A DISH BEST SERVED COLD (2)

"GREETINGS, Lord Rochester–"

"Let's drop the formalities and get straight to the point, Grand Duke Viotto."

Isaak smiled at Marquis Hendrix Rochester's straightforwardness.

Right now, the two of them were in the drawing room of the Rochester Mansion. He sat on the couch across from the marquis. A table was placed between them, and tea was served.

[The tea seems lackluster considering that they served it in the Marquis Mansion.]

He held back a smirk when he realized what it meant.

[Lord Rochester is openly showing his disapproval, huh?]

"My daughter has already informed me that she formed a contractual marriage with you," Marquis Rochester said coldly. "Zoe told me that she needed you to protect our family from Count Ratliff's threat. But I haven't heard why you, Grand Duke Viotto, have agreed to enter a contractual marriage with my daughter."

Ah, Zoe probably didn't share it with the marquis to protect Princess Runa's identity. He appreciated the lady's consideration.

"I haven't announced it yet, but I'm in the process of adopting a child, Lord Rochester."

The marquis's stoic face didn't crack.

Ah, no.

It seemed like the marquis looked offended.

"I see," Marquis Rochester said, obviously displeased. "The law dictates that an unmarried person cannot adopt a child. Not only did you marry my daughter without my consent, but you also plan to make Zoe your adopted child's mother. Isn't that a little too much, Grand Duke?"

"I don't think so," he said bluntly. "Lady Zoe is an adult, and she knows that being married to me also means that she'll become the child's guardian. I didn't force her to accept that role." He sipped his tea before he continued. "Moreover, we will both benefit from this marriage, Marquis."

"My daughter is being overly worried," the marquis scoffed. "I can protect my family even without your help, Grand Duke."

"My lord, you know that it won't be easy to fight a member of the Royal Family who's being backed up by Her Majesty."

Marquis Rochester couldn't retort this time.

"I will take care of Lady Zoe," he said politely. "And I apologize that our marriage has to be rushed."

The marquis closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as if he was trying his best to stay calm. "I know why you're here, Grand Duke," he said, then he opened his eyes and looked at him fiercely. "It's about the dowry, isn't it?"

He gulped unconsciously. "Did Lady Zoe mention in her letter what she has offered me as her dowry?"

"She didn't, but I can guess what my daughter offered you," the marquis said, then he let out a deep sigh. "It's the Dragon Lair, isn't it?"

The Dragon Lair was the source of the main ingredients used to create the best weapons in the empire. Because of its importance and prolificacy, many nobles coveted the Dragon mine for various reasons. Most of them weren't good, though.

After all, the Dragon mine was the symbol of military power in the empire.

[No wonder even Her Majesty, Empress Veronica covets the Dragon mine.]

"Zoe is my successor, and I already told her that the Dragon mine is hers," Marquis Rochester said calmly. "She can do whatever she wants with her properties."

He didn't expect that the marquis would easily agree to hand the Dragon mine to him.

"You must be wondering why I'm being cooperative, Grand Duke."

"I'd be lying if I say I'm not, Marquis."

Marquis Rochester smirked before he spoke. "I simply believe that your marriage with my daughter won't last long," he said haughtily. "In that case, the Dragon Lair will help Zoe get out of your marriage easily. After all, divorce is expensive, even by the nobles' standards."

Ah, he didn't know that the marquis had a talent for pissing him off.

But it wasn't like he could declare that he and Zoe wouldn't divorce. It would be selfish, and that declaration would be groundless, anyway.

"I know that you're in a hurry, so I will now transfer the rights to manage the Dragon Lair to you and my daughter," Marquis Rochester said. "But since it's a dowry, Zoe will have more rights to manage the Dragon Lair than you, Grand Duke."

"That's fine with me, Marquis," he said. "I do not need the Dragon Lair, anyway."

The marquis scoffed. "What a foolish thing to say, Grand Duke. As the leader of your own territory, you must learn how to use the resources you have at your disposal to provide for your people. Saying that you don't need the Dragon mine only shows your immaturity."

He clenched his hands because even if he didn't want to admit it, the marquis was right.

[I misspoke.]

"You are correct, Marquis," he admitted. "I've been arrogant. I apologize for my shameful behavior."

