Chapter 49

If she had truly been Therese’s illegitimate child, relying on Maxim alone, such words might have driven her to tears. But for Daisy, who longed for divorce, it was nothing short of delightful news.

All that remained was simple.

She would purchase two gowns, plain enough to look inadequate, and rotate them, lingering only as a lackluster figure at her husband’s side.

Sooner or later, that potential sex addict would surely fall for some pretty young aristocratic lady already aiming at him. Caught in a scandalous affair more suited to his twisted tastes, he would forget all about his scarecrow wife, who refused to sleep with him.

And then Daisy von Waldeck would claim a decent settlement from the guilty party, Maxim von Waldeck himself, before returning to the orphanage.

It wouldn’t be her fault for failing the mission, simply impossible circumstances. A flawless plan, really.

This was her most ideal scenario.

“Do you know who? Have you heard of anything?”

“Well, actually. I overheard something during my last trip…”

Ah, perfect. Now came the valuable part, the real information.

If she could gather a list of which young ladies had set their sights on Maxim, she could pass it on to his aunt and weave a plan to nudge him toward them.

She wished she could jot it down, but since that wasn’t possible, she’d just have to commit it to memory. Aristocratic names were needlessly long and complicated.

Daisy swallowed dryly.

Just then, the door burst open with a loud BAM, and silence fell as though a bucket of ice had been dumped over the room.

Though hidden by the curtain, she felt it all at once that someone had entered, and with him the atmosphere had shifted entirely.

Step, step, step.

The footfalls rang familiar, and she heard the staff stammering in alarm.

“Y-Your Highness? What are you doing here…?”

The intruder gave no answer, no acknowledgement at all. As the presence drew closer, Daisy clutched the revolver in both hands, holding her breath.

Whooshhh!

The curtain was flung wide, and a tall figure filled her vision.

“Found you.”

Those sharp, gray-blue eyes gleamed as though he had cornered his prey.

It was Maxim von Waldeck.

“How did you—”

“I couldn’t see you, so I went looking for you. And here you are, hiding.”

Ironically, his response answered the staff’s question, almost like they’d been reading off the same page. Daisy kept her gun fixed on Maxim, every muscle drawn tight. He couldn’t have cared less. His cold gaze never wavered as he strode forward, no hesitation at all, like a man who had come to do something mad.

“Give me the gun.”

“W-what?”

“I said, hand it over.”

“Why?”

“I have an urgent use for it.”

Urgent use? For a gun?

Her green eyes flickered with unease as a foreboding seized her. Maxim von Waldeck was a madman, and there was only one sort of insane crime he could commit with a gun.

“Absolutely not.”

“And why not?”

“Because….”

Did it truly need explaining? Killing was forbidden, no matter the reason. Still, there was no time for argument, so she shook her head frantically.

“You can’t take it back when you’ve already given it to me. It’s mine.”

“Fine. I’ll go fetch another from the car.”

“N-no, don’t!”

Oh, please. The last thing she needed was to get caught up in some wild shooting scandal with a war hero. Especially over something as petty as a bit of gossip about his wife.

“Then can I handle it my way as long as I don’t use the gun?”

Knowing this madman, he’d probably crush someone’s skull with his bare hands, making his fists as lethal as a bullet.

The thought made Daisy dizzy and overwhelmed.

“No violence. Absolutely none.”

She could hardly believe she was saying such words, given her former profession only a few years ago. Meanwhile, Maxim rolled his eyes, then caught her gaze.

“Then I’ll need your permission.”