This is just speculation...but what if the fiance's dad had a hand in making the MC's dad accumulate that much debt? Like, he could have collaborated with those so-called "friends" to take advantage of the viscount's personality to get him sinking in debt, then come to the rescue by offering a...
Philomena likely knows how competent he is, but that doesn't mean he's invincible. They were facing the DEMON KING AND HIS ARMY with only four people. Anyone would believe that he died trying to fight ALL BY HIMSELF, while letting his comrades escape. And Philomena's behavior after receiving the...