Chapter 3 (Part 5)

Ophelia bit her lower lip without saying a word. Since childhood, she had set her sights on Duke Rockbellion as her future husband and had diligently learned the duties of a bride, only to be faced with rumors about another woman. She felt betrayed.

“I think we should end the family tea gathering here.”

“Brother!”

“Leave. And remember, this is a warning, Ophelia.”

Ophelia bit her lower lip and returned to her palace.

“This is annoying!”

At Ophelia’s irritated voice, her loyal maid, Lara, quickly checked her expression.

“Princess, are you alright?”

“Not at all. Send a letter to Sophia, telling her to come to my palace immediately, even if she has other appointments, Lara.”

“Yes, Princess.”

* * *

“If Young Lord Beonar and Lady Loengrin hadn’t broken off their engagement… Duke Anthus would have married me…”

Ophelia muttered sharply, staring at Sophia, who sat before her.

“I heard a rumor that you, Lady Sophia, encouraged the breakup because you liked Young Lord Beonar too much…”

Sophia was greatly flustered. She knew Ophelia liked Anthus, which made the situation even more awkward. However, she never imagined that Yuliana, after breaking off her engagement with Beonar, would become involved with Anthus.

“Princess, it’s a misunderstanding. Regardless of what others say, the breakup happened because they were incompatible. And Beonar has wanted to break off the engagement with Lady Loengrin for a long time.”

“Is there a reason significant enough to break off a 9-year engagement, Lady Sophia?”

“Lady Loengrin is a scary woman who trampled on Young Lord Beonar with money and obsessed over him.”

“A woman called the Saint of the Battlefield, obsessed with her fiancé?”

Ophelia reacted indifferently to Sophia’s words. If Yuliana had been as obsessed with Beonar as Sophia claimed, she wouldn’t have gone on expeditions for 9 years.

“If you are right, Lady Sophia, Lady Loengrin is obsessed with Young Lord Beonar?”

“…Yes.”

“Then Lady Loengrin still has lingering feelings for Young Lord Beonar.”

Sophia felt uneasy at Ophelia’s words.

“But Young Lord Beonar dislikes Lady Loengrin, Princess Ophelia.”

Sophia bit her inner lip. An unpleasant feeling crept up.

“Love leads to obsession, and those feelings don’t disappear easily. Just like how I love Duke Rockbellion.”

Ophelia’s lips curved into a wide smile.

“You may leave now, Lady Sophia.”

“Yes, Princess.”

After dismissing Sophia, Ophelia thought to herself. If she could just reunite Beonar and Yuliana, Anthus would give up on her, and then she could comfort his wounded heart.

This might be a chance for a comeback. Thinking this, she felt the burden in her chest lighten and lift away.

“How many nobles truly have free love anyway? I’ll catch Marquis Fedeurus’s family like a rat and force them to re-engage. Lara.”

“Yes, Princess.”

“Send a letter to Sophia. Inform her that I will be hosting a small tea party with close acquaintances in a week, and she should attend.”

“Understood.”

“The attendees in a week will include Young Lord Largh and Young Lord Narc…”

Lara listened with a smile to Ophelia’s capricious tea party plans.

However, the more names she heard, the more peculiar it seemed. All the people Ophelia mentioned were unmarried young lords in their late teens to mid-twenties.

“Princess, are you not inviting any young ladies?”

“Lara, I want Lady Sophia to meet someone better than Young Lord Beonar. And Young Lord Beonar should return to his former fiancée, Lady Yuliana.”

“Understood, Princess.”

Realizing Ophelia’s intentions, Lara nodded.

“How dare she covet Rockbellion… The next Duchess of Rockbellion can only be me… I won’t let you be, Loengrin.”

Ophelia snapped a lily from the vase and dropped it to the floor, laughing with satisfaction.

* * *

Anthus’s mood soured rapidly as he listened to Houston’s report.

“Is this where Lara’s report ends?”

“Yes.”

“Send the promised money to Maid Lara.”

“Understood.”

Anthus loosened his shirt collar and twisted his neck from side to side. His usually amiable face turned cold.

“Houston, how should we tear Princess Ophelia apart?”

Houston felt the unique aura of a Sword Master emanating from Anthus’s cold eyes and instinctively steadied his trembling body. The atmosphere in the reception room was as cold as a battlefield, as if blood might spill at any moment.

Forcing a smile, Anthus spoke.

“I should have killed her by mistake 9 years ago… What should I do?”

Reading Lara’s report, Anthus learned that Sophia falsely claimed Yuliana still had feelings for Beonar. This enraged him, and now Ophelia was trying to reunite Beonar and Yuliana.

“Houston, what about the men who approached Yuli?”

“They’ve all been dealt with.”

“I just want to treat them all as accidental deaths.”

“But you said that death would be too easy for them, