《Raising my Fiancè with Money》 Chapter 1 Raising my Fianc¨¦ with Money (1) ¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ ¡°This is the first time in my life that I have ever been so lucky.¡± The fortune teller checked the cards and mumbled as if the results were doubtful. She flipped the cards solemnly and raised her head. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of luck in the amount of money you¡¯ll get by just picking up money whilst taking a stroll on the street!¡± The fortune teller struck the table strongly. Ilia, startled, looked at her with excitement. ¡°It¡¯s the kind of luck where you¡¯ll be hit with money while you breathe. All the money in the world just gravitates towards you.¡± It really was just magical. As the fortune teller said, Ilia had never had a problem with money. No, I was worried because I had too much money. Ilia was born to a wealthy count¡¯s family. Originally, it was a famous family known for being rich, and since Ilia was born, the family¡¯s money has not ceased. Each of the businesses that were handed over were successful, a distant relative who did not even know her name, left a tremendous legacy, and was number one at all events that had prizes. One time I went out without a penny, and ended up picking gold coins while walking down the street. As the fortune teller said, Ilia was a great person with a fortune. Ilia sat down and got closer to the fortune teller. ¡°I actually already know about my luck in wealth, and I¡¯m curious about my luck in love since I¡¯m getting married soon.¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯ll see it.¡± When asked to draw new cards, Ilia carefully picked out five cards. After she chose all of them, the fortune teller flipped the cards over, one by one. The expression of the fortune teller who was checking the cards became more serious. When the last card was revealed, the fortune teller exhaled the breath he had held. Ilia nervously looked down at the card. A man lying in a coffin, a sword pierced through his heart, a skeleton sitting on a chair¡­ It looked unusual even to her who was not familiar with it. ¡°Luck in love¡­¡± The fortune teller, who had checked all the cards, shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re very dry.¡± (PR/N: Dry as in terms of her love life.) ¡°¡­.Yeah?¡± ¡°To put it simply, it¡¯s ruined.¡± Ilia¡¯s face distorted at his gaze of regret. ¡°No, why?¡± The couple, who had an engagement ceremony three years ago, was about to get married. It wasn¡¯t a political marriage, it was a built on love. Her relationship with her fianc¨¦ was smooth, and there was no specific problem. The fortune teller who felt like he swallowed needles opened his mouth with a serious face. ¡°It seems the lady¡¯s luck in love was replaced by her luck in wealth.¡± Ilia, who had been told bad news, almost trembled at the fortune teller¡¯s words and barely kept herself together. And she answered as calmly as possible. ¡°I have a fiance.¡± ¡°Is that so? Not for much longer then.¡± ¡®What are you talking about.¡¯ The fortune teller who was sorting out the cards said as Ilia frowned. So the fortune teller sent Ilya out. Ilya, who left the store, was very home-sick. The fortune she was given from birth was amazing, but my luck of love was very upsetting. ¡°It¡¯s not worth a visit.¡± I went there on purpose after asking around, but I was not happy to hear that my seed of love-luck had dried up. Ilya wandered around the main street to refresh herself. But what the fortune teller said followed her like a shadow. A woman like her not being able to keep the budding seeds of love together. Even my fianc¨¦ will be gone soon. Even though I thought it was nonsense, I was upset for no reason. Ilya, who was walking down the street, suddenly stopped. ¡°¡­¡­¡± I kept getting bitter and annoyed, so it felt like nothing could get better. I thought I had to meet my fianc¨¦e, Richard, right now. After seeing your face in person, my vague anxiety will be relieved. It¡¯s been a while since I hadn¡¯t seen him, so it would be okay to make an excuse that I came to see his face for a bit on the way. Ilya went straight to the Marquis of Tersian without informing. Arriving at the mansion of the Marquis, Ilya found a carriage she had not seen An unfamiliar crest was engraved on it. As I walked to the front door, an employee who found Ilya stopped her in a surprise. ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry, but we were not informed about your here today.¡± Ilya questioned an embarrassed employee. ¡°It looks like a guest came. Who is the owner of that carriage?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­.¡± The employee couldn¡¯t answer immediately if he was embarrassed. I had a bad intuition at his hesitant appearance. There was definitely something going on. ¡°I have to check it myself.¡± Ilya stepped into the mansion, leaving the employee behind. The faster the pace increased, the faster her heartbeat raced. Eventually, Ilya stopped at the door where a familiar voice came out. ¡°Blooden¡­.!¡± When the door opened, someone from the inside became angry. ¡°I told anyone not to come in¡­Ilia?¡± After seeing Ilya, Richard stood up in a hurry. He was topless. Ilya¡¯s gaze went aside. On the bed, there was a woman undressed and pulled the blanket to her chest. When she looked down, She thought to herself and had to admit what the fortune teller said. That her love luck was screwed. Chapter 2 - The Bloden Family Chapter 2- The Bloden Family She couldn¡¯t really remember how she got home. When she came to her senses, she was crying on her stomach in bed. -I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re thinking, but it¡¯s all a misunderstanding. -There¡¯s nothing going on. She was a guest of his sister¡¯s, but was naked because she spilled her drink on her clothes. (T/N: she= that woman) Richard spewed an excuse that not even a child would have believed. When Lilia, who was in shock, gave no answer. Richard sighed loudly and abruptly turned around. -No matter how much you call me your fianc¨¦, it¡¯s rather unpleasant for you to come without calling ahead. -I can¡¯t believe you came into someone¡¯s room without knocking. Why don¡¯t you be polite first? Rather than apologizing, Richard shed the blame onto Lilia. Lilia buried her face into her pillow and wept. The words he uttered pierced her body like an arrow. My heart feels crushed. It felt so painful that I couldn¡¯t even sob. Richard was Lilia¡¯s first love. She thought fate had made him and her one and only, as she also had a crush on him. After all her efforts, the engagement ceremony was held. Lilia had tried so hard to be loved by him. When she heard that Richard liked kind and approachable people, she changed her personality. Always smiling, trying to be a kind and amiable fianc¨¦. She even changed her tastes and hobbies in order to get closer to Richard¡¯s mentioned ideal type. (P/R: Lilia my baby i¡¯ll be your Richard) Richard took Lilia¡¯¡¯s efforts for granted. Even though she was disappointed, she convinced herself that it was because he was a quiet man, who had trouble expressing himself. If he didn¡¯t like her, they wouldn¡¯t be able to hold the engagement ceremony. But it was all an illusion. It was a love she had cherished after giving her everything. She thought he wanted a different side of her, but it turns out he was uninterested, and she was the only one who struggled. From that day onwards, Lilia shed tears every night. She tried remembering all the memories of our time together, but in the end the only thing she could remember was his face when he criticized her. After a week, she couldn¡¯t even bring myself to cry anymore. Once her emotions had cleared, one thing came to her mind, one by one, each day after another. It was always you who¡¯d waited for me to talk. He always looked for me only when he needed to. He wouldn¡¯t even say the words ¡°I love you¡± without being asked. One month passed, and all that was left after burning my emotions was a remnant of hatred. ¡°I would have slapped him.¡± (P/R:Girl power stronk) She was lying down, but her fever went up because she remembered about that time. She regretted coming home like an idiot without even thinking twice. Lilia ripped off the flowers on the pillow. How much would it be if it was Richard¡¯s hair. If she can turn back time, she¡¯ll try ruining whatever¡¯s left at the scene. Lilia threw the pillow and stood in front of the mirror. The mirror reflected her bright blonde hair and clear purple eyes. Lilia took a good look at herself. It was strange to see herself emaciated. I lost weight and I look sick because of my lack of blood. It was natural because she didn¡¯t eat properly, let alone go out. Lilia looked up again at her face. The lower corner of her eyes and her concave eyeballs made it good for prejudice. There were even quite a few people who thought Lilia was an easy going person because she was always smiling. However, unlike before, the Lilia reflected in the mirror was expressionless. She felt very unfamiliar with herself since she wasn¡¯t laughing as a habit. ¡°That¡¯s enough now.¡± How long had she lived pretending to be nice. Even though she was angry, she laughed a lot and that killed her personality. But she won¡¯t be that sweet fianc¨¦ anymore. ¡°How much did you lose because of him?¡± Not only did she lose her heart but also her money. He probably played with girls and their money. ¡°It wasn¡¯t out of consideration but favor.¡± Lilia entered the dressing room while cursing at herself for her stupid past. After a month of being in her bedroom, she was in her pyjamas. LIlia, who had a dress hung over her,.frowned. The dresses that filled the huge room were all accustomed to Richard¡¯s taste. ¡°¡­I have to change my clothes first.¡± Lilia chose clothes that seemed comfortable to wear, and walked out of the dressing room. When she opened the door to the bedroom, an employee who was waiting by the hallway approached her with fustration. ¡°Miss¡­¡± The employee looked as if she was about to cry. After being stuck in the room for a long time, she was worried. ¡°Sorry for making you worry. I¡¯m fine now.¡± Lilia smiled a little and looked around. ¡°But what about your parents? Is your brother in the Imperial Palace?¡± ¡°Everyone went out.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Come to think of it, it¡¯s been a while since she had seen the faces of her family properly. She had been neglecting her family while caring for Richard. Lilia looked back at her past and spoke softly. ¡°I¡¯m going out now, can you help me prepare?¡± Lilia was dressed up with the help of a maid. After getting ready, she immediately went down to the front door. The arched porch was grand enough to accommodate dozens of people at once. There, two men were waiting for Lilia by a fancy carriage. It was Franchse and Malik, he rescort knights ¡°My lady!..¡± The moment they made eye contact with Lilia, they were dawned with amazement. They seemed to have a lot to say. With much hesitation, Malik questioned her cautiously. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Are you not in pain?¡± Lilia briefly nodded at Franchse¡¯s question. Franchse hesitantly opened the carriage door without questioning her further. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the downtown area first.¡± Lilia informed and got into the carriage. She left the mansion with a large garden. Lilia looked out the window and was deep in thought. She wanted to see Richard with as much tears and suffering as she felt. But before that, she had to break off their marraige¡­ All sorts of thoughts passed through her head, and she remembered the fortune teller who she had forgotton. -I have a fiance. -It will be gone soon. If you think about it, the fortune teller was Lilia¡¯s benefactor. If it weren¡¯t for her, she would have almost married Richard cluelessly. -I won¡¯t take any money today. Instead, pay me later if I¡¯m right. LIlia said to Franchse, who was sitting across from her. ¡°I have to stop by the bank first.¡± The carriage drove smoothy, and stopped in front of a large building The marble building was the capital¡¯s most cash-holding bank. As Lilia walked in with her escort driver, a middle-aged man dressed in bright clothes ran towards them. He was the manager of the bank. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Lilia Blodon. How may I help you?¡± ¡°I need to withdraw some money.¡± ¡°Come this way, please.¡± The man immediately guided Lilia into a room.. It was a reception room that only special guests could enter. It looks like it had been carefully decorated, but it was worse than a count¡¯s storage room. Lilia sat on a fluffy sofa. While the other employee brought some refreshments, a man handed her a paper. ¡°Please write the amount you want to withdraw.¡± The man who confirmed the amount immediately called an employee. While waiting, Lilia sipped on her tea. After a while, she got up from her seat when she was notified that all the money withdrawn was loaded into the carriage. ¡°Thank you very much for today.¡± When she left the bank, the staff stood in a line and greeted me off politely. It was a burdensome kindness, but it was never too much for the bank¡¯s position. That was because the 3rd to 7th floors of the basement were all made up of the Bloden family¡¯s vault. Other guests looked at Lilia in awe at her appearance. (P/R: she smokin hawt duh) ¡°Who is that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the famous Bloden family.¡± ¡°What, Bloden? The Bloden¡¯s that will remain rich even after three generations?¡± The eyes of the guests turned into amazement. With the eyes of many, Lilia got into the carriage. The carriage headed straight into a shop run by a fortune teller. Not long after arriving at the front of the store, she did it. LIlia opened the door and ordered the knights to bring the sacks. (T/N: s-sacks ??????????????) Sunlight flowed into the dim interior like a tide. As the door closed, darkness fell again. The sound of footsteps echoed in the quiet space. Lilia walked forwards and raised the magnetic curtain. Inside, the fortune teller who was sitting in front of the table felt Lilia¡¯s presence and raised her head. ¡°Business is closed now¡­ Miss?¡± The eyes of the fortune teller who looked up to see who it was, widened¡­. Lilia immediately went straight into the subject without explanation. ¡°You were right then.¡± Lilia raised her head. Franchse and Malik, carried a huge bag on their shoulders, and stepped forward. They turned the sac upside down and shook it. The gold coins in the sack poured out like a waterfall. In the process, the fortune teller who was stunned, didn¡¯t know what to do, and repeatedly chanted ¡®Oh my god¡¯. While the fortune teller was half buried in gold, Lilia spoke. ¡°Look into my love luck again.¡± Chapter 3 - Please Burn It Chapter 3- Please Burn It The fortune teller, who was buried in gold coins, looked at Lilia with his mouth open. ¡°Is it not enough?¡± The fortune teller shook her head defensively at Lilia¡¯s question. ¡°It is sufficient! No, rather too much¡­¡± ¡°I am indebted to a lot of gnomes(currency), you saved my life.¡± If she hadn¡¯t met the fortune teller, the money would have been spent on Richard. So it wasn¡¯t a waste at all. The fortune teller was at a loss of what to do, and chuckled humorlessly. Lilia thought about her future, but couldn¡¯t see one where she would become rich. ¡°I¡¯ll look into your love luck right now.¡± The fortune teller looked as if she came out from swimming in gold coins After sweeping the gold coins aside, Lilia sat across the fortune teller. Dozens of cards spread out around like a fan. Lilia carefully selected the cards. After choosing them, the fortune teller flipped the cards one by one. The fortune teller carefully checked the cards and felt daunted. ¡°¡­¡­It is not common for fate to change significantly in a month.¡± Lilia nodded slowly. ¡®Yeah, it¡¯s still ruined.¡¯ Truthfully, Lilia dIdn¡¯t even want to be in a relationship right now. She just did it as a test because she hated the fact that her relationship ended with that trash named Richard. (T/N: Test means she just wanted to have a look at her love luck she had no intention of knowing her next relationship) If that was the case then it would have been better to give up on marriage. ¡°But¡­..¡± The fortune teller looked at the last card and made a subtle expression. There is an opponent in your fate.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The fortune teller pulled out two more cards, and her eyes glistened with interest. She made a firm statement. ¡°He has an unlucky fate, but it will change for the better after meeting the Miss.¡± ¡°Is he cheating?¡± (T/N: she means the man whom she will meet in future is he cheating on someone) ¡°¡­We can¡¯t figure it out from here, but he is the noble of nobles.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know the amount of power he withholds¡±, the fortune teller muttered while pushing a card forward. ¡°Today, head to the west. There might be good things awaiting.¡± After leaving the store, Lilia headed straight to the West Main Street She was thinking of stopping by the boutique with the intention to head out. The Bloden family was capable of summoning famous designers to their homes with a lift of their fingers. However, Lilia preferred being physically present at the shop to view and purchase clothes for herself. She also wanted to get some fresh air since a long time has passed. When Lilia arrived at the main street, she walked at a slow pace. The streets were deserted, perhaps due to the leisure afternoon. After walking aimlessly, she entered an alley filled with luxurious boutiques. The buildings which seemed expensive at first glance, were radiating elegance Lilia looked at the dresses through the windows and recalled a memory she wanted to forget. She would often go shopping with Richard and his family. It was always Lilia¡¯s job to pay for more than half the expenses. Back then, just being able to do something for Richard made her happy. Lilia felt regretful and eventually entered the dress shop she had been looking for. Her own tastes were always the opposite of Richards¡¯, so she had always missed this place. ¡°Welcome.¡± The clerks immediately recognised Lilia and greeted her hastily. Lilia was well known in this alley and it was widely rumoured that she would spend at least a week¡¯s worth of money when she came. She looked around and felt excited. It suited her taste more than she had thought. ¡®I should have come visited this place sooner.¡¯ Lilia stood still skimming through the clothes with her eyes. The employees waited for her to choose the one she wanted. ¡°This and that, and that too¡­¡± The clerks hurriedly picked up the three clothes Lilia had chosen. ¡°Give me everything except.¡± The clerk paused, while putting down the clothes he was holding. The owner appeared,reached out to the clerk and started packing the dresses Lilia thought she had bought a lot, but figured she needed as many dresses as she would be throwing away as many. In fact, Lilia preferred custom made dresses rather than ready made once¡¯s. However, it would take a long time, and she had lost a lot of weight this month. When her body shape becomes better, she would fit the dresses better. Lilia picked the dress she liked most and changed into it. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°It¡¯s really beautiful.¡± Franchse and Malik, who were watching, applauded her. Lilia laughed, as she knew they were the kind of people who¡¯d say anything would fit best. -It looks better like this. The thought of Richard forcing his preferences onto her suddenly came to mind. The smile on Lilia¡¯s mouth vanished She didn¡¯t want to intentionally think of him, but he was lingering around in her head.. Lilia stood still, and the clerk then spoke. ¡°Your clothes are wrapped¡­¡± ¡°Please burn it.¡± The clerk could only blink at her firm words. Lilia left the surprised clerk behind, walking out the boutique without regret. After that, she attacked the stores in the alley one by one. Bags, parasols, shoes, accessories¡­ Wherever Lilia went, the merchants would scream with joy. It wasn¡¯t bad to shop like this after a long time. No, in fact it was good. Shopping felt more pleasurable than before because she was shopping to her preferences. While shopping, Lilia headed to a shop that sells tea. It was far from luxurious, but Lilia liked it for its good atmosphere and tea. It was also a place where she would take Richard to, but she stopped going there because she was annoyed about the fact that she brought him to such a place. Lilia passed Franchse and Malik a drink. The two were touched,as if they had received such a huge gift. Lilia looked at Franchse who was holding onto the glass as if it was a waste to drink. Franchse had blue hair and was younger than Lilia. Although he was from the slums, he was handsome and had a polite attitude which made him seem like he came from a good noble family. There were many people who mistook him as a real nobleman. Lilia turned to see Malik drinking. His dark blue hair and muscular physique captured her eyes. Malik was ten years older than Lilia and had been working as an escort for a long time. She had heard that his family was indebted to the Bloden family and volunteered to become their escort. Franchse and Malik had opposite personalities. Franchse was hot tempered, while Malik was calm and rational. That¡¯s why Malik would often contain Franchse¡¯s excitement. Lilia looked at the two and asked. ¡°Are you tired?¡± ¡°No, we are very happy.¡± They shook their heads. Watching Lilia spend generous amounts of money on herself seemed impossible. ¡°I want to buy a music box. After buying it let¡¯s go home.¡± The three headed to their last destination, a store selling music boxes. The inside of the store wasn¡¯t big, so entering all at once would have been embarrassing. ¡°Please wait here.¡± Franchse and Malik nodded. There seemed to be nothing dangerous as the inside could be seen through the front window. Lilia then entered the store alone. The clerk immediately started recommending things. Lilia wanted to look around leisurely, so she declined politely. ¡°I¡¯ll call you if I need help.¡± The clerk retreated with a regretful face. Lilia looked at the items on display. Her family suddenly came to mind while looking at a pretty music box. In the past, Lilia often gave gifts but stopped doing so one day. After meeting Richard, she stopped caring because she was too busy showering him with gifts. Lilia silently reflected on herself. She was often at conflict with her family due to her relationship with Richard. Lilia had decided that today, when she gets home, she would apologise to her family for the past and give them a music box. Lilia carefully looked at the music box. Then suddenly, she saw a big figure at the corner of her eye. ¡°¡­..¡± Lilia looked up and out the window. There was a man standing outside the store. His black hair and blue eyes made it seem like darkness was flowing out of him. His shoulders were wide and he was so tall and slender that you could only look up at him. He was certainly handsome enough to be admired, but his fierce expression made it difficult to look at for a long time. However, the man seemed to be stuck outside the store, hesitant to enter. She didn¡¯t know that the reason he was hesitant to enter was because the music box store was so cute. France and Malik glared at the man with suspicion. Lilia glanced at the tensed knights. Anyone involved with me has to be alert¡­.being too diligent was also a problem. Only a short time had passed since the man had entered. His presence was great when he was outside, so when he came into the small store, all eyes were on him. ¡°Welcome. ¡± The man couldn¡¯t wait for the clerk to finish greeting and headed towards the showcases. Due to the cold atmosphere, the clerk didn¡¯t approach him. The clerk searched for a new customer to approach and asked quietly. ¡°¡­¡­.Do you have any items you are looking for?¡± The man looked up at the clerk. As their eyes met, the clerk whimpered. Lilia looked up at them and the eyes of the clerk changed abruptly. ¡°Then I¡¯ll recommend it.¡± The clerk quickly showed the product. Lilia looked at the two of them who were looking back at her. She didn¡¯t want to worry about them, but the store was small and they were always in her view. ¡°This is currently the most popular product.¡± Lilia glanced at the item that the clerk had recommended. She saw it earlier but put it back down because she didn¡¯t like it. ¡°The ingredients are all the finest, and if you look here¡­¡± Lilia overheard the clerk and frowned. No matter how much it was for sale, it felt like he was inflating the value of the product. It was like encouraging the customers to buy hard-sell product Whether he knew it or not, the man listened silently to the clerk. ¡°It¡¯s only 150 kroels.¡± Lilia paused when she heard the price. 150 kroels? When she saw the price tag earlier, it was 60 kroels? The clerk was cheating. But unless you¡¯re a pushover, there will be no one to buy at that price. That was when she was sure that he would never buy it either. The man nodded gently and said,¡°¡­. Give me this.¡± He is a pushover. Chapter 4 - A Pushover A Pushover The clerk laughed at the man¡¯s words. He(the scary looking guy) looked like a pushover. ¡°150 kroels is really cheap.¡± Where can I find such a sell-out? Lilia was dumbfounded and openly stared at him. ¡°This was also in stock yesterday, do you think it¡¯s good? Everyone who gets this as a present will love it.¡± The clerk made a firm recommendation and pushed the item in front of the man. The man made no expression, however, Lilia¡¯s eyes flashed with embarrassment. The man couldn¡¯t refuse, and slightly opened his lips then closed them. ¡°There¡¯s only one left, and you¡¯re lucky.¡± The clerk secretly snuck items into the basket, he put all sorts of items with ridiculous prices. Lilia watched the clerk who was forcing the sales to go up, stepped up. ¡°It¡¯s not luck, it¡¯s a fraud.¡± ¡°What¡­?¡± Lilia approached the embarrassed clerk. ¡°When I saw the price tag earlier, it was 60 kroels. Did the price rise in the meantime?¡± The clerk¡¯s eyes widened. Lilia picked up the orgel, only to see that the price tag at the bottom was gone. The clerk seemed to have taken off the price tag and hidden it. It seemed to Lilia that the clerk thought he could empty the man¡¯s pockets without his acknowledgment. Lilia turned and looked at the clerk, his embarrassment could be seen buried under the man who looked fierce. Even though it was too much for her to interfere, Lilia opened her mouth and recalled how she was like in the past. A pushover. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯ll recommend you some items instead.¡± Lilia shoved the full basket to the clerk. The frozen clerk looked up and down at Lilia and spoke softly. ¡°My apologies but the price is decided by the boss and for the quality of this item,150 Kroels is definitely not expensive.¡± The man looked at Lilia for confirmation that she was a noble lady, and asked politely ¡®What do you know?¡¯ Lilia stared at the clerk. The clerk flinched as their eyes met. ¡°The boss decides the price?¡± ¡°Yes, I am just selling it under his instructions.¡± The clerk shamelessly told the lie as the boss wasn¡¯t present in the store. ¡°Customer, you seem to be burdened a lot, would you like me to recommend you a cheaper one?¡± The clerk asked sarcastically with a polite smile, implying that the man couldn¡¯t even afford 150 Kroels. Lilia held her laughter. It had been a long time since someone provoked her about money. She turned her head and looked out the window, her eyes met Franchse and he hurried into the shop. ¡°Franchse¡± Lilia signalled him to come closer. She whispered an order to him and Franchse could be seen hastily, leaving the store. The clerk watched them closely, Lilia ignored the clerk while waiting. Not a moment later, Franchse could be seen running while panting heavily. ¡°Sir Bolden!¡± (T/N: he said ¡®sir¡¯ coz he thought it was count Bloden himself) He ran so fast his face contorted, he had no time to breathe or concentrate on himself and handed the paper to Lillia. ¡°Here is the receipt for your purchase. Other necessary documents will be sent to the mansion.¡± Lilia stuck out her palm to Franchse and he handed her a pen and a wooden board with paper. She signed the paper on the wooden board and stuck out the blank cheque to the man. ¡°You gave me twice the market price, the distribution is great in this economy.¡± (P/N: Distribution is one of the four elements of the marketing mix. Distribution is the process of making a product or service available for the consumer or business user who needs it.) The man choked on a laugh. The clerk watched the scene and called out to the man who had a perplexed face. ¡°B-boss?¡­¡± ¡°Oh, from now on I¡¯m not the boss anymore so don¡¯t call me that.¡± ¡°What?¡­¡± ¡°Because the boss is over there.¡± The clerk turned to look at Lilia, who the man was pointing to. Lilia handed Franchse the wooden board and pen, and said to the clerk. ¡°Now that I¡¯m the boss, I can decide what price I want it at right?¡± She sounded calm as if she had just bought a snack, the clerk¡¯s jaw dropped, and seemed as if it could fall off any minute. Lilia grabbed the item which the clerk had said was 150 Kroels. ¡°I would like this to be sold at 60 Kroels, do you have any objections?¡± ¡°That¡­¡­.¡± The clerk made an unreadable expression and was clueless on what to say. He couldn¡¯t seem to comprehend what just happened. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± ¡°Ah, it is nothing.¡± The clerk¡¯s face turned pale, finally realising that Lilia owned the store now. Lilia beckoned the clerk, ¡°What are you doing? Get to work. Start by changing the price tags.¡± The clerk who was staring blankly, finally moved. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of dust here, so you need to clean up.¡± Lilia watched as the flustered clerk turned his head. ¡°I¡¯ll give you today¡¯s pay and fire you after you¡¯ve done all your chores.¡± Lilia looked around her shop. Some people might have blamed her for spending money thoughtlessly. However, whatever Lilia touched would¡¯ve turned into money. Whatever she took, it¡¯ll be refilled before she knew it. The money spent today would¡¯ve multiplied several times more. This store may suddenly become a hit, or a vein of gold may suddenly burst here. Lilia stopped looking at the store. ¡°Oh right, that guy.¡± She was sure that all she did was help a guy who was taken advantage of, but somehow it turned out like this. Lilia turned to look at the man. The moment their eyes made contact, he took a step back. It seemed like a gesture to emphasize that he had no intention of harming her. He was always misunderstood because of his appearance. ¡°Um¡­ welcome?¡­¡± The man raised a brow at Lilia¡¯s greeting. Franchse took a step forward to come off as threatening. ¡°Franchse, please leave.¡± ¡°Understood¡­¡± Franchse walked out of the store under Lilia¡¯s command. Through the window, Franchse and Malik could be seen eyeing the man suspiciously, he frowned but that didn¡¯t scare Lilia. It didn¡¯t seem threatening nor unpleasant. The man had a habit of frowning when is embarrassed. ¡°Apologies for interrupting you earlier.¡± ¡°No¡­thank you for your help.¡± In contrast to his cold demeanor, he was polite. Lilia thought for a moment and gave him some advice. ¡°Once you take it, you keep pushing it, so you¡¯d better cut it off and say no.¡± The man was stunned and just blinked while mumbling softly. ¡°I¡¯m not used to rejection¡­¡± His shoulders sagged like a sullen bear. He looks like he¡¯s good at refusing just by looking at his face¡­.. After thinking about it, Lilia quickly reflected. It was her bad habit to judge a person by their appearance. She thought everyone would be nice and easy just by looking at them. ¡°If you¡¯re here to buy an orgel, would you like me to recommend it?¡± ¡°¡­¡­if you don¡¯t mind, please.¡± At his very polite manner, Lilia laughed inwardly. He was an unusual man in this world. Lilia recommended this and that to him after asking about his taste in music. Every time, he looked at her like she was a great person. ¡°It¡¯s a gift, right? ¡° When Lilia asked with half conviction, the man nodded hesitantly. ¡°Then this is fine. I don¡¯t like it and I hate it less.¡± The man examined the orgel that Lilia showed him. While choosing carefully through the ones she showed, he picked up a small orgel. As he turned the spring, clear, bouncy music could be heard. The man¡¯s stiff face became soft. Lilia, who was looking closely at his face, thought; ¡®I guess you are going to give it to someone you like.¡¯ And Lilia naturally remembered Richard. Without realizing it, her brows were furrowed and a frown showed up on her face. The man, who saw it flinched and said quietly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I took up a lot of time.¡± Lilia shook her head, apparently misunderstood. The man looked on and put the item he was trying to buy on the counter. By the authority she had now, Lilia reduced the price a little cheaper than the original amount. Then she picked up the orgel that she had seen as a gift for her family. She couldn¡¯t stay in the store, so she was thinking of going back home now. The store was left to the former boss for a few days, and sooner or later she planned to hire a separate clerk. Lilia opened the shop and tried to take her leave, but the man called for her. ¡°Excuse me.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a small amount, but¡­¡± Lilia gazed gently at the gold coin that was sticking out to her. What¡­? Lilia, who glanced at the gold coin, looked up at the man. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a reward.¡± Lilia narrowed her brow at the unexpected remark. What¡¯s the reward? The man opened his mouth quietly at the look of her confusion and began to explain. ¡°For recommending it to me..¡± ¡°It is natural for the boss to recommend items to customers.¡± The reason why Lilia came forward was just to do a favor. She didn¡¯t do it in hopes of rewards. ¡®I also reduced the price of the goods, so why are you doing this?¡¯ She didn¡¯t feel very good because she thought all good intentions seemed faded. ¡°This is the first person who tried to pay me back by money.¡± At Lilia¡¯s words, he flinched. ¡°No thanks.¡± ¡°Then anything else¡­¡± When the man did not back down, Lilia took a small breath. ¡°It wasn¡¯t because I was hoping for a reward, and-¡° Lilia said as she opened the store door. ¡°I don¡¯t need money.¡± When the door opened, he saw a carriage standing in front of the store. The eyes of the man who looked at the carriage grew wider. The horse-drawn carriage, decorated with fine leather and precious stones, was screaming money. The four horses leading the carriage looked excellent at a mere glance. The flag was embroidered with the Bloden family¡¯s seal that even someone who lived under a rock would know of. Lilia stepped toward the carriage and whispered to him. ¡°Because I am Lilia Bloden.¡± Chapter 5 - Heinley Bloden Heinley Bloden ¡°Let¡¯s go back home.¡± Franchse and Malik quickly clung to Lilia¡¯s words. They opened the carriage door after staring at the man who was standing still. As Lilia got into the carriage, she saw the man through the window. Lilia took her eyes off the man who stared blankly at the carriage and closed the curtains. He was not a person she would see again anyway. She did not want to care anymore. As Lilia leaned back she instantly felt tired. ¡®Come to think of it, I didn¡¯t even eat properly all day. I stopped by the bank and went shopping¡­¡¯ As Lilia recalled the series of events of today, she suddenly remembered what the fortune teller had said. -Go west today. Maybe something good will happen. ¡°¡­¡­Did something good happen?¡± ¡®Come to think of it, I bought a store.¡¯ ¡®I guess the store will work out later.¡¯ Lilia pondered and turned it over in her mind. [PR: to turn over something in your mind = to keep thinking about something because you are trying to understand it] The carriage crossed the main street and headed south towards the Bloden family residence. The site was so large that it ran for a long time after passing through the huge gate. Outside the window, a garden decorated with money and sincerity passed by. Both sides of the road were lined with rows of tall shrubs. As the shrub, which was connected like a thread, was cut off, a circular vacant lot with a fountain was seen. There stood three baby angels holding up a round bowl where water was constantly rising. The scattered drops of water glowed red from the glint of the sunset. Lilia¡¯s hair and eyes were also a vivid red color, her hair looked so vibrant as if it was burning in the sun. ¡®Let¡¯s stop thinking.¡¯ Lilia shook her head to rid the useless thoughts. As Richard was meant to be Lilia¡¯s long-time partner, he had become deeply embedded into her life. Even though she tried to think about something else, thoughts of Richard still squeezed in. It seemed a little more time was required before she could completely forget about Richard Before she knew it, the carriage had arrived in front of the main door. Lilia got out of the carriage with the help of Malik, as she slowly raised her head, she found a man standing on the porch. The man had dark blond hair and pale green eyes hidden behind his silver glasses. ¡°Brother¡­¡­?¡± He was Lilia¡¯s brother, Heinley Bloden. * * * Heinley Bloden. He was the eldest son of the Bloden family and the chief of the academy. After graduating from the academy early, he went to the public office and worked in the Imperial Palace. Unlike his friendly face, he was famous for his sharp tongue but he was the sweetest brother in the world to his sister. When they were young, their parents were very busy. Therefore, Heinley raised his younger sister in their stead. Because they had a big age gap, he doted on her. He treated her so preciously that he even delayed his return to the Merley academy due to his worries about her wellbeing But Heinley¡¯s sister, Lilia, had one strange thing, there was a special luck that no one had heard of before. Since Lilia was born, her parents have succeeded in every business they did and even an unexpected huge legacy had rolled in. It was a trivial story to say that the stones Lilia picked up after going for a walk were extremely expensive jewelry or that she bought a lottery ticket and won the first prize. Amongst the numerous anecdotes the most legendary was the gold vein. The whole family once went to see both lands to build a summer villa. -How about here? -I want to look around. At her mother¡¯s question, Lilia rode alone. Lilia, who was walking for a long time, turned around, saying her legs hurt. Her parents, who believed in Lilia¡¯s fortune like iron, bought the land only where Lilia walked. As Lilia approached the site to build a villa, the gold vein burst. There was so much gold buried, they were still digging for it. Upon hearing the news, the owner of the next land worked hard to turn it over, but nothing could be recovered. Eventually, Count Bloden became the richest man in the empire. However, in exchange for giving Lilia her fortune, God did not give her the eyes to see the man. She fell in love with Richard Tersian. Richard was the son of Heinley¡¯s direct boss, Marquis of Tersian. As soon as Lilia introduced Richard as a lover, Heinley disagreed. Richard was a guy who believed in his family and did not make any effort and was rumored to play prodigalously. He did not even have to go far, and he was a typical nobleman who liked to eat as little as possible. (T/N: Be graceful in everything possible) -Even if dirt gets into my eyes, he can¡¯t. Heinley eagerly persuaded Lilia to break up. But was that the problem? Lilia fell into love with Richard like a lover of misery. Then, when she said she would be engaged, Heinley became angry for the first time. -You¡¯re not sane. Lilia¡¯s wounded face was still vivid. Heinley thought he was talking too badly, but at that time it was more important to stop getting engaged. However, Lilia¡¯s stubbornness was great. None of the family members could break Lilia¡¯s will. Eventually, Lilia had an engagement ceremony with Richard despite opposition from the family. Heinley was frustrated and heartbroken and could not deal with Lilia as before. The cold attitude and cold words kept popping up. Lilia kept him away, and the relationship worsened out of control. However, Heinley continued to hear of Lilia¡¯s news since then. Most of the time, there was news that the vases were likely to blow up but Heinley was patient because he knew it would make no difference if he was angry. (T/N: ¡°vases were likely to blow up¡± it means the news was so outrageous that the vases in the office should have been broken by heinley from anger) And perhaps this time, Lilia had a big fight with Richard as she returned to the mansion crying. She was stuck in the bedroom for nearly a month and did not come out. Heinley had someone look into what had happened, but he could not find out any details. Heinley could only assume it was related to Richard. Even if the relationship went sour, there was nothing he could do about being worried about. The thought of Lilia kept him from doing anything. Until today, Heinley spent a month full of worries. Lilia had gone out and enjoyed shopping. He was furious at the news. ¡®Did you buy a present for him to look good?¡¯ ¡®Don¡¯t you know your family is worried? When are you going to come to your senses?¡® Heinley could not bear it this time. He decided to give Lilia a hard time. * * * Lilia looked up and saw his brother standing at the front door. When her eyes met, Heinley opened his mouth with a blank face. ¡°Suddenly shopping. What are you thinking this time, Lilia?¡± The cold voice discouraged the opponent. The unexpected situation embarrassed Lilia. In the past, he used to be a very friendly brother, but he became cold after their relationship broke up. Especially today it seemed to be worse. When Lilia did not answer, he slowly turned his head and checked the carriage. Heinly frowned when he checked the back of the carriage and noticed the gift box was full. ¡°Did you buy it for him again?¡± It was obvious who he was referring to. Lilia shook her head and opened her mouth. ¡°It¡¯s for me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ All?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± At Lilia¡¯s answer, Heinley turned back to the carriage. He did not say anything for a moment. His furrowed eyebrows were loosened, and the tense atmosphere was disturbed. It was only then that Lilia could see him more closely, Heinley generally has a gentle impression. Blonde hair, which seemed to melt the sunlight, was a symbol of the Bloden family and only the eye color was light green, unlike in Lilia. He also looked very good like his mother, but he usually wore silver-rimmed glasses to change his impression. It was after Lilia was engaged to Richard that they fell apart. Heinley hated Richard very much. When she was in a relationship, he interrupted everything and even opposed her engagement. After that, they had a big fight and reluctantly made up. But Lilia¡¯s been in a bad mood ever since. At that time, Lilia was just sad that Heinley did not understand her. And now Lilia understood his true heart. Heinley was worried about Lilia. It was she who had covered her eyes and ears. ¡®My love was all important, so I turned a blind eye to what my family said.¡¯ ¡°Brother.¡± Heinley¡¯s gaze reached Lilia¡¯s face. Lilia slowly lowered her eyes and put her hands together. And she said with as much regret as possible. ¡°I was wrong.¡± His lips opened slightly. He was astonished like someone who heard unexpected words. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I went out without saying anything today.¡± Lilia continued with all her heart. ¡°And I¡¯m sorry for being immature and worrying you all this time. I want to apologize.¡± Lilia had just managed to make an apology that she should have made before. But an answer did not come back. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it until a long time ago,¡± Heinley said, ¡°I can¡¯t believe it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­..Where are you sick?¡± (T/N: LOL) Chapter 6 An Old Button ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Heinley narrowed his eyebrows to the returning answer. ¡°¡­..Let¡¯s go in first.¡± Heinley first turned his back and went into the mansion, silence continued while walking through the hall. It was difficult to keep up with his pace, Heinley¡¯s footsteps gradually slowed down as he pursued with frequent steps. Only then was she able to walk in line with him. Finally, he entered the parlor at the end of the corridor. Unlike the colorful rooms of the mansion, it was a cozy and practical space. Heinley sat down first, followed by Lilia across from him. Sitting with his back upright, he stared straight at Iiliya. Lilia was a little nervous and put her hands together but Heinley suddenly asked, ¡°So what happened a month ago?¡± Simultaneously with the question, Lilia recalled what had happened a month ago. Her fiance lying in bed with a strange woman. When he made a ridiculous excuse for it that finally drove her up to her limit. It was the most terrible memory she could¡¯ve held in her life and it was still so painful. Lilia opened her lips after a while. ¡°¡­..There was a bad thing.¡± Heinley¡¯s eyebrows wriggled. However, Lilia who did not see his expression, fell into deep thoughts. She still had the same heart as before, so she wanted to be honest with everything. She then proceeded to say Richard had an affair and that she wanted to break up. However, if she thinked about it rationally, there were many problems when getting married right away. No matter how great the Bloden family was, the Ishtar Empire was a class society. The difference between the status of the Marquis and Counts existed and the nephew of the Marquis of Tersian was the Crown Princess. There was a high possibility that they could be falsely accused of tax evasion by using the royal connections. On top of that, the Blodden family did not get along very well with the Imperial family or high-ranking nobles. The reason was that he acted stiff and didn¡¯t want to give a bribe on his own. If there was a fight, it was obvious who the imperial family or the high-ranking aristocrats would side with. Even Heinley¡¯s immediate supervisor, who works in the palace, was the Marquis of Tersian, Richard¡¯s father. This incident could have allowed Marquis of Tersian, his boss, to retaliate using his position. That was also a headache, and financial issues were also entangled. The two families were promoting a joint project on the occasion of the engagement between Lilia and Richard. If she took herself out, only Richard would do good. ¡®As expected, let¡¯s not talk now.¡¯ When she learned of what Richard had done, it was clear that his parents would dismiss nothing and destroy it immediately. Without any countermeasures, the marquis were being played. There was no evidence to be found of cheating other than being caught on the spot, and there was no way that Richard could simply accept the breakup. Lilia concluded that it would be better to be honest when some concrete plans are made. ¡°¡­ can I talk to you in more detail later?¡± When Lilia scattered her words, his eyes narrowed. Hainley asked confidently, as if he knew everything. ¡°Is it because of Richard?¡± When Lilia went silent, he frowned. ¡°So far, I¡¯ve held back when you said you liked him but if you¡¯re going to defend him in the midst of all this¡­¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡± His misunderstanding was decisively cut off by Lilia. Heinley nodded as if to say that he understood, thinking it would be all right, Lilia opened her mouth calmly. ¡°I had a fight with Richard, as I had expected would happen.¡± ¡°. . . .¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t say anything because I couldn¡¯t come to a clear conclusion and¡± Heinley listened to Lilia in silence. Lilia took a deep breath after checking his expression. And said with more added tension. ¡°I want to stop preparing for the wedding.¡± ¡°¡­ what? You¡¯re going to stop the wedding?¡± Heinley rarely was embarrassed. It was because he watched how much Lilia had been looking forward to the wedding. ¡°Yes, I¡¯d like to postpone the wedding.¡± ¡°Because of this fight?¡± He looked at whether it was a mere whim. ¡°It¡¯s the same with arguing but I¡¯ve been feeling out of place lately. I thought I¡¯d be unhappy if I got married like this.¡± There was a need to lay the groundwork for the breakup. So that their families can naturally accept it later on. ¡°It would be easy to stop it because we were in charge of preparing for the wedding anyway.¡± The Marquis was just like a golden spoon. From the cost to the location, the costumes, and the invitations to pass on to the guests, Bloden family was in charge of everything. So they will accept the proposal to postpone the wedding. Of course, the marriage would never take place. Heinley was lost in thought for a long time. After a while, he lifted himself up slightly, putting his palm on the armrest. ¡°I¡¯ll send a man to the Marquis of Tersian right now.¡± ¡°I want to say it myself.¡± Heinley turned his head and stared at Lilia. Their eyes met, and the two were silent for a moment. The eyes that were standing over the silver-rimmed glasses slowly unraveled. ¡°Try to do it.¡± It was a harsh way of speaking, but in the end his response became more blunt and has been stuck in her ears. Silence sank into the atmosphere when he finished speaking. The awkwardness was as deep as their long-lost relationship. It seemed to take more time to communicate naturally. Lilia plucked up her courage and resumed the conversation. ¡°What about the parents?¡± ¡°They are down in the South, so they¡¯ll be back in ten days.¡± ¡°I see. I¡¯ll tell my parents myself, too.¡± Heinley nodded slowly. Lilia felt the touch of paper while she was touching her finger. It was a paper bag that she took off from the carriage earlier. ¡°And this¡­. It¡¯s not much, but it¡¯s a gift.¡± Heinley took the bag and took out a small box. There was a small orgle in the box. He did not show any reaction. ¡®I should¡¯ve asked.¡¯ Lilia rose slightly, regretting her action awkwardly. ¡°I have something to do, can I go ahead?¡± Heinley nodded slowly. With a brief greeting, Iiliya rose from her seat. It was not long before he heard the door shut quietly. ¡°. . . .¡± After being left alone, Hainley smoothed the orgel for a long time. * * * Lilia laid on the bed as soon as she got back to her room. She didn¡¯t talk much to Heinley, but she was already exhausted. After taking a little rest, Lilia ordered the servant to bring a big box. Then she started throwing things into the boxes that the employee had brought. The things that she got with Richard, the letters she craved, the perfume that he gave her¡­ the perfume that was not her taste. There was no hesitation in the act, it was like throwing away garbage. By the time it was midnight, the arrangement was almost finished. There was little left in the room as if a typhoon had swept all of her possessions away. ¡°I feel better.¡± She felt a little relieved from her complicated mindset like a tangled thread. Lilia finally opened the desk drawer. There was a jewelry box in the corner of the drawer. She then put the jewelry box on her desk, looked at it for a while, and opened the lid. There was an old button in the jewelry box. It was an old button that didn¡¯t have anything special. But it was more important than anything to Iiliya. Lilia began to recall the past she had buried within the jewelry box. Before, Iliya had been to the palace. She wandered from place to place without knowing that she missed her family¡¯s entrance into the palace because she was excited about her first visit. When she found a pavilion in the middle of the pond, she was unable to resist her curiosity and crossed the bridge that led to the pavilion. But the bridge, made out of stone, was very slippery because it had rained the day before. Lilia slipped and fell into the pond. Unfortunately, she did not know how to swim and not a single person had passed around. Her body sank into the water as if someone was pulling its feet. The view began to blacken with the thought of dying as it seemed inevitable. ¡° . . . ¡± Lilia coughed up water. When she came to her senses, her body was on the grass. -¡°Are you all right, Young Miss?¡± She saw hair that glowed red in the sun. It was her first meeting with Richard Tersian. When she got home that day, she had a button placed in her hand. She thought the button was ripped while pulling Richard¡¯s clothes, who had run to save her. After a time of recovery, Lilia went to the Marquis to thank him. -¡°Thank you very much for saving me.¡± -¡°I just did what I was supposed to do.¡± The humble appearance of Richard made Lilia feel good. He refused the reward several times. He was different from others who approached her just by looking at the money she had. Since then, whenever she heard his story, she was naturally interested in it and she often encountered it at banquets and downtown areas. The relationship, repeated several times, soon became fate. In the spring when magnolias are in full bloom in the backing, Lilia fell in love. ¡°. . . . ¡± The button in her hand on the day that Richard saved her life was not yet returned to his owner. Lilia held the button tight and let go. Whenever she thought of Richard, there would be a small spark in her heart. A warm, vital, heart-warming sensation. She used to realize that this is what it is to love someone. But not anymore. Only ashes were scattered on the already ruined chest. She just stared at the fire that had been extinguished. In fact, she once believed that he would come to see her. She imagined him saying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I beg you to forgive me.¡± However, Richard did not even send a letter, let alone a visit. Thanks to him, she was able to organize her mind quickly. If he had asked for forgiveness, she might have accepted it foolishly. Lilia stopped trying to throw the button into the trash can. As expected, it would be better to return this in person. Then she thought she could completely put an end to her tangled mindset. After having some consideration, Lilia kept the button back in the drawer. ¡°Lady.¡± A voice could be heard from outside, Lilia told them to come in. Then the employee came in with a big box. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°These are the letters that have come to you so far.¡± It was a letter that accumulated for a month. Lilia sat in a chair and quickly sorted through the letters. Most were invitations to tea parties or birthday parties. It was either a person related to Richard, or from people who were familiar with him. It was obvious that he was trying to establish a shallow relationship for the sake of money. If she had been the person she was before, she would be reluctant and her face would have lit at least once, but not now. While pushing all of her invitations into the trash, she found a shiny envelope. When she opened the envelope and checked, it said that a banquet was held at the palace for nobles¡¯ love and spiritual food. ¡®He must have received the same invitation.¡¯ Richard likes banquets, so he¡¯d definitely attend. Lilia clasped the invitation she was holding. It was an opportunity to check the face of her brazen fiance. Chapter 7 Changed Atmosphere Four days later, the day of the banquet came. The invitation came a month ago but the preparation period was short due to late confirmation. Lilia, who got up at the break of dawn, began to get dressed with the help of her servants. ¡°This would be better for my headdress. The ribbon string should be a lighter color.¡± Sitting in front of the mirror, Lilia made various requests to her employees. The employees who had been dressing her in a familiar way stopped and then moved to the new order. ¡°I think it would be okay if my lips were a little darker.¡± Lilia always insisted on being simple and light-faced and innocent. But today¡¯s makeup was quite different. Her features are clear, and her tone is bright and light. After finishing her makeup, she changed her clothes for the last time. Instead of a pale dress, she wore a navy blue dress with silver thread embroidery. Every time she moved, the thread shined as if it was like a flowing milky way, the hem of the dress was shone in silver. The servants admired the elegant atmosphere like she was the queen of the night. ¡°You¡¯re really beautiful.¡± ¡°Yes! You look like the main character!¡± Lilia looked at herself in the mirror. She only changed her makeup and clothes but she seemed to have changed into a different person. She couldn¡¯t completely erase the soft impression, but the change in her dressing method helped her lessen the softness. Until now, she has always dressed according to the impression of being good. It was because Richard had been telling her that the cute, clear feeling suits her. But now she didn¡¯t have to. It was also best to wear what she liked. Lilia left the bedroom and went down to the front door. After she got into the carriage, she headed to the Imperial Palace with Franchse and Malik. The Imperial Palace was built in the center of the capital. Most of the roofs with different heights were colors of blue and white, so from a distance it seemed as if the waves were rushing. Due to its enormous size, those who visited the Imperial Palace for the first time would be lost. However, Lilia was accustomed to this scale and took the entrance procedure. The carriage passing through the gates stopped in front of the banquet hall. Many carriages were already lined up like ants. Lilia got out of the carriage with the help of Malik. The escort was unable to accompany them, so they decided to wait in a separate space. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Franchse and Malik, neatly dressed for the banquet, straightened their backs. With their greetings, Lilia entered the banquet hall. The banquet hall was full of unmarried love lives and spirituality. Every time she moved, she could feel a people glancing around her. The people who were talking stopped talking and looked at Lilia with surprised eyes. She went further inside, ignoring the attention that was directed at her. ¡°¡­..Lilia?¡± Lilia turned her head to the voice from behind her. There stood a man with red hair and colorful costume. It was Richard. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Richard¡¯s long-suspecting face changed to certainty. Taking a single step towards her, he stopped in front of Liliya. ¡°You¡¯re so pretty today.¡± Richard admired and looked down at her. As she received his respectful gaze, her thin hair sprang up all over her body. It was as if she had become a product in front of her store. If it had been before, she would have been purely happy to say that she was pretty¡­, but now what she felt was only unpleasant. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you dress up like this?¡± She had given up on her favorite things because of someone. Instead of answering, Lilia ignored him and walked forward. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Richard followed her in a hurry. When he tried to grab her arm, Lilia struck his arm. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡± ¡°Are you still angry?¡± At that time, Liliya¡¯s gaze on him sank deeper when asked if she had anything on her heart. She thought he would say sorry to her when he met her. As expected, she seemed to have rated Richard too high. What did she want from this garbage? ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°I thought your anger would go away in a month. So I didn¡¯t even call you on purpose.¡± He said that he was considerate. ¡°You say that now? Rather, you should have come yourself and apologized.¡± ¡°I told you then, too. It¡¯s not the wind that flew.¡± (T/N: He is just normalising the situation of previous month) ¡°What the hell do you think I am?¡± She thought she was speaking calmly, but her lips trembled. The waves of emotion that had been barely dormant for a month flooded in. Salt water was sprinkled on her wounded heart. ¡°Let¡¯s stop talking about it. You seem a little sensitive today.¡± Lilia bit her lips as he tried to evade the conversation. She didn¡¯t want to mingle with him anymore, but she still had something to say. ¡°Our wedding¡­ ¡° She was trying to bring up the idea of delaying the wedding, but there was a great stir of people around her. It was because someone entered the banquet hall. ¡°They are the Evantheons, aren¡¯t they? ¡° A person nearby muttered. Richard turned his head first, and Lilia looked at the entrance with a furrowing eyebrow. He was far away and his face was hard to see, but his head was bigger compared to others. For some reason, she was familiar with it, so Lilia narrowed her eyes. ¡®I haven¡¯t met you, so it¡¯s an illusion, right?¡¯ Lilia knew a little about the Evantheons. It was so famous that rumors were often heard. Karhan Evantheon, he was the second son of the family of the historic Duke of Evantheon. He had been veiled so far as she could see and suddenly he became the heir last year It caused an uproar. There were all kinds of rumors about him, who took the position after pushing away his eldest son, who was the heir. A killer on the battlefield without shedding blood or tears. His personality is very dirty, and he kicked out his brother because of ambition¡­. Most were negative rumors. In any case, the Duke¡¯s successor was Karhan Evantheon. People were very interested in Karhan Evantheon. However, there was no clear record until he became the successor. It had been a long time since he attended the banquet, so people¡¯s curiosity eventually grew. It was not long before everyone around began to talk about the Evantheon¡¯s little Duke. ¡°Hasn¡¯t it been a long time since the successor attended the banquet? I can¡¯t see the aide who was always there.¡± ¡°I know, right. It was difficult to approach because of the aide, but I have to go to say hello this time.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t go. I¡¯m scared.¡± ¡°Oh, his personality is a little bit¡­..I¡¯ve heard rumors that¡¯s true.¡± Lilia listened to the conversations of the people around her and thought about it for a moment. She had never seen Evantheon¡¯s little duke in person, but she could roughly imagine it. Going with the terrifying rumors that he was a killer, he seemed to be a very scary person. After a while, Liliya tried to talk about the wedding again. But in the meantime, other aristocrats came this way. ¡°Long time no see, Mr. Terssian!¡± She thought the faces that greeted her were somehow familiar, but they were followers of Richard. They glanced at Lilia and asked carefully. ¡°Miss. Bloden¡­..¡± Lilia looked at the man who called her name, he looked surprised when he called out to her. Even her fiance, Richard, was surprised, so the reaction was not strange. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. The atmosphere has changed a lot¡­..¡± The usual Lilia was a calm and gentle impression. Young lady, sweet and gentle, who laughs even at jokes but today she was like a different person. It was the first time Lilia was expressionless without a smile. In addition, the clothes and make-up changed drastically, so it was unfamiliar. Previously, her presence was dim like the background, but now she has caught the attention of others as if she is the main character. ¡°My fiance is beautiful.¡± Richard glanced at Liliya with a proud smile. It was as if she had become his ornament, so Lilia felt bad. Before she knew it, many people gathered around. Richard was full of celebrities in the capital society who wanted to mix a word with themselves in the capital society. Lilia thought she¡¯d leave for now. This was no atmosphere for the two to fight over the wedding. As Liliya was about to step back, a young man looked at Ricard and asked. ¡°¡­ I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m rushing you, but I wonder when you¡¯ll be able to give me a definite answer to what I asked you before.¡± Then a young man, who was standing next to him, immediately answered the words. ¡°I heard you¡¯d rent a villa. When is it possible?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to reserve a dressing room. If you could lend me your name¡­.¡± Everyone began to push their demands like a water trap. Richard smiled leisurely and listened to them. ¡°I¡¯ll do it for you soon, so wait a little longer.¡± Richard put his hand on Lilia¡¯s shoulder and whispered as if it were natural. ¡°Yes, you heard that, right?¡± Lilia knew the meaning of that phrase. He meant to ask her to do them their favor. Until now, she wanted to help him, so she solved everything quickly. It was not a burden to her at all. But it wasn¡¯t her duty anymore. ¡°Why should I?¡± When Lilia asked back without a look, Ricard was embarrassed. He never expected such an answer. ¡°How does it benefit me if I do?¡± ¡°Profit? I said I¡¯d lend it, so of course¡­.¡± ¡°Then you can listen to them yourself.¡± Lilia cut it off cold and she whispered at the hardened heart. ¡°You have to keep your own words. Isn¡¯t it?¡± Chapter 8 - Stalker Stalker The noisy surroundings instantly dissolved. Lilia smiled bitterly at those people staring at her. However, because of her beautiful looks, she gave others angelic feelings. Lilia looked around her quietly, those who met her gaze flattered. She was not a parasite. How long will they stare at her, afraid she was going to suck their sweets? (T/N: it means they are kind of vary of her and afraid of her sudden change) ¡°It¡¯s not good here, so I need to get some air.¡± Lilia stepped away first. Perhaps because of pride, Richard did not hold onto Lilia. Quitely, She heard Richard whisper close to her ear. ¡°I don¡¯t usually do that, but I don¡¯t feel good today.¡± Knowing Richard¡¯s nasty attitude in the past, Lilia has already been long used to it. Maybe he didn¡¯t know she was that kind of person, or he knew but pretended not to know. She had always wanted to ask him that in the past. Lilia then walked toward the terrace. Then she called the servant who passed by and asked, ¡°Would you bring me a bottle of strong liquor here?¡± Lilia entered the empty terrace. She drew out the curtain so that no one could see from the inside, and then she approached the railing. From the terrace protruding in a semicircle, she could see the garden at a glance. Lilia looked down over the garden, and bitterness struck. In the place where the infested anger passed, a bewildered mind fell. This time she already realized that Richard was a bad guy, but still everytime she witnessed it again with her own eyes, her heart was bitter. ¡®You were always thinking of me as a water buffoon.¡¯ The moment she learned about it, she became depressed. After a while, the attendant came in with a liquor bottle and a glass. She put the glass on the edge of the railing and picked up only the bottle. As she pulled the cork, which was already halfway out, there was a popping sound. Wanting to get drunk quickly, Lilia gulped down the bottle of alcohol directly. If others were to see, they might point out how she must¡¯ve been an unsophisticated, but it didn¡¯t matter anymore. Either way, there will be all kinds of rumors tomorrow. Bloden Young Lady, who used to be a pushover, became weird. Drinking the liquor like water, Lilia put down the bottle. ¡°I have to make a plan to break off this engagement.¡± After seeing what Richard was doing, she wanted to break the marriage as soon as possible. Then she¡¯ll pluck the bloody tears from Richard¡¯s eyes. ¡®If you¡¯re this kind, it¡¯s good if you can¡¯t carry your face.¡¯ (T/N: he acts like all kind and all so it will be good if he is unable to carry that face in public) It was the moment when Liliya reached her hand for the bottle again. She heard the sound of the door opening. Surprised, Lilia turned her head automatically. ¡°. . . . !¡± Lilia opened her eyes wide when she saw an uninvited guest in haste. A tall man stood at the terrace door. Lilia observed his face with her mouth opened in surprise. It was the pushover she met at the music box store. He also stopped as if he was surprised to see Lilia. In an unexpected encounter, the two stared at each other silently for a moment. ¡°¡­. I¡¯m sorry. I thought no one was here, I was too careless¡­ I¡¯ll be out soon.¡± The man politely offered an apology first. Lilia turned around and quickly called him up. ¡°Wait a moment. ¡° The big body came to an abrupt halt. ¡°It¡¯s okay for you to stay here.¡± It was only for an instant, but Lilia already saw his expression. He seemed very troubled. There seems to be an upsetting situation, so it doesn¡¯t matter if it is only for a while. ¡°thank you.¡± After a moment of hesitation, he let out his breath, sighing. It sounds like a sigh of relief. The man stood as far away as he could and didn¡¯t move an inch. Lilia glanced at him with his back on the door. She thought about it when she saw him in the store. She really liked his physique. His height was also superior to others, and his shoulders and body size were great as well. At a glance he looked as heavy and rowdy as a bear, but it wasn¡¯t. Although his bone¡¯s structure itself was large, there was also a flexible line all over his body that made him seem to look strong. Big but sleek, an ideal body that a sculptor would admire. His face also could be said handsome. In other words, however, he looked more spicy-hot than handsome. Black hair that seemed to have enhanced a mystical feeling and blue eyes bright as a sky in the early morning. The straight and dark eyebrows looked thick as if the painter had drawn them with a brush. The eyes sculpted under the eyebrows were angled smoothly, creating an enchanting fierce looked. The glide nose bridge and broken porcelain-like jaw line were sharp, and the tightly closed mouth made a hearty impression The biggest impact above all was the facial expression. The first time she met him, he wasn¡¯t that expressive, so he gave an impression of having a hard face. ¡®If I don¡¯t look closely, I¡¯ll never notice.¡¯ Lilia could read the feelings of others well. It was because she had used to do stuff that made her deal with people, so she had the habit of looking at their mood and expression. So she was able to quickly read the man¡¯s face that came up faintly. But most people would never know what he was thinking or how he felt. The red light fell on the man¡¯s face. The light seems too dazzling, but he took it silently without even moving a step. His body features seemed to be to keep the line shape. It somehow felt thick, on the one hand it seemed inflexible. He opened his mouth after a long time. ¡°I¡¯m sorry at the¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± It was about what happened at the Orgel store. Lilia had helped the man, but then he offered a reward before they went separate ways. ¡°I made a mistake. I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d be offended.¡± (the man) Liliya blinked slowly. Suddenly, she wondered why he offered to give her a reward. ¡°So why did you offer a reward?¡± ¡°I thought it was a righteous thing to do, giving you a reward, since you helped me. ¡° But in that situation, isn¡¯t it a bit wrong? He gave her money all of a sudden. He made a face that she didn¡¯t understand, and he slowly explained why. ¡°Others were happy when I offered a reward in a similar case before¡­There was never unrequited kindness.¡± His voice sounded calm, as if to recite the most obvious words. Lilia pressed her lips because she didn¡¯t know what to say for a moment. It¡¯s natural to be kind when there¡¯s a price, but there¡¯s no one who¡¯s kind without a price. ¡®What a tough life you¡¯ve been living¡­..¡¯ She couldn¡¯t fully understand him, but to some extent the misunderstanding seemed to have been resolved. At least it wasn¡¯t an act of bluffing or trying to belittle her. Lilia opened her mouth with a soft face. ¡°I was just doing a favour.¡± ¡°Favour¡­?¡± He mumbled as if he were talking to himself. He looked like he never heard that word before. He seemed to be a person who didn¡¯t know the meaning of the word ¡°favour¡±. ¡°I¡¯m neither your servant nor your employee.¡± He was silent. She didn¡¯t think he could understand her perfectly, so Lilia spoke more bluntly. ¡°I mean, you don¡¯t have to do anything like a case. I don¡¯t need money in particular.¡± Lilia emphasized the last words. The man silently nodded slowly. ¡°Yes. I will keep it in mind.¡± He repeatedly apologized again. It was a little burdensome to keep hearing about an apology, but it was fresh. It was because it was not so common that nobles gave up their pride and gave apologies. ¡®I don¡¯t know which family it is, but he¡¯s polite.¡¯ Lilia picked up the bottle again. Still, it wasn¡¯t appropriate to drink directly from the bottle, so she brought the glass she had put aside before. She poured the drink into a glass and drank a sip. As she felt his gaze, Lilia asked. ¡°Would you like to drink?¡± ¡°I am in moderation.¡± He¡¯s really an upright man. And so Liliya didn¡¯t recommend it to him any more and just continued to drink alone. When she almost emptied the bottle, she was already a little drunk. Her disturbed heart was also a little softened. Lilia put down the glass and asked, looking at him. ¡°Can I ask why you suddenly jumped into the terrace?¡± As he hesitated, Lilia shook her head. ¡°If it is a private matter. It is okay if you don¡¯t tell.¡± She wasn¡¯t trying to force them to ask. However, whether he accepted it differently, she opened her shut mouth. ¡°¡­..I have someone with whom talks about engagement is going on.¡± The man glanced at the terrace door in anxiety. Lilia, who hated her fianc¨¦ and came to drink alone, quickly was interested. ¡°Are you having trouble with someone who will be your fiance, too?¡± ¡°Trouble¡­¡­¡± ¡°Then what is troubling you?¡± She looked back at him while he threw the question back, he lowered his eyes. ¡°I am being followed, and it¡¯s getting uncomfortable¡± ¡°Following you?¡± It¡¯s not particularly bad to follow another person in the banquet hall, was that something wrong? As Lilia stared at him curiously, he snapped his lips closed. A man who couldn¡¯t win the glance to tell me slowly gave an example. The man, who couldn¡¯t stand her stare anymore, glanced at her and slowly started to give an explanation. ¡°That little behaviour¡­.It¡¯s too excessive.¡± The other party, who suggested the engagement, came to see him everyday or every night if he didn¡¯t contact her for a while. Whenever he didn¡¯t say where he was going, she would somehow pretend to have met him by coincidence, and when he was with other people, the person would suddenly run wild like crazy. Apparently the other party didn¡¯t stop only there, she also has been coming and going with her family as she pleases. Interfering in every single aspect in his life as if she has already become his wife. ¡®He couldn¡¯t breath¡¯. (T/N: it doesn¡¯t literally means he couldn¡¯t breath but it means he was being under stress coz of that other person) Lilia thought when he finally finished talking. ¡°Wow. Stalker¡­..¡± Lilia at first thought it wasn¡¯t strange, immediately changed her mind. Judging from the nature of this man, it was obvious he couldn¡¯t stand such behaviors. Wasn¡¯t he almost touted by the music box store¡¯s clerk? ¡°¡­¡­I asked her not to do this, but every time, I was ignored. I¡¯m worried that it will only get worse after the engagement ceremony.¡± Lilia gave a sympathetic look. Arranged marriages happen very often in noble families, but they were not stalkers. The man didn¡¯t even seem to like his future fianc¨¦. ¡°That¡¯s a big deal. You¡¯d better discuss it with the family.¡± ¡°The family¡­..¡± He shuts his mouth. As the face darkened in no time, Liliya thought that she had to change the topic. ¡°Actually, I also suffered a little because of my fiance this time.¡± The man raised his head. Looking at her in silence, Lilia said something she hadn¡¯t said to her family. ¡°That person betrayed me.¡± She wanted to open the door right now and shout at Richard to break off the engagement. However, there were too many mountains to overcome in order to break off the engagement. ¡®If I had a higher status than Richard, I wouldn¡¯t have been worried about this.¡¯ When Liliya was trying to calm down and about to open her mouth to continue again. The terrace door suddenly burst open. And someone jumped in. ¡°Sir Evantheon!!!¡± Lilia was instantly sobered by a shrieking ringing voice. ¡°Evantheon, I was surprised you disappeared all of a sudden!¡± A woman in colorful clothes with her long hanging navy hair, said while holding his arm. Standing at the end of the terrace, Lilia blinked blankly. Evantheon, that¡¯s a name she has heard a lot¡­ What, Evantheon?! Lilia opened her eyes wide. Only one of these people at today¡¯s banquet could be called Evantheon. There was only one. Karhan Evantheon, heir to the Duke¡¯s family. He was the main character of the rumor that everyone was talking about earlier. Chapter 9 - Karhan Evantheon Karhan Evantheon Confused, Lilia stared at the man. ¡°Is this man Evantheon¡¯s, little duke?¡± She had heard that he was a murderer on the battlefield and had a nasty personality. ¡®They said he was a killer on the battlefield. They said he is a bad person. What the hell are you?¡¯ Her first impression of him was so strong he didn¡¯t seem like a murderer at all. The woman holding his arm spoke to him. When she saw Lilia staring, she reacted with hostility. Lilia immediately noticed who she was. She was the stalker that the story of the engagement with Karhan Evantheon went back and forth about. ¡°Evantheon, who is this woman?¡± Her question forced Karhan¡¯s mouth shut. Lilia and Karhan had never formally introduced themselves to each other. While Karhan stayed silent, the woman observed Lilia. She stared at Lilia¡¯s face, asking with confidence. ¡°Are you Lady Bloden?¡± Lilia nodded slowly. She pretended to know Lady Bloden, but Lilia¡¯s never met her before. If she were a friend of the Bloden family, she would be rich, but she wasn¡¯t. ¡®I don¡¯t think that family likes me very much.¡¯ Lilia glanced at Karhan. His face was still expressionless, but the embarrassment still came out of his trembling eyebrows. His trembling face betrayed his expressionless fa?ade. Suddenly the stalker came and looked surprised. She observed his face, surprised at his reaction. ¡®It¡¯s annoying, so let¡¯s just avoid it.¡¯ There was nothing good about getting involved in politics. Lilia walked away thinking she should get away with it naturally. ¡°I was just about to go in, so you two talk.¡± ¡°You must have done something suspicious while I was gone, as you suddenly avoided your seat just now.¡± Scratching her head, Lilia looked at her. She wanted to call her name, but she didn¡¯t know who the mysterious girl was. ¡°You don¡¯t know me?¡± The woman raised her voice like her pride was hurt. When Lilia didn¡¯t answer, she shouted. ¡°It¡¯s Stella Delotta!¡± Her eyes widened when the Delotta family was mentioned. Although the Delottas only had the Count title, their house was widely-known for their enormous wealth. They had several businesses: theaters, transportation, restaurants, and boutiques. All were adorned with the Delotta family seal. Furthermore, the Bloden and Delotta family had a bitter rivalry against each other. The Delotta family were crowned the ¡°richest family in the empire¡± for generations. However, when Lilia was born, things changed. As days passed, the monetary gap between the two families grew wider, and the reputation they have enjoyed so far fell to the Bloden family. The Delottas, with their wounded pride, have been interfering with the Bloden family¡¯s affairs ever since. When the Delottas tried to start a new business, the company couldn¡¯t compensate for their discounted prices, and went bankrupt. Lilia¡¯s luck only further fueled their failures. No matter how much the Delottas tried to sabotage, the Blodens flourished and didn¡¯t succumb to their schemes. Despite the numerous incidents with Delotta, there was one memorable occasion for Lilia. ¡®It was a luxury carriage design.¡¯ In the past, the Bloden family was about to launch a new product. Said product was a luxury carriage, but the design plans were stolen before launch. That incident forced the Blodens to create a new design from scratch, with Lilia as their key helper. The Blodens thought with Lilia¡¯s help, the design would be most successful. In the end, it was Lilia¡¯s job to choose the final design. That day, Lilia chose the most bold design out of the several possible ideas. Other designers voiced their disapproval, however Bloden followed Lilia¡¯s judgement faithfully and began production. Shortly, after the design incident, Delotta released a new product. It was the same luxury carriage as the Bloden¡¯s design plans. She knew it was the Delotta family who stole the luxury carriage design, but there was no evidence. Additionally, the Delotta¡¯s advertised their stolen product with confidence, asserting they had been preparing this idea for years. Due to this, the Delotta family promoted the product with no signs of terror. As if heaven placed judgement on the Delottas. The luxury carriage was a product doomed for failure. The Delottas produced thousands, with only a few bought. After that, the Bloden family launched a wagon based on a new pattern. It was so unusual, it was evaluated as being difficult at first. But soon after, the fashion leaders praised for being revolutionary. In the social world, where you can chew stones if it¡¯s fashionable, wagons were starting to be sold on fire. When the carriage was launched a month ago. The Blodens sold nine hundred and ninety-five wagons. Exactly as much as Delotta lost and Stella, standing in front of her, was the only one of the Delotta family. Lilia¡¯s gaze after the recollection was changed. ¡®You lost a lot of weight¡­¡¯ Stella, who Liliya knew, was overweight. She heard rumors that she lost weight, but she seemed to have changed. Lilia turned back her steps. She thought she should avoid it because it was annoying, but it was different for the bitter Delotta Young Lady. Even more if she openly argued. ¡°Ah, Delotta.¡± Stella¡¯s eyebrows furrowed when Lilia answered awkwardly. She took a step forward, taking off Karhan¡¯s hand. When they faced each other, Stella looked down at Lilia and asked, ¡°So what are you doing on the terrace?¡± ¡°What are you doing?¡± When Lilia asked back, Stella shouted nervously. ¡°You were in the same place with my man! You don¡¯t think I know what you¡¯re doing?¡± ¡°I guess the young lady lacks confidence. It¡¯s enough to keep him in check.¡± ¡°What. ..¡± When Stella faltered, Lilia pulled up one corner of her mouth. Her face must be soft and gentle, but her eyes were not like that at all. ¡°If you wanted to barge into someone else¡¯s resting place, you should have brought evidence. At least attack a kissing scene.¡± If there was no evidence, the grounds for suspicion should have been brought. Like herself a month ago, or even a spot arrest. Lilia smiled coldly. Richard that motherf*cker. (T/N: I seriously didn¡¯t wanted to censor it) ¡°Even though you weren¡¯t even engaged yet, you must have been very anxious, right?¡± ¡°Lilia Bloden!¡± ¡°Or did you not trust the Little Duke?¡± So Lilia asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just come in all of a sudden?¡± Stella blinked her eyes in embarrassment. She probably didn¡¯t think about it that much. ¡°No, I¡­¡± Stella turned to Karhan, who was standing behind her, to make excuses and her expression gradually hardened. Lilia also looked at Karhan. He looked very uncomfortable with his brow knitted. It was frightening to put in words. ¡°E, Evantheon¡­ are you angry?¡± Stella stammered. Karhan¡¯s fierce atmosphere seemed overwhelmed and frightened. Lilia, who was far away, quietly looked at Karhan. His forehead narrowed, the eyebrows rose upward, and the eyes were sharp like arrowheads. Originally, it was a ferocious face, but now it seemed as if his eyes were telling her to go off. ¡®He must have been taken aback by the sudden attention.¡¯ Lilia could notice how he was feeling, but to others, he had a firmly angry face. Finally, his tightly sealed lips opened The moment he tried to speak up, Stella stepped back. ¡°I¡­, I¡¯ll go in first. It¡¯s not because I can¡¯t trust you¡­!¡± She came in boldly and left the terrace with her tail off. Tak, the door closed timidly. ¡°It¡¯s too bad.¡± When Lilia kicked her tongue, Karhan flinched noticeably. She felt like she became a bad person, so Lilia felt a little unfair. This was a very elegant finish. And she told her archrival, the Delotta, not to lose rock, paper, scissors. ¡°First, I¡¯m going to argue, but if I stay still, I¡¯m stupid.¡± Lilia muttered as if she were making excuses. Looking at Lilia from a distance, he slowly opened his mouth. ¡°¡­.. Young Lady seems to be very confident.¡± ¡®Is that a curse in return for me..?¡¯ Lilia thought, and an unexpected word came in. ¡°I envy you.¡± Lilia slowly looked up and faced him. And she tried to grasp the true meaning in his expressionless face. The blue eyes of his didn¡¯t tell a single lie. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that the day would come to hear that an Evantheon was envious of a small Countess.¡± Rather, it was the man in front of her who could be more confident than anyone else. Evantheon, called the best of all nobles. And the only heir. No one could blame him for being so proud, even if he were being so violent. The status of one could be their personality. ¡°I¡¯m not good enough.¡± Karhan mumbled his eyes down. A tone close to self-statement, Lilia narrowed her eyes slightly. ¡°I know myself that I don¡¯t get along as the Evantheon successor.¡± ¡°¡­..Why do you think so?¡± ¡°Because everyone is afraid of me.¡± Lilia recalled rumors about Evantheon¡¯s little prince. A murderer who enjoys blood. A bad personality and an arrogant person. A cold-blooded man who brought down his brother and became the successor. There were rumors that he looked at other people as if they were bugs, and that he played with numerous women. ¡®It doesn¡¯t fit at all.¡¯ His first impression was a pushover to Lilia. It is premature to judge who she only saw twice, but the Karhan, Lilia saw was different from the rumors. Instead of being polite and showing pride, an apple popped out first, and it was like a big shrimp that exploded in the fight against a whale. Far from being a bad guy, he¡¯s actually running away from a stalker¡­. It seemed to be misunderstood because the atmosphere was sharp around him. He was the opposite of himself who had a good face and a bad personality. ¡°Are you not afraid of me, lady?¡± ¡°Should I be afraid?¡± Lilia asked the question carefully. Then Karhan was embarrassed. ¡°But the others¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s someone else.¡± No matter how fierce he looked, it was a fact that he was being forced to sell orgel at the store. And as she was looking at him, she could read his expression more and more. Lilia, who was looking at Karhan, asked the opposite question. ¡°You little duke. You weren¡¯t mad at her earlier. You were flustered, weren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°. . . . !¡± As if she knew how, his eyes got bigger. Chapter 10 - Avenge Myself Avenge Myself Lilia spoke calmly. ¡°I have a good feeling about that.¡± Lilia was quick-witted and good at analyzing others. What are they thinking, how they felt, and what purpose they approached her for. Sometimes she noticed what others would say before her opponent even brought it up. Some people said it was comfortable, but others felt uncomfortable. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I offended you.¡± ¡°No.¡± He shook his head at Lilia¡¯s apology. Still puzzled, Karhan muttered to himself. ¡°¡­¡­.first time. Someone who recognized me at a glance.¡± His upright position was loosened. As the tight thread loosened, his body line became much more natural. The reason he¡¯d been rigid so far is because he must¡¯ve been nervous. ¡°I¡¯m used to being misunderstood.¡± After some hesitation, Karhan opened his mouth. He seemed unfamiliar to himself, as if he had never uttered such a frank statement. Lilia turned completely and looked at Karhan. His lips were as heavy as an iron door that would not open, but his blue eyes contained numerous words. As if to ask permission, he looked at Lilia. It was new to see a man who was used to giving orders. ¡°I¡¯m listening, so keep talking.¡± In Lilia¡¯s answer, Karhan had difficulty bringing up the next word. ¡°Everyone seems to be scared of me.¡± Karhan¡¯s face was still expressionless. There was no gap between his expressions as if a needle wouldn¡¯t go in. She thought she knew why people were scared. He was as if he were emotionless. ¡°I don¡¯t speak very well, and it¡¯s not common for me to continue this conversation for so long.¡± Karhan blinked slowly. Then, the energy he had that felt fierce was immediately relieved. This situation seemed to be unfamiliar, and he looked pure and happy. Lilia, who was looking at his face as if she were analyzing it, felt a little pity for him. She wondered if there was a little bit of make-up, but it wasn¡¯t. Lilia¡¯s expression became softer. Karhan murmured relievedly with a sweet face that seemed to listen to everything, whether it was a confession or a statement. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because my face is very ugly.¡± (T/N: LMFAO) ¡°. . . . ?¡± The unexpected question left Lilia speechless. ¡®Am I mistaken about the word he just said?¡¯ No, if that face was hideous, there would be no one here who would approach him. To be honest, if she put him on the altar, she would have thought he was a statue. ¡°Why do you think so?¡± ¡°Everyone gets stiffened just by looking at my face.¡± ¡®I think it¡¯s because the rumors are so strong.¡¯ In addition, he had a fierce impression and a harsh expression. It would be much better if his expression got softer. ¡°It¡¯s a look, um¡­.¡± ¡°Is it too serious?¡± ¡°No, not at all. How about smiling normally? I think that¡¯ll be fine.¡± When Lilia offered a solution, he pondered for a moment and pulled up the corners of his mouth. For a moment, Lilia was so surprised that she held her breath. ¡®It¡¯s really serious.¡¯ She got even more scared but she just let out a laugh. A handsome but more brutal villain seemed to say, ¡°You¡¯re dead now.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this?¡± Karhan, who saw Lilia¡¯s reaction, returned the corners of his mouth to its original form. His shoulders drooped as he looked sullen. Lilia looked at him quietly. In fact, Karhan didn¡¯t have to try to change himself. It was advantageous to look like he was now, to reign from above. If others knew his true personality, it would be easy to take advantage of him. As far as the rumor goes, there¡¯s no one to blame in front of him. She felt sorry for his status. ¡®Identity?¡¯ Her dull headache cleared up in an instant after drinking. Lilia looked at Karhan properly with her head straight. Karhan Evantheon, standing in front of her, was the man who would rise to the highest position except for the royal family. And few people seemed to know his true self. Suddenly, a good idea came to her mind. ¡°Evantheon, the Little Duke?¡± Lilia called him with a smile. It was a smile full of self-interest, but she looked very affectionate as if an angel had come down. ¡°So you want to clear up the misunderstanding so that no one else is afraid of the little duke?¡± ¡°Huh? ¡­.. yes.¡± When he answered honestly, Lilia¡¯s smile deepened. She looked exactly like her parents who were merchants. ¡°I think I can help you with that.¡± ¡°How¡­¡± Lilia took her back off the railing and walked forward one step at a time. The distance between the two people standing at the end of the terrace immediately drew to a close. Karhan stepped back without realizing it. But it was a tightly closed door that touched his back. The sun set a long time ago. The blue light of the twilight covered the terrace. Dark shadows cast over Karhan. ¡°Instead, you should do business with me.¡± Lilia¡¯s purple eyes twinkled like stars in the dark. Karhan looked at the eyes as if he were possessed for a moment. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not a bad condition for a small craftsman.¡± Karhan came to his senses belatedly. In time, a thin arm came out and brushed his shoulder. He suddenly became surprised and his expression hardened, Lilia hit the slightly open curtain firmly. ¡®So that no one could see this side at all at the banquet hall.¡¯ Thought Lilia, who slowly collected her arms. ¡°It¡¯s about forming an alliance and helping each other break up with one another¡¯s obstacle.¡± The slow blinking blue eyes stopped. He didn¡¯t seem to understand what she was saying. Lilia spoke in more detail. ¡°I want to break up with my fiance. I don¡¯t think the little duke wants to get engaged.¡± ¡°But I can¡¯t¡­.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯ll be engaged to the stalker. You mean?¡± Karhan stiffened his shoulders. Lilia continued, facing his stiffened face. ¡°I know a little bit about Delotta, but I think she¡¯s getting more and more obsessed. She might always interfere when you both get married.¡± Karhan¡¯s complexion turned pale. He seemed to have imagined an obsession that would get worse than now. But he couldn¡¯t answer easily. ¡°You don¡¯t have to answer right now, so take your time.¡± Lilia stretched out her arms and opened the door on the side of Karhan¡¯s back that was not touched. The doorknob went open with a click. Lilia whispered as she passed Karhan. ¡°See you three days later at two o¡¯clock in the middle of Redison Street at the third clock tower.¡± Her whispering was like the wind and the door closed, her voice scattering. Leaving the terrace, Lilia looked at the banquet hall. As the sun set, the banquet hall was filled with sparkling lights. Maybe because it was evening, the atmosphere was more ripe than before. Men and women who danced along with the music, whispered in the corners. She looked around as if she were in front of a wide range of cheap canvas and took a step. There was no reason to stay here anymore. Originally, she came to inform Richard of the wedding, but she didn¡¯t think it was necessary. ¡®If Evantheon¡¯s little duke cooperates with me, I¡¯m going to break up my marriage right away.¡¯ Lilia left the banquet hall immediately. Coming out of the dimmed garden, Franchse and Malik, who were waiting, approached her. They looked around naturally. It was to make sure that there was no one who followed or looked dangerous. Finally, their eyes were fixed on Iilia. ¡°Lady, did you enjoy the banquet?¡± ¡°Did anyone do anything strange to you?¡± Lilia smiled lightly. Looking at the eyes full of loyalty, she felt that they were on her side. ¡®As long as I¡¯m good to my people.¡¯ It was useless to be nice to everyone. As Lilia realized that again, frances¡¯ expression got worse. ¡°What really happened inside is¡­.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Franchse shouted, ¡°I¡¯m going to draw a sword from my waist.¡± ¡°What kind of man is he? I¡¯ll¡­!¡± ¡°Nothing happened.¡± Lilia stopped him late. Frances looked as if he were a nobleman when he stood still, but he ran like a municipal jubilee when it came to working with Lilia. He was so good at cursing, and most of Lilia¡¯s harsh words were learned from him. Nevertheless, there was only one reason why he became an exclusive escort. Ability. Shortly after the coming-of-age ceremony, Frances was, to the best of Iilia¡¯s knowledge, the greatest knight in the Empire. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve seen an annoying face. ¡­¡± ¡°What kind of guy is he?¡± When she recalled Richard and said it, Frances glanced at her eyes. Malik, who usually plays the role of a mediator, also had changed his gaze. If Lilia named him, they would have dragged him down right away. When Frances acted as if he was about to run inside, Malik put his hand on his shoulder. ¡°Frances, if you make a scene here, you¡¯ll be a nuisance to her, so bear with it.¡± ¡°But¡­ ¡­¡± Frances clenched his fists as if he were angry. Then Malik dragged him aside and said something. Lilia heard something about the attack. She smiled at them. ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± Lilia looked at the banquet hall filled with colorful lights. There, surrounded by others, laughing and noisy hearts stood out. As she raised her head a little more, she could see the terrace where she was standing earlier. Evantheon, the little duke. The wind blew. Lilia¡¯s bright blond hair was taken by the wind, swinging back. She, who swept her hair, took her eyes off the terrace and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to avenge myself.¡± Chapter 11 No Regrets He had enormous power that weighed on others with a single word. Even Lilia confessed her secret, which she had hidden from her family, in order to approve him. That her fianc¨¦ has betrayed and is considering breaking up. But she had no regrets. It was an opportunity that would never happen again, and it was the best reward she could get. Lilia needed the status of Karhan. Not even Richard would dare stand up to the Evantheon family. In exchange for Evantheon¡¯s shield, Lilia was able to give Karhan more wealth than the door of Count Delotta. It happened to be the same title as Delotta, so she could say that this was a better condition. It was a kind of equivalent exchange, exchanging what each other needed. ¡®And you don¡¯t have to have a conscience against Stella.