Chapter 152

In the Dance Hall, moving towards the Party Hall.

Radiel, who was guarding the terrace area inside the Party Hall with a faint smile, felt relieved.

No, it might be more accurate to say that it was unbelievable.

If I recall each one of these moments, a sigh of despair naturally escapes me.

At first, when he suddenly asked for medicine, I thought what kind of request was this.

It was obvious that Carsein would become the target because he was not a noble in the Dance Hall.

I thought he had called for protection due to this risk, but he didn’t call Radiel to the place where he needed protection.

From Radiel’s perspective, this judgment was puzzling.

Even when he was told shortly after that someone would take over his guard duty and was led into the Dance Hall,

“Your fiancée will be on that terrace. Take this medicine and the shoes Camila brought.”

With a new pair of shoes in hand, he gave an odd command.

Not as a knight protecting his master, but as a knight protecting his fiancée.

Even more baffling was the instruction to bring both the medicine and the shoes.

The commotion at the Dance Hall must have been well handled for this to happen.

Thinking this, he entered the inner part of the terrace.

There was a beautiful woman with purple hair and dark eyes.

She was probably the young master’s fiancée, and guarding her was Radiel’s assigned task.

Only then did everything make sense.

His fiancée, who had injured her foot and danced with him, needed the medicine and shoes.

After informing her of this fact, the already pretty girl’s expression began to brighten like spring flowers. The bud of her face bloomed beautifully, seemingly unchanging through the seasons. She was so beautiful that men might fall in love with her.

While the new pair of shoes in her hand seemed to mean she was thoroughly avenging herself, it appeared she was unaware of this.

But sending medicine and shoes for a fiancée who danced in ill-fitting shoes and assigning her a guard—wasn’t this a thorough act of revenge?

To the woman, this must have been a heart-pounding situation.

Of course, the young master wouldn’t have thought about such things. Ahh.

That’s why a sigh escaped.

Perhaps, Harinie Young Lady might have developed feelings.

This part was truly unfortunate.

He possessed sharp intellect, cold judgment, and thorough analytical skills and insights, yet he seemed completely oblivious in this aspect.

This could make the woman worry unnecessarily.

This too might be considered a talent.

So, Radiel deliberately took no action.

“I’ll apply the medicine myself. And I’ll put on the shoes for you, young master.”

Even though she was such a beauty, if his heart didn’t race, it must be because of deep distrust of others due to a significant wound from the Duke’s House…

Suddenly, such thoughts came to mind.

Maybe this could be another opportunity.

Maybe the cold heart of the young master could be warmed by the blooming flower bud.

The deep wounds that even family couldn’t heal might grow new flesh through the strongest human relationship—love.

“About five minutes have passed since you went in…”

Checking the clock, neither of them had come out during this time.

“Hem-hem.”

Radiel coughed softly and slowly approached the terrace door.

Though this was something he shouldn’t do, he couldn’t help being curious. He concentrated his mana on his ears to eavesdrop on their conversation.

“By the way, how did you retaliate against Young Lady Hellie?”

“Oh, that. We just danced a little.”

What?

The young master has a fiancée, yet he dances with another woman?

What kind of crazy talk is this!

If you say such things to the fiancée…

“…Dance?”

“Yes.”

“Did you leave me here and dance with Young Lady Hellie?”

“Yes.”

Oh my goodness. His voice immediately dropped.

Why did you answer like that?! Young Master!

“What should I do? Should I go in and stop them?”

Radiel broke out in a cold sweat and seriously contemplated.

Right at that moment.

“I pretended to dance while stepping on her and pushing her to trip her. I also said she couldn’t dance as well as me. Well, in reality, Harinie, you were much better at dancing. It turns out I got the best partner for my first dance.”

“W-What are you saying!”

“No, it’s true. If I got such a wonderful partner for my first dance…”

“Be quiet! Really!”

The atmosphere instantly changed.

Where did he learn such lines? I wish Mark had learned them from the young master and used them.

Anyway, there’s no need to go in and stop them. Radiel sighed in relief.

Meanwhile, Harinie, who had looked flustered, composed her voice.

“Although I wasn’t prepared for this… here.”

“What is this?”

“It’s chocolate. The one… meant to be given on Valentine’s Day, but I’m giving it now because I was late.”

Oh my.

Valentine’s chocolate?

I guess I didn’t need to interfere.

As expected, the young master has a natural talent for this.

This chocolate must be incredibly sweet.

The engagement ring filled with the fiancée’s feelings will never be bitter.

I remember feeling the same once.

Hmm. How sweet must that chocolate be.

When starting my first love, the chocolate I gave was as sweet for the giver as it was for the receiver.

Listening to their conversation, Radiel nodded and then coughed awkwardly before focusing back on their conversation.

A brief exchange passed, and the chocolate topic quickly faded.

