When My Enemies Began to Regret

It was the next day.

I’m going back and forth. This was the first thing she thought when she woke up this morning.

An idiot with no progress. That was her second thought.

And the third thought that filled her head was a sentiment that contrasted with her harsh words earlier. The bouquet smells so good.

What made Fanora think so complicated? It was the fault of the man standing at the door.

“You shouldn’t bury your nose like that because there are thorns. It would be dangerous.”

“Why are you still in the capital? Weren’t you going back to the north?”

It was early morning when an unexpected guest came to her. Hearing the servants’ words that there was a guest out of nowhere, Fanora hurriedly came out and found this man standing at the entrance.

Purple clothes that went well with jet-black hair, luxurious shoes, and stylishly combed hair. Aloken, in his perfect form, was waiting for her. The next thing that caught her eye was a large bouquet of flowers held by that man.

“You didn’t go back to your territory either.”

“That’s because I have an appointment today…”

“Fanora, what time do you have to leave for that appointment?”

  Fanora answered while fiddling with the bouquet she held in her arms. “…3 P.M.”

“Oh my.”

Not to miss this opportunity, Aloken reached out to her in a more noble manner than anyone else in her at this moment and asked her. “In that case, Fanora, will you lend me your spare time?”

Lend him her spare time? At this, Fanora hesitated for a moment.

“What are you going to do?”

What followed was a natural question. She used to see him showing up without notice now as she was still her fiancée. But what about his answer?

“Well, today is our 500th day of engagement.”

It was a story that was beyond Fanora’s expected range, and it wasn’t worth her head rolling hard.

* * *

It was after a while. Fanora, who entered the mansion, led him to the parlor.

“Cecil, can you go and get us some coffee?”

“Yes, Lady.”

No matter how fake they are, they still have to spend their 500 days together. Fanora remembered the taste of his drinks when they met at the coffee houses and responded appropriately.

“Here you go.”

Aloken took a sip of the coffee she gave him and looked satisfied. It was a coffee without milk and sugar that he usually enjoyed.

“You remembered my taste.”

“Since you always drink that, how could I not know?”

He drank bitter things well. Fanora watched him drink the bitter coffee, then added some sugar to her portion of coffee.

“Anyway, today is our 500th day… I didn’t count, so I had no idea.”

“You’ve never counted. Huuh, this made me sad.”

“It’s not like that, but today is the first time we’ve had something like an anniversary.”

The conversation that followed was a comfortable tone for both. It might have been because the parlor’s interior had a warm atmosphere.

“Right… I just found out today that ordinary lovers celebrate special dates.”

“Did the book tell you?”

However, the good atmosphere subsided as soon as the book story came out. Because Aloken stopped his fake laughter and frowned.

He’s strangely embarrassed. In fact, Fanora was teasing him in anticipation of this reaction. It was a reaction that was different from the usual shyness, so it rather attracted Fanora’s interest. He won’t harm me even if he hardens his expression like that.

Aloken Jalier. She has already well seen the character of this man from the novel. In the novel, he is very generous to Vasago, whom he falls in love with. On the other hand, he was also cruel enough to kill someone who was going to harm Vasago.

“This time, the book… I didn’t see it, but this guy told me.”

“The butler behind you?”

“When I asked what a normal lover likes, he advised me to give you flowers as a gift.”

Then Aloken said something unexpected. It was said that he listened to the advice of the butler standing behind him to advance his relationship with Fanora.

“Do you like the flowers, Lady Fanora? I’ve been looking for the most vivid fall flowers at the Duke’s command.”

“Thank you.”

At that, Fanora looked at the middle-aged butler who stood like a shadow behind Aloken. He was smiling benevolently with wrinkled eyes.

“If you had informed me in advance, I would have prepared a return gift.”

“An unexpected good thing is more gratifying. And…”

And? As he muttered, Fanora tilted her head, and a moment later, at Aloken’s command, the butler put down a purple case on the table.

“What is this?”

“Look back on your memories.”

When she saw the case filling the round table, she thought of something that happened during the jousting tournament.

“Is it the jewelry you ordered from the craftsman?”

Her guess was right. Then she opened the case where. It was filled with jewels and trinkets.

“!”

However, Fanora was shocked as soon as she saw the jewels in the box. Evegenia cut?! No matter how uninterested she was in jewelry, she knew this.

The technology that turned Kasius jewelry market upside down. One day, a new diamond-cutting method presented to the world by a craftsman who appeared like a comet quickly captivated the heart of nobles. A beautiful technique that made diamonds shine the most by polishing them in numerous facets and involved a large amount of gemstone consumption.

“How could you do such a thing?”

But this cutting technique was top secret. Both famous nobles and royal families from other kingdoms had to pay a huge amount of money to obtain a diamond cut with Evegenia cut. And Fanora realized at this moment. The craftsman who took control of the jewelry market in the future must have been Aloken’s man.

