Arthas April 07, 2024 No comments
Don't forget to rate and review the novel on Novelupdates
The Duke, who had remained silent for a while, replied to me with a rotting expression, "......You are free to make your own judgment."
You are free to make your own judgment.
In other words, he didn't care, so I should choose whatever I wanted.
It was unexpected.
The Duke Belzer Winfred I knew would have necessarily assigned a knight from the duchy to escort Kyle.
'I guess obtaining the Sacred Blood must have been very pleasing to him.’
I didn't bother to respond to his words and just kept shoving food into my mouth, without pause, in the stifling silence, in order to finish the meal as soon as possible.
The Duke was the same.
Perhaps the argument with me had ruffled his feathers, for he did not utter a single word throughout.
A short while later, the Duke, who had finished his meal, stood up first.
Since it was a breakfast, the variety of food was not extensive, and the meal did not take long. I too, leaving the remaining food behind, rose from my seat, following the duke.
"................."
The Duke, with a darkened countenance, cast his gaze upon me who had just risen from the seat.
As I stared at him with a bewildered expression, he continued in a weary tone, "Last evening, a letter arrived from Count Yustia's family. They have officially responded to the annulment of the engagement that you so desperately desired."
I, who was about to head upstairs, abruptly stopped in my tracks and turned my head, "A response, you say?"
"Yes, it bore the seal of the family patriarch."
"And what did it say?"
"He said that his daughter was deeply hurt. It also included an addendum that she does not wish for the engagement to be annulled."
Taken aback by this news, my eyes widened; the daughter referred to was, of course, Isabel, and that meant she was still refusing the annulment of our engagement.
'Damn it.'
The back of my neck flushed with rising irritation.
Soon, the Duke's calm voice reached my ear, "At the same time, he demanded compensation."
This was expected.
Unilaterally annulling a marriage proposal between noble families, it was only natural to demand substantial compensation on the grounds of tarnishing the family's honor.
However, the following words were nothing short of an utter disaster.
"He mentioned the Sacred Blood as compensation."
I couldn't hide my disbelief at this point.
The Sacred Blood? In essence, while it may be called compensation, it was ultimately a veiled rejection of the request for annulment, was it not?
"I'm sure you are aware as well. If the Count's family persists in their stance..."
"...The Imperial Trial. I'm aware."
"Yes, of course, there's no need to worry. It will only serve to stall for time, after all."
The outcome won't change.
The duke spoke to me in a resolute tone.
Yes, the outcome will not change.
Demanding the Sacred Blood as compensation was absurd.
Naturally, the trial will result in the count's family being given an appropriate compensation and the annulment of the engagement being acknowledged.
But there was another problem.
'Oh no, this is bad.'
The Imperial Trial was a trial for the nobility, which means it required all sorts of empty formalities and meaningless rituals, not to mention the excruciatingly long procedures.
That means the time it took just to hold the trial was absurdly lengthy. For someone like me who needs to leave the estate as soon as possible, this was news akin to a bolt from the blue.
"..................."
Should I just tell him to give the Sacred Blood as compensation?
But the Duke, being of sound mind, would never accept such an absurd condition when he has the easy path of the Imperial Trial.
To dare to make such an outrageous demand against the Winfred Ducal House, one of the Three Guardian Families of the Empire, the Yustia Count's House, including Isabel, must be out of their minds.
As I silently swallowed my anger, the duke continued in a soothing tone.
"There was another condition as well."
"What is it?"
"Lady Isabel. They said they would agree to the annulment of the engagement for reasonable compensation, if you can convince her."
The duke's eyes gleamed with interest, as if he was anticipating how I would proceed.
There was no choice.
I answered without hesitation, "I will convince her."
"Do as you see fit."
The Duke finished speaking and turned his back without a second thought and a moment later, two servants walked in and carefully opened the door to the closed banquet hall.
The Duke left with the old butler who was waiting outside, heading to the study, while I went upstairs and leaned back on the couch.
"It's okay. I still have enough time."
All I had to do was convince Isabel.
