Rudy Everhart's Painful Past

"By the way, Young Master Avaron, you've helped me greatly in this cooperation. The Everhart family and I are deeply indebted to you. If you ever encounter any problems or need anything, we will be at your disposal!"

Rudy pounded his chest confidently, his expression earnest.

He was no fool—he understood the immense kindness Arthur had shown the Everhart family.

Without him, the cooperation they had just secured would have been impossible.

His promise was not mere politeness but a genuine commitment.

Arthur's expression remained unchanged. Had it been anyone else receiving Rudy's direct pledge, they might have been overjoyed, as if they could soar into the sky. But not Arthur.

His decision to cooperate with Rudy was driven by a much larger scheme—an impending war.

A great war would soon break out among the three kingdoms, reshaping the continent's order.

Moreover, the Magic Kingdom of Valdom would face internal strife—a rebellion sparked by the king's sudden demise from a mysterious illness.

With the throne vacant, the princes would seize the opportunity, plunging the kingdom into a brutal civil war.

In such chaos, the demand for war weapons would inevitably skyrocket from all sides.

That was why he wanted the Maple Leaf Trading House and the Everhart Family to cooperate—so both could reap massive profits from the impending chaos.

Of course, he wasn't a saint who did favors without reason. His actions were purely for the benefit of his future mission.

Snapping out of his thoughts, he chuckled softly and nodded casually. "Thank you for your promise, Lord Duke. I'll gladly accept it. But before that, I'd like to propose a new cooperation."

Rudy raised an eyebrow in surprise, his curiosity piqued. "A new cooperation? What kind, Young Master Avaron?"

Arthur didn't answer right away. Instead, he said, "Before I explain, I want to make it clear—this has nothing to do with the Maple Leaf Trading House. This time, I'm acting on my own behalf. Do you understand, Lord Duke?"

Now that he had successfully linked the Maple Leaf Trading House and the Everhart Family in a partnership, he had no intention of wasting time. It was time to reveal his true objective.

Arthur's words only deepened Rudy's curiosity.

Among all the young men he had encountered, Arthur was the first he genuinely admired.

Compared to the First and Second Princes, Arthur far outclassed them.

After all, Rudy knew the two princes well, and aside from their royal status, there was little about them that he found truly impressive.

"I understand, Young Master Avaron," Rudy replied solemnly. "Please, tell me—what kind of cooperation do you have in mind?"

Arthur paused for a moment, took a slow breath, then said, "The cooperation I'm proposing is a fair exchange—I help you, and you help me."

Rudy furrowed his brows but remained silent, listening intently.

"Lord Duke, I know that Celine is not truly the daughter of the woman you love—the wife you were meant to marry, isn't that right?" Arthur smiled faintly.

*Badump!*

Rudy's eyes widened, his heart pounding violently.

"You… You…!" He stammered, staring at Arthur in shock.

A faint pressure swirled around him, poised to erupt—as if he could strike Arthur down at any moment.

Yet, Arthur remained unfazed. Calm and composed, he continued, "Thirty years ago, you had a childhood friend—a noblewoman from a Viscount's family. The two of you were deeply in love."

"Your bond was so strong that your families arranged an engagement. As time passed, your love only grew, and eventually, you decided to marry."

Arthur paused briefly, letting out a quiet sigh before continuing, "But then, tragedy struck. Due to an unforeseen incident, your fiancée fell into a coma. She remained asleep for over a decade, leaving you in despair."

"To preserve the family's reputation, both sides agreed to marry you off to her younger sister instead. Isn't that right, Lord Duke?"

The pressure emanating from Rudy's body vanished in an instant, and his expression turned pale.

"How is that possible? How did you… find out?" He stammered, his voice filled with disbelief.

That secret had been buried for decades—known only to the higher-ups of both families.

Moreover, the incident had left a deep scar within him, one that refused to heal no matter how much time passed.

And now, with just a few words, Arthur had dragged the pain back to the surface, piercing through his chest like a thousand blades striking all at once.

Seeing the agony in Rudy's eyes, Arthur let out a small sigh.

'What a pathetic man…' he murmured softly, shaking his head.

To the world, Duke Rudy Everhart was strong, proud, and untouchable. Yet beneath that façade, he carried a sorrow so deep that it had shaped his very existence—the pain of losing the only woman he had ever loved.

And worse, he had lost her just before they were to be married.

Arthur had never experienced love, but even he knew that if he were in Rudy's position, he might not have been as strong as the man before him.

Taking a slow breath, Arthur regained his usual composure, a faint smile playing on his lips as he crossed his legs casually.

"Don't look so broken, Lord Duke. I know you've spent years searching for a way to save her," he said in a calm, soothing tone. "You are a dedicated and remarkable man."

Upon hearing the compliment, Rudy let out a wry smile and said, "Thank you for your kind words, Young Lord Avaron."

Though he had no idea how Arthur had uncovered such a deeply buried secret, his words brought a strange sense of comfort.

Regaining his composure, Rudy fixed Arthur with a deep, penetrating gaze. "Young Master Arthur, to be honest, I don't know where you obtained this information. However, I won't question or fault you for it. I trust that you're not the kind of person who would spread such a matter to the public."

"Rest assured, Lord Duke," Arthur replied firmly. "I swear I won't tell a soul. Besides, I didn't bring this up without reason—it directly ties into the cooperation I want to propose."

Rudy's eyes widened, and a faint tremor ran through his body. "Are you saying..."

Before he could finish, Arthur's smile remained unchanged as he calmly interrupted.

"Yes, I know a way to cure her."