Deep Boredom - Part 1

A sunny afternoon.

Inside an exquisitely elegant reception room.

Kaim sat with his legs spread shoulder-width apart, his legs trembling uncontrollably, wearing a serious expression. He had made several attempts to calm himself, but his restless heart showed no signs of settling. The teacup in front of him was empty. Even though he had already consumed the prepared tea in its entirety, his throat still felt parched from time to time. It was clear evidence of his extreme nervousness.

He still vividly remembered the events of just a month ago.

Suddenly, there was a loud noise, and knights wearing the insignia of a black lion rushed in. Amidst the crowd, the presence of a certain man as he entered caught his attention, enough to stir his heart.

As a nobleman, Kaim had often encountered Duke Cecilion in social gatherings and was familiar with his face. The man possessed outstanding beauty, on par with his renowned accomplishments and prestigious lineage. Wherever he walked, the blatant gazes of women followed him. Perhaps even the men. Of course, in the latter case, it was likely more out of admiration or fear rather than intellectual curiosity.

What surprised Kaim was that the atmosphere he witnessed on that day was different from what he had seen in other social events. Amidst the crowd, he seemed bored and uninterested. Paradoxically, this gave off an even more authoritative and relaxed aura.

But the day he burst into the Count’s mansion was a different story.

To be honest, Kaim thought the man was insane. How could one not be alarmed by a lawless individual who entered, gun in hand, eyes widened, completely shattering the intact door?

But the grandiose presence that had erupted like a raging bull dissipated the moment he faced Rasha. As if he were a deity ruling this world, the nobleman who seemed capable of exerting unparalleled power found himself at a loss and in turmoil before the delicate woman, Rasha. In that moment, Rasha, who had calmly and unyieldingly responded, appeared even more imposing.

On that day, Kaim realized that the depth of their conversation revealed the true nature of their relationship as lovers.

Furthermore, he realized how insignificant he was.

Thump.

At the sound of the door opening, Kaim instinctively stood up, his entire body tense.

Unlike the last time, when he’d looked like he’d be ready to open fire, today’s Duke Cecilion was solemn and calm. This was the man Kaim knew so well, which was why everything he’d witnessed in the past seemed like a mirage.

But the mere fact that he had come to the Duke of Cecilion’s residence to meet his half-sister, whom he had never known until after his parents’ deaths, was an unavoidable reality.

“Your Excellency.”

I couldn’t think of an appropriate greeting. It felt unnecessary to say, “Nice to see you after a long time,” as it would bring up past events that could potentially lead to danger. But then again, it wasn’t our first meeting, or rather, we didn’t clearly encounter each other last time. Of course, we hadn’t exchanged proper introductions or engaged in a conversation, but still.

Unlike Kaim, who was sweating coldly, Chedev naturally gestured for him to take a seat. And he himself sat across from him.

“Thank you for accepting the invitation.”

“No, it’s not… I, well, rather, no, yes…”

Kaim babbled as the tension reached its peak, wondering why he couldn’t find the right words. He managed to close his mouth with a sense of self-reflection. Soon, a teacup was served, creating a suitable atmosphere.

Hoping that Rasha would arrive here before the tea was served, Kaim closed his eyes tightly, anticipating that the conversation would likely be just between the two of them. The humiliating words he had spoken carelessly in front of the nobleman lingered in his mind. Of course, Rasha would have explained it properly, so he wouldn’t end up in the same predicament as that man.

“Well, Rasha…”

However, due to the overwhelming fear, Kaim had no choice but to mention Rasha. Besides, there was an uncomfortableness that could drive both of them crazy, as if they were trapped in thorns, by being alone together in this place.

“Rasha might not even know that you came here today.”

“…..”

“Which means you won’t be coming here until I call for you.”

Kaim’s face turned pale. If Rasha wasn’t present, it seemed that the only way to escape this uncomfortable situation was to shrink into nothingness.

“Right. You took care of Rasha all this time.”

“Yes. May I ask if you’ve heard about the circumstances?”

“I heard that Rasha is of your family lineage.”

Still, there seemed to be a glimmer of hope. Kaim secretly let out a sigh. But that was just a momentary illusion.

“So.”

“…..”

“Where should we start the conversation….. Did you know or not know that Rasha and I had a special relationship?”

“…..”

“Or from the fact that you knew and didn’t bother to tell me?”

Chedev, who had taken a sip of tea, uttered the next words that once again turned his head pale. Similarly, Kaim, who was about to raise his teacup, froze in place.

I suppose he invited me here today to punish me for hiding Rasha the other day!

Of course, if one were to go beyond that, he would be an unforgivable traitor to Chedev. His love for his lover was strong enough to break down the gates of the count’s house.