¡¯ Stella Delota has made things difficult so far. Their families were not on good terms, and every time they met, they had a quarrel. Lilia wanted to be a good fianc¨¦, so she cared so much about her reputation that she was a pushover every time. Finally, the opportunity to give it back has come. ¡®But before that, it¡¯s a priority for Evantheon to accept the deal.¡¯ Lilia was confident in persuading Karhan. * * * Three days later, it was the day of the appointment. After simply dressing up, Lilia got on the carriage as less noticeable as possible. She still had time until the appointment, but she was planning to go out early because she had business nearby. The carriage, which reached the main street, passed by the clock tower, the venue for the appointment. Then Lilia found a man standing under the clock tower. ¡°Wait, stop.¡± The carriage stopped when Lilia was in front of it. Lilia removed the curtains completely and carefully examined the man through the window. It was Karhan Evantheon, who seemed to stand out from afar. Lilia checked her watch, wondering if she had mistook time. ¡°There¡¯s still a lot of time left.¡± She was thinking about looking around the place for an hour. She was dumbfounded and laughed. Most high-ranking nobles would be deliberately late for appointments. It was because it was a simple way to recognize that the position was higher for the opponent. Many people were late for hours to put their energy on the red pepper paste but Karhan didn¡¯t seem to think of such a shallow trick. Lilia, a woman of great integrity, glanced at Karhan, who was standing there. Passers-by went around avoiding Karhan. Everyone looked desperate not to make eye contact. She thought she knew the reason why. He was just standing, but she felt a sense of intimidation because it was rare to see someone standing there with such presence. Moreover, he was dark from head to toe, so they must be scared of the attention one would receive. ¡°What a waste of face.¡± He didn¡¯t know how advantageous he would be with a handsome face. She wanted to do something about his dull clothes first. ¡®Now that it¡¯s done, I think I¡¯ll have to put off my business.¡¯ It was a little too much to leave him for an hour. ¡°Oh, my God!¡± An old man who was passing in front of Karhan stumbled on a stone brick. He didn¡¯t fall, but from the envelope he was holding, food such as apples and bread scattered on the floor. Karhan, who was standing around, bent down and picked up an apple. Then the old man knelt down in surprise. ¡°Oh, no! This is my family¡¯s food for the day. Please, this much. . ..¡± It was a reaction as if Karhan had robbed him. The old man begged, saying no, and people around him began to whisper when he saw it. Karhan held out the apple without saying a word. The old man hurriedly snatched an apple and lifted himself up. And he ran in the other direction as if he were running away. Karhan looked silently at the old man¡¯s back. As if this situation were familiar, there was no expression shown in his face. ¡°¡­..familiarity doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s okay.¡± She thought it was a good point to be swayed around without being able to refuse. A passive person who doesn¡¯t know how to go first. However, Lilia changed her mind a little after seeing him just now. He was a good man by nature. He helped the elderly even though he knew they would be misunderstood. ¡®I wonder how he didn¡¯t reveal his personality yet.¡¯ ¡°You came early.¡± Lilia approached Karhan pretending she didn¡¯t see anything. Karhan, who turned his head, seemed a little surprised as if he had not expected her to come. ¡°When did you come here?¡± ¡°I just got here.¡± ¡°Did you know we still had an hour left until the appointment?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ in case I was late I came early.¡± Karhan, who answered slowly, looked at Lilia. He seemed to ask why she came so early. ¡°I came out early because I had something to do nearby, but it was canceled.¡± To tell the truth, it was a man who would tell her to do business with him because he said it was okay. Lilia, accompanied by a white lie, took a step first. ¡°It¡¯s not something to talk about here, so please follow me for now.¡± Lilia took the lead and Karhan followed putting a certain distance between them. She walked east from the clock tower. They passed through a three-story fountain in the small square-like center of the place, passing through numerous signs. Leaving the busy streets, stretched houses were huddled together. An alley appeared as she turned around the corner of the wall covered with Ivy. She continued to walk through the alley until there was a store at the end of it. It was the only place in the shade that had sunlight. It was a very remote place, so only acquaintances could visit. Karhan looked up at the wooden sign with a picture of a tea cup. It seemed to be a teahouse. Lilia opened the door and went in first. The store had a cozy and clean atmosphere. Each table had a simple partition and curtain, and sunlight came through the oval shaped window. All the tables and chairs were luxurious, and each prop was carefully touched. It was a great store that would have been better if it was located in a good place downtown. But the location was vacant, so there was no one inside the store. Lilia walked inside the store and sat down. It was like she was the master and entered what she owned without hesitation. Karhan, who hesitated for a while, sat on the opposite end. ¡°Didn¡¯t you bring your attendants?¡± ¡°There¡¯s one, but they couldn¡¯t come because I had something to do.¡± Still, he is Evantheon¡¯s successor, so it¡¯s natural to bring in an escort. When Lilia wondered, he continued. ¡°Most people don¡¯t even think about what¡¯s coming.¡± She was roughly convinced. It was quiet around Karhan earlier. Looking around carefully, he murmured. ¡°But it¡¯s very quiet.¡± ¡°I told you, no one comes here.¡± ¡°Are you on a loan?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s my shop.¡± He looked like he didn¡¯t understand straight away. Lilia picked up the menu at the end of the table and she continued as if she were talking about her daily life. ¡°I bought it two days ago. The whole neighborhood of this store belongs to me.¡± Lilia stuck out the menu to Karhan, who blinked in embarrassment. ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.the same thing as Young Lady.¡± ¡°Can you prepare two cups of tea for me?¡± Lilia¡¯s voice echoed through the store. Then Malik, the escort knight standing by the door, entered the kitchen. While Karhan was looking over there for a while, Lilia cleaned up the menu. ¡°Then get to the point, have you thought about it?¡± Lilia proposed a deal that would help each other break up with their ¡®obstacles¡¯. Technically, Karhan was not yet engaged, but the conversation was going on. Karhan clasped his fingers together without saying a word. The elongated fingers were entangled and loosened. After a long time, he talked with great difficulty. ¡°In fact, I¡¯m here to turn down the offer.¡± Lilia blinked her eyes. She didn¡¯t think he would want to turn the offer down with a face like that at all. Chapter 12 Lovers ¡°You¡¯re going to refuse?¡± When Lilia asked him, Karhan looked down. It was like a person waiting for an admonition. It seemed very unfamiliar for him to refuse. After observing him closely, Lilia asked again. ¡°May I ask why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m discussing it with my opponent¡¯s family, and I can¡¯t bother them¡­¡± Among the reasons for his refusal, none of his opinions were included. ¡®I feel like this man is being suppressed by something.¡¯ Thought Lilia, who was still listening. ¡°What¡¯s your opinion, little duke?¡± ¡°¡­¡­my opinion?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just anyone else, it¡¯s the little duke¡¯s engagement. The decision is yours.¡± His eyes shook greatly at Lilia¡¯s words. He looked embarrassed as if he had never thought about it. ¡°I¡¯ll understand if it¡¯s an engagement you want. Does the little duke really want to get engaged to Delotta Young Lady?¡± Karhan couldn¡¯t answer. He didn¡¯t know if his lips would open after a long time as if they were a prison for locking up his voice. ¡°I¡¯m¡­.¡± His eyes wandered in the air as if he were embarrassed. On behalf of Karhan, who could not grasp his mind, Lilia told him exactly what she saw. ¡°The little duke I saw seemed to be holding back even though he didn¡¯t want to get engaged.¡± The penetrating gaze shook Karhan¡¯s shoulders shortly. He was silent for a long time. Then he said something slowly. ¡°¡­¡­I don¡¯t know if I can dare to make a decision.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing you can¡¯t do.¡± The quick reply was smooth. It¡¯s like breaking up was no big deal. ¡°Not too long ago, I couldn¡¯t decide on my own. I¡¯ve always followed other people¡¯s opinions but I don¡¯t want to do that anymore.¡± Lilia¡¯s purple eyes sparkled like the sun¡¯s shining surface. The lively eyes looked directly at Karhan. ¡°What if people pointed fingers at you? It¡¯s not like they¡¯re living my life for me.¡± Karhan¡¯s face, which had been calm, was torn down a little by little. His eyelashes trembled, and there was a gap in his tightly closed mouth. He seemed to have a lot of deep thoughts for a short time. Lilia leaned forward a little. ¡°If you¡¯re afraid to make a decision on your own, tell others you¡¯ve been scammed.¡± Lilia confidently said he could blame her. ¡°If things go wrong, I¡¯ll take responsibility.¡± When Lilia¡¯s words were over, Karhan remained silent. She couldn¡¯t even tell if he was breathing properly. Lilia waited silently without further due. Now only his decision remains. Silence took over the store, so only the sound of the wind outside could be heard faintly like breathing. Breaking the long silence, he opened his lips. ¡°¡­¡­I want to believe in fate and I don¡¯t want to deceive myself anymore.¡± It was a calm but honest remark. Karhan closed his eyes as if he were thinking back on what he said. When he opened his eyes again, there was light in his blue eyes as if sunlight was shining in the deep attic. ¡°The proposal, I¡¯ll take it.¡± ¡°Thanks for your decision.¡± Lilia smiled broadly. At the end of the conversation, the black tea came out just in time. The old man gave only black tea and quietly went back inside. ¡°We bought the store and hired them together, he was good at cutting cakes.¡± The man couldn¡¯t hear them, so she didn¡¯t have to worry about revealing their proposal anywhere. Instead, Lilia¡¯s escort knight had to give the menu himself. Lilia took a sip of black tea and took out a piece of paper. ¡°It¡¯s a contract.¡± Karhan skimmed through the paper. The contract was already tightly sealed. ¡°Can I tell you my plan first?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lilia then put down the teacup. ¡°We will pretend to be lovers in the future.¡± Karhan did not immediately understand. He blinked his eyes slowly at the remark. ¡°Well, at first, the rumors might be a little dirty, but they¡¯ll fade over time.¡± ¡°¡­¡­can I ask you why?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no other simpler way.¡± Lilia searched her bag and handed him some more paper. There was information about Richard. ¡°My fiance is a higher status than I am. And has connections with the royal family. If I break up without any insurance, he¡¯ll definitely try to retaliate.¡± As a personality trait of Richard, he will not try to break up his marriage. To Lilia it was a convenient, endless stream of money. But if Lilia tries to end her marriage, she¡¯ll end up putting pressure on her family. He could use his power to make up innocent crimes. Above all, it was heartbreaking because Heinley, her brother, worked for the Marquis of Tersian. ¡°But he¡¯s weaker than he actually is. If my new lover is a little duke who came from Evantheon, He¡¯ll be wary of it for sure. He can¡¯t get into your family easily.¡± ¡°¡­¡­..¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to use your identity as a shield.¡± It was a bold statement because she couldn¡¯t be more honest than she already was. However, Karhan only nodded calmly. ¡°And the duchess wants you engaged, so you will need a new lover.¡± Lilia laid her hand on her chest gracefully as she took an oath. ¡°I¡¯d rather be myself than Stella Delotta if we were of the same status. I¡¯m confident about that.¡± Karhan¡¯s family will protest at first, but they will soon recognize them. At least there¡¯s nothing behind Stella. ¡°¡­¡­you can¡¯t lie all your life.¡± ¡°Of course. Just pretend that we are a couple for a year, until then.¡± Lilia touched the blank of the contract. She didn¡¯t write down the period on purpose to coordinate it. ¡°In the meantime, I¡¯m going to set up a contingency plan.¡± Karhan slowly picked up the contract. The contract was systematic and detailed. It was not only written in favor of Lilia. ¨C Be faithful to each other as fake lovers for a fixed period of time. -No other lovers will be made during the contract period. -Help each other to break up with your fiancees. -The contents of the contract shall not be disclosed to anyone. As she was reading the conditions, Lilia said. ¡°I can adjust it, so read and tell me if there¡¯s anything strange.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any.¡± As soon as Karhan put down the contract, Lilia quickly pulled out a pen. ¡°Sign below here.¡± ¡°What happens if you break the deal?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know when you destroy it, right?¡± Lilia laughed. A blade seemed to flash under her gentle smile. Karhan paused for a moment, but it was too late to pull out of the proposal. A delicate signature was engraved at the bottom of the contract. Lilia, who signed last, offered one of the two contracts. ¡°If we suddenly become a couple, everyone will suspect us, so let¡¯s say we fell in love at first sight.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°And from now on, You¡¯ll pretend to be a sweet lover in front of others.¡± ¡°¡­¡­it¡¯s hard, but I¡¯ll try.¡± After putting away the contract, Lilia drank all of the black tea. Only then did Karhan realize he hadn¡¯t had a sip of black tea, so he hurriedly picked up a cup of tea. ¡°¡­!¡± Karhan, who took a sip, looked into the teacup. ¡°Isn¡¯t it good?¡± Karhan looked at Lilia with a strange face. As if she was the first person who said that to him. As he nodded slowly, Lilia looked around the store with a proud smile. ¡°This is our base from now on. That¡¯s why I bought it.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll pay you¡­¡± ¡°The money¡¯s done.¡± Karhan paused at the sharp refusal. Lilia put her hands on the table with her fingers crossed. ¡°You¡¯re in charge of identification. I¡¯ll take over the money.¡± The two were the most prominent men and the most wealthy women in the empire, except for the royal family. It was the perfect meeting. Except it was a one-year fake relationship. Lilia thought of Karhan lightly. She even finished the contract, but there were many things she was worried about. As Karhan did not properly socialize with others, others did not know his personality. Everyone will bite, chew, and enjoy the fact that he¡¯s a pushover. If everyone sees Karhan as a pushover, he will also be hurt by himself trying to use his power as a shield. ¡®It¡¯s best to just keep the misunderstanding as it is, but once I¡¯ve decided to help you, I couldn¡¯t help it.¡¯ If people approached him for impure purposes, they would be able to beat themselves out. By the way, she was wondering how he didn¡¯t reveal his real personality until now. Once upon a time, the Evantheon was actually a pushover! There was a rumor going around like that. ¡°First of all, make sure no one else is afraid of you.¡± There was a reason why he came here. At the last banquet, Lilia decided to solve his problem. She wouldn¡¯t let people be afraid of him. She offered a deal called a breakup on that condition. ¡°Are you busy today?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right today.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. I¡¯ve been thinking about it since last time, but there¡¯s only black clothes in your closet, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­how did you know?¡± Karhan¡¯s voice rose a little, as if he were genuinely surprised. It was obvious. ¡®I¡¯ve met you three times in a row and you¡¯re dressed in black, not even in mourning.¡¯ No matter how well his face is, if she wanted to approach him, she would¡¯ve been reluctant if he was armed with dark colors. Lilia got up from her seat first. ¡°Let¡¯s go buy clothes first.¡± The two left the store. Walking the way she came, she arrived at the busy street. Lilia first entered an alley full of famous clothes. She was once clueless with Richard, so she had all the men¡¯s rooms. ¡°Since we¡¯re lovers from now on, let¡¯s walk together.¡± Following Lilia¡¯s footsteps, he stood next to her. While walking straight down the alley, Lilia found a man and a woman walking far away. She looked at them quietly because she thought they were familiar. And the moment my eyes met, the man opened his eyes wide. ¡°Lilia¡­?¡± She met her enemy in the alley of the dressing room. The man she encountered in the alley was Richard. Chapter 13 Let¡¯s Break Up, Richard The Marquis of Terssian is one of the meritorious family, and has been receiving the royal family¡¯s nocturne from generation to generation. Based on that they established their position and became quite influential in the capital and Richard was the successor of the Marquis of Tersian. Richard wasn¡¯t very interested in his successor classes since childhood. He would naturally become a marquis after time anyway. He preferred to hang out with others rather than to study, and with his father¡¯s halo on his back, he freely went to the Imperial Palace. The day he entered the Imperial Palace as usual. That day changed Richard¡¯s life. Richard headed to the garden he discovered some time ago. It was a deserted place, so he could play without having to look around. And when he got to the garden, he found a girl lying by the pond. Richard ran to the girl in surprise. Perhaps she had fallen into the water, but the girl had lost her consciousness. -¡°Excuse me!¡± He thought it was unlucky at first. From head to toe, she wore expensive stuff. ¡®She must be from a noble family.¡¯ Her eyes started to slowly open. ¡®If this girl goes mistakens this encounter, I might be falsely accused.¡¯ He was thinking about running away like this, but her eyelashes were shaking like wings. Soon after, the tightly closed eyelids opened, and purple eyes were revealed. -¡­¡­! When the girl coughed, Richard swallowed a sigh of relief and asked. -¡°Are you all right, Young miss?¡± The girl nodded her head slowly. Whether her voice wasn¡¯t coming out or her lips trembled in shock. Richard decided to stay with her as if he was trying to be generous. Soon after, the family came and took the girl with them. A few days later, the incident was about to be almost forgotten in Richard¡¯s memories. A single girl was led in a string of golden wagons. She came into the mansion. She was the youngest daughter of the famous Bloden family, Lilia Bloden. -¡°Thank you so much for saving me.¡± She was mistaken. It wasn¡¯t Richard who saved her from drowning, he just did what he had to do. However, Richard told a lie to her surprisingly naturally. Fortunately, Lilia seemed to believe him like a still rock. Lilia was saved, and he saved her life. So, She gave him a reward for his bravery in saving her. Richard, who declined several times, pretended to receive it reluctantly. Richard, who used to be extravagant every day as a reward, suddenly became greedy. ¡®Have Lilia and live like she is now. I think we can do it.¡¯ Since then, Richard had been working hard to gather information about Lilia. He then recruited an employee of his family to find out Lilia¡¯s schedule. And under the act of sheer coincidence, he met with Ilya. ¡®Does the young lady like it, too? I do, too.¡¯ It was easy to be moved because he knew what she liked in advance. He was considerate, kind, and stressed that he was a decent person. He also showed that he was not greedy for wealth to avoid the suspicion that he approached her because of money. As the days went by, Lilia opened her heart to him and eventually became fond of richard. Richard felt like an emperor. Lilia Bloden was the best piece of gold he could ever get his hands on. Besides, she had a nice and gentle personality, so if he said anything, she would¡¯ve believed him instantly. Richard used his money-spending lover to fill his vanity. She became his fiance in their relationship, and eventually the two were on the road to getting married. Richard was satisfied with his daily life now, but only one was on his mind. It was that his love affair ended here. -¡®I¡¯m still young and prosperous, but attached to only one person.¡¯ And so he started playing at night, playing with a girl he met in a prostitute house. It was very easy to win the favor of women with the money Lilia gave him. The firework (T/N: lust/pleasure/need) grew bigger and bigger, and later, he had a regular secret meeting with a noblewoman, Young Lady. She was a very arrogant woman. It was a different feeling from Lilia, who acted as she was told. Looking for more and more stimulation, Richard called her home in broad daylight. As he was about to enjoy it, Lilia came in and stood still. She just looked in the air as if she was shocked. Richard blamed Lilia to avoid the immediate difficulties. -I can¡¯t believe you came into my room without knocking. Why don¡¯t you be polite? Obviously it was his fault, but if he gets a little too forceful about it. Lilia then apologized first. So he thought this would be okay again this time. Lilia trembled and ran out of the mansion, he thought what he did was a little too much, but he didn¡¯t feel like chasing after her. But he hadn¡¯t heard from Lilia since and Richard didn¡¯t bother to look for Lilia. Time was going to fix everything. ¡®Lilia liked me anyway, and the wedding will go well.¡¯ But it might have been an illusion. A month later, he and Lilia met at the banquet hall and she was very different. The blurry look like watercolors is nowhere to be found, and it attracted everyone¡¯s attention like oil paintings filled with colorful colors. It wasn¡¯t just the atmosphere that changed. Her attitude toward him had completely changed. As usual, Richard made demands to Lilia. -¡°Yes, you heard that, right?¡± -¡°Why should I?¡± Richard¡¯s embarrassed face turned red in front of everyone. Lilia had never been this cold to him. It seemed that she was still angry about it. He left her walking out on the terrace. When her anger is relieved later, he thought he will give a strict warning to get about this. Richard has always been hard on others. After giving orders, he forgot about Lilia and had a good time with them. And a few days after the banquet, today. Richard came out to the main street for a change. A woman he came across a while ago recognized him and clinged onto him immediately. Richard walked along an alley filled with male costume rooms with her. At that time, a familiar person was walking from far away. It was certain that the distance between them was getting closer and closer, and by that he was worried. ¡°Lilia¡­!¡± Richard was embarrassed and pushed himself away from the woman who was hanging like a cicada. Lilia was expressionless, seeing Richard and the woman. She took turns looking at them. ¡®I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re seeing each other now, what bad luck.¡¯ Richard strode toward Lilia, clicking his tongue inside his mouth. ¡°Listen to me for now.¡± Lilia looked up as if to say something. ¡°We broke up badly last time. I was going to make up to you by giving you a present. But I don¡¯t know what girls like, so I was just trying to get help¡­.¡± The speed at which excuses popped out of him was faster than lightning. Lilia glanced at Richard. It wasn¡¯t long before she smiled. A gentle smile relieved Richard. It was at that time when he thought her anger was all gone, Richard thought to himself. It was then. ¡°You¡¯re going to buy me a present in a shop full of men¡¯s rooms?¡± ¡°¡­¡­that¡¯s.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to explain it to me so hard. Whatever you say, it sounds like an excuse.¡± Richard¡¯s slightly open lips closed. ¡°If you¡¯ve been in a relationship for years and you don¡¯t know what your lover likes, that¡¯s all we have now.¡± Richard could not refute it properly, as Lilia was very familiar with the retort. He belatedly found the man standing next to Ilia. ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡­.¡± But Richard checked the man¡¯s face and stopped talking. His complexion turned white in an instant. ¡°Evantheon, the Little Duke¡­?¡± Looking down at him with a frightening face, he was Karhan Evantheon, called the murderer of the battlefield. Richard was embarrassed and shut his mouth within a snap. ¡®Why are they together?¡¯ It was even more embarrassing because they had never contacted each other before. ¡°I was going to tell you, but it just happened to be a good time now.¡± Richard slowly turned his head at Lilia¡¯s words. And Lilia said it with a bright smile. ¡°Let me introduce him. He¡¯s someone I love.¡± ¡°¡­what?¡± Richard¡¯s face just turned pale a moment ago. He just didn¡¯t understand what Lilia said. Lilia grabbed Karhan¡¯s arm and entangled her arm around his arm. Richard widened his eyes when he saw the action. ¡°It¡¯s late, but I found my true love.¡± Lilia whispered shyly. Soon after, she found that Karhan was standing upright. Their body¡¯s were separate quickly got close together. Richard stopped breathing the moment when he saw Karhan¡¯s hand touching Lilia¡¯s waist. Only then did he understand what Lilia said properly. ¡°You were tired of me anyway. Good for each other, right?¡± ¡°¡­..what do you mean I¡¯m tired of you? That can¡¯t be true!¡± Richard shouted. ¡®It couldn¡¯t have been true. I can¡¯t believe Lilia loves someone other than myself. She smiled when she saw my face, and she said she liked me so much that she would buy me whatever I wanted. But Lilia¡¯s eyes, which were always on me, were looking at another man.¡¯ ¡°This must be truly destiny. We fell in love at first sight with each other at the banquet.¡± Lilia looked up at Karhan and smiled. ¡°Right, Karhan?¡± Then Karhan¡¯s shoulder shook a little and opened his mouth. ¡°Yes, Lilia.¡± Richard¡¯s lips trembled with a bewildered face. They¡¯re already close enough to call their names? They met for the first time at this banquet¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤? ¡°You¡¯re lying, aren¡¯t you¡­?¡± It was definitely a lie. Evantheon, famous for his bad personality. The little prince and Lilia fell in love, he was a man with no good rumors. ¡®You love the demons of the battlefield, who has blood in his hands?¡¯ Richard tried to calm down. ¡°No, I mean.¡± There was no sign of trembling in Lilia¡¯s eyes. ¡°Oh, and there¡¯s something I couldn¡¯t say at the last banquet.¡± Lilia smiled at him and said, ¡°Let¡¯s break up, Richard.¡± Chapter 14 An Unbearable Bomb It was a one-sided notice. Lilia, who finished what she had to say, turned her foot completely. Richard, whose whole body was shaking, shouted. ¡°How could you do that to me¡­..!¡± Richard strode towards Lilia, as soon as he reached for her shoulder, his chin and wrist were caught. Richard made an obscured expression on the overwhelming power, Richard slowly lifted his head and halted his breath. A freezing cold gaze struck him. At that moment, rumors surrounding Karhan emerged into Richart¡¯s mind. -I heard that if he haa a grudge against you, you¡¯d live without knowing what the rats or birds were. (T/N: it means that the person who came into bad books of karhan won¡¯t be able to live in good mental health) ¨C If you look at him for more than 3 seconds, it means get ready to cut off your throat. -Why would his nickname be the ¡®battlefield¡¯s killer¡¯? He was killing everything he wanted to. Like that, he seemed to be able to cut down a person. The enormous pressure seemed to swallow Richard like a rough howling wind. Richard eventually loosened his grip. Then Karhan¡¯s hand, which was holding his wrist, was put down. After watching everything, Lilia frowned for a moment and passed by Richard slowly. Richard no longer held Lilia. No, he couldn¡¯t hold on to her any longer. * * * Leaving Richard standing still behind, Karhan followed Lilia. ¡°Walk by my side.¡± Karhan hesitated at Lilia¡¯s words and approached her side. After walking side by side, Lilia looked down at Karhan¡¯s hand. Then Karhan muttered as if he were making excuses. ¡°¡­¡­I moved without even realizing it.¡± Richard held his hand reflexively to reach for Lilia, but he said he was embarrassed because he didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°Thanks for your help.¡± When Lilia expressed her gratitude, Karhan¡¯s eyes shook slightly. It wasn¡¯t long before he lowered his eyes. It was very strange to see him embarrassed with a blunt face, but it was not bad because the main event was good. Lilia turned her head and looked at the alley where Richard was standing before. In the meantime, Richard was gone. He was always confident in front of her, but it seemed funny that Karhan¡¯s eyes made him disappear without his tail. Lilia shifted her gaze from an empty alley to Karhan¡¯s side, Karhan flinched the moment his eyes met hers. ¡°By the way, little duke, you need to practice acting.¡± ¡°Was it terrible¡­?¡± Lilia tried to nod as she felt the need to, but stopped. ¡®I don¡¯t have to hurt a weak person from the very beginning.¡¯ Now, it was the time for carrots and sticks to be appropriate. ¡°It¡¯s not very bad, but¡­ it¡¯s good for a first timer.¡± His stiff shoulders looked a little relieved. To be honest, it was too sudden. ¡®Who knew that I would run into Richard without a chance to practice being a couple?¡¯ Since Richard appeared, Karhan seemed to be upset. If Richard hadn¡¯t run away with his tail, he would have been caught. Fortunately, a fierce impression helped, but¡­ It was a matter of time to be caught that he was a pushover if it. ¡®How on earth have you not been caught so far?¡¯ That was the question. * * * When she walked into the clothing store, she chose clothes for Karhan that had bright colors. Karhan was told to wear it first, but he seemed awkward to do so. Lilia, who was in charge of financial resources, threatened him to buy clothes and wear them for their next meeting. She left him after she made an appointment to meet him. She was so tired that she decided to go home straight away without taking a look around her. Before sunset, the carriage arrived at the front door of the mansion. ¡°Good job.¡± LIlia got off the carriage and told Frances and Malik, ¡°You did a great job following me all day.¡± Malik replied that he had done what he had to do, and Frances hesitated. ¡°Why? Do you have something to say?¡± ¡°¡­are you sure you¡¯re okay?¡± LIlia stared at Franches. He opened his mouth while hesitating. ¡°Such a contract¡­¡± ¡°Franches.¡± Malik immediately cut Franchse off. It meant not to make any presumptuous remarks. When Franchse shut up immediately, LIlia was lost in thought for a moment. Today, the two followed LIlia and watched her. The signing of a break-up alliance with Karhan. It was natural for Frances to be worried. Lilia smiled at Frances, who looked sullen. ¡°It was my decision. Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± ¡°¡­¡­I didn¡¯t know at the time, but it turns out he¡¯s very dangerous.¡± When they met at the Orgel store, it was just a passing cry. However, in fact, he was an Evantheon little prince, and Frances knew about him. ¡°Did he look dangerous to you?¡± Frances shut his mouth. It was because Karhan, who he had seen, was rumored and distant. He thought he would be bad-tempered trash, but it was the opposite. ¡°And it¡¯s okay to fight off Richard.¡± She was joking, but if it wasn¡¯t for Karhan, She wouldn¡¯t have been able to do anything. It was because she threatened Frances and Malek not to engage in anything involving Richard. However, Frances¡¯ expression did not go away at the end. ¡°Everything that happened today is a secret. You know that, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Two people nodded. Lilia entered the building through the front door. As usual, the greetings of the employees were heard, and Lilia paused for a while. Middle-aged men and women stood on the stairs of the main hall. That reminded her, She hasn¡¯t seen her parents for a long time. ¡°Lilia!¡± Count Bloden, who was talking with someone else, spotted Lilia and hurried down the stairs. Running right up to her nose, he looked around Lilia¡¯s face. ¡°I was worried a lot. I haven¡¯t seen you this time, and I¡¯ve been out of town¡­¡± Count Bloden let out a cry when he saw Lilia. He was a big man and had a rugged face like a bandit, but he was more emotional than anyone else. ¡°You¡¯ve got a lot on your face. Are you eating well?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Even at Lilia¡¯s answer, he was in a fuss, asking if she fell down. After barely reassuring her father who was worried about her, Lilia looked up, her eyes met with her mother who was standing on the stairs. She stared down at Lilia without expression and opened her mouth for the first time. ¡°Let¡¯s go into the room first.¡± As soon as she heard her cold voice, she realized what it meant. ¡®You¡¯re very angry.¡¯ The countess went up the stairs first, and the count sighed deeply. ¡°Your mother was very worried.¡± It was understandable since she was confined in my room for a month. Lilia went up the stairs with the count. After walking all the way through the hallway filled with famous paintings, they arrived at the drawing room. As she stepped inside, she saw the Countess sitting down first. ¡°Sit down.¡± Lilia sat down slowly on the opposite side of the Countess. The Count was restless as if he had been called to a hearing and tried to sit next to Lilia. ¡°You should sit next to me.¡± In a stinging word, the count quickly sat next to his wife. ¡°So, let¡¯s hear the story?¡± Violet, the Countess, raised her chin and asked. Lilia was nervous and clenched her fist slightly, her mother was a scary person that she was nicknamed a woman of iron blood. She was very affectionate to her family, but like Heinley during the relationship with Richard it moved away little farther. Still, she wasn¡¯t as opposed to Richard as Heinley was. She seemed dissatisfied, but she tried to understand. However, she looked very angry because of the incident that occured recently. ¡°It¡¯s only once or twice that it can be unruly. Tell me what¡¯s going on this time.¡± Lilia hesitated for a moment. Violet put down her personal feelings and made a cool judgment. ¡°Now you¡¯re going to get married, and if you¡¯re stuck in your room for a month having a little argument, what will people say?¡± By all means, Violet seemed to think that it was because Lilia fought with Richard. Lilia lowered her eyes without saying a word. She was wondering if she should say now that Richard had an affair. However, she thought it would be good to tell such an important story when Heinley was there. Obviously, as soon as she would talk about what happened, everyone would be furious and was going to make a fuss about going to Richard right away. She just made a deal with Evantheon. There was little preparation, but it was not possible to chuck the entire Tersian family. And the thing that bothers her the most was¡­ When Violet tried to lecture Lilia again, she slowly opened her mouth. ¡°I want to tell you the story when my brother is with me.¡± At Lilia¡¯s words, the Count and his wife assumed that something unusual had happened. ¡°¡­ mother, father.¡± With a quiet voice, the count looked at Lilia with his mouth shut. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯ve been upset. It¡¯s all my fault.¡± When Lilia lowered her head, they were embarrassed and only looked at each other¡¯s faces. They looked like they didn¡¯t know what was wrong with her. After a while, Lilia looked up. ¡°And I¡¯d like to break up.¡± ¡°¡­¡­what?¡± The count jumped up from his seat to the unexpected remark. Violet was also surprised and hardened almost immediately. ¡°I know it¡¯s a whim, but¡­..what you?¡± The wedding was just around the corner, so Lilia asked cautiously. The Count and his wife were silent, Violet shook her head, Lilia took a good look at her mother. ¡°No, it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve supported the marriage, but¡­ are you sick?¡± It was the same reaction as Heinley. It was because Lilia was into Richard. She was in a dilemma for a while. She couldn¡¯t tell them the details of the deal because she had decided to keep it secret, but she felt like she had to tell her parents about Karhan. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. But¡­¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°I have a new lover.¡± ¡°What?!¡± The count screamed, violet was also surprised and couldn¡¯t say anything. As expected, Lilia remained silent. The Count and his wife, who had been far out of their minds, regained their composure and bowed to each other. ¡°Suddenly, something just blew¡­¡± ¡°But he¡¯s better than Richard.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear it for now.¡± She lowered her voice, so they could hear everything, the count had barely calmed down but sat down. Violet also looked straight at Lilia with a poker face and asked, ¡°Yes, who¡¯s your partner?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a Evantheon.¡± ¡°¡­Evantheon?¡± The Count, who had been asking back without much thought, paused. Soon the count opened his eyes and asked, ¡°The Evantheon, known for his foul-tempered, foul-mouthed, murderous attitude?¡± Lilia nodded her head softly. Contrary to the rumors, the Evanteon was good. The Count grabbed the back of his neck. He wondered if his precious daughter would throw away the trash, but this time she brought an unbearable bomb. Chapter 15 I¡¯m Quite Lucky The hallway that was lit by the late afternoon light felt solemn. The mural of the family¡¯s history seemed to be alive and it felt as if it would move at any moment. It was an admirable hallway, but to Karhan, it seemed as if he was walking into a deep cave. The steady beat of footsteps resonated quietly in the hallway. It was not long before when two employees encountered him, but they quickly left with their heads down. It was as if he was facing something that he shouldn¡¯t see. At the end of the hallway, there was a door attached to a room where there was not even a window for light to come through. Karhan, who stopped in front of it, opened the door. It was not until when the door fully closed that his upright body fell into a slight slouch. This was his only resting place within the vast Evantheon mansion. Entering the bedroom, Karhan sat on the bed and stared at the small mirror opposite from him. The oval shaped mirror captured the reflection of himself. It felt quite unfamiliar to see himself wearing bright colors. As he raised his eyes a little, he could see a blunt face staring back at him. -Practice your facial expressions when you get home. Before parting ways, he remembered what Lilia said. Karhan slowly raised the corners of his mouth. However, his eyes were still fierce and a corner of his mouth seemed as if it was hung with a hook. He didn¡¯t think it would be this hard to smile. -I gave birth to you from my own stomach, but I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re thinking. -Don¡¯t laugh because it looks disgusting. A voice that he had forgotten for a moment popped out of nowhere. The corners of his mouth dropped with a slight tremor. As expected, he didn¡¯t know how to laugh naturally. Karhan got up to take off his coat. Leaving his shirt unbuttoned, he was lost in thought for a moment. She was such a strange woman. He had always been told by others that they didn¡¯t know what he was thinking, but she had been able to see right through him from the very beginning. And it wasn¡¯t just that. She came to him without any reason, helped him, and got angry when he tried to give her money. Then, she suddenly asked him to make a deal with her, dragging him into it. ¡°¡­¡­ ¡± Instead of taking off his clothes, Karhan pulled out their contract. On the white paper, the conditions of the contract relationship were written with black ink. At first he went out to reject Lilia¡¯s offer. When she expressed her intentions, Lilia asked him an unexpected question. -What¡¯s your opinion? ¨C ¡­¡­my opinion? -It¡¯s not for anyone else, but it¡¯s the little prince¡¯s engagement. You must be the one to make the decision. Karhan seemed to have been hit on the head. It was his first time since someone asked for his opinion. He had been accustomed to thinking that following other people¡¯s opinion was his fate. Others¡¯ opinions were more important than his own. So there was always only one option in Karhan¡¯s life. To leave it to others and accept the result. He didn¡¯t know when it had started. He just thought that it would be good for everyone. However, Lilia said his opinion was more important than anything else. Karhan asked himself questions for the first time. ¡®Will I continue to be disregarded? As soon as he asked that question, a faint ripple spread in the corner of his heart. As if it had been stuck after a long time, the ripple grew bigger and bigger, causing small waves. The waves soon became waves that touched Karhan¡¯s feet. There was only one thought left in the place where miscellaneous thoughts used to run rampant but were now thrown away. ¡®I want to change myself.¡¯ So he decided to hold Lilia¡¯s hand but he wasn¡¯t sure if he could be of any help to her. At least there were a lot of things that he had to try from now on to avoid bothering her. Karhan came to his senses when he heard a knock on the door. When he opened the door, a man was standing in the hallway. ¡°I¡¯m back, Karhan.¡± A man with dark green hair greeted him politely. His name was Tesion Herben. Karhan¡¯s aide and the only one that Karhan had around him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯ve been away for a long time¡­¡± Tesion, who slowly raised his head, was surprised to see Karhan and widened his eyes. ¡°..what¡¯s that outfit?¡± He was prepared to hear Tesion¡¯s questioning, so Karhan gestured for him to come inside. As soon as the door closed, Tesion started nagging. ¡°I told you to only wear dark clothes!¡± ¡°¡­¡­Do I look strange?¡± ¡°No, it looks great on you! But¡­!¡± Tesion had forced Karhan to wear only dark clothes numerous times. This way, he would not look like he was too easy. ¡°It was hard for me to hide your personality¡­¡± Tesion pondered. Until now, it was entirely thanks to Tesion that Karhan had not caught the attention of others. He knew that Karhan had a personality which allowed others to use him anytime. Because of that, there had been many times when his life was almost at risk on the battlefield. So when Karhan became the successor, Tesion thought he should do something before Karhan could be swayed by others. Tesion followed Karhan around and cut off all those who approached him with unknown intentions. On top of that, just in time, rumors began to circulate surrounding Karhan. The effect that the rumor made was good as it caused Karhan to be completely isolated. ¡°Did you go to the banquet like that?¡± Karhan shook his head. Then Tesion sighed with relief saying, ¡°I¡¯m glad.¡± ¡°You have to go out as unnoticed as you can. Or they¡¯ll soon find out about your personality.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for urgent matters, I would have followed you¡­¡­By the way, did you do what I had told you to do?¡± Tesion urged Karhan before leaving. If someone talked to him at the banquet, he would ignore them. Just show his face and come back as soon as possible. Don¡¯t get involved with others. Karhan, who had attended all the parties, was briefly silent. ¡°No way¡­¡± At that time, a piece of paper on the bed caught Tesion¡¯s eye. Tession strode towards it and picked up the paper immediately. ¡°What is this?¡± The embarrassed Karhan only averted his eyes. Tesion, who quickly read the contract, suddenly started to shout, ¡°Karhan! Did you get scammed without me present?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a fraud, but¡­¡± It was already too late to hide it. Karhan thought about it for a long time and decided to tell Tesion honestly. As Karhan slowly began to talk, Tesion¡¯s face became increasingly shocked. When the explanation was over, Tesion trembled. ¡°A contract relationship, how could you do such a big thing when I went away¡­¡± Karhan, who was looking at him, said quietly. ¡°Because it¡¯s my own decision.¡± Tesion looked blank for a moment at Karhan¡¯s reply. What he said was not a mistake, it was a decision of his own. It was very strange because it was Karhan, the one who would always nod at the demands of others. Tesion looked down at the floor for a moment with a serious face. It wasn¡¯t long before he looked up. ¡°When is the day you promised to meet Bloden Young Lady?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Four days later.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come with you then.¡± Tesion murmured with determination. ¡°I¡¯ll have to check it out myself.¡± * * * The day of the second appointment with Karhan came. While getting ready to go out, Lilia recalled what happened a few days ago. On the day she exchanged contracts with Karhan, Lilia told her parents that she was dating him. The two were shocked, and the count dissuaded her and asked her to reconsider. However, she did not actively break her engagement with Richard because she was worried that Richard would get back at her. Lilia had been planning on what she would do in the future. For now, it was a priority to break up with Richard while posing as a lover with Karhan. Although she declared that she wanted to break up, Richard had yet to agree. Under the imperial law, a break up required mutual consent. Most of the time, couples broke up through an agreement, but if one side unilaterally wanted to break up, it would turn into a crazy fight. In severe cases, it took a long time to get to the trial. She was also worried about the ending of the matter. While she was lost in thought, she heard someone rushing in. In time, a little rough knock could be heard. ¡°Come on in.¡± As soon as Lilia finished her words, the door burst open. It was Malik who came in. He took a breath as if he had just finished running. ¡°Lady, we¡¯re in trouble. I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll be able to make it to the appointment today.¡± ¡°Why? What happened?¡± It was about the teahouse that she bought last time. It was also the secret base she met up with Karhan in. Malik¡¯s face became mysterious. Then, his mouth opened suddenly. She liked the expression, but the situation didn¡¯t seem to look good. ¡°An official letter came from the Imperial Household today¡­¡± ¡®An official letter from the royal family? Don¡¯t tell me¡­¡¯ Lilia looked at Malik with anxious eyes. After Malik¡¯s explanation, Lilia let out a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯ll have to send someone to the Duke of Evantheon to inform them the change of date of the appointment.¡± * * * Lilia, who hurriedly changed the appointment, walked through the busy street. She couldn¡¯t remember the right place, so she asked to see them at the Orgel store. When she arrived at the Orgel store which she bought last time, the newly selected clerk greeted her. She liked the freshness that emitted from the store. Entering the store, there was a space decorated as a drawing room. She couldn¡¯t look around properly last time, but it was more cozy than she had thought. There were not many customers in the store at the moment, so it was okay for it to be used as a temporary base. As she was about to sit on a fluffy sofa, she heard footsteps nearby. It was Karhan who was squeezed in between the curtains. Lilia, who was about to say hello, paused for a moment. Karhan was not alone. Lilia, who saw a dark green-haired man standing behind him, asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°¡­¡­my assistant.¡± Karhan, who seemed embarrassed, apologized first. ¡°I broke my contract by mistake.¡± Lilia could only roughly grasp the situation. Perhaps the aide found out about the break up alliance agreement. ¡°Do you believe in him?¡± (T/N: Lilia is asking karhan if he believes in his assistant) ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s enough. My guards know as well.¡± Therefore, it didn¡¯t matter if there was at least one person on Karhan¡¯s side who shared the secret. Lilia looked at the man and he greeted her first. ¡°This servant is called Tesion Herben.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you. This is Lilia Bloden.¡± After the greeting, Tesion assessed Lilia. However, he wasn¡¯t able to catch anything from her, so he acted as if he was shaking off the dust on the clothes. Tesion, who finished his assessment, frowned. ¡°By the way, you changed the agreed place on the day of the appointment¡­¡­but you did not ignore us.¡± The atmosphere quickly subsided at Tesion¡¯s words. Franchse and Malik, who were standing behind Lilia, became irritated, and with that, Karhan quickly gave a look towards Tesion. Lilia opened her mouth. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault.¡± Tesion flinched as if he didn¡¯t expect her to apologize. ¡°Excuse me, I can¡¯t go through with the appointment at the moment.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t you go¡­? ¡°There was an official announcement today that our original base had been designated as a redevelopment area by the Imperial Household.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Yes?¡± Tesion was embarrassed and asked again foolishly. Lilia spoke calmly as if it was already a familiar occurrence for her. ¡°This may happen often in the future, so I hoped for you to understand it beforehand.¡± And then she added at the end. ¡°Because I¡¯m quite lucky.¡± Chapter 16 Normal Relationship It was not that her luck was quite good¡­. Tesion¡¯s expression looked exactly like that. This incident gave Lilia an amount 50 times than that of the original market price. The real estate investment had hit the jackpot and she sat on a pile of money overnight. However, Lilia was not happy at all. She needed a quiet place where she could take a rest rather than getting money. This was the problem with Lilia¡¯s fortune. She was forced to receive money without even trying. There were many cases where her own power was not allowed. ¡°Have a seat first.¡± Karhan sat across from Lilia, while Tesion remained standing. Franchse and Malik then proceeded to stand behind Lilia. ¡°It was arranged in a hurry¡­. So there¡¯s nothing to serve you at the moment.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Karhan said calmly. Lilia asked Franchse, who had been staring hard at Tesion. ¡°Franchse, could you get me something to drink?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± When Franchse went out, the tense atmosphere was a little lessened. There was a moment of silence, Tesion looked at Karhan once and then stared at Lilia. ¡°I need to talk to Bloden Young-ae.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Please cancel the contract.¡± Tesion took the contract out of his bag and laid it down on the table. ¡°I think it¡¯s a ridiculous contract. I don¡¯t know what the real purpose of Young Lady is, but please don¡¯t involve Karhan.¡± His behaviour was more like a guardian than an aide. Judging from his actions of hitting the wall by bringing up the main point, he did not seem unskilled and it appeared to be that this wasn¡¯t something he had done only once or twice. It seemed that it was all thanks to Tesion that Karhan¡¯s personality had yet to be revealed to others. ¡°Tesion.¡± Karhan called him quietly. However, Tesion didn¡¯t stop talking. ¡°Karhan doesn¡¯t like to get involved with others, so give it up.¡± The expression disappeared from Lilia¡¯s face as she calmly listened to him. If Tesion had made a point about the contract relationship, she would have understood it. If he had thought that Karhan was necessarily going to do something dangerous, she would have persuaded him calmly. However, he was instead worried that Karhan would get involved with Lilia and become exposed to others. Of course, he would still be unconvinced by her words. If you used rumors as a shield and rejected others, you would be able to maintain your daily life. A life where you would not be swayed by others while hiding your real personality. At first glance, it was not bad, but it was also a way to isolate himself from the world. Tesion was acting like a parent who prevented their child from leaving the house because they were afraid that the child would get hurt. ¡°Did you say Tesion?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do you really think that he is a little princess right now?¡± Tesion flinched at Lilia¡¯s gaze, as if she had seen right through him. ¡°If you¡¯re his advisor, then you are aware of the kinds of rumors the little duke suffers from, yes?¡± Tesion was silent. Rumors about Karhan did reach his ears. Sometimes there were rumors full of malice which Tesion wanted to refute. ¡°It would be convenient for now if he isn¡¯t getting involved with anyone. But can he live without interacting with the others for the rest of his life?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not for the rest of his life, to go that far¡­..¡± When Tesion tried to deny, Lilia cut him off. ¡°The misunderstanding will only get worse. If the person involved doesn¡¯t deny it, who do you think will do so?¡± Tesion lowered his eyes as he couldn¡¯t say anything to refute. ¡°Why don¡¯t you think about changing Karhan, instead of hiding him?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± He looked as if he had never thought of such a thing until now. His confused eyes shook greatly. His head, which had been facing Lilia thus far, gradually fell down. Karhan, who was listening quietly, called him. ¡°Tesion.¡± Tesion, who had lowered his head, slowly looked at Karhan. Karhan¡¯s face was cold as usual. However, his deep blue eyes harbored countless words like stars. ¡°Thank you for your care so far.¡± Out of all the countless words he could have chosen, the words Karhan spoke made Tesion bite his lips emotionally. ¡°But I want to change.¡± Tesion gaped at Karhan in shock. Up until now, in the name of protecting Karhan, Tesion had isolated him from the world. He thought that it was the right thing to do, and Karhan went along with his opinion silently. But, as it turns out, it wasn¡¯t. ¡°¡­.I¡¯m sorry.¡± Tesion¡¯s face distorted. Karhan stared at him silently without saying any words. ¡°I¡¯m back!¡± France stepped inside with a cheerful voice. With his hands full of drinks, Franchse felt a strange atmosphere and stopped for a moment. Franchse looked at Malik. What was wrong with the atmosphere? When he asked with his eyes, Malik replied the same with his eyes. The young miss had enlightened the man. Franchse, who had been standing still for a while, grasped the situation and raised his voice. ¡°Miss! I bought variety of them¡± Franchse then began to deliberately serve the drinks on to the table with an exaggerated gesture. It seemed as though he had robbed the store of everything since he wasn¡¯t to buy anything specific. ¡°Should we drink something first then continue to talk about it in detail?¡± Lilia picked up the bitter grapefruit juice. With so many drinks in front of him, Karhan pondered for a moment. He then naturally picked up a cup of black tea. ¡°Why did you pick that? You seemed to be the type to like fruit drinks.¡± Karhan paused at Lilia¡¯s question, then Tesion answered in his stead. ¡°Karhan doesn¡¯t eat sweets.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t like sweets? But you have a face that says it likes to eat sweets.¡± Karhan hesitated at Lilia¡¯s question. Karhan, who was looking at Tesion¡¯s eyes, said quietly. ¡°¡­. I like sweets.¡± Tesion gaped his mouth as he was greatly shocked after hearing what Karhan said. ¡°No¡­., You liked sweets?¡± When he was asked this question for the first time, Karhan replied. ¡°Because everyone didn¡¯t recommend it to me.¡± Tesion¡¯s lips closed tightly, his face became complicated. The fact that, until now, despite being the closest with Karhan, he didn¡¯t even notice his tastes which made Tesion feel depressed. Tesion pursed his lips then turned towards Lilia. ¡°But how did the young lady know about it?¡± ¡°It was written on his face.¡± ¡°¡­..?¡± As if he fell into a labyrinth, Tesion¡¯s head was only filled with question marks, he looked at Karhan again. I had no idea¡­.? That was exactly his expression. Lilia, who was watching the confused Tesion, put down her drink. ¡°Okay, now, I have to tell you why we signed the contract.¡± Lilia gave the details of what had happened up until now. Karhan and herself signed the contract because they had the same purpose. She explained that they were to pretend being a couple for the time being and after shaking off their fianc¨¦, they would then go on their own ways later. Tesion was convinced only then. ¡°¡­¡­I misunderstood.¡± Tesion muttered embarrassedly. ¡°So far, many people have approached Karhan with impure intentions¡­.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Frankly speaking, Lilia would not have asked for a deal if she didn¡¯t know Karhan¡¯s real personality. If they had met for the first time during the banquet, she would have believed the rumors and would never have thought of getting involved with him. ¡°But what are your plans for the future?¡± Tesion asked for further details on the terms of the contract -Be faithful to each other as fake lovers for a fixed period of time. ¡°May I ask what a fake lover is?¡± ¡°It literally means to pretend as lovers that are head over heels for each other when they are in public.¡± At Lilia¡¯s explanation, Tesion¡¯s eyes turned to Karhan. ¡°¡­¡­.you can¡¯t do that ¡°It seemed like that.¡± I already felt it when we met Richard. Karhan¡­. was not talented in acting. If he couldn¡¯t act, it would be nice to at least have a colourful expression, but he didn¡¯t even know how to properly smile. Lilia recalled the last time she asked Karhan to smile. ¡®I felt like I was in a dream.¡¯ Karhan, who only raised his lips, was like a villain himself. He couldn¡¯t do it because he couldn¡¯t force himself to laugh. In fact, it was urgent to put it aside and get close with each other. ¡°Then why don¡¯t we practice since we are meeting today?¡± Lilia, who had made a decision, asked Karhan. ¡°Little duke, have you ever been in a relationship?¡± The surroundings quickly became solemn and Karhan was silent. She didn¡¯t think he had done it, it did seem like he had never done it before. Lilia slowly turned to face Tesion. Tesion, who had been talking eagerly just now, avoided her eyes. ¡®Well, yeah¡­. He may not have tried dating because he was busy.¡¯ Lilia looked at Malik and Franchse who were standing behind her, Malik also lowered his eyes just like Tesion. Malik was already at the age where he would already have two or three children, but he has yet to get married. She had never even seen him talk about a lover. It seemed that he was not particularly interested in dating. And Franchse¡­. ¡®It would be better for him to not date.¡¯ His appearance was too different from who really was that the lover might run away. On the outside, he looked like a calm and sophisticated young man who seems to be devoted to learning, but in reality, he was mischievous and played all kinds of pranks on others. Eventually, Lilia, the only person with romantic experience here, threw an offer. ¡°We¡¯re going on a date from now on.¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes grew wide at the word ¡®date¡¯. However, if there was one problem that should be pointed, it was that Lilia only had experience in dating Richard. It was a one-sided relationship that couldn¡¯t even be called the term ¡®dating¡¯. In the end, no one here had ever been in a normal relationship. Chapter 17 I like it After saying what she wanted to say, Lilia left the Orgel store. The group walked out together with Lilia in the lead and the four men in tow. For some reason, she felt like a mother duckling with little ducklings. ¡®So far, we¡¯ve been dating in some way.¡¯ She yelled out for a date with her own mouth, but there wasn¡¯t much that came to mind when they actually went out. Lilia frowned while she was trying to recall the past to find something to refer to. It was because it was only Richard who came to mind naturally. Come to think of it, all the dates were only with Richard. ¡®When I was dating that bastard?, I always went shopping¡­.¡¯ Most of the time, they wandered around shopping streets, and sometimes they visited theaters when there were popular plays. She tried to find something more special, but she couldn¡¯t come up with anything. After agonizing for some time, Lilia suddenly suggested. ¡°Do you want to go look for some clothes?¡± ¡°¡­.Pardon?¡± ¡°I remembered that we had to choose clothes in a hurry last time. Let¡¯s go shopping but let¡¯s be more relaxed this time.¡± Karhan nodded with a squeak, he seemed to have broken down since he heard the word ¡®date¡¯ come out from Lilia¡¯s mouth. Lilia gave him a sympathetic gaze. His face was really handsome¡­¡­. To be honest, the face was to Lilia¡¯s taste. He was a handsome man who could slap a popular theater actor on the cheek. In addition, objectively, he had a great body. There would be a line of people who would confess their love to him if he didn¡¯t look fierce. ¡°And let¡¯s call each other by first our names from now on. Because we have to look like a real couple.¡± As if he was still feeling awkward, he had only wet his lips. ¡°Karhan, can you stand next to me for now?¡± When his name was called, Karhan¡¯s eyes grew wide, he moved his stiff body and stood next to Lilia. He still had a cold face, but his ears were slightly red behind his neat hair. How shy you are. Tesion did not stop those who approached Karhan for nothing. Karhan was a seriously delicate man living in such a tough world. ¡®The rumors that were spread around were too much of a mess, it would make you think it was too nice to call him a bad guy after hearing such things.¡¯ But looking at who he really is right now, even calling him as a bad guy felt excessive. Lilia, who had been immersed in her thoughts, found herself arriving in front of a clothing store. She looked up and checked the sign. It was Richard¡¯s favorite clothing store. She thought about going somewhere else, but she then thought that she didn¡¯t have to avoid it. ¡°Miss, I shall be waiting for you here.¡± Malik said as he opened the store door. It was going to be crowded if they all went in together, and so, Franchse, Malik and Tesion had decided to wait outside. Lilia walked into the store with Karhan. ¡°Miss Bloden!¡± ¡°Welcome!¡± The scattered employees rushed out as soon as they heard the name Bloden. While welcoming Lilia with big smiles, they paused when they saw Karhan coming with her, side by side. They became embarrassed because they thought her companion would be Richard. However, they were quick-witted as they had been in the industry for a long time. They laughed and talked as if they hadn¡¯t seen anything. ¡°Is there anything you are looking for?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take my time to look around.¡± At Lilia¡¯s answer, all of the staff fell behind. Karhan quietly followed behind Lilia like a well tamed beast as she took the lead. First, Lilia headed to the place where men¡¯s clothes were hanging, and took out a suit. ¡°Karhan, how about this?¡¯ ¡°I think it¡¯s okay.¡± When he said it was okay, Lilia handed it to the staff. The purchase was decided without any worries. Lilia took out two more clothes and asked. ¡°Which one of the two? Oh, does the left one look better?¡± The expressions of the employees, who were watching from behind, became strange. Karhan had been standing stiffly ever since he first came in. Without saying a word, Lilia looked at his face and acted as if she had already heard his answer. The staff sneaked a peak at Karhan. There was a cold expression on his face and it felt as if there was a cold wind blowing through. Looking at his fierce eyes, he seemed to be thinking about which one to kill rather than choosing which clothes to pick. Furthermore. the employees who saw Karhan¡¯s expression felt that they were in a deep labyrinth. But in actuality, the most surprised person here was Karhan. He didn¡¯t even answer her properly, but Lilia had figured him out completely. ¡°Is this not good?¡± Lilia asked, looking at Karhan¡¯s expression. When he lifted his lips, Lilia smiled a little. ¡°It¡¯s okay to be honest. I¡¯m not going to be angry at you for something like this.¡± He only smiled lightly, yet he already looked sweeter than before. Karhan blinked slowly. He then became more honest when he saw that Lilia wasn¡¯t lying. ¡°¡­..The color is a bit burdensome.¡± ¡°Really? I heard that it¡¯s the trend these days.¡± Lilia put the clothes on Karhan¡¯s body. As expected, he looks so good already that anything harmonizes well with him. ¡°Let¡¯s buy this for now!¡± Lilia¡¯s theory was that, if you bought it and didn¡¯t like it, you could still display it in your closet. Lilia was still eagerly choosing Karhan¡¯s clothes when suddenly, he quietly opened his mouth. ¡°I think this amount of clothes are enough.¡± ¡°This much?¡± Karhan flinched at her gaze which seemed to be asking if he was serious. As he stealthily turned his head, he saw that the clothes Lilia had chosen had already piled up. He wasn¡¯t able to choose his own clothes before but now, he was able to wear new clothes that he chose from top to bottom all month. ¡°¡­. I¡¯d like to choose for you now.¡± It was unusual for him to initiate first, so Lilia nodded while saying yes. Karhan walked to the place full of dresses and began to look carefully. Lilia smiled inwardly at his sincere attitude, as if he were analyzing a piece of art. Even if it was a trivial matter, he never did something half-heartedly. Karhan, who had been agonizing for a long time, brought out a dress. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you like it.¡± She thought he would choose something tacky, but his eyes were better than she initially thought. The blue dress went well with Lilia¡¯s bright blond hair. The fabric was also suitable for the current season, and the size was appropriate. At that moment, she felt strange as she remembered Richard, while choosing clothes for her, did so superficially. ¡®That little punk only knew how to choose his own clothes¡­¡¯ When Lilia didn¡¯t answer, Karhan took it differently right away. ¡°As expected, different clothes¡­¡± ¡°No, I like it.¡± Lilia, who came to her senses, immediately replied. Karhan stiffened, so Lilia gave him praise in a passing manner. ¡°You have a good eye.¡± He grew silent for a moment, Lilia slowly raised her eyes and looked up at Karhan. She then forgot to blink for a moment. His face was softer as if the sun had fallen onto the frozen ground. His stiff expression softened and the narrow gap between his eyes loosened. Karhan muttered as he faced Lilia. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard such a compliment before.¡± Karhan¡¯s expression returned as usual as if he didn¡¯t change expressions in the first place. However, the red blush could not be hidden. Lilia realized that she had more emotions to read from him than she initially thought. She felt like she was looking at a hidden picture. Afterwards, when Lilia and Karhan had picked each other¡¯s clothes, they began to learn a little bit about each other¡¯s tastes. ¡°Go change into this first.¡± Lilia picked up the set of clothes that she liked the most among the other ones that she chose today. Karhan went into the dressing room to change his clothes. It wasn¡¯t long before he came out wearing the new set of clothes. The staff admired silently, and Lilia looked at Karhan for a moment without saying a word. ¡°Do I look weird¡­?¡± Karhan asked, looking down at his clothes awkwardly. ¡°What do you mean it¡¯s weird? It fits Karhan no matter how much I look at you.¡± Karhan¡¯s ears turned red again at the pouring praise. He lowered his eyes, feeling embarrassed. But they really weren¡¯t empty words. His handsome face along with the clothes made him shine. Thanks to the soft color, his harsh demeanor was also softened. Besides, he always wore clothes that were generously wide, but when he wore clothes that matched his body shape, his body stood out even more. It was enough to make people, who were passing by, look back twice at him. She bought Richard a lot of clothes before, but she never felt as proud as she was right now. Lilia smiled happily without knowing it. At Lilia¡¯s reaction, Karhan felt relieved and fiddled with his sleeves. ¡°The clothes seem to have been chosen now, so shall we head out?¡± At Lilia¡¯s word, Karhan quickly stepped forward to the checkout counter. ¡°I¡¯ll pay for it.¡± Lilia paused at Karhan¡¯s words. ¡®You are paying?¡¯ Lilia was embarrassed to see Karhan take out his wallet. After starting a relationship, Richard rarely paid first while dating. Of course, Lilia thought she would be the one to pay and Lilia also took it for granted. When Lilia didn¡¯t answer, he tried to choose his words for a while before he opened his mouth. ¡°It¡¯s not that I wish to offend you, it¡¯s just that¡­. I¡¯ve kept receiving, so I wanted to repay you this time.¡± He seemed to have thought about Lilia¡¯s anger when he offered a reward last time. But Lilia couldn¡¯t receive it. Because¡­. Lilia pointed at the wall where the checkout counter was placed without saying a word. Karhan¡¯s gaze turned towards it. A familiar name was engraved on the wall built on marble. It was the name of the Bloden family. ¡°This is my shop.¡± Karhan dropped his wallet, she lightly shrugged seeing his new reaction. ¡®I think it¡¯s time you get used to it.¡¯ It was likely to be like this for the time being, Lilia picked up his wallet and held it out towards him. ¡°Use this place like a closet in the future.¡± If you need clothes, you can try out new clothes here and then go out wearing them, Lilia said. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Karhan only rubbed his wallet with his fingertips. Lilia, who didn¡¯t see it, asked an employee who had been packing quickly. ¡°Has Richard Tersian been here?¡± ¡°Yes, a few days ago¡­¡± The employee¡¯s reply made Lilia giggle. I can¡¯t believe you came in and out of my store after all that. He had even taken them all for free, Lilia¡¯s smile disappeared from her face. ¡°From now on, all members of the Tersian family, including Richard, will be off limits.¡± I am going to take away all the benefits that I gave him. Chapter 18 Books While Lilia and Karhan were shopping, the three men waited outside. As soon as Lilia left, the surroundings became very quiet. Franchse glared at Tesion with all his might while Tesion was mindful as he knew that he had been rude to Lilia earlier. Since he was an aide to the little duke, Franchse could not say anything but stare at him. However, Tesion ignored Franchse and looked through the window into the store. He was worried that Karhan might make a mistake. Malik, who was caught between the two, sighed. In fact, Malik, like Franchse, did not like Tesion. However, both of their masters would continue to be involved with each other in the future, so there was nothing good about having a bad relationship between the subordinates. Malik sighed inwardly. ¡°I think we¡¯ll often see each other from now on, so shouldn¡¯t we make a common statement?¡± ¡°Brother!¡± Franches shouted at Malik looking as if he had been betrayed. Tesion slowly turned his head at Malik¡¯s words. ¡°I see, I apologize for the late greetings. I¡¯m Tesion Herben.¡± ¡°I¡¯m in charge of escorting the lady. My name is Malik Shade.¡± Malik glanced at Franches after revealing his name. Frenches avoided his gaze as he pursed his lips. But Tesion didn¡¯t seem to care at all. Rather, he treated Franchse like he wasn¡¯t even there. Malik sighed when he saw that the two men had no intention of getting close with each other. Malik, who was agonizing over what to say, suddenly opened his mouth again. ¡°The little duke seems to be a good man.¡± When the praise for Karhan came out from Malik¡¯s mouth, Tesion completely changed his attitude. His green eyes glistened. ¡°Right? There are a lot of people who misunderstand him just by looking at his outer appearance, but he¡¯s actually really nice.¡± He had been thinking about it for a while, but Tesion seemed to have great loyalty for Karhan. Malik praised Karhan because he thought that doing so would bring them closer. At that time, Franchse, who was still sulking, suddenly shouted. ¡°My lady is a good woman too!¡± No, why are you¡­ Malik looked at Franchse with a speechless look. He turned slightly and headed toward Tession and Malik. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to my lady that I¡¯m here as an escort.¡± Franchse raised his shoulders with a very proud face. ¡°She let me learn swordsmanship and even gave me a job!¡± Malik laughed inwardly, everytime Franchse had a chance, he would always brag about how great of a person Lilia is. He has heard about it a hundred times already. ¡°So she¡¯s better than anyone else.¡± Tesion, who was listening quietly to Franchse, opened his mouth having no intention of losing. ¡°Lord Karhan is the benefactor who saved my life.¡± Tession glanced at Karhan through the window. ¡°We first met on the battlefield.¡± He explained that he was the third son of a count family and that he went to war for the honor of the family. However, he, who was not particularly talented with swordsmanship, was overwhelmed by trying to survive day by day. ¡°Death was¡­¡­whether you were a noble or a commoner, we were equal.¡± There was an incident wherein a unit was on the verge of annihilation. Tession, who had injured his leg, was alone and had been left behind in the middle of the battlefield as all his colleagues ran away. He thought he was dead, but a miracle occured. A man, covered in blood, appeared in front of him. At that time, Tession thought that the bloody man would kill him. The man who had his back turned against the sun looked like a reaper. However, he carried Tession on his back and began to run. He was helping others even though his life could come in danger. Later, Tession found out that the man who helped him was the infamous murderous Evantheon little duke. Whatever the rumors were, Karhan saved Tession. Since then, Tession had been following Karhan, claiming himself as his aide. After the explanation, Tession raised his voice. ¡°Since then, I¡¯ve decided to follow Lord Karhan for the rest of my life!¡± Franchse clenched his fist at Tesion¡¯s words. ¡°My lady is¡­!¡± Franchse began to praise Lilia once again, and Tesion was not one to be pushed back either. Malik, who was watching the two, smiled inwardly. At times like this, porridge would fit well. They raised their voices and had a compliment fight, and the store door opened. ¡°Thank you! Come and take a look again soon!¡± Lilia left the store followed by the chant of employees. Lilia stopped in her tracks when she saw Franchse and Tesion making loud noises. ¡°They seemed to have gotten close?¡± ¡°Become close!¡± (T/N: he repeated Lilia¡¯s words in shock) ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Franchse and Tesion immediately answered. As Lilia snorted, Tesion immediately managed his expression. ¡°Somehow, I got caught up in it and showed an immature side of me.¡± Now that he stepped out on his own, Franchse mumbled to himself as if to rebuke Tesion¡¯s words. ¡°You were the most excited¡­¡± ¡°You.¡± Tession glanced at Franchse. Lilia blinked slowly at the sight. Earlier, they acted as if they weren¡¯t going to be seeing each other eye to eye, but they seemed to have gotten closer as they quarreled. ¡°Aren¡¯t you all hungry? Shall we have lunch?¡± When everyone agreed, Lilia led them to a restaurant where she remembered having a delicious meal from before. Lilia and Karhan sat down together in one table, and the remaining people sat separately. Lilia pushed the menu out towards Karhan. ¡°Choose what you want to eat first.¡± For him, who rarely made his own decisions, Lilia patiently waited. Shortly after completing the order, a series of appetizing dishes were placed on the table. As the dishes were placed, the two could see each other¡¯s tastes. Lilia liked dishes with meat, while Karhan liked dishes with vegetables. ¡®How do you maintain your body by eating only these vegetables?¡¯ As she was thinking that, Karhan took a plate of meat from her side, he picked up the knife and started cutting the meat. The thick meat was gently and easily cut like pudding. When he finished, Karhan put the plate in front of Lilia. The meat was cut evenly so that it could be eaten without difficulty. Lilia looked down at the plate without saying a word. ¡°Somehow¡­..It¡¯s like a real date.¡± When Lilia muttered to herself, Karhan paused. He put down the knife and raised his head. He solely looked at her as his deep blue eyes reflected Lilia like a mirror. ¡°If this is a date, I think I can do better next time.¡± In a subdued voice, he said carefully. ¡°I¡¯ll learn hard, so Young Lady please teach me.¡± ¡°Then can you call me by my name from now on?¡± Karhan missed the spoon that he was trying to pick up when he heard her words. That sight of him made Lilia laugh a little. * * * After the meal, Lilia and Karhan stopped by several more stores. The time had passed much more quickly than she thought, so she decided to put an end to it for now. When they arrived in front of the carriage that Lilia would be riding, Karhan asked cautiously. ¡°¡­.How was today?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t bad.¡± At first, his voice sounded like a little squeak as if it were a broken toy, but later on, he found he was adjusting himself and his tone. He then breathed a sigh of relief as if he were relieved by Lilia¡¯s response. ¡°I wonder if Young Lady was feeling troubled because of my personality¡­.¡± Karhan looked up and faced Lilia. ¡°I want to do my best without bothering you during the contract period.¡± She felt like she was looking at a timid but passionate new employee. At first, she was quite worried when they first signed the contract, but Karhan has improved himself a lot. However, this much was still not enough. She wanted to change his passive personality and attitude but she was not confident in doing so. ¡°It could be changed.¡± Lilia looked directly at Karhan and put more strength into her voice. ¡°I will work hard to help you from now on.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Yes.¡± After hearing his answer, Lilia¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°Then the next time we meet, bring the least useful thing you¡¯ve ever had that you bought recently. It¡¯s even better if you didn¡¯t open the package.¡± Karhan tilted his head slightly. He looked like he couldn¡¯t figure out the reason for this. ¡°I¡¯ll explain it to you by then. See you next time.¡± Lilia then got on the carriage first. Karhan stood there and watched as the carriage moved away. When the three left, the surroundings became quiet in an instant. ¡°Sir Karhan.¡± Tesion murmured as he stood behind Karhan as he watched the carriage disappear towards the direction of the Bloden mansion. ¡°Bloden Young Lady seems like a good person.¡± He came out today with a firm commitment to reveal her true intentions, but Lilia persuaded him instead. In particular, she was the first person who was able to tell what Karhan was actually thinking just by looking at his face. Tesion glanced at Karhan. At first, his face seemed to have softened. Tesion blinked without realizing it. It was unusual for Karhan to show such emotions. Even this was apparent because he had been with Karhan for a long time, because it was definitely a tremendous improvement. Tesion thought that it was very good that they came out today. ¡°There¡¯s going to be a lot of trouble ahead.¡± However, the future was still uncertain. The people of the Evantheon family would never agree when they see the change in Karhan. The elders wanted Karhan to remain as a puppet as he was now. His mother, Duchess Evantheon, was not interested in Karhan. Rather, she tried to sell out Karhan by making him take part in unwanted engagements. The reason why she chose Delotta over numerous prestigious families was because of their money. Karhan¡¯s face turned a little dark at the words of Tession. ¡°I have to try harder because I¡¯m not good enough.¡± Tession let out a sigh at the appearance of Karhan who blamed everything on himself. Karhan had long been accustomed to conformity. It would take awhile for my father¡¯s stomach to heal. ¡°I¡¯d like to go somewhere where I can read.¡± At Karhan¡¯s words, Tession glanced at the books in his hand. The cover, which is all pink, has caught the eye since earlier. Before separating, Lilia handed them over to Karhan. He wondered what kind of books she had bought, so Tession checked the titles of the books. [Rookie of Love, Master of Love!] [100 Ways to Become a Good Lover] [Compliments for Dating Course] Tession rubbed his eyes against the back of his hand. He was not mistaken, was he¡­? He suddenly became a little nervous, of whether this contract relationship would succeed or not. Chapter 19 Mercilessly Count Bloden had a hall which served as a conference room. It was a place where important guests gather to hold important meetings when the need arises, so it had not been opened for quite a long time. Under the huge chandelier, only three people were present. Count Bloden sat at the very edge of the long table, Violet the Countess on his right, and Heinley on his left. The conference room was solemn as if it were a funeral hall instead. Just by looking at the atmosphere alone, it seemed as if there was a tremendous crisis that had occurred in the family. Breaking the long silence, the eldest son, Heinley, opened his mouth. ¡°Then I will start the meeting.¡± Heinley got up from his seat, he then stood in front of a wheeled cork board. The Count and Violet turned and looked at Heinley. Everyone had serious faces and not a single smile could be seen. ¡°Today¡¯s agenda is¡­¡± Heinley took out a pen and wrote down some letters on the piece of paper that had been secured on to the cork board with tweezers. ¡°This is Lilia¡¯s new boyfriend.¡± [Karhan Evantheon] The Count slightly distorted his face at the sight of the letters on the white paper. ¡°I don¡¯t like seeing that name right from the start.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s narrow-minded of someone to judge by name, but I agree with you this time.¡± Violet nodded at the Count¡¯s mumbling, Heinley put down the pen with a snap. In fact, Hainley was the last to hear that Lilia had a new lover, he also only knew about it when his parents told him. He heard in person that she was postponing her wedding with Richard, but he didn¡¯t know that she was thinking about calling off the marriage. She even found a new lover. His head was pounding just thinking about it. ¡°First of all, this is the data I¡¯ve gathered from my research. There are a lot of shortcomings within it since it was an urgent investigation.¡± Heinley handed out a bunch of paper to the Count and Countess. The Count and Violet reviewed what was written on the paper quickly. Most of it was information about the Duchess of Evantheon. It would have been nice to have more information about Karhan Evantheon, but his private life was tightly covered. In particular, before he became a successor, there was almost no data about him to the point where they wondered where he lived. ¡°From my perspective, it seems to be that the little duke is different from the average person. You could just see it from the way he was sent to the battlefield at the age of 14.¡± Even though he was the second son, there were few cases where they were sent to the battlefield as long as he was born as a deficit of the duke¡¯s family. He could participate on his own request, but no one would walk into a battlefield with their limbs unless they were crazy. Violet then raised her hand after hearing Heinley¡¯s opinion. ¡°As far as I can tell, he was sent out to play in the battlefield to lay the groundwork for the eldest son.¡± When the Countess made a speculation that he didn¡¯t participate to achieve his ambition, he was told. ¡°There was a saying that he participated because he liked slaughter.¡± It became quiet in an instant. It was because everyone had heard the rumors surrounding the little duke of Evantheon. ¨C A murderer with no blood or tears. ¨C A man who casted out his brother because of his own ambition. ¨C Vulgar. The rumors of the little duke that had been heard so far passed through everyone¡¯s head. ¡°Why did Lilia come to like a man such as him?¡± The Count murmured to himself. But no one could answer his question. He split up his busy time and held the meeting, but only unanswered questions lingered on the table. ¡°Has anyone seen the face of the little duke?¡± Heinley and Count shook their heads at Violet¡¯s question. Violet clasped her hands and put them on the table. She mumbled, as she put her chin on her knuckles. ¡°We¡¯re gonna have to make them break up anyway, right?¡± ¡°Should I give him a castle and tell him to break up with my daughter?¡± The Count quickly gave his opinion. Then Heinley replied, putting up his silver-rimmed glasses. ¡°The opponent is an Evantheon. Even if their wealth is not as good as our family, I¡¯m sure he has enough money.¡± The Count shut his mouth sullenly. ¡°How about revealing to Lilia the true nature of the Evantheon little duke?¡± Violet shook her head at Heinley¡¯s opinion. ¡°She already knows and there are only rumors about him without proper evidence¡­¡± As Violet sighed, Heinley turned silent with a gloomy face. Since then, many opinions were stated from everyone. How to make her feel bad, stopping her by going on hunger strikes, etc. However, Lilia had a history of encountering a huge trash called Richard. They knew better than anyone how great she is blinded by love While all opinions were coming out, the Count, who had been quiet, suddenly opened his mouth. ¡°What if I force her to break up and tell her to reunite with Richard?¡± Blood drained out from everyone¡¯s face. It was a very bad ending. It was so bad that they even thought for a very short moment that Evantheon little duke might be better. In silence Violet loosened her fingers. ¡°If we make a decision here, we won¡¯t be able to do anything later on. We¡¯d better watch for now.¡± If I had the ability to have Lilia listen to my persuasion, she would not have gotten engaged to Richard. Violet grabbed the bunch of paper that was handed to them earlier and slammed them on the desk. ¡°However, it would be fine if we could find out more about who he really is.¡± If he is an insignificant man, they would threaten him to break up with her. Both father and son nodded at her opinion. Heinley then said as he pushed away the organized paper. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go and meet with the little duke.¡± ¡°Yes, then I will trust that with you.¡± The Count and his wife gave Heinley a look full of faith in him. And so, that was how the meeting of the Bloden family without Lilia ended. * * * After having breakfast, Lilia was left alone in the house. Her father was busy preparing for an exhibition in a few weeks, while her mother went out for some business and her brother went to the Imperial Palace early in the morning. Lilia started her day after changing into simple clothes. After sorting out all the letters that came to her, she contemplated on what she would be doing for the day. Looking out the window blankly, she noticed that the weather looked very good. Lilia muttered to herself, watching the floating clouds in the deep blue sky. ¡°Shall I drink tea in the back garden?¡± Her worries did not last long. Lilia then decided to go out to the back garden. When she left the mansion and arrived at the entrance of the patronage, she saw a magnolia tree. Passing through the place where magnolia was planted, she went straight into the back garden where a wisteria tree was connected like a tunnel. Lilia walked slowly under the wisteria tree. Wisteria branches that had yet to bloom flowers spread out in all directions. A round wooden table could be found on the place where she stopped. As Lilia sat at the table, an employee prepared a teapot. When the water reached the proper temperature, it was then poured and the scent of the flower tea spread softly. ¡°It smells good.¡± The employee smiled silently at Lilia¡¯s words. He was an employee whom she hired before when she bought a teahouse. After the store disappeared due to redevelopment, he came into the mansion to work for her. Although he couldn¡¯t hear, his tea-brewing skills were excellent. And if they speak slowly to him, there would be no problem in communicating with him because he understood just by looking at the shape of the person¡¯s mouth. Lilia put down the teacup. These days, Lilia had more free time and became more leisurely than ever. Until now, she was always stuck with Richard, but after breaking up with him, she had more time left. Besides, she didn¡¯t have any friends to meet up with and most of them were related to Richard, even though they were acquaintances. At that time, she interacter with them reluctantly because of Richard. However, she had no intention of making friends now. It was because Lilia, who has been interacting with a variety of people since childhood, thought she was more comfortable alone. Especially this time, she was able to completely clear her mind due to the Richard incident. ¡®What am I going to do in the future¡­¡¯ Lilia has not given much thought about the future so far. It was because she believed that she would naturally become Lady of Tersian. But her engagement with Richard has already flown far away. So she was going to think about what to do in the future after breaking off the engagement. In fact, she was at the age where other ordinary young ladies would have already married. However, the thought of wanting to have a relationship disappeared because of Richard. At this rate, she didn¡¯t know if she would have to live alone if she missed getting married. If so¡­. Lilia carefully brought up the idea that had been deeply embedded in her mind so far. ¡®I want to lead the business.¡¯ Count Bloden was a successful business family. Since she was a child, Lilia has naturally followed her parents into business. Although her financial luck was so good that it often resulted in success without much effort, she enjoyed the moments where she participated and planned for the business in person. However, there was no business that had been done by herself so far, and the family business was going to be inherited by the eldest son, Heinley. He was a strong successor when given various conditions. Of course, he said he didn¡¯t want to run the business and was instead working in the imperial palace. First of all, it would be better to break off the engagement first and then think about the problem again. Lilia picked up her cup again to drink the tea. At that time, an employee walked from far away. He was holding a huge bouquet of flowers. ¡°What¡­?¡± She was staring at it because she wondered if someone had sent her a gift, but the employee stopped and said. ¡°Lady, a letter and a gift came from the Marquis of Tersian.¡± As soon as she heard the name, Lilia frowned. The employee handed over a letter and a paper knife. Lilia only received the letter, then opened the envelope and took out the letter. [Please visit the Marquis estate because I want to talk about some things I couldn¡¯t say last time. I¡¯ll wait for you any time. This bouquet of flowers is from my heart to you.] It sounded so absurd, that a laugh came out of her mouth. Did you break your leg in the meantime? Or does he have a disease that would kill him if he comes to see her in person? Lilia then received the flowers from the employee and without hesitation, she threw it down to the floor. As she stepped on it with her shoes, the pretty roses were crushed mercilessly. Lilia stared at the bouquet which had run out of petals. ¡°Now this looks more like what my heart feels¡± Lilia then said to the employee who was watching with a confused face. ¡°Burn it in the incinerator.¡± Chapter 20 Sign Now Lilia, who sent the bouquet to the incinerator, wrote a reply to Richard to visit her in person. The next day, a representative for Richard came from the Tersian mansion. As if having so much to say, the representative kept talking nonsense. Putting it all together, the only conclusion that could be reached was that Richard could not come to Count Bloden¡¯s mansion. Lilia knew that Richard was reluctant to visit the Bloden residence. It was because he showed signs of discomfort the whole time when he was in the mansion after coming once before. Since then, he would come up with every excuse to not come whenever she invited him to her house. In fact, Lilia didn¡¯t want to bring Richard to her home either. It was quite bitter to just sit down and give orders, so I asked him to come in person. ¡°Then set a date and tell him to meet me outside.¡± Either way, they had to meet properly at least once to get his consent to break up. Since she did not intend to bend to his wishes, they informed her that they would meet outside as a compromise. Richard accepted Lilia¡¯s offer and¡­ Finally, the day of the appointment came. Lilia finished her preparations perfectly. She wanted to show him a more perfect figure after they had broken up. Lilia left the bedroom and went down to the front door. Franchse and Malik, who were waiting in front of the front door, greeted her. When Malik opened the carriage door, Lilia said, as she stepped on the simple stairs. ¡°If he tries to do something to me today, I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Franchse¡¯s eyes flashed. Then the sound of reins being released from the horse could be heard. Still, there should be a form of insurance. They didn¡¯t know what would happen after the two of them met for no reason. And ever since witnessing the scene where Richard was having an affair, this was the first time that the two of them had a proper conversation. She needed to prepare her mind. While lost in thought, before she knew it, the carriage had already arrived at the meeting place. As she was getting off the wagon, she found Richard getting off the wagon across from her. ¡°Lilia¡­!¡± When their eyes met, Richard ran over towards her quickly. He glanced over Lilia lightly and said. ¡°You look prettier today than last time?¡± When Lilia didn¡¯t answer back, Richard looked around. It seemed as if he was checking whether Karhan was with her. After confirming that he was not there, he breathed a sigh of relief. Franchse and Malik, who were standing behind Lilia, stepped forward. When two people stared at him at the same time, Richard flinched. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside for now.¡± Lilia walked and entered the tea shop first. When Richard followed in, Lilia picked up the menu that had been on the counter before she settled down on her seat. ¡°A cup of milk tea, please. Here is payment in advance, would this be alright? After paying the bill in advance, Lilia immediately turned her back. Richard looked back at Lilia with embarrassed eyes. The payment was always up to Lilia. It was as natural as if it was a law established between the two. But she didn¡¯t ask for his, and she just paid the bill for her own. When Lilia was completely settled in, Richard hurriedly ordered. He made a big impression when he realized he didn¡¯t bring his wallet. By the time he managed to get his wallet from his wagon, Lilia was already drinking her milk tea. When Richard returned to his seat opposite of hers, Lilia suddenly opened her mouth. ¡°So why did you ask to meet?¡± Richard lowered his eyes, furrowing his eyebrows slightly. Then he rolled his lower lip inwards. He looked like he made a face whenever his pride was hurt. Richard, who had been pressing his lips for a long time, asked. ¡°Are you serious about breaking up with me?¡± Instead of answering, Lilia placed a piece of paper on the table. Richard¡¯s face had blanked out for a moment when he saw the word ¡°agreement to break up.¡± ¡°How come¡­¡± Richard clenched his fist when she looked at him asking if he didn¡¯t know. ¡°Is that what happened then? Or is it because of the Evantheon Little Duke?¡± ¡°Both.¡± Lilia¡¯s answer made his face crumpled a bit more. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a lie when you said that you like Evanteon Little Duke? And that you met at the banquet and fell in love at first sight?¡± He kept throwing questions which instead sounded close to interrogation. Lilia replied bluntly after seeing his clenched fist shaking. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to believe it, don¡¯t. ¡®Cause I¡¯m serious.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because you don¡¯t know what Evanteon¡¯s little duke is like!