Chapter 26: The Incident at the Social Party (4)

He was at a loss for words.

When Anthony Barco heard that Roman would attend the party, he wasn't worried about this situation at all.

It was natural.

Roman had broken off the engagement.

This meant that his threats had worked, and he held the upper hand.

"Roman, from now on, you'd better think carefully before you speak. You didn't just have a fling with other women while waiting for a political marriage; you messed with a Barco woman. When I told you to become a Barco, it meant you should take responsibility for your actions. Proposing marriage to my sister, a direct descendant of the Barco family, was my last consideration for our relationship. And yet, you dare to call it a 'ridiculous reason' in front of me?"

His voice was boiling with anger.

It seemed his anger wouldn't subside easily. He drank from the bottle and then spoke in a menacing tone.

"Hey, I'm different from you. You're just a disgrace to the Dimitri line, but I'm the heir who will inherit everything from the Barco family. Not only did you take the flower I wanted from Lawrence, but you also messed with a Barco woman and thought you'd get away with it? You're making an irreversible mistake right now."

His attitude changed.

The friendly friend was nowhere to be seen, and Anthony Barco pressed the knife he held to Roman's throat.

He thought to himself.

If this was the Roman he remembered, he would surely bow his head and listen at this point.

But.

Roman instead laughed coldly.

"Do as you please."

The weapon of the other party.

It wasn't a real 'knife.'

Roman was unfazed by those words, which were meaningless depending on how one thought about them.

"I'm already called an idiot by the Dimitri family. My reputation is already in the trash, and adding the rumor that I messed with several women while waiting for a political marriage won't change anything. Ah, as you said, Dimitri's honor will be tarnished. But, I was always like that, wasn't I?"

"You little—!"

"Anthony, you should behave properly now."

Barco.

They have a misconception.

While the Barco family is powerful in the northeastern region, their power originates from the central government, not from this area.

Power through connections.

The influence in the northeastern region alone cannot surpass Dimitri.

Roman said,

"The reason I broke off the engagement wasn't because of your threats. I genuinely believed this marriage was unnecessary, and I made the decision despite the criticism from others. In the end, you achieved your goal. Since Dimitri has turned their back on Lawrence, the Barco family can proceed with their future plans more smoothly. But now, if you, as the eldest son of the Barco family, show your teeth to me, how should I act? To settle personal grudges, I might help Lawrence and hinder the Barco family, wouldn't I?"

For a moment.

Anthony Barco felt a chill in his heart.

In response to his threats, Roman had placed a knife at his own throat.

'...Was Roman always this kind of character?'

No.

Roman was a weakling.

Despite being the eldest son of the Dimitri family, there was a reason he was ignored by people.

Suddenly.

Anthony Barco recalled a rumor that was circulating.

"Roman Dimitri exterminated the Blood Gang. The idiot of the Dimitri family was actually a hidden dragon (潛龍) with hidden strength."

That rumor.

He thought it was nonsense.

Knowing what kind of person Roman was, he didn't believe he had the strength to exterminate the Blood Gang.

But.

Now, it was different.

The gaze directed at him.

The pressure that made his mouth dry forced him to reassess Roman.

'It's clear. Roman has changed.'

The idiot of the Dimitri family.

Such a person no longer existed.

The silence was long.

As Anthony Barco fell into deep thought, Roman's eyes grew cold.

'You have no choice anyway. If you had a choice, you wouldn't have gone through the trouble of drugging me and setting a trap.'

This incident.

It's a simple problem.

Despite Dimitri openly taking what the Barco family desired, the Barco family never officially protested.

Why?

Because Dimitri is too powerful.

Knowing what would happen if they antagonized Dimitri, the Barco family couldn't take any action.

Therefore.

Roman brought reality to light.

Anthony Barco, with his pride wounded and his face red, had to accept the reality.

"...I understand. If we end this matter here, you won't interfere with the Lawrence affair in the future, right?"

"Right."

"Then let's conclude this matter here."

They reached a compromise.

Seeing Anthony Barco bow his head, Roman hid his true thoughts.

'For me to live as Roman Dimitri in the future, I can't leave the Barco family, who threatened me, alone.'

Enemy.

The Barco family stood on the opposite side of Roman.

While Roman is generous to his people, he shows no mercy to those who show him hostility.

It was no different now.

The reason he offered Anthony Barco a temporary peace was not because he wanted peace, but because he knew there was no reason for Dimitri to shed blood.

'There's no need for the stage to be Dimitri. When the Barco and Lawrence families engage in a desperate battle for each other's lives, I will seize the opportunity to cut off their lifelines when they are complacent.'

To reach the pinnacle of the dark sect.

Bai Zhonghe had both been a victim of hidden moves and had used them to bring down opponents.

Just because he recognized the Barco family as an enemy.

It would be foolish to immediately fight and turn red in the face.

Sometimes, he had to wear a mask.

Sometimes, he had to say the opposite of what he thought.

