zed was still trying to process the number in my head.
A million gold coins.
The shock faded quickly, replaced by a growing sense of worry. My gaze sharpened toward Sir Jaeger.
"So… who's handling our finances?" zed asked, a sharp edge to my voice.
Sir Jaeger's lips thinned. A rare flicker of hesitation crossed his face before he answered.
"Well… you see, Your Grace…" He coughed lightly into his hand. "I… knocked out the previous treasurer."
My brow twitched. "…You what?"
"I caught him embezzling funds," Jaeger said, his tone cold and matter-of-fact. "So, I handled it."
"And by 'handled,' you mean…"
"I threw him out the window."
"…What floor?"
"Second."
"…That's not too bad."
Jaeger's brow twitched. "He landed in the rose bushes."
"…Ah."
"Broke his arm."
zed sighed, rubbing my temples. "So why didn't we hire a new treasurer?"
Jaeger's expression darkened slightly. "Treasury positions are not easily filled, Your Grace. Managing the Ravenhart estate's finances requires not only political understanding but also loyalty."
"So who's managing the treasury right now?"
"…Lady Aurora."
he froze. his eyes narrowed. "What?"
"Until we secure a proper replacement, Lady Aurora has been overseeing the estate's financial matters," Jaeger said stiffly.
zed bit the inside of my cheek, frustration boiling beneath the surface.
She's still a teenager… Giving her that kind of burden… And I didn't even notice. Idiot, what kind of brother am I?
Shame curled in his chest, sharp and cold.
zed turned toward the exit.
"Where are you going, Your Grace?" Jaeger asked.
"I'm going to see how my sister is handling the situation."
Jaeger frowned slightly but didn't stop me as zed stormed off.
How could I be so oblivious?Shame on me.
Zed caught sight of the Greyrats near the main hall doors. Their golden-clad leader, Will Greyrat, strode confidently toward the chamber ahead. His two attendants trailed closely behind him, their heavy gold chains jingling softly with each step.
Zed slipped behind them, keeping close to the shadows. Of course, the stationed guards noticed him—they probably would have stopped anyone else—but when they saw Zed, their expressions twisted into something between confusion and surprise.
He ignored it and pressed forward, sneaking into the main hall.
And then—he froze.
His breath hitched as his eyes widened at the breathtaking sight before him.
Towering marble pillars lined the vast chamber, their surfaces sculpted with intricate carvings depicting the history of House Ravenhart. The polished obsidian floor reflected the golden light spilling from crystal chandeliers overhead—thousands of crystals, shimmering like stars in the night sky.
A crimson carpet stretched from the entrance toward the head seat—a grand, throne-like chair of dark wood and deep velvet, resting beneath the Ravenhart crest. It wasn't as extravagant as the royal throne, but it radiated quiet authority.
The scent of polished wood and aged parchment mixed in the air—a subtle reminder of the hall's long legacy of power and influence.
Zed stood there for a moment, overwhelmed.
And then—he realized why the guards had been looking at him so strangely.
I'm not supposed to be here, am I?
"Care to tell me why you're sneaking behind me, Sir Jaeger?"
Zed turned his head—and sure enough, Sir Jaeger was standing a few feet behind him, arms crossed. His golden eyes glinted faintly beneath the chandelier light.
"Well…" Jaeger began to stammer, his usual stoic demeanor cracking. "You didn't finish today's training, so I was… concerned."
Zed raised an eyebrow.
"Concerned, huh?"
Jaeger's gaze shifted slightly to the side.
It was completely obvious that he was lying. His eyes were practically glued to the Greyrats at the far end of the hall.
He's curious too.
"Well… whatever." Zed sighed and leaned against one of the pillars. "Just keep quiet and let's see what they want."
Jaeger's gaze sharpened. He stepped closer, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword.
Peeking from behind the pillar, Zed watched as Will Greyrat approached the throne
Seated near the head of the table was Aurora.
Her unease was painfully apparent—something Zed had rarely seen in her. Her normally composed demeanor was visibly shaken; her hands were clenched into fists on her lap, and her usually sharp violet eyes wavered with uncertainty. Yet, even with that visible discomfort, she forced a polite smile as the moneylenders approached.
"I hope you all had a safe journey," Aurora said, her voice steady but lacking its usual confidence.
Zed's eyes narrowed from behind the pillar.
The man standing in the center—a tall, thin figure with slicked-back silver hair and a smirk that practically oozed arrogance—stepped forward. Gold rings glittered on his bony fingers, and the heavy chains around his neck clinked softly with each step.
He bowed slightly.
"Thank you for your concern, my lady," he said smoothly. "I, Will Greyrat, have come to inform you that the loan is due in one month." His smirk widened, the gleam in his sharp eyes predatory. "And yet… we have not received a single installment in the past few years."
His words dripped with mockery, his gaze lingering on Aurora like a predator toying with prey.
Zed's jaw tightened.
Aurora's shoulders stiffened. Her heart pounded painfully in her chest, the weight of responsibility pressing down on her like a stone slab. She had known this day would come—but knowing didn't make it any easier.
"Well, about that… we… we…" Aurora stammered, her voice trembling.
The words wouldn't come.
Zed's fists clenched at his sides.
Damn it… she's struggling.
Greyrat's smirk deepened. He took another step forward, the chains around his neck jingling softly. Slowly, he leaned down—close enough that only Aurora could hear him.
"You know, my lady," he whispered, his voice sickeningly sweet, "you are said to be the most beautiful woman in the empire."
Zed's eyes sharpened dangerously.
"If you let me have you for one night…" Greyrat's lips curled into a twisted smile. "Perhaps I might reduce your loan. I might even extend the payment period."