¡± ¡®At least I know better than you.¡¯ Lilia tried to answer back, but she held it in. So far, it was better to let them misunderstand. She can¡¯t just believe the rumors and think of attacking Karhan. Richard breathed loudly to suppress his emotions. His shoulders rose up and then sank. ¡°I know everything. You¡¯re not going out with him because you¡¯re feeling happy.¡± At that moment, Lilia¡¯s eyes narrowed. When she listened carefully to see if he knew something, Richard confidently spoke. ¡°You¡¯re actually going out with him to make me jealous, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡®Are you crazy?¡¯ At the moment, all the swear words that she had learned from Franchse passed through her head. She was speechless because of the absurdity. Then Richard¡¯s expression became softer. It looked like he judged that his deduction was right. ¡°¡­¡­We¡¯ve been fine so far.¡± Lilia raised her head at the words he said quietly. As their eyes locked on to each other, Lilia could see her reflection in his dark, crimson eyes. ¡°We would be married in three months, so I don¡¯t think it makes sense for us to break up because of this.¡± In a quiet voice, Richard talked about the future ahead of him. He knew how much Lilia had been waiting for the wedding. Where the wedding would take place, the guests to invite, the honeymoon destination ¡­¡­ Every time Lilia met Richard, she would happily talk about the plans for the wedding. ¡°We were supposed to go on our honeymoon to the South. Remember when you swore to see the sunset sea?¡± When he talked about what she¡¯d been sharing about, Lilia¡¯s purple eyes shook a little. The trembling, like the flapping of a butterfly¡¯s wings, soon became ripples and spread. Richard didn¡¯t miss that small gap. ¡°Lilia, you are my first love.¡± His quiet voice rang. It was as if he had gone back to the past as he whispered words of love. ¡°I¡¯ve been sure since we first met. We¡¯re meant to be.¡± Richard always said that their meeting was fate. Lilia thought so too. If Richard hadn¡¯t saved her on the day she fell into the water, she wouldn¡¯t even be here. So she left her fate to him who saved her life. ¡°Do you remember the first date we had? We didn¡¯t know what to do, so we ate for three hours. And then when we went to see the flowers¡­¡± Richard brought up good memories with a friendly tone. Memories, which had been thrown out after she was betrayed by him, returned intact and were laid in front of her. She couldn¡¯t say that all of them were good, but the memories he gave her were unforgettable moments even for Lilia. ¡®Why did I like you?¡¯ It was a question she had asked thousands of times since the day she was betrayed. There was a lot to answer. Because she felt it was destiny, there were moments where he was affectionate to her, because it was her first relationship, because she thought it was sincere¡­ Richard was different from others. After saving her life, he showed a humble attitude by saying that he did what he had to do and it was a different move from those who would only talk about money. Lilia, who had a lot of experience in being betrayed by a person, initially suspected him. However, because Richard was different from them, she was increasingly attracted and eventually fell in love. The moments that she had spent with Richard were definitely full of happiness. Drunk with sweetness, she fell in love with him like a honey bee drowning in a honey jar. However, love was not just sweet. His attitude became so different from when they first dated. Countless women hovered around Richard. Every once in a while, when they had a fight, she would look at his eyes. She would then feel nervous and think that he would never contact her again and leave her alone The moments when she had to give up what she liked¡­ When she thought about it, it seemed that she wasn¡¯t so happy while she dated him. The shadow of anxiety that stretched under the happiness was bigger and deeper. So she didn¡¯t even know that she went to Richard after she heard the fortune teller¡¯s words. Now Lilia realized that all the happiness that she believed in was a mirage. ¡°¡­..¡± Richard stopped talking. He was nervous because Lilia hadn¡¯t said anything, so he pressed his lips. Soon, Richard lowered his head slowly. ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault.¡± Her calm purple eyes grew a little bigger. Lilia blinked at the sight of Richard bowing to her. The number of times he apologized first could be counted in one hand ¡°I must have been out of my mind then. I won¡¯t do that again.¡± Richard, who insisted that he was not cheating, eventually begged for forgiveness. ¡°I¡¯ll do really well from now on. Give me one more chance,Lilia.¡± When Lilia still did not answer, he jumped out of his seat and knelt on the floor. As Richard was below eye level, Lilia was able to look down at the top of Richard¡¯s head. It was her first time looking down at him from above. Lilia, who was looking at the burning red hair, suddenly opened her mouth. ¡°Alright.¡± Richard raised his head. His face lit up as if he thought he had been forgiven. ¡°I¡¯ve listened to you, so now it¡¯s my turn to answer, right?¡± Lilia said, she then once again placed the agreement for the break up on the table in front of him. ¡°Now, sign here.¡± ¡°What¡­? Richard asked back with a dazed face. Lilia said one more time for him who couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°I said sign here.¡± Lilia even handed out a pen herself. Richard alternated between the break up agreement and Lilia with betrayed eyes. As he slowly raised himself, he uttered a voice full of resentment. ¡°I¡¯ve done so much to this extent, how could you do that? I said I¡¯m sorry!¡± ¡°Why force forgiveness when it¡¯s up to me?¡± Since Richard¡¯s attitude was apologetic, of course it would seem natural that she had accepted his apology. Lilia ridiculed. If Richard had approached her and begged her for forgiveness on the day she learned of his injustice, things might have been different. At that time, she was blinded by love, and would have foolishly thought that Richard was sincerely reflecting on himself. But not now. ¡°At that time, I thought you might come to me and ask for forgiveness.¡± During the period when she was still foolishly stuck in her room, Lilia would look out of the window as she cried endlessly. Just in case Richard would come to see her¡­ A day, two days, a week¡­ After 15 days, she had to admit it. The fact that he was not going to meet with her. The expectations she had made were overshadowed by misery. ¡°But it¡¯s too late.¡± When Richard brought up the past, her anger was higher than her good feelings for him. Above all, Richard was the one who trampled on those precious memories. Lilia smiled coldly instead of the sweet smile that Richard liked. ¡°So stop talking nonsense and sign now.¡± Chapter 21 Tea party Richard was silent for a while, he murmured, looking only at the consent form for a breakup. ¡°I absolutely don¡¯t agree.¡± Richard¡¯s eyes glistened. At the unusual appearance, Franchse and Malik came closer to Lilia. ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer.¡± At Malik¡¯s warning, Richard gritted his teeth. At once, he reached out and snatched the consent form for break up. Then he ripped it off without mercy and spread it in the air. Richard looked at her and wondered what she was going to do now. Lilia brought up a new consent form for break up as if she knew that this would happen. Lilia opened her mouth as she looked at his shaking crimson eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s break up quietly before we see each other¡¯s dirty state.¡± Richard¡¯s expression hardened at the harsh words that came out from Lilia¡¯s mouth. He looked like he didn¡¯t know such words would come out of her mouth, as she had always said nice things. Of course. That was because she didn¡¯t show the real herself to Richard. She just pretended to be nice and understanding because she wanted to be loved by him. ¡®Come to think of it, we were dating without knowing each other¡¯s ¡®real face¡¯. Lilia swallowed as she laughed inwardly. ¡°You¡¯re gonna regret it. You know how deadly rumours are in society!¡± ¡°So what?¡± Richard was speechless, so he shut his mouth. Anyway, because of Richard¡¯s pride, it led to his fiancee loving another man. He could never say that. In addition, Lilia¡¯s new lover was the Little Duke of Evantheon. No one would go so far so as to talk openly. ¡®I have money, but what does rumours have to do with it?¡¯ It was the social world that overlooked rumours if they had money and power. Even Karhan¡¯s reputation couldn¡¯t get any worse than now. She also knew that, so she made a deal with him. ¡°Do whatever you want. I don¡¯t care about rumours.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°And you were the one who cheated on me first, right?¡± Not long ago, Richard begged Lilia for forgiveness. He admitted himself that he had an affair. Richard, who had been grinding his teeth, was sarcastic. ¡°Don¡¯t pretend to be clean alone. Evantheon¡¯s little duke also has a woman. In the end, aren¡¯t you cheating on me too?¡± Lilia paused for a moment. But she didn¡¯t have to tell him that Stella was Karhan¡¯s stalker, and were not on any terms yet. When an answer didn¡¯t come back, Richard was elated and shouted. ¡°To the Evantheon little duke, you¡¯re just playing with fire.¡± Richard whispered that she would be thrown away soon. ¡°Lilia, it¡¯s not too late now. You can put everything in order and make it back to the way it was¡­¡± As she listened to him, Lilia looked down at the broken-up agreement scattered at her feet. Even if they are attached together in detail, it would still be different from the original form. Just like the relationship between her and Richard. Lilia then got up from her seat. She took out all the written forms for consent to break up and scattered them towards him. ¡°What are you doing!¡± Richard burst into anger. Lilia then said, while she looked at him as he was burning red. ¡°There will be no reunification even if there is just me and you in the world.¡± This was the last chance she gave him. If Richard simply accepted the breakup, she was also planning to settle it to the appropriate extent. But Richard kicked that opportunity. If he didn¡¯t intend to agree, he would be forced to agree. ¡°Please, I will make you beg for breakup.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Do you think I¡¯ll just wait and see?¡± As if growling, he spit out his words with a seething voice. Richard had faith in himself. His father was a high-ranking official in the Empire who had ties to the Imperial family. No matter how much it was called ¡°golden is almighty,¡± power could not be ignored. (QC/N: No Matter how much money is valued, power/connections could not be ignored so no matter how much rich Bloden family is Richard¡¯s family has connections and power) However, Lilia had more power behind her back than Richard did. She was planning to bring in authority of the Duke of Evantheon through Karhan, so no matter how powerful he was as the Marquis of Tersian, he would not be able to thrive. ¡°Do whatever you want.¡± Lilia turned away. The last compromise was broken. There was no reason to stay here anymore. Lilia then halted before she left. ¡°Oh. I¡¯m saying this because I keep hearing news¡­, Stop selling my name.¡± Lilia said, as she looked at him from top to bottom, just like how Richard would do. ¡°Because it¡¯s lame.¡± * * * Roses in full bloom were spread all over the path. Like Virgin Road, rose shrubs were planted on both sides, and at the end of the road were two white pillars supporting a dome roof. The pink roses climbed up the pillar and covered it thickly up to the top of the white roof. There was a round table under the dome. With the table in the center, the women sat down, and Stella was at the center. Today¡¯s meeting was Stella Delotta¡¯s regular tea party. All those invited were unmarried young ladies, consisting of no less than those with the county status. As everyone gathered, the employee standing behind poured the water. The dried roses in the teacup began to bloom slowly. While everyone was admiring the ecstatic scene, Stella opened her mouth. ¡°This is the rose tea that is to be released as a new product this time.¡± ¡°It smells really good.¡± ¡°The color is pretty, too.¡± Everyone gave compliments one after another. Stella smiled at their words. She used to invite the group and held tasting sessions before launching the new product. There was no particular opinion to refer to because they would always give out compliments, but it was comforting. After the tasting, they began conversing. Then, when a topic was decided, everyone started talking. Since they were young ladies who were at the marriageable age, lovers and marriage were mainly the talk of the town. A viscount lady sighed deeply and opened her mouth. ¡°There¡¯s a talk about marriage this time that I¡¯m worried about. It¡¯s the best condition for my situation, but it¡¯s still a pity¡­.¡± She pretended to be lamented, but a subtle pride could be felt from her words. Everyone pretended not to know and said that they were envious. While talking about each other¡¯s fianc¨¦s, one young lady sneaked a peek towards Stella. ¡°Miss Delotta must be very happy. You¡¯re going to be the Duchess.¡± Everyone looked at Stella with envious eyes. Stella was the only child of the Delotta family, who had nothing to be ashamed of, and was about to rise in her status through marriage. Although the reputation of the little duke was not good, there were a number of people who would not refuse to take a place as part of the old nobles if they could seize power. Stella was also one of them. She was willing to jump into the fire pit to get what she didn¡¯t have. She chose Karhan who had power that she could not resist even if she struggled all her life. ¡°We haven¡¯t even had an engagement yet.¡± Stella was modest in her own way, sweeping up her navy blue hair. ¡°But you two meet often, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m curious. Please tell me a story.¡± Stella stared silently at the untouched refreshment. Actually, there was no specific story to tell. It was because she never even had a proper date with Karhan. There was only a conversation between families about engagement, but it was still the same as others. Everyone thought that the wedding was set, but the reality was that she was the one unilaterally chasing him. They haven¡¯t even met since the palace banquet. Karhan¡¯s frowned face kept popping up, so she was refraining from visiting for the time being. Unable to tell the details, Stella mixed up the lies and glossed over them. ¡°We¡¯re usually meeting at home. But I¡¯m tired because of the rumors.¡± Everyone nodded because they had heard about Karhan¡¯s rumors at least once. ¡°It is said that little duke is a scary person, but in the first place, such a person is decided on a lover.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. In a novel I read a while ago, such a male protagonist appeared.¡± The topic quickly shifted to romance novels. Stella listened eagerly, while she pretended not to be interested. She didn¡¯t tell anyone else, but in fact, she also was into romance novels. The reason why she lost weight was because of the influence of the female lead in her favourite novel. Especially since the novel that she was reading these days was the story of a female protagonist who was able to tame a bad man. A bad guy that no one could handle. Although he was handsome, he was a tragic person who did not give his heart to anyone and only the female protagonist was able to tame the male protagonist. When she first read the novel, Stella felt like her heart was going to explode. She cried and laughed, and later substituted the characters as herself and Karhan. When she thought that despite Karhan pushing her away or being blunt was an ordeal, she would get even more flare up. Although at the moment he was a cold and bad man like the main character in the novel, she would eventually be the one who captures Karhan. ¡°Oh¡­ a while ago¡­¡± A young lady opened her mouth without much thought but she shut up in a hurry. The sight made Stella ask. ¡°What happened a while ago?¡± She hesitated and reluctantly opened her mouth to Stella¡¯s gaze. ¡°A few days ago, I had a business trip in the downtown area. There I happened to see the Evantheon little duke¡­¡± She then looked at Stella instead of talking. Stella nodded as if to say to keep talking. ¡°He had company at that time¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t that his secretary?¡± It was quite famous for Karhan carrying a man whose identity was not known either he was a secretary or an aide. Those who had the courage to talk to Karhan often gave up because of that man. ¡°No, I was walking really close¡­¡± ¡°So who was it?¡± Stella couldn¡¯t resist and urged. She hesitated to say it, but she finally committed it. ¡°It was Lilia Bloden.¡± Clink, clink, and teaspoon fell. Stella opened her mouth with a face that said she couldn¡¯t believe what she just heard. That nasty girl and the Evantheon little duke were walking together¡­? Stella, who was trembling, jumped up from her seat. Then she shouted at the employee standing behind her. ¡°I¡¯m going to the Evantheon mansion. Call the carriage right now!¡± Chapter 22 Refund The day she promised to meet Karhan has come. While sitting in front of the dressing table, Lilia recalled her meeting with Richard a few days ago. When she was about to leave at the end, Richard screamed and tried to grab her. However, Lilia had two great escorts. Richard, who was stopped by Franchse and Malik, couldn¡¯t overcome his anger and caused a disturbance. Then, when the store owner called the guards, he finally calmed down. Lilia took advantage of that gap and returned home. She had said everything she wanted to say, so there would be no separate meeting between the two. From now on, he had to create a reason for why he had no choice but to agree to the breakup. After the dressing was over, Lilia got up from her seat. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Have a safe trip, miss.¡± The employees smiled and saw Lilia off. Lilia paused as she walked through the hallway after exiting the bedroom. In the middle of the hallway, a man stood by the window with a ray of light shining on him. It was Heinley, whose blond hair was shining in the sun. ¡°Brother?¡± At Lilia¡¯s call, Heinley slowly turned his head. She walked over there and asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t it time for you to go to work?¡± ¡°I¡¯m on vacation.¡± A cold reply came back. Lilia stopped at a reasonable distance from Heinley and looked at him. He also faced Lilia, it was a short moment, but awkwardness flowed out. After the day when they had a conversation alone, there was almost no encounter with each other. ¡°You¡¯re going out, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯d like to meet the Little Duke of Evanteon.¡± Heinley¡¯s eyes narrowed. Lilia later realized she hadn¡¯t told Heinley only about Karhan. ¡°Ah, that¡­¡± She was going to explain briefly, but he answered casually. ¡°I heard it roughly from our parents.¡± It wasn¡¯t on purpose, but she thought Heinley might have felt left out alone. She looked up at him with a sorry face, and she could see a cold look over the silver-rimmed glasses. Lilia bit the inside of her lips gently. When she said she was in a relationship with Karhan, her parents didn¡¯t respond very well. The rumors surrounding Karhan were not so good after all. Maybe Heinley also had a similar idea as their parents. ¡°Brother, maybe¡­ we can have a meal together later?¡± Heinley glanced at Lilia. ¡°I want to tell you in detail while eating together. Or maybe just a moment¡­¡± Lilia plucked up her courage in her own way. Their relationship was broken because of her, so she was trying to get it back. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll leave some time empty.¡± Upon hearing his answer, Lilia sighed with relief. She was anxious about being rejected. A moment of silence fell, then Lilia asked. ¡°I think I¡¯ll be late for my appointment, so can I go now?¡± He nodded his head. When Lilia tried to leave first, Heinley called her up. He spoke in a cold tone without making any eye contact. ¡°It¡¯s supposed to rain this afternoon. Don¡¯t bother your employees for nothing. Take your umbrella.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take my umbrella. Thank you.¡± Lilia took the first step. Heinley stood tall and stared at her back. And when Lilia disappeared completely, he swept up his head. ¡°Ha¡­¡­¡­..¡± A deep sigh burst out unknowingly. As he talked to Iilia, the cold tone kept popping out. It was not easy to say pleasant words because of the long-standing habit. Heinley knew how sharp and cold his tone was. Several people who talked to him had also shed tears. Still, he was a friendly brother to Lilia, but after their relationship broke up, it became no different from others. Lilia didn¡¯t express herself much either, but she must have been hurt. ¡°It would be nice if I could be more honest.¡± Muttering to himself, he slowly looked out the window. Lilia was just getting on the carriage in front of the front door. Heinley glanced at the scene and immediately grabbed an employee and said. ¡°I¡¯m going out now, get a carriage ready for me.¡± * * * After leaving the mansion in a carriage, Lilia arrived at the downtown area. Lilia, who was walking towards the music box store with a carriage parked at the entrance of the alley, was surprised to see the incredibly long line. ¡°What is it?¡± Has something new been released? Or did a product get released with limited sale? Lilia walked slowly along the line like salmon against the river. Lilia then stopped for a moment after passing by a number of people. The source of the line was Lilia¡¯s music box shop. ¡®Was it not long ago that this place had been incredibly quiet?¡¯ Only Lilia, the president, didn¡¯t know why it suddenly hit the jackpot. Embarrassed, Lilia looked around and grabbed someone and asked. ¡°Why is everyone in line?¡± Then the young man kindly explained. ¡°Oh, that¡­ This time, a popular actor put a ring in a music box and proposed to his beloved. There were so many rumors that the music box became a must-have item for a proposal. ¡®Only for that reason?¡¯ By the way, the music box was becoming a popular product right now. She knew it would happen someday, but it was faster than she expected. Lilia noticed that the lines were getting longer. There weren¡¯t many stores in the capital that only handled music boxes. And this month was a good time to propose. This phenomenon was triggered by engaging the sentiment of the imperialists, which must be followed by celebrities. Lilia¡¯s gaze stopped for a moment as she looked around the line. In the densely lined queue, there was a man who was one head taller standing there. It was Karhan. ¡®No, why are you standing there.¡¯ Lilia walked straight towards him. For some reason, only Karhan¡¯s front and back lines seemed to be loose. ¡°Karhan, what are you doing here?¡± Karhan turned his head in surprise at Lilia¡¯s call. He hesitated for a moment, then replied. ¡°We¡¯re meeting inside the store¡­¡± Lilia told the reality to Karhan, who had been steadily lining up in the midst of this. ¡°There¡¯s a change of schedule. If you go in now, you might be crushed to death. We¡¯d better move.¡± At Lilia¡¯s words, he strayed from the line. Then the line became dense again, like a swarm of ants. Lilia looked at the entrance of the store with a slightly sympathetic look. For some reason, the screams of the newly selected employee seemed to reach all the way here. It seemed that she had to raise the salary a lot. If this trend continues for a long time, she would have to hire a new employee as well. First, the two went out of the radius of the music box shop. She was out of her mind because of the surging crowd. Lilia apologized immediately after they reached a more quiet place. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t know it was going to be this crowded all of a sudden¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± Karhan shook his head. It seemed that he had adapted to Lilia¡¯s wealth in that short period of time. ¡°What about your aide?¡± ¡°He went to look around for a moment because he was afraid I might cross paths with young ladies.¡± Lilia, who nodded without thinking, paused. The pink book in his large hand caught her eye. It was a book that Lilia bought and handed over to him last time. Karhan, who noticed Lilia¡¯s gaze, opened his mouth. ¡°¡­¡­ I¡¯ve been reading it lately.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good attitude.¡± It would also be useful to learn dating from books. Especially since it is said to be the best-selling book these days, but she didn¡¯t know if there would be any results. Soon after, Kahan¡¯s aide, Tession, joined. He seemed to be exhausted as if he had barely escaped from the tremendous line. ¡°¡­¡­ you said you were lucky, and it was true.¡± Tession said, while wiping the sweat away. He thought it was just a coincidence that the last appointment place was suddenly designated as a redevelopment area. However, he never dreamed that a music box shop, which had been quiet, would be in full swing overnight. It was only the second time they met, and this happened in a row. ¡°We¡¯ll arrange the next appointment¡¯s venue.¡± ¡°That would be better.¡± Lilia, who agreed with Tession¡¯s words, turned her head and asked Karhan. ¡°By the way, did you bring anything with you?¡± At the last meeting, Lilia told him to bring the most useless thing he had recently bought. The reason was unknown, but Karhan followed it faithfully. He carefully pulled out the object. It was a small box that the package had not even been opened . ¡°When did you buy it?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ it¡¯s been about a week.¡± ¡°Okay, it¡¯s just the right time.¡± Karhan looked curious about what she was going to do with it. Lilia stared at him quietly instead of explaining. She saw eyes that trusted her as she fiercely raised her own eyes. After confirming it, Lilia smiled lightly. In fact, at first, she was only thinking about listening to his worries and getting rid of Richard. But now, she sincerely wanted to help Karhan. He was not confident, and he would not even look at other people¡¯s eyes. He didn¡¯t know how to express his opinions, and so he neglected himself because he put others first but he wanted to change that. There was absolutely nothing wrong with Karhan. The world was just too ugly to survive with good character. The moment you seem easy, everything you have will be taken away and chewed off. So, he needed to fix his personality that might get caught. ¡°From what I¡¯ve been watching so far, you lack a lot of confidence.¡± Despite Lilia¡¯s frank remarks, Karhan remained silent. He seemed to be feeling it a lot. ¡°Now that I can give you opinions little by little, you¡¯ll build up your confidence this time.¡± Everyone looked at Lilia with a curious look. It seemed as if he had no idea what she was going to do yet. Lilia glanced at the box in Karhan¡¯s hand and said. ¡°Let¡¯s go get a refund for it.¡± Chapter 23 Never Come Again Karhan¡¯s eyes shook significantly, this was the first time she has seen him so agitated Tession spoke out on behalf of Karhan. ¡°Refunds¡­ Karhan can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°If he can¡¯t, then you have to do it.¡± As Lilia spoke firmly, Tession shut his mouth, as a result of watching so far, Karhan was extremely reluctant to be a bother. He couldn¡¯t even make a fair request. Lilia thought he wouldn¡¯t be swayed as he was now if he built up his confidence. After agonizing over how to instill confidence, Lilia chose to refund an item. Lilia herself was not sure because she didn¡¯t have anything to refund, but people around her said that getting refunds was a very courageous thing to do. ¡°If you really can¡¯t, you don¡¯t have to. I don¡¯t want to force you.¡± The shaking blue eyes were filled with Lilia¡¯s face. She had soft blond hair and gave a good impression that she was likable. It was so different from Karhan, who was misunderstood as scary just by looking at his appearance. However, unlike others, Lilia always confronted Karhan with an upright gaze. He didn¡¯t want to see Lilia¡¯s face, the only one who really looked at himself, stained with disappointment. Finally, the tremor in my eyes stopped. ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± Tession looked up at him in surprise at what he said quietly. But Karhan did not retract his words. ¡°Good. Then shall we go right away?¡± Lilia smiled broadly. Then he took the lead as they walked, arriving in front of a store. Lilia was at a loss for a moment when she saw the store sign. ¡®The store you said you would refund was our store¡­..¡¯ It was a shoe store, owned by the Bloden family. ¡°What is that stuff? May I ask why you are refunding it?¡± Lilia belatedly asked the reason for the refund. It was necessary to be aware of the customer¡¯s complaints. ¡°They¡¯re shoes, but the size doesn¡¯t fit¡­¡± ¡°Aha.¡± There wasn¡¯t a defect in the product, Lilia stopped thinking so. The box in Karhan¡¯s hand was smaller than the size of his feet. How the hell did you buy something so small¡­? As Lilia looked alternately between the box and Karhan, he lowered his eyes sullenly. ¡°I liked the design, so I took a look at it but there was no larger size than this¡­..¡± So I bought it, he said. ¡®How the hell could you do that? Don¡¯t you usually wear them?¡¯ She didn¡¯t understand him at all, but his personality showed that he could. Perhaps the skillful clerk¡¯s eloquent words made him go ¡®Uh uh¡­¡¯ and led to a sudden purchase. Fortunately, all the stores owned by the Bloden family had thorough training of clerks. They would not insist that a refund is not possible without hesitation. Before Karhan entered the store alone, Iilia advised. ¡°You have a habit of frowning when you¡¯re embarrassed. Try to manage your facial expression.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°And it¡¯ll be helpful if you organize what you want to say in advance.¡± Karhan showed signs of nervousness. It was a little obvious even though he usually didn¡¯t show his feelings. Karhan headed for the store with uneasy steps. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Karhan, who stopped at the entrance of the store, turned his head and looked at Lilia. For some reason, he seemed to want her to stop him. ¡°You can do it. Cheer up.¡± Lilia waved her hand. Karhan, who couldn¡¯t say he couldn¡¯t do it anymore, took a slow deep breath. ¡®I¡¯m here to get a refund. I¡¯m here to get a refund¡­.¡¯ After muttering inside several times, he opened the door of the store solemnly. ¡°Welcome!¡± When they saw the door open, the clerks greeted like a chorus. Slow footsteps were heard along with the pouring sunlight. With the sound of a heavy step and a large build, Kahan entered the store. The clerks who greeted him first stopped for a while. They felt a terrible force as if he was about to go to war from him. The well-educated clerks did not show much expression and kept their smiles. However, they exchanged glances under the water and began to choose the scapegoat who would entertain him. (Q/C: ¡°under the water¡± means they did secretly by showing signals) Then one of the clerks stepped forward. He had the most proficient hospitality in the store and was the clerk who sold goods to Karhan a week ago. ¡°How can I help you?¡± At the gentle question, Karhan slowly looked that way. He has been out of his mind since he entered the store. He was so nervous that his heart ached. His head was filled with noise, so he couldn¡¯t remember what he was trying to say. Then he remembered what Lilia said. ¨C You have a habit of frowning when you¡¯re embarrassed. Try to manage your facial expression. Karhan tried his best to manage his facial expression while agonizing over it. Then the clerk, who was smiling kindly, flinched. Seeing his eyes shaking without a hitch, Karhan realized something was wrong. Embarrassed, Karhan stopped while frowning like a habit. Instead, he raised the corners of his mouth a little bit. The complexion of the clerk¡¯s face turned white as if he was terrified. Karhan, who failed to manage his facial expression, thought he should finish his business quickly and leave. He sweetened his stiff lips. However, it was not easy to ask for a refund. It took more courage than he thought. For him, who was not good at dealing with people, it has been the most difficult thing in recent years. Karhan closed his eyes slowly. ¡°Sir¡­?¡± Karhan opened his eyes at the clerk¡¯s call. The clerk shouted reflexively in his fiercely raised eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Surprised by the loud voice, Kahan frowned, and the clerk wept. He was about to kneel down and apologize. Karhan stood still, not knowing what to do. He needed some advice. He slowly turned his head toward the window and Lilia, who was standing outside, caught his eyes. Lilia was drinking lemonade under the umbrella covered by Malik. At the moment of eye contact, Lilia smiled and waved. ¡°¡­..¡± The clerk, who was hiccuping in surprise, opened his eyes wide. At that moment, the clerk saw him with a gentle expression. It wasn¡¯t a smiling face, but it was enough to relieve the pressure on the other person. Kahan slowly turned his head. Then he held out a small box. ¡°Refund¡­¡± ¡°Yes!!!¡± Even before Karhan¡¯s words were over, the clerk cried out to leave the store. Then he added in a voice as big as an ant. ¡°I, I need to know the reason for the refund¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡­ measurements are not correct.¡± Karhan, as nervous as the clerk, answered stiffly. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you exchange it for a different size¡­¡± The clerk who carefully suggested unpacked the box and took out the product. The clerk looked alternately between karhan and the shoes. It seemed small to anyone. The clerk, who realized that there was no bigger size than this, said. ¡°¡­¡­ I¡¯ll help you with a refund quickly.¡± The refund was made in a flash. Not only did they return the money, but they also gave a huge amount of other products as consolation. It seemed to imply that he should never come again. When Kahan, who successfully refunded, left the store, the clerks all took a breath at the same time. ¡°I thought it was a big problem. I thought the store would be destroyed.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t even see his face properly, but it was just scary.¡± ¡°I thought he was from the underworld.¡± The chatters asked the clerk who served Karhan. ¡°Are you okay?¡± When everyone threw comfort, the clerk nodded. ¡°At first, I thought you were a real customer, but I think I misunderstood.¡± The clerk mumbled as he recalled Karhan¡¯s polite way of speaking. But while everyone laughed, saying it was a relief that it went well, someone murmured quietly. ¡°What should I do, I thought something was going to happen, so I walked out the back door and called the guards.¡± (Q/C: LMAOOOO) * * * Lilia, who was waiting outside the store, was surprised when Karhan came out. Obviously, when he entered, he only carried one small box, but when he came out, it was full of luggage. ¡°¡­¡­ Did you get a refund and buy a new one?¡± ¡°I got everything for free.¡± Karhan shook his head and replied. Perhaps he was tired for a moment, his shoulders were a little drooping. ¡°How was it?¡± ¡°I did get a refund¡­¡± Karhan looked very uncomfortable. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I did it right.¡± ¡°Good job. Whatever the process was, it was a great success.¡± Lilia generously praised him. ¡°And it¡¯s important that you went to get a refund.¡± At those words, Karhan slowly blinked. Success or failure was a side issue. It was all a process of gaining confidence, and as he had already tried it made it meaningful. ¡°So have you gained some confidence?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know yet, but¡­¡± Karhan was silent for a moment as if he were lost in thought. ¡°I think I¡¯ll be able to do it better next time.¡± ¡°Good.¡± It was worth teaching. It was going to be a little easier now that we¡¯ve crossed a big mountain. If he knew how to speak for himself, people around him would see him differently. At least you won¡¯t be forced to sell things. Lilia and Karhan started walking slowly outside the store radius. The weather was nice and suitable for a walk. She thought she should talk about how she met Richard last time while having lunch. As they were walking down the street, a guard with light armor came from far away. ¡®What is it?¡¯ She made eye contact with a guard. Then he pointed towards Lilia and said something to the other guards. Everyone looked at Karhan in unison. The guards turned and began to come their way. Franchse and Malik, who were walking behind Lilia, were immediately wary. In any case, they are ready to pull out the sword. Lilia raised her arm to indicate not to step forward. She didn¡¯t know what was going on, but there was no reason to confront the guards. In an instant, guards surrounded Lilia and Karhan. Among them, a man who appeared to be a captain said, sticking out his guard identification. ¡°I got a report.¡± ¡°Report?¡± Suddenly what report? As Lilia frowned, they began to be wary of Karhan. And the captain recited the report as it was. ¡°There was a report that there is a gang leader here.¡± It was a suspected criminal report. Chapter 24 Crime Lilia was briefly speechless at the guard¡¯s words. It was absurd and she was wondering how to answer, but Tession, who was next to her, jumped apprehensively. ¡°No! What do you mean by this? You knew who this was!!¡± ¡°¡­As long as the report has been received, we should check it out.¡± When Tession fought back, the captain of the guard replied and yet, he didn¡¯t let it go of his looks mixed with suspicion. He looked up and down at Karhan and asked. ¡°If there is nothing suspicious, you don¡¯t have to be this angry, right?¡± Except for the captain, the guards were already putting their hands on the sheath. In any case, they were to draw their swords. As if he were a hero dealing with a villain, the captain raised his chin and proudly said. ¡°Show me your identification card.¡± Lilia bit her lip, the attitude of the guards made sense to some extent. It was their job to check if a false report was received. And as there was once a massive gang sweep to clean up the violent groups, the Empire hoped to completely eradicate the organization of the dark world altogether. Understandably, since they talked as if Karhan had already been branded as a criminal, it caused their attitude to flare up. This was the same with the reporter. Without any particular reason, he seemed to have misunderstood just by looking at Karhan¡¯s appearance. Lilia glanced at Karhan. Everyone was angry and couldn¡¯t manage their facial expressions, but Karhan was calm. It was heartbreaking to see him seem more familiar with this situation than asking for a refund. ¡°This is my boss, and this is my identification card!!¡± Tession took out his identification card from his arms and laid it out roughly. The captain glanced at it. Herben, Tession¡¯s family, was a well-known county in the capital. The captain had an unexpected look on his face, but soon returned to his firm appearance. ¡°This won¡¯t work. Show me your identification card.¡± The captain remained firm in his position. And he added useless words. ¡°I must check those with ugly eyes for the safety of the Empire.¡± (Q/C: ¡°those with ugly eyes¡± ok this might be difficult to explain but usually it¡¯s normalised for criminals to have dark appearance and cold eyes(some cases eye bags), so he is saying people with cold eyes/eye bags are ugly eyes, well it¡¯s an empire where beauty has very high standards) Lilia, who remained silent, came forward. ¡°I understand your position, but I don¡¯t feel good being treated as a criminal.¡± Then the captain glanced over to Lilia with a pressuring gaze. The captain of the guard then said as he judged her to be a lady from a well-off noble family. ¡°I¡¯m on duty, so please don¡¯t step up. Do you want me to find fault with the noble lady?¡± He said, while clicking his tongue. It was a warning pretending as if he was worried. Lilia, offended, smiled crookedly. ¡°The captain of the guard should be careful, too. You might get a pay cut overnight.¡± Those words hardened the captain¡¯s face. The guards were basically given the green light, but that alone was not able to make a living by itself, so they received donations from the aristocrats. The imperial family also allowed donations because it cost a lot of money just to manage the Royal Knights. And the Blodden family had the largest contribution in the Empire. ¡°I don¡¯t know which lady you are, but I¡¯m sure there would be nothing wrong with my salary without your support.¡± The captain made an unpleasant appearance, then said, ¡°I know how many noble families there are behind the guard.¡± The tense atmosphere began to unfurl violently. Franchse, who was upset, clicked the sheath. At the intrusive sound, the guards¡¯ eyes turned toward it. The guard¡¯s eyes widened when he saw the sentence engraved on the sheath. Then he hurriedly approached the captain and whispered something. ¡°Bloden¡­?¡± The name from the captain¡¯s mouth shook the guards¡¯ eyes. There was no one in the Empire who didn¡¯t know the name Blodden. The captain of the guard looked at Lilia again. His complexion turned white after confirming her bright blond hair, a symbol of the Blodden family. ¡°Well¡­ Are you a lady from the Blodden family?¡± When the captain asked carefully, Lilia looked at him instead of answering. The captain shut his mouth with a glare. The captain and the guards, who had been stiff, began to feel nervous. Salary cuts aside, if the Blodden family formally protested, the commoners could be fired from their jobs. Lilia said, holding onto the arm of Karhan, who was standing there. ¡°Karhan, you¡¯re very upset, aren¡¯t you?¡± There would be only one person with the name Karhan that was this chaotic. Karhan Evantheon. He was the most famous figure in the capital city these days. He was a little duke with all kinds of rumors. The guards¡¯ faces have been bleached completely. The Evantheon was a ducal family, the second most powerful after the imperial family. Their work now was not the problem, it was time to worry about life. (Q/C: LMAOOOOO) Lilia glanced at the guards and looked up at Karhan. Unlike before, she was upset when she saw blue eyes that sank with resignation. At the best, he has raised his confidence only a little bit¡­. He might have looked calm, but it must have been heartbreaking. Lilia asked the guards who were still silent. ¡°Can¡¯t you all see the little duke was hurt?¡± ¡°¡­..?¡± When Lilia shouted with all her heart, the guards gave Karhan a look of confusion. However, rather than hurtful impressions, he had the impression that they would be the ones that would get hurt . Lilia looked at Karhan¡¯s face one more time and shouted. ¡°He¡¯s actually a man without the law!¡± Tession, Franchse and Malek nodded in unison. A question mark popped up in the guards¡¯ heads. As Karhan, who had been quiet, slowly lowered his eyes, the guards were agitated. Are you sure? No, but it¡¯s a little¡­ They were talking with their eyes, and they looked at each other and eventually lowered their heads. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. There must have been a misunderstanding.¡± ¡°Misunderstanding?¡± When Lilia asked back, the captain shut his lips tight. ¡°I was disrespectful. Please forgive me.¡± Along with the captain¡¯s polite greetings, the guards also followed his lead. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t brand me as a criminal from the beginning next time.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, Karhan.¡± Lilia immediately pulled Karhan¡¯s arm. Karhan reacted belatedly. His gaze was on the arm held by Lilia¡¯s hand. Moving away from the guards, Lilia asked quietly. ¡°You were offended, weren¡¯t you?¡± Kahan, who was silent for a moment, shook his head. ¡°Maybe it was because I was on the battlefield for a long time, but it was even worse when I just returned to the capital.¡± He said he was treated as a criminal because he couldn¡¯t suppress his energy, and calmly told her the past as if he were talking about others. ¡°But it was okay this time.¡± Kahan, who was hesitating, murmured quietly. ¡°There¡¯s someone on my side¡­¡± Her heart ached for nothing. Looking at Karhan, there was a part that stimulated sympathy. ¡°I will help you avoid this from happening in the future.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± At Karhan¡¯s answer, Lilia looked at him quietly. His expression looked softer than before, as if a sharp piece of ice melted into a round snowflake. He¡¯s a very rare kind man, but why was he so misunderstood? ¡°I have a story to tell you, let¡¯s go eat first.¡± Lilia led Karhan. The two went ahead, and Tession, who followed, muttered to himself. ¡°The lady¡­¡­ is a wonderful person.¡± Then, Franchse¡¯s shoulders soared up into the sky. As if to affirm it, Franchse said. ¡°What did I say? My lady is the best.¡± * * * A man stuck to the wall and hid himself. People who were passing by looked at him suspiciously and gave him a strange look. Ignoring all of their gazes, he looked only at one spot. At the end of the gaze stood Little Iilia and Evantheon. The man who followed the two men was Hainley Blodden, who followed Lilia on a rare vacation. (Q/C: oh god I am dead from LAUGHING) It was to accomplish the special mission commanded by the Bloden Family Conference. ¡°He stands out from afar.¡± At first, he thought it would be difficult to find the Evantheon Little Duke. It was because his face was almost unknown, so he didn¡¯t hear any distinct features but Hainley immediately found the Little Duke of Evantheon. That man who stood tall like a pine tree so he must have been right. Even from a distance, it was such a strong impression that it stood out. Hainley looked carefully at Karhan. Black hair that seems to have drawn all the darkness of the world, fierce raised eyes, thick eyebrows, and a solid figure¡­¡­¡­. To borrow Franchse¡¯s language, it was a face that looked like a mess. He looks handsome when he removes the ugly atmosphere, but his eyes, which are already covered with prejudice, were only looking for shortcomings. ¡®But it¡¯s better than Richard by appearances.¡¯ Thinking so far, Hainley shook his head quickly. And as if he was an interviewer, he stared at Karhan more strictly. As Lilia and Karhan moved, Hainley pulled himself off the wall and pursued them. The two arrived in front of a store. It was a men¡¯s shoe store. And only Karhan went inside. ¡°You¡¯re buying your own stuff, and you¡¯re leaving my sister standing outside?¡± Seeing the act of leaving Lilia unattended in this hot sun, Hainley grinded his teeth. It didn¡¯t look good for any reason. Soon after, Karhan came out of the store. He had a lot of luggage in his hand as he was shopping properly. They started walking again, and Heinley took a risk to get closer to hear the conversation. Then the guards came out of the distance. Did something happen? Or someone got suspicious and reported him, he didn¡¯t even know. Heinley hid himself in a hurry, and the guards were going in a strange direction. In an instant, guards surrounded Lilia and Karhan. Heinley¡¯s complexion turned sour when he saw it. ¡®You must have committed a crime in the meantime¡­!¡¯ Suddenly, it was impossible to distinguish the advantages between him and Richard. Lilia¡¯s eyes with men were also the worst. Chapter 25 Crouched Beast Lilia and Karhan headed to a nearby restaurant. After a quick lunch, they ordered tea. Lilia, who took a sip of tea, opened her mouth first. ¡°I met my fiance a while ago.¡± Lilia briefly explained how she met Richard. ¡°I asked him to break up, but he refused which was as expected.¡± To Richard, she was a water bank. She was also a golden jar with endless money. So he couldn¡¯t simply break up his engagement. In fact, an engagement, unlike marriage, had few legal restrictions. In the event of an apparent one-sided failure of the engagement, there was no need to pay alimony. However, since the pledge made at the engagement ceremony is kept at the government office, the engagement status is maintained if the consent for the divorce is not received. You will not be able to get engaged or marry anyone else. Most of them break up after the agreement, but sometimes it turns into mud fights. At that time, it used to take years to go to trial because the lawsuit was long. ¡°Damn bastard.¡± Karhan flinched at Lilia¡¯s self-talk. He, who had been looking at her for no reason, asked carefully. ¡°Is there anything that I can do?¡± ¡°Maybe there will be a disturbing maneuver from there. They would try to keep us apart.¡± Richard was a cheap and arrogant fellow. He¡¯d think they¡¯ll be able to reunite once he gets rid of Karhan. ¡°I hope we can strengthen our relationship.¡± From Richard¡¯s point of view, Karhan¡¯s perception will not allow him to run wild. In the meantime, Lilia was thinking of making a plan so that Richard had no choice but to break up. Such a plan that would drive him to a corner. ¡°I¡¯ve told my family about you.¡± ¡°Did they object?¡± Karhan, who knows about the public¡¯s assessment of himself, asked anxiously. ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s all right.¡± The family, who vehemently opposed Richard, responded subtly to Karhan. Although her father opposed it a little, it has been rather quiet. Considering the rumors surrounding Karhan, she was very sorry to her family, but the condition was that she would not speak to anyone about the contract relationship. The secret where the fewer people knew, the longer it would last. Since their aide and escort knights already knew, from now on they had to be careful with their words. ¡°Did you tell your family about me?¡± Karhan was silent at Lilia¡¯s question. ¡°It would be good to start telling them.¡± Karhan and Stella Delota had an engagement story going back and forth between the families. According to what she heard last time, Karhan was not aware of it, but was informed of his betrothed partner. If he doesn¡¯t tell them quickly, they might set a date for the engagement ceremony. ¡°¡­¡­ I¡¯ll tell after seeing the right timing.¡± Karhan¡¯s face darkened in an instant. She had felt this before, but whenever family stories came out, he sank like wet cotton. Is there something wrong? She was curious, but family history is a sensitive issue so she didn¡¯t want to pry until he told her first. ¡°You did a great job today. Next time we meet, practice refusing.¡± If he could definitely refuse, she would be able to feel relieved to some extent. Lilia and Karhan got up from their seats. But when they left the store, it started raining. The hot sun hid through the dark clouds, and the thick rain cooled the hot earth. Lilia sighed as she looked at the faintly rising fog. She listened to Heinley and brought an umbrella, but she left it in the carriage like a fool. She completely forgot because the weather was nice earlier. Lilia and Karhan stood under the shop shade for a while. The rain showed no sign of stopping. The streets were quiet, as many people went in search of shelter from the rain. ¡°.. Wait a moment, please.¡± Karhan went into the store. And he came out with an umbrella. ¡°There¡¯s only one¡­¡± Lilia looked at him quietly. She never thought Karhan would come forward and borrow it first. ¡°Good job.¡± At Lilia¡¯s compliment, Karhan¡¯s pointed eyes were a little torn down. ¡°I will buy an umbrella!¡± Franchse raised his hand, one umbrella was not enough for five people to use. Franchse ran through the rain with the umbrella brought by Karhan. After a while, he trudged back looking torn like a loser. ¡°¡­¡­ I only got one.¡± The umbrella seemed to have quickly run out because of the sudden rain. There¡¯s quite a distance to and from the carriage¡­ Lilia pondered how to use two umbrellas. Then Malik noticed and quickly grasped Tession and Franchse¡¯s shoulders. ¡°We¡¯ll share it together!¡± He looked as if he were a man on a mission. ¡°Would everyone be okay?¡± Everyone nodded at Lilia¡¯s question. Three large men huddled together and opened the umbrella. Lilia, who was watching the scene, stuck closely next to Karhan. ¡°Let¡¯s share and go together.¡± Pang, the umbrella opened with a cheerful sound. ¡°I¡¯ll hold it.¡± There was a big difference in height, so she thought it would be better. Karhan was handed the umbrella. The umbrella felt small when it was in his hands. The two went out into the rain, sticking their bodies together. Tu du du duk, a cool sound of rain came from above their heads. Lilia and Karhan stepped forward as they bounced off the water droplets.As they were closer, she could feel his arms tense with tension in his shoulders. Even in the cold rain cooling the earth, his body was warm. In the midst of the chilly fluff, she could only feel warmth in the area where they came in contact. They walked in the rain for a long time. But Lilia was barely wet except for the hem of her skirt. Lilia glanced towards him. His clothes that were soaking wet and sticking close to his shoulder caught her eyes. Only the part that was touching her wasn¡¯t wet, and it looked like he was drowning in the water. Surprised, Lilia put her hand on the handle leaning toward her. ¡°Karhan, you¡¯re all wet.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± He stared silently in front of him, but lowered his gaze sideways. The surrounding was all blurred by the mist, and his eyes had a vivid blue color. At that moment, Lilia thought that she had been locked in Karhan¡¯s eyes. ¡°¡­I¡¯m already wet, so it will be no use.¡± He hurriedly added a word. ¡°And because I have a constitution that does not easily catch a cold.¡± Lilia, who felt sorry for nothing, hesitated and stuck a little more sideways. When she looked up at him again, Karhan¡¯s earbud seemed a little red. She began to see the carriage by the entrance to the alley. They finally got to the front of the carriage through the pouring rain. Karhan kept holding the umbrella for Lilia so she could get on the wagon. Eventually, he was soaking wet that his umbrella became worthless. Lilia, who was in the carriage, looked at him. Water drops dripped from his scattered hair. ¡°I¡¯m the only one who came comfortably. I¡¯m so sorry.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m glad you didn¡¯t get wet.¡± Karhan said, sweeping up his wet hair. ¡°Thank you again for today. Lilia.¡± Lilia¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°For the first time, you called me by my first name.¡± Lilia¡¯s eyes curled like a rainbow after the rain. At the bright smile, Karhan froze for a moment. ¡°As expected, it¡¯s because you practiced, right?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°Thank you, then see you next time.¡± With those words, the carriage door was closed. It wasn¡¯t long before the carriage departed. Through the rain, the carriage quickly disappeared. Karhan, who was following the moving carriage with his eyes, rubbed his prickly chest. He heard the sound of his heart beating through the raindrops hitting all over the place as if hammering. Karhan slowly tilted his head. ¡°Mr. Karhan, let¡¯s go .¡± Karhan, who seemed to be nailed to the ground, jumped at Tession¡¯s words, stepped away. Karhan, who got on the carriage, shook off the water with a towel handed by Tession. And he took off his wet clothes. When all the shirts were taken off, his hidden skin was revealed. The muscular body was full of scars. There were many scars, from light scratches to traces of life and death. Karhan, who changed into the clothes that Tession handed over, slowly leaned against the window. It was only half a day, but so much happened. He experienced a refund that was too difficult for him and a scuffle with the guards. It was the first time that guards withdrew without him having to show the identification cards. He had a new experience every day since he met Lilia. The changing routine was not bad. He was looking forward to what would happen today. It¡¯s been a long time since he thought it was fun. Karhan, who was mulling over the praise Lilia gave, pressed his chest with his palm. A tingling sensation rang in his chest. He was already so familiar with pain that he was sick of it, but this was the first time he had this sensation. ¡°Is there anything that I can do¡­¡± Tession, sitting across from Karhan¡¯s murmur, raised his head. Lilia was helping him this hard, but he had nothing to do for her. It was uncertain whether he could even complete a contractual relationship properly. They have to do it right. The pressure weighed on his shoulders. Karhan looked down at the floor with dimly sunken eyes. In fact, there was something he couldn¡¯t tell Lilia. Although he was the successor to Evantheon, he was nothing but an empty shell. Every time he went to see Lilia, he would put it off until the next time, pledging to be honest. The thorns that were rolling on the tongue soon settled in the deepest part. It was only left unattended for a while, but it was getting deeper and more painful. ¡°Can I be of any help?¡± ¡°Mr. Karhan¡­¡± Tession quietly called Karhan. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. No matter what anyone says, Evantheon¡¯s successor is Mr. Karhan.¡± Karhan did not answer. Tession thought about whether to cheer for him or not, but eventually shut his mouth. He also knew the reality. Karhan was the duke¡¯s successor, but only had a temporary position where he did not even receive a successor class. The Duchess and some of the elders think the real heir is¡­¡­¡­ Rattle, the carriage shook greatly. Karhan and Tession looked out the window reflexively. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Through the window, they could see the Evantheon mansion getting closer. The grand mansion was like a crouched beast. It seemed like it would run at any moment and bite Karhan. He felt like he was submerged in the water, and his breath was suffocated. The rain, which was so strong as if it was swallowing the world, grew thinner and thinner. Finally, the carriage stopped and Karhan opened the door. As he stepped on the damp wet ground and looked around, he saw a familiar carriage somewhere. The carriage had also just arrived, and the coachman was opening the door. Karhan stared at the woman walking down the stairs. And when their eyes met, she shouted in a shattering voice. ¡°Evantheon!¡± It was Stella Delota. Chapter 26 Duchess of Evantheon Karhan looked at Stella quietly. He thought he was mistaken, but it was really Stella Delota. ¡°Evantheon, are you on your way out?¡± Stella quickly approached Karhan. ¡°How¡­.¡± He was speechless because he didn¡¯t know where to start. It was dinner time when no visitors were being accepted, and he didn¡¯t even get word that Stella was visiting. He was relieved that there were no sudden visits these days, but it seemed to have started again. Karhan felt uncomfortable with Stella. Her endless obsession was like a web wrapping around him. He showed signs of discomfort several times as if he was being watched every step of the way, but all of them were ignored. And the decisive reason to be reluctant to her is¡­ As Karhan¡¯s eyes sank dimly, Stella flinched. However, she seemed to have no intention of retreating easily, so she straightened her shoulders and raised her head. ¡°It¡¯s raining too, are you thinking of putting me here?¡± Tession, who couldn¡¯t continue to watch, stepped up. ¡°It¡¯s evening, so please tell us your intention to visit next time.¡± ¡°Did I come somewhere I couldn¡¯t come? It¡¯s not even that late.¡± She said it was still early evening, and yet Stella was rather displeased. She shouted at Karhan, ignoring Tession. ¡°My legs hurt. Let¡¯s go in first.¡± Karhan took a step away, thinking that the clothes he changed would get wet at this rate. Stella followed Karhan with an umbrella-covered employee. Arriving at the front door, Stella naturally tried to get inside. But Karhan looked straight at Stella with his back to the front door. ¡°What do you have to say?¡± Stella paused at the low voice. Maybe because of the rain, Karhan looked even more cold. At that moment, numerous romance novels that she has read so far passed through her mind. (Q/C: Moron) Stella clenched her fist. If she gets involved here, she¡¯d be no different from the supporting roles. It was the law that only a confident heroine who was not discouraged could win over the bad man. There was even a justifiable reason to visit him this time. ¡°I heard a strange story.¡± Stella looked straight at Karhan. Stella¡¯s face was reflected in his bizarrely blue eyes. ¡°The story of you going out with Bloden Young Lady.¡± In an instant, Karhan¡¯s eyes shook. Stella, who didn¡¯t miss it, asked. ¡°It¡¯s a lie, isn¡¯t it?¡± There was a gap in the tightly closed mouth. Karhan replied without avoiding her gaze. ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± (Q/C: I am so fcking proud of you) Stella¡¯s eyes opened wide and he said something he would never have said before. ¡°I am dating the Bloden Young Lady.¡± Unlike his calm voice, Karhan¡¯s fingertips were trembling but once he uttered it, the next words came out easily. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to the Young Lady, but please don¡¯t mention about the engagement.¡± ¡°Evantheon!!¡± Stella, who belatedly came to her senses, shouted in tears. ¡°How can you do this to me?!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Why does it have to be that girl!!¡± In the tone of criticizing Lilia, Karhan frowned without knowing it. At the moment Stella faltered, but unlike last time she did not back down. ¡°The Duchess has already accepted me. We¡¯re done talking! Everything is going well, how can¡­¡± As the arrow of resentment flew in, Karhan slowly lowered his eyes. If it was before, he would have been defeated first because he didn¡¯t want to fight. He thought it was best to be silent and follow the other person¡¯s opinions. However, it was his will that he decided not to be engaged to Stella. He didn¡¯t want to change the first decision he made himself. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Karhan did not back down. Stella, who was trembling with her shoulders, raised her voice. ¡°Are you going to embarrass me?¡± ¡°¡­We¡¯re not in any relationship yet, are we? If it¡¯s now¡­¡± ¡°What is all this fuss about?¡± They both turned their heads at the same time at the unfamiliar voice that came in through the conversation. A woman walked out through the open front door. Wearing a waist-length shawl, she was accompanied by an employee carrying a lamp on both sides. ¡°I, I greet the Duchess of Evantheon.¡± Stella, who was embarrassed, said hello. Karhan, who had been stiffened, tried to greet her belatedly, but she spoke to Stella without even giving him a glance. ¡°Delota Young Lady, what brings you here at this hour?¡± ¡°Duchess¡­¡­.¡± Stella called the Duchess in a tearful voice. She pretended to feel sad to arouse sympathy. ¡°The Little Duke has another woman¡­.¡± At that word, Duchess Evantheon turned to Karhan. From the frozen gaze, it felt like it was hardening to the tongue. This was the biggest reason Karhan was reluctant to Stella. Whenever something happened, Stella ran to the Duchess of Evantheon and told her every word. When her obsession was overwhelming, she would visit the Duchess and complain. And Stella knew that the method worked better than anything. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ I didn¡¯t know either.¡± The Duchess glanced at Karhan up and down, and looked again at Stella. ¡°I¡¯ll educate him straight, so Young Lady don¡¯t have to worry about it and go back.¡± ¡°¡­. However.¡± Stella still had a lot to say. She wanted to get a definite answer from Karhan here. He will never meet Lilia Bloden again, ¡°Delota Young Lady.¡± Stella raised her head at the Duchess¡¯ call. She¡¯s always been kind, But now it was creepy for some reason . ¡°We¡¯re family from now on, so please leave.¡± Stella eventually lowered her head as her tone changed from invitation to command. Stella glanced at Kahan as she walked down the front steps. He had a blunt face, but somehow he looked pale. Stella bit the inside of her lips. It was Karhan who was wrong here. How dare he meet with Lilia Bloden on his own. Stella, who had not yet been relieved, boarded the carriage, hoping the Duchess would properly admonish him. Delota¡¯s carriage departed, leaving only five people at the front door. Karhan, Tession, Duchess and two employees. The duchess raised her head, crossing her arms lightly while wearing the shawl. ¡°Is it true?¡± The hardened tongue barely spit out a word. ¡°Yes.¡± At that moment, a hand flew. The sound of the slap rang through the sound of the rain. ¡°I told you to do it right, didn¡¯t I?¡± Karhan looked away. The Duchess muttered with a disgusting face. ¡°You¡¯re a very bad kid, being a disgrace to the family.¡± ¡°Duchess¡­!¡± Tession, who was breathing in surprise, hurriedly called the Duchess. However, she didn¡¯t even look at Tession. Tession, under Karhan¡¯s authority, was nothing more than a dog. ¡°I don¡¯t want you as much as your brother, so behave yourself.¡± Leaving those words, the Duchess went inside. As the employees with the lamps entered, the surrounding became dark in an instant. In the raining darkness, Karhan stood still. ¡°Sir Karhan.¡± Tession was restless and called Karhan. Karhan did not answer, only looking at the tightly closed door. There was only one door, but it seemed to be completely cut off. It was an unjust feeling that he was not from this family. Karhan lowered his eyes with a tingling sensation. It wasn¡¯t the cheek that was hit by her, but his inside that hurt. The mother¡¯s pointed rebuke cut Karhan¡¯s chest over and over again. He thought he could hear it calmly now, but it didn¡¯t seem like that. The face that had been dimmed for a moment like water mist returned. Karhan opened the door himself. ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± Tession looked at Karhan¡¯s lonesome back. The Duchess still only loved the eldest son. Even though he had an accident and was kicked out of the country, her faith did not shake. She was thinking that the eldest son would come back and that he would be the Duke¡¯s successor. In the meantime, Karhan had only been used. He had to be engaged to someone he didn¡¯t want in order to clean up what his eldest son had done. How could she do that when he was the same biological child. This is what he saw in person, and there must be a lot of hidden things. Tession followed Karhan inside, clenching his fist. * * * Heinley returned home earlier than Iilia. As he got off the carriage, he saw his parents waiting for him. He guessed it was hard to wait calmly. Two people who rushed down the stairs held on to Hainley and asked. ¡°How was it?¡± ¡°Did you see his face?¡± Hainley looked around and said let¡¯s go inside first. The three quickly headed to the drawing room. Count Bloden, who was as big as a bear, sat in a hurry. As the Count couple waited for an answer, Heinely lifted up his glasses. ¡°I think he¡¯s a dangerous man, as it is rumored.¡± Heinley told them exactly what he saw. ¡°There were brief moments where the guards were mobilized and surrounded the Little Duke.¡± He couldn¡¯t hear the conversation because of the distance. The moment Hainley tried to intervene to save Lilia, all the guards retreated. Everyone had a green complexion and seemed to have been hit a few times. It is more violence than the law! Heinley doubted his eyes. He wanted to find out more, but the two went into the restaurant. He thought he would wait for them to come out, but it started raining so he had no choice but to return home. ¡°We¡¯ll have to look at it a little bit more, but I don¡¯t think such rumors are going around for nothing.¡± Everyone sweat with worried faces. ¡°Are the bad guys her taste now?¡± Violet muttered. ¡°Wife, Richard, he was a bad guy, too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s also true.¡± When the Count gave a word, Violet nodded. Everyone was silent for a moment. They couldn¡¯t really understand why Lilia was dating the Evantheon Little Duke. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s better to call Lilia and ask her in person.¡± Everyone nodded, Violet said grimly. ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner together today.¡± She had to make a decision at dinner time. She made up her mind. Chapter 27 Invitation When Lilia returned home, she immediately took off her clothes. Although it was barely hit by the rain, it was damp because of the humidity. The employee filled the bathtub made of rose quartz with warm water. Previously, a huge-scale rose quartz was mined in the western mines, making headlines. It was such a high-quality gemstone that everyone wondered what it would be used for, but eventually, it was destined to become Lilia¡¯s bathtub. She immersed herself in the luxurious bathtub. The rose petals spread all over the place and then gathered again. Hearing the tapping sound of the water, it was as if it was raining in the bathroom as well. ¡°As expected, the house is the best.¡± Lilia raised her knees and dragged them into her arms. Her body became tired and her head became dull as if it were steamed. As she was staying still, she naturally remembered what happened today. The shoulders that touched each other while holding the umbrella seemed to be still hot. Lilia raised her hand and rubbed her shoulder for no reason. When she finished washing up, the employees quickly dried her hair. While she was being served quietly, someone knocked on the door. An employee who opened the door immediately found Lilia. ¡°Miss, the madam told me to inform you that you must attend dinner.¡± ¡°From my mother?¡± It¡¯s been a while since they ate together. Everyone was busy, so they came to eat separately, especially after her falling out with Heinley, so Lilia avoided eating together. ¡°Tell her I will be there.¡± Lilia got up from her seat. After changing into appropriate clothes and drying her wet hair, it was time for dinner. Lilia left the bedroom and walked to the dinner hall located at the center. The main building of the mansion was divided into three sections. The reason why the house was divided into central, western, and eastern sections was just because the mansion was too big. It took 30 minutes to walk from the end of the east building to the end of the west building. It is also under the assumption that you know the way well. Fortunately, Lilia¡¯s bedroom was in the middle, so it wasn¡¯t far from the dinner hall. Upon arriving at the dinner hall, the employee opened the door. The gold-rimmed, leather-plated door opened, and the first thing she saw was a huge crystal chandelier. Under the chandelier was a long table that could seat dozens of people. On the table covered with silk, there were silver candlesticks and bowls decorated with fresh fruits and flowers. The walls of the dinner hall were filled with famous paintings that were hundreds of years old. Lilia walked straight to one place, not even looking around the fancy dinner hall. The whole family was gathered at the end of the table. ¡°You are here.¡± The first person she greeted was Count Bloden, who was sitting at the top. ¡°Am I late?¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re just in time.¡± The Count pointed to the empty seat opposite Heinley. The dinner began as soon as Lilia sat down. The waiting employees put down the dishes in order. There were more than five light appetizers. In addition, the seasoning was all different to suit individual tastes. Maybe it¡¯s because she walked around all day today, she felt hungry. While Lilia was eating, The Count, Violet, and Heinley exchanged gazes with each other. After glancing at who would bring up the story first and how, opinions were gathered to naturally start the conversation. ¡°I am worried because there are no fresh works these days. When one comes up, they follow it.¡± The Count brought up the topic with a sigh. Count Bloden was the director of a famous art museum. Because he was not built for business, he left it all to his wife, Violet, and ran a large gallery and art gallery. His main job was to support artists, hold exhibitions and sell works. Art has become more profitable than most businesses. However, the Count was a man who really loved art, and instead of making money, he worked hard to nurture talent. ¡°It would be nice if an amazing newcomer came out. Now it¡¯s rotten because it¡¯s not done well.¡± As he complained, Violet helped out. ¡°It¡¯s hard for me, too, because my business has grown a lot these days.¡± Violet asked Heinley, who was cutting the meat gracefully. ¡°Heinley, when are you going to help this mother?¡± ¡°Yes, give up your unearned public office and take over the family business quickly.¡± When the Count urged him, Heinley put down the tableware aloud. ¡°I told you I didn¡¯t want to. I¡¯m happy with what I am right now.¡± ¡°Then who will inherit the business?¡± The Count cried when he handed over the business to his wife because it didn¡¯t really fit him. Listening quietly to the conversation, Lilia fiddled with the fork. She was interested in business, but she hasn¡¯t done anything. Sometimes there was something she did to help her parents, but it was far from real experience. She couldn¡¯t take on the family business simply because she wanted to do it. ¡®Let¡¯s discuss it seriously after the break up is resolved.¡¯ ¡°And Lilia, you¡­¡± The flow of conversation naturally flowed over to Lilia. When everyone¡¯s eyes were on her, Lilia blinked unknowingly. ¡°These days¡­ How¡¯s your meeting with Evantheon Little Duke?¡± To the Count¡¯s question, Lilia wiped her mouth and answered. ¡°I met him again today.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t hear it properly before because I was so busy, how did you end up meeting him?¡± ¡°We fell in love at first sight at the banquet.¡± Lilia immediately came up with a story she had prepared with Karhan beforehand. ¡°¡­.. Alright. I understand that you fell in love with him at first sight. I want to hear what you liked about him.¡± It was a question of whether there was anything good about the vicious Karhan Evantheon. Lilia agonized. There were quite a lot of advantages that came to mind right away. Kind, sincere, not pompous¡­¡­. If you would like to choose from among them¡­¡­. ¡°The affectionate point?¡± There was a clinking, and a sound as if the bowl was cracking. Everyone¡¯s eyes turned toward Heinley. Heinley pretended that nothing had happened, picked up the spoon that had fallen on the bowl and put it down next to him. Violet looked at Lilia again and asked. ¡°Is there more?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a nice and polite person.¡± In response to the sincere answer, the three looked at each other at the same time. It seems like they are in big trouble. Lilia must have been brainwashed by the Little Duke. ¡°The rumors are a little harsh¡­ but he¡¯s actually a good person.¡± It¡¯s not a little, but a lot of bad things, but in reality he was a really good person. Although it was frustrating, it was hard to find such a good personality in the aristocratic society. She wondered how such a person was the heir to the duke. Even if everyone else misunderstands, Lilia thought it would be nice to know the truth as much as her family did. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. He¡¯s not a bad person.¡± She meant to reassure them, but their faces were filled with anxiety. It was unclear where to point out. The Count glanced at Violet and Heinley, asking if she thought Richard looked relatively good because he was such a jerk. While thinking about whether to bring up the Richard story or not, Violet stepped up first. ¡°Then, you will have to tell me why you broke up with Richard.¡± Lilia paused at her words. Now that Heinley and everyone are all here, she thought that it was time to tell the story and now she also has a strong shield called Evantheon. It was getting harder to hide, so Lilia wanted to explain so that her family wouldn¡¯t get as surprised as possible. But no matter what she said, they seemed to get angry. Lilia, who had been biting her lips for a long time, said the truth. ¡°Because Richard cheated on me.¡± At that moment, the dinner hall became quiet. Then three people got up at the same time. ¡°Knife! Bring my knife!¡± ¡°Get the carriage ready now! Let¡¯s go to the Marquis of Tersian!¡± Violet and the Count cried Heinley already had a knife in his hand without saying a word. Lilia had already expected this reaction. ¡°Everyone calm down.¡± ¡°Lilia! This thing happened, but why didn¡¯t you say it!¡± Violet shouted in a voice filled with anger. Lilia kept her lips shut. If it was a problem that could be solved immediately by saying it, she would have said it already. No matter how much wealth Count Bloden possessed, the opponent was a marquis who had greater power. It was clear that if they retaliated financially, he would retaliate by using his connection with the imperial family. In particular, the Marquis of Tersian was her brother¡¯s boss, so he will be directly affected. But her family would step up for her without thinking back and forth. No matter what the loss. And the biggest reason she felt uncomfortable telling her family was¡­ ¡°¡­I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll hurt my parents and brother.¡± Everyone stopped huffing at the words that flowed out quietly. Lilia looked up at them. Although initially opposed, the family thought Lilia would marry someone she loved and live well. But because the other person cheated on her, it hurt not only Lilia, but also them. ¡°Everyone stopped me even before the engagement, yet I insisted on getting married.¡± Lilia made eye contact one by one. She didn¡¯t want to hurt her family any more. Even with their help, it was her who had to deal with this problem after all. ¡°So I want to solve this problem. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Lilia bowed her head. The family didn¡¯t say anything for a while. They, who were standing up, slowly sat down. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡± ¡°Yeah, you didn¡¯t do anything wrong, so don¡¯t apologize. Because we¡¯re always on your side.¡± Violet and Count, who had a complicated expression, said one after another. And lastly, Heinley asked. ¡°So what are you going to do¡­..?¡± ¡°Richard that jerk says he won¡¯t break up, but Evantheon Little Duke says he¡¯ll help.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll help?¡± ¡°Yeah. Richard also couldn¡¯t do anything recklessly about me because he was wary of Evantheon¡¯s eyes.¡± She couldn¡¯t comment on the contract relationship, but this should be fine. The faces of the family became serious. So far, when Richard and Karhan were on the scale, they were on par. But now it was leaning to Karhan¡¯s side. The three suddenly put their heads together and chatted. ¡°And Lilia says she likes him, so¡­ maybe he¡¯s a good person.¡± ¡°Or, well, we will step up.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like it, but I can¡¯t help it this time.¡± When the discussion was over, they sat down again. And Heinley looked straight at Lilia and said. ¡°I¡¯ll leave it up to you to do the Richard thing. Instead, we¡¯ll be aggressive after the formal breakup, so don¡¯t stop us.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± After breaking up, it was only revenge at that time. Lilia nodded quietly, as Heinley added. ¡°And we¡¯ll have to see for ourselves.¡± What¡­? As Lilia looked up at Heinley, his eyes burned coldly through the silver-rimmed glasses. ¡°Invite Evantheon Little Duke to the house.¡± Chapter 28 Obvious Lie Objects of unknown shapes were scattered on the carpet, and bottles of alcohol spread across the floor. Richard swept his hair up while standing in the wrecked room. He was sweating on his forehead after breaking everything in the room. He drank alcohol to calm his boiling anger and released his energy until his anger was relieved, but he didn¡¯t feel better at all. Richard plopped into a fine chair. As he stayed still, he naturally remembered memories that he wanted to forget. Yesterday, Richard met Lilia. Lilia¡¯s attitude, which has changed significantly from one to ten, was very unfamiliar. It was like dealing with someone else. Reluctantly, Richard used a last resort. It was to kneel down and beg for her forgiveness. It hurt his pride, but this was the only way he could think of. He believed that this was enough for Lilia to accept him but the only thing that came back was a cold response. Lilia, who did not change her attitude, no, demanded a breakup. Richard insisted that he couldn¡¯t break up their marriage and gave up on it. In the end, nothing was resolved. ¡°Will you break up the engagement because I¡¯m crazy?¡± Richard kicked the bottle that rolled to his feet. The bottle of liquor hit the wall with a bang and broke into pieces. Richard whispered and muttered. ¡°What about the efforts I have made so far¡­. ¡± It wasn¡¯t just a coincidence that Lilia fell in love with him. It was the result he wanted, and he worked tirelessly to get it. He thought he had all of her heart, but with only one mistake, everything collapsed. He regretted it more than a thousand times. He shouldn¡¯t have brought that woman home. (TL: instead of saying he shouldn¡¯t have cheated he is saying he shouldn¡¯t have brought that woman to his home. Bastard) He should¡¯ve stayed quiet until the wedding. He kept dwelling over the irreversible past. And as always the end of regret was to defend oneself. ¡°Everyone has an affair. Just that much¡­¡­. ¡± ¡°Do you know how rotten the social world has been,¡± said Richard, groaning again. It was just unfair. It was because Lilia was sensitive to what everyone else was doing. If he had shown this much remorse, he was sure she¡¯d let it slide at least once. It was hard to decide every time. Richard¡¯s gaze turned downward. The expensive clothes and accessories he was wearing¡­ All were given by Lilia. After all this, he was already addicted to this sweet life. No matter what happened, it could never be taken away. ¡°Fuck. ¡± Until the family found out about the breakup, he wanted to change her mind again. The wedding was just around the corner, as long as he could get through it safely¡­. Richard nervously tapped his finger on the armrest. Also, Karhan Evantheon bothered him. -I guess there is really something called destiny. We fell in love with each other at first sight at this banquet. Such an obvious lie. Richard did not believe Lilia¡¯s words. It was because there was more than one suspicious thing. Lilia wasn¡¯t the type that would fall in love with someone at first sight. Rather, she was wary and suspicious of strangers. When she was betrayed by someone close to her, there was a time when she confessed that it was because of her luck. Obviously there is something between those two. If he finds that out, he might be able to separate Lilia from Karhan. ¡°I have to look into Evantheon Little Duke no matter what¡­. ¡± It is better if he will be able to learn his weakness. Richard jumped up from the seat. ¡°I¡¯m going out, get the carriage ready!¡± While the employees were moving busily, Richard was ready to go out quickly. He was thinking of shopping to change his mood. After getting in the carriage, he headed to the clothing store he often stopped by. Because it was owned by Lilia, it was possible to shop without a penny. Arriving in front of the store, the clerk opened the door first and came out. He thought the clerk was going to greet him, but unexpectedly, the clerk stopped Richard. ¡°What are you doing not stepping aside?¡± ¡°Sorry. In the future, people of the Tersian family will not be allowed to enter. ¡± ¡°What?!¡± Richard suddenly screamed out loud. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m not allowed in, what the hell are you talking about!¡± There was a lot of scuffle. At last, when the clerk said he would call the guard, Richard had no choice but to withdraw. Richard turned around, swearing they should not discriminate against people. Obviously, Lilia was behind this. ¡°You think there¡¯s only one store?¡± It¡¯s enough to go to a better store, he said with courage. So then, one place, two places¡­.The number of times being kicked at the store door¡¯s gradually increased . All of the good shops in this neighborhood didn¡¯t accept him. Richard¡¯s face turned red as he was moving around the street. Until now, it has been natural for everyone to slip off and grovel when they see his face. Even though he was going to spend his money, no one let him in. He had never been insulted in such a way before. Thirsty, Rihard went to a store for a drink. He thought it would be okay there as he was a regular customer. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. All the ingredients are sold off. ¡± At the obvious lie, Richard eventually exploded. The shopkeeper wouldn¡¯t budge even if he grabbed her by the collar to tell her not to talk bullshit. Rather, she brazenly said she would call the guard. ¡°Damn it!!¡± Richard had no choice but to turn back. He walked down the street muttering. Then, stopping in the middle of the street, he looked at the many shops and realized. Among these many shops, there was none where Richard could enter. * * * Karhan, who was spending his usual daily life, received a letter. Karhan hardened as he read the letter. Tesion, who was doing something else from behind, approached him. ¡°What kind of letter is that?¡± It was Karhan. He looked at Tesion without saying a word, looking very serious. ¡°Can I read it?¡± Tesion was handed the letter. After a while, Tesion, who read the letter, hardened as well. The letter was from Lilia. [I¡¯d like to introduce my family to you, could you come to the Bloden mansion? I¡¯d like to invite you.] Tesion dropped the letter with a serious face. He thought there would be a day like this, but it was happening too fast. After crossing the mountain called refund, he thinks a bigger mountain will remain¡­. Tesion glanced at Karhan, who was already full of anxiety. ¡°It was foreseen anyway.¡± Since two people who are full of spirits met, family introductions are a natural thing to do. ¡°I will send a reply, so it would be better to go buy a present first. ¡± It was hard to score points with his first impression, so he felt like he had to attack them with gifts. The two men went to the main street. Walking around the streets, he looked for what he would buy. But there wasn¡¯t much to look at. ¡°¡­¡­I¡¯m sure they have them all.¡± ¡°Think of it as an expression of sincerity.¡± But they can¡¯t go empty-handed, Tesion said. While diligently going in and out of the store, Karhan found a product he liked quite a bit. And as soon as he picked up the thing, he put it down. There was a signature of the Blodens on the corner. Even so, reimportation was a bit difficult. Next, he picked up an item that looked okay, and it had the Delotta seal on it. Giving a competitor¡¯s product as a gift seemed like complete ignorance, so he put it down. So much so that he came to realize how great the Blodens are. There seemed to be no business that wasn¡¯t reachable for them. Karhan and Tesion, who couldn¡¯t find anything they liked, entered a small but luxurious-looking store. It was a store that specializes in alcohol. ¡°Alcohol is a good gift. ¡± Karhan doesn¡¯t drink, but he saw Lilia drinking at the banquet. Karhan decided to give her wine as a gift. The shopkeeper hovered around Karhan. He didn¡¯t talk to him, he just looked around. Normally, he would have handled the matter quickly because this situation was uncomfortable, but since it was a gift, he wanted to give a good one. Karhan plucked up his courage, recalling his refund experience. ¡°¡­¡­I don¡¯t know much about alcohol, so can you recommend it?¡± The shopkeeper welcomed him and immediately began to explain. Karhan listened in silence. And when he left the store a long time later, Karhan had four bottles in his hand. He bought a lot of them somehow, but¡­ He decided to put meaning in it that he bought what he wanted to buy. But next time, he¡¯d like to learn how to say no, Karhan thought. He also bought healthy food and flowers for her family. Tesion, who was watching Karhan shopping, was thrilled. It wasn¡¯t a straight purchase, but it was a real improvement. Tesion inwardly thanked Lilia. After a successful day of shopping, finally, the day of visiting the Bloden Mansion has come. Karhan dressed in bright colors as Lilia advised. The pink shirt contrasted with black hair. Usually, people are surprised before they even see Karhan, but now the atmosphere is surprisingly relaxed only after eye contact. ¡°I wish you¡¯d let your spirits down a little bit, but¡­¡± Tesion murmured to himself. It¡¯s much better, but he couldn¡¯t get rid of the exorbitant energy completely. It was as visceral as it had been in the battlefield for a long time. The two got on the wagon carrying gifts. Whether he was nervous, Karhan repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fist. The wagon quickly arrived at the site of the mansion, which looked dazzling and bright. Tesion, who was looking outside through the window, admired it. ¡°As expected of the Blodens. The garden is so spacious.¡± Located in the capital city, the land would be expensive, but still on a huge scale. Even that great Duke of Evantheon mansion would be put aside. ¡°I think I¡¯ll see the mansion soon.¡± Tesion was full of excitement and muttered. Then, the horseman shouted outside. ¡°Now we will go through the entrance of the garden!!¡± ¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤? Tesion and Karhan looked at each other. Then the two turned their heads toward the window at the same time. An endless garden was spread out as if looking at the horizon. The Bloden Zyrtec Garden was just the beginning. Chapter 29 First Test Lilia got up from her seat at the news that House Evantheon¡¯s carriage had arrived. As she went down to the porch, she saw Karhan and Tession, just getting off the carriage. For some reason, the two already looked exhausted. ¡°Welcome.¡± At Lilia¡¯s greeting, Tession murmured in a daze. ¡°¡­It is endless.¡± ¡°What¡¯s endless?¡± ¡°I thought if I filled the sea with grass, it would be Bloden¡¯s garden.¡± Lilia was somewhat in agreement. Sometimes it was frustrating because it takes a long time to get to the gate of the mansion. ¡°But I¡¯m glad the house is in the middle of the garden. If it was built at the end, it would have taken twice as long.¡± Tession gave up with Lilia¡¯s reply. And Karhan opened his mouth for the first time. ¡°Thank you for inviting me.¡± Karhan held out a bouquet of flowers in his hand. Lilia received the bouquet that was neither big nor small. ¡°Thank you. Wasn¡¯t it too sudden?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± ¡°I tried to stop it somehow¡­¡± Lilia tried to stop the family, but this time they didn¡¯t back down. Now she wanted them to see with their own eyes that Karhan was a decent man. It reminded her of the time when she introduced Richard before. It was almost an interrogation. Even the eloquent Richard had to return with a defeated face. Since then, Richard hadn¡¯t done anything to Bloden. ¡°Come on in.¡± Lilia took her step first, and Tession looked around. ¡°Anyway, those two¡­¡± As if he had already become acquainted with them, Tession was naturally looking for Franchse and Malik. ¡°They¡¯re probably practicing swordsmanship on the training ground.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Shall I call them?¡± ¡°No. I can¡¯t interfere with their practice.¡± Tession politely declined saying it was okay. Lilia, Karhan and Tession passed through the door of the mansion. Karhan¡¯s shoulders stiffened slightly at the enormous size of the porch. ¡°Oh, my parents and my brother haven¡¯t come back yet, would you like to take a look around the house in the meantime?¡± At Lilia¡¯s suggestion, Karhan and Tession nodded their heads. Lilia started walking slowly down the hallway. Tession, who looked around, admired the masterpiece hanging on the wall. For him, who was interested in art, the Bloden Mansion looked more impressive than any other art museum. ¡°Oh, this painting is famous.¡± Tession looked at a picture and stopped for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s in our house too.¡± It was a portrait of a smiling woman. This painting was painted by Sigris, a genius painter hundreds of years ago, it was so famous that even counterfeits had been sold out. Among them, this painting appeared to be a particularly elaborate imitation. ¡°Yes? I didn¡¯t know that Sigris painted the same picture twice.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Is it authentic?!¡± Tession, shocked, asked with an excited voice. ¡°My father was very interested in art.¡± ¡°Oh my god¡­¡­.¡± It would take hundreds of thousands of Kroel for that one painting, Tession thought. Karhan¡¯s expression darkened as he listened to the two of them. Tession, who came to his senses late, slapped himself on the mouth. Their spirit had already passed at the sight of the tremendous garden that it couldn¡¯t be killed any more. ¡°The Duke of Evantheon has a lot of great art.¡± To raise the flag of Karhan, Tession worked tirelessly. However, comparing one¡¯s wealth in front of the Bloden family was nothing less than having a wrinkle on the surface of a chrysalis. Eventually, Tession shut his mouth. Karhan and Tession, who were looking around the house, couldn¡¯t concentrate on the splendor of the Bloden mansion. Stone statues carved from gemstones, greenhouse gardens, rooms plastered with gold, and large libraries like the National Library. Instead of a mansion, it definitely felt more like a trip. Lilia, who had been showing them around for a while, finally brought up the reason why she called Karhan earlier than she had promised. ¡°Before I introduce my family, there is something I want to tell you.¡± At this state, if Karhan and her family meet now¡­it would be a little difficult. Lilia, contemplating on what to say, spoke up. ¡°My family is a little¡­We have a special personality.¡± Seeing Karhan already nervous, Lilia felt sorry for him. ¡°My mother is strict enough to be nicknamed the Iron-Blood Woman¡­while my father is more comfortable to be with. He likes to talk about art.¡± Lilia briefly described the family. ¡°My brother and I don¡¯t get along well, so I think we should be especially careful. It wasn¡¯t like that in the past, but these days, his tone was a bit sharper¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­I will keep that in mind.¡± ¡°When they ask, I¡¯ll answer as many questions as I can.¡± Karhan was a little relieved. ¡°Miss!¡± A servant came running from afar. ¡°Everyone is waiting.¡± Her parents and Heinley had returned. Lilia glanced at Karhan. His eyes had lost focus and were trembling. ¡®If I tell him not to be nervous, he¡¯ll be more nervous.¡¯ Lilia thought she shouldn¡¯t say anything. The three walked along with the servant. And when she arrived in front of a room, Lilia stopped. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s here¡­?¡± Lilia had an unusually bewildered look. Karhan and Tession wondered why Lilia was reacting like that. ¡°Don¡¯t be too surprised.¡± She opened the door with a light warning. Through the wide open door, the inside of the room was revealed. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Karhan and Tession could understand why Lilia had stopped. Swords were displayed all over the place. Hanging on the wall and aligned in rows, creating an eerie atmosphere. And Violet, who was sitting with her hands clasped under the sword, opened her mouth, ¡°You are here.¡± For a moment, Karhan wondered if he had entered the enemy¡¯s barracks. ¡®I knew it¡¯s going to be like this.¡¯ Lilia looked at Karhan, who had stiffened, and sighed inwardly. This was a room where the knives collected by Violet were displayed. Violet¡¯s family was known for their martial arts, and she also practiced swordsmanship for a long time. Because of her talent and will, she dug hard for only one road, but unfortunately, there was a limit to what a female swordsman could go up to. She was terribly realistic. She had no intention of holding on to what the future seemed to be. So Violet married Count Bloden, who fell in love with her at first sight at a village festival, and took over the business. Fortunately, Violet had a talent for business. Thanks to this, she married a husband as cute as a bear and bore children as cute as rabbits, and she then had abandoned her lingering feelings for swordsmanship. However, this room was a place that bore an unfulfilled dream. Sometimes Violet would pick a sword here and carve the fallen leaves. ¡°Nice to meet you. Cliff Bloden. I¡¯m Lilia¡¯s father.¡± The count, who looked nothing like Lilia, stressed the fact that he is her father. The only similarity they had was their blonde hair and purple eyes. He was as big as Karhan, but closer to flesh than muscle. He was like a teddy bear with a lot of cotton in it. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you before, Little Duke. I¡¯m Violet Bloden.¡± Violet, who was very similar to Lilia, greeted. With her dark golden brown hair, she blinked her light green eyes. The gentle impression immediately showed who Lilia resembled. And lastly, Heinley, who looked exactly like Violet, raised his silver-rimmed glasses and gave a brief greeting. ¡°Heinley Bloden.