When My Enemies Began to Regret

“I would rather ask. Fanora, why do you hate me so much?”

“…”

“What am I lacking? If you don’t like something, I’ll fix it.”

His frown made him look quite serious. But Fanora couldn’t answer that question properly.

“There is nothing to fix. Rather, the problem is that you’re too perfect.”

“Then will you marry me?”

“I don’t want to.”

Now that the story had reached this point, Aloken must have felt frustrated as he untied the collar of his wrist.

“…”

Fanora didn’t love Aloken. She didn’t know how to love. Because her parents didn’t give love to her, who should be receiving it at the beginning of her life, and the environment she grew up in made her unable to love herself.

Fanora always thought she was lacking, so she could hardly understand the feelings of the person who courted her. The act of whispering love made her feel uncomfortable, like a greasy dish eaten by a beggar after a long time.

“So the problem is because I’m perfect? I was born to be good, but I can’t help but become bad all of a sudden.”

However, Aloken didn’t know how his fiancée felt.

“That’s enough. We shouldn’t be here; it will be lunchtime soon.”

“Ah! I forgot to tell the kitchen that you were here…”

“Who said we’re having lunch at your mansion?”

“Yes?”

He made an effort to change Fanora’s heart, hopefully.

“Get up from your seat, Fanora. I bought the restaurant you liked the other day.”

“Ah, you booked it again… Wait, what did you just say?”

* * *

They later had a nice meal at the restaurant, and Aloken behaved like he cherished the whole time he was with Fanora.

Fanora felt satisfied enough with this ordinary date. He prepared good food and listened to her the whole time they were together, so she liked it.

“Today…”

Fanora agonized at this moment. Does love have to be as passionate as fire? Maybe this calm happiness could also be love.

“Thank you.”

Fanora brought up what she had been thinking for today when they finished eating and left the building. At this, Aloken asked what she was grateful for. She then reluctantly added an explanation.

“Gifts and meals, everything. Thank you for giving me this experience.”

Although she had already been engaged once, she had never been on a decent date. Because in her previous life, Naverius always came and confessed to her one-sidedly. It wasn’t long before people changed.

“Really?”

As Fanora thanked him and bowed her head, Aloken smiled oddly.

“Then afterward—”

“Ah, it’s already two o’clock. I’ve got to get going.”

But the good times end here. Fanora said it was time for her appointment, looking at the clock tower built over the square.

“Is it a must-go appointment?”

Aloken was, of course, displeased at the news of her departure but could not help it.

“It won’t happen twice unless it’s this time.”

“What’s going on?”

“I don’t know if you’ve heard it before, but my friend got promoted today.”

Today was the day of the banquet to commemorate the great victory of soldiers in the border area again Sankrit. In order to be a good owner, she shouldn’t just whip him. Sometimes I have to compliment him. But that wasn’t just the only purpose of her heading to the banquet hall where Carl Andras would be.

* * *

It was one hour later. After finishing the conversation with Aloken, Fanora, who headed to the royal castle alone, was finally able to attend the banquet. Fortunately, her time calculation wasn’t wrong, so the venue seemed to be already organized by the time she arrived.

“Don’t be conceited about the position you are given, and continue to devote yourself.”

“Yes, Marquis! You can go in first. Cute nieces and nephews are waiting.”

In the distance, Fanora spotted Carl greeting his family. It wasn’t until Carl and Marquis Andras parted ways that she approached him.

“Congratulation on your promo—”

But, before she could even finish her words, Carl turned his head first. His face was like that of a dog who met its owner.

“Lady Fanora!”

“How could you know it was me before you even looked back?”

“I heard Lady Fanora’s footsteps.”

Are my footsteps that unusual? Fanora looked down at her shoes, bothered by his words for no reason, but there was nothing strange. This was followed by the usual congratulations.

“Congratulations. You make merit and receive the king’s congratulations in front of everyone, and your status is rose. You made it.”

“It’s something everyone else in the family has been through.”

“Still, it doesn’t mean the credit for defending the kingdom fades.”

“My sister didn’t say that… I’m glad.”

Carl was a man who loved praise so much but couldn’t stand being sugar-coated by other nobles. It was probably because of his unusual sixth sense that he could tell a lie. Unfortunately, even Fanora didn’t come to congratulate him with a pure heart.

“Ah, right. I’m thinking of hosting a ball myself this winter. Would you accept the invitation?”

“Invitation? Already?”

“You’re a busybody in the knights, so I’d like to give you the invitation first.”

Carl Andras then got the invitation and noticed. The seal of Fanora’s family wasn’t stamped there. This means to burn it after reading it.

