Episode 118

Ethan clenched his teeth and applied force to his molars. 

The muscles in his jaw quivered, and his fingertips clutching Charlotte’s divorce papers turned ashen white.

Ethan appeared completely taken aback as if he hadn’t even considered the possibility of Charlotte betraying him and joining Jasper. Even though Charlotte’s vitality had long faded from her face due to the stress of city life.

Jasper recalled Charlotte’s words.

“This is the last chance I’m giving Ethan. If this time, he prioritizes someone other than me… I’ll end it. I don’t mind having the label of ‘divorcee.’ At least I’ll be happier than living like this.”

Charlotte knew exactly how to sway him. She believed that seeing him in this state would alleviate some of the frustration that had built up over the years.

Charlotte’s prediction was accurate. Jasper had never seen Ethan so bewildered and shaken since their mother’s death.

Ethan repeatedly read Charlotte’s letter enclosed with the divorce papers and muttered in a despondent voice.

“She told me not to torment Jasper… I don’t know who Charlotte is anymore.”

“She’s still your wife for now. She’ll become your ex-wife if you keep ignoring her like this.”

Ethan chewed his lips. Jasper looked Ethan straight in the eye. 

“Don’t touch Rose Bell. Don’t even touch Rose’s family.”

“…They did break the law, that’s true. Don’t try to cover that up, Jasper.”

“It wasn’t them; it was George Bell.”

Ethan lowered his head and let out a nervous sigh. Uncharacteristically, he ran a hand through his neatly coiffed hair.

“I know, I get it.”

“In reality, you’re not such a cruel person as to report Rose, right? You probably just wanted to scare me into submission. But I’m not a kid anymore.”

Ethan raised his head to look at Jasper with a complicated expression. Jasper couldn’t be sure if his brother was a genuinely good person, but he knew he wasn’t entirely heartless and despicable.

Ethan’s nature was somewhat delicate. He had become sensitive and cold at a young age, shouldering various responsibilities. But the constant pressure to uphold the family had turned him into an anxious and obsessive individual.

Ethan had tirelessly run to protect the family. Jasper admired that aspect of him. He knew he could never have lived like Ethan.

But he had gone a bit too far. His sense of duty had turned into an obsession, and the time spent solely focused on the family was crushing the present-day Ethan.

Jasper spoke in a calm voice.

“So, you’re going to go talk to her, right?”

Ethan, with a bewildered expression, mumbled his lips a few times and then sighed deeply.

“The Atwood family territory will take a while. Leaving the capital empty during times like these…”

“Yeah. You also have to deal with the regular council and the family’s internal affairs. But, it shouldn’t cause a huge problem if you’re gone for a few weeks.”

Ethan fell silent.

“In your marriage, though, that might be a different story. Do you think it’s better to divorce even if it tarnishes your reputation?”

Jasper suspected that the Ethan he knew would try to prevent divorce at all costs, considering the scrutiny of the social circle. Moreover, the deteriorating relationship with the Atwoods was a significant issue.

Jasper added, somewhat provocatively.

“As the Duke’s heir, remarriage shouldn’t be too difficult for you. Maybe it’s for the best. After all, you didn’t like your wife.”

At that, Ethan, who had been visibly anxious and restless, stiffened his face.

“What are you talking about? I don’t dislike Charlotte.”

“Really?”

“How can I marry someone I dislike?”

“It seems she doesn’t think the same way.”

Jasper hadn’t expected Ethan to react like this, going as far as to express his affection for Charlotte. 

He believed that Ethan’s reasons for maintaining his marriage with Charlotte were solely tied to the family’s honor.

‘Did he have feelings for Charlotte?’

If he did have feelings for Charlotte, and he treated her that way, he’s not sure he’d be able to get away with it… 

‘No, could my brother be this foolish? Surprising.’

The previously confident Ethan, who was known for his cunning in politics, was now looking frozen.

After all, Ethan was someone who had never really experienced love and had quickly arranged a strategic marriage. Even after marriage, he had been too absorbed in his work to enjoy a newlywed life. He was still a novice in matters of affection.

‘It’s amusing.’

Jasper wanted to tease Ethan a bit more, partly as revenge for the countless pranks he had endured and to help Charlotte vent her frustration.

Jasper casually remarked.

“The relationship was so bad between you two. I even wondered if you had a separate government.”

Ethan’s forehead creased with irritation.

“A government? Charlotte was the only woman in my life.”