¡± When their greetings ended, Karhan did not react for a moment. Lilia lightly poked the frozen Karhan in the ribs. Kahan, who belatedly came to his senses, opened his tight mouth. ¡°¡­¡­Karhan Evantheon. Thank you for inviting me.¡± He tried his best not to tremble. Fortunately or unfortunately, Lilia¡¯s family didn¡¯t even know that he was nervous. Rather, they exchanged gazes and discussed his first impression. He looks as hideous as the rumors say. He looks like the most dangerous person I¡¯ve ever met with a knife. What they wanted to say is; he¡¯s a dangerous man. They looked at Karhan again, exchanging their opinions with their eyes. ¡°Sit down.¡± Lilia confirmed. The two chairs were separated from each other. It was definitely a place to introduce lovers, but the arrangement separated the two. Knowing that it was on purpose, Lilia pretended not to know and told the servant. ¡°Can you move the chair?¡± The servant moved the chair, looking at the other family members. When Lilia and Karhan sat side by side, everyone looked at them. Karhan, as usual, had no expression, his thoughts were undecipherable. But Lilia knew. She had never seen such an embarrassed Karhan before. It was a good thing that he broke his habit of frowning when he was embarrassed. ¡°¡­¡­I have a present.¡± Karhan, who had been thinking for a long time about what to say, finally spoke. Tession, who was standing behind, stepped forward and put the box down on the table. It was high-quality alcohol, neither likes or dislikes could be shown. It wasn¡¯t a bad gift, but their hearts were slightly complicated. ¡°It means losing health and taking care of it again.¡± Karhan¡¯s eyebrows shifted at Heinley¡¯s remark, who was famous for his poisonous tongue. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve stopped drinking since yesterday.¡± Cliff said. Finally, when Violet opened her mouth, Lilia quickly cut her off. ¡°I¡¯ll eat it all.¡± Karhan would be devastated thoroughly if her mother spoke. She didn¡¯t know it was going to be so fierce. ¡°You bought everything I liked.¡± Three people spoke at the same time at Lilia¡¯s remarks. ¡°I¡¯ll order you a new one.¡± Lilia shook her head saying no. In the end, the three reluctantly said thank you. The servants brought out the refreshments. When everyone put their teacups in front of them, Violet asked. ¡°I heard you fell in love at first sight at the banquet hall.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I wonder what you liked about my child.¡± A difficult question has already been asked. Lilia glanced at Karhan with slightly nervous eyes. He lowered his eyes as if he was lost in thought. Everyone waited for Karhan¡¯s answer. Lilia¡¯s family was ready to nitpick at his answers. Karhan¡¯s expression turned a little soft. Cliff, Violet and Heinley blinked, and Karhan opened his mouth. ¡°Her smile¡­ was beautiful.¡± There was a moment of silence. Soon after, everyone except Lilia, nodded as if they acknowledged it. It was a neat and seamless answer. Fortunately, he passed the first test. Chapter 30 Personal Question Lilia was sweating internally. She didn¡¯t expect to be so nervous when introducing her fake lover. It was fortunate that Karhan had been able to answer mother¡¯s tricky question correctly. It was worthwhile to buy a lot of love books. Upon hearing Karhan¡¯s answer, the count and his wife¡¯ gazes softened a little. But, it¡¯s too early to let her guard down. ¡°¡­..¡± Cliff, Violet, and Heinley glanced at each other. This time, Lilia said she liked Karhan¡¯s sweetness. That he¡¯s even ¡®nice and polite¡¯. It was similar to when she had first brought Richard. Lilia introduced him as a ¡®kind and caring person¡¯. So they all thought that she was blinded by love this time too. They wanted to get rid of the rose-tinted lens from Lilia right here. They were planning to make Karhan reveal his true nature and break up with Lilia by asking questions as harshly as they did for Richard. After the exchange of eyes, Heinley opened his mouth. ¡°I have a personal question.¡± ¡°Ask me.¡± ¡°I heard you¡¯ve been on the battlefield for a long time.¡± It was time for a question that could not be avoided. As soon as their eyes met, Lilia gave him a glare as if asking what kind of subject he was bringing up. ¡°I don¡¯t mean much by asking this question. If you¡¯re uncomfortable, you don¡¯t have to answer.¡± Heinley had the nerve to lie, even though he was so full of personal feelings. The reason for asking this question was simple. Numerous warriors liked to talk about their sagas. Even those who pretended to be humble were bluffing when the plate was laid. Lilia had heard the question, and hoped that the illusion would be shattered. ¡°War¡­ was voluntary.¡± Karhan slowly opened his mouth. Long ago, Karhan¡¯s family wanted him out of sight. In particular, their eldest son ¡ª Karhan¡¯s older brother, Blaird, considered him to be a thorn in his flesh from an early age. The suffocating house was like a battlefield for Karhan. In the end, he was half pushed and enlisted in the battlefield voluntarily. At that time, Karhan was a boy who could not even hold a coming-of-age ceremony. ¡°I was in a conflict zone on the edge of the empire and¡­¡­¡­¡± After returning to the capital, his memories of the battlefield seemed to come back to life. The days when he would be relieved to be alive. Days when the person who spoke to him today could be buried in the ground, using his own hands, the next day. In a place that crossed the border between life and death, the emotions that were clumsily expressed disappeared even more. ¡°There aren¡¯t any very interesting stories. It¡¯s a battlefield.¡± Heinley¡¯s eyes narrowed. He thought Karhan would be bluffing, but he reacted unexpectedly. Upon investigation, he heard that Karhan had been on the battlefield for a long time, and that he had done quite a bit of work. ¡®I thought he¡¯d tell a saga proudly¡­ he¡¯s sparing his words?¡¯ Karhan was so expressionless that Heinley had no idea what he was thinking. Heinley pondered for a moment, then calmly chose his words. ¡°Actually, we care about the duke¡¯s rumors.¡± Heinley finally spoke frankly. Karhan¡¯s reputation in the empire was very bad. In particular, the rumor of Karhan being a battlefield murderer was the most famous. His one and only sister¡¯s new boyfriend is a murderer! Before acknowledging the relationship between the two, it was a priority to find out the truth of the rumors. Before Karhan could open his mouth, Tesion, who was standing behind him, answered. ¡°I¡¯m a pretentious person. Can I answer you instead?¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes turned to Tession. Standing tensely, Tession thought the situation was his own fault. In order to block those who approached Karhan, he deliberately did not block the rumors. It was almost a fact, so it was only natural for Lilia¡¯s family to mention the rumors. ¡°The rumors floating around are not true. It¡¯s just that you¡¯ve been misinformed. In fact, the little duke has made many notable contributions on the battlefield¡­. The little duke has also saved my life.¡± ¡°Not only me, but hundreds of people were also saved due to the duke¡±, Tesion claimed. Heinley¡¯s expression darkened. ¡®I can¡¯t prove whether what he said is true or not, but it didn¡¯t seem false just by looking at it¡­¡¯ Heinley lifted his glasses. ¡°I see. You must have made it to the rank of a general or commander of the Knights.¡± ¡°No, I was discharged as an officer.¡± Everyone was taken aback by Karhan¡¯s answer. He just said that you saved hundreds of people¡­? There were even rumors floating around that he had taken part in numerous warfares and had made a brilliant contribution. However, an officer was a soldier who could easily be elevated to the rank of a subordinate nobleman. It was a very humble reward for his fame. Heinley doubted what Karhan¡¯s purpose was, but he decided to move on without any further questioning. Unless Karhan was a pushover, he would have taken care of having other forms of compensation on his own. After Heinley¡¯s question, Violet¡¯s turn came. ¡°As you know, my daughter is old enough to think about marriage.¡± ¡°As a parent, I think I should move on with this topic.¡± Violet explained, asking for Karhan¡¯s understanding. ¡°What do you think about marriage?¡± ¡®How long has it been since I started dating?¡¯ Lilia looked at Karhan. However, the two had to keep their marriage in mind as they were old enough to be wedded. It¡¯s time to date on the premise of marriage. ¡°¡­¡­I have an idea.¡± The family¡¯s expression was difficult to perceive due to Karhan¡¯s slow response. Before Violet could ask Karhan again, Lilia coughed out loud. The three immediately shut their mouths as they stared lightly at Lilia. There was still a pile of questions they wanted to ask Karhan, but if they asked more, Lilia would be angry. Cliff, who confirmed that some time had passed, first raised himself and said. ¡°I told them to prepare dinner. Shall we head in now?¡± Everyone left the room and headed for dinner. Lilia and Karhan stood side by side and walked first. Cliff, Violet and Heinley, who were watching them from behind, talked in small voices. ¡°The first impression I had of Karhan was that he was scary, but I think he¡¯s better than Richard. He¡¯s very polite.¡± ¡°Maybe our standards have gone too low because we¡¯ve only seen trash.¡± ¡°Father, it¡¯s still too early to let your guard down.¡± Hainley, who was staring at Karhan¡¯s back, gave his father a light scolding. Still, he agreed that a more serious and taciturn person would be better than a troublemaker who would make people want to slap his mouth. ¡°My family¡­ is a little extreme. Was it okay?¡± Lilia, who was ahead of her family, quietly asked Karhan. After hesitating for a moment, Karhan spoke frankly. ¡°¡­it was scary.¡± Lilia was really sorry. He¡¯s a man who can barely get a refund¡­ Even Lilia, who had become accustomed to the behavior of her family, often found them difficult to handle. ¡®At the very least, when you eat, you won¡¯t be attacked by questions like before.¡¯ Arriving at the banquet hall, Karhan paused. It was a great supper. The size itself was similar to the banquet hall owned by the Duchess of Evantheon, but the Bloden Mansion was superior in terms of furniture, furnishings and decorations that filled the room. At the splendid banquet hall with nowhere to turn, Karhan was a little more elated. Everyone who arrived at the banquet was seated. The employees who were waiting in the back brought out the food one after the other. Dozens of bowls filled the table. There were so many dishes that he didn¡¯t know what to eat first. Karhan hesitated, holding only his fork. Cliff saw it and asked. ¡°Are you not happy with the menu?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.No.¡± Karhan shook his head. ¡®I guess I should eat something quickly before I get misunderstood.¡¯ ¡°¡­..¡± Lilia glanced at Karhan. In front of him was only a bowl of meat. The employees seemed to have decided that he would like meat based on his appearance. Lilia called in an employee to carry plates. Can you rearrange the vegetables to be in front of the Little Duke?¡± ¡°What? But¡­¡± The employee glanced at Karhan. Karhan opened his mouth when the employee seemed to be worried that he might get angry if he were to serve only vegetables. ¡°I¡¯m fine now.¡± ¡°If possible, it¡¯s best to eat what you want to eat.¡± Eventually, the employee brought the food back. After checking the menu, Karhan seemed satisfied, and the furrowing of his eyebrows loosened a little. Karhan grabbed the tableware and started eating. It was a neat and textbook way of eating. It wasn¡¯t as elegant as Heinley¡¯s, but it wasn¡¯t superfluous. As he took a bite of the green vegetables, everyone looked at him curiously. Karhan¡¯s appearance made him seem like he was a carnivore at the top of the food chain, so it felt strange to see him eating vegetables. Then the employee, who was glancing at Karhan, tipped the bowl of hot soup over. ¡°Oh!!¡± Karhan reflexively moved his body at the same time as the scream was heard. And then, one beat later, there was the sound of glass breaking. Soup dripped down the table and onto the floor. The soup, which should have been poured on Lilia¡¯s shoulder, dripped down as it wet Karhan¡¯s arm. ¡°Karhan, are you okay?¡± Lilia jumped up from her seat. Hot steam rose from the wet clothes. But Karhan sat still, like a person who could not feel pain. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m really sorry¡­.¡± The employee did not know what to do. Having no time to appease the employee who apologized over and over again, Lilia grabbed Karhan¡¯s arm that wasn¡¯t injured. ¡°Just in case you don¡¯t know, I¡¯ll have to wet it with cold water.¡± Lilia and Karhan immediately left the banquet hall. ¡°¡­..¡± Lilia¡¯s family, who watched all of it, could not say anything for a moment. It was a really bad situation. If Karhan had not stopped it, Lilia, who was wearing a robe that exposed her shoulders, would have suffered from serious burns. Not only did he not miss the opportunity to save Lilia, but it was also surprising that he had no hesitation in having hot soup be poured on himself for Lilia. As they sat down at the quiet banquet, they were contemplating. ¡°¡­I thought he was a villain without fail, but I think he¡¯s a better person than I thought.¡± Cliff mumbled first. ¡°When he comes back, I have to say thank you.¡± At Cliff¡¯s words, Violet and Hainley nodded slowly. ¡°He feels a little different from the rumors circulating in the public.¡± ¡°¡­Of course, I can¡¯t say that he¡¯s a good person right away.¡± Everyone was silent at Heinley¡¯s words. They had the basic premise that all those in love with the second child of the house, Lilia, were bad. Still, Karhan Evantheon seemed to be good¡­ at least to Lilia. ¡°Hmm, he seems like a much nicer person than the rumors¡­¡± After thinking about it for a while, they made a decision. For now, let¡¯s look at it a bit more. Chapter 31 Unfamiliar World Lilia went into the kitchen room closest to the banquet hall. The busy chefs stopped what they were doing and looked at her. ¡°Miss?¡± ¡°I need a lot of cold water.¡± At Lilia¡¯s words, the cook brought a water jar. ¡°Take off your coat and put your arm in it.¡± While Karhan was cooling his arm in the cold water, Lilia asked the servant who made eye contact for a favor. ¡°Could you call the doctor?¡± ¡°Yes, My Lady.¡± After moderately cooling his arm with the cold water, Lilia and Karhan left the kitchen and moved to another room to take their seats and wait for the doctor¡¯s arrival. Lilia entered the empty room and sat Karhan on a chair. Looking at his wet sleeves, Lilia muttered an apology. ¡°¡­¡­Sorry.¡± She was responsible for the mistakes of her employees. And, because he was hurt ¡ª so as to protect her, her heart was heavy with guilt. ¡°I am not sick.¡± Karhan whispered softly and looked into Lilia¡¯s face. ¡°You look sicker.¡± Lilia couldn¡¯t tell what expression she was making. So, she licked her lips, and the door swung open as the doctor with a bag rushed in. ¡°My Lady, where are you hurt? Since when have you been sick, what symptoms are¡­!¡± The doctor spoke in a rush. ¡°This is the person who got hurt.¡± ¡°Hik.¡± The doctor turned his head belatedly and inhaled sharply. Karhan was at least three times bigger than the doctor who was as thin as a dry branch. ¡°I think he got burns.¡± ¡°That¡­ Please take off all your clothes, first.¡± The doctor did not even make eye contact with Karhan. When Lilia turned around, Karhan, who had only rolled up his sleeves, began to take off his clothes. The clothes he was wearing disappeared one by one. Finally, when a thin shirt fell to the floor, his body was completely exposed. His muscular body was both beautiful and full of life, as if a sculptor had sculptured it with all his might. He had a great body with no blemishes. In fact,if there was one problem, it was that he looked more wild after taking off his clothes. The doctor shivered, examining his reddened skin and he made a diagnosis. ¡°It looks like a light burn. Fortunately, there will be no scars left¡­¡± The doctor glanced at Karhan¡¯s body. Even if the burn left a scar, there were already many serious wounds on his body, so it would not be noticeable. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll give you some medicine right away.¡± The doctor pulled out a can of ointment from his bag. However, even opening the lid of the ointment seemed difficult for him. He had a hand tremor that he usually didn¡¯t have. Karhan, who was looking at the swaying doctor, said. ¡°I¡¯ll apply it myself.¡± At his words, Lilia, who had turned around, exclaimed quickly. ¡°No. I will do it for you.¡± It might be difficult for Karhan to apply the medicine meticulously by himself. He got hurt because of her, so she wanted to take responsibility. Belatedly, Lilia realized that he had taken his clothes off but she couldn¡¯t take back the words she had already said. ¡°¡­May I?¡± At Lilia¡¯s question, Karhan was silent for a moment. ¡°¡­.If you don¡¯t mind.¡± His answer came back after a while in a small voice. Turning around, Lilia received the medicine from the doctor. ¡°Good job. I¡¯ll do the rest myself, so just go back.¡± ¡°Yes, miss!¡± The doctor who gave the ointment left the room. In an instant, the room became quiet, and Lilia saw Karhan¡¯s naked body. ¡®The wound¡­¡­¡¯ The scars engraved on the skin of his body came into view. Numerous scars were connected like constellations. There was not a single corner that was intact, and it looked like a stone statue with many scratches rather than a body. ¡°It may sting.¡± As Lilia opened the ointment lid, Karhan turned his back and sat down. A bitter smell of the medicine passed the tip of her nose. Lilia grabbed his wrist and gently applied the medicine to his wounds. Every time her fingers touched his skin, his arm muscles would twitch. ¡°Are you sick? I¡¯m done now.¡± His broad shoulders kept flinching. Lilia let go of his hand to make sure the medication was applied meticulously. And at the same time, Karhan turned his head. In an instant, the distance between the two narrowed and their eyes met. Their clear eyes reflected each other¡¯s faces. It continued endlessly, as if they were facing a mirror. Like cogs in a tight fit, she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off of him. And, it was Karhan who turned his head first. ¡°Thank you.¡± He briefly expressed his gratitude to her. His earlobe that was exposed through the short black hair was red. Karhan looked at his wrist that had been treated and picked up the shirt that had fallen to the floor. When he tried to get dressed again, Lilia stopped him. ¡°I¡¯ll ask them to bring you some new clothes. And, we can¡¯t go back to the dinning hall¡­ Why don¡¯t we have a quick meal here?¡± Karhan nodded his head. He didn¡¯t want to go back to the banquet hall because he was already relaxed. Lilia summoned the employee and presented various demands. While waiting for the employee to bring clothes and food, Karhan asked, ¡°¡­Are you okay with what happened today?¡± Lilia lifted her head and looked at Karhan. He seemed a bit anxious or worried. ¡°Did I make a mistake? I think I might be hated by the Young Lady¡¯s family¡­¡± It seemed like he was still concerned. Lilia looked at Karhan and she smiled. ¡°No. On the contrary, my family was overbearing, weren¡¯t they? I¡¯m so sorry.¡± She expected Richard to make them sensitive, but it was still too much. ¡°It is fine. It wasn¡¯t uncomfortable¡­ And it seemed like everyone was worried about the Young Lady.¡± ¡®Are you an angel¡­?¡¯ When she heard his answer, she swore to herself that she would warn her family, to make sure they won¡¯t do this again in the future. ¡°But thanks to you, I think I passed without a doubt.¡± Fortunately, her family didn¡¯t seem to notice that it was a contractual relationship. At Lilia¡¯s praise, Karhan¡¯s furrowed forehead slowly loosened. His eyes, which were raised fiercely, lowered as Lilia spoke. As the atmosphere became softer, he seemed to have changed from a wild beast to a large, gentle puppy. Lilia unknowingly tried to pat him on the shoulder, but she paused. She almost acted so naturally. Shortly after, employees came in with clothes and food. While Karhan was changing clothes, Lilia rearranged the dishes left by the servants. The meat and wine, to accompany the meal, was moved in front of her, and the vegetables were moved to the Karhan¡¯s side. Karhan did not drink alcohol, so a sweet fruit drink was placed in front of him, instead of wine. The two of them sat facing each other, and started eating again. Lilia looked at Karhan eating a salad and asked what she was curious about. ¡°Can you maintain your body by eating only vegetables?¡± ¡°I usually eat what I¡¯m given¡­.¡± Karhan replied that he didn¡¯t eat much meat because he was only given vegetables. That¡¯s why Karhan, who ate the salad, looked somewhat happy. It felt strange to see him rejoice over such little things. Richard had liked it when she said she would give him a house.¡­ Looking at his simplicity, she wondered if Evantheon was really a little duke. When the satisfactory meal was over, an employee came to inform the two that Lilia¡¯s family had said that they wanted to express their gratitude. Seeing Karhan feeling uncomfortable, Lilia said it was fine and that they didn¡¯t have to come, before sending the employee back. Lilia and Karhan decided to take a walk around the mansion. As they were walking down the hallway, Tesion hurriedly walked up to them from afar. The two who had completely forgotten him, stopped for a moment. Tession approached with tears in his eyes. ¡°The mansion is so big, I had to ask around for directions and had just happened to find you both.¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± Earlier, she had been so embarrassed that she had no time to take care of him. ¡°I was going to go to the back garden with the young duke, but I¡¯m glad we ran into each other.¡± At the mention of the back garden, Tession flinched because he saw an enormous garden during the day. ¡°The mansion is so spacious, it¡¯s amazing that everyone doesn¡¯t get lost.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡­ That¡¯s not it.¡± Lilia explained that everyone carries emergency flares. If you get lost inside the mansion, you can grab anyone and ask for directions, but if you get lost outside the building, there will be no answer. So, the flares are used in case someone has gotten lost in the garden or if in distress because the carriage broke down. ¡°There are employees who collect lost employees.¡± Tession was at a loss for words. Lilia and Karhan started to walk again. Tession followed them at a distance so that the two of them could have a conversation in private. When they left the building, it was already dusk. The dark evening sky was drawing darkness. It was unexpectedly Karhan who opened his mouth first as silence enveloped them softly like a cotton blanket. ¡°¡­¡­A few days ago, the young lady Delotta came to my house.¡± ¡°Yes? What excuse did she use?¡± ¡°She asked about us.¡± Lilia paused for a moment. Come to think of it, Stella Delotta had no information, so she might have heard the rumor. ¡°So what did you say?¡± Considering Karhan¡¯s personality, it seems that Delotta had been the one to bring up the topic. Maybe he couldn¡¯t say anything because of the momentum¡­ She was guessing so Karhan answered. ¡°I told her to leave the engagement story as something that never happened.¡± Lilia was startled and reflexively raised her head. The person, who ran away because Stella was scary, could say something like that? ¡°Of course, I did not accept the young lady Delotta.¡± ¡°It is important that you speak out!¡± Lilia praised him for doing a good job. Frankly, if Stella had convinced herself that she knew, it would have been weird. ¡°And¡­I haven¡¯t spoken to my family yet.¡± ¡°Just mention it naturally. I¡¯m going to say hello.¡± Now, it was Lilia¡¯s turn. She was going to meet Karhan¡¯s family and invite them to her side. It will be easier to deal with Richard once she was recognized by his family. While Lilia was alone in her thoughts, Karhan muttered. ¡°Young Lady¡¯s family seems to be on good terms with each other.¡± Karhan lowered his eyes as if thinking back to what had happened before. ¡°It seems like you all trust each other very much¡­ It looked very good.¡± Today, Karhan entered an unfamiliar world. He was in a harmonious family. It had been something he had never experienced before. Families who don¡¯t fight but respect each other. Being between them was like stepping into a warm bonfire. He was cold like angular ice, but it was so warm that he felt like he was about to melt. Karhan knew it wasn¡¯t a place he belonged to. This was a different world from his, and it was a landscape that he should never get used to. If you take a step back and turn around, the cold snow wind will blow again. Lilia looked at him carefully without saying a word. At first glance, his image reflected in the darkness felt somewhat lonely. Lilia guessed that it had something to do with his family. In fact, Lilia was not always on good terms with her family. Lilia disappointed everyone while dating Richard. At that time, she resented her family for not understanding her. It was only now, after that she regretted and reflected, had they become closer. The two walked silently for a moment. As they headed to the back of the annex, a pond with water lilies spread out. The gloomy moonlight and the light of lamp lights reflected on the surface of the water. Karhan and Tession admired the picturesque scenery. ¡°It¡¯s one of my favorite places.¡± Lilia approached the pond. Her beauty and the light shining on the pond were in harmony with the blooming water lilies. It was like a scene from a masterpiece. Karhan watched the scene silently. He thought it was absolutely beautiful. He didn¡¯t know if the scenery was beautiful or if it was Lilia that was beautiful. Lilia, who looked down at the pond, quietly opened her mouth. ¡°I¡¯m fine now, but¡­ There were times when I was scared just by looking at the water.¡± Lilia raised her head. And, as she met Karhan¡¯s eyes, she whispered. ¡°I used to be, I fell into the pond and almost died.¡± Chapter 32 Invitation Karhan, who belatedly came to his senses, looked at Lilia. Compared to the morning, a cooler wind blew. Lilia lowered her gaze and stared at the rippling waters of the pond. In the past, the pond she fell in was full of lotus flowers. She could still vividly recall the roots of the lotus flower entangled in her feet as she floundered in the water. ¡°¡­Richard Tersian saved me from drowning.¡± If there was only one thing she was grateful to Richard for, it was that he saved her life. If he hadn¡¯t helped, she wouldn¡¯t exist. . ¡°I thought that person was my destiny.¡± With that incident, she became terribly ensnared with him. Without Richard, her life these past few years would have been incomprehensible. She loved him with all her heart, so she felt deeply betrayed by his infidelity. ¡°But he wasn¡¯t.¡± A low-pitched voice came out. Lilia believed that Richard was in love with her, too. What he liked was not Lilia, but Lilia¡¯s money. Since they wanted different things, it was destined to go wrong. From the beginning, it was a precarious relationship like a castle built on sand. In the first place, If the purpose was money, I¡¯d rather openly ask for a higher reward. Why did you play with my heart¡­.. She was angry with herself for wasting so much time devoted to him. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t Richard who saved me¡­ would I have come to like him?¡± It wasn¡¯t a question she was hoping for an answer. It was just a meaningless question to herself. It was useless to assume now.. Lilia raised one corner of her mouth. ¡°Anyway, he¡¯s like an enemy now.¡± She tried to speak harshly to relieve the heavy atmosphere, but Karhan only looked at Lilia silently. And after hesitating for a long time, he asked. ¡°¡­.Do you still like him?¡± When he asked the question, Karhan seemed surprised with himself. It definitely went without saying. ¡°No!¡± Lilia answered firmly. After she found out about what he was truly like, she completely cleared her mind with thoughts of Richard. All that remained was hatred, not love. If Richard fell into the water and reached to her for help, she would kick him. Lilia turned and headed for the simple stairs on the side. Water overflowed at the end of the stairs leading down the pond. Lilia sat on the stairs and took off her shoes. To prevent the dress from getting wet, she tied the end slightly. She was not acting like an aristocrat, but there was no need to pay any mind to it as it was her personal space anyway. Barefoot she slipped into the water. She had only dipped her feet, but it felt like it was her head that was cooling down. ¡°Come here.¡± When Lilia beckoned, Karhan, who was standing at a distance, also approached slowly. Following Lilia, he took off his shoes, too. After rolling up his pants, he carefully dipped his feet. He was surprised because the water was colder than he thought it would be, but he soon adapted. With a cool breeze blowing, it couldn¡¯t be better than this. ¡°I do this often in the summer.¡± In fact, this was a space exclusively for Lilia, Richard had never been brought in. Every summer, she used to come here alone and read with her feet in the water ¡°Isn¡¯t something like this a date too?¡± Lilia muttered as if talking to herself. Lilia, influenced by Richard, thought it was only a date if she spent money. But being like this side by side, it felt like she was on a normal date. Karhan turned his head and looked at Lilia and asked the same question. ¡°¡­Is it a date?¡± ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not sure.¡± Lilia spoke frankly. She never had such a small date with Richard. ¡°I wonder what other people do on dates.¡± Lilia laughed, saying she should read a book. Karhan¡¯s eyes met Lilia¡¯s curved ones. Purple eyes sparkled like stars in the dark. When the wind blew, bright blonde hair scattered. She was as dazzling as the pouring sunlight. Karhan finally noticed the lips that complimented him. Naturally, he remembered what Lilia had told him so far. His tightly closed mouth gradually loosened without realizing it. ¡°It really feels like I¡¯m in a relationship.¡± At Lilia¡¯s words, Karhan¡¯s mouth hardened again. The inside of his chest stung as if it contained a thorn. He felt like he had been in a good dream for a while. Lilia and Karhan were in a contractual relationship, not really in a relationship. A one-year limited relationship. He realized again that all of this was just a play to deceive others. ¡°It¡¯s already been this long.¡± The surroundings were dim and beginning to darken. Lilia and Karhan got up. It was late, so it was better to depart at this point. Lilia deliberately did not inform her family that Karhan was going back. It was obvious that Karhan would be uncomfortable. They went back the way they came. As she returned to the building and was walking down the hallway, an employee approached her quickly. ¡°Lady, the lord is calling you for a moment.¡± ¡°Can you let him know I am seeing off the little duke? I think it¡¯ll take a while.¡± Karhan, who heard Lilia next to him, quietly intervened. ¡°I¡¯ll go back on my own.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t let you do that.¡± She couldn¡¯t even treat him properly, so the least she could do was send him off. Then Tession, who was standing behind them, added, ¡°It¡¯s because we have to go back quickly, too. I¡¯ve memorized all the directions, so don¡¯t worry.¡± Lilia hesitated for a moment. She wondered what was so urgent that they had to be in a rush, so she eventually nodded. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t see you off.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay¡­I¡¯ll see you next time.¡± After a short greeting, Lilia turned around first. When Lilia disappeared, Karhan and Tesion quickly moved. Considering the size of the garden of the Blodon mansion, it seemed that he would arrive at his home in the middle of the night even if he left now. There was no end to the hallway. As they walked without hesitation, he could sense someone¡¯s presence at the end of the long hallway. As they got closer, the figure of the opponent standing in the dark was revealed. It was Lilia¡¯s father, Cliff Bloden. ¡°Evantheon¡¯s little duke.¡± When Cliff pretended to notice them first, Karhan and Tession stopped side by side. ¡°Are you going back home?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Karhan clenched his fist slightly so as not to tremble. Upon hearing a harsh answer, Cliff pondered for a while and asked, ¡°¡­¡­Is your injury okay?¡± Cliff¡¯s gaze touched Karhan¡¯s arm. ¡°I was treated by a doctor.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief¡­ And thank you so much.¡± The first impression was that Karhan was a benefactor to Cliff. ¡°Let me know if you need anything. I¡¯ll do anything for you.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing. I have received the remaining medicine to be applied later¡­¡± Karhan, who answered slowly, continued to stare at Cliff. Upon receiving a cold look, Cliff seemed a little nervous. It was much better than the first time, but he was not slowing his vigilance. There was a moment of silence between the two. Karhan, who is not good at talking to others, hesitated because he didn¡¯t know what to talk about. Then he opened his mouth thinking he should at least compliment him. ¡°The pictures are beautiful.¡± After letting out a compliment, Karhan turned his head toward the wall. And when he checked the picture on the wall, he was deeply perplexed. Where had the numerous famous paintings he saw before go, there were only two solid lines drawn on this one. ¡°It seems that the little duke is also interested in art.¡± Cliff showed a little regard. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d like to hear your review of the painting.¡± Karhan¡¯s eyes shook briefly. The white and black lines on the canvas¡­ No matter how much he looked at it, there were only two parallel lines. It was a very difficult question for Karhan, who was illiterate in art as he had wandered the battlefield for a long time. His face turned white. Suddenly, Karhan recalled the most intense scene he saw today. It was Violet sitting under the great sword. ¡°¡­¡­I think it shows two blades of a knife.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a fresh approach.¡± Cliff heard an interesting answer. Both his eyes shone. ¡°Actually, this painting expresses that good and evil are inextricably parallel to each other, but ultimately coexist in one space.¡± ¡®Such a profound meaning¡­¡¯ Karhan looked at the painting once again. No matter how he looked at it, it was just two solid lines. Cliff was slightly excited and forgot that his opponent was his daughter¡¯s boyfriend, and took a step toward another picture. He stopped in front of the painting and asked a question. ¡°You definitely know this drawing, right?¡± Of course he didn¡¯t know. When Karhan licked his lips, Tession, who was standing behind, whispered so that only he could hear it. ¡°It¡¯s Evenov¡¯s ¡®Mysterious Bedroom¡¯.¡± ¡°¡­Isn¡¯t it Evenov¡¯s ¡®Mysterious Bedroom¡¯?¡± When Karhan answered as he heard, Cliff rejoiced. ¡°As expected, you know it!¡± Karhan was very nervous because he was afraid that he would ask his opinion again. However, this time, Cliff explained it on his own. After the explanation, Cliff introduced other paintings. Every time, Tession, who was interested in art, secretly gave Karhan information. Eventually, when he was appreciating the fifth painting, Cliff belatedly coughed. Somehow, he realized that he had gotten too close to Karhan. ¡°Hmm, I didn¡¯t know that you were so good at art.¡± ¡°It¡¯s sad that young people these days aren¡¯t interested in art¡±, he murmured. ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t think people who like art are bad.¡± He recognized Karhan as Lilia¡¯s boyfriend because of the incident earlier, but that didn¡¯t mean he had to be welcoming to him. However, Cliff thought he seemed to be a better person than expected. Cliff, who had been agonizing for a while, looked around. He checked to see if Violet or Heinley would suddenly appear. Then he said with a very low voice. ¡°Maybe next time¡­ Will you come to an exhibition? I want to have a deeper discussion.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Karhan, who had not yet learned to say no, accepted the offer. Chapter 33 Siona Tersion When Karhan returned, Lilia talked to her family. When she threatened not to bring him home next time, her family apologized. Lilia only nagged moderately because she understood why they were being particularly strict. Fortunately, though, they didn¡¯t criticize Karhan very badly. ¡®When I brought Richard before, the house was turned upside down¡­.¡¯ Lilia, who recalled her memories of a few years ago, reflected for a long time. A few days have passed since that day. Lilia decided to go out for a while to do business. With Francese and Malek accompanying her, as soon as she arrived in the downtown area, she headed to her first business, the bank. Recently, assets increased significantly as profits from redevelopment came in and the Orgel store hit the jackpot. They wanted her to expand the safe, so she received a letter asking her to visit the bank and verify her identity. Upon arriving at the bank, Lilia heard their explanation and concluded an agreement to increase the number of underground vaults by two more. Lilia suddenly wondered how much her assets were worth. ¡°May I know how much you have in my safe?¡± ¡°Let me check the amount¡±. The employee got up from his seat and brought a bunch of documents. Counting for a while, the employee was embarrassed. ¡°Do you need the current amount?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but interest is being added in real time.¡± The staff asked Lilia¡¯s for understanding. When Lilia nodded, the employee continued to calculate the money for a long time. ¡®It¡¯s a lot more than I thought.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t even family property, and there were so many personal assets. The gold vein found on the site of the villa seemed to have earned this much profit. It was Lilia¡¯s parents who purchased the land, but Lilia received a half-share in return for her contribution. In the end, Lilia¡¯s safe was a spring that didn¡¯t dry up no matter how much she used it. ¡°Thank you very much for today.¡± When Lilia left the bank, all the employees came to see her off. Once out of the bank, Lilia was lost in thought. ¡®If I get more money, where should I spend it?¡¯ It seems that she was still working hard, but the speed of entry was faster. In particular, after breaking up with Richard, overspending has decreased, and it seems to be more so than she realized. Lilia began to walk slowly along the downtown area. Karhan naturally came to mind because it was a place she often visited with him these days. She seemed to have gotten used to being with him. While walking down the street, Lilia found a dessert store. ¡°Shall we go eat dessert?¡± There was a chef in the mansion who won a series of the Imperial Dessert Competition, but for some reason it didn¡¯t taste as good when eaten at home. Eventually, Lilia took Frances and Malek to the dessert shop. After ordering a lot of what she wanted to eat, she came out to the store terrace and chatted vigorously. Unlike before, Karhan and Tession were naturally added to the topic of conversation. In particular, Frances talked about Tession over and over again. The three of them seemed to have gotten quite close. As she was watching people passing by, a woman with red hair caught her eyes from afar. ¡®Somehow I¡¯m familiar with it.¡¯ Lilia naturally frowned. It was because she remembered a person she didn¡¯t want to think of. Then the woman of her observation stopped and called Lilia sitting on the terrace. ¡°Lilia Bloden?¡± Lilia turned her head and looked straight at the woman. Looking at her again, it was a face she recognized. It was Siona, Richard¡¯s elder sister. ¡°It¡¯s been a while. I think you¡¯ve changed a bit¡± Siona looked Lilia up and down with a look she knew well. Richard and his siblings did the same thing as soon as they met. The good mood quickly sank into the mud. Lilia didn¡¯t like Siona. It was because she used the fact that she was Richard¡¯s older sister to use Lilia as much as she could. She often mentioned Richard, so she had no choice but to match her pace. ¡°I was on my way to go shopping, follow me.¡± Siona arrogantly ordered. She was acting like she was ordering her servant. As she took the lead with great pride, Lilia was taken aback for a moment. ¡®She doesn¡¯t seem to have heard that Richard and I broke up yet?¡¯ Looking at Siona¡¯s back, Lilia smiled coldly. ¡®Yeah, we met at a good moment.¡¯ It was time to let her know that she was no longer a pushover. Lilia jumped up from her seat. After leaving the bill to Malek, Lilia followed Siona. After a long time, she stopped at a store selling baby supplies. She looked to see if she was showing any signs of pregnancy, and Siona briefly explained. ¡°I¡¯m planning on getting pregnant soon. So, don¡¯t you think I should get ready in advance?¡± Siona got married the year before last, but she still had no children. Apparently, with nothing keeping her busy, she visited the Marquis frequently and often bumped into Lilia. Their relationship first began as she used to give advice on everything because she was married. Siona stood at the door of the store without hearing Lilia¡¯s answer. Then the clerk opened the door. ¡°Welcome.¡± After seeing Siona¡¯s face, the clerk¡¯s expression briefly hardened. It was for a moment, but he looked sick and tired. Siona said, entering with a very confident step, as though she had not seen it, ¡°I¡¯m going to buy everything I saw last time.¡± The clerk¡¯s gaze changed at once. ¡°Right this way.¡± The clerk smiled and guided Siona. Just by looking at that, Lilia was able to grasp the situation without difficulty. Previously, Siona seemed to have grilled the clerk without buying anything. Now, having the opportunity of meeting her, she decided to buy these things. Like a fish in the water, Siona began to wander around the store. ¡°I thought so. What¡¯s more expensive than this?¡± ¡°The most expensive thing in our store is here¡­¡­.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the design?¡± Even if Siona was strict, the clerk smiled and responded. It was because she declared to buy all the goods. Siona, who carelessly touched strollers, bonnets, toys, etc., opened a box and tried using the object. Wheels were pushed and scattered. ¡°You have to pay for it if you open it¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I said I¡¯d buy it, right?¡± The clerk shut his mouth. After a long time, Siona¡¯s shopping was over. ¡°All combined¡­¡­ 157,200 Croel.¡± It was a huge price. It was a few years¡¯ worth of living expenses for commoners and enough money to buy a small villa in the countryside. No matter how rich you were, very few people would have spent so much money on childcare products. They were trendy and consumable items that could no longer be used after a year. Siona looked at Lilia as if it were natural. But as Lilia stood still, she tried to urge her. ¡°What are you doing? You need to pay.¡± Lilia stepped forward. Siona, waiting with a satisfied face, watched as Lilia put down a luxurious rattle with jewels on the checkout counter. ¡°Please charge this.¡± ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m paying for my stuff. I¡¯m going to give it to my dog.¡± Lilia replied with a smile. Siona clenched her lips for a while and then asked, ¡°What about mine?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have to pay for that.¡± Siona frowned so deeply wrinkles appeared on her forehead. So far, it had been only natural for Lilia to pay for her things. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Asked Siona, nervous. Before, with just a glance, she would have paid quickly on her own, but why was she suddenly doing this? ¡°We¡¯re going to be a family in the future, so the least you can do is pay for this.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. There¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t do.¡± Siona was relieved by the cool answer, but Lilai added after, ¡°But I don¡¯t want to be your family.¡± ¡°¡­..What?¡± ¡°Do I look like your wallet?¡± Lilia smiled and asked again. It was a quiet tone, full of thorns. Siona, who was speechless for a while and was only standing there with her mouth open, was furious. ¡°Are you going to act like that while joining our family?¡± Siona looked ready to run wild on the street, saying she would oppose the marriage or anything that would make Lilia think twice about not paying. ¡°I should tell Richard.¡± Finally, a threat that she used to work often. Lilia crossed her arms while looking at her, who knew nothing. ¡°You¡¯re so close to him, but I guess you haven¡¯t heard it yet?¡± Siona paused and looked at Lilia. ¡°I¡¯m going to break up my engagement with him.¡± Leaving that behind, Lilia turned her back. Siona shouted to Lilia with a torn voice, ¡°Lilia Bloden!¡± Lilia left the store right away. But before Siona, who followed her, could grab Lilia, the clerk shouted back, ¡°Excuse me! You have to pay!¡± The clerk immediately blocked her, asking where she was going. Siona and the clerk quarreled and soon started to argue ¡°No, I¡¯ll buy it next time!¡± ¡°You have to pay for the wrapping! You said you¡¯d buy everything!¡± The clerk, who was very fervent, shouted. But Siona wouldn¡¯t be able to pay such a large amount of money. As the disturbance grew bigger, people gathered. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I guess she didn¡¯t pay for it and tried to steal it.¡± ¡°You know everything.¡± Lilia completely escaped the street, leaving Siona behind. Though there were problems, it was funny to see her, who didn¡¯t even know that her younger brother had been broken up with. ¡®In the end, he didn¡¯t tell his family because of his pride¡­.¡¯ If so, she had no choice but to step up. So that everyone in the Tersion family knows of the breakup. Chapter 34 A Real Situation The day she planned to meet Karhan arrived. Lilia headed to the place, which was decided by Karhan. It was a quiet shop a little further from the bustle of the city. It seemed to be a place that sells tea by day and alcohol by night. When Lilia entered the store, Karhan and Tession, who had arrived in advance, welcomed her. ¡°Long time no see. Did you get home safely?¡± ¡°Yes, thanks to you¡­.¡± After a light greeting, a thick book came into Lilia¡¯s sight as she was trying to sit on the opposite seat. [Art Encyclopedia]/ [Great Encyclopedia of Art] ¡°An art book¡­?¡± When Lilia¡¯s gaze met his, Karhan opened his mouth quickly as though he was ready with an excuse. ¡±I¡¯ve been interested in it recently¡­¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not bad to know.¡± Many old nobles treated those younger than them as ignorant people if they did not know about art. When they were young, they had what was called a revival of art. Skilled sculptors and artists abounded, and high-quality plays were opened one right after another. Everyone was obsessed with art and loved to discuss it. However, the art of today was not as good as it used to be. Since there were no outstanding artists, it naturally declined and interest fell. The elderly, who retained the glory of the past, could not understand that the youth today are not as captivated in art as they used to be. However, in Lilia¡¯s case, her father was involved in all art fields such as painting, sculpture, music, and theater, so she naturally learned from being at his side. Thanks to that, she was loved by the elderly people she met for the first time. ¡°My father said he¡¯ll hold an exhibition soon, so please come and visit.¡± Karhan and Tession flinched noticeably at Lilia¡¯s words. ¡®Why? Are they burdened by the exhibition?¡¯ Lilia ended up wondering by herself. After ordering a drink, Frances, Malik, and Tession gave them some space. When only the two were left, Lilia opened her mouth. ¡°Shall we practice how to say no?¡± Karhan nodded with a nervous expression. ¡°I need to set up a situation to get more immersed. If I ask you to do me a favor, refuse.¡± Lilia immediately got up from her seat. Going out far away, she returned to the table, and sat down. Karhan¡¯s hand flinched at her face which seemed very caring. ¡°Karhan¡­¡± Lilia began acting with a very subdued voice. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to say this so suddenly. Can I borrow some money?¡± Lilia raised her head and made eye contact with Karhan. The moment he saw the clear purple eyes, Karhan replied. ¡°How much¡­¡­ Should I give you?¡± When he acted as if he would take out his wallet right away, Lilia slammed the table. Surprised, Karhan shrunk back and Lilia immediately exclaimed. ¡°In that situation, you have to say no! And why would I borrow money from someone else?¡± If Lilia had to borrow money from someone, then the empire must be going bankrupt. Lilia clicked her tongue. He really could get into big trouble. If someone asked for a check, she thought he would add more on his own, saying, ¡°Will that be enough?¡± ¡°If I pretended to be pitiful, would you lend me everything?¡± Karhan hesitated and replied to Lilia¡¯s question. ¡°That¡¯s not it, I can¡¯t refuse your request.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I want to listen to you even if it¡¯s too much.¡± Lilia couldn¡¯t say anything for a moment. There was absolute faith in his eyes. She was proud and thankful of his kindness. On the other hand, she was at a loss on how to change this good person. Lilia thought she should demonstrate. ¡°Still, you can¡¯t give such a guarantee even for family members.¡± Lilia pulled her body a little further after educating firmly. ¡°You ask, then I will refuse.¡± Karhan, who hesitated, opened his mouth. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, can you help me¡­?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s going to be difficult because I¡¯m busy.¡± When Lilia refused at once, Karhan¡¯s shoulder sagged. He looked like he didn¡¯t know he would be rejected so quickly. ¡°Why are you hurt when it¡¯s practice?¡± Karhan shook his head, saying it was nothing. For a moment her heart weakened, but she maintained her rigor again. If it was done properly now, there would be no mishaps afterwards. Lilia wanted to help him get through without her. So the two practiced a few more times. Later, Karhan had developed enough to politely decline Lilia¡¯s request with a hasty face. ¡°If someone asks for you, listen if you think you can hear them out without being pressured.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°But, if there¡¯s anything excessive, turn it down.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± Karhan nodded like a well-behaved student. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to be used,it¡¯s better to avoid people who keep asking for things.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Karhan engraved Lilia¡¯s advice into his heart. He studied hard, but he wasn¡¯t sure if he could do well. The reason he kept accepting other people¡¯s requests was because he didn¡¯t want to see them disappointed and frowning at him. He wanted to remain a good boy¡­Karhan recalled memories from a long time ago and erased them immediately. ¡°This time, no matter how much you refuse, I claim that I can¡¯t understand what you are saying. What would you do?¡± ¡°Should I tell them to stop coming¡­?¡± ¡°No, just frown and stare.¡± That alone would have made most people run away. However, the world was wide and there were many crazy people. Some people forget who their opponents are and push them too hard. Fortunately, Karhan had high status that meant he did not have to be wary of anyone except for the imperial family. He would be able to knock them out to some extent just by doing that. ¡°If they still don¡¯t back down, please say something.¡± Lilia frowned and said coldly. ¡°Get lost.¡± Karhan¡¯s face hardened slightly. He asked carefully, as if he had never spoken such swear words. ¡°Do I really have to do that?¡± Karhan was worried that his opponent would not be scared. At that moment, Lilia recalled what he had said at the banquet hall. He confessed that he wanted to resolve the misunderstanding so that others would not be afraid of him. But if he did, his true personality would be revealed, and he would appear easy-going. Lilia thought she should persuade him at this point. ¡°Karhan, do you know what a pushover is?¡± Karhan shook his head. Lilia pulled herself a little further toward the table. ¡°Simply put, we are talking about the right type of person to be taken advantage of.¡± Karhan looked like he understood now. ¡°You just have to be nice to people. But if you are too nice, you¡¯ll be treated like a pushover.¡± Lilia had a lot of experience with this. Until now, she had been living as such a good person because of Richard, and provided unreasonable things as he poured his demands on her. Everyone looked at her with ease, and asked for things as though it was natural. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be nice to everyone.¡± Karhan¡¯s eyes shook briefly. ¡°But if you want, you can keep people from being scared.¡± If he relaxes his energy and changes his face slightly, people won¡¯t be scared. It would be nice if his emotions could be more visible on his face, but it would be better to work on these things slowly. ¡°But for now, it will definitely hurt.¡± There were a lot of people in the world who would take advantage of Karhan¡¯s kindness. From the beginning, Lilia had three goals. Making people not fear or avoid seeing Karhan. Making Karhan give his own opinion. And make it so that he doesn¡¯t feel guilty about others. Even if he can¡¯t be a real villain, why not make him similar to one? ¡°So please be a villain.¡± Karhan didn¡¯t answer Lilia¡¯s words for a long time. Lilia¡¯s suggestion was enough to shake up Karhan¡¯s resolve. From a very young age, Karhan couldn¡¯t say no. If he accepted requests because he was just happy to do it, there would have been no scars left, but even if he didn¡¯t like it, he endured it and resigned to the tasks, leaving his wounds to fester alone. Karhan himself knew that he had a problem with his personality. However, he was at a loss as to how to change it, so he didn¡¯t try. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Karhan blinked slowly and then looked up with a shocked face for a moment. When he heard Lilia¡¯s suggestion, the first thing he thought was, ¡®Can I do it?¡¯. It was not ¡®How can I do it well?¡¯. Karhan felt in this short time, he had already begun to change. ¡°¡­¡­It will cause a lot of trouble, but I will do my best.¡± ¡°I like that response.¡± Though cautious, Lilia grinned at the definite answer. ¡°Let¡¯s change location for now.¡± When Lilia and Karhan stood up, the three people sitting at the other table also got up. Lilia, as she left the store, thought about where to practice rejection. ¡®After all, should I teach himwhile buying something easily¡­ ¡­ .¡¯ At that time, she made eye contact with a man walking from far away. The man immediately walked toward Lilia. ¡°Hey, can I ask for directions¡­.¡± When the man smiled and asked, Lilia immediately got a feeling. ¡®It must be someone who promotes a strange religion, or asks for a loan to get home because his car was stolen.¡¯(?) So far, she has been entangled in all kinds of things because of her easy-going face, so she was quick tosense these scams. ¡°Go over there.¡± When Lilia gave a brief answer, the man thought it was his opportunity and talked to her. ¡°But your impression is really good¡­¡± Lilia immediately pulled Karhan to her side. In an instant, Karhan entered the man¡¯s field of vision. ¡°Impression¡­.¡± The man who saw Karhan¡¯s face couldn¡¯t talk for a while. However, he was either quite formidable, or had a lot of experience dealing with people. ¡°Anyway, I want to tell you something good.¡± ¡®It was the former.¡¯ Lilia made a quick decision and looked up at Karhan. Confused, Karhan looked at her. Lilia said with her eyes, It¡¯s a real situation. Chapter 35 Lilia Bloden is Crazy In the meantime, Karhan and a man presumed to be religious faced each other. Had it been like other people, they would have been taken for a loop already, but this experienced person was also different. ¡°If you give me a moment, I¡¯ll tell you something good that you can¡¯t hear anywhere.¡± The man talked eagerly. Karhan was perplexed, then looked at Lilia. Lilia nodded her head lightly. Forced to defend himself alone Karhan slowly took a breath and opened his mouth. ¡°¡­¡­I am not interested.¡± As Karhan had learned earlier, he gently refused. However, the man became more active towards Karhan¡¯s polite attitude. ¡°No, I am not the kind of person who grabs just anyone. It¡¯s sad you see me as a strange person.¡± The man rebuked Karhan. Karhan flinched for a moment, but refused more stubbornly. ¡°We are busy, so we should get going.¡± The man completely ignored Karhan and glanced at Lilia. Judging by his appearance, he seemed to have decided that Lilia was much easier to attack. As he stepped towards Lilia, Karhan stopped him. The man who had been smiling kindly hardened reflexively. And the moment he raised his head, his eyes met with Karhan, who had a frown on his face. The man paused for a moment at the vicious momentum. Soon after, the man stepped back as if he was scared. ¡°No, but why are you blocking the way?¡± As expected, he was an extraordinary man. It was the first time that someone didn¡¯t run away even though Karhan was staring. It was probably because Karhan was polite at first. And he might have noticed that he was a pushover as he had dealt with all kinds of people on the street. ¡®He is more persistent than I thought.¡¯ Lilia was worried if Karhan could do well. His skills were comparable to a baby chick¡¯s, but she didn¡¯t expect he would get the hardest difficulty from the beginning. It was at that time that Karhan hesitated, when he realized even his staring didn¡¯t work. ¡°Lady, please talk to me¡­¡­¡­.¡± The man came closer to Lilia. Karhan grabbed his wrist as the startled Lilia stepped back. The man swallowed a scream at the tremendous grip force. His well-honed gaze turned towards the man and looked as if he was about to begin a slaughter. ¡°Get lost.¡± A low-pitched voice rang out. Karhan let go of the man¡¯s trembling hand. The frightened man stepped back and immediately turned and ran away. Then, not long after, Karhan sank to the floor as if his legs had worn out. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Lilia, who had watched everything, did not say anything for a moment. It was as if he was not the Karhan that she knew. As she slowly turned her head to look at Karhan, his shoulders lowered as she relaxed. ¡°Did I do it right¡­¡­?¡± The thing that caught her attention was that this was the Karhan she recognized, the one whom she had seen a lot. Lilia said with a smile, ¡°Of course.¡± Karhan sighed in relief. Then he looked up at Lilia. His pale blue eyes filled Liliya like a calm surface. His eyes were looking for praise. He looked like a puppy, and Lilia burst into laughter. ¡°You did a lot better than I thought. You¡¯re good with the real tests.¡± Lilia gave him plenty of compliments. He quickly absorbed everything Lilia had told him, like white cotton. Being such a good student, she was very proud as a teacher. Lilia, who poured out praise, turned her head and looked in the direction of the man¡¯s escape. He had already disappeared somewhere. No way, did he went to call the guards, but Lilia turned away with that thought. ¡°¡­.¡± At that moment, Lilia forgot what to say. No, all her thoughts were erased from her head. Because Karhan was smiling. The pointed ends of his eyes bent round, and his stiff lips were gently loosened. The corners of his slightly raised lips held a smile. There was no fierce impression or expressionless face that could not capture emotions. The atmosphere that formed him completely changed as if the rough north wind stopped and the last snowflake fell in the spring flower. Lilia¡¯s fingertips were itchy at the warm gaze in front of her. The reason was unknown. She just felt like the petals that bloomed in the first spring blew into her heart. The smile that Karhan showed for the first time was that outstanding. ¡°Karhan, you¡­¡± Lilia rarely stuttered her words. ¡°You are smiling.¡± Hearing those words, the smile disappeared from Karhan¡¯s face. When he returned to his stoic expression, Lilia felt sorry for pointing it out to him. What the hell was he thinking, that he made such a face? ¡®He was very awkward when he practiced smiling¡­¡­.¡¯ Seeing him smile like that, no one would be afraid of Karhan. ¡°What were you thinking?¡± At Lilia¡¯s question, Karhan paused for a moment before speaking. He liked the compliments towards him, and Lilia¡¯s smiling face was pretty, so he made an expression without realizing it. Confused, he lied for the first time. ¡°Raised as a kid¡­ I thought of a puppy¡­¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Lilia clapped her hands. It was a golden opportunity to naturally bring out his expression. Lilia set the specific situation in a slightly excited voice. ¡°Imagine running around in the field with the puppy you had as a child.¡± Karhan pondered and remembered not the puppy, but the compliment Lilia had just given him. His hard forehead loosened and became softer. Lilia screamed inwardly, confirming the faint smile she had just seen. ¡®Perfect.¡¯ The expressionless face was always the most troublesome, but it was solved at once. She thought it would be easy to use this method the next time she needed him to smile. ¡°From now on, when I say puppy, you¡¯ll imagine what you just said, okay?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Karhan couldn¡¯t resolve the misunderstanding and eventually nodded. Lilia liked it, thinking this way wasbetter. ¡°The results are good today.¡± Lilia smiled with satisfaction. It would have been great if it continued as it is. There was something unsettling even after she tried to take it back, but now it was quite plausible. Lilia remembered the scene where Karhan was swearing a while ago. It was more effective than she thought, so she wanted him to learn a few more. ¡°You can¡¯t get by just by saying polite things, at the right time from now on¡­I think it would be good to learn how to swear.¡± Lilia glanced at Frances. Frances realized that his turn had come and he stepped forward. As Lilia knew, there was no one better at swearing than Frances. Frances, who received their attention, gave a demonstration. All kinds of profanity poured down like rain that didn¡¯t match his baby face. Karhan wondered if he would feel like this if he was beaten with words. Lilia looked at the shocked Karhan and Tession, and shrugged her shoulders lightly. ¡°Was I too strong from the beginning?¡± ¡°There are other profanities too!¡± When Frances tried to open his mouth again, Malek grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back. Lilia said, looking at Karhan and Tession who couldn¡¯t get a hold of themselves, ¡°Please forget that just now. I¡¯ll teach you slowly.¡± *** Richard rubbed his forehead due to his headache. It was because he remembered yesterday that his older sister, Siona, came into the Marquis estate in an outrage. ¨C Lilia Bloden is crazy. Siona shouted out all her swear words. That she humiliated her in front of people, that she would never leave her alone next time, that she wouldn¡¯t stay still. Then she asked, as she hovered, ¨C She said that she¡¯s going to break up the engagement. No way that¡¯s true, right? ¨C It¡¯s not like that, we just got into a fight and she got angry. Richard made a quick excuse. Siona, who was teasing, asked him to pay off her debt at once. She bought some baby products, and when her husband found out, he complained. However, it was difficult for Richard to raise such a large amount of money right away. He spent the money that came in lavishly because he could get it from Lilia whenever he needed it anyway. Then, after he broke up with Lilia, he had no money coming in, so he ran out of cash. At this age, he couldn¡¯t even ask his parents for pocket money, so he ended up selling what he had. Richard would later reconcile with Lilia and said that he would pay her back, if only to comfort Siona and send her back. ¡°I¡¯m going to blow off some steam. Still, the situation is not good.¡± If Siona and Lilia had a big fight, it would be even worse. Now, it was like oil was poured into it. ¡°Damn it, what should I do?¡± The more he thought about it, the more his head throbbed. He was always in the lead when it came to dating, so he was at a loss as to how to get through to his adversary. Even his family trusted only the Blodens and were arguing here and there. Luxury was basic, and his mother was furious about using her in-laws¡¯ connections to run her business. All expectations depended on Richard. So, before his family found out about this, Lilia had to change her mind. But for now, he could only hide it from his family. Richard thought that he should get some air, so he left the room and walked down the hallway. Employees working in the hallway glanced at him and put their heads together to whisper. He thought something was strange, but something from afar caught his attention. The butler was walking to him at a fast pace. ¡°Young master. The Lord is looking for you.¡± ¡°Father?¡± Richard furrowed his brows, wondering if he had done something worthy of being summoned. As if he knew nothing, the butler looked around and quietly held out the paper. ¡°I guess that¡¯s why he¡¯s calling me.¡± The yellow-orange paper the butler offered was a well-known tabloid paper. It was a cheap information magazine that was an embarrassment to the name of newspapers, and was used to deliver news about celebrity scandals or celebrity interests, but it sold well. Richard accepted the tabloid the butler had brought out. His cold gaze, which had been skimming quickly, stopped at the bottom corner. [Shock! Lilia Bloden wants to break up with Richard Tersion.] [The breakup three months before the wedding!] [Lady Lilia of the House Bloden, filled every day with tears flying in the wind. The reason is¡­?] Both of Richard¡¯s hands trembled as they held the tabloid. ¡°Lilia Bloden¡­!¡± Chapter 36 Pathetic Bastard Richard threw the tabloid away. It wasn¡¯t explicitly written that he cheated on her, but with a title like that, it could easily be inferred. It was clear that Lilia had published that article. If she used public opinion first in this way, he would be at a disadvantage. He tried to solve it in a nice way, but it came down to this.¡­? Richard breathed heavily. ¡°Guide me to where my father is.¡± The butler took the lead. Richard, who was following, was ready to go crazy because of his wounded pride. Lilia did not accept conciliatory or forgiveness. As long as she refused him there was only one way to solve this matter. He had no choice but to resort to coercive means. The butler¡¯s walk stopped. When he knocked lightly, he heard a voice telling him to come in. The door opened, and Richard went inside alone. The Marquis of Tersion, who was reading the newspaper in a dark space, said without looking at Richard, ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± In an uncomfortable atmosphere, Richard gently bit his lips. Richard¡¯s father, the Marquis of Tersion, was a typical aristocrat. He prioritized authority and was proud of being a nobleman. When he was young, he nagged a lot about his progress in his successor¡¯s class, but after the engagement with Lilia, he was left alone. However, as he and Lilia were close to breaking up, Richard became nervous of his father¡¯s reaction. A long time later, the Marquis put down the newspaper and took off his glasses. ¡°What happened?¡± Richard was able to figure out what he was asking without difficulty. ¡°We had a small argument¡­¡­ she must be angry.¡± Richard acted as though he had done nothing wrong. ¡°You mean they just wrote an article about something small like that?¡± The Marquis of Tersion slammed the desk with his fists. At the sound, Richard flinched, but quickly opened his shoulders proudly. If he was wrong to cheat on her, Lilia was also at fault for having a new lover before breaking her engagement. Karhan Evantheon was a bother, but he didn¡¯t think he had to mention it yet. It hasn¡¯t been long since the two met, but if his father comes forward to complain, it can be solved somehow. ¡°Father, please help me.¡± ¡°Pathetic bastard. Couldn¡¯t even move a girl¡¯s heart¡­¡­.¡± The marquis clicked his tongue. ¡°Have you talked to the Bloden family?¡± Richard shook his head. The marquis said, recalling Heinley Bloden, who was working for him, ¡°Let me talk to Heinley Bloden.¡± *** Karhan parted ways with Lilia and returned home. He had a dessert bag from Lilia in one arm and a thick art dictionary in the other. He had wondered when he would be able to read it all, but had already read more than half of it whenever he had the time. He studied hard with Tession¡¯s help, but Tession was worried the book alone wouldn¡¯t be enough, so Tession told Karhan to go to the exhibition in advance and do some research. It wasn¡¯t bad advice, but Karhan stood out so much. As soon as he¡¯d enter, it would reach the ear of Count Bloden. So he had no choice but to memorize it. As Karhan took off his thin cloak, Tession took it immediately. Recently, Tession had been looking very bright, especially today, he seemed to be walking on air. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you could say no so well,¡± he said. Tession was proud of his work. ¡°It feels like just yesterday that you were sent to guard at night for 3 days straight because you couldn¡¯t refuse¡­¡­.¡± He said as though he was moved and pretended to wipe away his tears. Tession first met Karhan on the battlefield, and so far had watched him the closest. It had been a series of disappointing things. How frustrating it was that the savior who saved his life turned out to be a pushover. In the battlefield, where food is precious, his food was taken away, and in return was sent to participate in the battle.¡­. Had Tession not stepped up, Karhan would have died of starvation or overwork on the battlefield. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t met Young lady Bloden¡­..¡± Tession shivered his shoulders. He looked like he didn¡¯t even want to imagine. It wasn¡¯t long since Karhan met Lilia, but Tession was feeling deeply grateful. How much had he changed since he met Lilia? From the time they first met, Frances and Malek kept praising Lilia, so he thought it was because she was the heir of the house Bloden, but now Tession was also praising Lilia. Karhan looked at Tession acting like that, then unbuttoned his shirt. Suddenly he remembered what Lilia had said. ¨C So please be a villain. It was still difficult to figure out what a villain was. But Lilia asked him to be a villain, so he thought he had to do so. A bright smile flashed in front of his eyes. Karhan¡¯s hard expression softened a little when he saw that she was happy with his efforts. He didn¡¯t want to disappoint her. He wanted her to smile every time she looked at him. To do that, he had to work hard. After changing his clothes, Karhan placed the bag of desserts on the table. It smelled sweet, but he couldn¡¯t eat it because it would be a waste. He slowly sat down on the bed. In the quiet space, only the beating of his heart could be heard. It was still pounding. The first swear word he uttered lingered in his ears. Lilia said it wasn¡¯t even that much of an insult, but she said it was a fresh and strange experience for him. It was stipulated that swear words should not be used for Karhan. And it was the first time he had rejected someone¡¯s request or offer in such a way. Lilia said it was because he had a good heart, but Karhan knew better. Contrary to what she said, he is not nice. He was just trying to look like a good kid. Karhan brought out faded memories from long ago. ¨C The young master is very nice. As a child, someone said as a passing comment. It may have been meaningless, but it was the first compliment he had ever heard. For him, who was timid and passive, thirsty for the affection of his parents, the praise became a very small box. From then on, Karhan forced himself into that box. He didn¡¯t care if it was cramped or uncomfortable.¡­ He listened to fit in. In order to become a good person, Karhan tried to be considerate, calm, and kind. Even if he lost money, he wanted to remain as a good person to his opponent. Just as a thirsty child was obsessed with water after drinking only one sip, he stayed like that. Who knew that only one word would control his whole life? But Lilia told him, -You don¡¯t have to be nice to everyone. Do you think I don¡¯t have to remain a good boy anymore? He wanted someone to answer the question, and he finally got an answer from Lilia. Karhan no longer hesitated and came out of the box. Outside the box that he had suppressed himself was not as bad as he thought. And Karhan buried the worn-out compliments deeply because he had chewed over them thousands of times. There was now someone complimenting right next to him. Karhan got up from his seat. Tession¡¯s gaze naturally followed. ¡°Do you need anything?¡± ¡°I should see my mother.¡± ¡°Yes¡­?¡± Tession asked back, embarrassed. Karhan did not take his words back and changed into a slightly more formal outfit. It was as if he was going to meet someone new, not his parents. After leaving the hallway, Karhan held onto an employee and asked. The employee, who was trembling, guided him to the place where the Duchess was. They lived in the same house, and yet they arrived at a place they had nothing to do with. Karhan took a deep breath and then knocked on the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± A quiet voice rang out. His body stiffened with tension over the person who answered behind the door. Karhan barely uttered his voice, ¡°I have something to tell you.¡± ¡°Say it there.¡± She didn¡¯t let Karhan in. ¡°¡­¡­it¡¯s important.¡± Even after listening to Karhan, an answer did not return for a long time from the inside. The time passing felt like he was getting closer to death, and then the door opened. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The Duchess of Evantheon looked up at Karhan, who was much taller than her. He was not a child, but the gaze felt like she was looking at something tiresome. Karhan clenched his fist without realizing it. He couldn¡¯t even remember since she had begun looking at him with these eyes. From a long time ago, Karhan was considered as her son who could not be rehabilitated. He wanted to correct anything he did wrong, but he didn¡¯t know what he needed to fix, so it was an unfair situation. Karhan recklessly tried to regain his mother¡¯s trust. But he was only getting further and further away. The only thing that connected the two people who stood at the extremes was the name of Evantheon. Karhan silently stared at her. Her eyes pierced through his chest, but somehow it didn¡¯t hurt as much as before. Did I get used to it, or did I get a little stronger? Karhan thought it was the latter. There was no way he could ever get used to that look. ¡°I have found a new acquaintance.¡± The Duchess¡¯s face hardened. Before the slap could fly in, Karhan continued, ¡°It is Lilia Bloden.¡± Her body paused. Karhan looked down at his mother silently. He wasn¡¯t as nervous as he thought he would be. It was as if Lilia was by his side whispering that he could do it. Karhan slowly opened his lips. ¡°Bloden¡­..¡± The Duchess¡¯s head turned quickly. There was no one in the Empire who did not know the Blodon family. Just as the imperial family was at the top of power, the Bloden family was at the peak of wealth. The Delotta family also held tremendous wealth, but had to fold a few times in front of the Bloden family. As such, no one could be considered an opponent to the Bloden family. ¡°Now you are doing something useful.¡± The face of the Duchess, which had only been cold, softened a little. It was the most benevolent of her expressions towards Karhan so far. She was a woman who was willing to sell Karhan in favor of her eldest son, Blair. She smiled as she measured between Stella Delotta and Lilia, planning on how to get the most money. Then the Duchess opened her mouth, ¡°I need to say hello, so bring her to me soon.¡± Chapter 37 To Satisfy Your Desires Stella bit her fingernails. She belatedly checked her broken nails and got annoyed. ¡°Trim it well¡­¡­.¡± Stella said as she called in an employee to get her nails trimmed again. In the meantime, she licked her lips anxiously after hearing that Karhan was meeting with Lilia. She wasn¡¯t relieved even when the Duchess of Evantheon said she would handle it¡­ Until the engagement ceremony was held, it could be overturned at any time. She was even more anxious because the opponent was Lilia Bloden, who had a similar upbringing to her. ¡°As expected, I should warn the girl.¡± Stella had a temperament that once she made a decision, she had to take action right away. When the employee finished trimming her nails, Stella got up from her seat. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the Bloden mansion.¡± Stella, who was in a hurry to head out, got into the carriage and headed for the Bloden mansion. How long was it going to run? Then, the wagon stopped. ¡°This is the entrance to the Blodon mansion.¡± Guards stood in front of the huge gate. She hadn¡¯t expressed her intentions for a visit in advance, so they didn¡¯t open the gate. Rather, the guards seemed suspicious when they saw a carriage stamped with the seal of the Delotta family. ¡°Tell Lilia Bloden. Stella Delotta is here.¡± When Stella shouted proudly, one of the guards said. ¡°I¡¯ll announce your arrival. Please wait a moment.¡± ¡°It could take a while,¡± the guard said. Stella waited in the carriage. After a long time, Stella, whose patience had reached its limit, burst into anger. ¡°Are you sure they went to ask for permission?¡± When Stella burst out on purpose, the remaining guards said, ¡°They took a shortcut, so please wait a little longer.¡± ¡°Is there any shortcut to going inside?¡± Stella got off the wagon and tried to argue. At that time, a guard came running on a horse from far away. ¡°They want you to enter.¡± The solid gate smoothly opened. Finally, the carriage from the Delotta family entered the site of the Bloden mansion. The wagon ran along a line of large trees on both sides. It was neat, but toned down for a garden. ¡°There¡¯s nothing much.¡± Stella said, filled with pride, commenting that her garden is better. Everyone praised Bloden¡¯s mansion for its excellent presentation, but rumors seemed to have been inflated. After moving forward for a long time, she could see an arched entrance made of wooden vines and white marble. Lena, the maid who followed Stella, said with a very surprised face when she saw the sign, ¡°¡­¡­It looks like a garden from here.¡± Stella forgot that she was in the carriage and jumped up. ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Asking what she had just seen, Stella turned her face towards the window. The scenery outside the window was endless. Well-groomed shrubs were arranged at a certain height. All kinds of flowers bloomed in harmony on all sides, and waterways were placed parallel to each side of the road. Fountains located at regular intervals were enormous. It was the size and shape of a central plaza, not a general mansion. When she lifted her eyes, she saw a huge dome made of glass. It was a greenhouse garden known as ¡®The End of Luxury¡¯. Stella¡¯s house also owned one, but it wasn¡¯t that big. ¡°Stop for a second.¡± Stella, who was staring at the garden blankly, shouted. Stella, telling them not to follow her because she would take a quick look, then got off the wagon and started walking in the garden. Stella was briefly mesmerized by the beautiful scenery. She seemed to have entered a painting. So far, she had thought that Delotta¡¯s mansion was the best aside from the Imperial Palace. However, the Bloden mansion completely destroyed Stella¡¯s assumption. Stella, who was looking around in a hurry, walked deeper and deeper. She couldn¡¯t stand Lilia Bloden being superior to her. ¡®If I wasn¡¯t superior, I thought I would be relieved if we were at least similar. For now, I¡¯ll keep my eyes open and make the Delotta mansion the same,¡¯ Stella thought. ¡°I hired a new gardener and yet¡­ What flower is that?¡± Stella saw the nameless flower. The crimson petals with slightly curled ends fluttered in the wind. She really liked the unknown flower that resembled the color of her eyes. Besides, it was so fragrant that she seemed to like it better than the perfume she was wearing. Stella picked the flower without worrying. She took out a handkerchief, wrapped the flower, and put them in her bag. She was going to show the gardener the flowers and ask him to change the garden. Stella, who was looking around the garden for a long time, suddenly thought she had come too far. ¡°¡­..Where am I?¡± The direction could not be determined because there were flowers and trees everywhere. Stella began to look around. ¡°Is there anyone there?!¡± Stella shouted into the air. ¡°Lena!!!¡± But no answer came back. Stella tightly bit her lips. As she did this, she realized she had ended up in distress in someone else¡¯s garden. She had no choice but to walk blindly. Anyway, in the end, it was inside the mansion, so she thought a road would appear as she walked. She walked and walked for a long time. It was hot and her feet were sore because of her shoes, and she was unable to walk anymore. Stella fell half way down on the spot and got annoyed. ¡°Why did you build such a big house¡­!¡± The opponent of resentment was Lilia Bloden. Now, while she was at a loss for what to do, a firecracker broke out in the air. Not too far away, a red light scattered with a popping sound. When she got up and walked toward it, there was a wagon without a lid. She thought that she had lived. ¡°Are you lost?¡± The man who was driving the wagon saw Stella and asked her first. Stella¡¯s pride was hurt, but she desperately needed help more than anyone else. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Get in.¡± Stella, who got on the wagon, found a person sitting opposite her. Stella asked a woman dressed as an employee. ¡°Fireworks just went off. What are they?¡± When asked if they had fireworks in broad daylight, the woman answered. ¡°It¡¯s a distress signal. I was just lost too¡­¡­ So I fired it up.¡± ¡°You mean there are frequent troubles?¡± When Stella was embarrassed, the man sitting in the horse¡¯s seat opened his mouth. ¡°I¡¯m going around the garden to pick up lost employees. If someone lights up firecrackers, I¡¯ll go find them.¡± Stella¡¯s head went blank for a moment. She couldn¡¯t estimate how wide the mansion was. Stella, who had no energy to be annoyed, was delivered to the front door of the mansion exhausted. When she got off the wagon, Lena, who arrived first, approached Stella in tears. ¡°My Lady, are you okay? I thought you were in danger.¡± Stella was angry at the moment. ¡°The mansion is so big that it¡­.¡± ¡°Are you here?¡± When a familiar voice came in, Stella looked up. Lilia was standing in the center of the front door. ¡°I was thinking of sending someone because you didn¡¯t come even after a long wait.¡± Stella clenched her fist. She suffered like this, and now it was annoying to see her calm face. ¡°The garden was unnecessarily large.¡± Lilia gently admitted to the pointed tone. ¡°I expanded it without much thought and it became like this.¡± Originally, the site of the Bloden mansion was not this wide. Since Lilia was born, the land near the house has been expanded at a bargain price, and it has expanded beyond control. She thought she wouldn¡¯t be able to leave the house if she increased it further, so she stopped. ¡°What¡¯s the reason you came out of the blue?¡± ¡°I heard you¡¯re meeting the Little Duke Evantheon. When I asked him directly, he acknowledged it!¡± Stella immediately shouted with a triumphant face. Unlike the imperial banquet, there was now evidence. Lilia Bloden would no longer be able to back out. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Stella was confused for a moment when Lilia gently admitted. It wasn¡¯t long before Stella began to argue with her face distorted. ¡°You said you were nothing at the last banquet. Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re shameless?¡± Lilia stared at Stella and asked. ¡°What¡¯s the relationship between the Delotta Young lady and the Young Duke?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to be his fianc¨¦e soon.¡± ¡°That means you¡¯re still a stranger.¡± ¡°What do you mean, stranger? We are¡­¡­!¡± Stella was speechless for a moment. Marriage talk was going back and forth between the families, but there has been no contact between Karhan and Stella yet. Stella was obsessed with Karhan because she was anxious about it. Bribey an employee, secure his schedule, and follow him under the guise of coincidence.¡­. She tried to make a point of contact, if it was even a little bit. It was because she thought it would work out somehow if they made a lot of meetings. Stella did not doubt that she could be the only woman who could change Karhan. Stella changed the subject because she couldn¡¯t find a clear answer to the question. ¡°Y, you have a fianc¨¦!¡± ¡°I guess you didn¡¯t see the tabloid. There¡¯s an article saying I¡¯m going to break up our engagement.¡± What did she mean by break the engagement? Stella was taken aback for a moment. There was no one who didn¡¯t know that Lilia was hung up on Richard. ¡°Whenever I die and can¡¯t live, love is so insignificant.¡± When Stella said sarcastically, Lilia didn¡¯t say anything. She read the emotions that were on Lilia¡¯s face, and decided to fight back at her. ¡°Why? Did the Tersion Young Lord cheat on you? If you truly love someone, shouldn¡¯t you carry that with you?¡± Lilia¡¯s expression gradually disappeared. Lilia asked back quietly. ¡°Then do you love the Little Duke?¡± Stella was speechless for a moment. To be honest, Stella didn¡¯t love Karhan. Rather, she was often scared because she didn¡¯t know what he was thinking. Nevertheless, Stella was confident that she could tame him. Changing a villain was the heroine¡¯s job after all. ¡°What¡¯s important about that? It¡¯s a political marriage.¡± Stella chose her ambition instead of love. She never thought it was bad. What¡¯s wrong with the desire to be more perfect than she was now? In addition, Stella had already learned the sweetness of power. Whenever she heard that the engagement story was going back and forth in the aristocracy, she enjoyed the feeling of superiority as if she had already become the duchess. However, if she could not get engaged with Karhan, everything would be ruined. Stella straightened her back and shoulders. And she said it proudly, ¡°I¡¯m going to be a duchess.¡± As long as Lilia was there, Stella would be in second place forever. No matter how much Lilia robbed and trampled on what she had, the gap did not narrow. Karhan Evantheon was her last chance to get ahead of Lilia. ¡°And the Duchess of Evantheon is on my side.¡± Karhan obeyed the word of the Duchess unconditionally. If it didn¡¯t work out, Stella was going to control Karhan through the Duchess. ¡°If it comes to this, I will formally protest to the Duchess and crack down on the Young Duke.¡± When Stella¡¯s finished talking, Lilia loosened her arms. There was a chill over her expressionless face. Lilia recalled Karhan, who was embarrassed. It was still vivid to see him jumping into the terrace very urgently to avoid Stella. She could tell how much he had suffered without regard. Lilia raised one corner of her mouth. ¡°You¡¯ve been so mean to people to satisfy your desires.¡± Chapter 38 The Celebrity of the Imperial Palace Stella, who was stabbed in her conscience, shook her shoulders. As if she couldn¡¯t stand it, she jumped up and ran to her at once. ¡°Lilia Bloden!¡± Before reaching Lilia, two men standing behind blocked Stella. ¡°You¡¯re trying to steal someone else¡¯s man. You thief!¡± Lilia cut her off with a sharp tongue as Stella lashed out at her wildly, ¡°You have to say it correctly. You¡¯re the one who coveted others¡¯ belongings.¡± ¡°What¡­!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you remember the wagon design?¡± Stella hardened. She looked like she hadn¡¯t known she would bring that up now. However, Lilia, being in the position she was in, remembered everything. Since before, Stella has always coveted what was hers. Even for a large sum of money, Stella bought anything Lilia showed interest in, and when she couldn¡¯t get it, she made sure no one else could. She endured everything else, but she couldn¡¯t forgive the wagon design incident. It was a design made all night by designers from the Bloden family. They stole it and released the product right away. Of course, not all was ruined¡­¡­, but that did not mean that the sin would disappear. ¡°¡­¡­Where is the evidence!¡± When Stella deflected, scattered employees appeared one by one. Numerous eyes pointed at her like arrowheads. Stella belatedly realized where she was and stopped talking. Lilia, who felt it was a waste of time to talk to her anymore, turned around. ¡±It seems like the guest will head back, Please lead her to the gates.¡± In the meantime, Stella and her maid were forced into a wagon. Lilia watched the carriage door close. Stella opened the window and shouted, ¡°Next time we meet, you¡¯ll be calling me Duchess!¡± Lilia calmly waved her hand. Stella slammed the window violently as hatred radiated from her at the sight. Soon after, the Delotta family carriage completely disappeared from sight. Lilia sighed. Since Stella came to her in the first place, she wanted to hear what she had to say, so she met her. But it was just as she had expected. ¡°Even if I sold out my country in my previous life, I wouldn¡¯t be as bad as Stella Dellotta.¡± Lilia has never seen anyone as obsessed and greedy as Stella in her life. She felt sorry for Karhan, who had suffered from Stella so far. Lilia, who returned into the building, was lost in thought for a moment. After dealing with Stella today, she wanted to break up with Richard even more. But she didn¡¯t find anything that could be considered a flaw ¡®I have to annul the engagement within the contract period¡­.¡¯ Lilia, who had a headache, picked up the book she had stopped reading earlier. While reading quietly, the light flowing through the window gradually faded. After reading it all, the surroundings were already dark. Her parents said they would return late at night, and it was time for her brother to arrive. Lilia looked down from the porch through the window. ¡°He¡¯s not here yet. Is he busy with work?¡± Ever since she invited Karhan home, she hadn¡¯t seen him since then. Even if they lived in the same house, it was so spacious that she rarely bumped into him unless she tried to meet him on purpose. Still, they often had dinner together, but these days, invites have been cut off. After contemplating, Lilia got up from her seat and headed towards Heinley¡¯s residence for a walk. As she was walking down the hallway, employees greeted her. ¡°Where is my older brother?¡± When Lilia asked, the employees answered in a tone of concern. ¡°He hasn¡¯t returned yet. He seems to be very busy these days.¡± ¡°Yes¡­..?¡± Heinley had a habit of leaving work straight away. Even though he was busy at work, he would usually return by dinner time. She felt uncomfortable for some reason, but she said yes and returned to the bedroom. After having a simple dinner, her parents came home. Lilia had a conversation with her parents over tea. In the meantime, there was no news from Heinley. By the time she was going to bed after finishing all the work she had to do today, Heinley¡¯s wagon arrived at the front door. Lilia removed the blanket and lifted herself up. Lilia hurried to the place where she thought he was going to. Luckily, she was able to meet Heinley, who was about to enter his bedroom. ¡°Lilia?¡± Heinley looked at Lilia while holding the doorknob. She was out of breath after walking with haste, so she could only open her mouth after taking a breath, ¡°It seems you¡¯re coming home late these days. What¡¯s wrong?¡± Heinley was silent for a moment. At the question, a look of embarrassment passed by his face. Soon, Heinley replied bluntly as usual, ¡°¡­¡­I was busy trying to fix a problem my subordinate caused by accident.¡± ¡°Really?¡± When Lilia looked worried, he added, ¡°It¡¯ll be easier soon. It¡¯s late, so go to bed.¡± ¡°Yes, good night, brother.¡± Heinley nodded at Lilia¡¯s parting words. Lilia, who turned around, gradually became distant. Heinley, who was watching quietly, sighed lightly. *** At the edge of the office was a neatly arranged desk. In front of the desk, there was a blond man wearing silver-rimmed glasses. It was Heinley Bloden, the celebrity of the Imperial Palace. When he started working in the office, Heinley made his name known as the eldest son of the Bloden family, the richest family in the Empire. Soon after, he became more famous by making countless people cry with a perfect but feisty personality. Heinley Bloden hated incompetent people. All those who tried to get a decent salary were torn apart by his hands. Those who tried to connect with the Bloden family, and those who tried to take advantage of his friendly-looking face, all ran away crying. Those around him doubted if Heinley was really a person. Apart from being a cold-hearted bitter man, they had never seen him smile. No matter how funny the story was, there was only an icy stare and a sharp wind that flew. Still, there were times when Heinley¡¯s expression became soft. It was during the times he looked at the small portrait on the desk. It was only then that the snowstorm stopped and the spring wind blew, as he made a warm face. And there was no one who didn¡¯t know that the portrait was his younger sister, Lilia Bloden. Numerous things happened, but the second administration was maintaining its own peace. Unlike his notoriety, Heinley was a pretty good boss to his men. He is competent enough to leave work early like a passing knife, and if they did their job properly, he would not interfere with their affairs. He was quite popular because he spent money well and gave proper advice when needed. In particular, in recent years, he had become very gentle as he reconciled with his younger sister, whom he had been estranged from for a long time. However, in the last few days, as if winter had returned, the Second Administration Department only blew a gust of wind ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Heinley pulled up his silver-rimmed glasses several times and handled the work at an unbelievable speed. He dealt with his work without a break, but the document tower grew higher and higher. The air became heavier and sharper. Those who belonged to the office felt like they were walking on thin ice. ¡°Excuse me¡­¡­¡± Heinley, who was signing at the bottom, paused for a moment. The subordinate, who brought a lot of new documents, noticed. Heinley swallowed a sigh and waved his hand. It meant to leave it behind. Anyway, he only carried out the orders of his boss, who was a separate matter, and a person who did these childish things. Heinley looked at the separate room opposite. It was the office of his boss, Marquis Tersian. A few days ago, the marquis of Tersian called Heinley to his office. ¨C I heard your sister and my son fought. Shouldn¡¯t we help them make up? Heinley looked at the Marquis with a cold face. Apparently, Richard turned to his father for help. He would do anything except apologise for what he did wrong. ¨C It¡¯s a problem that the parties concerned will solve. ¨C Don¡¯t be so stiff. Even though Heinley refused at once, the Marquis repeatedly forced the topic of Lilia and Richard to mediate reconciliation. But Heinley was not shaken. As he continued to be strict, the Marquis escalated, perhaps because he was disgusted. ¨C I even closed my eyes to such an article being published in the tabloid. Do the Blodens look down on our family? Marquis of Tersion, who values authority and prestige, seemed to have been very hurt. Since then, he has changed his attitude. He began to ignore him openly and put heavy work on him. It was never a workload for one person to do. He also protested, but the Marquis of Tersion made it clearthat he would reduce it if Lilia and Richard reconciled. Even if he was overworked, he wouldn¡¯t let Lilia and Richard connect, so he accepted the work. ¡®I can¡¯t let my family know¡­¡­.¡¯ It was a problem that could not be solved even if the family knew. This was because the influence of the Marquis of Tersion in the imperial palace was great. And his parents would push him to take over the business at this point. Above all, he was worried that LIlia would blame herself. Heinley decided to hide. But don¡¯t think he would just be defeated with this. Heinley was collecting evidence step by step alone. About the undue harassment of the Marquis of Tersion, and the corruption he commits. He would wait patiently and expose it splendidly when the time comes. