Chapter 54 - 19. The Duke’s Successor (1)

“Gasp…”

“It’s not only that.”

Clatter.

He put the teacup down gracefully, and smiles rose in the corners of his lips. However, it contrasted with his eyes, which didn’t move, creating a strange atmosphere.

“I’m really sad that my love has been misunderstood by people these days.”

Aloken spoke those words and glanced at Naverius, who sat across from him.

“Lord Demangdwi?”

“…!”

“Right, I heard you enjoy all kinds of parties without missing a thing. You must have a lot of acquaintances. Do you happen to know who is gossiping about my fiancée?”

In the midst of that, when his name was called, Naverius’s gaze became unstable.

“…I don’t know.”

“Ah.”

Upon hearing Naverius’s poor reply, as if he was trying to hide something from him, Aloken smiled even more.

“I’ve been horrible at understanding other people’s feelings before… so I don’t know how the people who spread rumors feel. I hope to have a face-to-face conversation with them someday.”

“…”

“If you hear the source even later, please let me know.”

Then Naverius put down the teacup he was drinking and remained silent. It was quite different from when he proudly cursed someone in his debutante.

What?

Of course, I was embarrassed by that. In that corner, I was focused on Carl, and when I tried to return to the main topic after paying attention to him, the atmosphere here was so dead.

“Aloken, don’t pay attention to such trivial rumors. I’m afraid I’m in your way as you’ve been busy working for your family these days.”

I belatedly brought out the words from my mouth to settle the conversation.

“Everything about you never bothered me. I’m just grateful to you and Baroness Bourbon for letting me see such a wonderful gard—”

Aloken responded as usual, but soon after, a servant dressed in black approached and whispered to him.

“I got it.”

Then Aloken calmed down his smiling face and took his cane.

“Countess, I’m sorry, but I need to leave in a hurry.”

“Oh my gosh, it’s okay. You don’t have to be sorry.”

“I will greet you again the next time I see you.”

He soon politely said goodbye to the host. Then he bowed to me and whispered in my ear before leaving the table.

“You better answer the next letter right away.”

I indeed ignored his letter.

I only shook my neck with a calm expression.

“Now, since everyone is full, can I give you one last little present?”

“I can’t wait to see what it will be.”

“Is it forbidden to open it until we get home?”

Now, the person with the highest rank already left the progress after that was quick. As the sun went down and dinner time approached, the host announced the end of the party and gave a small gifts to the participants one by one

It’s over.

With this, my first schedule went smoothly.

Most of the participants were impressed by my vocabulary, which was naturally praised by others. But my work wasn’t all over.

“Carl.”

“Ah, Lady Vanora!”

I took advantage of the chaos as the others began to leave one by one to separate with my servant and contact Carl. After that, I talk with an expression of just saying hello to him.

“What brings you here?”

“Yes?”

“Did you come to see me, Carl?”

Then Carl opened his surprised eyes and shook his head.

“No? I’ve done what Lady asked me to do, so I can’t come to you carelessly.”

“Huh? So, why do you come here when you don’t even like parties?”

I thought he came here because he had something to say. My expression turned to a questionable face when I found out he had no business with me. Then Carl murmured in a discouraged manner.

“Well, Patriarch… told me that since I’m a noble, don’t just train and visit places like this sometimes…”

“Ah…”

“So I was thinking about where to go, and the host here said that if anyone wants to join her party, she will gladly accept it…”

“I see.”

“I was so surprised to see you! I can’t believe I happened to meet Lady Vanora.”

He has been pushed by his family.

After confirming that he had nothing to do with me, I sighed in relief. But I still have questions to ask.

“Then, when you were talking to the person next to you earlier, both of you suddenly had an uncomfortable expression.”

“Were you watching?”

“How can I not watch it when you’re at the party?”

Carl frowned slightly as I uttered the words I had been thinking about without much intention. He was somewhat glad that I had paid attention to him.

“If I had known this would happen, I would have sat near Lady Vanora from the beginning.”

Carl said shyly. 

“Thankfully, he brought up the conversation first. Then it just happened that we talked about hobbies.”

“Don’t tell me…”

“He must be taken aback when he hears my answer.”

When asked what his hobby was, it was obvious what Carl would say. I met Carl often because of the martial art class, and I heard it a few times last winter.

His hobby is fighting, and I knew how detailed his description was about how fun it was, especially when he defeated his enemy.

It must have been a scary story for the noble from the capital, who was not used to a small wound, let alone a fight.

There must have been a lot of cruel content that ordinary people wouldn’t want to hear. To the extent that they feel uncomfortable hearing his story.

What did the other person think in the end when Carl talked about his violent hobby, which is characteristic of Andras’s family?

Carl told the Andras family’s unique and violent hobby story, so what could the other person have thought of in the end?

