I Don’t Need the Grand Duke’s Regret - Chapter 179

Durante gazed at the man in front of him with an arrogant expression.

The debt was on Durante’s shoulders, but from his attitude, it seemed like the man himself was the one with the debt.

“I understand what you’re saying, Count.”

The man said, wiping his sweat with a handkerchief. Ever since he took on the title of the head of the Imperial Bank, no client had been more troublesome than Durante Adalberto.

Durante had racked up debts that were equivalent to the national budget and barely managed to pay the interest on time.

In fact, just last week, he couldn’t pay the full interest. He ignored all the demands, and the bank employees even had to visit the Adalberto family’s country house.

In most cases, the procedure would be to place a red seal on the estate’s property and auction it off.

But Durante shouted at the bank employees and kicked them out. How dare they touch the property of the Adalberto family? He furiously said so.

If a regular noble acted this way, they would have been immediately taken to the Imperial Bank’s prison.

But the Imperial Bank couldn’t do that.

Durante Adalberto was the most powerful figure in the Empire who controlled the noble council.

He was someone who could show up without an appointment and shout at the bank’s president.

“No! The bank president doesn’t understand the gravity of the situation! The men wearing the Imperial Bank’s uniform came into my house. This Durante’s house!”

“Oh my, Count.”

The bank president set down his handkerchief and forced a polite smile.

“Please understand our position. You see, the payment date for the Adalberto family’s debt had passed, and we were just following the usual procedures…”

“Usual procedures?”

Durante snorted. Leaning back arrogantly, he continued.

“Are you applying ‘usual’ procedures to me? To the one who brought all the noble council’s leaders to the Imperial Bank?”

“Of course, we are truly grateful for that.”

“When you’re busy with business, missing a small amount to pay is easy to forget. But you rush over so quickly!”

It wasn’t a small amount.

The debt had already accumulated to an overwhelming degree.

Even though Durante knew this, he was stubbornly refusing to accept the reality.

The bank president wanted to kick him out immediately. However, rumors had spread that Durante’s support would determine the next Emperor.

It was said that Durante delayed the coronation of the Crown Prince by a week to make sure things didn’t go too smoothly.

Making such important decisions according to his own will meant that, while he might be broke, he still held real power. The troubled bank president pursed his lips. When he couldn’t respond, Durante swelled his chest and shouted.

“That’s nothing! I’ll just pay it!”

As Durante shouted, a servant placed a silk pouch on the bank president’s desk. When the bank president opened the pouch, his face filled with surprise.

“Count, this is…”

“30,000 brahe.”

Durante said with a smug tone. Crossing his legs, he buried himself into the sofa and continued.

“It was generously donated by the Grand Duke to the Adalberto family. He recognized the investment potential of our business.”

“I see! Congratulations!”

As the bank president brightened at the offer, Durante narrowed his eyes. He gently adjusted the handle of his cane and spoke.

“So, about that. I’ll need to borrow a bit more. Maybe around 60,000 brahe?”

“Excuse me?”

The bank president’s face shifted into an awkward expression at the amount Durante suggested.

The Adalberto family already owed 130,000 brahe. Even after paying the 30,000, there would still be a debt of 100,000 brahe remaining. And now he was asking for an additional loan of 60,000 brahe.

“That’s difficult. You don’t have any more collateral left, do you? Your country house, real estate, and the business are all already pledged.”

“Collateral?”

At the bank president’s refusal, Durante scowled.

“What does that matter? If you insist on saying that, I’ll offer the title of Count as collateral. Would that be enough?”

“Well, if you insist… But are you really sure about this?”

“It doesn’t matter. Once the coronation is done, the title of Count won’t matter anymore.”

Durante smiled slightly.

With the princess of Segolinde on his side, even the Grand Duke, who was unable to act against her, was practically in his grasp.

The fact that he had already been generously loaned 70,000 brahe was evidence of it.

With the “Fairy’s Breath” granted by the princess, he would use her to pull the Grand Duke to his side.

Once that was done, once the Grand Duke was crowned emperor, the rest would fall into his hands.

The debts owed to the Grand Duke and the loans from the bank would no longer bother him.

‘Life is so easy.’

Durante’s chest swelled with anticipation for the future.

His life always went as he wished. And so, he had no doubt this time would be no different.

* * *

In the basement of the temple, the prayer room opened for the mass.

Mirabel entered the space painted white, wearing a white dress.

It was tradition in the Empire to wear a black dress for funerals and a white dress for masses for the deceased.

By the altar, a choir of young boys sang in soft voices.

Listening to the sacred music, Mirabel sat on the long prayer bench. As she settled, a man sitting ahead of her turned his head. Their eyes met, and Mirabel froze in place.

Ricardo was wearing a pristine white uniform, embroidered with barely visible white thread. Seeing him, Mirabel felt as if she was being pulled into the past.

She had once thought that if Ricardo, who always wore black, ever wore white, it would be for their wedding.

She imagined he would wear a white uniform to match with Armilla’s attire on the day they married.

‘That’s all in the past now.’

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