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Thump, The pen¡¯s nib was broken. There was a moment of silence at the sound. Heinley took out a new pen tip and put it in with an okay face. Looking at the growing number of broken pen nibs, Heinley thought, I want to throw it at Richard¡¯s face as if it was a dart. ¡°Whew¡­..¡± His eyes were stiff because he looked at too many documents. He took off his glasses for a moment and pressed his forehead. Lilia¡¯s portrait caught his eye. As he was frowning, Heinley loosened his forehead and looked at the portrait quietly. Lilia in her childhood was smiling brightly. He reached out without realizing it and smoothed the portrait. They were on good terms back then¡­¡­. It was when their parents were busy, and because of the age difference, he had no choice but to adore her. So Heinley had spent time with Lilia, delaying his admission to the academy a little. Heinley, who was reminiscing about the old memories, muttered to himself. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re eating well¡­¡­.¡± She lost a lot of weight because of Richard, so she needs to eat well. The anger that had barely been quenched, rose. Heinley picked up the music box Lilia gave him to regain peace of mind. It was an orgel that he rarely watched because it was a waste for it to wear out. As he was fiddling, peace gradually came. Feeling fortunate to have brought the orgel, Heinley resumed his work.. Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Rebecca Evantheon Lilia simply had breakfast with black tea, bread, and fruit. When she sat in front of the desk wearing only a light slip dress, an employee put down a box containing letters. Checking the correspondence every morning was one of her routines. They poured out a lot every day, so she couldn¡¯t handle it if she skipped a day. It ranged from letters asking about how she was doing to requests, but most of them were birthday parties, banquets, and invitations to gatherings. Everyone was anxious to connect with Lilia even a little. Just because if they are considered close to the Blodens, their status will change. So they sent letters regardless of the status, but most of them were trash. ¡®It may seem heartless, but Lilia was now disillusioned with creating relationships with people. It was because she noticed how people suddenly changed when they heard her name. Lilia smiled bitterly. ¡®Is there anyone I can come up with now and make a pure friendship?¡¯ In the past, she thought she wanted to be friends with someone she likes. But she knew well that she couldn¡¯t do that now. No matter whom she had a relationship w the ending was betrayal. Even Richard pretended to love her for money. Because that, Lilia was reluctant to be deeply involy with others. Even if she could make a friend who really had intentions of a pure friendship, she would doubt them in the end. Is it a real friendship between us or did you create a friendship for money? She¡¯d rather have a simple master-slave relationship. Their loyalty would be linked with money from the start. So, Lilia treated them differently from people who did not work for her. The people inside Lilia¡¯s borders were fami and employees. Everyone else existed outside. However, these days, those borders were difficult to define. It was because of Karhan Evantheon. He hung vaguely on the fence Lilia made. It was not a master-slave relationship, but it was difficult to say that h was a friend. It was a transactional relationship, but wher she saw him, she wanted to help him purely She didn¡¯t know if it was because she saw him as a projection of herself from the past, or if it could be due to sympathy. However, i was clear that she did not want to stay away from him even if the deal was over. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to define it as.¡± Family, friends, employees, lovers¡­¡­ First of all, he was a fake lover now. At first, she didn¡¯t think much, but after she became conscious of it, the word lover felt strange fo no reason. Lilia¡¯s hand, who was classifying the letters, stopped for a while. A familiar name and pattern were engraved at the bottom of the envelope. It was sent by Karhan. Lilia opened the envelope and checked the letter paper. [My parents want to see you. If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d like to invite you to the Duchy.] Lilia put down the letter. Now it was her turn. *** The day has come when she decided to visit the Duchy of Evantheon. Lilia finished her decoration with a calm feeling. Instead, she focused hard on clothes, accessories, and shoes one by one. So that no one could ignore Lilia¡¯s attire. As she came down to the front door, she saw people with familiar blue and navy hair. It was Frances and Malek dressed more neatly than usual. The carriage on which Lilia climbed crossed the large garden and exited the mansion. As she was thinking about this and that, Malek quietly told her, ¡°Madam, it¡¯s the Duchy of Evantheon.¡± ¡°Already?¡± Lilia came to her senses and looked out the window. It was a great garden, although smaller than the Bloden family¡¯s, it gave a quiet and lonely feeling. The wagon across the garden stopped. With the help of Malek, Lilia, who got off the wagon, slowly looked up. The historic Evantheon Duchy came into view. The magnificent mansion held depth with the power of time. While looking at the building, Lilia found a man standing by the front door. ¡°Thank you for coming.¡± When Karhan greeted her first, Lilia replied with a large bouquet of flowers, ¡°Thank you for inviting me.¡± Karhan unexpectedly held a bouquet of flowers in his arms. It fit perfectly because it was a bouquet made according to his size. Karhan looked at the bouquet with very unfamiliar eyes. It seemed foreign, but he didn¡¯t seem to dislike it. ¡°Flowers¡­.it¡¯s my first time receiving it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my first time giving a present to a man, too.¡± Karhan was a little shaken by the words that it was her first time. ¡°When you came to my house last time, you gave me a bouquet of flowers. It¡¯s in return.¡± Karhan said thank you while fiddling with the bouquet. ¡°I¡¯ll guide you, so please come in.¡± Lilia followed Karhan inside. She climbed the stairs of the main hall and walked down the ¡®hallway. The window in the hallway was small and narrow, so there was not much sunlight. Because of that, the interior was a little dark, and the wallpaper and decorations were also calmly colored. The Evantheon mansion, which felt solemn and heavy, was the opposite of the bright and eye-catching Bloden mansion. Walking, through a very quiet hallway, Lilia asked, ¡°What about Tession?¡± ¡°¡­..He¡¯s working in my room.¡± Karhan, who answered a beat late, continued, ¡°And my father is out because he has urgent business. I think you¡¯ll only see my mother today.¡± Karhan apologized for not telling her in advance. She thought it would be a little too much to deal with the ducal couple alone at the same time, so she thought it was better. As he was walking in the hallway, he stopped in front of a room. Karhan said, putting his hand on the doorknob, ¡°My mother is waiting here.¡± His voice was stiff as if he were nervous. Rather, it felt strange because it was stiffer than when he came to the Bloden mansion. Looking at the closed door for a while, Lilia slowly exhaled. She was nervous to meet the Duchess. In fact, she was in a position that she could not be welcomed. It was like coming to break the engagement just before it took place. ¡±I don¡¯t think she will slap me in the face for seducing her good son¡­¡­ What if she hands over a bundle of money and tells her to break up with him? Then should she say no because she already has enough? Lilia wrote a novel in her head. Anyway, it was too late to go back. ¡°I¡¯m going in.¡± When Karhan turned the doorknob, the inside of the drawing room was revealed. A woman sat in the center of the neatly arranged drawing room. She was an elegant woman with dark brown hair. Lilia could tell that she was the Duchess of Evantheon without anyone telling her. Overall, she didn¡¯t recognize her, but if she ooked at her traits individually, there are a ot of similarities to Karhan. As she looked quickly, she made eye contact with her. Welcome.¡± As if she had waited very long, the Duchess tood up with a big smile. She came straight Lilia. Was it hard to get here?¡± was very favorable to ask gently. Lilia linked at the unexpected hospitality. If it weren¡¯t for the cheeks, I think she¡¯d have aptized me with tea¡­¡­. ¨C she being nice to her because he¡¯s next to er? Otherwise, she couldn¡¯t think of any eason to be so good to her. It was strange, ut Lilia accepted it without showing it. Thanks to you, I was able to arrive omfortably. This is our first greeting, I¡¯m lia Bloden.¡± ve heard about you. I¡¯m Rebecca wantheon.¡± ebecca quickly looked through Lilia. Her utfit was not colorful, but it was only worn th the finest quality from head to toe. Er gaze briefly stayed at Lilia¡¯s diamond ecklace. It was a necklace that was eviously sold at the highest price ever at auction. After confirming Lilia¡¯s value, the rners of her mouth widened into a bigger nile. et¡¯s sit here.¡± hen Rebecca recommended a seat, Lilia topposite. However, even though eryone sat down, Karhan stood tall. eling strange, Lilia looked up at Karhan. t down, too.¡± ly then did Karhan sit down. it because he is nervous?¡± nsidering that, he looked a little different m usual. Lilia gaze was drawn from -han and she stared at the table. There he high-quality refreshments on the table. -as obvious that they cared about teacups dishes. a put an elongated box down on the table. grained wooden box was adorned with bons of velvet and gold thread. small, but it¡¯s in return for the invitation.¡± en Rebecca showed interest in the box, opened her mouth, a wine produced by my family, and it¡¯s in exactly 100 years this year since it was de. I was originally planning to deliver it to imperial family, but wanted to give it to neone more important.¡± ecca¡¯s smile deepened at Lilia¡¯s words. It an immeasurable gift. Rebecca mmended tea after telling the employee eep the gift well. ard that you two are dating.¡± ecca, holding a teacup, looked at Lilia tly. w did you meet him?¡± 1 in love at first sight at the banquet.¡± ecca¡¯s eyes narrowed when she gave an Jer that she had fretted over several 5. They were eyes that were focused on suring her authenticity. For her, she I have needed to find out if this onship was true. In order to welcome she had to let Stella go, the best fish nad caught seemed to have a hard time being ved. Lilia turned her head toward an. At that time, Karhan carefully ned out toward Lilia. ngertips were shaking a little. Lilia diately grabbed his hand. Fingers dug by little and intertwined. His pulse bounding from their clasped hands. It eating so loudly that it flowed to her arm¡­¡­¡¯ nerves headed to the hand. Karhan¡¯s remained with Lilia¡¯s palm wrapped 4. Come to think of it, they had crossed so far, but never held hands. It felt Even though it was a contractual nship, it felt like they were really Chapter 40 Raising My Fianc¨¦ With Money Chapter 40 Hopeless TL: Jasmine Rebecca¡¯s gaze headed to the clasped hand. Lilia suddenly wondered what kind of expression Karhan had. However, she couldn¡¯t see Karhan because she was looking at Rebecca¡¯s face. The light of doubt disappeared from Rebecca¡¯s eyes, But just in case, she didn¡¯t let go of Karhan¡¯s hand. ¡°You like him.¡± Rebecca lifted the teacup and whispered, ¡°You may already know, but there have been talks of engagement with the Delotta family going back and forth. But continuously¡­¡­ I¡¯ve been putting it off because I was apprehensive about it.¡± Lilia recalled what Stella had said when she came to her last time. ¨C And the Duchess of Evantheon is on my side. Stella believed that the Duchess was on her side, but it didn¡¯t seem to be true. Stella seemed to have already been erased from the Duchess¡¯s mind. Stella¡¯s personality would have been difficult for the Duchess to handle. Come to think of it, she suddenly thought it was strange. ¡°Why was it Stella?¡¯ There was also no feeling of love between Karhan and Stella. The Evantheon family would have been able to pursue engagement with a better family, but she wondered why they chose Stella. ¡°Were they going to do business together?¡¯ Anyway, things were going better than she thought, She didn¡¯t know why, but the Duchess favoured her now. But¡­¡­ She couldn¡¯t get rid of the feeling of something uncomfortable. ¡°By the way, I heard that the young lady has a fiance.¡± Lilia straightened up. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m going to break up my marriage. But they don¡¯t want to let me go.¡± After briefly explaining the situation, Lilia drew a line that the relationship was completely over. ¡°Did you say your fiance is Richard Tersian?¡± She seemed to have been investigated in advance. As Lilia nodded, she knocked silently on the table as if lost in thought. ¡°I hope it¡¯ll be resolved soon.¡± It wasn¡¯t direct help, but this was enough for now When the conversation died off, silence hovered around the table. Rebecca, who was drinking tea silently, put down the teacup. The sound of hitting ceramics broke the silence. ¡°He used to get into trouble when he was a kid.¡± Karhan was a troublemaker¡­ she couldn¡¯t imagine, Lilia looked at Karhan. These days, various facial expressions have been revealed, but she couldn¡¯t tell what he was thinking as of now. Rebecca remained smiling and talked about this and that. ¡°No matter how much trouble he caused, I wondered if there was anyone who could handle that personality¡­¡­¡± It was like a joke to lighten the atmosphere, but the gap grew bigger as she heard it. Only then did Lilia realize why she kept feeling uncomfortable. From the moment she entered the drawing room, Rebecca never paid attention to Karhan. ¡°So when are you going to have an engagement ceremony?¡± Lilia moved away from her thoughts and quickly straightened her head. ¡°I want to hold your wedding right away, but I think it¡¯ll be too hasty¡­..¡± Wedding. Lilia opened her lips without realizing it. ¡°I think we should set the date for the engagement ceremony first. What do you think?¡± Lilia was embarrassed by the unexpected proposal. ¡®Did you like me that much? Considering that¡­¡­. Lilia felt dazed. The Duchess was like a merchant trying to sell goods quickly before the value fell. ¡°It¡¯s the engagement of the successor¡­¡­ Isn¡¯t that too hasty?¡¯ Lilia glanced at Karhan. She and Karhan were in a oneyear contractual relationship. It was only a deal signed to safely break down the engagements with each other¡¯s fiance by pretending to be the new fianc¨¦. They were going to break up after pretending to be dating, but now it was becoming an engagement. As she pondered whether to give her roughly thought, out excuse, Karhan opened his mouth for the first time. ¡°¡­¡­The young lady hasn¡¯t broken up with her fiance yet, so it would be too much to set a date right away.¡± It was a calm voice as usual. However, the end was shaking slightly like a wet leaf in the rain and wind, Rebecca¡¯s gaze headed for Karhan for the first time, Lilia also looked toward Karhan. The clear blue eyes fluttered like waves. Facing Rebecca¡¯s gaze, Karhan looked like a sailor who was witnessing a huge tsunami. Yet even standing with fear, he did not avoid Rebecca¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m thinking about it within this year.¡± Lilia said calmly. Rebecca, who removed her gaze from Karhan, stared at Lilia. ¡°It would be better to have a meeting with each family after the breakup¡­ I will prioritize the will of the Duchess.¡± Lilia secretly presented her opinion, pretending to give Rebecca the right to decide. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Rebecca, who seemed lost in thought for a moment, nodded. ¡°I guess I was too hasty. Because I like the young lady so much.¡± She looked as if she were looking at a high-profit investment product. Soon she smiled and raised herself from her seat. ¡°I have matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll get going. Stay comfortable as you go back.¡± After whispering softly to Lilia, Rebecca left the drawing room without acknowledging Karhan. Only the sound of the door closing filled the silent room. Looking back on Rebecca¡¯s attitude, Lilia realized that one hand became very warm. ¡°You were surprised that I held your hand all of a sudden, weren¡¯t you?¡± I¡¯m sorry, and when Lilia loosened her strength from his hand, her finger slipped out. Karhan just looked down at his palm. It seemed like a lie that their fingers were intertwined. ¡°I didn¡¯t know she would already talk about engagement.¡± She said she hadn¡¯t thought of it, and Lilia narrowed her forehead and released it. First of all, she thought she had to think of an excuse to postpone their engagement as much as possible. There was a short silence, and Karhan raised himself first. ¡°¡­. Would you like to see the duchy?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like that.¡± The two, who left the drawing room, walked down the hallway. ¡°It¡¯s nothing much compared to the Bloden mansion.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a nice enough mansion.¡± The Duke of Evantheon¡¯s scale and splendor were inferior to that of Bloden¡¯s mansion, but there was a profound atmosphere that only the old mansion could give. As she walked down the hallway, employees appeared one by one. But they passed by as if they hadn¡¯t noticed Karhan. She thought they were avoiding him because he had a fierce impression, but that didn¡¯t seem to be the case. As with the Duchess¡¯ attitude earlier, Karhan was like a stranger here. He wasn¡¯t welcomed either¡­¡­ like a plague. Lilia¡¯s steps slowed down little by little. Karhan, who was walking a step ahead, passed the hallway where the stairs were placed. Lilia, who was following, stopped at the end of the stairs that stretched down. The portrait hanging on the wall filled her sight. Three people were contained in a huge portrait. The Duchess she had met earlier and a middle-aged man were sitting in the funeral chair. And behind him stood a young man. Checking the man¡¯s face, Lilia paused for a moment. ¡°Lilia?¡± Karhan realized that Lilia was not following and turned around. He hardened after confirming what Lilia was looking at. It was a family portrait where only Karhan did not exist. ¡°¡­¡­ They drew it when I was on the battlefield.¡± Karhan muttered as if making excuses. Lilia looked up at the young man in the portrait. Like the Duchess, he was a man with dark brown hair. Not much like Karhan, he smiled confidently. ¡°That is my brother.¡± Lilia suddenly recalled one of the rumors surrounding Karhan. -Because of ambition, he drove out his brother and took the successor¡¯s position. Now that she knew Karhan¡¯s personality, she couldn¡¯t believe the rumor. Rather, it could be that the family forcibly handed over the successor¡¯s position, but she didn¡¯t know. ¨C It seemed like you trust each other so much¡­. It seemed like you are all united. This was what Karhan said when he visited the Count¡¯s mansion before. She guessed something must have happened with his family¡­., maybe he is marginalized by his family? ¡°Is there any place to sit and talk?¡± ¡°Will you go to my room?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to see it.¡± Lilia walked down the hallway under the guidance of Karhan. They arrived at the end of the quietest and darkest hallway. No matter how she looked at it, she didn¡¯t think this would be a room for the successor Karhan stopped in front of the room. And when he opened the door, bright light was pushed out, revealing a space that was neither small nor large. They only opened one door and came in, but the world seemed to have changed. It was quite different from the solemn but gloomy atmosphere of the Duchy. It was a neat yet friendly room. Karhan immediately brought the chair he had put away in the corner. Sitting down, Lilia looked around and stared at Karhan. There were many things she wanted to ask. Lilia, who was thinking about how to start talking, recalled what the Duchess had said. ¡°Karhan, were you a troublemaker when you were young?¡± I can¡¯t imagine, Lilia said with a smile. Then Karhan lowered his eyes as if recalling the past. ¡°Probably, I guess so.¡± ¡°What kind of accidents did you make?¡± ¡°Just¡­ Forgetting it¡¯s meal time and staying stuck in the study, digging in the corner of the garden¡­..¡± What kind of troublemaker is that? Since childhood, Lilia has been playing with the sword that her mother cherishes and breaking expensive ceramics. There were times when she scribbled on bedclothes and wallpaper or floated toys in a pond. Nevertheless, Lilia¡¯s parents never said she was a troublemaker. ¡°Why did the duchess say you are a troublemaker?¡± When she asked because she didn¡¯t really understand, Karhan replied with his eyes down. ¡°That¡¯s because¡­ I¡¯m hopeless.¡± Chapter 41 Raising My Fianc¨¦ With Money Chapter 41 My Heart TL: Jasmine At Karhan¡¯s words, Lilia stiffened in an instant. Then she got up from her seat and shouted. ¡°Can¡¯t believe you are hopeless!! Then everyone in the world would be garbage!¡± Karhan shrugged his shoulders without realizing it. ¡°Where else can I meet a good man like you?¡± Although she hadn¡¯t known him for a long time, Lilia knew Karhan¡¯s good-naturedness. Even when he was misunderstood, he steadfastly helped others. He was such a good person that it was frustrating to watch. ¡°¡­¡­ The only person who says I am good is Lilia.¡± ¡°No. My eyes are pretty accurate.¡± Lilia, who had said that much, added, ¡°Except for Richard Tersian.¡± Back then, she was head over heels for him. Richard pretended to love her and threw her bait, and she picked it up and ate it without realizing it. Suddenly feeling bad, Lilia shook her head and said, ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re a really nice person to me, so don¡¯t say that.¡± ¡°You¡¯re undermining my eyes.¡± Karhan¡¯s face, who had been silently listening, became softer. Good person. The word penetrated deep into his heart. Karhan wanted to be a good person, but he felt he had failed. Even Tession would say that he was not good, but foolish. Negative words that had been frozen for a long time slowly melted away. The moment Lilia acknowledged it, he seemed to have become a really good person. ¡°Do you know how crazy I was when I was a kid?¡± Lilia began to talk, saying it was a secret to others. ¡°I was reading a book, and there was a scene where twenty ships were launched. As soon as I read it, wanted to copy it.¡± So, Lilia took all her toy boats and tried to float them in her back garden pond. Toys made of gold or silver sank, and the rest floated like lotus leaves. Later, her parents saw it and told her, ¨C From now on, we¡¯ll let the real ship float. Recalling that time, Lilia spoke her words. ¡°I left them alone for a while, and then it rained so much that it eventually all sank.¡± She was so young that she had no idea that she was accidentally creating misadventures. In addition to that, Lilia told him one story after another. Making the kitchen covered with flour after making a fuss about cooking. Doodling on her father¡¯s beloved masterpiece¡­.. ¡°It was a disaster when I started walking, huh?¡± The corners of Karhan¡¯s eyes, who had been listening quietly, loosened. His eyes slowly lowered and turned to Lilia. He looked at Lilia without knowing what expression he was making. ¡°Anyway¡­¡­I think the Duchess misunderstood.¡± At Lilia¡¯s words, Karhan came to his senses. ¡°You¡¯re a family, but there are a lot of things you all don¡¯t know about each other.¡± Lilia, who thought Karhan was being alienated by his family, said cautiously. Karhan, in particular, must have been out on the battlefield for a long time and had little time to spend with his family. In addition, after beating the eldest son and becoming the successor, he might have become more uncomfortable. ¡°If there¡¯s anything I can do for you, just tell me.¡± It¡¯s a family thing, so it¡¯s difficult to actively intervene, but Lilia said she would help if she could. Karhan glanced at Lilia like that. After a while he opened his mouth. ¡°¡­¡­.I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re helping me.¡± From their first meeting until now, Lilia has always helped Karhan. Lilia was the first person to help out like this with no cost. Not knowing what kind of answer he would get, Karhan was a little nervous. And Lilia replied with an uncaring tone, ¡°It¡¯s only natural since we are on the same boat.¡± When Lilia mentioned their contract relationship, his heart pounded. A numb sensation ran down to his fingers. Karhan unknowingly clenched his fist. It was a natural answer, but what did he want¡­. (To hear) Karhan imagined what would happen if Lilia suddenly found out that he was abandoned by his family and that he was an empty shell successor. Will Lilia still treat me well? He wondered if he should be honest now. Karhan raised his head to face Lilia. Clear purple eyes looked back at him. He became unable to say anything. He didn¡¯t want to see those eyes tinged with disappointment. Karhan already knew how sweet Lilia¡¯s warmth was. The sense of loss he had felt when he didn¡¯t know warmth compared to losing it after knowing how it felt was as different as heaven and earth. He was only holding onto Lilia¡¯s hem. If Lilia shook it, he had no choice but to fall off. Then he would no longer be able to stand back up. Karhan rolled his eyes. Contrary to what Lilia said, he wasn¡¯t a good person. (T/N: because he can¡¯t confess about his family issues) ¡°Karhan, what¡¯s wrong?¡± As Lilia worried that his expression looked serious, Karhan slowly lifted his eyelids. Ignoring the numb feeling in his chest, he relaxed his expression ¡°I was thinking about something else for a while.¡± Karhan stood up and said. ¡°I¡¯ll show you around the room.¡± The space where Lilia and Karhan were now was a drawing room connected to the hallway. There were three more doors around the drawing room. ¡°That room is a bedroom and the other side is used as an office.¡± In fact, it was common for successors to have their offices completely separate. Heinley also had a separate bedroom and office. ¡°How about the rest of the room?¡± ¡°It¡¯s storage.¡± It was also the first time that a bedroom and a storage room were shared. It seemed that Karhan was not being treated properly at the Duke¡¯s residence ¡®If you had lived in our house, we would have given you an entire floor altogether.¡¯ As she thought about that, Lilia found something she was familiar with. It was the item that she had recommended at the music box store directly that day. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the gift I suggested?¡± ¡°That is¡­¡­¡± Karhan looked around with an awkward face. ¡°Actually, I bought it because I wanted to have one for a long time¡­¡­But it doesn¡¯t match my appearance.¡± Karhan confessed the truth. The man who had been standing around in front of the music box store before came to mind. Lilia said, thinking it was cute for some reason, ¡°If there¡¯s anything you want next time, just tell me.¡± Simply speaking, she could fill the room with music boxes. Lilia looked around the room again. She didn¡¯t see many expensive things either, perhaps he was on the frugal side. A paper box containing books, bouquets, and desserts¡­.. Lilia, who looked around his room carefully, realized. This place was full of the things she had given him as a gift. It was nothing special, but seeing everything neatly stored made her feel weird. I¡¯m tired of thinking about Richard, I¡¯ll throw him away soon.¡¯ Lilia shook her head. She was subconsciously comparing Richard and Karhan. She¡¯s not even in a real relationship. After looking around her, a tightly closed wardrobe caught her eye. ¡°Did you hide all your clothes?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t feel like going through my clothes for some reason¡­¡­ Karhan quickly added an excuse. Still, he opened the closet saying that he had put his old clothes inside. The bright clothes were the first thing she saw. There were also dark colored clothes hanging all over. The old clothes were towards the end. The designs were popular almost a decade ago. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen this design.¡± Lilia was so happy that she pulled out a pair of clothes without realizing it. It was a banquet dress that was popular in the past. Lilia paused for a moment as she looked at his clothes. One of the neatly packed buttons was missing. It looked familiar, so it was time to take a closer look. At the sound of a knock, Lilia and Karhan turned their heads at the same time. ¡°Miss.¡± It was Malek¡¯s voice. It must have been late, so he had come to pick her up. Lilia said as she hung up his clothes again, ¡°I think I have to go now.¡± ¡°I will see you off.¡± Lilia and Karhan came out into the hallway. France Malek, and Tession were in the hallway. Lilia was happy and greeted Tession. ¡°I thought I wasn¡¯t going to see you today.¡± ¡°I thought I had to say hello, so I rushed out of work.¡± Tession replied with a smile. Lilia and Karhan walked down the hallway side by side, followed by the other three. The long hallway seemed unusually short. Suddenly, Lilia arrived at the front door. It was now night time, so it was a bit cold, causing her shoulders to tremble, and Karhan took off his coat. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m going to ride the wagon now.¡± ¡°Still, it can get cold while you go¡­¡­¡± She was a little worried about refusing his sincerity, but Karhan whispered ¡°Please return it next time.¡± Lilia blinked her eyes quietly, he asked, ¡°¡­¡­. Can¡¯t we make an excuse to meet again?¡± In an instant, all the thoughts in her head were erased. Her quiet heart started beating a little faster ¡®Did he learn from love books?¡¯ He was really a quick learner. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll bring it to you next time. ¡°It looks like it¡¯s going to fall down, so I¡¯ll button it up.¡± Then his long fingers slid the buttons shut. Lilia looked down at the jacket. There was quite a difference in size, and she seemed to be buried in his coat. In particular, the sleeves were so long that her fingers were not visible. Karhan, who took a step away, was silent for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s really big when you are wearing it.¡± Lilia laughed softly. She felt as if she stole her father¡¯s clothes. As the wind blew, the cool scent of his clothes tickled the tip of her nose. It was as if she was being hugged by him. Lilia got into her carriage and Tession and Karhan told her their farewells. ¡°Thank you for coming today.¡± Lilia looked at the servants as they stood at a distance and beckoned to him. As Karhan stepped forward, Lilia reached out her hand. ¡°Good night. Karhan.¡± She gently embraced Karhan with her arms and whispered. Her arm slowly fell away from the stiffened Karhan. The sound of the door closing was heard. Until then, Karhan did not move. Soon the wagon departed and gradually moved away from sight. ¡°Mr. Karhan, you should get going now¡­¡­¡± Tession spoke gently, but he paused. Karhan¡¯s expression was strange. They had been together for a long time, but it was the first time he had seen him like this. ¡°Mr. Karhan?¡± The sound of his heart beating deafened his ears. As if drowning in water, the sound around him faded away, This happened last time too. It was a rainy day, when he shared an umbrella with Lilia. Karhan muttered while chasing the carriage that had already disappeared from sight. ¡°My heart¡­¡­ It hurts¡­¡­¡± Hik, Teshion took a deep breath. ¡°Is there a heart problem? Your face is a little red too¡­¡­¡± Tession shouted with a very serious face, ¡°I¡¯m calling the doctor right now!¡± Is it¡­¡­? Karhan tilted his head slowly, then grabbed Tession¡¯s hand and dragged him inside. Chapter 42 Raising My Fianc¨¦ With Money Chapter 42 Coin Thank you Pamwilliams for the donation TL: Jasmine A few days have passed since she went to the Duchy of Evantheon. Lilia, who had been spending time in the mansion, decided to go out after a long time. Lilia dressed up simply and left the mansion with Frances and Malek. First, she stopped by the bank and did her business, and then visited the orgel store. It was enough to line up the same as before, but the store was still crowded. When Lilia came in the newly selected clerk greeted brightly. ¡°Hello, boss!¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while. How¡¯s work these days?¡± ¡°I think I¡¯m definitely less busy than last month.¡± The clerk replied cheerfully, saying that it seems to be because there was no special anniversary this month, ¡°Tell me whenever you need anything.¡± ¡°Yes, boss. I¡¯ll go back to stock and organize.¡± Lilia smiled happily. She thought she should give him a bonus with a vacation sooner or later. Lilia, who was looking at things mixed with other customers, picked up an orgel. Naturally, Karhan came to mind. ¡°¡­¡­I don¡¯t even know what kind of music he likes.¡± Come to think of it, she didn¡¯t know much about Karhan¡¯s taste. Except that he likes vegetables over meat and prefers sweet drinks¡­¡­. She thought it would be better to come and choose next time together. Lilia left the store and went around the shopping district. It was not for shopping purposes, but to find out what was popular these days. After thinking about wanting to continue the family business, Lilia was studying little by little. Taking a business class was a good way to do it, but she thought seeing and hearing it in person was also a way of studying. ¡®There¡¯s a line over there every day.¡¯ In front of the restaurant, people lined up like ants. She expanded the store several times, but she still had to wait a long time to enter. ¡°It would be nice to give them a branch after teaching the recipe. Clothing stores and stores selling goods often have branches, but in the case of restaurants, it was considered better to have few. As with the problem of capital, it was because of their reluctance to leak recipes. Lilia, who was walking around the street studying hard, stopped for a while. The cuff buttons displayed over the store window stood out. The blue sapphire was similar to the color of Karhan¡¯s eyes. For a moment, she imagined Karhan wearing the cuff button. It felt very sophisticated. ¡®If it stands out, I should buy it.¡¯ Lilia did not hesitate to enter the store. Listening to the greeting of the store owner, Lilia pointed to the cuff button. ¡°Can you wrap that cuff button for me?¡± While packing, Lilia looked around the store. She came in without knowing what store it was, but it seemed to be a high-end miscellaneous store that entrusted and sold goods made by craftsmen. There was quite a price range, but the quality looked good. Lilia looked around the store because she wanted to give a gift to Heinley, who Tooked busy these days. While choosing a practical one, a pen caught her eye, It looked sleek and elegant. ¡°It¡¯s made by a recognized craftsman, and we can engrave it today.¡± (T/N: It means that pen can have an engraved name) The owner, who noticed Lilia was looking at the pen, said covertly. Hearing that, she couldn¡¯t help but buy ¡°Give me that, too.¡± ¡°Thank you. The engraving takes a while, so please come and pick it up later.¡± After a round of satisfactory shopping, Lilia left the store. She was going to spend some time until the imprint was over. ¡°Both of you, do you need anything?¡± Lilia asked Frances and Malek. They both shook their heads at the same time. Most things could be obtained within the Count¡¯s mansion. Frances opened his mouth with a face that he remembered it belatedly, ¡°Oh, I need a practice wooden sword.¡± ¡°Wooden sword?¡± ¡°Yes, the ones that were made last time are a little uncomfortable.¡± As his height grew, so did his hands, said Frances. He already had a coming-of-age ceremony, but it seems like he was still growing up, definitely bigger than last year. ¡°Come to think of it, it seems like you often go to the gym these days.¡± ¡°There will be an escort selection contest soon, so have to work hard.¡± When Frances answered, clenching his fists, Lilia was a little startled. I remember it like it was just yesterday, but is it that time already?¡¯ Once a year, a selection contest was held at the House of Count Bloden. It was a contest to select Lilia¡¯s escort knight, and it was an honorable place that only one person could occupy. The winner was able to become Lilia¡¯s exclusive escort for one year, so all the Knights of the Bloden family participated in the selection contest. As the competition was fierce, at this time of year, everyone was on fire with fighting spirit. And Frances always wins, keeping Lilia¡¯s escort position. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to go and put in an order for a wooden sword too.¡± It was a clear conclusion. The three headed straight for the weapons workshop. Lilia, who had entrusted several wooden swords for practice, glanced at the sword hanging from Frances¡¯s waist and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you need to change that sword?¡± ¡°It can still be of use!¡± Frances grabbed the sword so that it wouldn¡¯t be taken away. The black sword was the first gift given by Lilia, which he always kept in his arms, never letting go of it. The blade became thinner because of the constant grinding and the handle was peeled off. It was an outstanding and great sword, but it couldn¡¯t beat practicing with a new one. ¡°People might think I¡¯m not even paying you.¡± Lilia joked. Then Frances¡¯ navy eyes shook. Frances, who was agonizing over it, asked Malek secretly, ¡°Brother, does my sword look that old?¡± ¡°Very much.¡± Malek was very honest. Eventually, after much consideration, Frances decided to fit a new sword, ¡°I¡¯m going to hold a black sword retirement ceremony.¡± He hugged the sword. It may be said to be unusual, but no one laughed because they knew how much Frances cared for the sword. ¡°Don¡¯t you need anything Malek?¡± ¡°It hasn¡¯t been long since I ordered something, so I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to participate in the selection contest anyway.¡± Frances grumbled a little. As he said, Malek was able to get the position of Lilia¡¯s escort knight without going to the preliminary round. His skills are also good, but he was recognized for the contributions he had, after serving Lilia since she was a little kid. ¡°I¡¯m going to win fair and square.¡± Frances was full of enthusiasm. Lilia and Malek cheered for him to work hard. After finishing all the business, the three walked along the river trail. Since the destination has not been decided, they walked aimlessly. As she chatted for a long time, she didn¡¯t even notice when people were becoming rare. The smooth roads and houses disappeared little by little by little. Then, she saw shabby buildings that seemed as though they would collapse at any moment. It was the entrance to the slums. ¡°Lady.¡± Malek quietly called for Lilia. It was a light warning not to go in any further. The slums were unsafe, so they had to be vigilant and careful. Lilia stopped at the entrance and turned her head to look at Frances. Frances stared into the slum without saying a word. Shade where the sun does not shine, streets littered with all kinds of garbage, and houses stacked together like beehives. This was the place where Frances was born and lived long ago. Now, he has become so clean that he doesn¡¯t fit in with this street, but the first Frances she met was a scruffy kid. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for the young lady, I would still be living there right now.¡± Frances said to himself as he touched the scabbard around his waist for nothing. As if he remembered the past, his eyes narrowed a little. The darkened eyes suddenly became bright again. ¡°Lady, let¡¯s go.¡± After finishing his recollection, Frances opened his mouth first. As the three of them turned, little children ran out from inside the slum. The kids, who looked like siblings, looked very excited. ¡°I¡¯m going to buy a lot of bread!¡± At the child¡¯s cry, Lilia looked over there. At that moment, the girl who was running with exhilaration twisted her feet and fell over. Lilia saw her coin rolling out from the palm of the little girl¡¯s hand. The coin quickly fell into the sewer. ¡°Sister! Are you okay?¡± A startled boy hurriedly approached her. The girl didn¡¯t even care that her knee was hurt and checked her empty palm first. ¡°My coin!¡± Not seeing that it had gone into the sewer, the two children fell to the floor and started looking for the coin. No matter how much they looked, they couldn¡¯t see it, so they cried. Frances, who watched them all, clenched his fist. He knew the realities of the slums better than anyone. The lost coins must have been valuable money to buy food. Then Lilia approached the children. ¡°Is this what you are looking for?¡± In Lilia¡¯s hand was a shiny gold coin. The children who saw a gold coin for the first time shook their heads. ¡°Actually, I just picked up this coin. I needed a smaller coin, so can I exchange yours for this?¡± ¡°I was going to buy our bread¡­¡­¡± The boy hesitated and said. He didn¡¯t know that gold coins could buy more bread. ¡°Then let¡¯s exchange this for bread and get smaller coins.¡± The children looked at each other¡¯s faces. They soon nodded because their purpose matched. Lilia took the children to a nearby bakery. Perhaps because it was a bakery close to the slum, it was not as prosperous as a downtown area. Still, it had some variety from rye bread to syrup-coated piece cakes. The children, who were hesitant, looked at the bread on the shelves. The siblings swallowed their saliva at the sight of white and wheat bread. After hesitating for a long time, the cheapest oat bread was chosen The money for a single wheat loaf could buy four oat loaves. ¡°Come on, eat whatever you want.¡± Lilia, who was watching, held out a tray. And as a demonstration, a lot of white wheat bread was put in. The surprised girl muttered, ¡°White bread is expensive¡­¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Lilia said, picking up the most expensive piece of cake in the store. ¡°I have a lot of money.¡± The children opened their mouths wide at the same time. Chapter 43 Raising My Fianc¨¦ With Money Chapter 43 Always TL: Jasmine Lilia began to build the tower with bread as if proving what she had just said. The boy, who was watching as if possessed, suddenly shouted as if he remembered, ¡°I need to buy bread!¡± ¡°Bread?¡± ¡°It¡¯s for my sister.¡± When Lilia made a face asking why it had to be bread, the hesitating boy replied, ¡°My oldest sister¡­ She draws pictures.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Lilia picked up a piece of bread without asking any more. It was like drawing a picture using coal. She thought she would have a lot of trouble drawing in the slums, but she was too nosy to pay attention to that. After filling three trays, the calculation was completed. The children were seated at a table prepared in the store and bread and cake were squeezed in. She also ordered a drink to prevent indigestion. The siblings must have been very hungry, so they ate the bread without breathing. Then she (child) repeatedly admired that it was delicious. ¡°It¡¯s more delicious if you rip it apart.¡± Frances taught her how to eat bread. Malek quietly left the store and bought medicine at Lilia¡¯s request. It was an ointment applied to wounds. Lilia applied medicine to the girl¡¯s thin knees. She frowned at the sting and flinched, but she was calm because she was distracted by eating. After some time, the tray was empty, and the brother and sister¡¯s stomach became full. Lilia said, putting the remaining bread in the children¡¯s hands, ¡°If you¡¯re hungry from now on, come to this store.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± The children who thanked them rushed away. The siblings who got bread looked happy as if they had received the whole world. Lilia smiled lightly as she watched them go back. She thought it was a good thing she didn¡¯t give the money, This was because it was not possible to know what kind of person the brother and sister¡¯s guardian was, No one could guarantee what anger losing the money would cause. All Lilia could do was keep the children from going hungry. ¡°I wish we could meet again¡­¡­.! Lilia got up from her seat. In the past, when she didn¡¯t know anything, she took them one by one to her house. Frances was brought to the mansion as well. But now, Lilia knew. There¡¯s no end to it. Lilia could not reap all the slums. It was because even if it started in a good way, it always ended badly. And they blamed Lilia for not helping, or their parents asked for more money from their children. No matter how much she donated and helped, poverty did not disappear. Even if the Bloden family comes forward and eradicates the slums, poverty is born elsewhere. Just as life and death coexist, poverty and wealth are inseparable. These children were just lucky. Like a person who suddenly won a lottery. Lilia left the store after leaving enough money to the bakery owner. ¡°Shall we get the pen now?¡± If she went now, she thought the time would be right. Lilia, who left the slum, visited the store and found the pen. Even the engraving felt special as if it were the only one in the world. ¡°Let¡¯s go back home now.¡± Lilia got straight into the carriage and headed home. The day was already coming to an end because the outing was longer than she thought. Lilia, who was looking at the crimson sunset burning in the sky, recalled Richard. She often thought of Richard even if she didn¡¯t want to, but these days, it was much less. A lot of Richard seemed to have been washed away in her daily life. ¡°Isn¡¯t it too quiet?¡¯ Seeing that he had yet to give consent to the breakup, he seemed to have been up to something. In the meantime, Lilia was looking for a weakness in which Richard had no choice but to accept the breakup. A few came to mind, but they were all weak. She needed a shot to push him to the corner. ¡®If she broke up the engagement safely¡­¡­ She will make sure it is impossible for him to step into her life again. Lilia, immersed in thought, recalled what the Duchess had said. ¨C I think we should set the date for the engagement ceremony first, what do you think? Lilia brought in Evantheon to break up the marriage safely with Richard. This was because she needed a shield in case he retaliated. When she suggested a contract relationship, she thought Karhan was about to get engaged to Stella because he lacked assertiveness. So she thought if she instilled confidence and taught him how to voice his opinion, he could end his relationship neatly at the end of her contract. However, contrary to expectations, Karhan was too weak in the Duke¡¯s family even though he was the successor. The engagement story brought up by the Duchess this time also felt like coercion, not a proposal. It was not a matter of only fixing his personality. ¡°Can I break up safely in a year?¡¯ She thought she might really get engaged to Karhan while trying to avoid Richard. In fact, Karhan himself would be a great husband. He had a little bit of a pushover-like personality, but he was a good person and a man who would become a Duke in the future. It¡¯s not that she didn¡¯t like him. If she had to pick one, it was close to attraction. However, Lilia was no longer confident in liking someone sincerely. She pretended to be okay and forgot everything, but the wound created by Richard¡¯s betrayal was deeper than she thought. It was so scary to even look back at it that she turned a blind eye to it. Even if she started a new love, she would hesitate because of the wounds she received from Richard. Endlessly suspicious and anxious¡­¡­ Eventually, she was afraid, so she didn¡¯t know she¡¯d cut herself off. Before that, Karhan didn¡¯t even like me. If you find someone you really like, you should let them know. Thinking that far, her mood subsided as if it was raining. She didn¡¯t know why she was like this. Didn¡¯t she start with an ending that she decided from the beginning? ¡°Is it because I¡¯m sad?¡± After a one-year limited-time relationship, she would no longer be able to meet Karhan. There was no need to create a scandal for nothing when they would officially break up. She thought she was attached to Karhan, Lilia muttered to herself. The carriage, which had traversed the expansive garden, stopped in front of the mansion¡¯s front door. As she got off the carriage, she noticed a familiar carriage. It was Heinley¡¯s carriage. When she turned her head, she saw Heinley¡¯s back as he was about to enter the front door. ¡°Brother!¡± Lilia called him out of joy. Upon hearing the sound, Heinley paused and turned around. Lilia trotted up the stairs. ¡°You came early today. Are you okay with being busy now?¡± Heinley, nodding slowly, asked, glancing at the wagon, ¡°I guess you¡¯re on your way back from meeting the Little Duke.¡± ¡°No, I just came in after doing my business.¡± It was a subtle face. Heinley, who coughed out, hesitated for a while and opened his mouth, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, why don¡¯t we take a walk?¡± It¡¯s been a long time since Heinley had suggested it first. She was thinking about when to give the gift, but she thought she could take the walk and get an opportunity. ¡°I¡¯d like to.¡± Lilia and Heinley entered the garden. The head of the setting sun sank like a swimmer, and a bluish light rose like a tail. The sound of flowers in the dark passing by the wind came. The rustling sound occasionally broke the tranquility filled in the garden. It was Heinley who opened his mouth first, ¡°¡­¡­Are you eating these days?¡± ¡°I¡¯m eating regularly.¡± Heinley looked suspicious. It was true, Lilia lost a lot of weight because of her mental distress. Even though she kept eating regular meals, the lost weight did not return. ¡°Brother are you taking care of your meals too?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± A short answer came back, and silence fell again. It couldn¡¯t be helped to feel awkward when there were only the two left. Not long ago, they didn¡¯t even see each other, let alone talk. There was no way that the distance that had been far for several years could have narrowed at once. Heinley was still blunt, and Lilia also failed to act friendly. ¡°I¡¯m curious if you¡¯re seeing Evantheon these days.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been seeing him often.¡± Heinley was secretly interested in Karhan. It was also Heinley who most actively asked questions when she invited Karhan to the mansion. She understood. Lilia¡¯s first relationship was trash. Karhan also had bad rumors surrounding him, so he wasn¡¯t happy with it. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say anything yet¡­¡­.¡± Heinley narrowed his forehead slightly. He used to make that face when he had to admit what he didn¡¯t want to admit. ¡°He didn¡¯t seem like a bad person.¡± His murmuring came into her ears with the wind. Lilia stopped for a moment and looked up at Heinley. He also stopped walking. ¡°I am reflecting on my disrespect to the little duke.¡± Heinley, who admits his wrongdoing, was very fresh. Heinley was far from apologizing. It was because he thought he didn¡¯t have to make an apology from the beginning. As such, Heinley was perfectionist and had an upright disposition. ¡°But I didn¡¯t fully acknowledge the little duke.¡± He added that he intends to watch more. Soon after, Heinley blurred his words with a complex face. ¡°But if you still like him¡­¡­ I can¡¯t help it.¡± That much showed a huge concession. When she was in a relationship with Richard, he forced the topic of breaking up unconditionally. Because of that, she didn¡¯t know that it burned more as if she were a wretched lover. ¡°Thank you.¡± Heinley turned slowly at Lilia¡¯s answer. The first time her eyes met, Lilia folded her eyes a little. ¡°It¡¯s the same with Richard, and you¡¯re worried about me, right?¡± Heinley was silent for a moment. She thought he would deny or be silent, but he answered her gently, ¡°Always.¡± His blunt face seemed to have become a little softer. Looking at it, she suddenly remembered how Heinley took care of her when she was young. Lilia and Heinley had a considerable age difference. It wasn¡¯t as much as Malek, but it was enough to raise her. The memories of her childhood were full of Heinley. On behalf of her busy parents, Heinley became Lilia¡¯s parent and friend. Heinley was a caring brother, and Lilia followed him very well. They were always together, but Heinley eventually left for the academy. Lilia, who was left alone, desperately felt his vacancy. Their parents were still busy, and the employees could not replace Heinley. Perhaps she was lonely at that time. ¡°Me too.¡± Lilia brought out her long-buried sincerity. ¡°I¡¯m always worried. So I hope you don¡¯t suffer too much.¡± Lilia muttered, saying she was worried because he kept coming late these days. Heinley was silent for a moment. Somehow, she thought his eyes seemed a little blurred. (T/N: his eyes teared up) Chapter 44 Raising My Fianc¨¦ With Money Chapter 44 Richard and Stella TL: Jasmine ¡°Oh, right. It¡¯s a present.¡± Lilia held out a small paper bag in her hand. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Check it out for yourself.¡± Heinley, who received the paper bag, pulled out a box. When he untied the ribbon and opened the lid, there was a pen with navy feathers on a silver stick. ¡°I bought it because I thought of you while passing by. Of course, you¡¯re probably using something more expensive and better than this, but I think it suits you¡­..¡± As she talked, the explanation got longer and longer. Heinley said, covering the lid of the box, ¡°Expensive doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s great.¡± Perhaps because he felt that his tone was blunt, Heinley closed his lips tightly. Soon after he coughed, out, he rubbed the lid of the box with his finger. ¡°I had to buy a new one¡­¡­. I¡¯ll use it well.¡± Lilia watched him carefully put in the flag point pen. Heinley, who even tied the ribbon perfectly, spoke in a softer voice. ¡°If you haven¡¯t had dinner yet, let¡¯s eat together.¡± Lilia nodded. My brother and I, who felt far away, seemed to have gotten a little closer. -End of Chapter 6 Chapter 7 A few days ago, Richard went to the noble meeting as usual. With his appearance, attention was focused, and countless people surrounded Richard and flattered him. Richard enjoyed the meeting as if he were the main character. While laughing and talking, he heard unpleasant words. ¨C Did you see the tabloid? (T/N: sorry I forgot to add this note in the last chapter where this word was used, tabloid means a newspaper having pages half the size of those of the average broadsheet, typically popular in style and dominated by sensational stories.) ¨C I saw it. I heard they¡¯re breaking off their engagement. ¨C Did the Young Lord Tersian do something wrong? The Bloden Young lady is nice. Richard was concerned about those who were whispering about him. Then there were people who secretly stabbed him. (T/N: not literal stab but provoke kind of thing) ¨C I don¡¯t see the Young lady Bloden these days¡­.. He pretended to be worried about what¡¯s going on and tried to ask if the rumor was true. Richard responded skillfully after fixing his expression ¨C She said she wanted to spend time preparing for the upcoming wedding. ¨C I see. I was worried because of the rumors. ¨C I saw the tabloid too. After all, it doesn¡¯t do well to deal with gossip articles and scandals. He said he was going to sue, and Richard made excuses and bluffs. And today Richard attended a dinner. It was an event held irregularly by high-ranking aristocrats to build friendship. Before entering the dinner hall, Duchess Evantheon called him, ¨C I heard that Young Lady Bloden is breaking up with you. It was the first time someone asked openly. The opponent was the Duchess, but Richard expressed his unpleasant feelings. ¨C It¡¯s a false rumour. I didn¡¯t know that the noble Duchess would believe such rumors. ¨C Is that so? I heard it from her. At the moment, Richard couldn¡¯t say anything. Then she tilted her head and whispered softly like the wind, ¨C I hope you can wrap it up soon. Richard clenched his fists under the subtle pressure to break the engagement. He didn¡¯t know Lilia would go so far as approaching the Duchess of Evantheon. Richard, who returned home after dinner, took off his coat. His patience had reached its limit and he could no longer stay waiting and trusting only his father. Still, there was no response from Lilia¡¯s side. All the letters sent were ignored, and even if he tried to meet her, he failed repeatedly. At this rate, it was really only a matter of time. He wished he could figure out a weakness of Karhan Evanteon. He paid quite a bit of money for information, but the trail went cold because it was so veiled. Nervous, Richard went back and forth from the room. After hanging around for a long time, he stopped. ¡°Stella Delotta¡­.¡± It was a name that suddenly came to mind. There was nothing that involved her, but he had heard the news through someone else. He heard that Stella was on her way to form a relationship with Karhan Evantheon. However, considering the Duchess¡¯ attitude this time, it was highly likely that the engagement talks had already been broken. ¡°She is definitely not the type to stay still either.¡± He met her several times at the banquet, so he roughly knew what she was like. She was a woman of great ambition. He suddenly remembered the people who were gossiping that Stella was already pretending to be the duchess. Richard smiled as if he had a good idea. With a moderately plausible proposal, Richard thought he should dig up Karhan¡¯s weaknesses through her. The employees bowed their heads with their backs attached to the wall. Broken glass was rolling at her feet, but no one was able to move and clean it. Lina, who serves Stella closest, was far away. Stella, who messed up the room, breathed heavily. No matter what she did, her anger did not go away. This morning, the Duchess of Evantheon visited the Delotta mansion. Stella was very excited because it was the first time the Duchess came first. When she finally met the Duchess with anticipation, she quietly wondered if she was trying to set an engagement date. However, what came back was a story that hit like a bolt out of the blue. ¨C I want us to act as though the engagement talks had never happened. ¨C W, What was that¡­¡­? Stella asked back because she thought she heard it wrong. The Duchess wedged very calmly, ¨C I found someone that suits my family. At the end of her words, Stella recalled Lilia. ¨C No way¡­.is it Lilia Bloden? The Duchess replaced her answer with silence. Stella cried and hung on, saying she couldn¡¯t accept it. However, the Duchess looked at Stella with cold eyes, The Duchess, who welcomed her affectionately, was nowhere to be found. -I¡¯ll tell Count Delotta separately. Well, I have to go now The Duchess stood up mercilessly after finishing only what she had to say. Stella was going crazy at the unilateral notification. What are these circumstances? It¡¯s already been months since the engagement talks first began. Everyone believed that she would be the fiance of the Young Duke of Evantheon. However, she changed her attitude overnight as if a switch was flipped. The Duchess who went back home was not the one who used to cherish her. Stella, who had been sitting down for a long time since she returned, burst into anger. ¡°How can I¡­¡­!!¡± There were a lot of cracks in her voice as it rose up to a chirping sound. She threw things and shouted, but her resentment did not go away. She wanted to visit the Duchy right away and argue with Karhan. Why is it Lilia Bloden? What¡¯s better about that girl than me? However, the string of reason, which remained thin, held Stella in place. Even if she stepped up emotionally now, she will only be humiliated. It wasn¡¯t even an engagement, so there was nothing to say about the breakup. It was difficult to protest properly because her status was lower than their side. ¡°How can I show my face around now¡­..¡± Everyone would laugh at her or sympathize with her. It was clear that those who were jealous would not miss the timing and talk. Stella huffled and wrapped her face in both hands. The fact that she was pushed out by Lilia Bloden again was more terrible than anything else. I lost my last chance to beat her up. Then someone knocked on the door. She heard a voice from outside. ¡°¡­Lady, Richard Tersian is here.¡± Stella paused at a familiar name. She slowly lowered her palms that was covering her face. Her head, which was full of anger, began to spin slowly. ¡°Why is Richard Tersian¡­¡­?¡± Richard was Lilia¡¯s fiance, and there has been no interaction between them so far. No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn¡¯t think of a reason for visiting her. Stella tried to tell Richard to go back. At that time, the employee added a word, ¡°He said that he would like to ask for private discussion regarding issues related to the engagement.¡± Stella paused for a moment. ¡°Matter of the engagement issue¡­¡­¡± Did he happen to know something? Nervous, Stella bit her lips. It would be better to hear what he came to talk about. ¡°Let him in.¡± Stella immediately left the room and fixed her makeup. Stella, who even changed her clothes, headed to the drawing room. As she entered, she could see Richard sitting down. At the moment their eyes met, Richard raised himself. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I came out of the blue.¡± Contrary to those words, he didn¡¯t look sorry at all. Stella looked at him with a sign of discomfort. She was curious about the reason why he came to her, but it wasn¡¯t nice to come so suddenly unannounced. Stella asked, lightly scanning Richard up and down, ¡°So why did you come to see me?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s sit down and talk.¡± Stella¡¯s forehead wrinkled as she frowned at his attitude that seemed like he was making himself at home. She was just thinking about sending him back, but Richard said again, ¡°Isn¡¯t your engagement with the Young Duke Evantheon canceled?¡± Stella looked at him with her eyes wide open. I haven¡¯t told anyone yet. / was even notified by the Duchess today¡­¡­ Richard gestured at the empty chair telling her to sit down. When she reluctantly sat down, he continued ¡°I¡¯m in a situation where I¡¯ve been unilaterally notified of the breakup, so I know how the Young Lady is feeling.¡± Stella was interested in the story of his breakup. It was because Lilia mentioned it herself the last time she visited Bloden¡¯s mansion. ¡°To begin with, I¡¯m trying to separate those two.¡± Stella opened her eyes wide. Richard spoke quickly, lowering his voice a little, ¡°Since Lilia and Evantheon have just started dating, there is a lot of room to dig between them.¡± ¡°Are you saying you want them to break up?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, and then everything will be back to normal. The Young Lady will be able to get engaged safely to the Young duke.¡± ¡°¡­¡­. What do you want?¡± Richard grinned as it was good to communicate well. ¡°Please cooperate a little bit. I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± Stella was lost in thought for a moment. It was unclear whether Richard¡¯s plan would succeed. However, she was at loss. It was better to do something than stay still. If things went well, she would take revenge on Lilia and connect with the Evantheon family again. Just in case, she could also cut off Richard pretending to know nothing. Stella, who made the decision, raised her chin and asked him. ¡°So what do I have to do?¡± T/N: Hello readers! I will be using ¡°Young Duke¡± instead of the title ¡°Little Duke¡± for Karhan Evantheon! Chapter 45 Raising My Fianc¨¦ With Money Chapter 45 The Museum TL: Jasmine Finally, the day has come. Kahan, who woke up early in the morning, left the Duke¡¯s mansion after putting on his well-groomed clothes. Karhan saw his destination getting closer through the wagon window and checked his clothes again. As he breathed in slowly, Tession, who was sitting across from him, encouraged him. ¡°You can do well. You even studied yesterday.¡± ¡°I memorized it roughly¡­¡­. When Karhan muttered without confidence, Tession eagerly encouraged him. From their conversation someone would have thought they were going to a decisive battle. Finally, the wagon stopped. As he got off the wagon, he saw a huge building made of white marble. The building with eight circular pillars on a flat roof was magnificent, so it drew admiration. Tession, who was looking at the museum building, shone. ¡°I¡¯ve been here a few times, but I didn¡¯t know Count Bloden was the director.¡± Apart from the current situation, Tession was excited. He was like a fish in the water as he was usually interested in art. The two climbed the stairs and arrived at the entrance of the museum. The employee standing at the entrance was surprised to see the two solemnly looking people. Soon, the employee who calmly checked the invitation nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll take you inside.¡± Karhan was feeling that something was different these days. It was that others were not afraid of him blindly as they were before. Even if there were people who were having a hard time, they didn¡¯t get scared immediately or beg for wrongdoing or run away. That alone was a remarkable achievement. As he followed the employee inside, he saw Cliff, who was moving busily. ¡°Welcome. Young Duke.¡± Cliff Blodon, who has no resemblance to Lilia except for the color of his hair and eyes, greeted Karhan. ¡°Thank you for inviting me.¡± ¡°Thank you for coming. I¡¯m done with what I have to do, so let¡¯s go.¡± Cliff took a step, saying he would guide him in person. Karhan followed him, slightly nervous. For today, Karhan has read the Encyclopedia of Art several times. There were many limitations as it was difficult to draw a copy of the original, so there was only the name and explanation of the work without a picture, but it would have been somewhat helpful compared to nothing at all. And last time, he escaped the situation with the help of Tession. He was nervous because the same shortcut as back then could not continue to work. Karhan and Cliff began to slowly go around the first floor. Perhaps because it was quiet and there were not many people, he was able to enjoy it leisurely ¡°I paid a lot of attention to this exhibition. I hope the Young Duke will like it.¡± ¡°I see a lot of great works.¡± Karhan looked around and replied. Upon hearing the compliment, Cliff walked with a proud face. ¡°I bought this painting from abroad. Do you know it?¡± Cliff pointed to a work and asked. Karhan quickly checked the name of the work and the artist¡¯s name written at the bottom. Fortunately, it was a picture he¡¯d seen in a book. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s my first time seeing it in person, but I¡¯ve encountered it through a book.¡± At that moment, Cliff¡¯s eyes sparkled. Cliff asked a question about the painting, and Karhan carefully spewed the knowledge he knew. When he recited about the artist and the motivation to paint the work, Cliff was amazed. ¡°I thought about it last time, but you seem to be well versed in art.¡± Karhan¡¯s heart ached. He was terrified that he might be found out, only studying by cramming, but he seemed to have passed somehow. Cliff¡¯s gaze was slightly different compared to before, Karhan who confirmed his favor for himself, was relieved inside. It was worth studying all night long. The two slowly walked and appreciated the painting. Fortunately, until now, everything was in his head. Cliff smiled warmly at Karhan¡¯s quick response. Karhan paused when he saw Tession with the same pleased face next to him. At that time, Karhan opened his mouth in front of a painting. ¡°I¡¯d like to hear from the Count what he thinks of this painting, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± Unlike the cold-hearted and fierce impression, it was a very polite question. Cliff, who was willing to do so, told him everything he knew. He was the most authoritative person in the Empire when it came to art, so knowledge that was difficult to hear anywhere else was poured out. Cliff, who had been talking for a long time, looked at Karhan late into the conversation. Karhan was listening carefully without any signs of boredom. Even his family doesn¡¯t listen well because it¡¯s boring, but Cliff was moved to see him listen to it until the end. ¡°I talked too much. You were bored, right?¡± ¡°No, it was interesting because I didn¡¯t know everything.¡± Karhan looked at the painting as if he was serious. Cliff, who liked the answer, gave him extra points. ¡°I was excited to meet someone who has similar hobbies after a long time.¡± Cliff wept, saying that his family was not very interested in art. ¡°From now on¡­¡­. hmm.¡± Cliff, who said that far, belatedly coughed. It was clear that Violet and Heinley would criticise him for being a traitor if they saw him now. Cliff belatedly recovered his stern look. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the second floor.¡± Cliff took a step first. Karhan pondered over whether he had made any mistakes. Tession whispered softly, next to him, ¡°You¡¯re doing great. I didn¡¯t know you memorised so many things¡­..¡± Tession made a fuss, saying he was a genius. ¡°And Count Bloden is really amazing.¡± Tession murmured that it would be difficult to have such a time even if he gave him a billion. It seemed that Tession, who was interested in art, had already become a fan of Count Bloden. Certainly, Karhan learned a lot in that short time while talking to Cliff. It was also fun to accumulate and appreciate his knowledge. As they went up to the second floor with Cliff, he saw many abstract or esoteric works. Cliff stopped in front of a piece of art. It was a formless painting of yellow, pink, and sky blue. It looked fluffy and soft like a cloud. (T/N- esoteric: intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest.) Looking at the warm color reminded him of Lilia. Wouldn¡¯t it be like this if he could make her into colors? He liked it the most so far, so Karhan didn¡¯t take his eyes off it for a long time. ¡°What do you think?¡± Cliff asked Karhan, who was looking at the painting as if possessed. ¡°¡­¡­It¡¯s kind and pleasant, and it makes me feel warm at the same time.¡± Karhan gave an honest answer. And he continued, forgetting for a moment that Cliff was Lilia¡¯s father, ¡°It reminds me of the Young Lady Bloden.¡± Cliff saw Karhan with a soft expression like a picture, He couldn¡¯t tell what he was thinking, but that expression was easily read. It seemed that Karhan really liked Lilia. Cliff, who was happily looking at Karhan, shook his head. I couldn¡¯t believe I am such an easy man¡­.. Cliff criticised himself. He only saw him twice, but it was a big deal because his mind was already tilted. Cliff opened his mouth with a dry cough, ¡°This picture is painted under the theme of love.¡± At that moment, Karhan turned around in surprise, ¡°It¡¯s popular with couples.¡± Karhan, who was stiff, moved only his eyes. Perhaps because he was stabbed for no reason, his heart pounded. Cliff took a step after explaining the work in detail. After talking for a long time, they finished going around the second floor. Cliff said with a satisfied face, ¡°It was a very useful time. If you don¡¯t mind, I hope to see you often in the future.¡± At Cliff¡¯s words, Karhan lowered his stiff shoulders a little. It was worth studying hard so far. He was relieved that he finally passed, but Cliff asked, ¡°Do you like music?¡± He used to use orgels often. Karhan nodded without much thought. ¡°I hope we can talk while listening to the orchestra next time.¡± Karhan¡¯s eyes shook. He should immediately start studying music, but he is seriously troubled. Karhan slowly exhaled deeply. Last time he accepted because he couldn¡¯t learn to say no, but not anymore, It was finally time to show the results of practicing with Lilia. Cliff said as Karhan opened his mouth, ¡°Oh, I think Lilia can come with me then.¡± ¡°¡­..Yes.¡± Eventually, Karhan could not refuse. ¡°Chief!¡± Someone called Cliff. The man who came running in a short step whispered something to Cliff. Cliff asked Karhan for his understanding with a sorry face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but would it be okay if I left for a while?¡± ¡°See you later. I¡¯ll be looking around.¡± Cliff left, saying he would be back soon. Karhan, who was looking at his back as he was getting farther away, sighed without realising it. This time it¡¯s an orchestra¡­¡­ He was obviously going to say no, but when he heard her name, Lilia, he involuntarily nodded his head. Karhan took his steps slowly. And stopped in front of the picture he saw earlier. Looking at the warm colour, his heart was nauseous as if he was seasick Karhan didn¡¯t know why he felt this way. It was when he was thinking that he wanted to show this picture to Lilia. ¡°Is he the Young Duke of Evantheon?¡±. ¡°What does the Young Duke know about the art here¡­.¡± Whispering voices were heard. In blatant disdain, Karhan slowly raised his head. Not far away was a group of old nobles. Some of them flinched reflexively when their eyes met. A familiar face could be seen among the elderly nobles. The Duke of Evantheon was one of them. T/N: in the last line it wasn¡¯t clearly mentioned who was there whether the duke himself or the elder of Evantheon. So I guessed and went for duke Evantheon Chapter 46 Raising My Fianc¨¦ With Money Chapter 46 The Art-Loving Group TL: Jasmine The nobles scanned Karhan not too far away. Contrary to what they knew, his vicious spirit was dampened. Perhaps because he was wearing bright clothes, they felt less pressure. After the check, the elderly came up first and pretended like they were just noticing him, ¡°Isn¡¯t this the Young Duke of Evantheon?¡± Karhan did not know who they were except that they were elder nobles, so he bowed his head slightly ¡°It seems like I¡¯ve lived for a long time. I never thought I¡¯d see the Young Duke in a place like this.¡± An old man sarcastically said. It was an attitude that screamed he didn¡¯t realise a person he considered farthest from the art world would visit the museum Karhan¡¯s reputation in aristocratic society was very bad. In particular, the elders looked down on Karhan No matter how much of a competent successor he was to the Dukedom, he was too stiff and cold. Rather than being friendly, he only gave a scary look when they talked to him. Some weak old noble people fainted after receiving Karhan¡¯s attention. Since then, they have treated Karhan as a villain. Karhan could tell without asking that they hated him The number of people who still hated him were as many as there were stars in the sky. His attitude seemed to be the problem. Because he didn¡¯t speak well, he was in a lot of trouble whenever someone talked to him. If he was carefully choosing an answer, everyone would run away in the meantime. It was difficult to know how to respond if they showed hostility even before he even started talking like now. What would Lilia have done? After much consideration, Karhan smiled as he practiced with Lilia. Then the elderly flinched noticeably. An awkward smile with only one corner of mouth raised made Karhan look like an arrogant person. He even looked like a perfect villain with a sheath on his waist. The nobles exchanged looks with each other. ¡®What did he come to destroy the art museum?¡¯ Not a chance. Here, art-loving members will protect it. ¡°I know what this is¡­¡­.!¡± The old nobles took a deep breath and fiercely stared, at Karhan. It looked as if they were looking at a mercenary who pushed out of the redevelopment area. ¡°We realise what you¡¯re up to, how dare you¡­¡­¡± Their eyes burned even more as someone muttered. Karhan¡¯s expression returned to its original state, Isn¡¯t this right? He thought the success rate had gone up a lot these days¡­.. He thought he had to practice more. ¡°So why did you come here?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I was invited.¡± ¡°No way!¡± The elderly complained that it was ridiculous. Tession, who they didn¡¯t notice, opened his mouth. ¡°We are invited guests by Count Bloden.¡± When he mentioned Count Bloden, they murmured. Cliff Bloden was the director of the museum and the chairman of an art-loving group. An old nobleman, unable to believe the words, asked, pointing to an art, ¡°Do you know what that painting is?¡± Of course, they asked with an attitude that he wouldn¡¯t know. Karhan, who looked up and checked the picture, opened his mouth, ¡°That painting was painted 300 years ago, and the artist is unknown. The motif of the work is known as the kingdom that has already fallen, but historians¡­¡­.¡± Karhan explained what he heard from Cliff and what he knew without spilling any spit. The low voice continued endlessly, and the nobles who were listening with their arms folded slowly loosened their arms. ¡°¡­¡­. That¡¯s all I know.¡± When Karhan¡¯s words were finally over, the surroundings were quiet for a moment. The elderly were looking at him with their mouths open as if they couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Did I make a mistake?¡± At their reaction, Karhan carefully asked. However, the elderly only looked away as if embarrassed, Karhan¡¯s explanation was so good that they thought they had heard a lecture. They thought he was an ignorant swordsman, but Evantheon was so knowledgeable¡­¡­? At that moment, when their lips twitched as if they couldn¡¯t admit it, ¡°Karhan¡­..?¡± At the familiar voice, Karhan turned his head. Lilia was standing there. Lilia heard that the exhibition prepared by her father was opened. She remembered that in the early days, she was very busy, so she didn¡¯t visit on purpose. It had been a while, so she decided to go now. After leaving the mansion, Lilia arrived in front of the largest museum in the capital. Visitors to the museum ranged from aristocrats, commoners, children and the elderly. All of this was the result of Cliff Blodon¡¯s efforts. Ten years ago, large art galleries and theatres used to restrict commoners from entering. However, Cliff always emphasized that art is open to everyone In order to carry out his will, he opened a large art gallery that commoners could enter where as before only the nobility could enter. However, they received a small entrance fee because there were many cases of abuse after opening for free. Lilia paused as she tried to go inside. A woman was standing in the corner of the building entrance. The woman in old clothes rolled the coin with her palm and only looked at the entrance of the museum. The admission fee seemed to be burdensome. In terms of the value and number of works on display, the admission fee was very low. But it wasn¡¯t like that for everyone. It could have been burdensome enough to be considered a luxury for someone. Lilia, who was agonizing over it, headed to the staff who helped her enter. To put it simply, the employee nodded. And it was the moment when the woman turned around after much consideration. ¡°The 1000th guest is free of charge.¡± The woman turned her head at the employee¡¯s words. She looked around and quickly approached the staff. ¡°Am I¡­ Am I the 1,000th one?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. Congratulations.¡± The staff opened the door with a big smile. The woman entered after saying thank you several times with an excited face. Lilia, who was watching the scene, also took a slow step. Entering the museum, Lilia looked around for her father. She couldn¡¯t see him and thought he was very busy. ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do.¡± She wondered if she should ask the staff to tell her father that she came. Lilia looked at the paintings meanwhile with Frances and Malek. It ranged from old masterpieces to foreign works. It was said that Cliff had been preparing for months and that it was amazing. As she watched quietly, she remembered Karhan and remembered him carrying an art book on his side last time. ¡°I should have sent an invitation.¡± She wanted to make this suggestion but forgot. Lilia thought she¡¯d send him an invitation as soon as she got home later. After going around the first floor, she went up to the second floor. While watching the works, Frances covered his mouth with his palm. Frances, who was yawning, made an excuse when he made eye contact with Lilia. ¡°It¡¯s not because I¡¯m bored¡­¡­.¡± Frances, who was rolling his eyes, confessed, ¡°As expected, I don¡¯t know much about art.¡± ¡°That¡¯s believable.¡± Compared to the first floor, the second floor consisted of profound works. Starting with abstract paintings, they expressed history, politics, philosophy, and ideology, so it was as visible as it was studied. (T/N: as mentioned earlier, those are esoteric works, the more you study about a specific field the more you will understand the works displayed in this floor) Lilia, who was looking at the painting, suddenly felt sad. Obviously, it was a great painting, but most of them were foreign works or old ones. The recent works were similar overall but lacked eye-catching power. ¨C It would be nice if there was one amazing rookie painter who showed up in the art world. It¡¯s rotten because it¡¯s been stagnant now. (T/N: stagnant and rotten are used for the art world, what he is trying to say is the art world has become too dull and rotten because people wont go earn money more than working for the passion) She could see why her father lamented. Lilia walked a little further inward. There were familiar elderly people huddled together. And in the meantime, she found a man standing tall. ¡°Karhan¡­..?¡± Lilia called him without realizing it. Those who were there turned their heads and looked at Lilia. ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t this the Bloden Young Lady?¡± Flowers bloomed on the faces of the elderly who recognized Lilia¡¯s face. Lilia realised who they were. They were members of the art-loving group. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since the last dinner.¡± ¡°How is the Count doing?¡± They rushed to say hello. Thanks to having a father who is the director of the museum, the old people thought of Lilia as cute as their granddaughter. ¡°I¡¯m happy to see you after a long time, too.¡± Lilia smiled brightly. With that angelic smile, the elderly laughed happily. While being greeted, Lilia looked up at Karhan with a subtle face. When their eyes met, Karhan¡¯s expression, which looked as if he was in a difficult situation, loosened. He looked like a puppy who was happy to see her after a long time. As his blunt face softened, the old nobles pursed their lips in surprise. There was a moment of silence. It was an awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere. In the meantime, Lilia roughly grasped the situation. It seems that something happened between the elders and Karhan, The old nobles looked at each other¡¯s faces. They nodded their heads as if it was okay. They seemed to believe that Lilia would be on their side. A nobleman glanced at Karhan and opened his mouth, ¡°Hmm, it was said that the Young Duke was invited by Count Bloden to attend the exhibition, but honestly, it is hard to believe.¡± ¡­¡­father? Lilia blinked slowly. ¡°So we were talking for a while to see if that was true, Because we have a duty to protect this place¡­¡­.¡± If someone from the outside were to hear that, it would feel like karhan was here to smash the museum. It¡¯s not like he is in a place he can¡¯t come to¡­ Lilia looked up at Karhan, who was treated as a villain. He didn¡¯t even think about getting angry because he was so gentle, and he just listened. Lilia approached Karhan closely. And crossed her arms with him affectionately. The nobleman, who had been talking harshly, stopped talking. Everyone looked at Lila and Karhan alternately with bewildered eyes. ¡°Young Lady Bloden¡­..?¡± ¡°I¡¯m listening, so keep talking.¡± ¡°No, what are you two¡­I didn¡¯t know you both were close¡­?¡± It sounded like, ¡°No way.¡± What was this combination of Lilia, who has been like a cute granddaughter to them since her childhood, and Evantheon, the Young, Duke who did not have good conduct usually¡­ They had a face that clearly showed they couldn¡¯t believe their eyes. Lilia even stamped the seal. (T/N: It¡¯s an idiom like confirming something unbelievable in a dramatic way) ¡°We are lovers.¡± Boom, as if a thunderbolt had fallen on their heads, and the faces of the nobility were completely cracked. The old nobles looked at Lilia in disbelief as if they could not understand it. Chapter 47 Raising My Fianc¨¦ With Money Chapter 47 A White Lie For Him TL: Jasmine There were various reactions, from those who were worried she was being threatened to those who stared at Karhan. Karhan seemed to have a very bad reputation among the elder nobles. But it was a stupid idea to pretend like this. Among them, there were several high-ranking nobles who still had influence over the empire. Karhan, who will become a duke in the future if all goes well, would also receive a lot of help from. Lilia lowered her eyes and bit her lower lip gently, ¡°To be honest, my heart¡­¡­ It hurts.¡± ¡°No, why¡­.¡± When she murmured as if she was upset, the elderls were at a loss. Everyone was weak against Lilia as they had seen her since childhood. Lilia deliberately showed signs of sadness with her eyes looking down a little. ¡°The Young Duke of Evanteon just purely likes art, but I¡¯m upset that he is misunderstood like that.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ The Young duke?¡± At the suspicious gaze, Lilia looked at him as if asking why they didn¡¯t believe in him. Then everyone quickly shut up. ¡°And it¡¯s true that my father invited him.¡± Even if hadn¡¯t, it would be better if she could talk to her father later. The old nobles whispered for a moment. When Lilia said that, there was no one more to bite. Lilia nailed it altogether. ¡°There¡¯s no bad person who likes art, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ That¡¯s right.¡± The old noble people nodded unexpectedly. ¡°No one is bad among those who like art.¡¯ It was the foundation of the art-loving group. They still glanced at Karhan with suspicion. No matter how much they looked at him, it was difficult to grasp what he was thinking. However, after Lilia came, they could feel his expression softening a lot. Lilia quickly opened her mouth, looking at the reactions of the elderly, ¡°It¡¯s because the Young Duke is shy, but he is actually a sensitive person.¡± Shy¡­¡­? They looked at Karhan, who was standing with a harsh look on his face. Lilia poked Karhan in the side and whispered softly, ¡°Karhan, puppy.¡± Karhan, who was stiff from nervousness, came to his senses. ¡®Puppy¡¯ was the code between the two. He was to imagine running around with a puppy he raised as a child. However, Karhan recalled when Lilia, who praised him and smiled at her image, not the puppy. The moment he smiled lightly, his ferocious impression was completely cleared. The sharply raised eyes went down, softening the atmosphere. Their expressions looking at Karhan as if possessed were quite worth seeing. Certainly, Karhan¡¯s smiling face had a great effect. ¡®If you smile, you are very likeable¡­¡­.¡¯ It was a pity that no one knew Karhan¡¯s smiling face so far. The handsome face, which was hidden by the fierce energy, finally saw the light. As their sharp gazes were removed, Karhan slowly opened his mouth. ¡°I should have said hello first¡­¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± When Karhan bowed down first, the nobles only coughed in vain. Some people still didn¡¯t like it, but they looked more relaxed than before. ¡°We went a little too far.¡± It was not common for the elderly to break their stubbornness. This is because once the perception is created and locked on, they are obsessed with it. Their attitudes did not change completely to a favourable one, but it was a remarkable achievement inofitself. ¡°By the way, I think we¡¯ve been holding onto you both for too long.¡± ¡°Please come to the meeting sometime. Miss Bloden.¡± The nobility said goodbye and said they would go. Finally, the elder Duke Evantheon, who had not spoken until now, and Karhan met their eyes. At the elder¡¯s gaze, Karhan slowly blinked. It wasn¡¯t long before they swarmed away. Tession, who confirmed that they had completely disappeared, said with a very relaxed face, ¡°That¡¯s great. You made an impression on the elderls.¡± In order to be recognized as a successor, a lot of help from the elderly nobles was needed. It was weak support, but it was definitely a step in the right direction. However, Karhan looked sullen. As his black eyebrows drooped down, Lilia looked at him still. ¡°¡­..I think I¡¯m still lacking.¡± The conflict was not resolved properly until Lilia came He thought he had changed a lot, but this time Lilia helped him. ¡°Don¡¯t be in a rush.¡± At Lilia¡¯s words, Karhan slowly lifted his eyes. Lilia¡¯s face filled his field of vision. ¡°It¡¯s never easy to change the personality you¡¯ve had all your life. You¡¯ve cleared up the misunderstanding, so you¡¯re doing well enough.¡± With a smile that seemed to be dripping sugar, Karhan licked his lips. His heart trembled like when he was enjoying his favourite picture from earlier. ¡°Young Duke! You¡¯ve been waiting for a long time, haven¡¯t you?¡± At that time, someone from far away happily called Karhan. At the familiar voice, Lilia slowly turned her head. The moment he met her eyes, Lilia opened her eyes roundly, ¡°¡­Dad?¡± Cliff took a breath and stopped there. Cliff looked very embarrassed as if the hidden secret had been discovered. Lilia roughly grasped the situation ¡®It was true when he said he was invited by my father earlier. Anyway, since when did the two of them start meeting each other without her knowing? When she invited him to the mansion last time, her father didn¡¯t like Karhan¡­.. Lilia asked Cliff, ¡°When did you send an invitation to the Young Duke?¡± There was an earthquake in Cliff¡¯s eyes. As Cliff licked his lips like a crucian carp out of the water trying to breathe, Karhan quietly opened his mouth, ¡°I told the Count that I wanted to come.¡± ¡°Y, yes¡­..! I sent an invitation because the Young Duke asked me many times.¡± At this time, Cliff nodded. It was clear that if the news got into Heinley and Violet¡¯s ears through Lilia, they would stir-fry him. He might be branded as a traitor and hear a voice of disappointment, asking if he had already been handed over to the little fiend. Cliff didn¡¯t want to be hated by Violet. Lilia looked at Cliff with suspicious eyes and asked, ¡°Is it true?¡± ¡°¡­.. Yes¡± Karhan replied, slightly avoiding Lilia¡¯s gaze. She could see he was lying, but decided not to point it out. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me? I can send you an invitation.¡± ¡°When I was invited to the mansion last time, I had a chance to talk to the Count separately.¡± Cliff, who was standing with a guilty face, was moved. Karhan told a white lie for him. Cliff coughed out a dry cough while looking at Karhan with a moved look, ¡°Anyway, that¡¯s what happened, so don¡¯t misunderstand.¡± ¡°Well, okay.¡± Lilia nodded roughly. ¡°By the way, when did you come?¡± ¡°A while ago, I went around the first floor and came up. There are a lot of good works.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a relief if you¡¯re satisfied. Of course, it¡¯s unfortunate¡­¡­.¡± Cliff had a face of lingering regret. He has been planning the exhibition for quite some time. However, most of the works exhibited at the exhibition had already been released. He tried to put a new, unpublished work as the flower of the exhibition, but in the end he couldn¡¯t find a new favourite work While talking about the exhibition, Lilia recalled what happened earlier. And she said, looking at the direction in which the elders disappeared, ¡°Just now, members of the art-loving group went there.¡± ¡°I should go say hello.¡± Cliff turned his head and said his farwells to Karhan with warm eyes, ¡°Then take your time and go back.¡± ¡°Thank you for today.¡± She wasn¡¯t sure, but even she felt a warmth between the two. Lilia, who was watching quietly, wondered what the hell had happened. Cliff went away, and Lilia asked, ¡°Did my dad do anything to you?¡± ¡°No. Rather, he helped me a lot by explaining the works.¡± That¡¯s a relief. It¡¯s suspicious, but she decided to let it go. ¡°Since we¡¯re here, do you want to take a look around?¡± Karhan blinked slowly instead of answering. Joyful eyes shone blue. When the emotions were revealed in his eyes, Lilia thought. ¡°You must have been bored watching alone.¡¯ Lilia and Karhan slowly went around the second floor. Karhan had already finished looking, but he quietly followed Lilia. And he enjoyed the painting that resembles Lilia, which he kept paying attention to. ¡°It looks warm overall, perhaps because of the color. It¡¯s soft and gentle.¡± ¡°I think so, too.¡± Karhan nodded eagerly. ¡°It¡¯s my favourite painting on display this time.¡± Karhan looked strangely proud of Lilia¡¯s review, Karhan took his eyes off the painting and looked at Lilia. From the first time he saw it, he wanted to show it to Lilia, and he was happy to be able to appreciate it together. After going around the second floor, the two came down to the first floor. They hadn¡¯t met due to an appointment, but it was a little disappointing to break up like this. Perhaps the same was true to Karhan, but he rolled his eyes only. ¡°It¡¯s a little early, but would you like to go out for a quick dinner?¡± Lilia made the offer first. ¡°There are places where fruit wine is good. Oh, you don¡¯t drink, do you?¡± ¡°¡­.no!¡± Karhan replied quickly. ¡°I am going to drink from today.¡± Chapter 48 Raising My Fianc¨¦ With Money Chapter 48 A Terrible Coward TL: Jasmine From today¡­¡­? His words were a bit strange, but Lilia accepted the consent and nodded her head. Lilia and Karhan immediately left the museum. Lilia took them to a restaurant at the entrance of the alley. The wooden restaurant had half the walls open, giving it an open feel. There were traces of the years everywhere, as if it had been a while since the site was established. Still, it was quite elegant and moderately quiet. While Karhan was looking around the store, Lilia settled down first. It was in a corner, but when she turned her head, she could see the outside. Around sunset, the riverside seen even from this far away was beautiful, so she often visited it. ¡°It¡¯s a restaurant that I come to from time to time.¡± At Lilia¡¯s words, Karhan blinked curiously. Lilia had the wealth to buy a store on the spot or to have a highend dressing room as a closet. Despite having such tremendous wealth, she often introduced simple stores. Even the restaurant where the two of them were now was not a shop favored by a normal noble lady. ¡°Why is your face like that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just curious¡­..¡± ¡°How do I know about this kind of restaurant?¡± Karhan, who¡¯s mind had been read, looked aways, perhaps surprised. Lilia smiled a little and answered, ¡°You can¡¯t always seek to experience only good, things.¡± Lilia was a noble lady, but she had more experience than anyone else. It was due to the conflicting education of the family. Her father and brother gave Lilia the best. On the other hand, her mother carried Lilia around and helped her gain experience step by step from the bottom. -There¡¯s no law that expensive things are always the best. ¨C Experience is everything. Her mother¡¯s words still remained deep in Lilia¡¯s heart. Thanks to her, she didn¡¯t hesitate whenever she started something. It¡¯s an adventure, but sometimes she would look for a simple but perfect store like now. ¡°Are you uncomfortable? Shall we move?¡± ¡°No, I like this kind of atmosphere.¡± Karhan smiled very lightly as if he were comfortable. Lilia wiggled her fingers without realizing it. She had only seen it a few times, but whenever Karhan smiled, she felt itchy for some reason. It seemed to be because the atmosphere around him changed completely. ¡°Do you want to order?¡± The employee approached and gave them the menu. At that moment, the employee and Karhan¡¯s eyes met. However, rather than being scared or surprised, the employee¡¯s cheeks slightly reddened. ¡­..Why do I feel so weird?¡¯ It was very good that the employee was not afraid of Karhan. It was worth a toast, but she wondered what this subtle feeling was. Lilia shook off her thoughts and fixed her gaze on the menu. While the two put their heads together and thought about what to eat, the staff spoke, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯ll recommend something for you. If you look at the bottom¡­¡­.¡± The staff secretly encouraged them to order expensive items. However, the portion was too large, and food that she didn¡¯t like was included. Karhan looked up and glanced at Lilia. Lilia shook her head softly. When the employee finished speaking, Karhan politely refused. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll look at the menu more and order.¡± The employee nodded without further coercion. ¡°Please call when you¡¯re done choosing.¡± When the staff put down the menu and left, Karhan looked at Lilia with a proud face. Lilia smiled at his puppy-like appearance hoping for praise. ¡°It seems like just yesterday that he was forced into a purchase because he couldn¡¯t refuse¡­¡¯ Compared to the first time they met, it was a major development. ¡°Haven¡¯t you become good at refusing? You don¡¯t need me anymore.