The content of the letter wasn’t an invitation to the ball but about Fanora’s revenge. It had already been effective during the time of Naverius, and Fanora had decided to poison Vasago from before, so she needed a new poison.

“Free your schedule, and give me the answer at the next club meeting.”

“Yes.”

So, this means to get the poison by the next club meeting, right? Carl nodded his head in understanding. He didn’t seem to have any complaints even though he took on the dirty work.

“Um, and… Don’t worry. It will be over soon.”

Why do I feel so guilty when the person in charge said nothing? Fanora added in a low voice. “You’ve done a great job, and when next year comes—”

“Lady Fanora!”

But then, Carl interrupted her with a sudden loud voice. Fanora stopped with a surprised look and looked at him, who pointing his finger somewhere.

“Your fiancé is here.”

“!”

How can she not look back after hearing this? Fanora turned around, thanking Carl for the warning, and there, as expected, stood Aloken Jalier, who smiled softly.

“Congratulations on your contribution, Carl.”

“Even Lord Aloken too? Woow, thank you for coming!”

Aloken, who appeared naturally, shook hands with Carl and smiled. Fanora, who was watching this, was dumbfounded.

“When I said earlier that Carl had a promotion, you said you weren’t coming…”

Before coming here, Fanora definitely suggested that he should go to the banquet hall with her. At that time, Aloken expressed his dislike.

“At first, I rejected it out of anger because I thought you had abandoned me to go somewhere.”

“…”

“After thinking about it again, there was nothing to be angry about. Of course, I should congratulate the third young Master Andras, who has become the vice-captain, so congratulations.”

But he acted casually. In addition, in that short time, he even prepared a gift. It was a luxurious quill pen.

“T-thank you.”

Quill pen. In Kasius, it was a gift with the meaning ‘I wish you success.’ But Carl, who hardly writes, didn’t seem happy with that gift.

Anyway, with Aloken showing up, they couldn’t talk about the plan. Fanora quickly took a step back. “I’ll go out first, so feel free to talk.”

Aloken, who had been watching Fanora go outside the venue, immediately said, “You must be lucky, right? Being close with Fanora, she even came to congratulate you.”

He had a smile on the outside, but his tone had a peculiar strength.  

“It’s very nice to see you two getting along.”

“…”

“Ah, by the way, it’s fall, so why don’t we go hunting together?”

Carl pondered for a moment at the duke’s suggestion. There might be things Fanora would ask him to do, so he needed to clear his schedule. Still, there was no proper justification to refuse Aloken’s invitation to hunt.

I hate people who lie all the time. But it’s not like he’s ever treated me badly. Is it because Aloken persistently invited him until he accepted it?

“What are you going hunting for?”

“Is there anything else besides foxes? I’ve got a bunch of smart hounds, so it’s a pity to do it alone. The hunting ground is of course towards the Sangtepul.”

But under these conditions… Carl thought to himself and soon nodded brightly. If he refused this appointment, it would be a nuisance, so hanging out with him for a while would be better.

“If it’s Sangtepul, it’s nearby, right? Well, okay!”

Aloken, as if very pleased with his acceptance, closed his eyes and smiled like a fox.

* * *

After Aloken Jalier and Carl Andras went hunting, time passed. The last day of fall arrived, and Fanora put down the diary she was reading and looked out the window.

“It’s winter.”

Outside the window, she could see trees stretching out their bare branches.

“I heard that the whole world in the North turned white at this time.”

By the way, where is the house where Fanora is currently staying?

Looking back, I’ve never been to the North in winter. Thinking that this winter will be the last, I suddenly feel sorry.

This place wasn’t the capital or a Celsius mansion in their estate.

“Lady Fanora, are you ready?”

“Wait a minute. I’ll be out in a minute.”

This was none other than Guelder Duchy in the East. She wasn’t in dozens of villas owned by the Guelder family but rather in a guest room in the duchy.

How much time did it take to get this one little room? Fanora earned this position through her hard work. Like a fateful match from heaven, she only repeated actions that suited Vasago’s taste.

Vasago said one day, “It’s fun to be with you,” and asked her if it was okay to become her companion for this winter.

“Companion? It’s an honor!”

Because winter in Kasius was quiet and boring. In order to soothe the boredom during the winter, the high-ranking nobles of this kingdom often called lower-level nobles or friends to play with them. To think that Vasago followed this custom.

Still, how much fun did she have talking with me? I’ve already studied her favorite topics from the novel.

Fanora realized that her luck hadn’t yet run out. Now that their relationship had settled down to the guest room, the opportunity would come in the future.

Vasago’s favorite drink is lemonade. And when she eats scones, she always goes for milk tea first.

Fanora closed the black diary and rose from her seat. Today too, she had to curry favor with Vasago.