Looked cold

"Blair! Blair!" Evanthe shouted in the deserted hallway of the Prince's Palace. In her high heels, it's hard to catch up to Blair. "What do you mean by trial?! Didn't you say Duke Dulcia won't be in prison for long?"

Blair seemed utterly oblivious to Evanthe. He walked on hastily. No, but disgusted. Blair blatantly doesn't want to see Evanthe.

"You have the heart to do this to me?!"

Presumably, that last scream caught his attention. Blair immediately stopped in his tracks. Evanthe felt relieved. He immediately forced his girlfriend to face him.

How shocked she was when she saw the expression Blair had on.

He always smiled gently at Evanthe. His face is always adorned with immeasurable affection. His eyes are always bright and colorful. This time, however, Blair looked cold in Evanthe's eyes. Blair's expression and eyes were filled with indifference.

This can't be, Evanthe thought determinedly.

"Didn't you promise me that Duke Dulcia would be fine?" Evanthe asked bravely.

Blair opened his mouth. The words that left her mouth made Evanthe shudder. "Go. I'm not in the mood to see you or hear Duke Dulcia's name right now."

Before Blair could turn to leave, Evanthe grabbed Blair's hand. She looked at him with teary eyes.

"W-what about my mom and me? You know that we can't survive without Dad, right?" Evanthe asked pitifully. "Blair… Duke Dulcia is all we have…."

"You and Viscountess Gilmore can live off your mother's salary and the Gilmore family's income," Blair said. "If it's still not enough, just sell your jewelry collection."

How come! Evanthe screamed inside. The jewelry she has is her attempt always to look beautiful. She couldn't sell any.

"But… but we won't be able to last long with that alone," Evanthe said. "Blair, help my father. At least for my sake…"

"Duke Dulcia made a terrible mistake, Evanthe," Blair said emphatically. "Do you know how many Balthasar people died because of his corruption?"

"The documents that Lady Dulcia gave me must be fake! Everyone knows how much he wants the duchess chair!"

Blair snorted in disgust. "Then let's wait to see if the documents are fake or not. Just so you know, Viscountess Gilmore's name is also on that document."

Evanthe's heart felt like it was about to burst out of her chest. What did Blair say just now? Her mother's name was on the misappropriation of funds?

Evanthe immediately fell to the floor. She looked up slowly, looking at Blair, hoping that what he had just said was a lie.

However…

Those sapphire blue eyes now filled with darkness were proof of his honesty.

***

"I have to admit, Jeremiah, I misjudged you," Selah said honestly.

"I am a person devoted to the Dulcia family, My Lady. "Whoever is the head of his family, I will serve him well as long as he does his best for this family," explained Jeremiah.

Selah smiled at that, then calmly started eating the dinner that Jeremiah had just served.

The smooth running of the trial could not have been possible without Jeremiah's help. The proud old butler of the Dulcia family willingly offered himself.

That day, when Selah asked Jeremiah's opinion…

"Oh, my. Sorry for my rudeness, Jeremiah. Am I mistaken, or are you telling me to do something for you?"

Jeremiah bowed his head respectfully. "With all due respect, My Lady. At this time, there is no one else I can ask for help other than you to help this family," he said humbly. "You are the only one who deserves to continue this family."

Selah smiled widely upon hearing that. "To think I would hear you say that, Jeremiah. Try to explain."

"Duke Dulcia… His Grace has embarrassed this family with her recent actions. We get a lot of pressure from everywhere. Even if His Grace returns, I'm not sure people will still view him the same way," explained Jeremiah. "At a time like that… the Dulcia family will lose faith."

"Shameful," Selah said, amused. "That was an unexpected choice of words. But you know, Jeremiah, that Duke Dulcia isn't going to give up so easily. My father can still find a face with Crown Prince Blair. Father also said that he could marry his illegitimate daughter to Crown Prince Blair."

"My Lady…" Jeremiah let out a long breath. "His Grace's illegitimate daughter is indeed from a noble family, but she… She simply doesn't have the ability to become the crown princess or continue this family."

"Aha. You mean she's an idiot?" Selah taunted.

"His Grace's illegitimate child is just a spoiled woman who lacks education in leading and managing things," Jeremiah corrected. "If she were to carry on the duchess' name, then…."

"This family will be destroyed," Selah continued. "Alright, I understand how the situation is now. But… tell me what I will get in exchange for taking care of this family."

"Lady Selah, I am just an old butler. I have nothing to offer you other than my loyalty. You can judge how loyal I am when you have hired me under you."

No need to wait. Selah already knows how good Jeremiah is.

The old man is very reliable. Duke Dulcia often asked him to take care of difficult matters. Selah knew how dedicated and responsible Jeremiah always shone tightly. If anyone were to ask who the man behind Duke Dulcia could make him successful, it would be Jeremiah.

So Selah and Jeremiah began to plan. Selah, who already knew about the misappropriation of funds by Duke Dulcia, pretended to ask Jeremiah to open the safe. It didn't take long for Jeremiah to find the file Selah had used as a trap. Jeremiah also offered to be a witness if needed at any time.

In doing so, Selah managed to trick Jeremiah and win his loyalty. Then today, she managed to bring down her father.

I'm so lucky to have that, Selah thought as she drank her wine.

"I'll be in my study after this, Jeremiah. Please send Janette there when it's after midnight. You know I like to lose track of time," Selah said as she stood up from her seat.

"Very well, My Lady," said Jeremiah. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, "My Lady, actually… there is one more thing I can do for you."

"I prefer to work alone at the moment. You just focus on taking care of the internal parts."

"Not that." Jeremiah looked serious. "I can tell you who His Grace's bastard child is and help eliminate her."

"No," Selah refused firmly. "Even without your help, I can figure it out myself. But… it's better if I don't know, right? I could have killed them out of frustration."

"I can prevent you from doing it."

Selah took a deep breath. "Jeremiah, I don't want to talk about it anymore."

"I'm sorry, My Lady," said Jeremiah understandingly. "Well then, welcome back to work."