29

Elsia felt goosebumps all over her body. At the same time, she was glad she trusted her instincts. Otherwise, she would have married such a person.

She wanted to approach to hear her father and Mars’s conversation, but Adrian blocked her, as if to prevent her from listening.

‘What are they talking about…’

Elsia slipped past Adrian to a spot where she could hear.

“My fiancée is a crazy woman with lots of flaws. Heh. I’d refuse even if I were given hundreds like her. I’m only engaged because my father forced me, but if we marry, I won’t tolerate her. Heh.”

Mars’s mocking voice could be heard.

“You’ll be living with your fiancée for the rest of your life—calling her crazy seems a bit harsh.”

Earl Portman was trying to speak politely, suppressing his anger.

“Harsh? Stop bothering me and mind your own business! You look old—shouldn’t you mind your own affairs?”

Mars, his speech slurred from drunkenness, waved Earl Portman away as if annoyed.

“Passing by, I happened to overhear you badmouthing your fiancée while holding women on both sides. It didn’t seem right.”

“Have you ever seen that crazy woman? Huh? Do you know she scratched my face? Can you believe it? She dared to leave a mark on her future husband’s face. How could I not talk badly about her?”

At that, Adrian quickly led Elsia away in another direction, trying to prevent her from hearing anything that might hurt her.

Elsia had already heard herself called insane before, so it wasn’t too shocking, but she hadn’t expected Mars to talk about her so openly in public, which left her feeling uneasy.

She stopped Adrian and paused to listen to her father and Mars’s conversation.

“If you dislike your fiancée so much, you should tell your father you want to break the engagement. You don’t even have the courage to do that, and here you are, secretly playing with women in a club and badmouthing your fiancée. I feel sorry for the woman engaged to a man like you.”

Hearing Earl Portman’s words, Elsia felt hope that she might be able to break off the engagement with Mars.

Her unpleasant mood was about to turn into excitement.

At that moment, a commotion started among the crowd.

Elsia and Adrian hurried over to where people were gathering.

Mars had punched Earl Portman.

The Earl fell to the floor, and as he fell, he seemed to grab Mars’s hair, exposing a glimpse of brown hair underneath the purple wig.

“Has this old man gone mad? What did you just say? Huh? Say it again! Are you saying that crazy woman is better than me? Who are you to lecture me? Are you her father or something? Huh?”

Drunk, Mars shouted. Earl Portman stroked his slapped cheek, stood up, and removed his mask and hat.

After confirming the face of the person he’d struck, Mars’s face turned pale.

“E… Earl?”

“How dare you insult my daughter? Calling her insane? I never imagined you thought that way about her. I’m deeply disappointed. And playing with nearly n*ked women in a secret club… Pretending to behave properly in front of me, while acting like this behind my back? I’m so shocked, I can barely speak.”

“No, it’s a misunderstanding. Just for today. Just today, I drank too much and acted out. This is the first and last time. Please, trust me.”

Mars pleaded, offering feeble excuses and begging with his hands.

“Did you say this was your first time?”

Earl Portman asked again, and Mars nodded vigorously with an awkward smile.

“Can you come here for a moment?”

The Earl called over a man carrying a tray of drinks.

“How long have you worked at the secret club?”

“About six months.”

The man answered nervously, intimidated by the Earl’s presence.

“Have you seen this young man here before, besides today?”

The man’s eyes darted around.

“Uh… well…”

Inside the secret club, staff weren’t allowed to talk about guests, so he couldn’t say anything. But his expression said it all—Mars had been to the club before.

“I see. Go on with your work. Sorry to take your time.”

Earl Portman dismissed the man and turned his gaze back to Mars.

“I think I warned you to watch your words… You said today was your first time?”

Earl Portman stared at Mars with narrowed eyes, and Mars’s face grew paler.

“Lying and being violent… Tsk. I’ll hold Earl Welsley responsible for this!”

Earl Portman, feeling there was no point in continuing, turned to leave. Mars crawled after him, grabbing his trouser leg.