Roman offered Anthony Barco a brief peace.

'My throat is dry.'

Roman picked up his glass.

Looking at Anthony Barco, whose pride was wounded and couldn't lift his head, he slowly drank the alcohol.

Swallow.

His throat was dry.

Roman left the room.

Now that he knew the truth that had been shrouded in mystery, there was no reason to stay at the social party.

'It's going to get busier from now on.'

He had a lot to do.

He had to fulfill his national service in six months, but before that, he planned to resolve his grudge with the Barco family on his own.

He didn't intend to rely on the family's power.

This problem originated from Roman, and to prepare for the future, he needed to develop his own strength.

Fortunately.

Roman had obtained good conditions from his father.

'Father gave me the authority to directly mobilize troops. I need to use that to build my own force.'

In this life.

Roman started a new life.

Although he didn't have a clear goal yet, there was one thing he was certain of.

He needed to rule.

His life as a heavenly horse taught him that.

Since he couldn't live an ordinary life, Roman knew he had to prepare and complete everything step by step.

The conflict between Lawrence and Barco.

It was a good stage to gain experience, and he would use his national service as a stepping stone for growth.

On the way out.

Many nobles spoke to him.

Roman had become the star of the party, and many nobles were disappointed when he announced his departure.

At that moment.

As he left the party, a loud noise reached Roman's ears.

'Kevin?'

The source of the noise.

At the center was Kevin, surrounded by a group of knights.

Guard.

The word itself made his heart race, and Kevin, who followed Roman, couldn't hide his excitement.

'To be a noble's guard.'

Not just any noble.

Roman Dimitri.

Knowing he was the guard of the person he admired, Kevin wanted to do his best.

So he was greedy.

He asked Hans for a fancy armor that he could wear and put on a helmet that didn't fit his head, trying to look serious.

Roman's guard, Kevin.

Following Chris's advice to be careful, he tried his best to act like someone suitable for his role.

But.

Others saw it differently.

No matter how hard Kevin tried, he still looked like a teenage soldier.

"Who's that?"

"He's supposed to be Roman Dimitri's guard?"

"Haha, really, anything goes. I've heard that Roman Dimitri is the eldest son rejected by the Dimitri family, but even so, bringing a kid who can't even hold a sword properly as a guard is ridiculous."

"That's the level of the Dimitri family, I guess."

In front of the party entrance.

While the guards of various nobles were standing guard, the knights with the Barco emblem were talking about Kevin.

It was as if they were deliberately trying to be heard.

Their voices were loud, and Kevin's face turned red with anger.

"Stay calm."

It was Chris.

He also heard the knights' words but knew it wasn't wise to argue with the Barco knights.

"They are the knights of the Barco family. Without knowing the relationship between our lord and the Barco family, a hasty response might put our lord in a difficult situation. I told you before we left. We are the face of the Dimitri family, and our actions affect our lord's reputation. So, no matter what they say, maintain your composure and show the dignity of a guard."

"...I understand."

He nodded.

Being ignored.

It wasn't a particularly special thing.

For Kevin, who grew up in the slums, it was a part of daily life, so he tried to ignore the knights' insults.

But.

As time passed, it became more and more unbearable.

They approached Kevin and scrutinized him.

"Wow, how did they even think of bringing such a kid as a guard?"

"Look, the helmet doesn't even fit his head. It seems he picked up some armor from the blacksmith that sort of fit, but it's really low-level. That's why your lord is called an idiot by the Dimitri family."

Kevin's eyes widened.

He could tolerate insults directed at him.

But when they mentioned the Dimitri family's idiot, Kevin's face turned angry.

"Watch your words."

"What?"

"Lord Roman is not someone who would listen to such nonsense. So, watch your words."

"You little—!"

The knights' expressions turned fierce.

Barco and Dimitri.

Their relationship had soured due to the Lawrence incident.

Moreover, since Anthony Barco usually showed contempt for Roman Dimitri, his knights didn't feel the need to treat the Dimitri family with respect.

Background is power. One of the knights, already annoyed by the Dimitri family, swung his large hand at Kevin's face.

Crack!

"Say that again, you little—!"

Kevin's head turned to the side.

Blood gushed from his face, and at that moment, Chris reached for his sword.

However.

He didn't draw it.

While he wanted to step in for Kevin, he was worried about the consequences his actions might have on their lord.

Kevin felt the same way.

In the slums, he was taught to repay any wrongs, but when he met Chris's eyes, he suppressed his anger.

'I am my lord's sword.'

Guard.

Roman's sword.

To be useful to Roman, Kevin ignored the knights' gazes with a stern face.

As if he was done dealing with them. The Barco knights, seeing this, spoke in an angry tone.

"Fine, let's see how long you can keep your pride."

Once more.

The knight raised his arm.

Just as he was about to slap Kevin's cheek.

Crack!

A sharp sound echoed.

The target was not Kevin.

Roman, who had appeared, coldly slapped the knight's face.