It shouldn't be too difficult.
I just need to create a situation where she has no choice but to accept the annulment of the engagement.
"But that can wait for later..."
The most pressing matter right now was the upcoming Knighting ceremony.
The goal was to recruit Diana as Kyle’s personal knight.
Now that I have the duke's permission, all the necessary preparations are essentially complete.
After briefly organizing my thoughts, I turned my head when—
—something eye-catching caught my gaze; an antique-styled brown case. Inside, a silver ring was kept - the engagement ring Kyle gave to Isabel, its matching pair.
I furrowed my brow and let out a short sigh.
Then, in a resolute tone, I muttered, "...Good."
It was just the right time to go out.
I should sell off that damned ring first.
* * * * *
Knock! Knock!
A maid tapped the door cautiously a couple of times. Her name was Erika, the personal maid assigned to attend to Lady Isabel.
"My lady, it's me."
Erika had been serving in the mansion since the day Lady Isabel was born. Her mother had worked here, and now Erika herself worked here. It was likely that her children in the distant future would work here too.
Erika had affection for Lady Isabel.
Isabel, the only daughter of the Count's family, one of the empire's most prominent noble families, possessing impeccable manners, beauty, and the very epitome of nobility.
Erika, who had served the Yustia family for generations, could not find it in her heart to dislike Isabel.
However, the lady had started exhibiting strange behavior ever since that sunny day when she returned from visiting the Winfred estate for the engagement ceremony.
For some unknown reason, Lady Isabel's face had been filled with an indescribable upon her return.
The lady's peculiar behavior did not end there.
Kyle Winfred, the bastard of the Winfred family.
The engagement ring he had given, which the lady had so despised, she had started cherishing dearly at some point.
She never once removed the ring from her finger, sometimes gazing at it with a wistful expression, and at other times, breaking into a melancholic smile.
How could she hold so dear the ring given by the very man she had loathed? Erika simply couldn't comprehend it.
And then, a few days ago.
The lady had suddenly gone out in the evening, only to return in a deplorable state, muffling her sobs in her room throughout the night.
That's when it started.
The deep darkness that had settled upon the lady's ever-smiling face.
Around that time, the lady had been unable to find rest at night, easily startled by the slightest thing, muttering to herself with a vacant gaze, as if her mind was adrift.
And now.
"My lady, are you in your room?"
Erika continued knocking on the door, intending to personally deliver the news of Kyle Winfred.
"...Come in."
As the door opened, the lady was seen sitting at the table by the window.
Erika discreetly scanned the table; it was filled with an elaborate spread of food — the same arrangement Erika had set up for the lady's meal just a few hours ago.
'Still the same...'
For the past few days, the Lady had been skipping meals whenever she could. Ever since the day the Winfred family officially requested the annulment of the engagement.
"My lady, it's about the upcoming Knighting ceremony."
The lady, still gazing out the window, was absentmindedly caressing the ring on her ring finger, her expression forlorn.
Erika continued, "Ah... Kyle Winfred will be attending the ceremony as well."
—Thud!
The lady, who had been listening with apparent disinterest, abruptly stood up from her seat.
"Kyle... What? Who?!"
"Kyle Winfred, my lady. Your fiancé."
"Kyle is coming to the Knighting ceremony?!"
Isabel's eyes widened in shock.
This was the most lively Erika had seen the lady in the past few days.
"It's certain?"
"Of course! I heard it directly from the head maid. You know, her son is in charge of the ceremony."
A myriad of emotions flickered across the lady's face; it was as if she had come undone, in the crudest sense.
Erika watched the lady, unsure of how to react.
"Kyle... the Knighting..."
The Lady, who had risen from her seat, began pacing back and forth, biting her thumb.
As the flustered Erika took a step back, the resolute Isabel suddenly spoke, "I need to see the head maid."
"The head maid? Whatever for?"
Pausing her steps, Isabel replied, "I want to attend the Knighting ceremony as well."
The slight curve of her lips as she spoke betrayed her true intent.