¡± Karhan hardened at Lilia¡¯s compliment. His proud appearance disappeared, and he looked down at the table with a serious face, ¡°That wouldn¡¯t happen¡­¡­. The faint murmur was buried by the noise of the restaurant. Lilia set the menu vertically and chose the menu with Karhan. For Karhan, who likes vegetables, she chose a tomato salad, and Lilia chose a sausage. ¡°Pick what you want to eat, too.¡± Lilia told Frances, Malek, and Tession, who sat a little far away. Frances and Malek were still working, so they only chose food instead of alcohol. Tession ordered light beer on their behalf. Soon after, the ordered food came out one by one, Finally, when a large bottle of liquor was placed by his chin, Karhan looked at Lilia with embarrassed eyes. Lilia naturally opened a bottle and asked. ¡°But you haven¡¯t drunk in awhile, have you?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t stop drinking overall, I was refraining from drinking.¡± ¡°Why? Because of your health?¡± Karhan explained why he kept away from alcohol. On the battlefield where he fought, alcohol was taboo due to military rule. Because they had recognized that alcohol should not be drunk for a long time, he naturally refrained from it even after being discharged from the military. ¡°So it¡¯s been a few years since I¡¯ve had a drink.¡± ¡°This is a bit strong. Will that be okay?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know much about alcohol, but I¡¯ve never been drunk yet.¡± From his looks, he seemed to be a very good drinker. Lilia poured a little alcohol into the glass just in case. Sweet fruit wine was filled in hers and Lilia picked up the glass. ¡°Cheers.¡± The two glasses tilted as if they were about to touch. It wasn¡¯t long before Karhan took a sip of alcohol. Perhaps stronger than expected, Karhan¡¯s shoulders shook as he frowned. And slowly, his pupils got a little bigger. Karhan sipped the drink once again. Fruit liquor with a sweet finish seemed to be to Karhan¡¯s taste. Lilia and Karhan began to eat while drinking the alcohol. They tried it first and recommended it to each other if it was delicious. Karhan enjoyed soft vegetables and tomatoes. Lilia laughed inside because he looked like a vegetarian black bear. At that time, the store opened and three men rushed in. When they sat at the opposite end, Lilia looked at them for a while and then moved back to her food. Wind blew into the open space. Lilia sipped a drink as she saw the sky getting a little darker. It was a very peaceful time. When she was with Karhan, she felt somewhat comfortable. When she met with Richard, she was nervous to match his mood, so she didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡®At first, I didn¡¯t intend to be this close, but¡­¡¯ To be honest, when she offered the deal, she was only going to take an appropriate advantage. However, as they continued to get entangled, they became closer and closer. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the contract, we could have been good friends forever.¡¯ She already felt sorry to think about breaking up and even felt regret. Karhan, who was drinking quietly, put down his glass. He opened his mouth with his eyes down with a worried face, ¡°¡­.. also want to continue my conversation with others well.¡± It seemed that he still had what happened today in mind. Lilia thought for a while and explained it based on her experience, ¡°Well, sometimes I keep the conversation going by asking about what the other person just said.¡± ¡°For example¡­..? ¡°If the other person says, ¡®I met my friend yesterday,¡¯ ask back, ¡®With a friend?¡¯ Then, the conversation often leads naturally to the other person again.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Karhan nodded as if he would keep in mind. Lilia put her glass down for a moment and asked quietly, ¡°You were upset earlier, right?¡± Karhan slowly blinked and looked at Lilia. ¡°They were a little too much at the art museum.¡± The old nobles treated karhan with a narrow perspective. The misunderstanding was resolved later but she still didn¡¯t feel good about it. Karhan, who was silent for a while, shook his head. ¡°I wasn¡¯t particularly upset. I thought I made a mistake¡­..¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you angry?¡± ¡°Anger¡­..¡± Karhan hesitated. And he muttered softly as if he was confessing his secret, ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t know the emotion of anger.¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s unfair and sad.¡± Lilia was speechless. Emotions are natural feelings. It wasn¡¯t something someone could teach. Sometimes, Karhan looked like a child. There were many clumsy aspects as if he had just come out into the world. But if she thought about it another way, she even thought that he was as pure as water without any impurities. Lilia was in trouble. It was too vague to teach the feeling of anger. ¡°Other people don¡¯t know, but when I¡¯m angry, I get upset. My chest feels stuffy as if I¡¯m wearing layers of clothes¡­. I want to pour everything out.¡± ¡°I call it anger.¡± Karhan was expressionless. He blinked slowly like a child who realizes their first word. ¡°Anyway, if you look good to them like earlier, it will be very helpful later. It will be good to build a relationship with them to prepare for your succession to the Duke¡¯s title.¡± When the topic of the title came out, Karhan flinched. Not noticing him, Lilia continued as if she suddenly came to mind after a sip of alcohol, ¡°Anyways, isn¡¯t it hard to take the successor¡¯s classes? I¡¯m sure you¡¯re very busy¡­. Aren¡¯t you overdoing it?¡± Lilia asked if they had time to meet separately like this. Then Karhan looked only at the table without an answer. He licked his lips over and over again. Lilia waited silently and picked up the glass again. Then Lilia made eye contact with the man sitting at the table opposite her. The man said something to the people sitting with him. She was trying to move her eves naturally, but she heard a rattling sound of the chair being pushed back. ¡°Lilia, ¡­¡­..¡± At the same time as Karhan moved his lips, the man began to walk this way. Although he was drunk and staggered a bit, he had an excited face. His purpose was obvious, to get closer and stare only at Lilia¡¯s face, And even before the man approached Lilia, Frances and Malek stood up at the same time. The two naturally held the man¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re drunk¡± ¡°¡­.huh?¡± ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go home.¡± Frances completely twisted the man¡¯s body by force Suddenly, the man began to walk toward the door. ¡°Wait a minute¡­¡± The man pushed him away with his arm, but Frances and Malek were not pushed out at all. Malek whispered something in the man¡¯s ear. Soon, the quiet man was taken away by Malek. Frances kindly opened the door. When Malek and the man left, they closed the door and glued their backs to it. Frances winked one eye at Lilia. Lilia, who watched it, belatedly asked Karhan, ¡°Sorry, what did you just say?¡± Lilia¡¯s purple eyes turned toward Karhan. Karhan couldn¡¯t say anything for a moment. He barely had any courage and tried to confess to Lilia that he was not the successor. However, hisy mind came back late, Even after bringing this up, will Lilia treat him as usual? He wasn¡¯t sure about that. ¡°It was nothing.¡± Karhan eventually swallowed the words that had risen to his lips. He was a terrible coward. Chapter 49 Raising My Fianc¨¦ With Money Chapter 49 Drunk Feelings TL:Jasmine Karhan immediately picked up the drink. Lilia¡¯s eyes, which were watching him quickly empty his glass, narrowed slightly and returned. The two drank for a while without conversation. Lilia¡¯s rate of emptying her glass was faster than Karhan¡¯s. However, unlike Lilia, who looked fine, Karhan¡¯s neck and earlobes were getting redder. ¡°You¡¯re not drunk, are you?¡± ¡°¡­. I¡¯m fine.¡± The answer came back half a beat slower. It seemed like he was slowly getting drunk. ¡°He said he had never been drunk before.¡¯ Honestly, she thought he would drink well just by looking at his appearance¡­. It was the total opposite. Lilia looked at Karhan silently. His bare jawline looked very sharp. His eyes, lit by the last rays of sunlight, were a little more blue than usual. His dark and straight eyelashes, lips that were not too thin or thick, and neat black hair that slightly covers his forehead¡­¡­. As she looked down, she could see his wide shoulders symmetrical to his stretched neckline. From face to body, it was flawless and perfect. At this point, she should have gotten used to him, but on the contrary she was looking at him more and more. It seems that his expression has become more colorful these days. At their first meeting, he was hard like a statue erected in a museum, but now he is full of life. Karhan¡¯s hand came into Lilia¡¯s sight as she was slowly looking down. The veins protruding over the hardlooking hand helped give him a more delicate design. Obviously, he was holding the same type of glass as hers, but the glass looked small, perhaps because his hands were large. ¡°When I held your hand last time, it was so big that it completely wrapped around my hand.¡± Recalling her previous experience, she made eye contact with Karhan at the moment. Lilia spoke out without realizing it, ¡°Your hands are really big.¡± Karhan slowly blinked his eyes. Lilia quickly added, ¡°It¡¯s the same glass, but it looks especially small when you hold it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Ah.¡± ¡°I have small hands.¡± Lilia raised her palm and showed it. ¡°There¡¯s a big difference, right?¡± Karhan nodded. After hesitating for a while, he reached out his palm on the table. He slowly closed his eyes and opened them as if he couldn¡¯t make them out. Lilia, who couldn¡¯t overcome her curiosity, quickly put her palm on his When the hands overlapped, warmth penetrated into her bones. Lilia carefully compared the size of their hands. There was a difference of about two fingers, ¡°His skin is rough because he has been holding a sword for a long time. He even has a lot of calluses, too.¡¯ It was a palm that felt hard because it was that of a real person¡¯s. It was amazing because it was so different from her soft palm. Lilia pushed her fingers slightly through Karhan¡¯s fingers because of the nice, touch. As the clasps were loosely intertwined, Karhan trembled. Lilia couldn¡¯t see Karhan¡¯s face because she was concentrating on his palm. Karhan who was watching quietly, wrapped his face with the other palm. His cheeks were not as if he had been on fire for a long time. His heart started beating like it was about to explode. The sound of his heart was so loud to his ears that it was deafening, A throbbing sensation, like a toothache, spread from his chest to his fingertips. He thought it had gotten better these days¡­., it seemed to have recurred. ¡°Just a second¡­¡­¡± When Karhan said a little nervously, Lilia let go of his hand. Karhan hurriedly took a medicine container out of his coat. When he opened the lid and shook it off, two white pills came out. Karhan swallowed the medicine without drinking water. Lilia, who saw it. was surprised and asked. ¡°What medicine is it?¡± ¡­¡­I feel my heart is not good these days.¡± ¡°Heart? Since when?¡± When Lilia was surprised and asked, Karhan hesitated to answer for a moment. The last time Lilia visited the Duchy of Evanteon, Karhan felt an abnormality in his body. His whole body had a fever and his heart was beating fast. When Karhan reported the symptoms, Tession immediately called the doctor. ¨C The heart¡­ he says his heart hurts! Isn¡¯t it supposed to be a deadly disease? Tession held onto the doctor¡¯s clothes, thinking that he had already contracted a major disease. After hearing the symptoms from Karhan, the doctor made the medicine and handed it over. -Take it when you feel pain in your heart or think your heart is beating abnormally. However, after the medicine was made, there was no problem. He carried it around just in case, but he felt pain in his heart as it had then. ¡°¡­..I¡¯ve been feeling pain from time to time lately.¡± ¡°Can I send my family doctor too? He is the imperial family¡¯s doctor.¡± ¡°Because it doesn¡¯t happen often¡­.¡± ¡°Still, you never know.¡± Lilia looked at Karhan with worried eyes. Karhan closed his mouth tightly. It tickled wherever Lilia¡¯s eyes touched. There were not many things to worry about in his life, On the contrary, he was often concerned about the people he was associated with. He wasn¡¯t used to this situation, but he didn¡¯t hate it. The sound of his heart, which had subsided a little, rang like it was hitting a drum again. The growing sound engulfed all the noise around him Karhan waited for the drug to work. However, he couldn¡¯t calm down easily, so he took a deep breath several times. After a long time, the sound of his heart returned to its original state. The tingling sensation also decreased a lot. ¡°It¡¯s fine now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad. You took medicine, so it¡¯s better to stop drinking.¡± As Lilia tried to remove Karhan¡¯s glass, he said quickly, ¡°I heard that this medicine isn¡¯t affected by drinking.¡± Lilia glanced at Karhan¡¯s earlobe and neck, which were redder than she had seen before. ¡°Then drink a little more.¡± Lilia completely covered the menu. She was going to get up after drinking the rest of the alcohol. If she drank more than this, she thought it would be obvious that she was tipsy. Lilia¡¯s goal was to enter the house quietly. The reason why she drank outside the mansion was to avoid nagging. It was because the whole family bothered her when she drank at home. So Lilia often pretended not to drink after drinking outside. The two sipped without much conversation. Lilia, who was slightly tipsy and in a good mood, tilted toward Karhan. Karhan was poking only innocent tomatoes with a fork¡­ he felt a little drunk. Lilia tried to say let¡¯s get up now. Then Karhan opened his mouth, ¡°I¡­ I wanted to be a good person.¡± Lilia paused. Karhan muttered, placing tomatoes neatly with a fork. ¡°So I tried¡­¡­ It wasn¡¯t easy.¡± A low voice continued slowly. Karhan, who was always a good listener, was confessing his feelings for the first time. Lilia listened to Karhan silently. That he was born into a strict family and after being praised for being good only once, he tried to become that way. That he wanted to be recognized by everyone because it was good. But it was hard to get out of the prejudice. After listening to the long story, she was able to understand Karhan more. ¡°Last time¡­When you visited the Duke¡¯s residence¡­¡­.¡± The way he spoke was a little droopy, he seemed drunk. Soon, black eyelashes cast a shadow and slowly went up. The blue eyes hidden in his eyelashes filled Lilia. ¡°I was so happy then.¡± Lilia blinked her eyes. ¡°Because you said I¡¯m a good person. That is¡­¡­very¡­¡­.¡± Karhan smiled brightly. In a harmless laugh, Lilia missed an opportunity to drink. She felt like she was sober. And belatedly realized what Karhan was saying, -Anyway, you¡¯re a really good person to me, so don¡¯t say that. It was something that she said because she couldn¡¯t understand why Karhan called himself hopeless. It wasn¡¯t even a remark of great significance, but she didn¡¯t know it would remain deep in Karhan. Karhan only looked at Lilia. She felt like she was going to drown in his eyes. The slightly curved eyes were soft, so Lilia stopped breathing for a while and just blinked. Usually, Karhan was shy, so he would usually look away first. She had never seen him staring at her in this way. His gaze seemed to melt her. The heat seemed to be felt everywhere Karhan¡¯s eyes touched. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can be a villain¡­¡­.¡± Karhan¡¯s voice became a little lower. And he whispered inaudibly to Lilia, ¡°I want to remain a good person for you.¡± Lilia didn¡¯t say anything. It could be meaningless words from a drunk person, but it was stuck in her ears for a long time. Lilia, who became shy for no reason, answered bluntly, ¡°Of course. Be good to me from now on.¡± Karhan nodded his head. At that moment, Lilia, who thought Karhan was cute, shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m going back home now.¡± ¡°¡­.Already?¡± Lilia almost felt weak at the tone full of regret. ¡°I have to go.¡± It¡¯s already dark. It was time to slowly go back. Lilia immediately looked toward the table where Frances and Malek were sitting. Frances and Malek quickly got up from their seats. Tession¡¯s neck and cheeks were red as if he had drunk some alcohol. When everyone stood up, Karhan also followed Lilia calmly. After paying, they left the store. Perhaps because it was along the river, the wind was particularly cold. When Lilia¡¯s shoulder trembled, Karhan quickly took off his coat. ¡°It¡¯s okay, so just wear it.¡± She got a coat from him every time. Even the coat she wore last time had not yet been returned. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t catch a cold.¡± Lilia was embarrassed by the determined tone. In the meantime, Karhan put his coat over Lilia. Lilia looked up at him carefully buttoning it up. Perhaps because of the light by the river, a light shone in Karhan¡¯s eyes. It was more beautiful than the night view, so Lilia looked at him as if possessed for a moment. Karhan, who was fully buttoned, reached out. ¡°¡­¡­.Next time, I¡¯ll bring you the coat I borrowed last time.¡± Instead of answering, Karhan curved his eyes a little. Karhan seemed to laugh a lot when he was drunk. Lilia heard a rumbling sound inside, like waves crashing into her. Chapter 50 Raising My Fianc¨¦ With Money Chapter 50 Stubbornness TL: Jasmine Chapter 8 Richard Tersian stayed in the study without attending his favorite type of party. Sitting in front of the desk for the first time in a long time, he twirled his quill with his finger. Previously, Richard obtained Stella¡¯s cooperation. And he met the person Stella introduced him to. Stella brought in a maid who worked for the Duke of Evantheon and bought her with money. Until now, Stella seemed to have used her to find out karhan¡¯s schedule in advance. Richard had a history of bribing Count Bloden¡¯s servants, so things worked out easily. He got the information about the Duke of Evantheon he needed when he met the maid. However, he was anxious that he would not find a decisive weakness. The maid was clearly hiding something. However, she didn¡¯t easily tell him if she had been silenced by the Duke. Richard did not give up and worked hard. Being good, at seducing women, he captivated the maid¡¯s heart, which he had not won over with money. Eventually, the maid opened her mouth after urging him not to talk to anyone. ¨C I found out while working with the Duchess¡­ Actually, the second master is only a temporary successor. ¨C What does that mean? -You know that Evantheon has an eldest son, right? This secret was the weakness of Karhan, which Richard had been looking for so much. Karhan Evantheon is known to have driven out the eldest son and taken the successor position, but the reality was different. The eldest son had an accident and went abroad. Although he gave up his successor position for a while, he would return to the empire and become a duke after a moderate amount of time. Even within the family, Karhan was on the blacklist and had no power. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Richard raised his mouth. Richard did not believe it when Lilia said she had a loved one. It was because it was very suspicious to bring Karhan Evantheon, who was just a higher rank than himself. So Richard speculated that Lilia had some kind of deal with Karhan to keep him in check. What would happen if she found out that Karhan Evantheon was an empty shell? At least the trust between the two will collapse. There was plenty of time to squeeze in. Richard concluded his plan, thinking that he should visit Lilia soon. (P/R: NO STAY AWAY T.T) Lilia stared at the two coats hanging in the closet. The coat, which looked over-sized in her arms, stood out in the closet. A few days ago, Lilia ran into Karhan at the exhibition and invited him to dinner. At that time, Karhan handed her the clothes for her when she was feeling cold. Lilia took out the coat. Perhaps because it hadn¡¯t been washed, his scent had not yet faded. She didn¡¯t know what kind of perfume he used, but it was a refreshing scent as if she was in the forest. The lingering scent of the subtle citrus, not a heavy and strong scent, remained faint. It didn¡¯t seem to fit, but it strangely matched Karhan. The scent reminded her of the scenery of that time vividly. The dark riverside where the lights spanned out. The blue eyes, which seemed to be sucking her in, blazed in front of her eyes. The heat that rose where his eyes touched seemed to be still taking root. ¡­..It¡¯s because I drank alcohol.¡¯ At that time, the feeling of being possessed by something was probably all because of the alcohol. Lilia thought his clothes would be wrinkled, so she hung them again and turned around. When she came out of the dressing room, someone knocked on the bedroom door. ¡°Lady, dinner will be ready in an hour.¡± Lilia lifted herself up from her seat. Today was the day when all the family members gathered and ate together. Lilia, who had been stuck in the room all day, took off her pajamas and dressed up simply. When she arrived at the dinner hall, she could see her family already sitting down. Lilia quickly sat in an empty seat and asked, ¡°Am I late?¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re just in time.¡± Cliff shook his head. Lilia saw Heinley sitting across from her. ¡°You came early, too.¡± ¡°I know. You seem busy these days.¡± When Cliff helped with a word, Heinley replied, pushing up his glasses, ¡°I had a lot of work, but I just learned how to deal with it faster.¡± ¡°Damn b*stard.¡± He shook his head as if he was tired of Cliff. Lilia briefly recalled what had happened before. In the past, before Heinley entered the Academy, he had taken home lessons. The tutor was a very strict person, but he often bumped into Heinley, who had the same personality. To discourage Heinley, he gave him a tremendous task, and Heinley would finish it in a day. He even finished a week¡¯s worth of homework in three hours to play with Lilia. Her parents, who later found out about it, clicked their tongues, saying it was toxic behavior. ¡°Now that everyone¡¯s here, shall we eat?¡± Violet looked around and asked. As everyone nodded, the employees standing behind moved in unison. The colorful plates decorated the table. It was full of luxurious foods that could only be eaten on special days, even if they were aristocrats. Everyone ate appetizers and talked about what happened recently Lilia, who was watching the cheerful atmosphere, looked at her family for a moment. The family continued the conversation with light smiles. Over the past few years, everyone has slowly started eating together. It was more familiar to see the family angry or worried than smiling faces. She was sad and sorry to think that it was a scene that had been lost for a long time because of her. Lilia reflected on herself again and intervened in the conversation. After a while, the main dish came up after Cliff talked about his beloved turnip. Violet glanced at Heinley and opened her mouth. ¡°I¡¯ve received a marriage proposal for you¡­..¡± ¡°Please refuse.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not done talking yet. Why are you in such a hurry?¡± Violet raised one eyebrow. Heinley replied without even looking at Violet. ¡°It¡¯s a waste of time to listen to it.¡± ¡°¡­..Really. Whose stubbornness does that resemble.¡± Then Cliff looked at Violet quietly. Violet picked up the neatly placed knife. Cliff flinched and looked away, Violet lamented as she gracefully cut the meat with the knife, ¡°You don¡¯t want to get married, don¡¯t want to inherit; the business. It¡¯s really hard to find you a match.¡± ¡°Should we consider a third option?¡± When Cliff asked, the knife cut the meat at once. Cliff, who witnessed the bowl splitting in half with a crackling sound, raised his head. ¡°Who gave birth to the baby?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, wife¡± Cliff immediately apologized. Violet looked at Heinley quietly after having cleaned up the dish that broke into two. ¡°Well, no one can match your personality.¡± Violet convinced herself. Heinley was so thorough that he would force his parents to sign a contract when lending money. Hainley¡¯s personality was the reason why she did not push ahead with marriage too hard even though he was already nearing thirty. Heinley¡¯s wife might sue, claiming that it was a fraudulent marriage. ¡°I¡¯d rather ask Lilia to bring a son-in-law¡­¡­¡± Violet drew out her words. Karhan, who was dating Lilia, was the successor to Duke Evantheon. It was impossible to bring a future Duke as a live-in son-inlaw. ¡°By the way, are you seeing the Young Duke these days?¡± ¡°We met a few days ago.¡± Everyone turned their attention to Lilia¡¯s answer. Everyone was very interested in Karhan. ¡°I couldn¡¯t see him off last time. It kept bothering me¡­How¡¯s the wound?¡± ¡°I asked, and he said it healed well without a scar.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± Lilia raised her head slightly and looked at Violet¡¯s face. Her face was as peaceful as usual. After inviting Karhan to the mansion before, the family did not object much to him. It was judged that he was a better person than they thought. However, apart from that, it was clear that they still did not want Karhan. Violet asked Lilia. ¡°Anyways, he must be busy with his successor¡¯s class. Does he have time to meet you?¡± ¡°He looks sincere, so he¡¯ll do well.¡± Cliff, not Lilia, replied quickly. Heinly, who was eating quietly, was told by Violet, ¡°Since we only met him once, he might only be acting sincere.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Everyone looked at Cliff silently. Cliff was startled by the sudden looks at why he was saying this. Apparently, he was too open-minded about karhan. Cliff quickly began to look for excuses, ¡°No, I mean¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Did you meet the Young Duke?¡± Violet asked suspiciously. Cliff shouted, knocking and slamming the table, ¡°Why would I have to meet the Young Duke privately? He¡¯s the one who¡¯s going to take my daughter! Even if he asks me to meet him, I won¡¯t.¡± Cliff expressed excessive excitement, saying he was disgusted. Violet and Heinley, who saw his performance, looked at him strangely. ¡°What¡­..okay.¡± Cliff swallowed a sigh of relief inside. He thought he should at least wear a disguise when he met Karhan and watch the orchestra next time. It¡¯s hard to find someone who has such good tastes, but how could it be his daughter¡¯s boyfriend? Cliff tried to change the topic of the conversation, and the story was already passed on to Heinley. Heinley, who was cutting meat straight and smooth, opened his mouth. ¡°I think i¡¯ll get promoted this time.¡± ¡°What? Already?¡± ¡°I took care of everything my boss gave me, and my performance has accumulated a lot.¡± ¡°Congratulations, brother.¡± Lilia congratulated him sincerely. It was an unusual promotion for his age, so it was a family celebration ¡°Congratulations.¡± ¡°You worked hard.¡± Violet and Cliff, who congratulated, sighed at the same time. ¡°Who will inherit the business¡­.¡± ¡°Should I look for a professional manager from now on?¡± Lilia¡¯s heart pounded at the lamented tone. Her parents didn¡¯t even think that they would hand over the business to her. This was because Lilia had never been greedy, and after marrying Richard, she nailed it that she would be faithful to her duty as the wife of a Marquis. Lilia only had her lips tight. It may be too late to say that she wanted to participate in management now. However, if she keeps her mouth shut, nothing will change. Even if she will be criticized, she wanted to give an opinion. Isn¡¯t it funny she tells Karhan to express his opinion while she can¡¯t say anything? Lilia put down the tableware. At first glance, everyone¡¯s eyes were on Lilia as she looked back resolute. Lilia opened her mouth looking at her family one by one, ¡°I want to continue the business.¡± Chapter 51 Raising My Fianc¨¦ With Money Chapter 51 Responsibility TL: Jasmine Lilia¡¯s remarks made the surroundings quiet. ¡°You want to continue the business?¡± As if he couldn¡¯t believe it, Cliff asked. Violet also looked similar to Cliff. At their reaction, Lilia quietly clenched her fist. Perhaps because she was nervous, her palms were a little wet. ¡°Did I say that too hastily?¡¯ She has not yet fully restored the trust of her family. They couldn¡¯t suddenly welcome her and say she could continue the business now. It was an expected reaction, but her stomach was stinging more than she thought. In the quiet dinner hall, Lilia lowered her gaze. She thought about saying that it was just a joke and that she was talking nonsense for a moment. But she didn¡¯t want to either. She hadn¡¯t said it lightly, She didn¡¯t want to withdraw because after much, consideration, she had sincerely meant it. Lilia raised her head again, strengthening her determination. ¡°I know I¡¯m not good enough. I¡¯m not as good as my older brother¡­. I haven¡¯t learned anything or done anything.¡± When she was in a relationship with Richard, she took a bridal class because she wanted to be a good wife. Her parents disapproved of it, but they did not object. It was because it was Lilia¡¯s choice. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I deserve it¡­¡­ but I want to try it.¡± Lilia plucked up her courage and expressed her opinion. Violet and Cliff, who didn¡¯t say anything for a moment, looked at each other. Heinley also put down the tableware and looked only at Lilia. Violet asked Lilia on behalf of the three, ¡°No¡­ Since when have you been interested in business?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been interested in it for a long time, but it¡¯s only recently that I want to inherit the business.¡± ¡°What are you going to do about getting married?¡± ¡°Marriage is¡­¡± Lilia hesitated to answer for a moment. After Richard, Lilia had no desire to get married. It was only a contractual relationship with Karhan, and she decided to break up with him after achieving her goal a year later. She tried to answer that she would date, but not get married. At that time, Karhan¡¯s face suddenly came to mind. She remembered the way he looked at her, so Lilia wiggled her finger and said, ¡°¡­¡­.I don¡¯t have any thoughts about that yet.¡± Violet nodded with a satisfied face. ¡°That¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s no law that says you have to get married just because you¡¯re in a hurry!¡± Cliff was excited and added a word. Heinley, who had been silent, also responded positively and said, ¡°She¡¯ll be in a lot of trouble if she becomes a Duchess. How many foxes are sitting in the social world¡­..¡± Everyone seemed to have waited only for this time, Somehow, the topic seemed to have shifted from business to marriage, so Lilia changed the subject again. ¡°So I want to run the business¡­¡­¡± ¡°Do it.¡± Violet readily agreed. Lilia thought for a moment whether she had instead said she wanted to eat snacks and not about continuing the business. ¡°¡­..Are you really fine with it?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t force a guy who doesn¡¯t want to do it, can you?¡± Violet pointed at Heinley with her chin. Heinley pretended not to hear it and picked up the tableware again to eat. ¡°Such stubbornness¡­..¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s time to give up on persuasion.¡± When Heinley hit back, a tendon rose on the back of Violet¡¯s hand. ¡°Since it¡¯ll be Lilia that inherits the business, I don¡¯t have anything to ask you anymore.¡± Dazed, Lilia blinked. It was an opinion that she expressed after a lot of consideration. No matter how much her parents spoiled her, she didn¡¯t know she would be allowed to do it this easily. Violet turned her head and looked back at Lilia, ¡°It¡¯s been a while since you said you wanted to do something.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s not just about determination.¡± Violet¡¯s light green eyes met Lilia¡¯s. ¡°Can you swear you won¡¯t run away even if something hard comes up?¡± The Bloden name, which stretched out across the Empire, had grown so large that it had no significant rivals. In other words, the life and death of many people depended on the Bloden family. Their shoulders were already heavy. A heavy sense of responsibility weighed down on Lilia. Now was the last chance to withdraw her remarks. Lilia, who had been quiet for a while, slowly opened her mouth, ¡°I swear.¡± Violet confirmed Lilia¡¯s commitment through her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s enough for now. You should also consider your qualities as a businessman. Let¡¯s think about it slowly.¡± At Violet¡¯s words, Lilia finally exhaled her breath ¡°My daughter has grown so much¡­¡± Cliff, who was watching, dabbed his tears with a napkin instead of a handkerchief. He grabbed the napkin with a squeezing force, saying that it was just yesterday when she was a toddler. Heinley, who had been particularly quiet, quietly opened his mouth, ¡°Tell me if you¡¯re having a hard time. I¡¯ll help you.¡± Lilia blinked slowly. Perhaps because she had only seen him oppose her since she met Richard, Heinley, who agreed with what she said, was unfamiliar. Lilia lowered her eyes silently. In fact, the reason why she hesitated for a long time before bringing this up was because of Heinley. Originally, it was a place for him to inherit, but she felt bad because she felt like she had taken it away. ¡°Brother is it fine?¡± ¡°It¡¯s your decision, so you¡¯ll do well.¡± ¡°¡­No, not that.¡± ¡°What else is there?¡± Heinley didn¡¯t even seem to care. Indeed, there seemed to be no regret as much as ant tears for the business. Rather, he looked relieved, as if she had released his burden. Only then did Lilia feel at ease. Heinley, who saw Lilia¡¯s bright face, raised one eyebrow. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be conscious of me. You do it if you want to.¡± It was a blunt tone, but it was the words she wanted to hear the most. ¡°Thank you.¡± Her heart was reassured by the support of her family, Lilia went out after a long time. She planned to purchase a painting at her father¡¯s request. He could have asked others to do it, but Lilia and Cliff had a similar eye. Thanks to this, when Cliff was in a hurry to do something else, Lilia would go and choose paintings herself. Lilia, who got on the carriage, was lost in thought for a moment. Recently, she rarely met Karhan. Now that he is quite self-assertive and the people around him don¡¯t feel scared of him, she doesn¡¯t have to meet him as regularly as before. And she didn¡¯t make an appointment on purpose because she thought karhan would be busy. It felt somewhat empty because they went from constantly seeing each other to not seeing each other for more than a week. Suddenly, she even thought she wanted to see him. Lilia shook her head. I¡¯m the one who will have to break up with him later anyway, but what if I already get attached to him?¡¯ She thought she should keep an appropriate distance, Lilia, who got off the carriage, headed to the gallery she had reserved. At that time, she saw two people fighting. It was a man who appeared to be the owner of the gallery and a woman in shabby clothes. ¡°It¡¯s okay if it¡¯s for a second, so look at my drawing.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s enough. Get out right now. Do you think we¡¯re doing business by digging for people like you?¡± The owner pushed the woman roughly. However, the woman begged with two legs. ¡°This is the last place. Please give me one more chance.¡± She said she would give up if the work was not good, and the woman held out what she was holding in her arms. It was a thin and square object wrapped in cheap newspaper. It seemed that the wooden board was wrapped around a newspaper. The gallery owner threw the woman¡¯s stuff on the floor and said, ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll be terrible without looking. What a waste of time! If you don¡¯t get out, I¡¯ll call the security guard!¡± He spit out, as if he was trying to get rid of something unlucky. The door closed coldly, and the woman stood with a devastated face, bent down and picked up the wooden board that fell on the floor. With her head down, she stood there for a long time and eventually turned away. Lilia, who watched all of it, became very uncomfortable. The gallery owner¡¯s position was understandable. Since he is a businessman, it was natural to sell commercial works. However, it would not be difficult, and she thought he could take a moment to look at the work. It could even be valuable work for someone, and yet he was throwing it on the floor and spitting. If her father, who respects each piece of art, saw that, he would be furious. Standing in front of the glass door, the gallery owner who was looking to see if the woman had gone, ran out after seeing Lilia. Just now, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder where his earlier figure went, and obviously he smiled brightly, rubbing his hands. ¡°I was waiting. Miss Bloden.¡± Lilia looked at him blankly ¡°I¡¯ll cancel my reservation.¡± ¡°Yes¡­?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything I want to buy.¡± It was obvious that the gallery treated art only as money. ¡°Well, I brought in a lot of good work this time¡­..¡± The embarrassed owner wondered if he had made Lilia feel uncomfortable. Lilia knew these people well. A person who becomes infinitely weak to the strong. At that moment, Lilia¡¯s face hardened when she thought of Richard. When her face, which was only soft and gentle, became cold, the owner shut up. It was because he thought that he would miss out on a very precious guest. ¡°N, Next time please visit us!¡± He flexed and sent Lilia off. However, there would never be a person from the Bloden family visiting that gallery again. Lilia turned right away. Not long away, she saw the back of the woman she saw earlier. Obviously, it would not have been the first time that she was beaten out the door. She would have been rejected repeatedly for her shabby clothes and unknown name. Nevertheless, Lilia didn¡¯t hate her persistence of knocking on the doors. She also wondered what kind of painting such a person would draw. So she wanted to give her a chance at least once. Lilia agonized for a moment. She was worried if her actions seemed appropriate. Malek, who noticed Lilia was hesitating, quietly said, ¡°Your decision may be a rare opportunity for her.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Eventually, Lilia chased the woman. ¡°Wait a minute.¡± The woman stopped at Lilia¡¯s call. Then she slowly turned her head. Seeing the woman¡¯s face, Lilia opened her eyes wide. It was the woman who had hesitated in front of the museum because of the admission fee. Chapter 52 Raising My Fianc¨¦ With Money Chapter 52 Vanessa TL: Jasmine ¡°¡­¡­ Who are you?¡± When the woman blinked and asked, Lilia realised she was mistaken. Come to think of it, she was the only one who recognized her. Lilia, who had hesitated for a while, spoke frankly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I happened to see that scene while passing by the gallery earlier. Do you draw?¡± She answered without energy, ¡°Yes¡­ But I¡¯ve never even published a work. Even if I want to entrust it to a gallery, I¡¯m repeatedly kicked out.¡± ¡°I think I should stop drawing.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯d quit¡­.¡± When Lilia was very sorry, the woman hesitated and confessed. ¡°I was lucky to go to the exhibition a while ago, and I saw paintings of other painters there. There are so many people in the world who draw well.¡± She seemed to have lost a lot of confidence after going to the exhibition and seeing colorful works. ¡°I can¡¯t afford that kind of paint, my drawings are monotonous¡­¡­.¡± (T/N: dull, and repetitious; lacking in variety and interest.) Her cheeks turned red as if she was ashamed to tell such a trivial story. Lilia agonized for a moment. Even if she didn¡¯t ask, she could see the situation clearly. She didn¡¯t look like she was in any position to be anyone¡¯s student. Lilia made a decision after hesitation. She thought she would recommend Cliff¡¯s atelier if she had any talent. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, can you show me your drawing?¡± ¡°¡­..My drawing?¡± ¡°Yes. Can¡¯t you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that, because this is the first time¡­..¡± The woman carefully asked if it was okay because it was charcoal. When Lilia nodded, she carefully removed the newspaper for her one audience. Then, a piece of paper painted with black charcoal was revealed on the wooden board. ¡± The moment she saw the picture, Lilia was suffocated. It was very rough and unconventional. The thick lines that stretched randomly formed the shape of a wolf. The wolf in the picture seemed like it would run out of the picture with power at any moment. From head to toe, she felt numb and fluffy. Forgetting that she was standing in the middle of the road, Lilia looked at the painting for a long time. When Lilia didn¡¯t say anything, she said awkwardly, ¡°As expected, I¡¯m very inexperienced, right? Actually, majored in oil painting, but paint was too expensive¡­.¡± Lilia jerked up her head. The surprised woman tilted her upper body. ¡°Your major is oil painting?¡± ¡°Yes? Yes. All I can do now is draw with charcoal¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Oh my god.¡± It was awesome. The drawing was still great, but if she made use of her major, she (the woman) would be the best painter representing her generation. Lilia reached out and held her hand. ¡°Contract with me!¡± Vanessa is a commoner, but she was born as the eldest daughter of a wealthy family. She had a natural talent for painting. Her family recognized Vanessa¡¯s talent and provided support. Vanessa flew toward her dream with the encouragement of her family, But before she turned fifteen, her family collapsed. It was because her parents misplaced the joint guarantee 1). The most prosperous house in the neighborhood was auctioned off, and the place where she fled from the debtor and settled was the slum. Her parents went to a distant country to pay off the debts. Vanessa had to feed her two younger siblings day by day. Nevertheless, Vanessa did not give up on her dream. During the day she worked at a nearby restaurant and in the evening she painted. Although she had no lucrative materials, she obtained charcoal to continue her painting practice. As time passed, Vanessa was at a crossroads. The situation only got worse, and she couldn¡¯t make ends meet with paintings. She had to let go of her dream now. At that time, Vanessa heard that a large exhibition would be held in the capital. Finally, she decided to see the exhibition When she arrived in front of the museum, there was an admission fee. It was not much money for others, but it was not readily available to Vanessa. When she turned around after hesitating, the exhibition staff exclaimed, ¨C The 1,000th guest is free of charge. After her family collapsed, luck had finally fallen on Vanessa, who was full of bad luck. Vanessa, who entered the art museum for free, saw the works of the painters. The art that was generously poured out with expensive paints was very colorful and splendid Looking at the art, she felt shabby wearing dull and old clothes. Vanessa, who had been to the exhibition, thought about giving up everything, and decided to really try on her last challenge. From that day on, Vanessa began touring the galleries blindly. If she was lucky, she was politely rejected, and if she was unlucky, she was cursed and dragged out by the guard. What all had in common was that Vanessa wasn¡¯t welcomed anywhere. Repeated rejection and contempt during numerous galleries tarnished her self-esteem. All that was left were seeds of hope. And when she arrived at the last gallery, Vanessa thought, ¡®If I get rejected here, let¡¯s burn all the art and cling to my livelihood.¡¯ Vanessa knocked on the gallery door. However, only criticism and swear words were returned this time. When even the seeds she had were carved out, Vanessa was completely broken. Vanessa thought she should go back home and burn the art. Then someone called Vanessa, ¡°Wait a minute.¡± As she turned her head, she saw a lady with soft blonde hair and clear purple eyes. She was accompanied by two tall men and the flow of elegance hinted that she was an aristocratic young lady. Vanessa, who was staring blankly at her lovely face, asked belatedly, ¡°¡­..Who are you?¡± Then she replied that she saw what happened in front of the gallery earlier. When asked if she was drawing, Vanessa was frustrated and told the woman whom she saw for the first time. She, who was just listening, asked if she could see her work. She hesitated because it was a shameful work that no one welcomed. I¡¯m going to go home and burn it anyway, but it¡¯s better to show it to at least one person.¡¯ As she thought so, she had nothing to show. Vanessa showed her charcoal paintings that she had painted. The lady didn¡¯t say anything for a while, then grabbed Vanessa¡¯s hand and shouted. ¡°Contract with me!¡± Vanessa blinked because she thought she heard it wrong for a moment. ¡°No, not like this. Let¡¯s sit somewhere and talk.¡± Vanessa was dragged away. When she came to her senses, she sat in a luxury tea house nearby. Vanessa, who checked the menu, was surprised. A cup of tea was more expensive than the cost of two meals. ¡°I¡¯ll buy it. Don¡¯t feel pressured.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Thank you.¡± Vanessa had no pride to put forward. If a word of thanks could save you money, it would be cheap. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Va, Vanessa.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a pretty name.¡± She smiled. Introducing herself as Lilia, she made suggestions one after another. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, won¡¯t you sign a contract with me?¡± ¡°Contract¡­..?¡± ¡°I can provide as much support as you want, such as painting materials and art galleries, I¡¯ll pay the down payment in advance.¡± Vanessa only opened her mouth at the tremendous proposal. There was no reason to make such a proposal to her, an unknown person. ¡°¡­.. Why did you choose me?¡± ¡°I really liked the work.¡± It was a crystal clear answer. Vanessa looked at Lilia with trembling eyes. She was about to be swayed by her angel-like appearance. ¡­¡­ Maybe she¡¯s a scammer. The world is wide and rough, so there must have been a swindler with such a lovely face. But now Vanessa had nothing more to lose, even to a scammer. ¡°If you give me a moment to think¡­¡­.¡± ¡°How many days later should we meet again?¡± ¡°N, No. Just a moment¡­¡± Vanessa urgently shouted, fearing that Lilia would leave like this. Lilia drank tea leisurely, telling her to do so. It was elegant even though she was just drinking tea. Vanessa, who was briefly distracted by the appearance, shook her head. Will this opportunity come to me in the future? Lilia was the only one who said she liked her work, which everyone had ignored, except for her family ¡°That¡­.. I don¡¯t have money. Will it be okay?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Lilia smiled softly. Vanessa, who breathed a sign of relief inside, made eye contact with Lilia for the first time. ¡°I want to sign a contract.¡± The voice seemed to tremble badly at the end. ¡°Frances.¡± Lilia reached out her palm and called someone, Immediately, a man with blue hair handed over a pen and paper. Upon receiving it, Lilia called a man with navy hair who looked older. When she whispered something, he left right away. Only the man called Frances stood in a straight escorting posture. ¡°This is a temporary contract. How much do you want in advance?¡± Vanessa thought about it. She herself had something called shame. However, if she focused on painting, she would not be able to work at a restaurant. Fortunately, her younger siblings met with the bakery owner and didn¡¯t go hungry, but there were monthly living expenses to worry about. There were many things to spend money on because of her siblings. Vanessa carefully opened her mouth. ¡°¡­1500 Kroel.¡± ¡°1500¡­¡­?¡± Vanessa looked at Lilia¡¯s reaction that screamed it was ridiculous. As expected, it must have been too shameful to receive two months¡¯ salary at once from working at a restaurant. As Vanessa hurriedly tried to correct, Lilia said, ¡°It¡¯s too little.¡± ¡°¡­¡­What?¡± What do you mean it¡¯s too little? It was a large amount that she had seriously thought about. Did I look so skinny? Lilia muttered to herself, then banged on the table. ¡°Let¡¯s do 150,000 Kroel.¡± Vanessa was instantly dizzy at the huge amount of money. It was exactly 100 times the amount she asked for. Vanessa froze at an amount beyond her imagination. Then Lilia tilted her head and suggested it again. ¡°Don¡¯t you like it? Then 300,000 Kroel? [1] A joint guarantee means the signatories are jointly liable as a group for the borrower¡¯s indebtedness. If one guarantor does not pay, the others are on the hook to fulfill the group¡¯s obligation to repay the full amount of that indebtedness More about joint guarantee: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/ joint-and-several-guarantee Chapter 53 Raising My Fianc¨¦ With Money Chapter 53 Love Beginner, Become a Master! Thank you ¡®worthlessworm for the donation! (01/02 Done] TL: Jasmine ¡°¡­..Gasp!¡± Vanessa was surprised and took a deep breath. It was an amount that she wasn¡¯t guaranteed to earn even if she washed the dishes for the rest of her life. Lilia, who saw Vanessa¡¯s reaction, took a blank check out of her sleeve. After she wrote down the amount and signed it in a smooth handwriting, she held out the check. ¡°If you go to the bank, they will give you the money after ID verification. The down payment will not be deducted from the sales revenue.¡± It was just like the money was freely given. Vanessa received the blank check, her heart was beating so fast that she felt like it was about to burst. Holding her pen again, Lilia set her terms one by one. ¡°I am not going to set a specific production period because I am not making the work. Instead, the contract period is three years, and you cannot accept other requests without prior agreement.¡± Vanessa nodded blankly. Lilia even explained the distribution of profits from the work and the exhibition. Lilia smiled very sweetly, perhaps saying everything that came to mind right away. ¡°I can coordinate everything, so tell me anytime.¡± ¡°¡­.. What if I don¡¯t draw during the contract period?¡± Vanessa made a tearful face. She received a lot of money, but it was unclear whether she could draw a picture that would satisfy Lilia. ¡°It¡¯s okay. We can keep this picture then.¡± Lilia pointed to Vanessa¡¯s charcoal painting and said, ¡°It¡¯s a temporary contract, but if you¡¯ve made a decision, sign it at the bottom.¡± Lilia pointed at the part where she wrote her name with her fingertips. Vanessa continued to exhale deeply. It was such an unconventional proposal to the point where she wondered if this was all a dream. However, Vanessa closed her eyes and wrote down her name because she had nothing to lose. Lilia, who picked up the contract, smiled very satisfied like a hunter who captured their prey. ¡°I hurriedly prepared an Atelier while writing the contract. It¡¯s almost done. Do you want to go see it with me?¡± (T/N: Atelier- a workshop or studio, especially one used by an artist or designer.) When Lilia got up from her seat, Vanessa also sprang up. She walked after Lilia. Passing through the busy downtown area and a street lined with neat shops. Compared to the usual streets she frequented, the passers-bys¡¯ appearances here were different. It was obvious that they were dressed neatly and worked hard. But no one was as cute as Lilia. (PR: RIGHT) Lilia entered a street full of art galleries and ateliers. They entered the largest and most sophisticated building among them. On the first floor, there was a drawing room that sold paintings, and when she went up to the second floor, an atelier that was wide enough to run around in appeared. Vanessa looked around the room like a country mouse who had never been to a city before. ¡°Where is my seat? Can I draw it in the corner?¡± ¡°You can draw wherever you want. Because you are going to use this room alone.¡± ¡°Me alone¡­?¡± This wide and nice atelier? When Vanessa opened her mouth, Lilia nodded and said, ¡°If you need anything, bring it from the studio downstairs. The upper floor is a resting area. It¡¯s all for you, so use it however you want.¡± Vanessa froze at those tremendous remarks and just stared blankly. The wealth that all this will give her in just an hour or two¡­.. Vanessa looked at Lilia with a little fear. She didn¡¯t think Lilia was a scammer¡­. What the hell was this? Eventually, Vanessa couldn¡¯t hold back her curiosity and asked, ¡°What do you do for a living¡­ May I ask?¡± She was confident that she would not be surprised even if she was the owner of the building. Even if she owned about ten buildings. And Lilia replied, a little shy, ¡°I haven¡¯t started anything yet¡­¡­.¡± Are you saying you¡¯re unemployed¡­? ¡°My family is the Bloden¡¯s.¡± Vanessa was surprised and fell down. Karhan started preparing to go out after a long time. It was the day he was supposed to meet Lilia after a long time. Lilia always made the appointments, but these days, there had been no invite to meet. The news was so trifling that Tession urged him to send a letter. Karhan also had the courage to ask her to meet first, but before he could, Lilia sent a letter. (Do you have time tomorrow?] Karhan replied that he has time without even thinking about it. After washing thoroughly from head to toe, he opened the closet. Usually, he wore whatever he put his hands on, but today he was more cautious. Tession, who was standing behind, smiled happily. The hanger was perfect, so no matter what he wore, it was perfect. In particular, perhaps because the hideous energy eased, his handsome face seemed to shine even more. Even Tession, who had been with him for years, wondered if Karhan ever had this type of face. ¡°What about clothes like this?¡± It was a shirt with no buttons on the top, so it naturally exposed up to the collarbone. Besides, it was a little small for his body, so it seemed to fit his body perfectly. Karhan, who usually liked to wear a shirt with a wide chest, made a subtle expression. ¡°It¡¯s revealing¡­..¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t even revealing.¡± Tession insisted that the strengths should be highlighted. Karhan thought for a while about what his strengths were and decided to follow his opinion. After putting on the clothes, it was revealed that he has a muscular body. It was awkward, so he was thinking about changing to another outfit, but Tession applauded. ¡°Miss Bloden will like it too.¡± At that, Karhan decided to go out as he was. His heart pounded until he got on the wagon after all the preparations were completed. His face reflected in the window looked so excited that it was unfamiliar to him. In fact, he couldn¡¯t even sleep well last night. It was because his head was full of thoughts (Lilia). The last time he met Lilia. Karhan was drunk for the first time in his life. He thought he definitely drank less than Lilia, but his head got more and more dizzy, and his words kept slowing down. Then, he came to reveal all the secrets he had not divulged until now. It must have been boring, but Lilia listened quietly. He liked it, so Karhan talked about himself heavily. But since that day, he has not been contacted by Lilia. He thought about whether he had made a mistake for a few days. Karhan stared at the window. The passing scenery was blurred, and Lilia¡¯s face was dimly reflected. Before parting ways that day, Karhan took off his coat and gave it to Lilia. Seeing Lilia who was cold, his body moved automatically. Due to the big difference in size, Lilia looked up at him wrapped in the large coat. While drunk, he thought that Lilia in his coat was cute. As he recalled the scene again, his heart beat faster. Karhan took a medicine container out of his pocket and swallowed two pills. ¡°No way, is your heart okay?¡± Tession, sitting across from him, asked anxiously Tession, who confirmed Karhan¡¯s red cheeks, said with a serious face. ¡°I think you should get tested again soon.¡± Karhan nodded slowly. But after taking the medicine, he felt a little more calm. Karhan, who slowly exhaled, leaned against the seat. He was immersed in thoughts again, remembering what he couldn¡¯t say last time. Taking advantage of the alcohol, he tried to tell Lilia the truth about the successor¡¯s issue. But he couldn¡¯t say it in the end. It can¡¯t be hidden forever, so he was going to tell Lilia the truth sooner or later. Will she get angry, asking how he deceived her so far? What if her sweet eyes change coldly? Whenever he thought about it, he became depressed. Arriving near the meeting place, Karhan headed to the tea house. Since he came out early because he had nothing to do anyway, he was going to spend time reading books. It was warm, so he sat on the terrace of the tea house and started reading. Then a man passing by the street stopped. Feeling the explicit gaze, Karhan slowly raised his head. ¡°No way, aren¡¯t you the Young Duke of Evantheon?¡± The man spoke with a very welcoming face. But Karhan didn¡¯t know who he was. After introducing himself as the eldest son of a Viscount, the man began to pretend to be friendly. It was amazing to see him talking hard. It was really rare for someone to talk to him without hesitation. It was worth wearing the clothes recommended by Tession. ¡°It seems that reading is a hobby for the Young Duke, You were reading it very seriously, so I was thinking about whether to talk to you or not.¡± Karhan didn¡¯t know what to say, so he nodded once. Then the man took the opportunity to talk naturally ¡°What kind of book do you read¡­.¡± Karhan showed the cover of the book without saying a word. [Love Beginner, Become a Master!) The face of the man who was shamelessly smiling turned into embarrassment. The man, who had been looking at the cover for a long time as if he couldn¡¯t believe it, slowly looked up at Karhan. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s a great book. I think I saw it at a bookstore.¡± The man was embarrassed and said anything that came to mind. Then Karhan¡¯s expression became softer. The man, who was staring at his face blankly, thought it was an opportunity, so he sat in the opposite seat. ¡°When I saw you at the banquet last time, I wanted to talk to you even for a moment.¡± Watching the self-invited young lord, who explicitly expressed his desire to build friendship, Tession wondered what to do. If it had been before, a man with such a clear purpose would have been removed from the line of sight. But now Karhan was different from before, so it was not right for him to be too nosy. Karhan looked at the man silently. It was a very favorable attitude towards him. He didn¡¯t even know that a person could get close. Wouldn¡¯t Lilia compliment him if he told her that he made a friend for the first time? Karhan listened to the man with the corners of his mouth fixed as he was about to smile at the thought. He was just listening unilaterally, but he was worried about how to continue the conversation. ¨C I keep the conversation going by asking about what the other person just said. If the other person says, ¡®I met my friend yesterday,¡¯I ask back, ¡®With a friend?¡¯ Then, the conversation often leads naturally to the other person again. Suddenly, what Lilia said before came to mind. Karhan thought it was time to use the dialogue he had learned from Lilia. The man told Karhan a social story ¡°A few days ago, I went to a banquet at the house of Marquis Langston.¡± Karhan responded as he learned from Lilia. ¡°Went?¡± (T/N: in Korean the sentence structure is different so the word ¡°went¡± that is: C 4 /C was placed in the end and Karhan just repeated the last word) ¡°¡­¡­ The Count¡¯s Young Lady, who had not been to a banquet for a long time, appeared.¡± ¡°Appeared?¡± ¡°Unlike rumors¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Rumors?¡± When Karhan asked back in a heavy voice, the man paused for a moment. It wasn¡¯t long before he cried and apologized. ¡°¡­.I¡¯m sorry.¡± The man apologized for interrupting his reading and left immediately. Karhan, who was looking at his retreating back that was as fast as the wind, blinked. ¡°Isn¡¯t this¡­.¡± It was his first chance to make a friend¡­.. What went wrong, Karhan didn¡¯t know. Chapter 54 Raising My Fianc¨¦ With Money Chapter 53 Changed Atmosphere (11) Thank you ¡®worthlessworm for the donation! (02/02 Done] TL: Jasmine Lilia recalled Vanessa, whom she had recently signed a contract with Introducing herself as Vanessa, she had a tremendous talent. It was the first time she felt thrilled looking at a charcoal painting. Lilia was very excited to see how amazing she would be if she was to paint an oil painting, which she majored in. As soon as Lilia returned home, she told her father that a big newcomer appeared. Lilia shouted loudly to her father, who showed interest, that she would show it to him until the work was completed. ¡°Lady, how is it?¡± Lilia, who deviated from her thoughts at the employee¡¯s call, saw herself in the mirror. Bright blonde hair, like the end of the late afternoon sunlight, naturally drooped, and the makeup emphasizes only the eyes in a line that is not too dark. ¡°I want my lips to be more pinkish.¡± Lilia made small requirements. She could have done as usual, but she was worried for no reason because she hadn¡¯t seen him in a long time. After checking the time, Lilia left the bedroom. As she went down to the front door, Frances and Malek, who had been waiting in advance, welcomed Lilia. ¡°Lady, you¡¯re shining even more today.¡± Frances poured out compliments. Lilia smiled and got in the carriage. ¡°Did you load the coat and stuff?¡± ¡°Yes, I moved everything neatly.¡± Upon hearing Malek¡¯s answer, Lilia leaned back against the back of the seat. Today was the day she will meet Karhan after a long time. The last time she saw him was more than fifteen days, it was a record that they hadn¡¯t met for this long since they started the contract relationship. There was no special reason to keep him away. Just¡­ It was just that her mind was a little complicated, Even though she was going about her daily life, sometimes Karhan¡¯s mature appearance when she last met him would pop into her mind. She couldn¡¯t forget the way he looked at her with slightly red eyes because he was drunk. So far, Lilia thought Karhan was an innocent but quite a good contractual partner. She was pretending to be a lover, but she had no intention of really dating him. But that day¡­ Lilia felt a strange feeling. Her body was cold, but her chest was warm. It was strangely itchy where Karhan¡¯s eyes touched. The seeds pushed out in her heart as though they were sprouting. Since then, Lilia has not contacted Karhan. Anyway, she taught Karhan almost everything, so she thought it was time to keep a moderate distance. She had busy days. In the meantime, there has been no contact from Karhan. It was Lilia who always contacted first. Lilia thought that she should meet him after a long time. She was going to return the coat she borrowed from him. Lilia looked out the window silently. She had just exited from the mansion¡¯s garden. As she was looking at the scenery, Karhan came into her head again. Suddenly, the last time she met him, she remembered that he was trying to say something. She asked if he was busy with his successor¡¯s class, and Karhan seemed to have tried to answer it. Karhan¡¯s expression looking at her with a slightly pale face kept bothering her. ¡°What was he going to talk about?¡¯ Sooner or later, it would be better to ask secretly. A cool breeze came through the open window. Her neatly drooped hair fluttered in the wind. The meeting place was getting closer. It was the destination just around that corner. Lila began preparing to get off slowly. Thud! The wagon shook violently. Lila¡¯s body also staggered, along with it. ¡°Lady!¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± Frances and Malek immediately asked her. Lilia replaced the answer with a nod. The carriage stopped, and she heard a horseman shouting from outside, ¡°Can¡¯t you drive the wagon properly!!¡± ¡°It¡¯s you that can¡¯t!!¡± Malek heard the horseman¡¯s voice and grasped the situation. ¡°It seems like a collision has occurred.¡± ¡°Brother! Hurry up and take off your clothes!¡± Quickly, Frances pulled at Malek¡¯s coat, saying it was important to get a head start in the fight. Malek was the largest of them. Frances urged Malek as he had a trustworthy body, whereas Frances had a slender physique and fine muscles. In an instant, he took off his coat and pulled his shirt sleeves to his forearm. Malek put his chin on the window and his arm on it. After a long knight¡¯s life, the scarred arm stretched out. Then the opponent¡¯s horseman became quiet for a while. ¡°I knew this would happen.¡± It was a law more powerful to show once than to say ten words. Frances looked at Malek¡¯s forearm with envy. Frances, who did not have such strong forearms, was always looked down on. ¡°What fuss is this!¡± ¡°Young master!¡± Another voice intervened from the outside. Lilia looked outside through the window. A man who appeared to be the owner of the carriage came into view. ¡°I think I¡¯ll have to go out.¡± ¡°Lady, stay inside. We¡¯ll deal with it.¡± Frances clenched his hand, saying it was fine. ¡°Don¡¯t cause any trouble¡± Malek lightly pressed Frances¡¯ shoulder. Unlike his calm voice, Malek had lost his usual smile. Lilia was almost hurt, so he looked angry. Frances and Malek got off the waggon. Lilia watched the situation with her face against the window. The owner of the opposing carriage appeared to be a nobleman. The man seemed to be with an escort of similar size to Malek. Frances and Malek, the owner of the carriage, the escort, and two horsemen. As many as six men began to fight with a buzz. ¡°Isn¡¯t it you who didn¡¯t slow down?¡± ¡°Do you have any evidence? Huh?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you see I crossed the line?¡± ¡°You should have gone down the road on your own!¡± Malek calmly spoke on the grounds, but the opponent was rather angry. Frances, who was next to him, smirked saying whether he was angry. If it had been before he would have gone out ready with his fist. but it was worthwhile to train hard. ¡°Do you know who I am? I¡¯m going to be a count soon! What family are you?¡± In the end, the opponent began to condescend with his status. Lilia checked the sigil stamped on the back of the opponent¡¯s carriage. It was a count family located on the outskirts of the capital. Previously, a member of that family flattered Richard and she remembered it. Lilia sighed and got off the waggon. When the doon opened, everyone stopped talking for a while. Lilia spoke to the Young Count with an expressionless face, ¡°I am Bloden.¡± The Young Count, who was staring at Lilia for a moment, flinched. He belatedly found the seal of the Blodon family stamped on the carriage and opened his eyes wide. In the meantime, Lilia quickly skimmed through the two carriages that caused the collision. The carriage over there was far beyond the centre of the road. It was obviously the fault that lied with that side. ¡°I think it¡¯s your fault. If you apologise now, I¡¯ll let it slide.¡± ¡°A, apologies? Me?¡± ¡°Or should I call the security guard?¡± His face turned a little red. ¡°No, even if you are Bloden, is it okay for you to come out like this?¡± A large escort knight standing behind the Count Young lord came out menacingly. He did not lower his momentum, perhaps to scare Lilia. ¡°That punk¡­¡± Frances couldn¡¯t take it any longer and put his hand on his sheath. It was at that time when the sword, fight was about to take place, ¡°Lilia¡­.¡± A familiar voice was heard. Everyone turned their heads in the direction of the sound. Karhan frowned when their gazes fell to him all at once. His habit of being embarrassed came out. The Count Young lord and the escort knight who saw Karhan gasped. Karhan, who frowned, was hideous. In addition, today¡¯s Karhan was quite different from usual. Karhan¡¯s shirt had no buttons on top, so his collarbone was revealed. In addition, it fitted tightly to his body and highlighted his shape. Through the thin fabric, his hard body could be seen slightly. He was frowning, so the current Karhan right now looked like¡­.. It was reminiscent of a gangster in the back alley like the guards misunderstood last time. Karhan, who had stopped for a while, walked this way, He was a tall person who stood out from a distance, and when he came close, he was intimidating and gave out a lot of pressure. The Count Young lord held onto the hem of the escort knight without breathing. But, even the escort knight was frozen. Instinctively, he realised that he was no match for Karhan. ¡°¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± The Young lord apologised quickly. Everyone began to beg for forgiveness, saying it was their fault. Money and status were all useless if they were beaten and killed here. ¡°Leave.¡± Lilia waved her hand as she saw him lowering down his tail to the strong. She didn¡¯t want to waste any more time. Since she memorised which family it was anyway, they would surely meet again someday. The Young Lord hurriedly boarded the waggon. Like an arrow that escaped the protest, the carriage left immediately. Karhan, who had only appeared, asked, Lilia, ¡°Did I do something¡­ Did I make a mistake?¡± ¡°No. It was just perfect.¡± ¡°¡­¡­I guess there¡¯s still people who are scared of me.¡± He thought it had changed a lot, but as Karhan muttered that he was still lacking, Lilia folded her eyes and reassured him. ¡°Do you know? If a person changes suddenly, he or she dies. Take your time. Slowly.¡± Karhan nodded with a gentle face. T/N: gueeeeess what? Only 4 more chapters are left for volume 2 to finish!! Chapter 55 Raising My Fianc¨¦ With Money Chapter 55 Friends TL: Jasmine Lilia stared at the direction where the carriage disappeared, then turned her head and looked up at Karhan. ¡°By the way, how did you know what happened?¡± ¡°I was at the appointment place and heard the commotion, so I came here just in case.¡± Well, since they had an argument in the middle of the boulevard¡­¡­. Lilia looked around. Before she knew it, there were a lot of people. ¡°Shall we go first?¡± When Malek and the horseman finished talking, Lilia took a step first. As the crowd dispersed, Lilia stopped. Karhan, who quietly followed, also stopped. ¡°By the way, your outfit is a bit bold today.¡± At Lilia¡¯s words, Karhan glanced at Tession and asked, ¡°Is it weird¡­..?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, but¡­¡­.¡± With a body that was not common, people passing by would look back. His straight clavicle and ridge-like shoulders stood out in particular. With a great physique, even when he frowned like before, it made a significant difference. In the event of the carriage accident, if Karhan had put his forearm out the window instead of Malek, the other party would not have tried to pick a fight. Lilia looked at Karhan silently for a moment and shook her head. ¡°No, it looks good on you.¡± This was different because he always wore clothes with plenty of cover. Above all, his body, which seemed to have been strengthened by training, was very ideal. If she had seen his body in the atelier, she would have thought his torso was imitating a statue¡¯s.. Tession looked noticeably relieved at Lilia¡¯s compliment. Seeing him, Lilia tilted her head and suggested walking for now. The two walked slowly down the street without going to the meeting place, There was a moment of silence. Normally, Lilia would have naturally started the conversation, but it was Karhan who opened his mouth first, ¡°Did you go home safely that day?¡± He was referring to the last day they met. It was the day they met by chance at the exhibition and even drank together. ¡°Did I make a mistake or something¡­¡± Lilia recalled the memories of the day she had buried for a while. She remembered his eyes, which had been filled with heat. Lilia laughed jokingly after shaking off her memory, ¡°You didn¡¯t make a mistake, but you were weaker than I thought.¡± ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t know I was that weak either.¡± Frances, Malek, and Tession, who were standing behind, naturally looked at Lilia. Karhan¡¯s drinking capacity was about average, but Lilia drank so well that he looked relatively weak. But the two didn¡¯t notice anything strange. ¡°Come to think of it, someone talked to me earlier.¡± ¡°Really? Who was it?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t ask his name, but it was with a friendly attitude from the first moment.¡± Karhan continued to talk with his eyes down as if it were regrettable. ¡°I tried to continue the conversation as you told me last time, but the other person apologised and left. I think I made a mistake.¡± Lilia recalled the conversation method she had previously taught Karhan. She thought it was easy, but it seemed difficult for him. Lilia suggested to Karhan, who looked upset, ¡°Let¡¯s practice together later.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He nodded as if he was still gloomy. ¡°¡­¡­. Lilia seems to have a lot of friends.¡± At Karhan¡¯s statement, Lilia remained silent. ¡°Do I have any friends?¡¯ There was no person who came to mind. All the names that barely came to mind were people who were related to Richard. Most of them just looked at her for the money and approached her. ¡°I don¡¯t have any.¡± Karhan was perplexed at the firm answer. Lilia shrugged lightly. She remembered she had a friend when she was young, but when she grew up, quarrelling interests led her to stay away from everything. She had been betrayed so many times that she no longer felt the need to make friends. Lilia looked up at Karhan. They joined hands for the same purpose, but if she defined her relationship with Karhan, wouldn¡¯t it be close to friends? ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but I think we are friends.¡± Karhan¡¯s expression, who was silently looking at Lilia, shook for a moment. Lilia, who did not see it, suggested, ¡°You didn¡¯t have lunch, did you? Shall we eat first?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Karhan removed the shadow on his face and briefly replied. They went straight to the restaurant, had a simple lunch, and then sat down at a nearby tea house, chatted lightly, and stopped by a bookstore, Lilia and Karhan each went to their respective fields of interest. After choosing some music books related to the orchestra, Karhan moved on to the love field. Karhan¡¯s eyes as he scanned the bookshelf stopped for a moment. (Love beginner, become a master! Volume 2] The next volume of the book he was reading hard these days had come out. Karhan picked up the book without any hesitation and put it on his side. As he turned his head, he saw Lilia, who was choosing a book right next to his corner. Lilia reached out to see if she had found the book she was looking for. Even if she raised on her tip-toes and reached out her hand as far as she could, Lilia couldn¡¯t reach and muttered to herself, ¡°I¡¯ll have to call an employee.¡± Lilia turned around and tried to find an employee. Then something hard touched her back slightly. His muscles-filled chest gently pressed her shoulders, and a familiar scent suddenly came in. Lilia stopped at the refreshing scent that covered the smell of paper. Soon after, his body fell off, and a low voice came from above. ¡°It¡¯s this right?¡± Lilia turned slowly and faced Karhan. She saw a book held out towards her. It was the book that she couldn¡¯t reach no matter how much she tried, ¡°¡­.. That¡¯s right. Thank you.¡± After receiving the book, Lilia once again recognized the difference in her physique with Karhan. Karhan was tall enough to feel like he was rising when he lined up against any passersby. On the contrary, Lilia, was slightly shorter than the average height. Lilia raised her head a little more. His face was shrouded in shadows. There was a dark wall behind his eves which were covered by descending black eyelashes. Even if he improved a lot, he still looked blunt in the eyes of others. Their eyes met for a moment. Lilia saw a faint smile like the dawn of the morning. Her heart skipped a beat like a book standing out on the bookshelf. It seemed that the emotions that had fallen off and hidden in them would unfold soon. Lilia pressed her chest with her fingertips. She didn¡¯t want to take it out and dig it up. She didn¡¯t know she¡¯d have useless feelings for no reason. ¡°I think I¡¯m done, so I¡¯ll go pay first.¡± As Lilia took off, Karhan also headed to the cashier. After purchasing the book, the two left the bookstore, The sun floating above her head was already inclined to the west. Lilia recalled the purpose of meeting Karhan today. ¡°I¡¯ll return your coat.¡± Karhan followed Lilia along. Upon arriving in front of the carriage, Lilia said her goodbyes first. ¡°It¡¯s already late, so we¡¯d better break up for today.¡± Karhan looked at Lilia with disappointed eyes. After contemplating for a while, he carefully opened his mouth. ¡°Can I see you off to your home?¡± ¡°¡­.. Won¡¯t it take longer to get back?¡± Each person came in a carriage, so there was no need to bother. When Lilia pointed out the realistic problem, Karhan was eventually forced to step down. ¡°I borrowed your coat well.¡± Lilia returned two cleanly washed coats. While Malek put the coat in Karhan¡¯s carriage, Lilia held out a small box. ¡°It¡¯s a present.¡± Karhan¡¯s gaze was stuck on the box. ¡°What¡¯s inside is a cuff button. I frivolously bought it while passing by, and I thought it would look good on you.¡± She bought it without much thought, but when she tried to give it to him, she was a little shy. Karhan, who took the box, fiddled with it several times with his long fingertips. He carefully put it in his arms as if dealing with precious jewellery ¡°I¡¯ll cherish it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not for ornamentation, it¡¯s consumables, so wear it often.¡± ¡°Then¡­ I¡¯ll use it after a while.¡± He fiddled with his coat as if he couldn¡¯t use it because it was a waste. He looked happy like a child who received a gift he wanted very much on his birthday. The feelings hidden under the slightly curved eyes were warm. It was the first time karhan showed all his emotions on his face, so Lilia blinked. She felt weird. She remembered Richard, who took for granted the things she gave him as gifts from some point on. She thought of him who was openly disappointed when he received something he didn¡¯t like. Lilia had a light smile. Seeing him so happy and glad, she felt proud. ¡°See you next time.¡± Lilia, who gave a short farewell, got on the waggon. Karhan stood there and watched the waggon depart. The carriage of the Bloden family gradually moved away from his sight. The box in his arms poked his chest as if it reminded him of its existence. Karhan raised his head and muttered. ¡°I have to pay her back.¡± ¡°What?¡± Tession, who was standing next to him, asked back. Karhan took a step instead of explaining. If he received a gift, he should pay it back. He wanted to give it to her as soon as possible, so he thought he should just give her a gift today. In fact, he might be able to see Lilia again with that excuse. Karhan entered the downtown area where the shops were lined up and looked at the items with attentive eyes. While thinking about what gift to give, he opened the love guide he was reading earlier. Referring to the recommended gift list, Karhan chose the gift after much consideration. What he chose after a long time was a small parasol. For some reason, Lilia seemed to have every style of parasols, but that was the case for other items as well. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the Bloden mansion.¡± ¡°What? Now?¡± Thinking it might be a little late, Tession took out his pocket watch and checked it. ¡°I just want to give her a present.¡± He didn¡¯t wish to have an appointment with Lilia. He just wanted to give her a present and go back. The two got on the waggon. On his way to the Bloden mansion, Karhan looked out the window. It seemed somewhat special to think that Lilia would have gone the same way. Karhan took out the box he had put in his arms and fiddled with it. As far as he remembered, he had never even received a birthday gift properly. A birthday that no one celebrated was just lonely. So Karhan forgot his birthday. He didn¡¯t really care about it, so he often passed it without knowing that his birthday had passed. He had a handful of occasions when he received a gift on his birthday, but it was the first time he received a gift on a day that was nothing. A faint smile came to mind. Karhan leaned his head by the window and ruminate over what happened today. And he recalled what Lilia had said. ¨C I don¡¯t know about you, but I think we¡¯re friends. The smile around his mouth disappeared. If it had been before, he would have been just happy. He must be excited to be friends with Lilia¡­¡­ Yet when he heard that from Lilia, his heart tightened. He thought it would be nice to make friends, but he didn¡¯t want to be friends with Lilia. Karhan could not tell what this contradictory mind was. ¡°We are here¡± The carriage stopped in front of the gate of the mansion. It was late, and he was going to ask the gatekeeper to give her the gift because it could be burdensome to suddenly visit. Karhan got off the waggon. And he saw two people raising their voices next to the gate. It was Lilia and Richard Tersian. T/N: ah shit¡­.here we go again¡­. Chapter 56 Raising My Fianc¨¦ With Money Chapter 56 Until When Are You Going To Deceive? TL: Jasmine Lilia looked at Karhan through the carriage window. When Karhan, who was getting farther and farther away, finally disappeared, Lilia closed the curtains. With a light sigh, she lowered her gaze. A book in her hand came into view. It was a book that Karhan himself took out earlier. Lilia fiddled with the cover. Since the last meeting, she has been subtly uncomfortable. Karhan wasn¡¯t uncomfortable, but her restless mind was the problem. Continuing her meeting with Karhan, he became somewhat likable to her. She couldn¡¯t help but be shaken by the way he looked at her and the polite and friendly attitude. If it remained like this, favor would sprout in a different direction. After noticing it, Lilia often imagined being in a real relationship with him. It would be a ticklish and fresh relationship. But¡­ I¡¯m not dating. Lilia muttered to herself. She couldn¡¯t even dare to try again because of her first relationship, which only hurt her. The wound, which she pretended to be okay, but the betrayal by the man she loved remained deep in the heart. Lilia locked her heart tightly, covering the wound. She vowed, as if brainwashing herself, that she would not open it to anyone. And she was not confident in loving someone with all her might as before. She didn¡¯t want to be shaken. So, this distance between Karhan and herself was appropriate. After travelling for a while, the mansion slowly got closer. When she finally arrived at the front door of the mansion, her carriage stopped. When a disturbance came from the outside, Lilia moved the curtain. And she found Richard, who was scuffling with the gatekeeper. ¡°You can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Tell her I¡¯m here!¡± As the gatekeeper kept repeating ¡®You can¡¯t!¡¯ like a parrot, Richard blindly tried to go inside. The gatekeeper could not restrain Richard, a nobleman, and was focused only on stopping him. Richard turned his head toward Lilia¡¯s carriage. When she met Richard¡¯s eyes, Lilia closed the curtain, Since he hadn¡¯t seen her in awhile, she thought he was determined to come. Lilia got off the wagon after much thought because he would be like that all day if she ignored it. ¡°Lilia.¡± Richard frowned and called Lilia. ¡°Talk from there.¡± Richard stopped when he was told not to come closer With a certain distance, Lilia looked at Richard silently He swept his red hair to the side and was staring straight at her. It was the first time she saw him since they quarreled over the broken engagement at a tea house. The letters from Richard had all been disposed of before they even fell into her hands, so she didn¡¯t even see his name. Richard, who was looking at Lilia as if searching for something, once again approached. ¡°Long time no see.¡± She thought she had forgotten, but the moment she heard his voice, the familiarity came. The expression on Lilia¡¯s face faded like the coast where the waves swept by. ¡°I¡¯ve been sending you letters. Haven¡¯t you read, them?¡± It was a friendly voice, but what was hidden inside was a subtle reprimand. Richard was good at making the situation advantageous by making his opponent feel sorry. Even when she was dating him, she always fell for that artful way of speaking and blamed herself for making a mistake again. Recalling her foolish past, Lilia answered coldly. ¡°I don¡¯t know because I threw them all away.¡± His eyebrows rose faintly and then came down. ¡°Is that all you had to say?¡± (Lilia) ¡°Wait. Talk to me!¡± (Richard) As Lilia tried to walk off, Richard grabbed her wrist at once. Frances and Malek warned Richard, ¡°Let go of her hand.¡± He was about to pull out the sword, but Richard did not back down. It was because he knew they couldn¡¯t do anything about it without Lilia¡¯s order anyway. ¡°Why are you acting like a stranger? Our relationship is not over yet.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the only one who doesn¡¯t think it¡¯s finished.¡± When Lilia shook her hand, Richard gently let go of her wrist. Lilia looked at Richard face to face. He was once a person she really loved. She thought it wouldn¡¯t be a waste to give up everything. Even when the affection at the beginning of their relationship disappeared, and when he, who used to say thank you, started to accept it as if it were natural¡­ Because she loved him, she pretended it was all okay. And the result was betrayal. Lilia looked at Richard with cool eyes. His face was covered with lust and greed. ¡°I was sorry then. If you forgive me this once, I¡¯ll do really well in the future¡­..¡± ¡°Did you run out of money?¡± At Lilia¡¯s blatant question, Richard stopped talking. ¡°You don¡¯t want to restore your relationship, you want to restore your lost fortune. Isn¡¯t that what happened?¡± ¡°¡­..What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say you regret it in front of me. I¡¯m the one regretting it.¡± She felt like she wanted to rip her hair after saying, several times a day, that she liked this kind of motherf*cker. There was only one reason why Richard was sincerely regretting it. It was that he missed the golden fish swimming in his fishing pond. ¡°You just liked my money.¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be true.¡± Richard immediately denied it. As he came closer, he whispered with such desperation that she felt uncomfortable. ¡°I thought you and I were meant to be.¡± Richard brought up the fate he used to mention often. Obviously, it¡¯s a romantic word, but the fate he spoke of sounded like a worn-out word. Whether he knew it or not, Richard said more sadly, ¡°And even now¡­¡­ I really love you.¡± Her heart, which was infested with anger, froze at once. The wound that she thought healed ripped open. Even after coming here, the disappointment that remained in his lying appearance disappeared, ¡°How miserable are you going to make me feel?¡¯, The love that he easily spit out to escape his situation was worse than a stone on the side of the road. Lilia exhaled slowly. Her throat tingled as if her breath was frost and not air. ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve been thinking about so far? I don¡¯t need that kind of love, so get out of my life.¡± Richard changed his expression at the insulting remarks. ¡°What do you think is so different about the young Duke?¡± Richard asked sarcastically if she thought karhan would love only her for the rest of his life. ¡°It looks like you only trust the Young Duke and act arbitrarily, surely you won¡¯t regret it, right?¡± He sounded confident as if he knew something. It was no longer worth listening to, so Lilia took a step to walk away. ¡°I¡¯m not done talking!¡± Richard rushed forward to catch Lilia. Then someone held Richard¡¯s wrist from behind. Richard screamed reflexively at the strong force that made him feel as if his arm was about to fall off. ¡°What are you doing?¡± When a low voice was heard, Richard turned his head, Karhan was looking down at Richard with fierce eyes, Arriving in front of Bloden¡¯s mansion, Karhan watched Lilia and Richard. He stopped trying to approach them. The two were talking with serious faces. He couldn¡¯t decide if he was in a situation where he could intervene. Karhan saw Lilia¡¯s face. Where did her soft expressions go, and she had a cold face even though she was expressionless. His heart skipped a beat at seeing Lilia¡¯s face look like that for the first time. Karhan cautiously approached the two. Then the conversation between Lilia and Richard came. ¡°And even now I really love you.¡± At Richard¡¯s words, Karhan stopped breathing. And Lilia, who had been shooting cold looks until just now, closed her lips with a hurt face. His fast-running heart seemed to have dropped sharply. He felt like his whole body was bleeding. As if someone was stabbing his body, it was throbbing everywhere. It didn¡¯t seem to hurt this much even when he was shot by an arrow in the battlefield. Karhan barely rolled up his immobile fingers and clenched his hand. He was very resentful of Richard for making her look like that. If he were Lilia¡¯s real fianc¨¦, he would have really cherished her. He¡¯d cherish her and embrace her¡­¡­ He would¡¯ve only given her good things. When he thought that far, his frustrated heart tightened. He choked up and his emotions flowed back from the inside. ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve been thinking about so far? I don¡¯t need that kind of love, so get out of my life.¡± Lilia, who belatedly came to her senses, put on a harsh face and swore. Richard decided to quit being desperate now, but he ran into trouble. ¡°He seems to be doing whatever he wants, but he¡¯ll definitely regret it.¡± When Lilia ignored him and turned her back, Richard tried to force a hold on her. At that time, reason was cut off, and his body moved first. When he came to his senses, he was already holding Richard¡¯s wrist. ¡°What are you doing?¡± With a short scream, Richard hardened like a piece of wood. Richard¡¯s surprised face was filled with fierce eyes. ¡°Ugh¡­!¡± Richard swallowed his groan of pain as karhan seemed to twist his wrist. However, Karhan did not relax his hand. Richard barely held back his scream and looked up at karhan. There was a shadow on Karhan¡¯s face, he was about half a span larger than Richard. The raised eyebrows and narrowed forehead made the impression ugly, However, there was no time to look at his face in detail. Suppressing Richard with such a terrifying energy that his skin stung. Richard bit his lips hard because he was sweating all over his body. He was a little distracted by the tingling pain. His wrist hurt as if it would break, but he couldn¡¯t step back from here. Because he knew the secret of the Young Duke. ¡°Until when are you going to deceive?¡± The force that had been gently pressing on Richard¡¯s wrist stopped. Richard spoke confidently so that Lilia could hear him. ¡°You¡¯re not even the real successor.¡± P/R: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH T/R: perfect way to start/end your day 20 Chapter 57 Raising My Fianc¨¦ With Money Chapter 57 Become The Real Successor TL: Jasmine His heart dropped and lost its place, Karhan¡¯s face turned red and he felt as if he would die soon. When his grip weakened, Richard pulled out his wrist. And he raised his head proudly, ¡°Until when are you going to lie?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t stand to see my innocent fianc¨¦e being deceived by the Young Duke.¡± Richard glanced at Lilia. Lilia was looking their way with her forehead narrowed. He noticed that Lilia knew nothing. ¡°Does Lilia know that you¡¯re not a real heir, Young Duke?¡± ¡°What are you talking about? Stop talking nonsense.¡± Lilia intervened immediately. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d say something crazy.¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯m lying?¡± Richard asked back. Lilia turned her head without answering and stared at Karhan. Karhan, who was standing as if he was broken, dropped his head without saying anything. ¡°Karhan.¡± Lilia quietly called Karhan. However, there was no answer. Richard whispered to Lilia, barely swallowing laughter, ¡°Look at that, Lilia. You were deceived by the Young Duke.¡± Richard, who stood fully as if proud, revealed the secret that Karhan had not told so far, ¡°You would have imagined being a duchess¡¯, but the Young Duke is just a scarecrow. He¡¯s a temporary successor.¡± Despite hearing insulting words, Karhan still failed to refute. Lilia looked at Karhan, who couldn¡¯t raise his head. Now she could see why Karhan sometimes reacted strangely. A face that hesitated as if he had something to say whenever the story of his succession came out. When she was invited to the duke¡¯s office, he acted like he was sitting on a thorny bed¡­.. After listening to Richard, she understood everything ¡°Do you think the second son, who is not even in the Duke¡¯s periphery, can succeed? When the eldest son returns, he will be kicked out of the family.¡± Where did Richard pick that up? He even dug into Karhan¡¯s family history. Lilia, who wasn¡¯t listening, turned her head to look at Richard. ¡°So, what does that have to do with me?¡± ¡°What?¡± Richard was bewildered as to her unexpected response. ¡°Did you think I would cling to you after hearing that?¡± ¡°No, I¡­.¡± Lilia shot back fiercely without giving him a chance, ¡°I knew you were trash, but I didn¡¯t know you¡¯d do a background investigation.¡± Lilia slowly exhaled to suppress her rising anger. She wondered why Richard came confidently, and he thought that revealing Karhan¡¯s weakness would change her mind. It was also a talent to get rid of the affection that wasn¡¯t there. ¡°Karhan.¡± Lilia called Karhan one more time. Only then did he raise his head. The eyes shaking like water after a stone was thrown were pathetic. As if he had committed a crime, Karhan could not make eye contact with Lilia in the end. Lilia bit her lip softly and then released it, ¡°I have something to tell you, so get in the carriage.¡± Karhan hesitated but eventually boarded the carriage as Lilia said. Then as Lilia also tried to get on the carriage, Richard shouted, ¡°Lilia! Listen to me!¡± Lilia beckoned to Frances and Malek. They immediately grabbed Richard¡¯s shoulders. He struggled with all his might like a bug caught in a spider web, but he couldn¡¯t shake off the two, ¡°I can¡¯t let go of this!¡± Lilia looked at Richard as if staring at a target. If she had three arrows and was able to kill him in one shot, she would shoot Richard all three times without hesitation. ¡°There¡¯s only one reason you¡¯ll come to me in the future.¡± Lilia completely cut off any room for argument. ¡°When bringing the consent form for the breakup.¡± Leaving that behind, Lilia got into the carriage. She heard him shouting from behind her back. You are going to regret it, you won¡¯t cling to him anymore¡­¡­ Lilia ignored it and told the horseman. ¡°Let¡¯s go¡± The carriage door closed. Richard was seen through the window. Not long after that, it was clear that he would return after eating some grass. The tightly closed gate opened and the carriage ran toward the garden. Only the sound of the wheels rolling filled the carriage. Lilia closed the curtain and saw Karhan sitting in the opposite corner. As soon as her gaze reached, his eyelids slowly went up. Black eyelashes trembled like a butterfly wet in the rain. Lilia waited silently without saying anything. Karhan exhaled a little. It was not long before a tightly locked voice came out, ¡°¡­..Sorry for hiding it.¡± Karhan paused for a moment with a pale face. And muttered in a guilty voice, ¡°I should¡¯ve been honest from the beginning¡­¡­.¡± Lilia noticed that Karhan seemed to have something else to say to her. She saw him hesitating over and over again, but she just let it go, thinking little about it. ¡°I want to hear it with your own mouth.¡± Karhan held only his knees with his palm and put them down. He struggled to open his mouth as if he were prepared to be abandoned. ¡°¡­. I¡¯m out of my family¡¯s view.¡± Karhan brought up the story that he hadn¡¯t told, anyone directly so far. He lived as if he were a non-existent person in the Duke¡¯s family, and then went to war as if he was half pushed out. Last year, by the order of the family, he took the place of the eldest son for a while as heir. As if telling someone else¡¯s story, he uttered only the facts without putting any emotions in it. ¡°When my brother returns, I will probably step down from the position of successor. It¡¯s just a temporary job. That¡¯s why I¡¯m not even taking successor classes.