Then…

“Don’t lie! Don’t you see how your gem is reacting?!”

Why is the fiancée raising her voice?

What happened? Did the young master make a mistake?

“Harinie, this thing is definitely broken. I slept perfectly fine. It’s unfair.”

“Even though dark circles are still visible under your eyes, you’re saying that?”

“It’s just how I feel. I naturally have some dark circles.”

“How can you lie like this?”

“…What? What do you mean?”

…? An incomprehensible conversation followed, then suddenly a thump sound.

“What is this? Why am I lying on your lap…”

“Don’t think about getting up. You’re being punished. Stay like this and sleep here.”

“No, are you telling me to sleep like this? Sitting up…”

“Hmph. That’s because you didn’t sleep properly. You won’t be able to get up until I allow it.”

“But isn’t there any rule… Wait, why are my eyes closed… I’m not sleepy?”

“Just stay still and sleep on my lap.”

My goodness.

What kind of conversation is this?

Judging by the situation, it seems like a pillow was made of the young master’s lap…

Just from the voice, it’s clear. The young master, who usually seems wooden, must have shown incredible courage to advance like this.

-Gulp.

What comes next?

Naturally, anticipation grew.

Even though I’ve experienced love, I’m very curious about what actions this couple will take next.

“Excuse me, Sir Radiel?”

“Eek!”

Radiel unconsciously withdrew the mana he had focused on his ears at the sudden voice.

“Miss Camila?”

“Are you listening to the conversation between the young master and his fiancée?”

Camila, the sharp-eyed personal maid of the young master, had called Radiel.

Later, I’ll have to apologize to the young master separately.

“I didn’t mean to say anything about listening. I just mentioned to the fiancée that the young master hadn’t been sleeping well lately. I just want to know if that was mentioned.”

“Oh, about that.”

Isn’t that what we just heard?

Since she’s the personal maid of Carsein, the young master, and there’s nothing to hide, Radiel told her what he knew.

Upon hearing this, Camila sighed in relief.

It seems she’s on our side.

“Can I ask you for one more favor?”

“I haven’t heard much else either…”

“No, it’s not about that. Ariana Young Lady will come looking for the young master soon.”

“…”

Radiel, who was struggling, became extremely serious.

“An incident occurred in the Dance Hall, so Ariana Young Lady will come looking for the young master. On the surface, it’s a conflict with several nobles, but in reality, it’s a distortion by those who want to frame him.”

“…You want to volunteer as a witness without disturbing their time together. Is that right?”

“Yes, exactly. But more than anything, I hope the Duke’s House doesn’t suffer any more wounds…”

If that’s the case,

Of course, I should accept.

“You don’t need to say anything more. I’ll volunteer as a witness too.”

“Thank you. Then follow me─”

“No, it doesn’t seem necessary to go find them.”

Feeling someone approaching, Radiel turned his upper body towards that direction.

Camila also guessed and turned her body towards him, bowing her head.

A red ponytail swaying as she approached.

She was undoubtedly Ariana Bargrand.

“Greetings, Young Lady Ariana.”

“Carsein caused another incident, they said. He should be here, right?”

Ariana directly asked the two people bowing their heads.

Camila spoke first.

“No, that’s not true.”

“Hmm?”

“If you received news that Carsein caused an incident, that’s a distorted fact, Young Lady Ariana.”

“As Camila said, he didn’t cause an incident. He just retaliated against the malice the fiancée received.”

Following Camila, Radiel added his opinion.

Seeing this, Ariana frowned immediately.

“What does that mean?”

The two bowed their heads and alternately responded to each other’s signals.

“As your personal maid, I was ordered to bring the list of Young Lady nobles attending the party to the young master, and then to find out Harinie’s shoe size and bring new shoes.”

“As a guard, I was ordered to protect the fiancée you brought to the terrace. Then, as Camila mentioned, I was ordered to bring the shoes and medicine for the injured area.”

“The personal maid and the guard each received such orders.”

Looking back and forth between the two, Ariana glanced at the terrace and turned around.

“Come along. We need to hear a detailed report of what happened.”

叮铃！

▶ A specific condition has been met, and the penalty has been removed. ◀

▶ Ariana’s affinity has not decreased. ◀

▶ The choice of penalties does not appear. ◜

***

“Are you saying to get rid of Carsein this time?”

Count Retelvik, sweating profusely, questioned, and the man hidden in the black figure reprimanded him.

“Why? Can’t you do it? Are you no different from that halfwit?”

“No, no! I’ll do it! I can do it!”

“Good. Handle it properly. Tsk. If that guy wasn’t here in this empire, I could have done it myself.”

The order he received was simple.

To completely crush Carsein’s standing at this eastern nobles’ meeting and ensure his name is no longer known throughout the empire.

It’s not an easy task.

But it must be done.

“If you want to live, you have no choice but to do it…!”