Since I Don't Know Anything About It, Shall We Break Up, Your Majesty? - Chapter 43

The temple also guarantees this.

This is why nobles receive the priest’s blessing as soon as they are born.

How could insects understand the noble will of God?

Although the power of the temple may not be as strong as it used to be, God’s choice must not be insulted.

That’s why even the tinkering called science, which dares to challenge God, is not entirely convincing.

The same goes for the bourgeoisie who try to buy status with money.

‘Vulgar. So vulgar!’

Those who don’t understand the value of art but try to make money from it, utterly vulgar beings.

Among them, the most irritating one was undoubtedly Karl Winger.

Does it make sense that a man from a foreign country, not even from Levania, is extorting the gold produced in this country?

Evoque was particularly irritated by the fact that he owned that opera house.

“Levania belongs to Levanians, how dare someone of unclear origin…”

He couldn’t stand by and watch an outsider take the good things of this country and stir up the whole nation.

Although he was said to be a distant relative of the current king, he was still a person from Berhe, wasn’t he?

Until now, the Tartien side had tacitly allowed them, but now the situation was different.

It was impossible to count how many roads and streets Karl Winger had touched.

From water and sewage projects to park fountains, street lamps, hotels, and educational facilities.

All of these were fundamental projects for the country.

Who would have known that such things could be so profitable?

‘Actually, it’s not a bad thing from our perspective. He brought in experts and neatly renovated the capital. But… isn’t it time for the rightful owner to take it back?’

He had wondered why the Tartien family let Karl Winger run rampant, but to think they had such a grand plan!

Originally, Tartien had planned to compromise by just taking over the opera house through a marriage agreement with Maria Tartien.

But that arrogant Karl Winger kicked away his own fortune.

“How foolish.”

What’s the use of making money by expanding business?

As expected of his vulgar roots, he couldn’t see far ahead.

When the Tartien side reached out first, he should have prostrated himself in gratitude, but to refuse!

Thanks to that, the Tartien side also withdrew their benevolent heart and decided to uproot Karl Winger from this country, which was rather fortunate in a way.

“If Landers takes over the opera house business, it will be much easier for me to manipulate this industry as I please.”

Just thinking about it made him so happy that he was almost drooling.

Moreover, if they could also control the Grey Club, their authority would rise even further.

“Indeed, one must know how to pull the right strings. Hehehe.”

But there was a problem.

They simply couldn’t find any weakness of Karl Winger.

The Berhe side wouldn’t provide any information about Karl Winger, and Cissus Island, said to be his hometown, didn’t communicate with outsiders at all.

Moreover, Karl Winger himself was so reclusive that he didn’t give any openings.

At best, there were a few scandals with actresses or foreign noble women.

But in this era, a few such scandals couldn’t be considered a flaw.

In the midst of this, the tail they barely caught was that painter woman, Lumiere Lashantia.

‘He might have tried to hide it, but it’s no use.’

Evoque had only seen their backs once.

The moment when the two accidentally brushed past each other while greeting.

The way their fingers almost overlapped, and that look they gave each other.

It was an undisguisable passion, an unconcealable affection.

Moreover, when he asked Rosa, she said that the actors who had been flirting with that decent-looking girl for a painter had been gradually expelled from a certain day.

After hearing that, he could be sure.

That woman was Karl Winger’s weakness.

It didn’t matter even if it wasn’t true.

She’s just a lowly painter from a fallen noble family.

A poor painter who knew nothing about art, at best drawing posters.

Even if they grabbed and shook her, she was a miserable life that couldn’t exert any influence.

If by any chance Karl Winger was shaken because of that woman, it would be good, and if not, it would just be a waste of a little time.

“Landers said he definitely made a move…”

They came to the opera house together?

Does it mean nothing happened?

Was his intuition wrong?

Does it really mean he just wasted time?

Whatever it was, he could check it himself.

As soon as Marquis Evoque arrived at Landers’ mansion, he rushed to the lobby.

And as soon as he requested to meet him, he had to hear unexpected news.

“…He went to the royal palace?”

Landers went to the royal palace to have an audience with the king.

That Landers who hated the king more than anyone else?

* * *

The sky over the streets was dark, but the city was not yet asleep.

Thanks to the diligent lamplighters, an orange glow spread hazily through the misty night fog.

A faint smell of earth mingled with the musty night fog.

Lumiere, wrinkling her nose, muttered as if talking to herself.

“There must be some construction going on nearby. I can smell the earth.”

“Yes. There’s repair work on the Rickel Bridge to the east. They’re also doing riverbank maintenance work while sifting through the ground.”

At Karl’s detailed explanation, Lumiere looked at him with a face that seemed to ask how he knew.

But as soon as she saw his expression, she could understand.

Right, this man was also in charge of that construction.

At this rate, it seemed like he might have turned over every bit of land in Karien.

“Is there anything you’re not involved in? No, more than that, when do you manage all this? It doesn’t seem like you’re only doing business in the capital.”

It was beyond ridiculous, now it was almost awe-inspiring.

“It’s possible with excellent secretaries and subordinates. And if you have love for this city…”

He skillfully escorted Lumiere down the stairs.

As the area around the grand staircase was crowded and chaotic, the two quietly slipped out through the eastern stairs.

Karl’s carriage was waiting for them in front of the stairs, as if anticipating their arrival.

Lumiere took his hand and climbed into the carriage, adding primly.

“Just listening to you, one would think you were born and raised here.”

Karl followed her silently with a smile.

The carriage carried the two of them, quietly speeding through the night streets unnoticed by anyone.

Shops with their lights on played music from large gramophone players shaped like morning glories.

But what’s even more melodious was the performance of a street musician playing an old violin under a streetlamp.

Wearing a faded suit and elegantly removing his dented hat to place it on the ground, he played his old violin with the damp night fog as his companion.

The hazy moonlight rippled in tune with the sound.

Clouds circled around the moonlight, casting shadows that seemed to be dancing.

Lumiere quietly gazed at the slightly murky yet sufficiently romantic scene beyond the carriage window, like an old oil painting.

Although it couldn’t be called an excellent performance, it strangely captivated both eyes and ears.

Karl quietly tapped his fingers towards the coachman’s seat.

“Slowly.”

Following his instruction, the carriage gradually slowed down and stopped briefly near a streetlamp where the performance was clearly visible.

For a while, the two listened to the faint violin performance without saying a word.

The sorrowful melody that seemed to break off at times but precariously continued captivated their consciousness, naturally making them look at each other.

In the brief silence, Karl spoke first.

“…What’s that?”

The object that Lumiere had asked Chris to prepare was quietly placed beside her.

Her trembling fingers grasped the paper-wrapped object.

“It’s nothing.”

At her stiff voice, Karl fell into deep thought.

Soon, he lifted his head and murmured with a languid smile.

“Strange. I think I know what it is.”

Lumiere tried not to show her surprise and looked at him with a doubtful expression, as if it couldn’t be.

The performance seemed to have ended, as applause could be heard from outside.

“Didn’t you say to throw it away? That it wasn’t yours?”

“…It’s not that. Don’t jump to conclusions.”

Although the music had clearly stopped, strangely, the sound of drums could be heard from somewhere.

“Lumiere.”

His voice called her name like an instrument in tune with the drumbeat.

She worried that the man with good ears might hear the thumping sound of her heart.

Lumiere raised her chin to face him, hiding her guilty feelings.

Eyes defiant, expression indifferent.

…It wouldn’t show, right?

His golden eyes curved mischievously.

“I always get excited when you make that expression.”

“…What do you mean?”

He smiled slowly and whispered.

“It’s the face of someone who has something to feel guilty about.”