His wife handled it well but she had almost gotten humiliated at her first social stage. Because of her husbands past woman.

Why didnt she tell me?

She had the right to blame him and get angry at him. However, she didnt mention it on the day it happened and even until now, she hadnt mentioned it. That was even scarier. It was impossible to know if her mind had already turned away from him and he was not even worth questioning. Hugo didnt understand why the situation kept turning terrible.

Still, he thought that his effort these days had made her slightly more yielding. Her attitude toward him was intimate and she smiled more. Because her boisterous and incessantly joyful appearance was beautiful to see, his mood lately was elated, like he was stepping on clouds.

However, at the thought of her becoming an ice witch again, his mood immediately plummeted. He was struck with sense of shame and groaned.

It was really just a momentary greeting in the palace.

Hugo felt wronged. He was always in the strong position. He had never actually felt the mortified feeling of the weak. Even as a child mercenary slave, he hid his resentment and sharpened his knife at the back, so he didnt know what it meant to feel wronged and stifled inside. She was teaching him a variety of emotions.

I wont even greet next time. Ill just act like I dont know anything.

When he read the part where she reproachfully said, I know what my husbands handkerchief is, his chest felt prickly. He wondered if his wife had already known that he took the Damians handkerchief and just pretended not to know. It was an awkward thought but that sort of thing didnt matter.

Hugo had thick skin. There was no problem if a father took a little bit of his sons thing. The extent to which he could justify himself was very far-reaching.

What Hugo was worried about was whether or not she was disappointed in him. When he thought of their passionate nights these past few days, he was struck with hope.

She might not be angry. He hadnt felt any particular sense of distance. Maybe she regarded the incident at the tea party as a trivial matter and forgot about it. But she was a cruel woman who kept her heart shut to him but allowed him to spend passionate nights with her.

Hugos melancholy gradually changed into anger. In this entire situation, there was definitely a ringleader. His anger towards them was ignited and gradually flared up.

Count Jordan. Count Alvin.

Hugo tapped his fingers on the table.

What had these men done wrong? Such rational thoughts did not cross the current Hugos mind.

He was mulling over how to punish them. Right now, Hugo had no justification to the touch the Count of Jordan. So, he decided to put it aside for now. He would never forget it. It was simply recorded on his waiting list.

Hugo did not do things like intentionally making up an incident that never happened in order to punish another. In his own way, he found that sort of means cowardly.

However, once he found something that he could pick on, he bit down tenaciously. In the eyes of others, there was no difference between the two methods but Hugo didnt care about what other people thought. To him, he only had to be unashamed to himself.

Moving onto the Count of Alvin, he was a more difficult target. Although Hugo could crush him if he made up his mind, the Count had sprinkled money all over the place. If he was attacked rashly, there were many people that would rise to his defense. Getting rid of those people in addition would make the issue too big and Kwiz would not really like it.

A good idea flashed into Hugo mind.

I can just move him far away.

If he couldnt get rid of it, he couldnt just keep it out of his sight. Hugo heard that the Count of Alvin had tried to enter the tea distribution business several times but failed. He would use that as bait and open a channel in the capital for some business reason. When a person is no longer in ones sight, interest in them would also goes away. Sofia would naturally be forgotten.

Among the high-end businesses unofficially owned by the Taran family, there was a huge high-end business that only circulated tea on a large scale. Because a majority of its customers were nobles from other countries, it was active in other countries.

Once the Count of Alvin took the bait, he would not only be away from the capital, he would be away from Xenon for a considerable amount of time. In this sense, Hugo would be giving the Count of Alvin a business opportunity. It was not a punishment but a reward.

Hugo didnt really like this fact but this method was cleaner than making the issue bigger. It was a good thing that the Count of Alvin had excellent business ability so it would only benefit his high-end business.

When Hugo was done thinking about how to handle the issue, his busy brain began to think of what would happen next but he stopped himself. Just because he planned to deal with them didnt mean that the past did not happen.

Should I ask her about it?

If he asked, what would she say? If she said she didnt care about his past women, it would make him feel sour in a way. If she said that she was unhappy and didnt trust him anymore, that was even worse.

In the past, Hugo never had to hold in words that he wanted to say but recently, he had had to worry about his words and keep them to himself. It piled and piled up and he was about to have an pent-up disorder.

While he was caught between a rock and a hard place, a good while passed and soon, ten days had gone by since the tea party took place. In the meantime, Lucia had attended more tea parties. This time, they were really small scale tea parties with an attendance of about ten people.

* * *

Today, Lucia was in a good mood because she had gotten a letter from Damian. During their evening walk, she had chattered in length about what Damian had been up to in the Academy. Although Hugo was already informed of everything in separate report, he acted interested and listened to her, currying to her mood. It was all to grab this particular chance.

Vivian. I heard a rumor.

Hugo sat on the bed and carefully asked Lucia who was sitting in front of the mirror on the dresser. Rumors of the incident at the tea party was now widely known throughout the social circle. The fact that afterwards, the Countess of Alvin had locked herself up at home added to the credibility of the rumor. Hugo did not say that he had investigated and simply spoke as though he had heard it from the rumor.

Mm. Yes. There was such a thing.

Lucia replied like it was nothing. It was as if Hugos worry all this time was for naught.

Why didnt you tell me?

How can I tell you every trivial thing that happens in the social circle? Its a womens issue.

Was it a trivial thing?

He felt sour indeed.

It was a trivial thing because I believed in you.

Hugos sinking mood instantly revived.

Since you know anyways, I will go ahead and ask. Can you tell me who your past women are?

Hugo broke out in cold sweat.

Thatwhy?

Because I need to know who they are to take appropriate measures. I am not trying to find fault with you. Just as I said, it is necessary for me to know who they are.

Okay?

Alright. Ill tell Jerome.

Hugo felt complicated. It wasnt the worst outcome but it wasnt a situation he was pleased with. She was so clean to the extent that it was heartless and her emotions did not leak out at all.

In the past, Hugo wished that women would be like her. However, his wife, whom he wished and pleaded would not be like that, was rigid without any gaps. He was the one who was pathetic and struggling to get a piece of his wifes heart. No matter how much he climbed, he couldnt see the end of the wall that surrounded her.

Hugo stood up and hugged Lucia from behind. He buried his head in her small shoulder.

Vivian. I know nothing about this. I have never met that women in private.

Believe me. Dont be hurt by it. Dont close your heart to me. Numerous entreaties swirled around in his head.

I know. I trust you.

A short word of trust. Hugo didnt realize that a simple phrase would make him feel so relieved and reassured. The sense of relief instantly made his restless heart feel at ease. Would receiving trust from another person make his heart feel so complicated? No. It was because the trust was from his woman, not from any other person.

Really? (Hugo)

Of course. You promised me.

Soit isnt that you didnt tell me because you were angry but because you trusted me so you didnt care?

Exactly.

Hugo hugged her tighter, enjoying the feeling of her warmth in his arms. His heart warmed up. This feeling that sometimes felt hopeless and other times, somehow smarting but sweet. This feeling was happiness.

If he didnt know about it then that was that but now, he couldnt let go of this sweetness that he had already experienced. He was afraid that he would lose what he had gotten a hold of for the first time since his brother died.