The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

Verdo Morbita.

He was the general butler of the Krassium family, serving the Grand Duke for generations.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that he knew the history of the Krassium family better than Zenox.

Verdo was sorting through newly printed flyers as usual.

His hands paused momentarily while aligning and categorizing them. The image of a baby fox on the flyer brought a touch of sadness to his chest.

Today, he missed the days when Whitie was around more than ever.

It’s already been three years since Whitie disappeared.

The smiles on the faces of the employees were gone, and Verdo developed a habit of sighing.

Frankly, he suspected that Whitie may have died in the fire that day. The reason he couldn’t voice this thought was because of Zenox.

No matter how faint the hope, Verdo the butler couldn’t extinguish it.

He sighed out of habit and set down the flyer, gazing out the window.

In the distance, a strange carriage was crossing the garden.

“There was no mention of a visitor today…”

Heading down to the entrance, a man with curly milky-colored hair greeted him.

“I am Rodit, a knight of the Rohan family. I have brought a letter from Laria Rohan.”

Verdo slightly furrowed his brows at the sight of Rodit’s serious face insisting that he must deliver the letter personally.

‘Laria Rohan… The noble lady to marry my master.’

Recently, he had heard that the Emperor’s letter congratulating Zenox on his upcoming marriage had been sent to each family.

However, Verdo and the other servants didn’t believe it. It was a laughable idea that Zenox, who had risked his life searching for Whitie, would suddenly get married, a story even passing dogs would laugh at.

‘The noble lady must have been shocked enough to send a protest letter.’

Though ‘the arm bends inward,’ their master had many issues.

Nobody would be pleased to get involved with Zenox.

As he thought alone, Verdo ushered Rodit inside.

“Follow me. I’ll lead you.”

Since it was a matter related to the noble lady’s marriage path, it seemed appropriate to have this delivered in person. He also wanted to ask Zenox about what was going on on the side.

Without hesitation, Verdo moved.

He didn’t need to look for where Zenox would be.

Whenever he returned to the mansion, Zenox spent most of his time in the library. Despite being the most painful space, he couldn’t leave the library as if he had become its keeper.

Though he wanted to tell him to forget about it, Verdo chose silence.

Because he wanted to support Zenox at least as much as he could.

Upon arriving at the library on the 3rd floor with Rodit, Verdo knocked on the door.

“Master. A guest has arrived.”

“Come in.”

The approval fell without even asking who it was.

As Verdo was about to enter, he paused.

A bright red liquid was flowing out from under the door.

By the time he realized, it was after he had already opened the door.

Stunned by the scene that unfolded, Verdo was momentarily lost for words.

The library, which was already a mess, had become even more of a disaster area. The corpses of black-masked individuals were tumbling on the floor, and the yet-to-be-cleaned furniture had turned into fragments.

Among all the chaos, Zenox was the only one unharmed.

“Guest?”

His golden eyes flickered sharply.

Of all places, why would assassins rush into the library.

A place filled with memories of Whitie was now stained with blood.

Realizing that Zenox was on high alert, Verdo quickly explained.

“Laria Rohan sent a letter.”

At those words, Zenox’s eyes widened slightly.

Zenox snatched the letter from the frozen Rodit.

After skimming through the contents, he gestured.

“I’ll guide him.”

Leaving only words to clean up the library, he disappeared with Rodit.

Though it seemed like a storm had passed, Verdo called the employees as usual and cleaned up the library.

The library that had become a pile of ashes due to fire was now filled with dust and it was impossible not to clean it up. However, efforts were made to preserve the original traces as much as possible.

A while later, when Zenox returned home, he came back with Laria Rohan, who was at the center of recent rampant rumors.

While taken aback by the sudden visit, Laria angered Verdo with her rudely out-of-line remarks, “No problem, but the air in the mansion is a bit stuffy.”

Despite the fact that they had diligently ventilated the house as they cleaned it all day!

Unable to control his emotions at the insulting words, Verdo almost had ears and a tail sprouting out. Since she was Zenox’s guest, he couldn’t say anything in return.

Taking a step back, Laria offered to clean up and chanted in an incomprehensible language. It was at that moment she clenched her fists tightly.

For a moment, but then they saw dark red strings, entangled like spider webs, throughout the mansion.

“…!”

Verdo held his breath.

Numerous eerie strings were all connected to Laria’s palms.

Just when a scream was about to burst out, the dark red strings shattered into pieces.

Following that, a strong shockwave swept the area.

When Verdo, who had closed his eyes tightly, opened them, he saw silver hairs floating in the air. They shimmered white as they gently descended like flower petals, contrasting surrealistically with the shattering dark red strings.

“Did I, see it wrong…?”

“There were things like spider webs just now…”

Not just Verdo, but all the servants were murmuring and looking around, wondering if they had seen it wrong.

Only Zenox was staring at her rigidly.

Laria shrugged and said:

“Someone played a trick with magic throughout the mansion.”

“There was a spell on the mansion?” Verdo, startled, asked and she answered nonchalantly.

“Yes. So, I just removed it.”

“…?”

A question mark popped in Verdo’s mind.

Was it possible to remove a spell as easily as pulling weeds?

Her face was so calm that Verdo almost nodded without thought.

But even Verdo, who knew little about magic, could tell that the spell just now was not ordinary. Hadn’t it broken the dark red strings enveloping the mansion all at once?

Verdo blankly stared at Laria.

Then Laria slightly smiled and said:

“I feel like taking a tour of the mansion, is that alright?”

A refreshing wind seemed to blow from her.

The rigid faces of the servants softened, and the gloomy atmosphere lightened.

Verdo’s heart started pounding as if something exciting was about to happen.

It felt like looking at the mansion when Whitie was there.

A good hunch swept through him.

“Of course,” Verdo smiled and nodded.

Thinking of showing her around every corner, Verdo stepped forward.

“I will guide you right away.”

“No need. I will guide.”

Zenox, who had been quiet all along, suddenly spoke.

He will guide personally.

Verdo looked at him with a surprised face.

Zenox’s eyes were on Laria.

He locked eyes with Laria, wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and smiled.

His eyes were so tender, Verdo felt like dreaming. It was a smile he had only seen when Whitie was around.

“It’s natural for a lover to guide, isn’t it.”

Lover!

Gasp, Verdo inhaled sharply.

The servants watching also had the same reaction.

Could it be that the rumor of Zenox’s marriage wasn’t false?

Everyone was in shock, but Verdo was scrutinizing Zenox carefully.

After his parents’ passing, Zenox had only given his heart to Whitie. There was no way he could suddenly start dating.

As expected, unlike the smiling lips, Zenox’s eyes were still sunken somewhere.

But there was clearly a hint of softness.

A bright intuition popped in his head.

He didn’t know what Zenox was thinking while pretending to be Laria Rohan’s lover, but… maybe they could become real lovers.

‘It’s a connection sent by our Whitie!’

Verdo made a firm resolution internally.

To do his utmost to hold onto Miss Rohan as the master’s marriage partner.