¡± Karhan, who confessed that he was a formal successor, quietly asked, ¡°¡­You¡¯re disappointed in me, right?¡± ¡°To be honest, I was surprised.¡± Karhan, who for the first time met Lilia in the eye, flinched. Lilia had the same face as usual. ¡°But I don¡¯t think it¡¯s your fault.¡± He hid the facts from her, but at least he didn¡¯t lie. If she had asked, he would have answered honestly. ¡°By the way, Richard found out that he was not the successor. The plan went badly. It was even more so because she had been pushing ahead with the plan believing that Karhan, the successor, would have some power Judging calmly, it was right to destroy the contract with Karhan here and find a new way. It was hard to handle Richard, but it was too much to take responsibility for Karhan. Lilia stared at Karhan, who was quietly waiting for her decision. ¡®But I don¡¯t want to do that.¡¯ If she left, Karhan would be nothing. It was clear that he would be kicked out after spending useless time until the real successor returned. Lilia recalled when she previously visited the Duchy. The Duchess, who was friendly to her but did not even make eye contact with her son Karhan. Employees who naturally ignored Karhan without greeting him. She felt something strange, but she thought it wasn¡¯t something to get involved with at that time. Karhan was just a trading partner. She thought it was a sensitive matter, so she shouldn¡¯t ask first and decided that there was no need to pay attention to it. ¡®Is he still just a trading partner to me?¡¯ In the meantime, Lilia¡¯s feelings for Karhan have gradually changed. She kept thinking that if it were this person, she would like to get to know him a little more, to get closer. It cannot be clearly defined yet, but one thing was certain. Karhan was no longer a trading partner for Lilia. Lilia wanted to continue her relationship with him even if it wasn¡¯t part of a deal. ¡°Let¡¯s break our contract.¡± After a long time, Lilia said. Karhan¡¯s eyes shook briefly. He slowly bowed his head as if he had known the ending. ¡°Instead, let¡¯s change it to a cooperative relationship, not a transactional relationship.¡± Karhan suddenly raised his head. He looked like he might have heard it wrong. ¡°And about the successor¡­¡­.¡± Lilia continued calmly. ¡°Karhan. How about you become the real one?¡± Karhan stopped breathing. ¡°I¡¯m just the Count¡¯s daughter after all. But you¡¯re different. Nevertheless, you have the blood of the Duke. You can just become the real one.¡± ¡°But I¡­¡­.¡± Karhan¡¯s lips trembled. Even saying these things made his repressed voice sound guilty. ¡°What I¡¯ve done¡­ There¡¯s nothing.¡± It was a very shameful confession. He was born as a deficit in the Duke¡¯s family, but he did nothing superior to others. Compared to the eldest son, who grew up as a successor, his qualities were far behind. It was as impossible for Karhan to become a real successor as building a forest in a barren land. ¡°No one will support me.¡± ¡°Karhan, think of you from the past. You said you couldn¡¯t do it when you were doing business with me.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve changed this much.¡± At Lilia¡¯s words, Karhan looked back on the path he had walked so far. He did everything he thought he couldn¡¯t. Now, rather than thinking that he couldn¡¯t do anything, he started thinking about how he could do better. However, his family¡¯s oppression was like a lifelong shackle. As Lilia said, he had to confront his family to become a true successor. It was like confronting Taesan Mountain, which he had not been able to overcome in his entire life. Karhan met Lilia¡¯s purple eyes. Then, strangely, the thoughts of fear dissipated. Karhan answered involuntarily. ¡°Yes.¡± Karhan, who opened his mouth after a long time, replied more forcefully. ¡°I¡¯ll do that.¡± Upon hearing Karhan¡¯s answer, Lilia smiled lightly. Karhan could certainly be a great Duke. To that end, Lilia decided to do her best to help him. Money was the only thing that¡¯s overflowing to her¡­.. From now on, she was going to raise karhan with money. Chapter 58 Raising My Fianc¨¦ With Money Chapter 58 Special Training TL: Jasmine The carriage stopped in the garden. When the lamp was lit up, the inside of the carriage brightened up. Lilia stared at Karhan, who was sitting opposite her. ¡°I want to hear more details. At Lilia¡¯s words, Karhan hesitated for a moment. After thinking about where to start, he opened his mouth. ¡°So, my family¡­¡­ It was a perfect family without me.¡± Karhan began to tell his family affairs calmly. His father, the Duke, was always busy and had no interest in the family. There were only a handful of times he had seen his face properly. Rebecca, the Duchess, hated Karhan, whom she gave birth to from her belly. Of course, it wasn¡¯t like that from the beginning. When he was very young, he used to fall asleep in his mother¡¯s arms. As time went by, his mother¡¯s warm eyes turned into disappointment, and later became as cold as ice. Then one day, she became completely hostile to Karhan. ¡°¡­¡­.I thought my mother was disappointed because lacked a lot.¡± He constantly tried to be loved by his mother as before. But she kept going against him. She lives in the same space, but her heart grows farther and farther away. As a child, Karhan was sad and wrote a letter with sincerity. If I¡¯ve done something wrong, I¡¯ll fix it, and I¡¯ll try harder, so please love me like you used to. Karhan waited for his mother¡¯s reaction. It¡¯s okay to scold him for being arrogant, but he wanted to know why she kept him away but the answer never came back. Karhan went into his mother¡¯s room, wondering if the letter had been delivered properly, and found his letter in the trash can. Shocked, Karhan looked at the trash can and returned to his room. That day, Karhan let go of the relationship he was forcibly holding on to ¡°It was the same with my brother.¡± Karhan calmly continued to talk. The eldest son, Blair, began to be wary of Karhan at some point. The increasingly high level of criticism undermined Karhan¡¯s self-esteem. He fully monopolized his mother¡¯s attention and sympathized with her who discriminated against his younger brother. Since then, Karhan has been the ghost of the duchy. As all the family members rejected Karhan, the employees naturally ignored him. ¡°So I half volunteered to participate in the battlefield.¡± Karhan fled to the battlefield without any support. He was nothing more than an abandoned child, so he did not directly reveal the name Evantheon. So people around him thought Karhan was a commoner. Later, when he made an appearance at the ball and met Tession, it was revealed that he was the second son of the Duke of Evantheon. Lilia¡¯s face darkened after hearing all of Karhan¡¯s stories. It was more serious than she had imagined. Since he had been suffering since he was so young, Karhan didn¡¯t even know it was abuse. It was heartbreaking to imagine young Karhan driven to the corner and eventually choosing the battlefield, Lilia recalled Karhan, whom she had met for the first time. She thought he was a pushover when she saw him being robbed and swayed by a clerk. However, he was in an environment where he had no choice but to do so. Now she can see why Karhan, the successor of the Duke¡¯s family, had a terrible reputation. It was clear that they intended on igniting a bad rumor and using it to catch fire and get rid of him with ease. Lilia clenched her fist. When she thought of the Duchess who smiled kindly at her, she felt like she was going to get upset. She thought it was weird to give so much hospitality¡­. It was because the Duchess was going to sell Karhan at a high price for her eldest son. ¡°Lilia?¡± When Lilia remained silent for a long time, Karhan called carefully. When he noticed, Lilia picked up the cushion she had put in the corner and ripped it. Her stomach was boiling, but there was no way to relieve it. She couldn¡¯t even run to the Duchy right away and turn it upside down. Lilia breathed heavily after completely crushing the cushion. She turned to Karhan, who looked at her with bewildered eyes. ¡°I am angry. But we can¡¯t get back at your family like this.¡± Lilia threw away the ripped cushion at random. Apart from being angry, the situation was worse than she imagined. ¡°You didn¡¯t get any support or education from your family, did you?¡± ¡°¡­ That¡¯s right.¡± (He didn¡¯t) ¡°How have you been living so far?¡± It was impossible to live in the capital without financial support. No way¡­ Did he go around cleaning dishes without me knowing? ¡°I was receiving a small amount of money for maintaining my dignity from my family, and I was living on the money I had collected from the battlefield.¡± ¡°Do you have any money saved up?¡± After wandering around the battlefield for a long time Karhan saved more money than he thought. At first, he was deprived of a lot of credit by his superiors, but after meeting Tession, he was well taken care of. He didn¡¯t have much money to spend, so he put it all in the bank and forgot, and the accumulated interest was considerable. Thanks to this, he raised enough money that he was lacking anywhere. Karhan said with confidence. ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯s about a million kroel.¡± ¡°What a waste.¡± Karhan closed his mouth sullenly. Not seeing it, Lilia clicked her tongue. If it was a million kroel, one couldn¡¯t buy a single building in the downtown area. It seemed that he had been very frugal to endure it so far with that money. ¡°I think we should make a simple plan. Do you have any specialties?¡± Karhan hesitated. He replied after a long time, as if he couldn¡¯t think of anything to boast as a specialty ¡­¡­I can make a fire with stones in thirty seconds, and I can find my way with constellations.¡± It was all dismissed. ¡°What about swordsmanship?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t learn swordsmanship separately¡­¡­.¡± Karhan scratched only his innocent knees with neat nails. What he learned was swordsmanship based on the instinct to live. It was not appropriate to show in the capital, only on the battlefield. ¡°It¡¯s a bit hopeless.¡± Suddenly, as if facing a star in the sky, the successor¡¯s position seemed far away. She didn¡¯t know he would have nothing like this. She belatedly realized how absurd her proposal was, but she did not intend to withdraw it. Lilia intended to make Karhan the Duke of Evantheon. Even if he was not supported by the Duchess, he had a good chance of winning if he established himself as a successor. Of course, the process will be very rough and difficult. ¡­.Karhan, you¡¯re physically strong, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Karhan nodded hard as if he was confident in that. ¡®It¡¯s kind of tough¡­..his memorization skills seemed to be good. Lilia, who had a rough strand, said, putting her hands crossed on her lap. ¡°Let¡¯s start some special training.¡± (Continued in Volume 3] Volume 3 Chapter 9 Inside the carriage going back to the Duchy of Evantheon. Karhan looked at the increasingly distant Bloden mansion and leaned his back against the board. His heart hadn¡¯t calmed down since earlier. So much emotion poured out that he felt nauseous as if he had motion sickness. Karhan didn¡¯t want to see Lilia, who would be disappointed in him, so he kept hiding the truth. The weight of the truth became heavier as happy days continued. Every time he went to see Lilia, he decided to reveal it that time. Nevertheless, the reason why he couldn¡¯t say it in person was because he was a coward. Eventually, when Richard revealed what he had been hiding so far, Karhan was prepared to end his short happiness. A broken deal was natural, and he thought Lilia would never see his face again. However, the worst situation that he always imagined did not unfold. Lilia made another suggestion rather than pushing him away or being cold-hearted. To become a real successor. She believed in him, who was at rock bottom. Karhan looked at Tession, who was sitting opposite him. ¡°Tession.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Karhan.¡± ¡°¡­It will be very difficult in the future. If you want, you can leave.¡± Neither the Duchess nor the Elders would stand still and watch his progress. They set him up as a puppet that listened well, but he is cutting the string and becoming a real existence. ¡°I¡¯m already done with my determination. I¡¯ll be by your side.¡± At Tession¡¯s answer, Karhan smiled lightly. ¡°Thank you¡± The words that were said numerous times. From the first time they met until now. And in the future¡­¡­. Tession was silent for a moment. Then, after rubbing his eyes with his sleeves, he replied, ¡°¡­¡­..I¡¯ll work even harder for you.¡± Listening to his sniffling voice, Karhan briefly replied, ¡®Yes¡¯. Karhan saved Tession¡¯s life in the war zone, but he might be the one who is rescued. If it weren¡¯t for Tession, he wouldn¡¯t have come this far. Karhan looked out the window. Far away, he could see the Evantheon mansion buried in darkness. It looked like a huge crouching beast. Every time he saw the mansion, he felt uncomfortable and scared¡­ For the first time, Karhan thought the mansion was not scary. (P/R: Oh f*** that hit me right in the heart) A few days later, the promised day with Lilia came. As soon as the day dawned, Karhan headed straight to Bloden¡¯s mansion. He was nervous for nothing because she said that in the future he would receive special training. When he arrived in front of the annex, he was greeted warmly by Lilia. ¡°You¡¯re here just in time. We¡¯re all gathered here.¡± ¡°Are other people here?¡± At Karhan¡¯s question, Lilia smiled meaningfully. ¡°You¡¯ll know when you see it.¡± Karhan followed Lilia into the annex with expectations and worries. The annex was smaller than the main building, but it was quiet. It focused on practicality rather than splendor. Lilia, who was walking down her hallway, stopped in front of a room. And when the door was opened, the people sitting in turned their heads their way at once ¡°They are the faculty who will teach you from now on.¡± As soon as Lilia¡¯s words were over, they got up from their seats and started introducing themselves. ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Mezra Genius.¡± ¡°My name is¡­.¡± Tession, who had been hearing their names, opened his mouth as if his jaw was falling out. All of them were enormous characters, not just flashy. Writers of books that have been used as textbooks for over twenty years, honorary professors of the Academy called the Genius of the Century, and well-known etiquette teachers in society¡­¡­ ¡°No¡­ Uh, How did you bring them here?!¡± Tession stuttered and asked Lilia. Lilia answered with a face that said he should know the obvious, ¡°With money.¡± T/N: whooo!!! We are in Volume 3 finally!!! Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Only the sound of white chalk engraving letters on the blackboard was heard clearly. Students who passed through the huge competition rate stared at the blackboard with sparkling eyes. A man standing on the podium and conducting the class put down the chalk. And told the academy students who looked at him, ¡°Any questions?¡± There was nothing to ask because it was a perfect explanation. As the students shook their heads, the man smiled, ¡°This is the end of today¡¯s class. Then I¡¯ll see you in the next class.¡± He immediately left the lecture hall. While walking in the hallway, the students greeted with a face full of admiration. The man¡¯s name was Mezra Genius, the youngest academy professor and rare genius. Born as a son of a normal noble family, he is now selected as the professor representing the Imperial Academy Mezra arrived at the building where the lab was located. Then the assistant, who found Mezra from afar, hurriedly approached him. ¡°There¡¯s a guest here.¡± ¡°Guest?¡± Was there a guest who said he was visiting today? He searched through his memory, but he couldn¡¯t remember. After taking the position of Professor Emeritus of the Academy, there were many people who sought Mezra. They ranged from those who begged him to take care of their children, to those who wished to leak answers to the entrance exam or scout for other academies. (T/N: Emeritus- of the former holder of an office, especially a university professor, having retired but allowed to retain their title as an honour. The translation of this word is a bit confusing so I went with ¡°Emeritus¡± further I¡¯ll confirm when the manhwa comes out^^) ¡°The person is waiting, so you¡¯ll have to meet them first.¡± Since it¡¯s exam season soon, there was a high probability that he would come to ask for a favor. However, Mezra had never fallen for it. The guest who visited him today would also return empty-handed like the previous guests. Mezra opened the lab door. A blonde woman sat by the sunny window. A dress with calm colors and minimal accessories were worn, but everything from hat to shoes was of the highest quality. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I came out of the blue. I¡¯m Lilia Bloden.¡± She greeted him first. Mezra only blinked. It was because the name Bloden was very familiar. Mezra belatedly shouted, ¡®Bloden¡­¡­?!¡¯ At the same time as he shouted, Lilia revealed the purpose of her visit, ¡°I want the professor to teach one student,¡± ¡°¡­¡­Are you telling me to become a tutor?¡± Lilia nodded. It was the first time such a request was made. Mezra spoke as firmly as he always had, ¡°The student can enter the academy.¡± ¡°He can¡¯t enter the academy due to certain circumstances.¡± Mezra stretched his shoulders proudly with pride. ¡°Learning is equal to everyone.¡± Lilia beckoned the man with navy hair standing behind, her. A man who looked somewhat bulky put down a black bag. It looked like a bag of money. Mezra snorted inside. ¡°You are trying to buy me with money, but I¡­..¡± Thump, bang, and the bag opened. What was inside was an old book. Mezra raised his head with a puzzled face. ¡°It¡¯s an ancient legal text written in the early days of the founding of the Empire,¡± Mezra¡¯s eyes widened like a candle. It was an ancient book that had all been lost and existed only as a legend. If it were authentic, its value was incalculable. With the book, the research he had done so far could be considered nothing in comparison. He would be able to write a new history with his thesis. His heart began to pound with a desire for inquiry. ¡°There¡¯s only one book left.¡± ¡°When do I start to work?¡± It was a bribe too attractive to refuse. Mezra, who accepted the offer, even prepared to write a resignation letter, but Lilia said it was okay to work at the academy at the same time. ¡°Because one cannot monopolize learning, like the professor said.¡± After submitting the exam questions, Mezra came to the capital while taking advantage of the academy vacation. He even signed an oath not to reveal his new student¡¯s identity. ¡°Please keep the secret.¡± At this point, he became very curious about the identity of the student. ¡°What kind of student am I going to teach?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Lilia thought about it for a long time and answered. ¡°He¡¯s like a puppy.¡± At that, Mezra began to imagine it himself. The child seemed to be a good student with a small body and a good listener. There were also puppy-like students in the academy, so he thought it would be like that And today, Mezra visited the Bloden¡¯s mansion. He was fully prepared because he heard about the wealth of the Bloden family. But it was more than what he had imagined. From the moment he passed the gate, he felt like he entered a different world. The site was so large that the mansion was visible only after a long time in the carriage. Upon arriving at the annex, Mezra muttered, ¡®This is the annex?¡¯ several times. The annex was so great, but he had no idea how enormous the main building would be. For the first time, Mezra thought that his imagination could be so poor. At the guidance of the butler, Mezra entered the drawing room. He looked at the guests who arrived first. They were said to be the best in their respective fields. Although it was difficult to gather them, even purposely choosing them, she was that powerful of a person. They all came together to teach one student, Mezra¡¯s expectations were high, and he waited for the student he would teach. And finally, someone came along with Lilia and he was a tall man who caught his attention. ¡°It¡¯s the faculty that will teach you in the future,¡± Mezra was very embarrassed by Lilia¡¯s words. She said, he was like a puppy¡­.. No matter how much he looked at it, the man in front of him was a bear, not a puppy. He observed him intently and he figured he could at least be described as a wolf, which was similar to a dog. After Mezra rectified his expression, he introduced himself naturally. After the greeting, other professors rushed out. The timetable had been discussed in advance, and Mezra was the first to teach. Mezra, who moved to the study room, remained alone with the student. He felt like a prey thrown into a bear cage. He thought she insisted on home classes because the student was weak, but he was too healthy. She said he couldn¡¯t attend an academy, but did he get expelled for a violent incident¡­. While he was making a plausible guess, he carefully revealed his name. ¡°I look forward to your kind cooperation starting today. I¡¯m Karhan Evantheon.¡± ¡° Mezra was surprised and looked at Karhan. Last year, he became the successor of the Duke and made the empire buzz, so he couldn¡¯t help but know him. Numerous questions came to mind one after another The most curious, being why Evantheon was taking classes at the Bloden family estate. However, private questions were prohibited. ¡°I¡¯m going to teach imperial law and politics from today.¡± At Mezra¡¯s words, Karhan nodded silently. ¡°I¡¯m not good enough, but I look forward to your kind cooperation.¡± The two sat side by side in front of the desk. Mezra, glanced at Karhan. It felt strange to see him in an upright position, holding a quill. Mezra opened the textbook and started the class right away. And less than ten minutes after the class, Mezra, was embarrassed and spoke out his mind. ¡°No, you don¡¯t know this either¡­¡­.?¡± As if living in a remote mountainous area, there was no foundation in place. It would have been better to stop a ten-year-old noble child passing by and ask him. ¡°It seems so. It may be better to call someone who specializes in teaching the basics.¡± When Mezra muttered with a hopeless face, Karhan desperately said, ¡°I¡¯ll memorize it by tomorrow¡±. ¡°Please give me one more chance.¡± Karhan was not ashamed of his ignorance. His eyes were firm as if he would try even a little more harder. ¡°Can you memorize everything up to here?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll memorize it until the next chapter.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good to be motivated, but ¡­¡­¡± Looking at him with worries about whether he could do it in a day, Karhan opened his mouth, ¡°If I can¡¯t memorize it, please admonish me without hesitation.¡± How dare I, to the Young Duke? He was not even a child, but an adult. It would be humiliating in itself that a grown-up adult is scolded, but he suggested it first. ¡°Because there¡¯s someone who believes in me¡­¡­! have to do it.¡± The sincerity was evident in those words. Mezra, coughed and opened the textbook again. ¡°¡­I see. First of all, I¡¯ll start with the basics.¡± And two hours after the class started. Mezra became as enthusiastic as Karhan. While Karhan went to study, Lilia had tea in the back garden. After putting down the teacup, she checked her schedule. Lilia invested a lot of money to hire a professor to teach Karhan. She poured all the profits she earned from the redevelopment, but it was not a waste. Lilia was confident in her perspective. ¡°Lady, I¡¯m here to report.¡± Malek came into the garden. He was an escort, but he was like Lilia¡¯s personal secretary. When Lilia doesn¡¯t go out, he organises and reports all information. Malek was talking about the rumors circulating in the capital these days, and then naturally changed the topic, ¡°Come to think of it, the Delotta family is buying flowers.¡± ¡°Flowers?¡± ¡°They¡¯re looking for flowers with five scarlet petals and a round tip with yellow stamens.¡± ¡°¡­Isn¡¯t it the flower we planted in our house?¡± As soon as Lilia heard the explanation, she recalled the flowers planted in the garden. It was a flower that could not be obtained anywhere due to repeated cultivar improvement. ¡®How did she know that¡­.Ah.¡¯ Lilia recalled that Stella Delotta had visited the Bloden mansion and got lost in the garden, and that she must have seen that flower. ¡°She announced that she would buy it for a huge sum of money.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Lilia laughed. She felt like she got a chance to hit a jackpot. Stella would say yes, no matter how much it was. She wouldn¡¯t even know that the seller was Lilia herself if she put a dealer in the middle. Since I spent a lot of money inviting professors this time¡­¡­. ¡°It must be sold expensively.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°She has a lot of money.¡± Lilia thought that she would have to work hard to earn Karhan¡¯s tuition fees T/N: whooo volume 3 has barely started and Lilia has hit another jackpot!!! God pls give me this luck, I hope the goddess of money loves me haha. I¡¯m waiting for Stella¡¯s reaction when she comes to know about this 333 Comments from Korean readers: Wow, she reaps ten times what she sows, I¡¯m envious I really like male lead today, too. Professor is so funny. Stella is so funny. His intelligence is extraordinary, too. I like him so much. Not to mention the puppy-like male lead. If you can¡¯t appease someone with wealth (money), you can appease them with materials (books bought with money, medicine, etc.) So in the end everyone what wants is money, directly or indirectly Chapter 60 - Turn The Whole Continent Upside Down Chapter 60 Turn The Whole Continent Upside Down Lilia went back to the annex. She made eye contact with Mezra, who was leaving the last room, as if the class was over. ¡°Can I talk to you for a moment?¡± Mezra nodded at Lilia¡¯s suggestion. The two entered the nearest drawing room. As soon as he sat in the chair, Lilia asked. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°He¡¯s very diligent and polite.¡± Mezra poured out compliments with a very satisfied, face. It was a review of 100% job satisfaction. ¡°If he had attended an academy, he would have won the model award¡± He shouted that if she didn¡¯t get it, he would have forced her to give him to her, even if she was the one who recommended Karhan. Lilia glanced at Mezra. Just before, he looked like he was being dragged into a slaughterhouse¡­. She wondered what had happened in the meantime. ¡°He lacks the basics, but has good memorization and understanding, so I think he¡¯ll catch up quickly.¡± Mezra couldn¡¯t handle the overflowing motivation and clenched his fist. ¡°T¡¯ll do my best to teach him!¡± He seemed to like Karhan very much. Mezra returned, and Lilia picked up cookies from the kitchen and headed to the study room. As she went inside, Karhan was concentrating on the book, as if he had not noticed her presence. He seemed to be reviewing what he just learned. Lilia watched him from behind. She wondered if she should interfere, but thought Karhan would also need an appropriate rest. When Lilia put down a plate of cookies, Karhan suddenly raised his head. He blinked as if asking when she had come in. ¡°Take a break and then do it. It¡¯s the first day. Is it doable?¡± ¡°¡­I lacked a lot of basics, so I had to do a lot of things.¡± ¡°But they complimented you a lot?¡± Karhan lowered his eyes shyly. Black eyelashes cast a shadow like a shade. Lilia looked at his face silently. In the past, he looked sharper because under his eyes were dark as if he hadn¡¯t slept well, but these days he looks very good. His skin is no longer dry, too. As expected, should I eat vegetables too¡­.¡¯ She was thinking about other things, when he slowly lifted his eyelids. Eyes resembling blue flames filled Lilia. As she faced his gaze, Karhan whispered, ¡°If I work hard and achieve results¡­¡­ Will you compliment me?¡± (P/R: im coughing up blood at this cuteness) Perhaps the professor¡¯s praise was not enough. Lilia smiled inside because he looked like a puppy who wanted praise after completing a mission. ¡°You did a great job even though it was your first class.¡± Karhan¡¯s eyes curved like an inverted crescent moon. When his warm gaze touched her, her heart fluttered. It felt like her heart was stretching and clumping as if it were flour dough. Thump, thump, the sound of her heart was a little loud as if the chef was pounding the dough. ¡°I¡¯ll work harder, so please keep watching.¡± ¡°¡­Of course. If you become a Duke later, don¡¯t pretend you don¡¯t know me.¡± Karhan only nodded as if it were natural. ¡°I have a question.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°You asked me to break the contract last time¡­¡­.¡± Karhan mumbled his words. Hesitating, he asked quietly, ¡°Pretending to be my lover¡­¡­. Are you quitting?¡± Now Lilia and Karhan are not in a contractual relationship, but in a cooperative relationship. The reason for pretending to be a lover was to keep Richard in check, but it would no longer work. Lilia looked at Karhan looking at her with a little nervousness in his eyes. ¡°No. I think we have to keep that up.¡± Lilia told the reason. ¡°I¡¯ve already told my parents that I¡¯m dating you, and if we break up, there¡¯s no justification for you going in and out of my house. And¡­.¡± Lilia recalled Karhan¡¯s mother, the Duchess of Evantheon. When she hears that she broke up with him, she will immediately call Stella Delotta. Even though Karhan is different from before. He could not handle Stella and the Duchess of Evantheon. ¡°There are many problems, so wouldn¡¯t it be better to stay like this for the time being?¡± At that time, Karhan¡¯s shoulders lost strength. The slightly lowered shoulder looked natural as if relieved. Lilia, who was looking at him, still asked just in case, ¡°Do you not like it?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that¡± Karhan immediately denied it. He whispered, folding his eyes in half. ¡°¡­¡­I like how it is.¡± There was a clear emotion. Lilia looked at his softened face for a long time, then parted her lips with a little trembling. ¡°It¡¯s your first day, so don¡¯t overdo it.¡± Leaving those words behind, Lilia immediately left the room. Tok, The sound of the door closing rang, and soon there was only silence in the hallway. Nevertheless, the thumping sound in her chest did not diminish at all, and lingered in the pinna of her ears. Lilia stood with her back against her door, shook her head, and stepped away from the place. The next day, Lilia made an appointment to meet Vanessa. She was deliberately refraining from visiting because she thought it would be inconvenient to visit, but Lilia got a call from her first. The work was about to be completed, so Vanessa asked if she could come and take a look. After leaving the mansion, Llia arrived in front of the building where the Atelier was located after buying snacks. As she climbed the stairs, she heard a child¡¯s laughter from above. ¡®Child?¡¯ Lilia paused for a moment and looked up. At that time, she made eye contact with the girl on the second floor stairs. ¡°Oh! The rich sister!¡± The girl recognized Lilia and shouted. Lilia opened her eyes round at the strangely familiar face. Looking closely, she was the child with whom Lilia met in the slum before. The girl rushed down the stairs. Lilia looked at the girl, who had become neat. Previously, she was wearing old clothes, but now she is in new clothes and has trimmed her hair. ¡°Miss Lilia?¡± Whether she heard a fuss, Vanessa opened the door and came out. Lilia, standing under the stairs, looked up at Vanessa ¡°Lana!¡± Vanessa called the girl with a frightened face. The child, called Lana, held Lilia¡¯s skirt tightly and smiled, Lilia went up the stairs together, covering Lana¡¯s shoulders. Vanessa, who was at a loss, asked Llia, ¡°Oh my god? Did my sibling act disrespectful?¡± ¡°Not at all. Is she your younger sibling?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ I¡¯m sorry I brought her to the Atelier without your permission.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to be sorry. This is a space for you.¡± Vanessa, who said thank you, grabbed Lana¡¯s ear slightly and pulled it. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to stay calm?¡± ¡°But¡­ It¡¯s been a while since I met her!¡± When Lana shouted back, Vanessa was surprised and, shut her mouth. She never introduced her, but she looked like she somehow knew Lilia. ¡°She¡¯s the angel who gave me a lot of bread before.¡± ¡°¡­Ah!¡± Vanessa looked up at Lilia at Lana¡¯s explanation. Lilia also recalled what the children had said before. ¨C I need to buy bread!¡­..It¡¯s for my sister ¨C My eldest sister¡­ She draws pictures. She couldn¡¯t believe it was Vanessa. She wondered what kind of coincidence it was. Lilia had even let Vanessa go to the exhibition for free, and later met on the street to establish a relationship. Lilia murmured, stroking Lana¡¯s head, who was still holding onto her skirt. ¡°That¡¯s amazing. I ran into Vanessa while passing by, and I didn¡¯t know you were Vanessa¡¯s siblings.¡± Lilia smiled quietly, saying she had a lot of fun at that time. Vanessa opened her mouth after licking her lips for a long time, ¡°¡­.. I was so grateful then. My younger siblings loved it.¡± When her younger siblings came home with a beautiful piece of bread, Vanessa asked what kind of bread it was. She misunderstood that they stole bread because they were very hungry. Vanessa took her crying younger siblings to the bakery and heard the whole story from the boss. It was said that a rich lady really bought them bread and went back. Vanessa felt like she was dreaming when the boss told her to come to eat bread at any time, even though Lilia had paid for it. Since then, Vanessa has not been worried about meals. As the meal problem was solved, she could breathe as if the sun was entering the rat hole. And when she saw her younger siblings eating high-quality white wheat bread, not dry rye or barley bread, she became happy. She always thought that she would like to repay the savior, whose name she did not know, someday when they met. Vanessa continued to talk, fiddling with only her fingers. ¡°I really wanted to see you. Thank you so much.¡± Vanessa¡¯s voice was sincere. In fact, Lilia¡¯s help with the children at that time might have been just sympathy. However, Vanessa was not ashamed of being sympathized with and was deeply grateful. ¡°What? Tell me whenever you need anything else.¡± ¡°It¡¯s enough. I also moved with the down payment you gave me last time.¡± Vanessa, who was smiling shyly, turned as if she had belatedly recalled her purpose. ¡°Oh, right. Do you want to see my painting?¡± Lilia headed inside with Vanessa. There was a painting covered with a white cloth on the easel. ¡°It¡¯s about to be completed¡­., I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ll like it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mind me. You can draw what you want to draw.¡± Since she signed the contract, Vanessa seemed to be trying to suit Lilia¡¯s taste as much as possible. But Lilia believed in Vanessa¡¯s skills. Obviously, the Empire will turn upside down as soon as she makes her debut, ¡°I drew the scenery of a poor house.¡± Lilia remembered the paintings of the slums she had seen so far. Most of them were dark and disastrous. People living with death on their backs and skinny children were mainly depicted. It was to draw sympathy from visitors. Vanessa removed the white cloth. As if peeking over the window, the scenery of another world was revealed. Dawn sky with light yellow and blue. People who were leaving home early, puppies running on winding roads, chimneys that smell like fire. On the old roof, the morning sun and the edge of dawn, which had not yet left, coexisted. The lively slum scene tells us that this is also the place where every morning is born. Vanessa waited for Lilia¡¯s evaluation with a nervous face. Lilia, who had been quiet for a long time, turned her head away. ¡°I was too naive.¡± ¡­¡­What?¡± Vanessa made a tearful face. She wondered if she should say she would draw it again, but it was the moment Vanessa opened her mouth. Lilia grabbed Vanessa¡¯s hand stained with paint. ¡°You are the one who will not only turn the Empire, but the whole continent, upside down¡± Comments from Korean readers: There¡¯s an artist here who will chew on the continent, so just bring a model. Lilia didn¡¯t have any friends last time, but I think she¡¯ll be friends with Vanessa. He is diligent and polite, but has good memorization and understanding? A dream-like student. Ah, it¡¯s even more sad because the karhan is so smart. What is it? I¡¯m getting emotional. TT Chapter 61 Chapter 61 : Spending Money Like Water Stella sat in the garden and drank tea alone. There were not the usual refreshments on the table. As she looked down at the teacup, a face with slender cheeks was reflected in the scarlet tea. Stella closed her eyes for a moment and recalled herself in the past. She was chubby from birth, and she quickly gained weight because of her strong appetite. However, Stella felt being fat was attractive, so she had never thought she should lose weight. Then, she fell in love with romance novels last year. Stella, who was deeply immersed, wanted to be like the female protagonist and started dieting. Stella, who was encouraged with quite a few words of toughness, succeeded in losing weight in a short period of time. Stella felt that after losing weight, the eyes around her changed. When the social world was excited by her story for a while, she felt like she was a real heroine. In addition, Stella earned a huge amount of money by releasing the tea she drank while on a diet as a product. Fashion-sensitive young girls were busy copying Stella. The high-nosed ladies also watched Stella¡¯s every move. Then, when the story of Karhan¡¯s engagement came and went, Stella thought that her golden age of life had come. But¡­¡­ it all went down in smoke. Because of Lilia Bloden. Stella chewed on her lips as she felt her anger rising again. ¡°How come you always disturb me¡­?¡± Lilia was the biggest obstacle to Stella¡¯s life. Because the family was an old enemy, people always compared Lilia and her. Even their tastes were similar, so they often quarreled over an item. Then, after she met Richard, she was very hesitant to pretend to be nice. Suddenly, she remembered that Richard had come to visit her. After that, she wondered if the plan was going well, but she didn¡¯t bother contacting him. It was because she didn¡¯t want to invite him over and make tea to disappointing news. Stella got up from her seat and walked slowly through the garden. The coveted rose bloomed like a cloud. It was a rose garden that she cherished so much, but it didn¡¯t feel like before. This was because she was captivated after seeing the flower at the Blodon mansion. However, even after searching the capital, she could not find the flowers she saw in the Bloden mansion. ¡°Did it fall from the sky?¡± It was when Stella was muttering to herself. Someone was running from the entrance to the garden. He was dispatched to find the flower. ¡°Lady! I found it!¡± Stella was delighted with his words. Suddenly, the man who stopped in front of Stella took a breath and opened his mouth. ¡°A vendor came directly to me to sell flowers. I also checked it with my own eyes.¡± ¡°Did you buy it right away?¡± ¡°That¡­¡± Stella rebuked when the man hesitated. ¡°I told you to buy it no matter how much.¡± Then he quietly told her the price. ¡°What¡­!¡± Stella screamed without realizing it. It was a surprising amount even for herself who was interested in spending money. ¡°It is said to be a very rare breed.¡± Is that why they were only at the Bloden mansion? They were the richest in the empire, so they could have bought it with their money. Stella, who had hesitated for a while, nodded. ¡°Yeah, she bought it, too. There¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t buy.¡± She decided to buy it, but he added, ¡°And the price of seeds and seedlings is different¡­¡± He said that the seedlings in full bloom are twice as expensive as the seeds, and it takes as many as six months to sprout the buds when planting seeds. Stella frowned when she heard the explanation. ¡°I can¡¯t wait for six months.¡± It¡¯s been a long time since she ran out of patience. She didn¡¯t want to wait any longer. ¡°Buy everything with seedlings!¡± She had to invest almost all the money she earned from the flower tea business this time, but it was not a waste. She was planning to plant more and make it more splendid than what she had seen in the Bloden family¡¯s garden. Stella thought she should invite Lilia to the Delotta mansion next time. Imagining Lilia¡¯s face becoming distorted, Stella burst into a pleasant smile. (T/N: ahhh she is investing money for Karhan¡¯s education^^ ¡­.no worries, at least something good came out because of this stalker) *** Fifteen days have passed since Karhan began taking classes at the Bloden mansion. He visited the Bloden mansion every day and took classes according to the timetable. The professors, who had first entered the study room with nervous faces, now poured out compliments one by one after class. Thus, the successor class went smoothly, and Karhan strode to fill the long gap within a short period of time. Lilia was proud to see Karhan developing frighteningly. On the one hand, she felt sorry for him. If Karhan had grown up without discrimination, he would have already made a name for himself in the empire. It was regrettable that he had been ruining his ability so far due to family circumstances. ¡°I think he needs to practice swordsmanship soon..¡­.¡± Lilia muttered, looking out the window with her chin on her hand. Once a year, the Empire held a swordsmanship contest at the Imperial Palace. It was a competition in which noble children participated, and the scale was great. If he won this match, he would be able to further enhance the qualities of being a successor. However, there is still no person who stands out, so she hasn¡¯t been able to choose Karhan¡¯s swordsmanship teacher. It was because no matter who came to mind, he was behind Frances. It was his skills that secured his position as a guard even when he was from the slums. ¡°Should I ask Frances?¡± Llia, who got up from her seat, left the bedroom. While walking down the hallway, Llia found Malek. ¡°Malek, where is Frances?¡± ¡°He is practicing in the Tourney Hall. There will be a selection contest for escorts soon.¡± (T/N: tourney hall ¨C a place where sporting competition takes place in which contestants play a series of games to decide the winner.) ¡°Really? Thank you.¡± Lilia, who obtained the information, thought about it and headed to the annex for now. It was slowly time to finish Karhan¡¯s morning class. ¡®What should I do? I think Frances will be very busy¡­¡­.¡¯ Frances became very busy at this time of year. This was because the amount of swordsmanship practice was tripled as usual. With Frances¡¯ skills, he could win the championship without practice, but he always took it more seriously than anyone else. So she didn¡¯t want to interfere. ¡°Should I look for someone else?¡± Lilia, who was muttering to herself, stopped, at the tall presence. She made eye contact with Karhan, who was leaving the last room. ¡°Lilia.¡± Karhan strode closer with a very welcoming face. He was more comfortable than usual. He was wearing only a light shirt, and his slightly longer hair seemed to cover his eyebrows. ¡°Did you finish your class?¡± ¡°Yes. The morning class just ended.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just perfect. Do you want to go see the Tourney Hall?¡± When Karhan blinked, Lilia continued, ¡°There¡¯s still time until the afternoon class. I wanted to introduce it to you.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like it.¡± Lilia and Karhan immediately left the annex and headed to the hall. The tourney hall was located on the west side of the garden, and the scale was enormous. The terrain was also subdivided, awnings and chairs were installed so that they could rest or watch the training. When they arrived at the tourney hall, she could see countless people. They were all knights from the Bloden family, but they stopped working and were watching something. Lilia took Karhan closer to it. However, because of the big knights, she couldn¡¯t see it well even when she lifted on tiptoes. As Lilia jumped, Karhan brought a practice log nearby. ¡°Thank you.¡± As she climbed on the log, she reached the height of Karhan. In an instant, her vision went up. It was amazing to think that the world Karhan sees would be like this. Karhan held Lilia¡¯s arm because he thought she might fall. As he turned his head, he saw two people competing with their swords. It was Violet and Frances. The blades collided and fell. Their speed got faster and the movements increased to the point that it was invisible to the naked eye. Karhan watched the scene, mesmerized. Among the ragged knights, Violet and Frances looked relatively thin. However, a tremendous aura was flowing out of them that caught everyone¡¯s attention. Chang, The sharp sound of the metal colliding rang as if it were going to break. It was Violet who retreated first. Frances did not miss the opportunity. His sword pierced the air as light as a branch, and sharply like lightning. Those watching stopped breathing. Just when they thought the game was over, Violet¡¯s sword blocked Frances. Ciiing, there was the sound of a blade getting scratched, and the posture was reversed. The sword, which had been pushing forward, stopped in front of Frances¡¯ neck. ¡°¡­¡­I lost.¡± Frances declared his defeat, with his arm hanging over his sword. It was a voice of regret. ¡°You¡¯ve improved a lot.¡± Violet said, pulling a sword. ¡°This time, I almost got serious, too.¡± ¡°But eventually in the end I didn¡¯t use my left hand.¡± Frances seemed to be disassembled somewhere. Then the knights who were watching comforted me. ¡°You¡¯re the only one who stands by the Lady and endured it.¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re still young, but you¡¯re too greedy¡± The knights laughed and uttered affectionate insults. Frances, who was softly grumbling, paused while trying to put the sword into the sheath. ¡°Oh! Lady!¡± When Frances shouted, everyone there turned their heads. It was not long before Frances and the knights came up. ¡°Lady! What brings you here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to see the hall.¡± With Lilia¡¯s answer, there was a gap between the knights surrounding her. It was Violet who was between the knights. ¡°Lilia, did you have lunch?¡± Violet, who did not sweat a drop, asked in a friendly tone. As Lilia nodded, her gaze turned to Karhan. Violet, who looked like she was wondering why the two were together, greeted first. ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Evantheon, Young Duke.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I saw you. Madam.¡± Karhan replied in a slightly nervous tone. Knights who heard Karhan¡¯s identity talked among themselves. ¡°He is the Lady¡¯s boyfriend!¡± ¡°He looks very strong¡­¡­.¡± ¡°That kind of body is not just made.¡± The knights glanced at Karhan¡¯s body and whispered that it was clear that he was a tremendously powerful man. As all attention was focused on Karhan at once, Lilia waved her hand. ¡°He¡¯s a beginner who¡¯s never taken a swordsmanship class.¡± Only then did the murmur stop a little. Some said they couldn¡¯t believe it, but no one denied or doubted Lilia¡¯s words. No, only one person, Violet, gave a subtle look. Karhan didn¡¯t know what to say, so he opened his mouth after contemplating. ¡°It was an honor to see a great match.¡± ¡°Thank you. Everyone¡¯s skills improve a lot at this time of year.¡± Violet answered that it was because there was Lilia¡¯s escort knight selection contest. Violet¡¯s gaze rested on Karhan¡¯s hand. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at his callus-filled hands. It was a face that judged his skills. ¡°Young Duke.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Violet smiled at Karhan, who answered calmly. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, why don¡¯t you compete with me?¡± *** T/N: a milf who wields a sword? SIGN ME UP!!!!! P/R: I am in love ? Chapter 62 Violet Versus Karhan At Violet¡¯s suggestion, the surroundings suddenly became noisy. The knights looked into each other¡¯s eyes and nodded slightly. ¡°I guess madam doesn¡¯t like the Lady¡¯s boyfriend.¡± ¡°But he is still a beginner¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Did he do something wrong?¡± At those last words, everyone looked at Karhan. Lilia spoke on behalf of Karhan, ¡°The Young Duke has never learned swordsmanship properly, so it¡¯s unreasonable to call it a swordsmanship match all of a sudden.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s a harsh suggestion.¡± Frances and other knights also dissuaded Violet. Violet was much smaller than Karhan, but everyone didn¡¯t think she would lose. Violet was born as the eldest daughter of a family famous for martial arts and was a person who reached the highest level at swordsmanship. It would have been fortunate if Karhan didn¡¯t get beaten up under the pretext of a match. ¡°Why are you acting like I want to eat him up?¡± Violet asked with her forehead slightly narrowed. At that, everyone shut their mouths. It was possible for Violet, but they didn¡¯t want to be criticised for adding a word. ¡°It¡¯s too sudden. If you feel pressured, you can refuse.¡± Karhan hesitated at Violet¡¯s words. He has watched the moment where Violet and Frances were competing earlier. He wouldn¡¯t even be considered an opponent to Violet. ¡°I¡¯m not good enough, so I don¡¯t think the match will go properly.¡± At the beginning of this rejection, Violet tried to give up. However, Karhan¡¯s words were not over yet, ¡°But if you don¡¯t mind, please give me a shot.¡± Violet slightly raised the corners of her mouth as if she was satisfied. ¡°Then let¡¯s take a short break and then start.¡± Violet turned around. She tied her messy hair back and rearranged the sword. In the meantime, Lilia grabbed Karhan¡¯s arm and led him to the back. ¡°Will you be okay?¡± Lilia glanced at Violet with a worried face and continued to talk, ¡°What you saw wasn¡¯t everything about my mother¡¯s skills. Her hobby is to cut falling leaves in autumn.¡± In addition, it was Violet who taught Frances. Thanks to this, Frances became one of the best players, but he has yet to beat Violet. Lilia used to think Frances as the best swordsman, but that was because Violet retired. And she was worried that Violet didn¡¯t like Karhan. She had allowed them to date, but sometimes she didn¡¯t like hearing of Karhan. ¡°Of course I won¡¯t be a match, but I think it will be a good experience.¡± Karhan did not overturn the decision. Violet suggested it first, and he didn¡¯t know when he would have another chance to compete with such a strong player. ¡°¡­..In fact, if you are not burdened, I would love to see it.¡± Lilia hesitated and said honestly. She wanted to gauge Karhan¡¯s skills because she was actually going to teach him swordsmanship. He said he had never learned swordsmanship properly, but he rolled on the battlefield for as long as eight years and he has made quite a lot of contributions, so his accumulated experience must have been considerable. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Karhan whispered while curving his eyes, and then walked away. Frances, who was waiting, approached. When Karhan rolled up his shirt sleeves to his wrist, he looked very envious. Frances looked around and quietly asked Karhan, ¡°What kind of exercise do you do? I won¡¯t tell anyone, so please tell me a little.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have one¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Do you mean those muscles have been there since birth? I¡¯m so jealous.¡­.¡± Franche murmured sullenly as he looked at his muscles-filled forearms. But Karhan didn¡¯t understand why he envied him. Rather, because of this he was often misunderstood since it¡¯s a more noticeable physique than others. Frances held out a real sword for practice. The risk of getting hurt was not as great because the blade was blunt. ¡°If it¡¯s dangerous, shout surrender right away.¡± Frances looked at Karhan with a pitiful gaze for no reason. This was because he remembered the day he first played against Violet. The memory of being broken at that time still remained vivid. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Karhan received the sword from Frances. When he held the sword that stretched out smoothly, he quickly got used to it. When he was in the war zone, he held it every day without skipping, so it was because he got used to it that it was easy to adjust. In order to survive, he cut numerous enemies with the sword and lost his colleagues. After returning to the capital, he was sick and tired of it, so he didn¡¯t even look at it. However, when he watched the match between Violet and Frances earlier, his fingertips kept twitching. In fact, it was fun to swing a sword unless it was to hurt someone. He was able to shake off his thoughts and focus entirely on the sword. He kept away from the sword, but he hadn¡¯t realized he missed it. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± Violet, who was giving orders to the knights at Karhan¡¯s words, turned around. Wearing leather pants revealed a solid body that he had been hiding in his usual outfits. Traces of long training remained intact. The knights sat down in a circle. Lilia sat comfortably in the seat prepared by Frances and watched. Violet and Karhan faced each other in the middle of the hall. After politely saluting each other, they raised their swords and the match started. Violet attacked first. Karhan blocked Violet¡¯s sword half a beat late. The dull sound of blades colliding resonated. Violet¡¯s eyes became thinner. Violet, who grasped Karhan¡¯s skills in one shot, quickly pulled back her sword and attacked. Karhan was in a hurry to stop the flying sword. Karhan¡¯s body, which was like a mountain, was gradually pushed back. Obviously, Violet¡¯s sword was light, but the end was heavy. Karhan did not miss the movement of Violet and captured it in his eyes. After clashing the sword several times, he began to see the pattern of her movement little by little. Karhan, who managed to block the sword, fought back for the first time. Chae-eng, Violet¡¯s sword trembled with a sharp sound of iron. Her wrists were sore as if she had hit a rock. Violet¡¯s expression, which had only been relaxed, suddenly changed. Violet smiled for the first time as if it were very fun. ¡°Gasp¡­¡± Knights watching with their mouths open took a breath. There was only one reason why Violet smiled during the game. It was time to show her skills in earnest. The two swords clashed and fell repeatedly. Karhan, who had only been backing down, gradually moved forward. When Violet began to be pushed back, everyone looked shocked. They couldn¡¯t even imagine Violet¡¯s defeat. ¡°You have great power.¡± Violet, who was facing his sword, whispered. Karhan¡¯s sword was pushed toward Violet at once. The tip of the blade narrowly touched her neck. Just before the defeat was confirmed, Violet smiled brightly, ¡°But a sword that is not properly honed will only break.¡± She moved like an experienced hunter waiting for the right time. Violet twisted the sword and let go of a huge force as if letting out a pouring waterfall. For a moment, the straight sword looked bent like a curvature. She headed to a point as if aiming at a needle hole while drawing a smooth line. Chiiiing! sunlight reflected on the blade poured into his eyes. Karhan¡¯s pupils reflected a blade that broke into two. Suddenly, the half of the blade that had cut through the air fell on the grass. There was no sound of breathing anywhere. Karhan looked down at the broken sword and opened his mouth first. ¡°¡­¡­I lost.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I used my left hand.¡± In a clear declaration of defeat, Violet said, putting the sword into the sheath of the waist. She looked very satisfied. Those who were watching with their soul began to pour out words as if the dam had burst. ¡°Lady, didn¡¯t you say he is a beginner?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t he really learn swordsmanship?¡± Lilia grumbled her lips. She also saw Karhan¡¯s swordsmanship for the first time. Obviously, Karhan said he had never learned swordsmanship anywhere. However, it was the first time he competed with her mother and yet he endured that much. Karhan didn¡¯t even realize that the gazes were pouring on him, only fiddling with the broken sword. ¡°The sword is broken¡­¡­ I¡¯ll compensate you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m the one who broke it.¡± Violet waved her hand saying she didn¡¯t care. Violet, who was looking at Karhan lightly, gave advice. ¡°Young Duke, you have a habit of relying on your right hand when facing a sword. When using a sword, it¡¯s dull and rough. And¡­.¡± After a moment¡¯s pause, Violet whispered, ¡°It was swordsmanship for practical use, not for competition.¡± (T/N: she means to say the technique used by him is used for killing people and for using in competition, the reason why she whispered is coz if others listened it, they will misunderstand it) Karhan hesitated. Violet¡¯s words were correct. Karhan didn¡¯t learn swordsmanship to show someone. It was a sword that he learned directly by the body to survive in the battlefield. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Violet stared silently at Karhan. He was like a beast who had been in the wild for a long time. The posture and method of holding a sword were very different from the textbook, but he had instinctively realised with his senses which was the best way. In addition, he quickly grasped and dealt with Violet¡¯s habits because his head was extraordinary. Violet grabbed her shaggy wrist. She felt like she hit a rock again and again. He was so strong that if she had done something wrong, Violet¡¯s sword would have broken first. Violet looked at Karhan with narrowed eyes. Such a person was bound to become a monster or a hero. She wanted to raise him as a hero. ¡°Are you interested in swordsmanship?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Karhan looked at Lilia, who was standing far away. She waved when their eyes met. Karhan naturally smiled lightly. Violet, who saw the face, blinked. Karhan, who put his head straight again, answered honestly. ¡°I don¡¯t like killing but..¡­ I¡¯m interested in using the sword itself.¡± ¡°That¡¯s unique.¡± He doesn¡¯t like swordsmanship learned on the battlefield or killing. Violet, who had been looking at him as very interesting, beckoned Lilia. Lilia, who was sitting in the chair, approached. She looked at Violet with a slightly anxious face. That insidious smile was definitely worn before she would do something.. ¡°I heard that professors come and go to the annex these days.¡± Lilia looked up at Violet with a face saying, ¡®How did you know?¡¯ She thought she had done her best to enforce the rules, but she was still in her mother¡¯s palm. ¡®I couldn¡¯t tell her because I couldn¡¯t tell her honestly about Karhan¡¯s situation¡­¡­ Will she scold me?¡¯ She was thinking about what excuse to make, but Violet continued. ¡°I don¡¯t know the details, but if so, don¡¯t you need a swordsmanship teacher?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ What?¡± When Lilia blinked, Violet spoke, ¡°I want to teach the Young Duke.¡± (PR: YES YES YES YES YES) Chapter 63 Hidden Under The Name of Genius The warm sunshine flooded the table like a wave. Lilia, who was looking at it softly, turned her gaze to Violet, who was sitting opposite her. She was gracefully holding a teacup. It¡¯s been a while since the two of them had tea, not a meal. In silence, Lilia opened her lips first. ¡°How¡¯s the Young Duke these days?¡± Violet put down the teacup when Lilia asked. The sound of the ceramics clattering was heard, and Violet opened her mouth, ¡°He¡¯s diligent and sincere.¡± Violet, who gave a short answer, smiled lightly. Obviously, until recently, Violet used to narrow her eyebrows slightly when talking about Karhan. That was an attitude which meant she didn¡¯t like him. Her attitude, which has changed over the past few days, felt quite unfamiliar. Lilia recalled what happened a while ago. She took Karhan to the hall to introduce him to the knights, where he met Violet. Violet first proposed a match, and the two competed against each other with the sword. The words of Violet, who had won the match, were still vivid. ¡ª I want to teach the Young Duke. Everyone was stunned by the proposal. Lilia also wondered if she had heard it wrong, so she asked again. ¡ª Are you serious, mother? ¡ª Yes, I am interested. Lilia, who realized that Violet was serious, immediately pushed Karhan¡¯s back. If her mother taught him in person, she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about teaching him swordsmanship anymore. Thus, Violet taught Karhan twice a week. How to pose, basic skills, etiquette, attack according to the type of sword, etc. Karhan was busy stopping by the hall early in the morning to practice swordsmanship, and taking lessons in the afternoon. ¡°His stamina is great, so he¡¯ll be the best with more delicacy and skill.¡± Violet had a very satisfied face. It¡¯s been a while since she saw such an expression on her mother¡¯s face, so Lilia blinked her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m very curious whether he¡¯ll be a monster or a hero.¡± (T/N: the pov shifts to Violet from here) Mumbling to herself, Violet lifted the teacup again. Watching Karhan made Violet happy as if she were looking at herself in the past. She wondered where his unstoppable growth would end. In fact, at first, with a little selfishness, she rolled Karhan hard. It was a very difficult schedule, enough to be called Hell Training, so anyone would have dropped out, but Karhan followed her silently. On the contrary, Violet was surprised when he did two times more than she had ordered. And how good his strength is. He knocked down a practice log with a wooden sword and spoke naturally, ¡ª Everyone can do this much. Karhan had no idea he was special. On the contrary, he used to focus on training as if he was being whipped, saying he was not good enough. Then two days ago, after a light match, Karhan handed over a towel and said. ¡ªMadam has worked really hard. ¡ª¡­..Why do you think so? ¡ªOne can tell by looking at your hands. It was another callused hand on top of the callused hand*. She usually wears thin gloves, so it was not noticeable. (*Karhan is giving the towel, and her hand is on top while his hand is below.) ¡ªAnd the trajectory was so neat that I thought you might have practiced tens of thousands of times. Violet felt very strange. Born in a family famous for producing outstanding knights, Violet has been told countless times that she is a genius among them. People thought that Violet could rise to the spot without trying. ¡ªBut you were able to rise this much because you are talented. (Extra Character) ¡ªPractice? Others practice to that extent. You¡¯re just a genius. (Extra Character) Endless practice and bloody efforts were all obscured under the name of genius. Amidst much envy and jealousy, Violet lost her way. Violet, who reached the stage as a female swordswoman, chose a different path without looking back. And now that a lot of time has passed. There was someone who recognized her efforts. It was also a man who didn¡¯t know he was a genius. ¡°Those who work hard are not bad.¡± (T/N: Violet¡¯s POV ends here) Lilia blinked her eyes. She seemed to like Karhan secretly. ¡°By the way, what are you doing at the annex?¡± Lilia was silent for a moment. She couldn¡¯t be honest about the fact that Karhan was studying with professors from all over the continent. If she brings this up, she has no choice but to mention Karhan¡¯s family history, but it was awkward to say it herself. ¡°It¡¯s okay if it¡¯s hard to say.¡± Violet retreated neatly. ¡°You will do very well.¡± Her heart was touched for no reason because Lilia felt like her mother trusted her. ¡°You won¡¯t have to worry.¡± ¡°Okay. What about¡­Heinley is the only one who will say something if the Young Duke goes in and out of the mansion constantly.¡± Lilia lifted her head and looked at Violet. Did you notice that the relationship between father and Karhan is better than expected? Her father didn¡¯t even know and tried to hide it.¡­. Violet put down the tea cup and stared straight at Lilia. ¡°I have a place to negotiate a deal next time, would you like to come with me?¡± ¡°Can I go?¡± ¡°You said you were interested in business, so you should learn slowly while studying. And it¡¯s good to build friendships.¡± ¡°Okay. Call me next time you go.¡± When Lilia nodded, Violet smiled lightly. The two stood up after drinking some more tea. Returning to the bedroom, Lilia decided to take care of the things she couldn¡¯t do this morning. A box filled with letters was placed on the desk and classified one by one. Lilia, who was trying to put the invitation in the trash as usual, paused. It was because she suddenly remembered what Violet said. ¡ªIt¡¯s good to build friendships. Up until now, Lilia has built walls with people. She was also uncomfortable hanging out with strangers, and she was busy spending time with Lee Hart. At that time, she thought she could get along well alone. However, as long as she pledged to lead the family business, she could not stay the same as before. Business is not done alone. Lilia looked through the invitations one by one. A banquet was burdensome, so she thought a small meeting would be appropriate. Lilia¡¯s hand, who was checking the invitation, paused. It was a particularly spectacular invitation. She opened the envelope with a paper knife and took out the contents. [We invite you to a gathering of young and rich people] When she read it roughly, it seemed to be a group of noble young people who were interested in leading businesses or investing. The interests were similar, and there was nothing bad about building friendships. Lilia checked the place at the end of the letter. It was a Delotta mansion. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Lilia just tapped the desk with her fingertips. She heard it roughly from rumours that young rich people gathered around Stella. It is also said that the information from this meeting is quite useful. Normally, she wouldn¡¯t have walked into Stella Dellotta¡¯s house on her own. However, they would continue to be intertwined in the future, so there was no way to avoid her. Lilia smiled and put down the letter. ¡°Shall I go see if my precious customer planted the flowers well?¡± *** Stella blinked after receiving Lilia¡¯s reply that she would attend the meeting. ¡°¡­Is she really coming?¡± Of course, it was an invitation she sent thinking that Lilia would not come. ¡°What is she thinking?¡± Stella became curious about Lilia Bloden¡¯s plan. Obviously, she wouldn¡¯t have attended it while being ignorant. But Stella couldn¡¯t miss this opportunity. Not long ago, all the seedlings were transferred and planted. Stella¡¯s rose garden could be transformed thanks to the addition of the expensive nutritional supplements so that flowers could bloom quickly. She really wanted to see Lilia, who acted as if she was superior to her in everything, surprised to see her garden. Stella spurred the preparations for the meeting. The mansion was decorated much more lavishly than usual and a lot of attention was paid to the accessories and clothes. And finally, the day came when they decided to have the meeting. Stella went out to the garden on time. From far away, carriages began to come in one after another. All the visitors were rich, so the carriages were colourful and luxurious no matter who was in it. It is basic to have gold, and there were also people who put silk flags or jewellery on their wheels. The nobles, who had as much power as the carriage, got off one by one. (T/N: the second line means nobles who have the wealth and power was shown on the decorations on the carriage) ¡°Thank you for inviting me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± Everyone smiled and quickly looked at each other. They looked at who came with a better carriage and what clothes and ornaments they wore. Then smiled, thinking¡ª they, themselves were a little better. But among those here, Stella Delota was the one with an overwhelming advantage. She, who was well-known as the only child of a merchant, was an integral part of this gathering. Everyone was competing, but they were displeased because they couldn¡¯t match Stella. By the time most people arrived after greeting. The last guest came in. A white carriage led by four black horses from afar smoothly passed through the entrance to the garden. Everyone opened their eyes wide to the majestic carriage. It was an exotic design that stood out even among the carriages decorated with gold and jewels. Two handsome men got off the carriage first. Subsequently, blue shoes stepped on the simple stairs. Lilia, who came down the stairs holding the man¡¯s hand, felt the gazes and raised her head. Lilia smiled when she saw Stella at the front. ¡°Did you come to meet me, Miss Stella?¡± Chapter 64 Lilia Bloden¡¯s Standards Lilia and Stella looked at each other. In that brief moment, sparks erupted from their gaze. It was Stella who spoke first. ¡°Since we¡¯re all here, shall we go to the garden?¡± She had decided that she could not engage in a war of words here. Stella took a step, and the young nobles followed. Lilia spoke to Frances and Malek, who were standing in front of the carriage, ¡°I don¡¯t know when I¡¯ll finish, so wait in the carriage.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting outside.¡± Malek and Francesce stood still in their spots. Even if she couldn¡¯t keep up, he was determined to wait here without relaxing. Lilia knew that both of them were stubborn, so she shrugged lightly and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be back as early as I can.¡± Leaving them behind, Lilia followed the young nobles. Stella, who was walking in the lead, looked back. It was as if she was making sure Lilia was following along. She wasn¡¯t the type to take care of Lilia, so there must be something she really wants to show. Stella, who was walking inside the garden, slowed down. And the admiration of the youngsters continued like a domino effect.* (* a cumulative effect produced when one event initiates a succession of similar events) ¡°Wow¡­¡± ¡°Oh, my. Everyone stopped walking and looked at the flower bed as if possessed. The scarlet-coloured flower garden seemed to have picked the prettiest color from the palette and dropped it. As the wind blew, the petals waved and a fragrant scent spread. When everyone looked ecstatic, Stella opened her mouth with a proud face, ¡°I fixed the garden before the seasons changed.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen this flower before. What¡¯s its name?¡± Everyone chatted and poured out compliments. Some of them asked questions with greedy eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t know the name of the flower either. It¡¯s a flower that I had a hard time getting.¡± Those who asked Stella¡¯s answer sighed with regret. If even she had found it hard, it would have been a flower that would be really hard to have. Stella slowly turned her head and glanced at Lilia. The look of surprise was evident on Lilia¡¯s face. Stella bit her lip as if she was going to burst into laughter without realizing it. She just wanted to see that expression. Lilia Bloden, who always acted glamorous, was surprised. On purpose, she made it twice as wide as the flower garden she had seen at Bloden¡¯s mansion, and it paid off. ¡°I think it¡¯s still not enough, so I¡¯m going to gradually increase the flower garden.¡± Stella gave Lilia a glance. As Lilia was even more startled, Stella lifted her chin in satisfaction. ¡®Are you going to add more here?¡¯ Lilia was surprised in a different way. At first, seeing the size of the flower garden, she wondered why she bought so many seedlings. Somehow, even after inviting professors, there was money left over. And she was surprised to hear that¡­.. Stella was going to expand her flower garden further ¡®I should have told them to grow those flowers up quickly.¡¯ Even Lilia¡ª the supplier, lacked seedlings. She has to sell even the seedlings she was going to plant in Bloden¡¯s mansion. She was thinking of selling as much as she could while she could. Lilia¡¯s sly smile was dazzling, but she quickly hid her expression. As they walked through the flower garden, into her backyard, they saw a tea table. On the table covered with thin silk were a four-tiered dessert tray, a crystal vase with scarlet flowers, and a tea set. Lilia admired it in her heart. It was very fancy but didn¡¯t feel old-fashioned. It was thanks to her excellent color harmony and arrangement. She doesn¡¯t like to praise Stella very much, but she couldn¡¯t deny that she had a pretty good eye. ¡°Everyone, please take a seat.¡± At Stella¡¯s words, Lilia confirmed her place. Originally, the further your seat is from the seat of the host, the worse the relationship with the respective person. And Lilia¡¯s name was positioned at the bottom of the table. Lilia raised her eyebrows once, and she sat down before anyone else. Stella and the other ladies looked at Lilia with bewildered eyes. On the contrary, Lilia raised her head and looked at those who were staring at her. Stella narrowed her forehead when she realized what Lilia had done before she had a chance to sit down. She thought Lilia, who was placed at the corner, would be humiliated or criticized. However, she didn¡¯t know that Lilia would act as if she were in the top seat by sitting down first. (T/N: the position of the seats will be explained at the end of chapter) Stella sat down with a very uncomfortable face. As a result, it went as she wanted, but the process was not pleasant at all. Everyone sat down, and Stella waved the bell on the table. Then the employees waiting behind moved at once. As Lilia watched the employees pour the tea into the cup, her cheeks stung at the swarming gazes. From those who looked explicitly to those who looked sideways, everyone was looking at Lilia. ¡®Yes, look at me a lot.¡¯ As they glanced over her head to toe, Lilia laughed to herself. Everything Lilia wore now was Bloden¡¯s. So it doesn¡¯t matter whether the way they look at her is favourable or hostile. If they looked at her with any type of interest, then they would end up paying attention to the items she was wearing. ¡®Well, if they have taste, they¡¯ll buy one or so. Because they have a lot of money.¡¯ All of these people here were fashion-sensitive, rich guests. That¡¯s why she purposely wore new products that have not been released yet. As some peered at the bracelet, Lilia deliberately swept her sleeves slightly up. As the teacup was filled and the employees stepped back, the gazes toward Lilia scattered. Stella, the organizer of the meeting, spoke again. ¡°Shall we each briefly greet? Some people do not know each other.¡± Starting with Stella, they revealed their names and families one by one. The daughter of a count who is said to be a genius in investment, the daughter of the trading king, and the great-grandson of big-time real estate, called the investment genius¡­¡­. Everyone belonged to a family in the empire with money. Finally, Lilia¡¯s turn came. ¡°I¡¯m Lilia Bloden.¡± At the brief introduction, the surroundings became quiet for a moment. People who were sitting around talked to each other with laughter. ¡°Bloden. It¡¯s famous.¡± ¡°Is there anyone in the Empire who doesn¡¯t know the Bloden family?¡± The gentle way of speaking came with thorns. Lilia felt strange. There were many people who became friendly after hearing her name, but it¡¯s been a long time since she¡¯s seen this attitude. Is it because everyone is from a well-to-do family, so there is no need to flatter, or is it because they think of her as a competitor¡­¡­Maybe it was both, she didn¡¯t know. At that time, Stella¡¯s eyes met with a brown haired lady sitting on her right seat. It was a young Countess, who made a name with her investment. ¡°By the way, what is the lady up to these days?¡± Lilia looked at the countess, who questioned her. ¡°All the people gathered here are people who are continuing their family business or are engaged in economic activities.¡± She looked around lightly and continued. ¡°I¡¯ve heard a lot that the Bloden family is great, but I don¡¯t know much about the lady. What are you doing right now?¡± Lilia felt troubled for a moment. She declared that she would inherit the family business, but nothing began in earnest yet. If it was an economic activity, all she had to offer was running a few shops and buildings. In addition, half of the shares in the gold vein was hers. Sometimes she helped with her mother and father¡¯s work, and there were several businesses that she had invested in before¡­¡­. There were more things she did than she expected, but she was too lazy to say everything. ¡°I have a few small stores.¡± At the brief answer, the Countess frowned slightly and lowered her eyebrows. ¡°I was looking forward to it, but I¡¯m a little disappointed. I can¡¯t believe all you do is get the benefits of your family.¡­.¡± She speculated that she would set up a store with her parents¡¯ money and make money comfortably. Lilia looked at her silently. There was hatred and prejudice in those brown eyes. The Blodon family was great, but she seemed to think that Lilia was of little value. ¡°So do you make any profit from that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that bad.¡± ¡°Even if there is a deficit, you have the background to make up for it, so be at ease.¡± Even when she heard sarcastic words, Lilia still looked relaxed. At her leisurely appearance, the Countess narrowed her eyebrows. Then Lilia lifted the teacup and asked, ¡°What do you do for a living?¡± She straightened her shoulders as if she had been waiting for her to ask. ¡°I¡¯m investing.¡± ¡°Investing?¡± ¡°Lady may not know, but if you know the prospect, you can make huge profits from your investment.¡± She gave a proud explanation, saying that she could make money alone without the help of her parents. Lilia took a sip of tea, listening to the boring story. The fragrant scent of flowers stayed at the tip of her nose. ¡®This house makes flower tea well.¡¯ I heard that she hit the jackpot with a flower tea with a name in the past¡­¡­¡­. Lilia felt like she knew Stella¡¯s talent for the first time. When the boring story didn¡¯t end, Lilia opened her mouth, putting down the teacup. ¡°I¡¯ve invested myself, too.¡± ¡°Really? In small amounts?¡± It was a small amount by Lilia standards. Lilia nodded, and the countess laughed. ¡°It¡¯s hard to expect a big profit with a small amount.¡± The Countess continued, shaking her head excitedly, saying no. ¡°I invested a lot this time, and I received a profit distribution in a year.¡± She seemed proud of herself. She glanced at Lilia as if she wanted her to ask. Lilia asked the question without hesitation. ¡°How much did you earn?¡± ¡°Two million Kroel.¡± Lilia sighed a little when she heard the amount. And she gave her comfort with all her heart. ¡°Oh no¡­ It¡¯ll be better next time.¡± Lilia¡¯s words made the surroundings quiet. Lilia blinked at the lady, whose expression quickly worsened. ¡®Did I screw it up?¡¯ *** Here I have used this image as a reference. Now as you can see there are two chairs which are at the bottom and at the top, the position of the chairs can be reversed if you can change your pov, so both chairs can be ¡®top¡¯ and ¡®bottom¡¯; the time when the ¡®position¡¯ of the chair is decided only when the host sits on either side since they can sit on this as well as on that chair. So Lilia, in order to change the pov of the nobles sat on her chair first, so naturally the pov shifted towards Lilia¡¯s chair and unconsciously their brain registered Lilia¡¯s chair as the ¡®top¡¯ Chapter 65 Are You Interested in Him? Lilia belatedly looked back on the flow of conversation. ¡®Ah, she was bragging.¡¯ Lilia belatedly realized that she had no sense. She said it without much thought because to her, that was considered ruined profit. The Young Countess, who was comforted while trying to brag, bit her lips as if her pride had been damaged. Soon she asked sarcastically, ¡°You said you¡¯ve invested before, right? How much profit did you make?¡± Lilia traced her memory. Immediately, investment in trade ships came to her mind. For the first time, trade with the Northern Kingdom was breached, and a large number of merchant ships with strong support from investors departed. At that time, Lilia invested some money in a small ship. It was because she wanted sand that only came from the Kingdom. As time passed, she forgot that she had invested. Only one ship returned to the Empire. All the merchant ships that could not read the complex ocean currents were sunk. The ship Lilia invested in was small, and thanks to the skillful dexterity of the captain, he was able to return safely to the Empire. As a result, the first items brought from the kingdom were sold at exorbitant prices. ¡°I think I¡¯ve earned about three million.¡± When Lilia calmly answered, the Countess frowned. Although Lilia earned a million more, the investment also had to pay off. ¡°What¡¯s the rate of return?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not accurate, but it¡¯s about 3,000 times.¡± Someone who was listening dropped a teaspoon. It¡¯s possible to make that much money with a small amount of money? The Countess asked looking shocked, ¡°How is that possible?¡± ¡°I invested when I first traded with the Kingdom of Venice.¡± The incident of the ships sinking as a group during its first trade with Venice was so famous. The Countess eventually closed her mouth. As the surroundings became quiet in an instant, Stella frowned. Stella opened her mouth to evoke the atmosphere. ¡°The tea is going to get cold. I made it myself, so try it.¡± At Stella¡¯s words, everyone drank tea calmly. ¡°It smells really good.¡± ¡°The colors are pretty, too. I think it¡¯ll be popular again this time.¡± Flattering praises poured out, and Stella naturally drew attention. When the full-fledged conversation began, the young people participated in the story. Since everyone has similar interests, materialistic things are mainly in conversation. Things that are popular these days, auctions, investments¡­¡­. Lilia sipped tea and listened to the stories. She knew most of them, but quite useful information has also become a hot topic. Then, when the conversation fell into a pointless topic, Lilia, bored, looked at the young people sitting around in a circle. The nobles attending the meeting were reading Stella¡¯s countenance. From those who openly flirt with her to those who flatter her because they want to look good. Stella¡¯s influence at this meeting was absolute. Even though they were overshadowed by the Bloden¡¯s, the Delotta¡¯s were a family that could never be ignored. In addition, Stella was an object of envy not only for young people but also for married women. Her each step received attention and was at the center of the trends. Lilia, who put down the teacup, made eye contact with Stella, who was sitting far away. Stella¡¯s eyes became thinner. She raised her chin as if to say, take a good look. It was to show off her influence, but Lilia picked up the cookies without much thought. After taking a bite of the cookie, Lilia quietly put it down. ¡®¡­..Refreshments are tasteless.¡¯ The tea was great, but the dessert was just so-so. Lilia glanced toward Stella. Stella¡¯s plate was empty. Considering that there were no crumbs, it seemed to have been an empty plate from the beginning. She suspected that she deliberately didn¡¯t receive the cookies because she knew they were not delicious. When Lilia looked at Stella¡¯s empty plate, someone who noticed it spoke quickly. ¡°There¡¯s nothing on Miss Stella¡¯s plate. I guess the employee made a mistake.¡± Before Stella could say anything, she raised her hand and called the employee. The employee looked around for a while and put the plate containing cookies down in front of Stella. The woman waited for Stella to eat cookies with a very proud face. Stella hesitated for a moment. She couldn¡¯t even openly refuse the cookies she got served in front of everyone. Eventually, Stella ate cookies. Then the woman smiled broadly and began to recommend another dessert. Meanwhile, the flow of conversation shifted to vanity and pride. ¡®I want to go home¡­¡­.¡¯ She was suffering from something she didn¡¯t usually do. Bored, Lilia rolled her eyes. And she made eye contact with the Countess, who was talking about investing earlier. Her eyes were fierce, perhaps because of what happened before. ¡°By the way, I happened to read a tabloid and saw a familiar name.¡± The conversation stopped for a moment at the words of the Countess. She looked straight at Lilia and opened her mouth. ¡°Young Miss Bloden. What happened with the Young Lord Tersian? Please tell me more details.¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes were on Lilia at that question. Lilia didn¡¯t answer. Perhaps because she thought she was avoiding the question, the Countess made a fuss as if everyone should hear it. ¡°From the title alone, it seems that Lord Tersian had an affair¡­¡­. Weren¡¯t you both getting married soon?¡± She made a commotion mentioning that Lilia was going to get married, and she laughed at how it ended up like this. ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m going to break up my engagement.¡± When Lilia readily accepted, the Countess smiled and murmured as if she were sorry, ¡°You must be very heartbroken. Your fiance had an affair¡­.¡± ¡°I know. Before the wedding.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you dated for a long time?¡± Immediately others spoke up. It was so deceitful that Lilia almost burst out laughing. Everyone was impatient to undermine Lilia even a little. Since they couldn¡¯t lay her down with their wealth anyway, they want to make her into a miserable woman abandoned by a man. ¡°You must have regretted a lot right? Young Lord Tersian is one of the best grooms.¡± The Countess talked about the ¡®advantages¡¯ of Richard she knew. Lilia, who was still listening, pulled the corner of her lips and laughed. When a sweet smile was made because of her good impression, everyone stopped talking. Lilia smiled brightly at those who pretended to be worried about her. ¡°Thank you for worrying about me.¡± Ignoring their sarcastic remarks, Lilia tilted her head at an angle and asked back, ¡°By the way, do you think you¡¯d like a playboy like Young Lord Tersian? You seem to have been very interested in him.¡± ¡°What¡­..!¡± ¡°Do you want me to introduce him to you? I think you both will look good.¡± At Lilia¡¯s words, the Countess closed her lips with a red face and eventually closed her mouth. She seems to have just realized that there is nothing to do even if she drags this topic. Lilia glanced at Stella. She thought she¡¯d help the Countess with something, but she has been quiet since earlier. She didn¡¯t think so, but when she looked closely, her complexion looked noticeably bad. When she looked closely, there was something in her mouth. Because of that, she seemed to have been quiet until now. However, the people around her continued the conversation again as if they had not noticed. ¡®Should I help her or not?¡¯ In her heart, she didn¡¯t really want to help. But just by looking at her complexion, Lilia felt like Stella was about to run out of breath. ¡®It¡¯s better than having someone die right in front of my eyes.¡¯ Lilia, who was agonizing over it, opened her mouth. ¡°Miss Delotta. I have something to say.¡± Stella raised her head and looked at Lilia. ¡°It¡¯s not something to talk about here. Can you give me a minute?¡± Several people openly frowned at Lilia¡¯s words. Before they said anything, Stella got up first, nodding her head. Lilia pushed the chair and followed Stella. Stella, who left the tea party with an urgent step, soon began to run toward the garden. And around the time she was away from the tea party venue, she stuck her head in the bushes. Whoops, she heard the sound of vomiting. Lilia, who followed, stopped walking and hardened her face. ¡®Maybe¡­¡¯ The last time she was on a strict diet, Lilia doubted if she was eating and was instead vomiting. She also seemed to be a bit more slender than when she had previously barged into the Bloden¡¯s mansion. Stella, who had been nauseating over and over again, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. She looked up slowly. When Lilia made eye contact with her, Stella¡¯s face crumpled. She seemed embarrassed to show this appearance. ¡°Do you want some water?¡± ¡°Why are you interfering with me!¡± Stella screamed. Soon, she bit her lips and letting go and murmured, ¡°¡­¡­I could have solved it on my own without you.¡± Stella stressed that she never intended to get help. Lilia sighed inside. ¡®What¡¯s so pretty that I helped her?¡¯ She looked at Stella, who chirped like a sparrow, said Lilia indifferently, ¡°You look okay now.¡± Stella glared at Lilia with her mouth closed. The emotions in her eyes looked complicated. She seemed to have hurt her pride and seemed angry. However, there was no malice as usual. Stella stared at Lilia and opened her mouth. ¡°You¡¯re not trying to catch my weaknesses with this, are you?¡± ¡°Why would I?¡± Stella looked noticeably relieved at Lilia¡¯s reaction. Stella, who was chewing her lips, eventually turned around. Lilia, who was looking at Stella¡¯s back, said what Frances often used to say in this situation. ¡°¡­ she¡¯s such a jerk.¡± (P/R: DAMN RIGHT) Chapter 66 The Tersian Family Chapter 10 Richard stood up holding his head. The hangover was so severe that his head seemed to be split in two. He lifted himself up and sat on the edge of the bed. He sat there blankly, remembering the previous incident again. About a month ago, Richard, who learned of Karhan Evantheon¡¯s weakness, went to visit Lilia. He believed that this time he would be able to change Lilia¡¯s heart. However, the reality was different from what had been imagined. ¡ª So what does that mean? When Lilia learned the truth, she coldly retorted. ¡ª I knew for a long time that you were trash, but I didn¡¯t know that you would do a background check. The face of Lilia, who had been criticizing him, was still vivid. Eventually, Richard returned to the mansion without any benefit. After that, he waited for news that the two of them had broken up. However, he only heard that Karhan visits Bloden¡¯s mansion every day. ¡°¡­ Are you really in love with him?¡± The heinous man who pretended to be the heir until now? Richard still believed that Lilia had him in her heart. But if Lilia¡¯s heart was moved by Karhan¡­.. There was no more corner to fit in. Even though he had kneeled down and apologised, she didn¡¯t accept it, but how can he change her heart? Richard, who was sitting in bed for a long time, looked around. The bedroom was full of Lilia¡¯s gifts. He hesitated for a while and opened a drawer that he hadn¡¯t touched for a long time. He saw a letter kept in the corner. It was a letter written by Lilia to him. He read it quietly. Lilia¡¯s heart remained intact in a small, square space. The times they spent together, the emotions they exchanged¡­¡­. He folded the letter in half and put it down. Lilia, who was standing next to Karhan, came to mind. Whenever he remembered that image, he felt like he was going to flip. Emotions stained with resentment, belated regret, and jealousy burned like flames. He felt like he was going to be swallowed up by the surged emotions. Then someone knocked on the door. ¡°Young master, everyone is waiting.¡± His reason returned belatedly after hearing that. Richard breathed out slowly. Today was the day family, even from every branch, came together to meet. After putting on his coat roughly, Richard left the room. When he arrived at the conference hall, he saw several familiar faces. In the upper seat, there was his father as a household owner, his mother who was a marquis wife, and Siona, who was already married. Below them, people from the branch family sat down. ¡°Aren¡¯t you late?¡± When the Marquis Tersian rebuked, Richard bowed his head slightly and sat down. With him seated, the family meeting began. A quarterly meeting of the Tersian family discussed a number of important issues centered on the Marquis. Most of the conclusions were bound to flow about money. ¡°That¡¯s why we need capital¡­¡­.¡± (T/N: money) If it was as usual, it would have been time for Richard to step up with confidence. But today, Richard stayed quiet. While everyone was watching, one of the people in the room opened their mouth. ¡°Anyways, what happened to Richard¡¯s wedding?¡± When one person asked, everyone looked at Richard with a curious face. Everyone was interested in Richard¡¯s marriage. When Richard didn¡¯t answer right away, the Marquis Tersian answered. ¡°Yes, I left all the wedding preparations to them, but I haven¡¯t heard from them.¡± They stared at Richard and asked, ¡°When will you set the date for the wedding?¡± There was only one reason why the Marquis wanted to hurry the wedding. It was to raise his business capital through the Bloden family. Richard¡¯s elder sister, Siona, immediately continued. ¡°Yes, you have to tell us in advance to prepare for the wedding.¡± They begged Richard with greedy eyes. ¡°There is new land that my husband has his eye on, and it will be much easier if you get married sooner.¡± Everyone was busy expressing their own desires. Richard clenched his fist when he received their excited looks. He, who had been quiet for a long time, muttered quietly, ¡°The wedding won¡¯t happen.¡± In an instant, the surroundings became quiet. Soon after, the Marquis, his wife, and Siona shouted at the same time. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°No, why¡­!¡± ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± He spoke in a discouraged voice to his family that looked at him with shocked faces. ¡°Blodens are asking for a breakup.¡± The Marquis of Tersian couldn¡¯t hold back his anger and slammed the table. ¡°Marriage is not a joke!¡± It seemed that he was very upset that they had unilaterally talked about breaking the engagement. The marquis¡¯ wife, who had had a look of disbelief, quickly hardened her face. She quickly retorted with a scary face as if she was possessed, ¡°Why? Did you make a mistake? Go to Bloden¡¯s mansion right now and apologize.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have pride?¡± ¡°Is now the time to protect your pride?! How many businesses did you have?¡± The business jointly conducted with the Bloden family was also temporarily suspended. They are in danger of losing the money cushion they have been sitting on happily ever since. ¡°You both weren¡¯t going to break up your engagement? What happened?¡± Siona did not hold back and began to argue. The Marquis also belatedly grasped that the situation was serious and stared at Richard. ¡°Even if you neglected to study for the successor¡¯s class, I passed it¡­. Pathetic bastard.¡± The branch family members were also quietly blaming Richard with their eyes. Most of the people of the Tersian family were parasitizing Lilia through Richard, so they took a huge hit. When the family became one and criticized, Richard felt suffocated. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, the Marquis kicked all the people out. Only the Marquis, his Wife, Siona, and Richard remained in the conference hall. ¡°So why does she want to break up the marriage?¡± Only then did Richard open his closed mouth. ¡°I met other women for a while¡­¡­,¡± ¡°Are you crazy?¡± The Marquis¡¯ wife shouted. Then Richard roared back. ¡°I¡¯ve already knelt down and apologized!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°No matter how many times I visit her, she won¡¯t accept me at all¡­¡­.¡± Richard¡¯s voice gradually diminished. The face of the authoritarian Marquis hardened when he heard that his only son knelt down in front of a woman. However, the Marquis Wife was busy pecking at Richard. ¡°Will that work? You have to pretend to die in front of her!¡± ¡°Noisy!¡± When the Marquis shouted, the Marquis¡¯ wife closed her mouth only then. Richard struggled to cover up his mistake even a little. ¡°I tried to do a good job, But Lilia also met a new man right away.¡± ¡°What, a new man?¡± Richard stopped talking. He couldn¡¯t decide whether to talk about the opponent being Karhan Evantheon. When Richard was silent, the Marquis went silent. ¡°Now that it¡¯s like this, I don¡¯t think we can pursue marriage with the Bloden family anymore.¡­.¡± After thinking about other things, the Marquis twisted his lips. It was because Heinley Bloden came to mind. Previously, he had asked Heinley to make Lilia and Richard reconcile, but he didn¡¯t listen until the end. In the meantime, the relationship between Richard and Lilia seemed to have completely fallen apart. In addition, Heinley himself handled all the work he had placed, very well and was about to be promoted in recognition of his contribution. As long as the two could not be married, it was time to devise other means and methods. ¡°¡­¡­I¡¯ll have to find a way to tear it down one last time.