Mars, the son of Earl Welsley who had only received a territory but not a title, hitting Earl Portman was a crime.

And now, his lies had been exposed, so Earl Portman wouldn’t let it go.

“Please… Just this once, forgive me, Earl! If my father finds out, it’ll be terrible.”

“So you’re only afraid of Earl Welsley, not me? I see.”

“No… that’s not what I meant…”

Mars desperately clung to Earl Portman, but the Earl kicked him away and signaled Elsia to leave.

Elsia nodded quickly to Adrian and followed her father out.

“Are you all right?”

In the carriage on the way home, Elsia asked as Earl Portman pressed a towel to his bruised cheek and nodded.

But despite his words, his cheek was swelling up.

Mars must have hit him hard.

Seeing her father’s injury, Elsia felt anger rising. How could her father suffer such a thing…

“You were right, Elsia. I was wrong. I trusted my friend, but never expected his son would betray me. It turns out I’m the one who can’t judge people, not you. I’m sorry you had to hear such harsh words.”

Earl Portman’s face showed both anger and regret.

“It’s all right, Father. I understand your actions. I didn’t know either. We were all fooled. But at least we know now.”

“Yes, you’re right. I made a foolish choice. I nearly ruined your life.”

After that, Earl Portman said nothing more to Elsia. He seemed deep in thought.

By the time they reached the mansion, he spoke quietly, as if he’d given up everything.

“I’ll allow you to marry whoever you wish.”

Elsia, who had been looking out the window, doubted her ears for a moment.

She looked at her father with wide eyes, and he nodded with a gentle smile.

“Thank you, Father! Thank you so much!”

Elsia ran into her father’s arms, and he stroked her hair.

“But how will you handle things with Mars?”

Elsia suddenly remembered the engagement issue and asked her father.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything. Earl Welsley will likely come to see me tomorrow.”

Disappointment was clear on Earl Portman’s face.

* * *

As Earl Portman predicted, Earl Welsley came to see him early the next morning.

“Please forgive me! I had no idea my son was like that.”

Earl Welsley pleaded with Earl Portman.

Mars had struck Earl Portman, so their contract was effectively over.

“I’m disappointed. I trusted you, but how could you do this to me and my daughter? Because of your sake, I won’t send your son to prison, but I think we need to reconsider our relationship.”

“I’ll discipline my son more strictly. Please don’t cut ties with us.”

Earl Welsley sounded desperate. The income from the mine made up a large part of the Welsley family’s annual revenue.

“I doubt discipline will change anything. I’ve warned your son several times, but he never listened.”

But Earl Portman was firm, looking at Earl Welsley with cold, unwavering eyes.

When Earl Portman wouldn’t budge, Earl Welsley turned to Elsia.

“I raised my son poorly. I never knew Mars thought of you that way, or that he had such a foul mouth. I won’t ask you to forgive him. Instead, I’ll make him apologize to you properly. Please tell your father not to cut ties with the Welsley family.”

Elsia looked to Earl Portman for help, but he shook his head.

When even apologies weren’t accepted, Earl Welsley finally knelt.

For a noble Earl to kneel was unthinkable in noble society.

“If kneeling could solve this, I’d kneel too. Tell your son to apologize properly to Elsia, then never show his face again.”

Earl Portman wasn’t moved by Earl Welsley’s gesture.

“If that’s what it takes, I’ll tell Mars to apologize sincerely. And…”

Earl Welsley sighed deeply, his face resolute.

“…I’ll give up the mining rights. But if revenue stops suddenly, it will hurt us badly, so please give us just one year. The Welsley family needs time to prepare for the loss. This is my last request as a friend.”

“All right, since you’ve apologized so much, I’ll accept.”

In the end, Earl Portman amended the contract so their alliance would end in a year.

“Thank you, my friend.”

Earl Welsley bowed his head, nearly in tears, then left.

Elsia breathed a sigh of relief.

Thanks to Adrian’s help, she was able to break off her engagement with Mars without any losses.

She looked at her father. Earl Portman smiled in relief as he looked at Elsia.