Silence.
Zed's blood turned cold. His heart hammered violently against his chest.
He didn't just say that…
And then—
SLAP!
Aurora's hand struck Greyrat's cheek with such force that the sharp sound echoed through the hall.
Greyrat's head snapped to the side, a red imprint blooming across his pale skin. For a moment, there was nothing but stunned silence.
His two companions, who had initially burst into quiet laughter at Aurora's flustered state, immediately shut their mouths when Greyrat turned toward them with a murderous glare.
Aurora's eyes widened.
What did I just do?
A wave of fear coursed through her, but she refused to back down. Her chest heaved as she took a shaky breath. Slowly, she lowered her hand and bowed her head slightly.
"…Forgive me," she said quietly.
Greyrat slowly turned back toward her. His smirk was gone. His expression was unreadable—but the sharp glint in his eyes screamed of barely contained rage.
"My lady," he said coldly, "may we know where we will be staying tonight?"
Aurora swallowed hard and quickly gestured toward a nearby maid. "Escort our guests to their rooms," she ordered, her voice barely above a whisper.
The maid bowed and motioned for them to follow.
Greyrat took one last step toward Aurora. His gaze, burning with cold malice, lingered on her trembling frame. Then, his lips curled into a sinister smile.
"May you have a great night, my lady."
With that, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing through the grand hall. His companions followed behind him, their faces pale and strained.
As Greyrat stepped out of the main hall, his sharp, calculating eyes immediately locked onto Zed and Jaeger, standing just beyond the threshold.
Zed's expression was cold and unreadable, but his piercing stare sent a silent, cutting message. His posture was relaxed, almost lazy—but the dangerous glint in his crimson eyes suggested otherwise. Beside him, Jaeger looked no less intimidating—his arms crossed over his chest, his sharp eyes burning with barely restrained fury. His sheer size and the tense line of his jaw made him look ready to tear into someone at a moment's notice.
A flicker of irritation crossed Greyrat's face before he forced a polite smile and offered a shallow bow.
"My lord," Greyrat said smoothly. "I hear you've recovered from your injury. I am truly glad to see—"
Before he could finish, Zed turned on his heel and walked away without a word. Jaeger followed suit without even sparing him a glance.
Greyrat's smile twitched and then vanished completely. His jaw tightened as he watched their backs disappear down the corridor. His fists curled at his sides, the leather of his gloves creaking under the pressure.
That brat…
His companions wisely stayed silent as they followed him toward their assigned rooms. None of them dared to speak as Greyrat's mood darkened with each step.
The moment Greyrat stepped into his chamber, he slammed the door shut behind him. The loud BANG echoed through the lavishly decorated room, making the crystal chandelier overhead sway slightly.
"That bitch!" Greyrat roared, his voice reverberating off the marble walls. He kicked over a velvet chair, sending it crashing into the wall with a loud thud. "How dare she hit me?! She should be grateful that our family lent them gold when they were on the verge of ruin!"
He paced furiously across the room, his boots stomping against the polished floor. His black hair, usually immaculate, now hung messily over his face as he tugged at it in frustration. His face twisted in anger as he recalled the sensation of Aurora's hand striking his cheek. His skin still burned from the impact.
"And that brat… That filthy, arrogant brat!" Greyrat's fist slammed against the ornate wooden table, knocking over a porcelain vase. It shattered against the floor, white fragments scattering across the room. "How dare he ignore me?!"
His breath came out in sharp huffs, his chest heaving with barely restrained rage.
"Oi, John!" Greyrat's eyes flashed dangerously as he turned toward the door. "Get me some wine. I need to relax."
John, one of his attendants, quickly bowed and slipped out of the room without a word.
Only two people remained inside—Greyrat and his younger brother, Larry.
Larry, a man with a lean build and softer features, let out a tired sigh as he watched his brother pace like a caged animal. His dark brown eyes studied Greyrat with mild disapproval.
"Brother…" Larry finally spoke, his tone flat. "You should calm down. Let's be honest—it was your own fault for saying something so disgusting to Lady Aurora."
Greyrat's eye twitched dangerously. His movements stilled, and the tension in the air grew thick and oppressive.
Slowly, he turned to Larry, his face dark with cold fury.
"Larry…" His voice was eerily calm, his pale lips curling into a dangerous smile. "I don't want to kill my own brother… so get out before I change my mind."
Larry sighed again, unfazed. He had seen this side of Greyrat too many times before.
"…Fine." Larry pushed off the wall and headed toward the door. He paused at the threshold, glancing over his shoulder.
"You should really learn to take rejection better," Larry said casually.
Greyrat's eyes narrowed into slits.
Larry gave a small shrug and walked out, closing the door behind him with a soft click.
Silence.
Minutes later, John returned, carrying a silver tray with an intricately designed glass decanter. He set it down carefully and poured a deep red wine into a crystal glass before handing it to Greyrat.
Greyrat snatched the glass from his hand and downed it in one sharp gulp. The bitter burn of the wine did nothing to calm the storm inside him. His grip tightened around the glass until it nearly cracked in his hand.
His black hair hung over his face as his lips curled into a twisted snarl.
"I'll make her pay."
The words slipped from his mouth like a cursed chant.
Over and over, he muttered the same thing.
"I'll make her pay… I'll make her pay…"
As night fell over the Ravenhert estate, Greyrat's hatred festered, growing darker with every passing second. His sharp eyes burned with venomous resolve as his mind twisted with plans for retribution.
Greyrat smiled darkly to himself, the glass in his hand shattering under the pressure of his grip.
"Oh yes…" he whispered. "I'll make her regret ever crossing me."