It had already been four days since Lady Katherine's arrival and the incident that Lady Darrellyn had humiliated at the town market. Ashton had promised to look for the whereabouts of Viscount Thomas in order to avenge what his girlfriend Lady Darrellyn had experienced all this time; unfortunately, until the fourth day since his order to the head of the guard, there had been no news that was profitable for Ashton. It was as if Viscount Thomas had been swallowed by the earth, abandoning his wife, who was pregnant with his son, and the petty nobles he had deceived so that no one would open their voices as victims of the crime under the guise of business that Thomas had offered to him.

Ashton never came up with any ideas; he couldn't get the cooperation of the victim to open his mouth for some of the crimes that were revealed. Moreover, in the small circle that was used by him, they had their tongues cut off so they could not say anything to anyone about Thomas' crimes against them. Ashton didn't get any ideas when he should have had a loophole or at least a victim willing to work with him to reveal the rottenness of a Viscount Thomas.

Ashton rubbed his face angrily. He had just seen several pieces of paper proving other crimes, but again, the victim did not want to speak up. Beside him was a bodyguard carrying the file; Ashton almost tore it to pieces and threw it all over the floor; unfortunately, another guard arrived in a hurry. The bodyguard knocked loudly on Ashton's office door and ran up to the Duke as soon as he was asked to enter.

"Your Grace," panting the guard, tried to catch his breath first.

"What's wrong, Tommy?" asked Ashton, looking disinterested.

“I got information from an acquaintance who works as a maid in Viscount Thomas's mansion. She said a few days ago a carriage from London searched the Viscount's mansion looking for Viscount Thomas. It was said that Viscount Thomas had deceived their master by embezzling joint business funds.”

“Are you sure the train is from London? Which Lord came from London?” he asked.

"He is your friend, You Grace—Earl of London." Ashton widened his eyes; this time he felt he had his spirit back. He smiled and felt that he had another chance to knock Thomas out.

"Thank you, Tomy. I will increase your salary this month."

“I am very grateful for whatever you give, Your Grace. This is my duty as your servant.” Ashton smiled; he asked Collin, who was beside him, to write a letter to the Earl of London.

"I will write down whatever your orders are," said Collin.

"You wrote it yourself; Anthony is my best friend; he would agree to cooperate even if I asked him while calling him fat first." Ashton really looks pleased and satisfied with the information this time. Anthony Berkly, or the Earl of London, is his best friend, and he just found out that a jerk like Thomas can have connections to Anthony and trick the famous smart people in London. With this, his strength would increase, and those minor nobles who refused to speak up would change their minds after Ashton's strength increased and he was not the only one to speak the truth.

With this, Viscount Thomas would be easy to find and prosecute, and his wife would have nothing to be proud of as a Viscountess if her husband went to prison and lost his wealth. Darrellyn's name would be cleared, and Rowena would not have the face to set Lady Katherine up with Ashton again after the huge scandal that would befall her son-in-law. At least that's Ashton's plan for now.

***

Ashton had received a quick reply letter from Anthony because Anthony had indeed been looking for Viscount Thomas for a long time and heard that his best friend Ashton was also looking for that person, making these two influential men very eager to search for the damn man all over the country. Ashton didn't wait long; he rushed to Landon to be able to discuss this directly with Anthony.

It took quite a long time to get to London, but Ashton's adventurous spirit does not mind traveling any distance because he enjoys every step of the way, not to mention this is for the sake of his lover, to clear the name of his lover and defend the truth. Behind all that, this will also be the reason for, apart from Lady Katherine, who actually has never been guilty other than her love, that must grow to a man who has another woman in his heart.

Ashton is not like other men; he doesn't want to have more than one woman, not to mention the trauma that Darrelyn experienced, which made him not want to hurt her again for the same mistake. Ashton sacrificed everything since his return to explore Europe to heal Lady Darrellyn's wounds, but Viscountess Eleana arrived and made Lady Darrellyn worse and insulted by the people. What was even more complicated was her mother, who was taken in by Madam Rowena's words so she could not say no to the arranged marriage between Lady Katherine and herself. Ashton thought his love story would run smoothly as long as he was able to conquer Lady Darrellyn, but it turned out that temptation here and there made him have to sacrifice many things.

With all these hardships, if later Ashton succeeds in getting Lady Darrellyn, he will definitely glorify her, never hurt or cherish her. Ashton is a good man who tries to be loyal and only gets the one woman he really wants, but it seems he will be seen as an antagonist to Lady Katherine, maybe as depraved as Viscount Thomas to Lady Darrellyn later.

Ashton sighed. Finally,  he arrived at the Earl of London's mansion area, which was immediately greeted by his friend in front of his own mansion. The handsome man's smile widened; he stretched out his hands to welcome Ashton, but Ashton was very disgusted by interactions that were too intimate with the same sex, so Ashton ignored the owner of the mansion. Anthony smiled mischievously, and without permission, he hugged Ashton so tightly that Ashton was short of breath but had difficulty letting go of Anthony's embrace.

"Please spare me, My Lord." With a firm voice, Ashton glanced around to make sure none of his bodyguards were laughing at him.

"Could you be more serious, My Lord?" Ashton repeated, which finally made Anthony's arms loose. Anthony cleared his throat, tidied his shirt, and straightened his body, which was no less dashing than Ashton's.

"Please enter my little house, Your Grace." Anthony looked stiffer; he invited Ashton to enter his mansion first, while Ashton could only chuckle at the difference in the way he greeted Ashton earlier and now.

"Should it be too stiff?"

"You asked me to be serious; this is the mode when I am serious."

"I mean, don't joke around by doing disgusting things like earlier; you give me goosebumps!"