I’m sure they must have thought that Carl was ignored by his family or that Carl was a beast just like the rest of his family.

“…”

At this rate, Carl will be isolated from society…

I was worried when I heard the reason why they looked like that, but Carl smiled broadly as if it didn’t matter.

“When I met Lady Vanora, it was okay for me to say anything, so I guess my tongue slipped without realizing it.”

“Carl.”

“I’ll be careful from now on.”

Be careful? Why all of a sudden?

I frowned at his words. Then Carl, who noticed my mood, responded on his own.

“As we recently promised, we will join the animal rights club. In the future, I’m sure there will be many people who call me as Lady Vanora’s friend, but if I’m rumored to be weird, Lady Vanora will be disgraced too.”

Hearing the answer, I recalled a short sentence in my head.

God is indifferent.

Why did he pour the blood of Andras into this kind person?

Although Carl naturally should be like the devil, he sometimes acted like an angel.

“You don’t have to do that.”

After saying those words, I turned my body halfway around as if I had nothing more to say and headed back to my family carriage.

“…”

I walked to Celcius’s carriage. And the moment I was about to get on the carriage, I could see a familiar hair color outside. When I looked at it, I saw Naverius was preparing to return in the distance.

“Sir Coachman, we’re leaving now. Lady Vanora has ridden.”

“Come, Cecil. Make sure to close the window when you get in!”

Naverius, Naverius.

As the carriage began to move, I rested my chin against the window and quietly fell into thought.

* * *

Why do I seek revenge on Naverius Demangdwi?

Why do I hate Vasago Guelder?

My anger was not caused by myself, but rather by about three or more people interrelated.

And this week that finally arrived. It was a week after the last tea party.

“…”

From this point on, the reason for my revenge began to appear in the novel in a very detailed way.

「#1. Demangdwi Mansion (Night)

Naverius and his fiancée argue in the gloomy parlor.

Naverius: Stop it now. I’m tired of looking at your face!

Naverius threw the cup he was holding onto the floor with all his might. Surprised by this, his fiancée grabs his pants and begs.

Vanora: Please, don’t tell me that.」

I stared blankly at my name that floated in the air. But what needs to be done hasn’t changed. Taking out a pen, I write the novel, relying on the light candle. As I had already lived through that novel once, I didn’t shed tears now. There was no reason to ruin the paper in the diary.

* * *

19. The Duke’s Successor

「Naverius: I’m sick of your obsession. How many times have I told you that we broke up, but you still can’t give up?! What are you going to get for marrying me now!

Vanora: You said you loved me. I loved you to death.

Naverius: Look at you! Had I known how ugly you would be, I wouldn’t have been engaged to you, even if I had to bite my tongue!

Vanora: I will fix it from now on! I’m going to act as you said…

Naverius roughly slap his fiancée

Naverius: It’s late. My heart has already been dedicated to the Vasago.

Vanora: Naverius!

Naverius: If you truly cared for me, you would have let me go for my happiness and wished me true love. You hypocrite!

Vanora: (sobbing)

Naverius: If you believe in the power of your family and intend to constrain me forever, I will not stand still.

As Naverius leaves the room, his fiancée being left sits down on the floor.

#2. Vanora’s room (Dawn)

Vanora was asked to break up with Naverius. She is standing around with an anxious face.

Vanora: Vasago? My fiancé has a crush on Vasago? As if it wasn’t enough to make a debutante the same as that person, I lost everything I had to that person. How could this happen to me!

Vanora, who is heartbroken, sits on the bed wet with tears.

Vanora: I can’t break up with him. Yes, there is no way that the kingdom princess would allow getting married to a person with a status like Naverius. Naverius will find out soon enough that it’s pointless.

#3. Ballroom (night)

The next day.

Vanora, who participated in the scheduled ball, finds Vasago dancing with Naverius. She saw it and ran out with a bewildered face.

Vasago: I think your fiancée was also at the ball today. Is it really okay if I dance with you?

Naverius: I don’t want to dance with someone I don’t even like.

Vasago: So, are the two of you engaged by political arrangement? It’s a loveless relationship in this social world. Aren’t you being used as a tool by your family? What is the use of power if it is difficult to get married according to one’s will?

Naverius: (Shamefully) W-Why don’t you ask me something than that?

Vasago: Pardon?

Naverius: The meaning that I dance with you…

Vasago: Ah! I wasn’t used to the new shoes, so I stepped on the hem of my dress. It’s torn, so I will fix it. But, what did you just say?

Naverius: Ah, it’s nothing!

(Timelapse)

Vanora, looking at them with a gloomy face in the corner of the ballroom. Vasago and Naverius were having a drink and laughing together after dancing.

Vanora: Why… Vasago! You have everything. Meanwhile, I have nothing from the beginning… 」