Jasper wished he could have presented these absurd accusations directly to Charlotte. The perplexed look in Jasper’s eyes as he watched Ethan made the situation even more bizarre.

“I’ve never committed a single act of infidelity. I’m aboveboard. Could Charlotte possibly think like that? So, divorce or something… it doesn’t make any sense!”

“I’m not sure about that. It’s a simple matter. Mrs. Conway no longer wants to live with Mr. Conway. That’s it. Your wife is tired of you.”

“…Why?”

“Why don’t you ask? You don’t get along, and it doesn’t take much to dislike a person.”

With every word Jasper uttered, Ethan’s face grew darker, and he was continuously struck by the verbal blows.

“She dislikes me to the extent of getting a divorce? Charlotte?”

“She’s never been affectionate. Besides, she’s always been put on the back burner. Even someone like me could tell.”

“She’s been put on the backburner…?”

Ethan mumbled to himself with a serious expression. Jasper found it increasingly frustrating and irritating to witness Ethan’s reaction.

“So, just don’t worry about my marriage and take care of your own.”

If he let Charlotte go forever, what would happen to Ethan? Would he continue to maintain the facade of a perfect nobleman, as he always had? 

Jasper couldn’t imagine seeing Ethan fall apart.

He did not doubt that he would go mad if he were in a similar situation. The thought of Rose disliking him and wanting to leave him forever… just imagining it made his chest tighten and his throat burn.

Ethan sat deep in thought, his thumb tightly gripped. Jasper stood up from the sofa.

“I don’t know. Figure it out yourself.”

After a long silence, Ethan mumbled.

“Did I neglect Charlotte?”

“I can’t say anything else.”

“…”

“Stop making that sulky face. I’m leaving.”

With a sigh, Jasper left the drained Ethan behind. 

The fate of Charlotte and Ethan was now in their own hands.

* * *

The next morning, Ethan Conway left the capital, intending to catch Charlotte Atwood Conway.

Inside the dorm room, which had become a bit emptier since Caleb dropped out, Jasper went through the letter left by Ethan. Most of it contained detailed instructions on what to be cautious about while he was away from Townhouse.

‘All this nagging even at a time like this…’

Jasper sighed with a tired expression. As he considered finishing reading and tossing the letter, his gaze rested on a single word.

‘What’s this…?’

Among Ethan’s lengthy nagging notes, the word ‘Dom Industries’ caught his eye.

[This is just a precaution, but the conservative movement seems unusual. I saw Dome Industries’ executive and a few conservative nobles visiting the factory where George Bell works. It’s a strange combination. Soon, something might happen in the political arena…

While I’m away, they might try to approach you. Since you know nothing about politics, just stay quiet and avoid getting involved in unnecessary matters. Decline all meetings.

I’ve listed a few of the people who were likely among the ones I saw at the factory, so be particularly cautious of them.]

Jasper obtained unexpected information through Ethan. He reread the letter multiple times, contemplating its content.

The factory where George Bell worked was connected to the Redmark Summit, a fact Jasper himself was aware of.

However, the presence of conservative nobles and Dom Industries’ executives there was puzzling. It was understandable that Ethan found it bewildering.

“Dom Industries…”

Wasn’t that the place where Edwin had attempted to sell the technology he stole from the royal family? 

Jasper furrowed his brow as he felt a discomfort around his shoulder, near the gunshot wound. Although he had recovered enough to attend firearms and swordsmanship classes, he still experienced occasional pain.

Jasper hadn’t heard anything about Edwin’s whereabouts. 

A while ago, he had a personal communication with the Emperor, but he had only received a message to wait for further instructions.

Jasper felt uneasy about not having completed Edwin properly. He needed to handle the given mission flawlessly and earn more trust from the Emperor.

Jasper tried to find the connections between the newly acquired information.

‘Dom Industries, the conservative faction, and the Redmark Summit…’

All three had something in common – they were all currently unable to exert their power within the empire as they once did.

Dom Industries had lost significant market share to Weir Company. Redmark struggled with operations due to Weir Company not cooperating with the criminal upper echelons. The conservative nobles feared the diminishing of their influence due to several reform policies by the Emperor.

In times of rapid social change, there was often a backlash. Those who stood on the opposite side of change, were dissatisfied with the current empire.

Jasper also knew one such person.

“Because a woman is becoming the Emperor, everything is shaking. The caste system is collapsing, and commoners are rising…”

That person was Edwin.