When she thought about it, it was around this time that Evegenia cut was first introduced. Since then, the value of diamonds, which were treated as one level below rubies, skyrocketed, and the kingdom has the highest diamond reserves…

North.

When Fanora learned the truth, she couldn’t keep her mouth shut. It must have been because she had been relaxed for a while that she forgot the man sitting right before she was a duke. It was only natural that he had this level of wealth.

“You can’t take your eyes off the new jewel.”

“…”

“Have you finally found an accessory you like? Fanora.”

How much money would he earn from this work in each kingdom? More than that, how much wealth had Duke Jalier accumulated in this way?

If Aloken Jalier is equipped with military force… Fanora understood why the royal family cut off and severely restricted the duke’s soldiers.

“I’ve never seen such a shining jewel. It’s pretty.”

But she couldn’t think about it forever. Fanora belatedly expressed her appreciation for the gift. She knew this cutting method from the painting, but it wasn’t a lie because it was the first time she had actually seen it in person.

“It will be more beautiful if you wear it.”

“…!”

Aloken smiled in satisfaction at her response. To think that such a perfect-looking person would go so far as to court some common lady.

“…”

Fanora shut her mouth and averted her gaze.  It was in contrast to what she thought of ‘don’t talk bullshit’ at him complimenting her looks in the dining room one day.

“Hmm?”

But then, while looking at the case to avoid his gaze, Fanora noticed something odd. In that case, the necklace, earrings, and hairpins were polished to the same cut.

“What about the ring?”

In fact, no ring couldn’t be considered the epitome of jewelry.

“You said you don’t enjoy dressing up. Do you want a ring too when you see these things?”

“I’m just curious.”

There’s no jewelry set like this anywhere in the kingdom.

When Fanora asked with a puzzled face, Aloken took a sip of his coffee before answering slowly. “In the meantime, a better gemstone was found in the mine.”

“?”

“The ring has been commissioned to be made from scratch with a new diamond.” Said Aloken. The newly discovered diamond had a special color, so it was rare, but the amount was too small to match the set. So he promised to make a ring out of a rare diamond.

“It’s okay even if you don’t do it. Don’t ask too much from the craftsman.”

Fanora refused, but Aloken ignored her request.

“…You even give me these precious things. Even looked handsome since morning.”

“You know what’s precious.”

“I don’t know how to repay this…”

Then how could she repay this enormous wealth? Fanora rummaged through her memory for a moment. She was looking for any useful information she could give him.

“I’ve already thought about what I’ll get in return,” said Aloken in the meantime, lowering his finished coffee cup to the table.

Fanora swallowed her dry saliva for a moment, wondering what he would ask for in return, but only this request returned.

“You must have drenched your neck, so let’s play a card game, Fanora.” He took out a bundle of cards he had kept in his pocket, saying that…

“What?”

“Have you never played before?”

She couldn’t help but lose her words due to the simple demand that followed.

30. Like a Trash

Tak.

“It’s already been fourteen times.”

“Let’s stop here.”

Tak.

“Let’s do it one more time.”

“Fifteen.”

“This is Lady Fanora’s victory.”

After a few minutes, the two people at the table enjoyed a card game called ‘The Farm.’ It was similar to blackjack rules, but it was a game where you had to hit 16 to win.

“You won again. You must be good at gambling.”

Coincidentally, there were three people in this room, including Aloken’s butler, so there was someone to act as a dealer. But the problem wasn’t this.

“…How long are we going to do this?”

“Should we play another game if you get bored?”

It wasn’t until this time that Fanora found out why Aloken came to the mansion.

“Or should I listen to you over a cup of tea?”

He’s really just here to enjoy the date today.

“I’d rather have a conversation than a game…”

“I’m glad we have similar hobbies. Actually, I don’t enjoy card games that much.”

Aloken threw it on the floor as if throwing cardboard, and the butler picked it up.

Fanora went through the entire process and hinted. “I… clearly said that I had no intention of becoming your wife.”

“…”

“But why do you keep courting me like this?”

Isn’t it time for him to get tired of me? Aloken leaned back on the sofa when she asked that question and gazed at her with his signature foxy eyes.

“That’s why you should have taken a good look at the person you’re signing a contract with from the beginning. How tenacious I’m.”

As he folded his eyes and smiled, Fanora’s expression gradually hardened.

“What if I don’t give you any more information in the new year? Since I violated the terms of the contract, can’t we break the engagement?”

“You seem to already know my answer.”

“You’re not going to do it.”

“No matter what.”

Why is this man so obsessed with me? She hadn’t done anything good so far.

While Fanora pondered these complicated thoughts, Aloken asked a question this time.