Arthas April 07, 2024 No comments
Don't forget to rate and review the novel on Novelupdates
The Duke, who had remained silent for a while, replied to me with a rotting expression, "......You are free to make your own judgment."
You are free to make your own judgment.
In other words, he didn't care, so I should choose whatever I wanted.
It was unexpected.
The Duke Belzer Winfred I knew would have necessarily assigned a knight from the duchy to escort Kyle.
'I guess obtaining the Sacred Blood must have been very pleasing to him.’
I didn't bother to respond to his words and just kept shoving food into my mouth, without pause, in the stifling silence, in order to finish the meal as soon as possible.
The Duke was the same.
Perhaps the argument with me had ruffled his feathers, for he did not utter a single word throughout.
A short while later, the Duke, who had finished his meal, stood up first.
Since it was a breakfast, the variety of food was not extensive, and the meal did not take long. I too, leaving the remaining food behind, rose from my seat, following the duke.
"................."
The Duke, with a darkened countenance, cast his gaze upon me who had just risen from the seat.
As I stared at him with a bewildered expression, he continued in a weary tone, "Last evening, a letter arrived from Count Yustia's family. They have officially responded to the annulment of the engagement that you so desperately desired."
I, who was about to head upstairs, abruptly stopped in my tracks and turned my head, "A response, you say?"
"Yes, it bore the seal of the family patriarch."
"And what did it say?"
"He said that his daughter was deeply hurt. It also included an addendum that she does not wish for the engagement to be annulled."
Taken aback by this news, my eyes widened; the daughter referred to was, of course, Isabel, and that meant she was still refusing the annulment of our engagement.
'Damn it.'
The back of my neck flushed with rising irritation.
Soon, the Duke's calm voice reached my ear, "At the same time, he demanded compensation."
This was expected.
Unilaterally annulling a marriage proposal between noble families, it was only natural to demand substantial compensation on the grounds of tarnishing the family's honor.
However, the following words were nothing short of an utter disaster.
"He mentioned the Sacred Blood as compensation."
I couldn't hide my disbelief at this point.
The Sacred Blood? In essence, while it may be called compensation, it was ultimately a veiled rejection of the request for annulment, was it not?
"I'm sure you are aware as well. If the Count's family persists in their stance..."
"...The Imperial Trial. I'm aware."
"Yes, of course, there's no need to worry. It will only serve to stall for time, after all."
The outcome won't change.
The duke spoke to me in a resolute tone.
Yes, the outcome will not change.
Demanding the Sacred Blood as compensation was absurd.
Naturally, the trial will result in the count's family being given an appropriate compensation and the annulment of the engagement being acknowledged.
But there was another problem.
'Oh no, this is bad.'
The Imperial Trial was a trial for the nobility, which means it required all sorts of empty formalities and meaningless rituals, not to mention the excruciatingly long procedures.
That means the time it took just to hold the trial was absurdly lengthy. For someone like me who needs to leave the estate as soon as possible, this was news akin to a bolt from the blue.
"..................."
Should I just tell him to give the Sacred Blood as compensation?
But the Duke, being of sound mind, would never accept such an absurd condition when he has the easy path of the Imperial Trial.
To dare to make such an outrageous demand against the Winfred Ducal House, one of the Three Guardian Families of the Empire, the Yustia Count's House, including Isabel, must be out of their minds.
As I silently swallowed my anger, the duke continued in a soothing tone.
"There was another condition as well."
"What is it?"
"Lady Isabel. They said they would agree to the annulment of the engagement for reasonable compensation, if you can convince her."
The duke's eyes gleamed with interest, as if he was anticipating how I would proceed.
There was no choice.
I answered without hesitation, "I will convince her."
"Do as you see fit."
The Duke finished speaking and turned his back without a second thought and a moment later, two servants walked in and carefully opened the door to the closed banquet hall.
The Duke left with the old butler who was waiting outside, heading to the study, while I went upstairs and leaned back on the couch.
"It's okay. I still have enough time."
All I had to do was convince Isabel.
