thought you weren’t coming around anymore….”

A woman’s voice muttered in the dark, followed by a young man’s response.

“Indeed. With no sign of his whereabouts, I assumed he’d gone on vacation, but to think he’d be staying there….”

“I’ve heard he’s staying in Velon for at least half a year.”

“Oh my, where did you hear that?”

When the lady with a soft voice asked as if hearing the story for the first time, another voice answered.

“The Marchioness of Clovis recently visited Nirvan. Normally, the Young Master Everdeen would have personally come to greet her, but this time it was Viscount Everdeen. When she asked about his son, that was the answer she received.”

“Oh my goodness… Six months! How could someone stay in such a barren place for so long…?”

As someone whispered, almost fainting from shock, another young man suggested urgently.

“We can’t just sit around. We need to see for ourselves if Viscount Everdeen is safe. I worry greatly about the harsh cold and barbaric meals there.”

“Alright. I’ll send a letter immediately.”

With that, the elderly lady who offered to write the letter ended the conversation.

After whispering amongst themselves in low voices for a while, they announced the meeting’s adjournment.

Thus, the secret society, the “Admiring the Eldest Son of House Everdeen Association,” known as A.E.S.A, turned their attention to the North.

Of course, Jurgen, the very person they were so concerned about, was completely oblivious to their covert activities.

At that very moment, the man in question was facing a luxurious dessert, grappling with a superhuman dilemma over whether or not to pick up the fork.

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“Um… Are you really going to refuse, my lord?”

Hawthorn looked at me with an expression as if he might burst into tears any second.

With trembling hands, I answered.

“Yes. Send it back to the kitchen.”

Ever since Hernan had forced me to work overtime, I had been waging my own small rebellion by sending back every dessert he had delivered to the office.

Did he think my mood would be improved by something as trivial as desserts? Does he take me for a fool?

For a week now, I had been rejecting desserts as a form of protest.

Today, they sent a fig cake.

How did they even know I liked figs?

The cake, with a rich almond sponge, layered with pistachio cream and topped with figs, was enough to make my mouth water just by looking at it.

‘Hah… this is…’

It was an irresistible temptation, but I couldn’t back down now.

I closed my eyes tightly, firm in my resolve.

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