Chapter 36 (1/2)

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.

– 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.