¡± When the Marquis talked to himself, the whole family looked at him. Marquis Tersian said with a slimy smile. ¡°I have a pretty good idea.¡± *** Two days have passed since Lilia went to the meeting hosted by Stella. That day, she did not return to the tea party but returned home. She realized once again that she did not fit in the social gatherings. Since then, Lilia has been having a busy daily life. She managed the Bloden mansion on behalf of her mother and studied economics from time to time. It was also one of the routines to meet Karhan, who visits Bloden¡¯s mansion every morning. Lilia, who was looking at the documents in the office today, suddenly remembered Karhan. ¡®Shall we have lunch together?¡¯ Since it was still in the morning, she thought he would be in the gym. Lilia, who got up from her seat, immediately headed to the gym. Upon arriving at the gym, Lilia looked around. She saw knights practicing in full swing, but there was no Karhan. ¡°Did he go to the annex already?¡± Lilia, who was walking towards the building located in the corner of the gymnasium, stopped. There was Karhan, who curled his large body under the eaves of the building. He was dozing off with his knees up and hugging a sword. Lilia approached Karhan. He was so tired that he slept without knowing that someone had come. He didn¡¯t seem to have slept well due to his tight schedule. Llia bent her knees and looked into Karhan¡¯s face. Under the eyes where the black eyelashes fell densely, it was slightly dark. Perhaps because he lost a little weight, his impression looked sharper. His nose that glides down without bumps and lips with a slight gap. The skin, which looked pale, was a bit tanned. Her gaze slowly descended. Karhan was wearing only a light shirt, and his collarbone was visible under the straight neckline. There was a dent beneath his straight, prominent collarbone. Lilia quickly looked away from him and looked closely at the back of his hand holding the sheath. It was a hand that looked twice as big as hers. Karhan was taller than her, so she had to raise her head when talking. So, when Karhan was always with her, he bent slightly and looked at her. ¡°Why are you sleeping so curled up when you¡¯re so big?¡± He looked pitiful for no reason. No matter how hot it was, he was likely to catch a cold if he slept in a shady place after sweating. ¡°Karhan.¡± Lilia called him quietly. His eyebrows flinched for a moment. However, Karhan showed no signs of getting up. Lilia, who was agonizing over it, entered the building and came out with a summer blanket. While covering him with the blanket, her finger touched Karhan¡¯s hand. Perhaps in his sleep, Karhan grabbed Lilia¡¯s fingertips. Lilia paused for a moment. Just as a baby held a finger and wouldn¡¯t let go, he held Lilia¡¯s fingertips and exhaled. Then his lips slowly opened up. Looking at his mouth, Lilia stopped doing what she was doing. The pulse beat from the tip of the gripped hand. As if raindrops were falling, a constant pulse rang. The sound rang slowly from her hands to her chest. ¡°¡­Lilia.¡± (P/R: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH) Lilia was startled by Karhan¡¯s murmuring and withdrew her hand. However, Karhan¡¯s eyelids were still closed. She thought he talked in his sleep. Lilia¡¯s face, which was motionless, turned red. Lilia left immediately after roughly covering him with the blanket. And after a while, his dark eyelashes trembled lightly. Karhan, who opened his eyes slowly, was absent-minded and found a blanket covering his shoulders. He looked around with a puzzled face, as he had no memory of sleeping with a blanket covered. ¡°Who covered¡­¡­.¡± Karhan, who was wondering, lightly grabbed the blanket. A soft and warm scent flowed faintly. He thought it smelled very good, and Karhan grinned. (P/R: DOUBLE AHHHHHHHHHH) *** Chapter 67 She¡¯s Richer Than Me Lilia got on the carriage after getting ready to go out after a long time. Because it was the day she had a date with Karhan. These days, Karhan was focusing on sword practice and study. He was so busy that even if he had ten bodies, It wouldn¡¯t be enough. Lilia, who felt sorry for Karhan, who couldn¡¯t even take a good rest, suggested taking about two days off. Then Karhan made an unexpected request. ¡ªThen, would you like to go out together on the day off? ¡ªWithout resting at home? ¡ªYes. If it¡¯s okay with you¡­¡­. Lilia gladly said yes. There was a play she wanted to see. And it was because she remembered what Violet said a while ago. ¡ªYou both are stuck at home all day. Don¡¯t you two go on dates? Lilia and Karhan were pretending to be lovers. In particular, Violet saw the relationship between the two positively after she began teaching Karhan swordsmanship. Karhan seemed to have scored a lot while taking swordsmanship classes. Violet liked Karhan quite a bit, but she hardly showed it in front of others. For that reason, Lilia¡¯s father, Cliff, was still pretending to hate Karhan. Unlike her parents, Heinley still disapproved Karhan. She didn¡¯t know why he hated him so much, but he was still against dating. Fortunately, until now, Karhan arrives just in time when Heinley goes to work, so there was no chance of encountering him. Not long ago, there was a day when Heinley returned home early. He rarely stepped into the annex, but of all days, he came to the annex and ran into Karhan. Heinley stood with a ghostly face and asked, raising his glasses. ¡ªWhy is the Lord at my house? Confused, Karhan hardened, and Heinley, who learned the truth, was greatly overturned. Lilia had to work hard to persuade Heinley. All he¡¯ll (Karhan) do is stay here quietly and go. He will never bother anyone in the house. Normally, he would have let it slide, but on that day, Heinley remained the same. Eventually, Lilia used the last resort. ¡ªI see. Then I¡¯ll go to the Evantheon mansion everyday. ¡ª¡­.. Rather call him to our house. Heinley gave his consent to Karhan to visit the Bloden¡¯s mansion with a dissatisfied expression. Lilia, who remembered what happened then, sighed without realizing it. ¡®It would be nice if there was an opportunity for the two to get closer¡­¡­.¡¯ Heinley, who hated Richard very much, also had distrust in Karhan. In addition, as he worked in the imperial palace, he knew a lot of corruption of high-ranking aristocrats. Therefore, it was not easy for a noble of high status to eliminate prejudice against Karhan, who was the successor. Arriving at the meeting point, Lilia got off the carriage. Karhan didn¡¯t seem to have arrived yet. Usually he shows up earlier than the scheduled time, so Lilia also showed up on time, which was surprising. It was a time when she was waiting for Karhan on the street because it was difficult to enter the tea house. Lilia suddenly felt a gaze and turned her head toward it. Then she made eye contact with a man wearing a black hat. The man opened his eyes wide when he saw Lilia¡¯s face. Immediately fixing the bow tie, he approached Lilia with a confident step. When Frances and Malek, who were standing behind, tried to step up, Lilia blocked them with a gesture. The man who stopped in front of Lilia opened his mouth after exhaling deeply. ¡°Ahem, I fell in love with you at first sight.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If you have time, why don¡¯t you have a cup of tea with me?¡± At that, Frances and Malek distorted their faces. Seeing Frances put his hand on the sheath, Lilia glanced lightly. Turning her head, Lilia stared at the man again. Wearing famous trademarks all over, he was sloppy. Perhaps because of his outfit, he looked about ten years older than her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m dating someone.¡± It was a soft but firm rejection. However, the man showed no signs of backing down. ¡°Please give me a moment. I¡¯m a really good person.¡± Lilia admired his confidence. ¡®I want to take off half of that confidence and give it to Karhan.¡¯ Then it would be really fair. Lilia captured her thoughts which lost track and refused once again. ¡°It¡¯s difficult because I¡¯m waiting for my lover right now.¡± ¡°What do you mean, a lover who makes his lady wait? Throw that kind of guy away right now!¡± As the man persistently flirted, Frances glanced at Lilia. It was clear that he was asking, ¡®Should I take care of it?¡¯ Still, it was not possible to use force against the public. She was thinking about how to kick him out, but he raised his hand and pointed to a store. ¡°Can you see that? That store is mine.¡± Lilia¡¯s head turned to the direction the man was pointing. It was a decent restaurant located in the heart of downtown. The man coughed and continued. ¡°I tried not to say this, but¡­¡­ I actually have a lot of money.¡± Perhaps the source of groundless confidence was money. ¡°Wow, really?¡± When Lilia showed interest, he shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasant coincidence. That building is mine.¡± (Iilia) ¡°What?¡± (Man) The man paused. When he made a face that he must have heard it wrong, Lilia kindly nailed it. ¡°I didn¡¯t know I¡¯d meet a tenant here.¡± The man quickly looked at her from head to toe. Rare bright blonde hair and light purple eyes. The clothes, hats, and bags worn were of the finest items that made people hesitate to purchase. Unexpectedly, he swallowed his saliva. As soon as the man opened his mouth, Lilia found Karhan walking from afar. ¡°Just in case¡­¡± ¡°Karhan!¡± Lilia waved and called Karhan. Karhan, who discovered Lilia, immediately turned to their direction. The man stopped what he was about to say and turned his head at the same time. An uncommon tall man was walking toward this place. The man¡¯s body stiffened when he made eye contact with Karhan. He wondered if this is what it would feel like if one encountered a huge black bear without a weapon in a field. And Karhan, who found the man, also seemed a little nervous. Finally facing each other, Karhan gently looked down at the man. The man who was sweating immediately lowered his tail. ¡°¡­..Excuse me!¡± He rushed in the opposite direction. Karhan, who was looking at him for a while, sighed in relief. ¡°It¡¯s a relief that he left right away.¡± Karhan murmured that he was worried about how to refuse. Apparently, he thought the man was a peddler or a cultist. Frances grumbled as he looked in the direction the man who had been chasing at Lilia had disappeared. ¡°He was so persistent that I was almost going to throw him away.¡± ¡°Nothing happened. As a tenant, he has to be nice.¡± When Lilia soothed Frances, Karhan blinked. ¡°Isn¡¯t he a pagan¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not it¡­.. That person just asked me to drink tea with him.¡± When Lilia answered without much thought, Karhan made a very complex face. Lilia, who did not see the deep sunken blue eyes, waved her hand, saying it was already over. ¡°Shall we go to the theater? I think the time would be perfect.¡± ¡°¡­.. I¡¯m sorry for being late.¡± Karhan said with a very apologetic face. Usually, he used to arrive early, but he wasted a lot of time choosing his clothes for the date which took place after a long time. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s not even the appointment time yet. Shall we go now?¡± Lilia and Karhan walked side by side and left the place. When they arrived in front of the theater, admiration and surprise spread over Karhan¡¯s face. As it was the largest theater in the capital, it was spectacular. ¡°Have you seen a play recently?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my first time visiting a theater.¡± Lilia saw Karhan admiring the magnificent theater, and her playfulness was activated. ¡°Did you know? You have to take off your shoes when entering the theater.¡± Karhan blinked his eyes. ¡°People who don¡¯t know well just wear shoes, but it¡¯s not polite.¡± Upon hearing Lilia¡¯s explanation, Karhan muttered to himself, saying, It¡¯s a big deal. There was a line lined up in front of the theater building. Lilia ignored it and strode inward. Then, a theater employee standing at the entrance of the building asked for the ticket. When Lilia showed him the ticket she had prepared in advance, the staff smiled broadly and stepped aside. ¡°¡­¡­You prepared the tickets in advance.¡± He thought he was going to pay for it, Karhan muttered with a dismayed face. ¡°I¡¯ll pay for the tickets. How much is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I asked you to see the play.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been receiving it, so I¡¯d like to pay too.¡± Karhan did not step down as usual. After a while of contemplation, Lilia said. ¡°Then you pay for dinner.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Karhan nodded satisfactorily. But she didn¡¯t think they¡¯d be together until evening. The two entered the building. And before entering the theater, Karhan stopped. When Karhan really tried to take off his shoes, Lilia stopped laughing. ¡°That was a joke earlier.¡± Lilia saw Karhan blinking with an innocent face. To be honest, she thought no one would be fooled by such a lie. ¡°Aren¡¯t you being deceived too much?¡± When Lilia asked with a smile, Karhan rubbed the back of his neck. And he looked down at the shoes he couldn¡¯t take off. ¡°Lilia has never lied to me¡­¡­ I thought it would be true.¡± Lilia closed her mouth. She couldn¡¯t fathom how much trust he had in her. He would even believe that he had to enter shouting his name, not take off his shoes. Lilia asked Karhan a question with a very serious face. ¡°If someone impersonates my name and asks for money, what should you say?¡± ¡°¡­¡­She¡¯s richer than me, so don¡¯t cheat.¡± Lilia nodded her head reassured. Chapter 68 The Hidden Love Master Lilia walked down the hallway of the building and entered the theater. The theater was a bit dark, but Lilia was able to find the seat she reserved because it was close to the stage and had a great view. Sitting side by side with Karhan, Lilia stared at the stage with anticipation. Because she was continuously busy, it was the first time in a long time she was watching a play. ¡°It¡¯s the most popular play these days.¡± Lilia whispered as she looked at Karhan. His face also looked quite excited. Soon after, a leading actor appeared, and the play began. Lilia focused on the stage. But not long after, she kept tossing and turning. The content of the play was weaker than she thought, and it was too far from her taste. It was a melodramatic play that showed how it would unfold even in the early stages. ¡®I should¡¯ve looked into the plot in advance.¡¯ Lilia regretted it inside. Thanks to her father, who likes art, Lilia has seen many plays in her life, and her taste has also risen. Even considering that, this play was a little too much. It had common content that has been brewed for the past decade or so. At least, the actors¡¯ shining appearance filled the lacking content, but even when she saw a handsome male actor, she was not impressed. It was because a more handsome man than the male actor sat next to her. ¡°My love, please don¡¯t go.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I don¡¯t know when I¡¯ll be back, so think of me as someone who doesn¡¯t exist.¡± Lilia, who was looking at the scene of the protagonist¡¯s breakup expressionlessly, felt sorry for Karhan. She had never seen such a boring play in her life. She wondered if there was any backlash against the play. Lilia, unable to focus on the stage, turned her head and looked at Karhan. Karhan was still watching the stage. His calm face was slightly distorted, unlike usual. ¡®As expected, was Karhan annoyed by the poorly written play?¡¯ Then Lilia saw his eyes reflected in the gray light. The blue eyes were twinkling more than usual. It was like water slightly reflected on a rainy day. Karhan put his hand on his bosom. Then he pulled out his neatly folded handkerchief and held it in his hand. Lilia, who watched him, barely swallowed her laughter. It was very impressive to see him tear up with a cold face. As expected, it was more fun to watch Karhan than the play. Lilia didn¡¯t want to disturb Karhan, so she turned her head back towards the stage. Again she tried to immerse herself, but she only yawned at the sagging content. As she was in a warm, dark space, her sleepiness began to creep in little by little. ¡®Oh, I shouldn¡¯t sleep¡­¡­.¡¯ However, the actors¡¯ voices only sounded like a lullaby and not a noise. Lilia¡¯s eyelids gradually went down. And she fell asleep completely shortly after. The play ran toward the second half. The two main characters, who had repeatedly parted and met due to misunderstandings, finally realized each other¡¯s feelings and shared a fierce kiss. Karhan flinched involuntarily at the wild kiss. Watching them, he felt embarrassed and shy for nothing. He wondered if it was just him, so Karhan glanced at Lilia. Lilia¡¯s head was lowered as she had fallen asleep. Her neck will hurt when she wakes up. Karhan, who was agonizing, reached out and straightened Lilia¡¯s head. Having no strength to support it, her head tilted forward again. As Karhan pondered what to do, he gave her his shoulder. It was a little high, but Lilia leaned stably and stayed asleep. Since then, Karhan was unable to concentrate on the play. The interesting contents no longer entered into his mind. Her shallow breath fell on the back of his neck. The randomly flowing golden hair tickled his wrist. Karhan, who was sitting stiffly in tension for no reason, turned his head again and looked down at Lilia. It was the first time seeing Lilia¡¯s face so closely. Lilia¡¯s golden eyelashes, who was still asleep and leaning on his shoulder, were the first to catch his eyes. The small nose and white cheeks that followed¡­¡­. The flow of her gentle breathe, and this large space felt like a vast ocean. As if he was on a deserted island, he felt as if only his surroundings were far away. Obviously, the actor was saying something on the stage, but he couldn¡¯t hear anything. Karhan¡¯s gaze headed to her slightly open lips. Her plump lips that gave out a slow breath stood out. Slowly a shadow fell on Lilia¡¯s face. When her breath finally touched his cheek. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Karhan tilted his head back in shock as if he was on fire. As the shock shook his shoulders, Lilia tossed and moved her head. Fortunately, she didn¡¯t wake up. At the same time of relief, Karhan¡¯s cheeks and neck quickly turned red. He covered his face with his palm. The cheeks touching the palm of his hand were as hot as a fireball. What did I do¡­¡­. Karhan was shocked and couldn¡¯t do anything. It was because he belatedly realized what he almost did. If he had completely lost his mind, he would have kissed the sleeping person. Along with confusion, hatred for himself came. Karhan, who held his breath as much as possible, grabbed only his handkerchief until his fingers turned white. *** Karhan left the Duke¡¯s residence early in the morning and arrived at Bloden¡¯s mansion. He looked around him like a habit. He was afraid he might run into Heinley. He had previously ran into Heinley once and had the house turned over. Karhan was scared of Heinley, so he would wait for him to leave for his work every day and then enter the mansion. Arriving at the annex, Karhan briefly greeted Lilia, who came out to meet him. It would have been nice if it was usual, but it was hard to see Lilia¡¯s face now. It was because his heart ached with guilt because of what happened two days ago. Karhan, who entered the study room, waited for the professor. He took out a book and a pen to review what he had learnt, but he couldn¡¯t get his head into it. Karhan sighed again like it was a habit. After watching the play, Karhan returned home on the pretext of something urgent. And he spent time stuck in the Duke¡¯s house throughout the holiday. Karhan couldn¡¯t do anything because his head was full of what happened in the theater. Why did I do that? He asked countless questions. Is it because I was swept away by the atmosphere after seeing the actors kissing, or was I possessed for a while because her lips were pretty¡­. However, the usual Karhan didn¡¯t like the atmosphere (of actors kissing) at all. Even when everyone else was excited, he was just still. Then it¡¯s not because of the atmosphere¡­¡­. No matter how much he agonized, he couldn¡¯t reach a clear conclusion. As a result, Karhan was thinking about Lilia all day long. ¡°Haa¡­..¡± Without realizing it, he let out another sigh. Lilia was his benefactor. She first reached out to him, who had been like a puppet in his family. Even after learning that he was only a temporary successor, Lilia did not change her attitude. Rather, she persuaded him to be the real successor Karhan wanted to be what Lilia said. Since she trusted him, he wanted to do his best to repay her. Karhan¡¯s feelings for Lilia varied. He was always grateful, and sometimes he was happy as if he had received a gift, and the time they spent together was fun. Emotions that could be simply defined became more complex over time. When he saw Lilia with Richard before, his heart was stuffy, and when he heard that he was with her, Karhan was upset. These were definitely feelings that he had never felt before. So it was difficult for Karhan to define what he felt for Lilia. What is my relationship with Lilia¡­. Now that transactions and alliances have disappeared, is it just a one-sided relationship? ¡°What do I want to be for Lilia¡­.¡± Mumbling to himself, Karhan took a book out of his bag to empty his head. It was a love guide that he had already read over and over again. Karhan struggled to concentrate on the book. ¡°Mr. Evantheon.¡± Karhan looked up at someone¡¯s call. Already coming inside, Professor Mezra Genius was standing in front of him. ¡°I knocked, but there was no answer, so I came in.¡± Karhan looked at him with a puzzled face. He seemed to have been so focused that he couldn¡¯t hear any knocks. ¡°You were reading a book.¡± Mezra paused before he could praise him for his sincerity with a happy smile. It was because he saw a familiar sentence in the book. ¡°Is that book¡­¡± Mezra asked with a face, wondering if this could be true. After making a brief ¡®ah¡¯ sound, Karhan closed the book and showed the cover. [Love Beginner, Become a Master! Volume 2] An earthquake occurred in Mezra¡¯s eyes as he read the title. The reason Mezra was embarrassed was not because Karhan was reading the love guide with a serious face. It was because the author of that book was Mezra. Mezra, the youngest professor at the academy and called a genius, has published all kinds of books. Not only law and politics, but also fairy tales and had covered most fields. One day, he wrote while being immersed in early morning emotions. It was filled with essays and advice from the days when he was dating his now wife. After pretending to be a love master, he forgot about it and later persuaded his wife to find and publish the manuscript. After much consideration, he changed his pseudonym to Mezz, and published it.¡­ And that book was a big hit. Mezra has been hiding that he is the author of the book. It was because there was a reputation for him to maintain. But now, when he saw Karhan reading that book right in front of him, he couldn¡¯t control his facial expression. Mezra managed to fix his expression and looked at Karhan. Unlike him, he had a very calm face. Most men read these books secretly because they were hurt or ashamed of their pride, but Karhan looked confident. Mezra, who was thinking about what to say, opened his mouth, ¡°That¡­¡­Are you struggling with dating problems?¡± Chapter 69 Let¡¯s Continue Our Negotiations Karhan flinched at Mezra¡¯s question. Mezra was convinced of this because that was the only reason to find and read love books. He said after coughing, ¡°It¡¯s kind of weird to say this myself, but I once made my name known as the master of love counselling.¡± Karhan rolled his eyes around. Mezra waited without rushing. He was curious about Karhan¡¯s love life, but the desire to help was even greater. Contrary to what he was worried about at the first meeting, Karhan was a sincere and good student. As a teacher, it was natural that he wanted to help his beloved student. ¡°It¡¯s not dating counselling¡­¡­, I don¡¯t know what feeling this is.¡­.¡± Karhan slowly opened his mouth. Mezra immediately sat on a chair and faced Karhan. ¡°Do you have any partner in mind?¡± When Karhan didn¡¯t answer, Mezra said in more detail. ¡°So she¡¯s someone you think of often or you¡¯re conscious of for no reason.¡± Karhan nodded. He thinks about Lilia everyday. He was conscious of Lilia, so he chose clothes and studied the dating book guides. ¡°Hmm, the Lord Evantheon, you don¡¯t know how you feel towards that person¡±. ¡°¡­..Yes.¡± Karhan was just happy and content to be with Lilia. He often wondered if this is what it feels like to have friends. But these days, whenever he sees Lilia, his heart tickles. There were times when all his nerves were focused on Lilia, but there were times when his chest tightened and he felt suffocated. He wondered what it was. ¡°Do you feel your heart pounding?¡± ¡°My heart doesn¡¯t feel good, but¡­¡­.¡± Karhan, who only said that far, realized something strange. Sometimes his heart pounded like it was going to explode, but it happened only when he was with Lilia. That was the only time he had to take the heart medicine that he always carried. Why didn¡¯t I know this until now¡­? As Karhan froze, Mezra kept asking questions, ¡°Then, what kind of relationship does Lord Evantheon want to have with her?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Tuk, he was speechless. Karhan was content with the present, but he did not think about changing the relationship in the future. In his mind, not a one-sided relationship¡­.¡­ He wanted to be in an equal relationship. The more he thought the more he became a bit more greedy, he wanted to be with Lilia even after a long time. Even after Lilia broke off her engagement safely while Karhan became the real successor¡­¡­. Karhan, who was imagining a distant future, gasped. Obviously, it was the future Lilia and himself wanted. But at the end was a crossroads. After achieving each other¡¯s goals, Lilia and Karhan will live their own lives. Then, if he married someone else, he would not be able to even see her properly because he would be busy. Thinking that far, his stomach became hot as if someone had poured boiling water in it. Karhan, who was looking down at the floor with a dark face, licked his lips. He carefully opened his mouth as if he didn¡¯t know if he could dare to say this, ¡°I want to always be by her side¡­¡­ I want to be in that kind of relationship.¡± Isn¡¯t that a marriage relationship? Mezra tried to answer, but he resisted. ¡°But I don¡¯t know if I can do that.¡± As Karhan became unsure, Mezra stomped his feet. ¡°No, Lord Evantheon, you are forgetting something! Great looks! Perfect house! And don¡¯t you have the resources?¡± Karhan corrected him with a sullen face. ¡°She has more money than I do.¡± She has more money¡­¡­? Is it Miss Bloden¡­? Mezra¡¯s eyes shook briefly. Come to think of it, it was strange for him, the successor of Evantheon, to come to the Blodon mansion and take classes. On top of it, he heard a rumor before. Lilia and Karhan are dating¡­¡­. It wasn¡¯t just a rumor, it seems to be true. No, it looks like Karhan hasn¡¯t realized that he likes her yet¡­.¡­, Is it really right to date? Mezra, whose mind became complicated, let out a small sigh.. However, if he left him as it is, Karhan would not be fully aware of his feelings. Mezra eventually told him what he felt. ¡°I think¡­¡­. Lord Evantheon seems to like that person.¡± ¡°Yes, I like her.¡± Mezra was embarrassed by the gentle reply. ¡°Then why¡­¡­. What are you worrying about?¡± Karhan muttered, sweeping down his neck ¡°I think it¡¯s because it¡¯s a little different from what I like.¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± ¡°I like vegetables, but I don¡¯t feel this way about vegetables¡­¡­¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Mezra belatedly realized. That Karhan can¡¯t tell the difference between liking and loving. Sometimes, when he looked at Karhan, he felt like Karhan was a child who had not yet gone out into the world. His learning speed was fast, but there were times when it was embarrassing because he didn¡¯t even know the basics. Perhaps, Karhan was the first to realize it¡¯s love. ¡°That is love.¡± ¡°¡­..Love?¡± Karhan had a puzzled face. In response to his reaction that showed he didn¡¯t understand even though he heard the word, Mezra slowly solved it for him and explained it, ¡°It seems that Lord Evantheon is worried because she is a special person to you.¡± Mezra glanced at the book he wrote. The embarrassing title caught his eye. ¡°Lord Evanteon doesn¡¯t seem to be sure yet, but if the word ¡®I like you¡¯ is not enough someday¡­¡­.¡± And he laughed, thinking of his wife. ¡°You can call it love then.¡± *** Lilia paused while writing a financial statement. She lifted her head and looked towards the gymnasium, which she could not see from here. Perhaps by now, Karhan was practicing swordsmanship in the gym. She didn¡¯t know if it¡¯s just her, but Karhan seemed to be avoiding her these days. Even this morning, he only said ¡®Hello¡¯ lightly and disappeared immediately. Lilia, who was pondering why he was behaving like that, recalled when they went to the play. That day, Lilia fell asleep while watching the play. When she woke up after the play, Karhan¡¯s condition seemed strange. And it has continued even untill today. ¡°Are you angry because I slept?¡± I don¡¯t think so.¡­. She was wondering if she should grab Karhan and ask him openly. Lilia, who was lost in thought, livened up after checking the time. When she left the office and went down to the central hall of the main building, she saw Violet. ¡°You¡¯re just in time.¡± Violet, dressed neatly, welcomed Lilia. The two immediately boarded the carriage in front of the door. After Lilia expressed her desire to inherit the business, Violet tried to get Lilia into the business little by little. And today, she decided to take a tour of Violet¡¯s negotiations with her trading partner. Arriving at the meeting point, Lilia and Violet were guided and headed for the parlour. As they sat and waited, a man with a voluminous mustache came in fifteen minutes after the appointment time. ¡°Hello.¡± The man smiled, saying he was a little late, and sat down in the seat across from them. ¡°Your daughter, she¡¯s beautiful.¡± The man who saw Lilia praised her with an admirable face. Lilia, who briefly greeted, recalled the information she had heard from Violet in advance. As a baron, he had a large forest, where a rare tree called Mahni grew. The wood was used as a high-end furniture material and was very popular. And this time, as the Bloden family expanded their furniture business, they made a place to negotiate in order to receive a stable supply of solid wood. Lilia glanced at Violet with a look of anticipation. Today, she would be able to learn a lot from seeing her mother¡¯s negotiating skills. Violet and the Baron started with a light conversation. Violet tried to get to the point with a moderate amount of private talk, but the Baron kept talking about things that were basically personal matters. How could she cut him off, it was Violet¡¯s side who had to bend and tread carefully here. Knowing it clearly, the Baron continued to tell his story. ¡°So the opera I saw this time was really fun.¡± As time kept going by with his useless words, Lilia closed her lips. She wanted to come forward, but she had no choice but to wait and see. Then Violet, who was just listening, replied, ¡°I heard that famous actors appeared, so the play must be interesting. Come to think of it, the material used for the theater stage was Mahni wood, right?¡± Violet naturally led the topic of conversation to the desired direction. The man went straight to the point as if he couldn¡¯t help it. ¡°Mahni wood is famous for being used only in luxury stores. Because the texture is so beautiful. But it¡¯s a very difficult tree to manage.¡­.¡± The man yapped about the value of the tree and how it was grown. And finally, he revealed his purpose. ¡°I need to get 10,000 Kroels per tree.¡± At the price the man demanded, Lilia hardened her expression. 10,000 kroels was a ridiculous price. His intention was to sell unprocessed wood at a higher price than most furniture. But Violet replied with a calm face. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that the price is much higher than I expected.¡± ¡°That is true but I thought Countess Bloden would accept this.¡­ I¡¯m a little disappointed.¡± He fiddled with his mustache and glanced at Violet. Thinking that the Bloden¡¯s were at an unfortunate position, he leaned his back and sat arrogantly. ¡°Well, I have nothing to regret. There were already quite a few people who agreed to the price. Of course, I¡¯m negotiating with Countess Bloden first, but.¡­.¡± Lilia looked at the Baron¡¯s behavior and expression. More than half of what he was saying now was bragging. Violet quietly listened to him. The Baron became more excited and acted arrogantly. It was clear that he thought he took the lead completely. The Baron, leaning his back on his seat, said arrogantly with his legs crossed, ¡°So I don¡¯t intend to lower a penny from the offered price.¡± His attitude seemed to say, if you don¡¯t like it, leave now. Violet, who had been quiet for a long time, opened her mouth. ¡°Your posture is not good.¡± ¡°Because my back is not good.¡± As the Baron smiled and responded, Violet quietly picked up the dessert knife. Then the baron¡¯s gaze followed the knife. Soon after, the baron was surprised by the sound of plate breaking and shrank his shoulder. A straight cut cake as well as the plate without an inch of error caught his eye. It was a finger-sized dessert knife that broke the thick plate in two. Hik, the Baron breathed in. ¡°The plate is weaker than I thought.¡± Violet grabbed the knife and glanced at the baron¡¯s thick beard. ¡°Is your back still not good?¡± He reflexively covered his pampered mustache with his palm. And he belatedly recalled the rumors about Violet. She was once famous as a genius swordsman. After she became Countess Bloden, she used to smash rude business partners as if a seal had been broken. Violet and the Baron¡¯s eyes met. The Baron unwittingly loosened his crossed legs and straightened his back. As he sat upright, Violet raised her chin. She smiled as she let her aura flow unfiltered towards her opponent. ¡°Then let¡¯s continue the negotiations.¡± *** T/N: I¡¯ll be using ¡°Lord Evantheon¡± to address Karhan instead of ¡°Little Duke¡± or ¡°Young Duke¡± Chapter 70 Karhan¡¯s Crime They were in a carriage returning home after the deal was completed safely. Lilia was a little tired and slumpedn her seat. It was because she was mentally tired after hearing too much. The Baron, who had been running around without reins, became much calmer after Violet stepped in. Still, he said nonsense from time to time, but Violet quietly picked up the dessert knife instead of answering. Each time, as if the knife was the limit line, the Baron subsided. As a result, Bloden¡¯s side was able to close the negotiations on the terms they wanted. Violet, who sat across from her, asked Lilia. ¡°Did you learn anything today?¡± ¡­¡­No. I couldn¡¯t learn from it. Lilia recalled Violet, who was raising her knife with a gentle face. Her aura, which swept the atmosphere at once, was still vivid. If she wanted to imitate her mother, she would have to learn swordsmanship first, not how to negotiate. When she fell into her own thoughts for a while, Violet asked again. ¡°Are you getting along well with the Lord these days?¡± ¡°¡­..Yes. We are busy with our work, but we see each other every day.¡± She answered after a pause. Violet muttered to herself at Lilia¡¯s attitude saying that there was no problem. ¡°At first, I was very worried¡­¡­.¡± When Lilia told her that she was dating the Lord Evantheon, Violet couldn¡¯t sleep due to the anxiety. Karhan, who had been in the war for a long time, was surrounded with all kinds of bad rumors. A demon on the battlefield, a cruelty without blood or tears, a cold blooded monster. Violet thought Karhan Evantheon would be a savage and dangerous man just by hearing the rumours. She thought Lilia, who is inclined to bad boys, has finally brought a large bomb. However, when Violet met Karhan, he was very different from what she imagined. Although he had a fierce impression, his tone was polite and behavior was careful. Even a well-educated young master did not seem to be this good. It was very impressive, but she couldn¡¯t judge everything from the first meeting. Violet still had a prejudice against Karhan. Although she did not object to the relationship between the two, she did not like it and secretly hoped to break them up. In the midst of such days, she happened to teach Karhan. In fact, she was going to dig into Karhan¡¯s reality in the name of education. If the actions he had shown her so far were acting, she planned to kick him out immediately. However, Violet realized that her perception of Karhan was changing over time. Karhan, whom she thought to be barbaric, was very gentle and had a soft sensibility like a flower. Karhan even worried about Violet, who made him roll mercilessly under the name of training. ¡ªIs it because of me that you can¡¯t do other things¡­. The fragments of prejudice that had been ingrained in the consistent attitude to the very end were removed. In the end, Violet had no choice but to admit it. That she had misunderstood him so far. When the veil of prejudice was removed, Karhan was a genius that would never come by again. He was usually polite and calm, but when he picked up the sword, he suddenly changed. Karhan, who exudes a chilling sense of intimidation as if the rumor that he is a demon in the war zone was true, made Violet realise Karhan was different. Frances was also talented in swords, but he was another talent. He had sense and judgment accumulated through long practice. Violet vowed to make Karhan the best hero of the empire, who could become a monster if something goes wrong. A moment of silence engulfed the carriage. Violet broke the silence and opened her mouth. ¡°How did the breakup go?¡± Lilia, who was looking out of the window, turned her head and faced Violet. Violet sat calmly, but her eyes were cold. ¡°I don¡¯t think he would have accepted it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­He came to see me a while ago.¡± ¡°Richard Tersian?¡± Lilia nodded quietly. ¡°I asked him to break our engagement, but he didn¡¯t accept it¡­¡­.¡± After that, Lilia looked around for ways to break up her marriage. Richard was an obscure piece of garbage. He abandoned all his morality and was playing with the Imperial laws. Because of that, a powerful background was needed to break the engagement. Lilia was preparing step by step. Although she had gathered some information, she was observing how their counterattack would come back if she attacked them first. Above all, she was worried about Heinley, who was soon to be promoted properly. And recently, rumors have been circulating that Richard is struggling with money. It was obvious because he couldn¡¯t reduce his spending and there was no income. She thought she could use money to bully Richard. Lilia told Violet what she thought, ¡°The joint project has been completely withdrawn. I cut off all the money that was supposed to go in later.¡± Violet explained that she has done everything else that she could do. The Tersian family could no longer rely on Bloden economically. Rather, those who run a business would not want to play with Bloden, so they would stay away from the Tersian family. Lilia, who was listening quietly, lowered her eyes. ¡°¡­¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± Lilia muttered slowly. She was sorry for damaging her family with her foolish behavior. And she was grateful that they cared about her without blaming her. Lilia bit her lips because she felt the sudden need to cry for no reason. Violet, who was staring at Lilia, said with a frown, ¡°What is your fault? The one at fault is the man who brought tears to my daughter¡¯s eyes.¡± Leaving his pretty fianc¨¦e like this was his fault, and Violet clenched her fists. If Richard was in front of her, her aura would have blown him away Violet got up from her seat and sat next to Lilia. Violet whispered as she stroked Lilia¡¯s head. ¡°We¡¯re always on your side.¡± *** Karhan, who had confessed his worries to Mezra, had been missing screws all day. He kept creaking and made a series of mistakes that he didn¡¯t usually make. After the last class, Karhan remained alone in the study room. Sitting blankly, Karhan scribbled meaningless graffiti on the blank paper with a pen. Then, he wrote down the word love without realizing it, and scratched it in surprise. He knew the dictionary meaning of love. But the word has never touched him. It was because he had never been loved or given by anyone. However, Mezra said that his feelings now are love. ¡°I love Lilia¡­¡­?¡± His mind was complicated. Although he likes Lilia¡­¡­There was something unsatisfying about the word like. However, it was difficult for him to accept Mezra¡¯s words as it is. How dare he look at Lilia with such feelings? If he is more greedy than now, what will happen to this relationship? Karhan, who was sitting in a daze, got up from his seat. It was time for him to return home. As he left the study room and walked down the hallway, he ran into Lilia, who was walking from the other side. ¡°Karhan.¡± Lilia came to him and called him warmly. Karhan stopped and looked away. It was still awkward to see Lilia¡¯s face because of Mezra¡¯s words and the other crime he had committed before. ¡°I¡¯ll see you off.¡± After hesitating, he nodded his head. Karhan and Lilia walked along the hallway of the annex that was more familiar than his own house. ¡°How are your studies?¡± ¡°I can do other things, but the foreign languages are a little difficult.¡± ¡°I thought the language side was fun.¡± The conversation continued more naturally than expected. Karhan, who kept his gaze elsewhere, looked down at Lilia without realizing it while talking. Their eyes met and her plump lips came into view. It reminded him of the breath that naturally touched his neck. Feeling the sensation of his earlobes heating up, Karhan immediately turned his head. And seeing that, Lilia¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What¡¯s going on these days?¡± Karhan¡¯s shoulders flinched noticeably. Lilia asked, as if it was even more suspicious. ¡°Is Richard Tersian here¡­.¡± Karhan immediately shook his head. The two of them came completely out of the hallway of the annex building. Lilia stood by the front door and looked up at Karhan. ¡°If there¡¯s anything that bothers you, please tell me.¡± Karhan, who had not made eye contact with Lilia, slowly turned his head. His tightly closed lips trembled like a box with a gap. And as soon as he opened his mouth, a carriage ran towards the annex. Lilia and Karhan turned their heads to check the carriage. It was Heinley¡¯s carriage. Karhan was surprised and hardened. Lilia also looked puzzled. If Karhan and Heinley run into each other now, something uncomfortable would happen. ¡°Hide first.¡± Karhan took a step backwards, not matching his large size. After contemplating where to hide, he hurriedly stood behind the porch pillar. The pillar was so big that even if you wrapped your hands around it they would not touch, but Karhan¡¯s shoulders were wider. ¡°I can see your shoulders!¡± Karhan, who was in a hurry, ran and hid behind the wall. Heinley got out of the wagon only after the fuss. Since he rarely stopped by the annex, Lilia walked toward the carriage. Hainley, who stumbled, found Lilia and blinked slowly. She couldn¡¯t even see his silver-rimmed glasses he had always worn. ¡°Lilia¡­..?¡± Instead of answering, Lilia walked straight to Heinley. Then she smelled a lot of alcohol. Startled, Lilia looked at Heinley. ¡°Did you come in after drinking?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Hainley replied in a weak voice. Lilia¡¯s expression hardened because he had always shown a straight face. ¡°Brother.¡± Instead of answering, Heinley sighed for a long time. Standing precariously as if he was about to collapse, he murmured, ¡°I decided to resign.¡± Chapter 71 Deal At Heinley¡¯s remark, Lilia stiffened in surprise. She doubted whether the words that came out of his mouth were correct. Lilia knew how satisfied Heinley was with his current job. He was into public service to the extent that he even refused to take over a successful business. He said he would get a promotion there soon, but he suddenly resigned. ¡°What? Why?¡± Lilia forgot that Karhan was hiding behind and asked Heinley. ¡°You said you were getting promoted soon.¡± ¡°¡­ rejected.¡± ¡°What do you mean rejected? Why?¡± Heinley, blinking his red eyes, hesitated to answer. Lilia opened her mouth, wondering if it could be, ¡°Is¡­.. it because of me?¡± ¡°No.¡± He immediately denied it, but.he could not hide his trembling eyes. Lilia, who was convinced, bit her lips and then let them go, ¡°Did Marquis Tersian cause this?¡± He didn¡¯t answer. Lilia, who thought that was answer enough, lowered her eyes. She was worried that Heinley, who works for the Marquis of Tersian, might be at a disadvantage because of her. But Richard finally involved Heinley. Lilia, who distorted her face, asked slowly, ¡°Maybe the reason the last few times you came late¡­¡­ Is it because of that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡± Instead of denying, Heinley drew the line firmly. But Lilia knew. That it¡¯s all her fault. This would not have happened if she had listened when Heinley had objected to her relationship with Richard from the beginning. She wanted to help him, but it was a problem that money could not solve. Despite raising objections, it was clear that the Imperial family would side with the Marquis of Tersian. The position of the Tersian family in the imperial palace was solid. Lilia clenched her fist with her trembling hands. She couldn¡¯t bear to look at Heinley¡¯s eyes. ¡°¡­ I am sorry¡± Lilia, who bowed her head deeply, muttered. Heinley, who was staring down at Lilia, reached out. However, his hand could not reach Lilia and hovered in the air. He also did not know how to comfort Lilia. Lilia, whose shoulders were trembling silently, looked up. ¡°I can¡¯t stand still like this. I will do my best.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my job, so don¡¯t try anything.¡± Heinley flatly refused. The reason why he had not informed his family so far was because he thought it was a problem he had to solve by himself. Heinley didn¡¯t want Lilia to feel guilty because of him. ¡°I don¡¯t intend to go out smoothly either. I¡¯m planning to publicise the corruption of the Marquis of Tersian.¡± Of course, it may get blocked by the upper people. But Heinley was determined to do everything he could. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Karhan, who had his back against the cold wall behind the front door, listened to the conversation between the two. He roughly grasped the situation. What Lilia was most worried about and had in mind had happened. It was all because Lilia had been dealt him, a useless hand. (T/N: if Karhan hadn¡¯t been useless, things wouldn¡¯t have escalated till here) Feeling frustrated, Karhan grabbed only the hem of his innocent clothes. When Lilia offered a deal, what she asked of Karhan was his status. She tried to use the Evantheon name as a shield so that Richard doesn¡¯t go on a rampage. And in return, Lilia decided to prevent Karhan¡¯s engagement. However, unlike Lilia, who fulfilled everything Karhan wanted, Karhan failed to fulfil his role. Lilia had been the first to tell him that it was no longer a contract but a favour between friends, but it always remained as a debt in his heart. Lilia and Heinley¡¯s conversation was no longer audible. When the drunk Heinley stumbled slightly, Lilia called in the employee and entered the annex. The sound of the door closing was heard, and Karhan slowly removed his back. After leaving a message to the employee that he would return, he got into the carriage. In the dark carriage, Karhan remained motionless and immersed in his thoughts. So far, he has only received from Lilia. She has done so many things for him, someone who was insignificant. That¡¯s why he wanted to do what he could now. When the carriage arrived at the Duke¡¯s mansion, the surroundings had already darkened. A swarm of stars floating in the sky replaced the light. Upon entering the building, Karhan walked to the top floor of the main building, where he had not walked for a long time. As he climbed the stairs, his steps gradually slowed down. Deeply buried debris-like emotions and old memories flowed through the cracks. Karhan grabbed the handrail with a frown. Karhan, who shook his head to drive away his distractions, thought only of Lilia. Then, as if wings were on his feet, his steps gradually accelerated. When he reached the top floor, an empty hallway came into view. A lamp hung on the hallway wall and lit up the dark hallway like a guide. As he walked along the light of the lamp, an employee who was walking from the opposite direction stopped in surprise. He looked like he had never expected to encounter Karhan here. ¡°The Duke?¡± ¡°H-he¡¯s in the library.¡± Upon hearing the employee¡¯s answer, he headed straight to the library. At the end of the hallway, there was a thick wooden door. Karhan took a deep breath and then knocked on the door. ¡°Come in.¡± After a while, a heavy low tone was heard from the inside. Nervous, Karhan put his hand on the doorknob. When he opened the door, he saw a huge bookshelf surrounding all directions. The bookshelf, which was firmly built like a wall, was packed with so many books that he could not read them all even if he read all his life. Karhan walked into a dark space. When he walked towards the light leaking as his only destination, he found a middle-aged man standing in front of the tall bookshelf. The man was reading a book with only one small lamp at his feet. The man slowly turned his head. Two men who looked a lot alike looked at each other. After confirming Karhan¡¯s face, his eyes slightly widened and returned to their original state. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The middle-aged man, Duke Evanteon, asked with an insensitive face. When Karhan received his gaze, his voice couldn¡¯t come out of his throat and felt dry. ¡°¡­¡­I need your help.¡± The Duke¡¯s eyebrows narrowed. He shook his head signalling Karhan to keep talking. ¡°There¡¯s someone I¡¯m dating.¡± Karhan explained the situation concisely but with only the main things. He said that the older brother of his lover works at the Imperial Palace, and that he was treated unfairly in retaliation by her ex-fiance. He even confessed that the opponent was the Marquis of Tersian. When Karhan¡¯s words were over, the Duke, who was listening without saying a single word, quietly opened his mouth. ¡°So? What¡¯s the benefit of helping you?¡± His heart dropped suddenly. He didn¡¯t think the Duke would accept it gladly, but it was a more negative reaction than expected. Without having time to think and think, Karhan knelt on the floor. ¡°I¡¯ll do anything.¡± Karhan was well aware of his own values. A successor with only a name. He had no power and this was the only place he could put his hopes on. If he could be a strength to Lilia, he could throw away his pride as well ¡°Anything?¡± The Duke looked down at Karhan, kneeling in front of him. He closed the book he was holding in his hand. Thud, as the Duke stretched out his leg, the wind fluttered past Karhan. One step, two steps¡­¡­. Karhan felt the Duke passing by him and closed his eyes. His request was rejected. Soon, the sound of footsteps that had gradually moved away little by little, suddenly stopped. ¡°Good.¡± Karhan opened his eyes wide at the voice that sounded like a dream. Karhan, who slowly raised his head, stared at the side where the footsteps stopped. Standing in front of another bookshelf, the duke was inserting the book he was holding in his hand. He ran his fingers through the books tightly kept in the bookshelf. Finally, his fingers stopped. The Duke, who took the book from the bookshelf, turned his head and stared at Karhan, who was still kneeling. ¡°Go to the conflict zone after summer.¡± *** The Marquis Tersian sat down in a sunny spot and checked the documents. All he had to do was give approval and everything would be handled by his subordinates. The Marquis¡¯ eyes stopped for a moment as he was quickly looking through the documents. After confirming the content again, he grinned. Heinley Bloden¡¯s promotion was rejected. The last time he complained to the Crown Princess and with her mercy it seems that it was handled well. ¡°You acted up and down with your arrogance.¡± The Marquis muttered to himself. He was arrogant from the first moment he came in as a subordinate. There were several times he contented with me when I had ordered him to obey me without hesitation No matter how great Bloden is, the Imperial palace was in Marquis¡¯ palm. The Crown Princess had a strong background, and her friendship with the high-ranking aristocrats was well established. The Marquis of Tersian imagined Heinley coming to him and begging. It was so pleasant he felt as if the ten-year-old congestion was about to go down. ¡°I¡¯ll press down your arrogant nose this time.¡± A mean smile formed on his lips. When Heinley comes and apologizes to him, he was planning to take his promotion as a hostage and negotiate with him. Since marriage with the Bloden family seemed to be out of the question anyway, he was planning to receive a lot of alimony for the broken engagement. As he grinned and signed the bottom of the paperwork, a polite knock was heard. When he gave his permission to come in, a stranger entered the office. ¡°Marquis of Tersian. The Duke of Evantheon is calling you.¡± The Marquis narrowed his forehead at an unexpected call. ¡°The Duke¡­..?¡± What is he upto? Then the Marquis got up from his seat. He and the Duke had occasionally met at the state council but they both had never met privately The Marquis didn¡¯t know why he was called, but the power and influence of the Evantheon was so great that even the Imperial family could not ignore it. It would be nice to take this opportunity to build a friendship. After leaving the private office, the Marquis headed to the main palace. The place where the Duke¡¯s agent headed was the Duke of Evanteon¡¯s personal space. His heart fluttered for no reason, wondering if the Duke had to say something only to him ¡°Your excellency, he¡¯s coming in.¡± The authorized agent opened the door. The Marquis went inside alone. Unlike the Marquis¡¯ office which was in a sunny spot, the Duke¡¯s room was a little dark. It was because the curtains were tightly closed and the sunlight did not come in. His heart, which had been inflated, slowly dissipated, and tension engulfed him. Duke Evantheon, who was standing by the window, slowly turned around. The moment their eyes met, the marquis clenched his fist without realizing it. Obviously, they were of the same age, but they had different auras. ¡°W-why¡­.. did you call me¡­¡­.¡± When the Marquis Tersian stammered and asked, the Duke replied, ¡°I want to tell you something about Heinley Bloden¡¯s promotion.¡± It was then that the Marquis had an intuition that something was terribly wrong. Chapter 72 Reconciliation Chapter 11 *** Early in the morning, Heinley arrived at the Imperial Palace. After getting off the carriage, he narrowed his forehead at the feeling of the forgeign item in his arm. It was because of the resignation letter he wrote himself. Before entering the building, he stopped for a while and took a breath. Lastly, he organized his clothes to make sure there wasn¡¯t anything out of place. ¡°Hello.¡± As soon as Heinley went inside, he accepted the pouring greetings. Even the greeting felt special because he thought today might be his last day of work. Walking all the way through the hallway, Heinley opened the door with a sign saying ¡®Second Administration Department.¡¯ Since he arrived early, no one was there in the office. Heinley, who put down his bag, exhaled deeply. He was in a bad mood, thinking that he was going to start his morning with meeting the Marquis of Tersian. He checked the small portrait on the desk. Lilia in her childhood was smiling brightly. His stiff face slowly loosened. A few days ago, he remembered drinking a lot and going home and talking to Lilia. Lilia told him it was okay to blame her, but he should have soothed her more properly. Heinley sat down in a chair. He was going to wait still until the Marquis came to work. The sound of knocking rang in the quiet office. ¡°Is Heinley Bloden here?¡± Heinley, whose name was called, stood up from his seat. The man who opened the door and showed his face said, ¡°I have something to tell you.¡± Because it was the first time Heinley saw him, in a puzzled state he left the office. The man walked down the hallway and headed to a deserted place. After stopping at the corner of the hallway, he turned his back and faced Heinley. ¡°The promotion that was paused will be processed within a month.¡± ¡°¡­.What?¡± Heinley asked back a beat late to the unexpected remark. Am I still drunk? He was puzzled, but the man continued, ¡°And it¡¯s a message that you should go on vacation for three days from today.¡± ¡°What¡­.¡± Heinley couldn¡¯t understand this situation, so he looked at the man with a hardened face. The Marquis of Tersian openly blocked the promotion, but he couldn¡¯t have suddenly changed his mind. Who sent this man? Perhaps because he noticed Heinely¡¯s thoughts, the man introduced himself with his hand on his chest. ¡°I¡¯m the secretary of the Duke of Evantheon.¡± Heinley paused at a familiar name. ¡°Then, goodbye.¡± The man raised his head as if he had finished his work and left immediately. Heinley, who was standing alone, reflected on the conversation he had just had. Duke Evanteon¡­ He didn¡¯t have any acquaintance with the Duke, so why did he step up? ¡°¡­Karhan Evanteon.¡± Heinley belatedly recalled Karhan. Karhan, who is dating Lilia, was the successor of Duke Evantheon. It seemed that he had asked his father, the Duke of Evantheon. Heinley was engulfed in a strange mood. He couldn¡¯t believe that Karhan helped him when they¡¯re not on good terms.¡­. Of course, it¡¯s because of Lilia, but considering his behavior of being cold to Karhan so far, there was no reason for him to help. Heinley, standing alone in the hallway, took a slow step. As he returned to the office, people who came to work in the meantime glanced at him. Heinley asked the person who was occupying the desk next to him. ¡°The Marquis?¡± ¡°He hasn¡¯t come to work yet.¡± Heinley packed his bag after saying thank you. Since he got a vacation from today, he was thinking of going back home right away. ¡°Uh¡­¡± The person sitting next to Heinley quietly talked to him. When Heinley looked up, he whispered in a very small voice so that no one else could hear him, ¡°Yesterday I saw the Marquis being called into the office of the Duke.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°He came back with a completely red face.¡± In short, the man told Heinley that the Marquis might not come to work today. Heinley, who had been quiet for a while, smiled brightly instead of answering. Rollllll, tak. The man who saw Heinley¡¯s bright smile for the first time, dropped the pen he was holding and froze on the spot *** Lilia couldn¡¯t do anything all day. It was because Heinley¡¯s work filled her mind. While sitting in front of the desk, she slowly looked up. Through the large window, she could see the front door. She thought the carriage by the front door was very familiar, and it turned out to be Heinley¡¯s carriage. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Lilia jumped up from her seat. It was too early in the afternoon for him to leave work. She wondered if he had resigned today, so Lilia went straight down to the front door. As Lilia was running down the stairs holding onto the hem of her dress, she made eye contact with Heinley as he entered the central hall. ¡°Brother!¡± Heinley shouted in surprise at the sight of Lilia coming down there so hastily. ¡°Lilia!¡± For a moment, Lilia¡¯s body staggered. Heinley, who approached her at once, grabbed her. Lilia, who was half cuddled in Heinley¡¯s arms, breathed out. She asked with her head up, ¡°You don¡¯t usually come at this time. Did you resign and come?¡± ¡°I got a vacation.¡± ¡°What?¡± Heinley helped Lilia straighten herself up. After looking around, he quietly suggested, ¡°Shall we walk in the garden for a while?¡± Lilia nodded silently. The two came down the stairs and went out of the front door. While walking in the garden which was in full bloom, the two remained silent for a moment. Lilia became anxious for no reason, so she gently pressed her fingernails against her palms. Heinley, who was walking through the garden, opened his mouth first, ¡°I got promoted safely.¡± Lilia jerked up at his words. He was smiling faintly. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you.¡± ¡°What do you mean, thanks to me¡­?¡± ¡°The Duke of Evantheon himself came forward. Didn¡¯t you tell the Lord?¡± Lilia was surprised and paused. Come to think of it, she completely forgot that Karhan was hiding behind the wall on the day she talked to Heinley. She couldn¡¯t even see him off because she got busy. Liia was confused. Then, did Karhan listen to the conversation and visit Duke Evantheon? But Karhan seemed to have a bad relationship with his family.¡­ The Duke couldn¡¯t have listened to it. ¡°That¡¯s why I want to say thank you to the Lord.¡± ¡°¡­¡­That¡¯s¡­¡± Lilia couldn¡¯t answer and blurred her words. ¡®What happened?¡¯ She had no idea, so it would be better to ask Karhan directly. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Heinley, who stopped after her, glanced down at Ilya. She looked paler than usual. After talking about resignation, she kept worrying about him, and she didn¡¯t seem to have slept well. Heinley, who was still looking at his younger sister sadly, was lost in reminiscences. Things that had happened so far flashed before his eyes. After hesitating for a while, he cautiously opened his mouth, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± At his quiet whisper, Lilia stopped thinking and looked at him. He looked embarrassed for some reason, but on the other hand, he had a very gentle face. Heinley spoke honestly about things he had never said before, ¡°I think I¡¯ve been blunt so far, and you must have been hurt a lot because of it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°In fact, I didn¡¯t know how to treat you.¡± Heinley was very disappointed with Lilia after learning that Lilia was dating Richard. He couldn¡¯t understand that his good little sister, who was obedient, after dating Richard started to have fights with him. He resented Lilia, who couldn¡¯t understand his intentions, but he kept worrying and paid attention to her moves. However, he thought it would be like acknowledging Richard, so he deliberately hid his true feelings and acted cold. Time continued to pass, and the distance between them became more and more distant. He wanted to treat her like before, but he couldn¡¯t remember how he had treated Lilia at that time, so he kept being blunt. And from the day he received a sincere apology from Lilia, the relationship which had become distant, restored a little. Even if things got better, there was still awkwardness. A wall that had not yet been demolished seemed to block the two of them. Taking one step was difficult, so he just hovered around. Heinley thought his sincerity would work someday, but it won¡¯t. He realized that she won¡¯t know unless he tells her in person. A moment of silence lingered, and Heinley breathed in silently. It was still awkward, but now he thought he could bring up the thoughts he had been thinking about. ¡°It wasn¡¯t my true intention to be cold-hearted until now.¡± Heinley slowly bowed his head as if he was sincerely reflecting on himself. ¡°You must have been hurt a lot because of me.¡± His worries were wrapped in the cold hearted, venomous words that hurted her. As her family, he thought it would be okay to intervene like this. However, it was a situation that would build a wall between him and her. ¡°It was all my fault.¡± Had it not been for this, he would have never known that Lilia cared so deeply for him. He would have believed that he was the only one worried about Lilia. Lilia shook her head as she was listening to Heinley for a long time. ¡°It¡¯s not¡­¡± The vivid purple eyes briefly blurred like water mist. ¡°It was for me. I should have listened to you more.¡± Now that she looked back, he only said bitter things for Lilia. Her tears welled up. Heinley immediately searched in his arms and pulled out a finely folded handkerchief. Instead of putting a handkerchief in her hand, he wiped Lilia¡¯s eyes himself. ¡°I promise to change gradually.¡± He whispered as he ruffled her messy hair. ¡°I¡¯m going to change my way of speaking¡­¡­ I¡¯ll express myself more. I¡¯ll try as hard as I haven¡¯t done so far.¡± ¡°¡­Me too.¡± Lilia muttered in a teary voice. She felt the wall that had stood firm until now, collapsing. Heinley was standing outside the crumbling wall, looking at her. He looked the same as those times when he used to take care of Lilia when they were kids. It was okay if the relationship could not be completely improved overnight. Now that they know each other¡¯s sincerity. Even if it is awkward in the future, they will try to have a proper conversation. It will be bumpy and fractured, but nevertheless, they will move forward as it continues. Lilia poured out all the tears she was holding back. Heinley, who was wiping away tears with a handkerchief, quietly patted Lilia¡¯s back. His eyes were also faintly wet. Chapter 73 Money Makes You Switch Sides After the long crying session, Lilia and Heinley walked through the garden and talked. From memories they shared together to stories they couldn¡¯t tell each other. The more they talked, Heinley, who before was very distant, felt closer Lilia glanced at Heinley. He was her older brother who used to speak sternly with a cold face. Perhaps because all the misunderstandings were resolved, he seemed calm. ¡®Even after I had apologized, I wasn¡¯t completely at ease¡­.¡¯ No, Heinley, like her, was awkward and couldn¡¯t come close. He stopped talking for a while, and tried to push up his spectacles like a habit. Realizing that nothing touched his fingers, he awkwardly swept the back of his neck. ¡°I would like to express my gratitude directly to Lord Evantheon.¡± Lilia glanced at him. This was because she remembered that Heinley had previously turned the house upside down on the issue of Karhan. Everyone knew that Karhan stopped by the mansion every day, but he was disappointed, saying, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯ll make time for you later.¡± Karhan might be surprised if Heinley suddenly showed up. Lilia suddenly saw Heinley¡¯s carriage and thought of Karhan, who had been hiding that day, and laughed. ¡°Your face looks good,¡± At Heinley¡¯s words, Lilia raised her head. ¡°You used to always look worried when you were with Richard Tersian¡­¡­.¡± Heinley recalled Lilia, whom he had seen in the past years. There was always a shadow on her face. She used to say she was happy, but her expression didn¡¯t look like that at all. ¡°As long as you¡¯re happy,¡± At Heinley¡¯s murmuring, Lilia quietly nodded her head. Heinley looked away for a moment. He hesitated a little, and then opened his mouth, ¡°The lord is more than I thought¡­¡­ He seems like a good man.¡± ¡°I told you so,¡± Nobody believed it, Lilia grumbled softly. At first, it was fortunate that her family, who opposed Karhan, gradually recognized him. She was disappointed that he had been misunderstood every time, but it was a good thing. ¡°Are you going to take a break from today, since the vacation is from today?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m going to be busy during my vacation.¡± Heinley¡¯s expression gradually subsided. ¡°I¡¯m going to release the data related to corruption of the Marquis, which I was going to make public with my resignation. I¡¯ll have them mistake it as the Duke of Evantheon. Now is the right time.¡± (T/N: he means if he reveals the corruption right now, the Marquis will think that it was the Duke who revealed the corruption and not Heinley since he had helped Heinley in his promotion.) ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. I had no intention to let it slide either.¡± Thanks to Karhan, it was settled well, but their anger had not completely disappeared. It was the Tersians who lit the fire first. ¡°I think you will be busy during your vacation, brother.¡± Lilia¡¯s purple eyes shone unusually coldly. Lilia parted her way with Heinley at the front door and headed for the annex. After knocking, she entered the room and saw Karhan sitting at the desk studying. ¡°Karhan,¡± The pen which was moving diligently stopped. Karhan turned and stared at Lilia. Then he opened his eyes wide in surprise. ¡°Did you cry?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Lilia rubbed her eyes reflexively. She had grabbed Heinley and cried her eyes out, and now her face looked like a mess. She came straight away and didn¡¯t even think to look in the mirror. Karhan sprang up from his seat. He who hardened his expression, looked at Lilia. He didn¡¯t seem to know what kind of face he was making. ¡°Is it because of Richard Tersian?¡± ¡°No.¡± Lilia shook her head in shock. She was ashamed to say that she cried because she was overwhelmed by her emotions while talking to Heinley. When Lilia didn¡¯t answer in detail, Karhan kept his mouth shut. His eyes seemed to be angry but full of concern. Lilia¡¯s expression grew more and more strange. Karhan thought that her emotions were not easily revealed on her face, but now they were clear enough for anyone to notice. ¡°Actually¡­¡± Lilia hesitated and told him the reason. ¡°I didn¡¯t get along with my brother very well. I took this opportunity to solve everything.¡± Lilia, who recalled what had happened earlier, was embarrassed for no reason. ¡°By the way, the promotion of my brother has been successfully carried through. Karhan, you came forward, didn¡¯t you?¡± Karhan¡¯s shoulders trembled. After relaxing his expression as much as he could, he nodded softly. ¡°Thank you,¡± Karhan froze when he saw Lilia¡¯s bright smile. He suddenly heard a resounding echo from deep within his body. ¡°By the way¡­..you¡¯re not in any trouble because of that, are you?¡± Lilia cautiously asked. She knew that Karhan was not on good terms with his family and was merely a temporary successor. Karhan tried to ignore the growing noise in his heart, and answered, ¡°Nothing happened,¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I asked the duke without much expectation, but¡­¡­ I didn¡¯t expect him to solve it.¡± A smooth lie came out. For the first time, Karhan realized that he could lie shamelessly. (PR: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO) ¡ªGo to the conflict zone after summer. The Duke¡¯s voice seemed to be heard again. More than half a year had passed since he returned to the capital, but he still had nightmares of wandering the battlefield. Blood gushed out like a fountain before his eyes, and the death of an unknown person echoed, begging for his life and screams that echoed he did not want to die. After waking up from the nightmare, his whole body throbbed. The countless scars carved on his body roared as if reminding him of the past. The wounds were proof that Karhan had survived one more day. The disputed area the Duke said was the most barren land in the Empire. He had to go there with only one sword, and it was very difficult to survive. Karhan faced Lilia, who was standing before him. When he looked at her purple eyes, he felt as though he was purified. The terrible memories of wandering like white dust gradually faded away as if they were washed away by the rain. Karhan only wanted to see Lilia smiling and happy. It¡¯s just a small sacrifice for that. ¡°¡­did I help you?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief. ¡° Karhan smiled faintly. Lilia looked at his face without even blinking. All her nerves were captured by his smile. Occasionally, her chest itched whenever he laughed. Lilia, who came to her senses belatedly, opened her mouth, ¡°My brother wants to say thank you.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything¡­¡­.¡± Karhan shook his head saying it was okay. Lilia, who had been looking at Karhan for a moment, murmured, ¡°I thought you were avoiding me these days.¡± Kahan paused. ¡°¡­How could that be?¡± Contrary to his answer, Karhan cautiously slipped away from Lilia¡¯s gaze. Something is strange, Lilia thought. *** On a sunny afternoon, Lilia wore a red dress with darker makeup than usual. Looking in the mirror, she stood up with a satisfied look. After getting into the carriage, she asked Malek, who was sitting across from her, ¡°What about the rumours that I will be attending the banquet?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve spread the rumors.¡± ¡°Well done.¡± While searching for many banquets, she deliberately chose a large one. Now that everything is planned, all she had to do was to wait for the bait. In fact, she had planned to deal with Richard¡¯s issue slowly. She was going to put her plan into action as soon as everything was ready. But the moment he touched Heinley, Lilia couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. After a long carriage ride, she arrived at a small mansion located at the edge of the capital. It didn¡¯t even have a proper gatekeeper, so Lilia entered the mansion right away. As soon as she passed through the gate, she saw the front door. She had never seen a house with such a short garden. Lilia stood at the front of the porch and saw the family crest on the pillar. It was the crest she saw at Richard¡¯s house that day. Her expression, as she looked at the crest gradually, subsided. It¡¯s already been months, but she could still see Richard rolling in bed with that strange woman. Lilia stared at the tightly closed door. Today her meeting was with a woman who had an affair with Richard. Malek knocked on the front door. After a while, a man who appeared to be an employee peeped out his head. The employee, who recognized Malek¡¯s face, opened his eyes wide. ¡°You¡¯re here. Please wait a minute.¡± The employee left immediately. After a while, she heard someone coming down the stairs. Lilia stood in front of the main door which was wide open and stared at the woman coming downstairs. The woman who had come down the stairs met Lilia¡¯s eyes. She was Rose Baela, the daughter of the owner of the mansion. ¡°Hello? You know me, right?¡± ¡°Y-you¡­¡­!¡± Recognizing Lilia¡¯s face, Rose stepped back in shock. When Lilia gave a dark smile, Rose shouted at her employee in a hurry, ¡°What are you doing! Get rid of her right now!¡± However, the employee did not budge. Rose urged the employee. ¡°Hurry!¡± ¡°I¡¯m quitting my job from now on.¡± ¡°What¡­.¡± The employee immediately turned around and left from the front door. Rose¡¯s lips twitched at her employee¡¯s sudden action. Lilia, who had been watching her silently, folded her arms. ¡°I guess you¡¯ve been delaying their salary, right? He changed sides right away.¡± She looked at Lilia without saying a word. When she saw the knights standing on either side of Lilia, her body shuddered. Rose hurriedly turned her head and shouted, ¡°Is anybody there?! Get her out of here!¡± Her voice resounded like an echo. But she didn¡¯t get an answer back. As the deep silence penetrated her skin, she looked around her house in disbelief. ¡°I think that employee was the last one.¡± ¡°What¡­?¡± ¡°I bought them with my money.¡± // ¡°I provoked them with money.¡± Chapter 74 Changed Atmosphere II As Rose¡¯s mouth slowly opened, Lilia looked at her with her head tilted. ¡°How long ago did your father owe so much?¡± ¡°How could you¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I bought the bonds, so I know.¡± (T/N: Bonds are investment securities where an investor lends money to a company or a government for a set period of time, in exchange for regular interest payments. Once the bond reaches maturity, the bond issuer returns the investor¡¯s money.) As Rose opened her eyes wide, Lilia entered the front door, she took a step back as Lilia narrowed the distance between. Lilia walked ahead, and Rose simultaneously stepped back¡­¡­ The distance which seemed to be narrowing between them, didn¡¯t narrow at all. Lilia, who had completely entered the house, looked around lightly. The small house was filled with cheap decorations. It seemed that everything that could be used for money had already been sold. ¡°I can get you on the road right away.¡± ¡°Are you trying to get revenge on me¡­.¡± Rose, who had been frozen, looked at Lilia with a fearful look on her face, her reaction made Lilia giggle. ¡°Do you want it?¡± It was a casual tone, but Rose knew that Lilia could really do that. Only then did an excuse burst out of her mouth. ¡°I really didn¡¯t know¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I know everything, so don¡¯t pretend to be a victim.¡± Rose shut her mouth at Lilia¡¯s sharp words. Indeed, as Lilia said, Rose began to play with fire even though she knew that he had a fiance. As she could enjoy all kinds of luxuries with Richard. It was also thanks to Richard that she, a humble countryside noble, was able to move up to the capital. She thought it was perfectly hidden, but Lilia found out everything and Rose was completely cut off by Richard. It was a pity, but she was more afraid of being retaliated by Bloden than being sad. Fortunately, Lilia¡¯s side was quiet, and Rose thought she had luckily made it through but she never dreamed that Lilia would come back now. Rose closed her eyes tightly, as if she could see her future clearly. ¡°I have a job for you.¡± Rose opened her eyes wide at the unexpected remark. She saw Lilia staring at her with cold eyes. ¡°How well you¡¯ll complete the work will determine whether you will wander on the street or continue a comfortable life.¡± Lilia twisted her lips and asked with a smile. ¡°Do you want to hear my suggestion?¡± *** A few days ago, the Marquis Tersian returned to the mansion with a pale face as if he was going to collapse. When he(Richard) asked him why, he said that the Duke of Evantheon was the reason. He said that the Duke himself approved the promotion of Heinley Bloden. ¡ªThe two didn¡¯t seem to have any contact at all¡­¡­ The Marquis murmured that there was no reason for the Duke of Evantheon to take part in Heinley¡¯s work. When he heard it, Richard wondered if it was possible. Obviously, Karhan Evantheon was said to be a temporary successor who was also shunned by his family. Even Karhan himself seemed to admit it. Richard, who was wondering whether to say this or not, confessed frankly to the Marquis. ¡ªThe truth is¡­.. When he confessed that Lilia was going out with Karhan Evantheon, the Marquis became extremely furious. ¡ªWhy are you saying that now?! Useless bastard. There¡¯s nothing you can do right! That day, Richard was scolded by the Marquis who was running wild on the street. And the next day, the Marquis was stranded in the palace and was prevented from entering his house. It was because the Marquis¡¯ corruption secret broke out in the Imperial Palace. It was only a small spark at first. However, as evidence poured out one after another, and testimony continued, the flames spread to a large fire and the Imperial family could no longer sit on the sidelines. Eventually, an investigation on the Marquis began. The Marquis Tersian could not actively go out because of the Duke of Evantheon*. In the meantime, the Marquis¡¯ prestige gradually diminished, and his position began to falter in the Imperial Palace. Those who offered him bribes gradually stopped coming. (* He misunderstood that the Duke is keeping an eye on him, but in reality it wasn¡¯t the case) Thanks to the strong support of the Crown Princess, he did not go to trial, but he received a week of probation and a small amount of discipline. Meanwhile, Richard¡¯s mother, Marchioness Tersian, fell ill. She had reached the brink of bankruptcy in the business she had been putting so much effort into. The Marchioness expected that she would be able to extort money on the pretext of Heinley. However, on the contrary, all the funds received here and there were cut off. This was because all of the partners whom she had come in contact with from Violet¡¯s connections turned their backs on her. It was already too late to recoup the investment, and they needed the same amount of money they had poured in, so that they could proceed ahead. ¡ªWe could have been as rich as the Blodens¡­, it¡¯s all your fault! The Marchioness, who had become extremely sensitive, blamed and shouted at Richard. And Siona also seems to be in a bad situation. She thought this would work out, so she forced her husband to invest. Eventually she couldn¡¯t wait and borrowed a large amount of money to invest in her mother¡¯s business, but now it was very difficult to pay back the interest. Siona immediately came to the Tersian mansion and told Richard to give whatever belongings he had to her. Richard, who suffered a lot from his family, could not stay at home and roamed around on the streets. ¡°You lived a good life because of me!¡± Richard, who had a big fight with Siona, threw his coat away. Not only his family, but the whole family (branch family) was talking about money, money, and money. Richard missed his successful past very much. When he was dating Lilia, he lived a life that was equivalent to the emperor¡¯s. People praised Richard, and there was nothing that he couldn¡¯t have. Richard firmly misunderstood that it was because of his greatness that he had such a golden life. Without knowing that it was all a golden sand castle built by Lilia¡¯s hands. ¡°When you said you love me¡­.¡± I hate Lilia. All she did was cheat on me. It was his first time, and Lilia could have forgiven him, but Lilia turned her back coldly. In the meantime, she seems to have met a new man, so she may have been waiting for the right time to break up with him. Richard took a deep breath. His house has been out of order lately. It was clear that his father, who got involved in the corruption scandal, and his mother¡¯s business bankruptcy was planned by Lilia. It made him upset, angry and made his stomach boil. ¡°Should I visit¡­.¡± If he says he¡¯ll dissolve the engagement, Lilia will meet him. It was too late to restore the relationship, so it will be reasonable to extort money in return for breaking off the engagement. He was wondering if he should ask for a building with a regular rent, but someone approached him. This person was planted as a source by Richard. ¡°Lilia Bloden will be attending the banquet.¡± ¡°Is that true?¡± Richard, who had been listening to him reluctantly, raised his head sharply. Lilia who had been stuck in her house, regardless of numerous banquets being held, never came out of her house and if she really is attending the banquet, this was his chance to meet her. ¡°Get the invitation!¡± Richard thought it was time to negotiate. On the day of the banquet, he was ready to make his appearance. Even now, he could not give up on his luxury, so he sold a lot of expensive things to make a living, but he wore clothes and accessories that he had left behind just in case. Richard, who was checking his reflection in front of the mirror, suddenly felt regretful. In the past, he would have gone out wearing new things from head to toe. All the shops that used to be like his closets have been banned.¡­. It wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea to get some dressing rooms in return for breaking up the engagement. Richard immediately left the bedroom and got into the carriage. After a long ride, his carriage stopped near the banquet hall. Even though it was early in the evening, bright lights came out from the inside of the building. The atmosphere in the house is getting worse these days, and there are a lot of places where he had spent his money, so he had to be careful. His heart pounded because he hadn¡¯t attended the banquet in a long time and finally he entered the banquet hall with dignified steps. Richard, who came inside, was ready to accept others¡¯ greetings. However, the atmosphere was strange. In the past, it was normal for people to flock in like a swarm of bees who smelled honey. It was natural for him to get welcomed as if he were the main character of the banquet. He wondered if he had come too soon, so he looked around, and he saw people scattered everywhere. As Richard walked a little further inside, the people whispered. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen him lately, but he¡¯s here today.¡± ¡°By the way, weren¡¯t you familiar with Lord Tersian?¡± ¡°It was because of some money, these days the Lord¡­¡± ¡°But just by looking at the clothes¡­¡­. It¡¯s all out of fashion.¡± Those who were friendly with Richard in the past now slandered him and looked down on him. ¡°I heard he is breaking up with Miss Bloden, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Was that true?¡± Everyone was intrigued by someone¡¯s remark. ¡°And in the articles in the tabloids¡­¡­ I¡¯ve heard that Miss Bloden is going out with Lord Evantheon.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t the story of Lord Evantheon a rumor? Then, did the Lord Tersian really break up the engagement?¡± ¡°Actually, it was Miss Bloden who did it.¡± Everyone raised their glasses of champagne as if toasting with exhilarating faces. ¡°What the¡­ ¡° Richard noticed them whispering as he looked at him. They were the Lords of fairly high-ranking aristocratic families. Richard and they were somehow close, but unlike usual, no one came to greet him first. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a bad idea to go say hello first, so Richard approached them. ¡°Hello. It¡¯s been a long time since I saw you all.¡± As Richard approached, everyone pretended to be busy or ignored him. Some even laughed out loud and mumbled among themselves. As a strange air flowed, Richard frowned. What¡¯s wrong with them all of a sudden? As Richard was about to ask a question, a Marquis, who was not on good terms with him, spoke to him. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you these days, what happened?¡± As he looked up and down at Richard. Richard, who became displeased, frowned. ¡°I heard that the situation in your family is not very good these days, is it why?¡± ¡°No way!¡± said Richard, in a fit of rage. The Marquis smiled and asked the question again. ¡°I¡¯ve heard a rumor. I¡¯m really curious, did you really break your engagement?¡± He added with a grin. ¡°You¡¯ve been a king thanks to your good fianc¨¦.¡± Richard clenched his fist. Even though they were on bad terms, it was rare that the Marquis had a direct argument like this. Richard looked around to find someone who could stand besides him. Instead of stopping the Marquis, they watched the scene with a funny face. Richard was confused. Those who praised him and flattered him disappeared overnight. At that time, the banquet hall was in turmoil. Everyone in their seats turned their heads to the entrance. Richard, like them, looked at the entrance. A woman in a light pink dress was coming in. Gradually lifting his gaze, Richard checked her face and opened his eyes wide. It was Lilia Bloden. *** Chapter 75 Acting Skills ??©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤?????©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤?? Lilia turned her gaze. At the end of her gaze was Richard, who had his red hair pulled back. When she saw Richard staring blankly at her, Lilia immediately turned away. As she took each step, her pink dress spread like petals in full bloom. Those who were scattered all over the place flocked in like swarms of bees. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I saw you, Miss Bloden.¡± ¡°Do you remember me? I¡¯ve talked to you before¡­¡­.¡± Everyone wagged their tails to look good in the eyes of Lilia. Lilia, who was greeting them back, smiled. Those who saw her gentle face burst out in laughter. ¡®There is a long time left but I¡¯m already tired.¡¯ Lilia, who was smiling, sighed inwardly. Perhaps because it¡¯s been a long time since she attended a banquet, everyone was eyeing to build a little friendship with her. Considering Richard, who was tired but obsessed with society, the place had to be a banquet hall. As expected, Richard, who was standing silently, strode up. ¡°Lilia.¡± When he called her, the people around them paused. Lilia slowly turned her gaze and stared at Richard. ¡°Let¡¯s talk.¡± It meant to go out to the terrace for a while, but Lilia tilted her head slightly. ¡°Is there anything we should talk about?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be like a stranger, I¡¯m still your fiance.¡± Everyone watched with interest. There were only rumors that the two broke up, but no one knew the truth. Lilia quickly grasped the mood. There were people who would stand by her, but most of them were waiting and watching. It was important for her to attract the people who were neutral. She knew that it was better for her to be a staunch victim than falling down together in a mud fight. ¡®It¡¯s better to have sympathy than to be insulted.¡¯ Lilia lowered her eyelashes. The quivering eyelashes gave off a pitiful feeling. Lilia opened her lips with a face that wanted to say many stories. ¡°Richard. Actually, I¡­¡­ It¡¯s hard to face you.¡± Sadness poured out of her voice. People around her held their breath and focused on Lilia¡¯s voice. ¡°I¡¯m sick and tired of seeing you with someone else¡­¡­ It¡¯s too late.¡­.¡± Richard¡¯s face hardened, as if he didn¡¯t expect that Lilia would suddenly bring up this story. Those who were listening looked at Richard as if they were looking at trash. ¡°So what are you going to say¡­?¡± Lilia raised her head slightly and looked at Richard. Her drooping eyes contributed to her pitiful look. ¡°That¡¯s a misunderstanding,¡± said Richard hastily. ¡°I¡¯ve explained it to you so many times. Why are you doing this now?¡± ¡°I saw with my own eyes that you were lying naked on a bed with another woman, and you are saying it was a misunderstanding.¡­?¡± At Lilia¡¯s helpless murmuring, one of the ladies clenched the fan as if tearing off Richard¡¯s hair. She grabbed it so hard that a fan feather ripped off on her palm. There was a commotion around. As the atmosphere became increasingly unfavorable, Richard quickly denied it. ¡°Me in an affair? Don¡¯t jinx an innocent person for something dirty.¡± There was no evidence that he had cheated on her anyway. Lilia was the only one who saw the scene, though Lilia had seen it. There was no one who would come up as a witness, so it was all right to deny it. He had admitted having an affair, but it¡¯s Lilia and Richard who know the real truth anyways. After thinking up to that point, Richard quickly became elated. Rather, he began to drive Lilia as a suspicious person. ¡°Why don¡¯t you trust me? You were the only one I had from the beginning.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been obsessed with me since a long time ago, and now you have strange paranoia?¡± When Richard changed his attitude, Lilia smirked to herself. ¡®Are you going to come out like that?¡¯ Richard believed that he had an advantage because there was no evidence. He seemed to think that it would be all right if he came out like this. He did so without knowing why Lilia had never opened up the evidence because she was gathering every bit of evidence for the final blow. From the moment Richard¡¯s wish (of not breaking up the engagement) was made public, the Bloden and Tersian families were at the start of a war. She waited, wondering if he might harm her family, especially Heinley. But Richard first touched Heinley. There was no reason for her to put up with it any longer. Lilia said to Richard, like the most pitiful fiancee in the world. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a fool? I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re still lying.¡­.¡± When Lilia began to sob, there was a commotion around her. Everyone looked at Lilia with a pitiful look on their face. However, Richard did not lose either. He put his hand on his chest as if it was unfair. ¡°You don¡¯t believe me if I explain it, what should I do more than this?¡± People began to murmur. They looked as if they didn¡¯t know who to believe. Lilia raised her hand and wiped her eyes. As she wiped her tears, she raised her head and stared straight at Richard. ¡°Can you swear¡­ that you didn¡¯t cheat on me?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Then, when it is clear that you have cheated on me, break our engagement.¡± Richard did not reply. However, everyone around him nodded and added words. ¡°If you¡¯re honest, of course you should.¡± If he says no here, he would be branded as having an affair. Richard, swept away by the atmosphere, nodded. Lilia smiled faintly for a moment but it disappeared quickly, but Richard saw it clearly. Richard belatedly felt something was wrong. The moment he was going to speak¡ª ¡°Richard!¡± From far away, someone warmly called Richard. At the sound of a woman¡¯s voice, everyone looked at her. Richard turned his head, and he recognized the woman at once and opened his eyes wide. ¡°No¡­ Why are you here¡­.¡± Richter stuttered, looking as if he were seeing an illusion. Rose, who had just come closer, grabbed one of Richard¡¯s arms and cried while glaring at Lilia, ¡°Why are you two together? You said you broke up with her!¡± The way she looked at him was as if she was looking at her lover. Lilia was deeply impressed by her acting. She only tried it once, and her acting skills were considerable. Later, she could even go down to the countryside and act in a theater company. ¡°L-Let go of my arm.¡± Frustrated, Richter stuttered and tried to separate Rose. But Rose did not budge and kept Lilia in check. ¡°You still haven¡¯t broken off your engagement? Let him go.¡± Lilia immediately immersed herself in her role. Lilia, who was looking alternately at Rose and Richard with a shocked look, bit her lips. People quickly grasped the situation. ¡°Have you been blatantly lying until now?¡± ¡°Bad man!¡± ¡°Go ahead and break the marriage, Miss Bloden!¡± As the criticism poured out, Richard removed Rose with force and pushed her away. ¡°What nonsense. You look like a crazy woman!¡± When he started to treat her like a stranger, Rose exclaimed, ¡°Why are you doing this to me? I even know the location of the moles on your body!¡± The commotion grew louder, and even those who had been watching from afar approached. Then, one by one, the women strode towards Richard. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Richard? Are you cheating on me?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t been able to contact you these days, so I thought¡­!¡± Richard¡¯s face was completely drained of blood. He thought they were familiar, but they were women who played with him in the past. They wouldn¡¯t have been able to come in without an invitation, but the women working in the brothel too showed up here. ¡°Who are you to call someone else¡¯s lover by his name?¡± ¡°What are you talking about? I¡¯m Richard¡¯s real lover.¡± The women surrounding Richard began to fight, saying that they were real. In the midst of the quarrel, Richard¡¯s wild private life came to light. He stared blankly at them with a pale face. He didn¡¯t know what to do, he seemed to be broken somewhere. ¡°I¡¯ve been dating him for over a year!¡± ¡°What? You trash!¡± The woman who went angry turned her head and slapped Richard on the face. Slap! The vivid sound echoed through the banquet hall. Without giving a moment to be surprised, everyone began to jump at Richard. ¡°You said I was the only one! How could you do that?¡± The woman who was screaming, grabbed Richard by the collar. Other hands popped out from all sides. His buttons were torn off and his hair was caught. The unprecedented love battle became a scuffle. The nobles who watched it only opened their mouths wide. The love quarrel they had seen so far became so intense that it was difficult to escape from it. ¡®Everyone¡¯s so enthusiastic¡­¡­.¡¯ Lilia, who had taken a step back and watched, was deeply impressed. It seemed like the women had a grudge against Richard. Richard, who was in the midst of being ripped off, the employees rushed to stop the women. The huffing women threw what they were wearing on the floor. ¡°I don¡¯t need what you bought me, so take it!¡± When Lilia realized that it was her turn to step up, she said, ¡°You¡¯ve been seeing so many women behind my back¡­¡­? And with my own money¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Miss Bloden!¡± As Lilia staggered, the man standing next to her immediately helped her. ¡°¡­I bought them all for you.¡± (Lilia) At those words, everyone looked at Richard with disgust. Richard, whose head and clothes were all messed up, looked up and glared at Lilia horribly. He seemed to have noticed that all of this was planned by Lilia. Yes, it was already too late. Richard didn¡¯t have a chance to turn the tables. Lilia asked while swallowing her laughter, with a pitiful look on her face. ¡°Will you break the engagement now?¡±