Chapter 4

"Rufus, you're drinking too much. You should cut it out."

It had been a few hours since the engagement was broken off at the evening party, and the time had passed midnight.

In one of the rooms of the Langridge Marquess family, Rufus, sitting across from me, was slumped over the table with a wine bottle in his hand.

Several bottles were already empty, and Rufus appeared to be quite drunk. I had never seen him in such a state, despite our long acquaintance, and I had to stop him.

"Noisy, I can't do this without drinking. ... Is Sadey with that ridiculous man right now?"

"Perhaps."

"...... It hurts."

Rufus, who was usually composed and known as the strongest knight in the kingdom, now looked as if he was about to cry, slumped over the table like a slime. If the other members of the order saw him like this, they might all be shocked.

Eventually, Rufus lifted his head, gulped down the remaining wine in the bottle, and muttered,

"Hey, Kevin, do you know something?"

"What is it?"

"...... I really liked Sadey."

"You've put up with her for ten years, of course I know."

If I were in his position, I would have given up after a month, no, a few days. Sadey Arclight was such a terrible person.

Still, Rufus had maintained an engagement with her for ten years, enduring countless whims, unreasonable abuse, and her affairs.

As a result, that arrogant woman, using her position as Rufus's fiancée, had even used the Langridge Marquess family name to engage in quasi-criminal activities.

Fortunately, the Marquess of Langridge, Rufus's father, noticed the abnormality just in time and prevented any serious damage. However, to avoid tarnishing the family name, he ordered Rufus to break off the engagement.

Furthermore, to show everyone that he had decisively cut ties with her, the public engagement break was carried out under the Marquess's instructions.

Rufus himself had also seemed to have had enough of her, saying it was a "good opportunity" and that he felt "refreshed."

"Being called Rufus after ten years, it was a close call."

No matter how one looked at it, the man in front of me was still clinging to her.

Love really does make people foolish.

Rufus was the most intelligent and calm person, and his judgment had never been wrong in any harsh situation—except when it came to Sadey Arclight.

I grabbed his hand reaching for a new champagne bottle and forced him to hold a glass of water.

"It's a good thing you didn't revoke the engagement break because of that woman's lies. Here, drink some water."

"Why did she become such a person......"

It's hard to believe, but she used to be the kindest and most delicate girl. Then one day, she suddenly changed, becoming the terrible person she is now.

"Still, she seemed strangely meek halfway through. After all the terrible things she went through, I thought she would lash out and curse fivefold."

"...... That's why I almost stepped in to help."

Laughing self-deprecatingly, he finally took a sip of water.

At the evening party, after the young ladies who admired Rufus doused her with food and drink, she only showed surprise and confusion, acting like a normal young lady.

Moreover, she even said, "It's delicious," which was completely out of character. If it were the Sadey I knew, she would have gone berserk.

Today, she was acting strangely, telling incomprehensible lies. Even as a villain, being abandoned by Rufus must have been too much for her.

"You're too kind."

"I'm not kind at all."

Rufus said this, covering his eyes with one hand.

"I really liked her."

A few stains appeared on the table.

"I thought she would return to being the kind and cute girl she used to be, someday."

Over the years, Rufus's first love had become twisted and distorted. Ten years was just too long.

There was no reason for this man, who everyone envied for his position, appearance, and title, to be so fixated on her.

Still, like a curse, her shadow would likely continue to haunt Rufus for some time.

"There is no kind and cute Sadey Arclight in this world. You should face reality."

"...... Does she hate me now?"

"Already. Forget about her and go to sleep."

At this point, worrying about whether she hates him is truly absurd.

"...... Why do I like her so much?"

In the end, he muttered this and fell asleep, beyond saving. The past tense had already set in. A faint smile played on his lips, as if he was having a happy dream.

– Who would have imagined that a single compliment from his childhood fiancée, his first love, "Knights are so wonderful and handsome," could have driven him to become the head of the knights?

I couldn't help but pray that this straightforward and kind friend would find happiness.

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