However, from Kaim’s perspective, he couldn’t help but feel somewhat unfair. He quickly set down the teacup and extended his hands.

“No! I, I didn’t….. absolutely not!”

“…..”

“Rasha says that my relations with His Excellency have already been settled……. And I, for one, thought it would be quick, if the dummy was caught. But it took longer than expected, so I assumed Rasha’s words were true. I even debated several times whether I should break the news to His Excellency…….”

“It was a joke.”

“…..”

“A joke. I didn’t call you here to blame you. Relax.”

No, who makes a joke with such a serious face…..

Even the request to relax couldn’t be easily dismissed due to the overwhelming tension emanating from him. Awkwardly, Kaim lifted the corners of his mouth. He could feel his back, concealed by his clothes, damp with cold sweat.

“I heard you asked Rasha if she wanted to join your house.”

“Oh, yes. Since we confirmed that we share the same blood.”

Chedev touched his chin and stared at Kaim with a faint smile.

He wondered if he intended to use Rasha to take care of something, so he watched him intently, but he couldn’t sense any signs of that.

Was it simply due to past misunderstandings that he was so tense in front of him? Well, if there had been any ulterior motives from the beginning, there would have been no reason to hide Rasha until now.

Considering that she was unmarried, it could have been a business arrangement disguised as a marriage proposal, but Rasha was pregnant. That was a significant flaw to consider in terms of a good match. Even if the baby were to be aborted, the fact that she was not a virgin became a fatal defect in the marriage market. So, if judged from a noble perspective, it would not be surprising to reject her immediately, considering her uselessness.

However, Count Lippe knew she was pregnant and still took care of her delicately. Upon pondering his attitude, there didn’t seem to be any intention of using Rasha in an impure manner. Chedev recalled Rasha’s statement that he seemed like a good person.

“Let me be straightforward. I want to marry Rasha.”

As he uttered each word, Kaim felt an unrelenting tension, but this time he could remain calm. At least this was something he had expected. Recalling the formidable manner in which Chedev had forcefully taken Rasha away that day, he couldn’t be foolish enough to overlook it.

The Duke before him was blindly infatuated and unconditionally fond of his younger sister, to the point that it was absurd.

“Of course, this is not a request for permission, it’s just an announcement.”

“….”

“It’s not as if I don’t know Rasha better than you do that I need to ask your permission.”

“Ah, yes….”

With an attitude that seemed to imply there was no need for objections, he extinguished any remaining confidence. Kaim responded calmly, as it was not entirely untrue. Having spent almost seven years by Rasha’s side, in contrast to him who had only properly met her less than a year ago, he would know her better.

“If we’re going to do it, I’d prefer to make Rasha a Countess first.”

In a society dictated by social status, one had to make use of their background. Certainly, Chedev had not been concerned about social status to the extent that he wanted to marry her even when she had nothing. But the problem lay in the environment surrounding both of them.

In order to establish Rasha as a Duchess, there would be considerable obstacles reminiscent of the past. The family’s vassals and elders would be the first to stand in their way.

While Chedev had always carried the burden of various rumors and accompanying issues since his childhood, it was not the case for Rasha. He did not want to see her suffer anymore. Moreover, he detested misunderstandings arising again due to the interference of those around them.

If he could make use of his background for her sake, he was willing to do so. Coincidentally, it seemed that the Count of Lippe had no objections.

Fortunately, Kaim quickly grasped what he wanted to say.

“However, Rasha’s intention……”

With the hesitant question, Chedev peeled back another layer of the wall he had built against him. The fact that he cared about Rasha’s opinion, even in this situation, showed that he was definitely not a bad person.

Chedev narrowed his piercing gaze, showing signs of keen observation.

“Rasha said she’s fine with it.”

“Then I’ll prepare for it right away.”

“I will personally inform His Majesty.”

Bestowing a title upon a noble was undoubtedly the Emperor’s exclusive authority. Similarly, the approval of the nobility’s marriage also required the Emperor’s consent. It was evident that Chedev’s attitude naturally revealed his closeness to the Emperor as the leader of the royal faction. Kaim couldn’t help but realize that his instability only occurred when he was involved with Rasha.

After the main discussion concluded, silence hung in the reception room for a while.

“…And, I think I should say this.”

It was Chedev who broke the silence unexpectedly.

“Thank you.”

“…”

“For taking care of Rasha.”

Kaim’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out. He never expected to hear words of gratitude from the duke. It was a strange expression, one that he had never seen before.

Strangely enough, Chedev glanced briefly at Rasha from that expression. Wasn’t it the same expression they had when they reunited? He found an unexpected connection that he couldn’t find even when he heard that their blood was mixed.

With just finding something in common with Rasha, the solid wall he had built crumbled even more.

Of course, in order to fully win over his heart, Kaim still had many walls to overcome.