Chapter 11

After entering the mansion where the garden party was held, Marquis Weiand was at an age where he preferred to sit down than to dance.

On the other side sat Count Alvin, who also belonged to the emperor’s faction. His family ran an intelligence-gathering organization and a hospital. Any information in the kingdom can be acquired through the organization.

“Come to think of it, I don’t see Baron Luke. Wasn’t he a follower of Count Moran?

More appropriately, rather than a follower, Baron Luke was more like Count Moran’s dog. Wherever Count Moran went, he was always there. He was the type to chase after him at a drop of a hat.

“He is busy because of some house affairs.”

“Would he forget such an important event?”

Jack thought it was ridiculous. Baron Luke, as someone connected to Count Moran, was barely able to maintain his nobility. It was because of Count Moran that he had even a little influence. This garden party gathered all the high-ranking nobles of the Empire. He wasn’t one who would thoughtlessly throw away this type of opportunity.

“That family, it is practically ruined now. The son wasn’t perturbed even though he had violated the maids and killed many servants.”

“Oh, is it the son who went to the brothel houses every day?”

Even Marquis Weiand was aware of the man’s reputation of sleeping around.

“It wasn’t enough for him to sleep with those prostitutes. To think he even touched the maids in their house.”

Count Alvin also frowned. Not many aristocrats played around profligately. But he couldn’t understand how the Baron’s son touched even the lower ones like a dog.

“He must not be in his right mind.”

That was all Marquis Weiand could say. The person wasn’t worth much of his attention.

“The magistrate had a difficult time handling this case. Some of the frightened maids committed suicide, while some servants were killed.”

The empire’s law prioritized the aristocrats. The magistrate’s job itself was to cater towards those nobles. To make it seem fair, they placed someone to rule over these cases in front of the people. However, ultimately, their verdicts followed whatever the nobles’ will was.

“Then it is already a forgone conclusion. We can’t lose the people’s trust just because of one such aristocrat.”

Count Alvin agreed. Baron Luke had been barely hanging on, having the lowest power among the nobles. However, Count Alvin would not want that spark to lead to the commoners’ antipathy toward the nobility.

“Now that you mention it, I don’t see Baron Orphin anywhere either.”

Those who paid attention would know that Baron Luke was in the same group as Baron Orphin and Count Dane.

Having met often, they eventually regularly met to further build their bond. Nevertheless, the fact that one of their rivals had disappeared is something that they would be pleased to hear. To that extent, their camaraderie was shallow.

None of the high-ranking nobles would care about the incident from Baron Luke’s family. Jack and Count Alvin felt the same as they listened to the story.

“By the way, when will we hear marriage news between your daughter and Duke Tonz?”

“I am unsure myself.”

Count Alvin’s eyes flickered differently from before. Noble men were as sensitive to dating news and scandals as women were. Perhaps he may have heard of some talks about Prillance and Roman somewhere.

“There are rumors that Duke Tonz has been dating someone passionately lately.”

For a moment, Jack wondered whether he should rejoice that Prillance’s relationship with Roman turned from passionate courtship into passionate dating.

However, even though the rumors had changed, he couldn’t feel it. Prillance neither behaved as before, nor did she behave indifferently. Rather, her actions were more ambiguous.

“I think the Marquis should go out to the garden.” A servant approached him and stated.

Along with the servant, Marquis Weiand left the mansion and headed toward the garden. There he saw that everyone’s attention was focused all on one place. At the center of attention was his daughter Prillance, Duke Tonz, and Viscount Grant.

“…We will be taking our leave now,” Ver declared.

However, his eyes were still trained on Cecia.

It was the first time he had seen her since their engagement was broken. She was still beautiful. No, she was more beautiful than before. He always used to jest that there was no woman more beautiful than Cecia, but even amongst the throng of people, her beauty stood out. She seemed to be doing well.

It was a moment he had expected to happen once after he called off their engagement.

However, it wasn’t as heartbreaking as he thought. He didn’t feel sorrowful to the point of tears. Instead, he felt relieved that he made the right decision. That was all he felt in this situation.

Prillance was watching Cecia and Ver, who couldn’t take their eyes off each other. Ultimately, it came to pass.

It was something she had wanted to prevent, but things still happened according to the novel’s story. And in the middle was a wistful Ver – an unfortunate person who had to part ways with his beloved against his will.

She couldn’t bear to watch the scene in front of her. She didn’t know how things had still turned out this way, or whether Ver’s face was filled with the same longing she had read in the novel. All she knew was that his eyes stayed on Cecia.

Soon, after giving a brief nod of farewell, Ver turned to Prillance.

“……Will you please come with me?”

Prillance, along with Cecia, became surprised at his words.

Ver grasped Prillance’s hand and kissed it lightly. He gave a slight bow and looked into her eyes. And in his beautiful eyes, her face was reflected.

At the same time, in Prillance eyes, the figure of Ver was reflected. As expected, she was looking at him with surprised eyes.

Cecia stood in shock. She had never seen another woman in front of Ver. His warm face and behavior were both startling to her.

“Of…course.”

Prillance was a little surprised, but as soon as he heard her answer, Ver clasped her hand and disappeared into the garden. Up until he disappeared, he did not cast another glance at Cecia.

‘He is reliable in this regard.’

Unlike Cecia, who was hurt by the sight, Jack, who was watching from a distance, became pleased with Ver, who took care of his daughter.