Chapter 51 (2/2)

‘I don’t know when all this will be over, but I think I can do you a favor before that.’

“Thank you, Annette!”

With a wide smile, Raphael held her up and turned around. He easily lifted her up as if she was a paper doll. Surprised by this, Annette’s eyes widened and she clutched his shoulder tightly. Finally, after hugging Annette tightly, Raphael put her down on the floor and said,

“Thank you very much. For coming with me.”

“You’re welcome.”

Annette, who didn’t know Raphael would like it this much, answered vaguely. At this point, she wondered who this benefactor was for whom Raphael would behave like this. It seemed she would have to pay attention to her dress at the ball.

* * *

“That’s what happened, so please cooperate.”

“Huh, look at this shameless bastard!”

Harold, who was dragged out to the party on Raphael’s sudden notice, was really irked by his request. Harold didn’t really want to attend the party in the first place. Harold, who attended a couple party alone, was sad and upset.

‘You’re such an ungrateful bastard.’

If he had known this would happen, he wouldn’t have given him any advice. In the meantime, Raphael’s face as he was smiling all alone waiting for his wife, made him even more angrier.

“Just wait and see how I deal with you later! When your wife comes, I’ll tell her all your dark history.”

“Try it if you can.”

Raphael stood in front of Harold with his arms crossed like a huge barrier. The comparison felt more so because of his tall and muscular build. Seeing that Harold was about to say nonsense, it really took all his will to not drag him out of there. Feeling the transient flow of time*, Harold trembled softly and gently stepped on Raphael’s shiny shoes.

*[I don’t whether this makes sense to you, so I’ll make it a bit clear. It’s that feeling when you reminisce about old memories and suddenly feel as if time had quickly passed.]

“What the hell are you doing old man? It’s a new pair of shoes!!”

Raphael frowned. He quickly took out his handkerchief and wiped his shoe clean. His intention to quickly finish grooming himself before Annette’s arrival was really apparent. Harold, who had been watching this with an amused look, suddenly asked as he had remembered something.

“But why didn’t you come with your wife?”

“I don’t know. She told me to go ahead because she had some work to do. She would follow soon.”

Raphael, who was still checking his shoe, responded dully. Harold realised something from the words and began to laugh. When Raphael heard his laughter, he raised his head wondering what was wrong with him. Harold, who had been waiting for this moment, tried to suppress his laughter.

“Anyway, you’re really an idiot. She didn’t want to go with you, that’s why she told you to go ahead.”

“It’s not like that! She said she really had some work to do.”

“Oh, believe whatever you want. She must have made up some things to do so that she wouldn’t have to ride the same carriage with you.”

“Fuck! “

Raphael unknowingly spit out curses that he had learned during his days as a commoner. Harold had only hit his sore spot, and a billion curses came out of his mouth on its own. Meanwhile, the smile returned on Harold’s face, who had finally taken his revenge for being dragged to a couple party. Such retaliation was the best way to teach an ungrateful black-haired beast.

Raphael frowned at seeing the nasty smile on his face. He was about to say something to Harold, but a familiar face caught his sharp eyes. Unfortunately it wasn’t Annette’s pretty face.

‘Why the hell is he here?’

Raphael’s face was sharply distorted. The man who was greeted by everyone from afar was a very handsome man. With his tall body, white face, sculpture like delicate features, and his long silver hair, he looked like a prince who had come out of a fairy tale.

‘Prince Ludwig……!’

Raphael’s blue eyes sank coldly when he unexpectedly ran into his half-brother.