It shouldn't be too difficult.
I just need to create a situation where she has no choice but to accept the annulment of the engagement.
"But that can wait for later..."
The most pressing matter right now was the upcoming Knighting ceremony.
The goal was to recruit Diana as Kyle’s personal knight.
Now that I have the duke's permission, all the necessary preparations are essentially complete.
After briefly organizing my thoughts, I turned my head when—
—something eye-catching caught my gaze; an antique-styled brown case. Inside, a silver ring was kept - the engagement ring Kyle gave to Isabel, its matching pair.
I furrowed my brow and let out a short sigh.
Then, in a resolute tone, I muttered, "...Good."
It was just the right time to go out.
I should sell off that damned ring first.
* * * * *
Knock! Knock!
A maid tapped the door cautiously a couple of times. Her name was Erika, the personal maid assigned to attend to Lady Isabel.
"My lady, it's me."
Erika had been serving in the mansion since the day Lady Isabel was born. Her mother had worked here, and now Erika herself worked here. It was likely that her children in the distant future would work here too.
Erika had affection for Lady Isabel.
Isabel, the only daughter of the Count's family, one of the empire's most prominent noble families, possessing impeccable manners, beauty, and the very epitome of nobility.
Erika, who had served the Yustia family for generations, could not find it in her heart to dislike Isabel.
However, the lady had started exhibiting strange behavior ever since that sunny day when she returned from visiting the Winfred estate for the engagement ceremony.
For some unknown reason, Lady Isabel's face had been filled with an indescribable upon her return.
The lady's peculiar behavior did not end there.
Kyle Winfred, the bastard of the Winfred family.
The engagement ring he had given, which the lady had so despised, she had started cherishing dearly at some point.
She never once removed the ring from her finger, sometimes gazing at it with a wistful expression, and at other times, breaking into a melancholic smile.
How could she hold so dear the ring given by the very man she had loathed? Erika simply couldn't comprehend it.
And then, a few days ago.
The lady had suddenly gone out in the evening, only to return in a deplorable state, muffling her sobs in her room throughout the night.
That's when it started.
The deep darkness that had settled upon the lady's ever-smiling face.
Around that time, the lady had been unable to find rest at night, easily startled by the slightest thing, muttering to herself with a vacant gaze, as if her mind was adrift.
And now.
"My lady, are you in your room?"
Erika continued knocking on the door, intending to personally deliver the news of Kyle Winfred.
"...Come in."
As the door opened, the lady was seen sitting at the table by the window.
Erika discreetly scanned the table; it was filled with an elaborate spread of food — the same arrangement Erika had set up for the lady's meal just a few hours ago.
'Still the same...'
For the past few days, the Lady had been skipping meals whenever she could. Ever since the day the Winfred family officially requested the annulment of the engagement.
"My lady, it's about the upcoming Knighting ceremony."
The lady, still gazing out the window, was absentmindedly caressing the ring on her ring finger, her expression forlorn.
Erika continued, "Ah... Kyle Winfred will be attending the ceremony as well."
—Thud!
The lady, who had been listening with apparent disinterest, abruptly stood up from her seat.
"Kyle... What? Who?!"
"Kyle Winfred, my lady. Your fiancé."
"Kyle is coming to the Knighting ceremony?!"
Isabel's eyes widened in shock.
This was the most lively Erika had seen the lady in the past few days.
"It's certain?"
"Of course! I heard it directly from the head maid. You know, her son is in charge of the ceremony."
A myriad of emotions flickered across the lady's face; it was as if she had come undone, in the crudest sense.
Erika watched the lady, unsure of how to react.
"Kyle... the Knighting..."
The Lady, who had risen from her seat, began pacing back and forth, biting her thumb.
As the flustered Erika took a step back, the resolute Isabel suddenly spoke, "I need to see the head maid."
"The head maid? Whatever for?"
Pausing her steps, Isabel replied, "I want to attend the Knighting ceremony as well."
The slight curve of her lips as she spoke betrayed her true intent.