"I didn't expect you to apologize easily, but I appreciate it."

"I have one question, Marquis."

"What is it?"

"How do I address you from now on?" Isaak said, then he smiled "brightly" at the marquis. "Should I start calling you 'Father?'"

Marquis Rochester looked shocked. "Don't you dare call me 'Father,' you thief."

***

[WHAT a waste of a beautiful face.]

Zoe thought to herself as soon as she saw Count Nigel Ratliff at the restaurant he reserved for their "dinner date." Only the two of them were in there, so he definitely reserved the whole restaurant for the two of them for tonight.

The count looked handsome, and everything from his clothes to his accessories also looked expensive. That was what she would expect from a count who was also the emperor's full-blooded brother.

[If only he doesn't act like a fool…]

"Welcome, Lady Rochester," Count Nigel Ratliff greeted her, then he kissed the back of her hand. She didn't want to give her hand to him, but she still needed to abide by the nobles' etiquette. "I'm pleased that you accepted my invitation."

"How shameless," Zoe said while smiling. "I can't believe that you have the audacity to say that after you threatened to bring my father to a noble trial if I don't show up."

The shameless count laughed. "It was just a joke," he said as a lame excuse. "I didn't know that you and the marquis will take it seriously."

[Joke, my ass.]

She didn't believe a word the count said, but she smiled anyway.

[Let's stay calm.]

She allowed the count to pretend as a gentleman for tonight.

He pulled the chair for her, ordered the best food on the menu, and even poured wine into her glass. She also humored him by having a small talk with him. Yes, all the while knowing that the red wine she was having was spiked with a powerful sleeping potion.

When she checked the bottle earlier, she confirmed that it was the same red wine used in the novel where Eunice Harper ended up almost being assaulted by a hateful character.

"The food is great, but this wine is the best thing here," she said, complimenting the red wine as she took another sip. "This is the first time that I've had this wine, Count Ratliff. May I know where I could buy one? I'd like to give it to my father as a present."

Count Ratliff gulped and avoided her gaze by pouring some more wine into her glass. "I will send one to Marquis Rochester later," he said, then he looked at her straight in the eye. "Lady Rochester, let's talk about my marriage proposal."

Zoe sipped the red wine again and this time, she actually felt drowsy. "Let me go to the restroom first…"

And just like that, everything went black.

***

VAUGHN Wilson was enraged.

The spy that he planted in the Rochester Estate just informed him that Zoanne Rochester went on a dinner date with Count Nigel Ratliff. He didn't care at first, since he knew that it was just one of Veronica's ploys to steal the Dragon Lair from the marquis.

He also thought that it would benefit him if Zoanne Rochester became closer to his family.

But when he heard the restaurant's name where the count brought Zoanne Rochester, he immediately realized what Veronica's plan was.

[It's the only restaurant in the Royal Capital that serves 'that' wine!]

He was so mad that he kicked the door to Veronica's room open.

"Brother," Veronica said, surprised by his rudeness. Even her ladies-in-waiting looked shocked by his behavior. When his sister noticed that he wasn't acting his usual self, she immediately sent her servants out of the room. "What's wrong, Brother?"

"Was it you?" Vaughned snarled at his sister as he approached her. "Was it you who told Nigel Ratliff to bring Zoanne Rochester to that restaurant?"

Nigel couldn't possibly know what kind of restaurant it was.

The count might be a troublemaker, but he wasn't the type to fool around women.

"Why are you angry, Brother?" the empress, his stupid sister, asked. "If Nigel gets Lady Rochester pregnant, then House Rochester won't be able to reject the marriage proposal–"

"Veronica!"

She flinched when he yelled. And this time, his sister finally realized how angry he was. The fear on her face was clear. "Brother–"

He wrapped his fingers around the empress's slender neck and squeezed it tightly.

Veronica immediately grabbed his arms while trying to remove his hand from her neck.

"I told you that you can do anything to your enemies– anything but that," Vaughn said while gritting his teeth. "If Nigel Ratliff lays a hand on Zoanne Rochester, I will throw you away."

***

NOTE: Hi! Please consider ADDING 'I Won't Let The Ghoul Duke Go Hungry!' to your LIBRARY. Thank you! <3