ONE NIGHT STAND WITH HOT DUKE-Chapter 214: I just want to bring Valerie back

A heavy silence filled the room after the report was finished.

The woman who had been living as Celia still sat there with a pale face, her hands trembling in her lap. Everything she had just heard felt like a story about someone else not about her.

But for Demian, it meant something entirely different.

He stood still for a moment.

His gaze was fixed on the woman, but his mind was clearly no longer in the room.

A few seconds later, he turned.

"Come here."

His voice was low but firm.

One of his guards immediately stepped forward and knelt.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Demian looked at him with cold eyes.

"Send a letter to the capital."

The guard lifted his head slightly.

Demian continued,

"To Gordon."

His tone hardened.

"Order him to immediately arrest Marquess Kosler."

Several people in the room held their breath.

But Demian was not finished.

"Imprison him."

His gaze grew even colder.

"And do not allow anyone to see him until I return."

The guard immediately lowered his head.

"Yes, Your Highness."

He quickly stood and hurried out of the room to carry out the order.

On the other side of the hall, Kaiser leaned against the table while watching Demian with an expression that was half annoyed.

"You really haven’t changed."

he said with a sigh.

"Just because a marquess played you, you want to throw him straight into prison."

Demian did not turn his head.

"He did play me."

he said flatly.

"He made the entire empire believe that his daughter was dead."

"Then he hid her like a criminal."

He paused briefly.

His gaze returned to the woman sitting in the middle of the room.

The woman who was now looking at everyone with confusion and fear.

Demian continued in a lower voice.

"And he thought I would never find out."

Kaiser crossed his arms.

"So what’s your plan now?"

Demian did not answer immediately.

He slowly walked toward the woman.

His steps stopped a few paces in front of her.

The woman Ivanka, now living as Celia lifted her head hesitantly.

Their eyes met.

But in the woman’s eyes there was no recognition.

No hatred.

Nothing at all.

Only confusion.

Demian looked at her for a long moment.

Then he spoke in a very calm voice.

"Marquess Kosler will explain everything to me."

His gaze turned cold as ice.

"Personally."

Because one thing had now become very clear to him Ivanka’s death back then was not an accident.

It was a game carefully planned by her own father.

The town hall was still filled with tension after the arrest order had been sent to the capital.

Guards moved quickly to carry out Demian’s commands, while the city officials could only stand stiffly like statues.

In the middle of the room, the woman now known to be Ivanka Kosler who had been living under the name Celia still sat with a pale face, trying to understand the reality that had just shattered the entire life she thought she knew.

But Demian’s attention was no longer on her.

He stood near the large window, staring at the gray northern sea in the distance.

Behind him, Kaiser crossed his arms and let out a long sigh.

"You really know how to create chaos wherever you go."

Demian did not answer.

Kaiser watched him for a few seconds before speaking again.

"So what are you going to do now?"

He gestured briefly toward the woman in the middle of the room.

"Are you going to stay here and deal with her?"

"Or do you have another plan?"

Demian finally turned around.

His gaze was as cold as ever.

"I don’t have time for that."

His answer was short.

Kaiser raised an eyebrow.

Demian continued in the same flat tone.

"I’m leaving."

"For the north."

Several people in the room exchanged glances.

Kaiser narrowed his eyes.

"Going after her?"

Demian nodded slightly.

The name left his mouth without hesitation.

"Valerie."

Silence fell for a moment.

Kaiser looked at him with an expression that was hard to read.

"You’re still looking for her."

Demian replied without emotion,

"No matter what it takes... I will find her."

His gaze sharpened.

"And I will bring her back."

Several people in the room felt a chill crawl down their spines.

Because the tone in Demian’s voice did not sound like hope.

It sounded like a decision that could not be changed.

Kaiser sighed softly.

"Alright."

He shrugged slightly.

"Then what about this woman?"

His gaze shifted toward Ivanka, who was still sitting there in confusion.

Demian only glanced at her briefly.

There was no emotion on his face.

"She’s not my concern."

The words made several people in the room fall silent.

Demian continued,

"Her father created this problem."

"He will deal with it."

He walked toward the door of the hall.

His steps paused briefly before leaving.

"I will bring Valerie back first."

His voice was low but firm. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"After that..."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"I will deal with everything that remains."

The room fell silent again after Demian said he would leave for the north.

The cold sea wind slipped through the gaps of the tall windows, causing the thin curtains to sway gently.

Behind him, Kaiser watched him for a few moments.

Then he gave a slow nod.

As if he understood.

As if he had expected that answer from the beginning.

Demian turned slightly.

His gaze was brief but firm.

"You handle her."

he said, glancing briefly toward the woman sitting in the middle of the room Ivanka Kosler, who no longer even remembered her own name.

"I’ll go bring Valerie back."

The name left his mouth without hesitation.

"After that..."

His eyes grew colder.

"I’ll settle the score with her."

Kaiser leaned back against the table.

He looked at the woman sitting there, trembling.

A face that showed none of the pride or ambition of the Ivanka they once knew.

Only confusion.

Only fear.

Kaiser let out a long breath.

"She’s just a woman who has lost her memory."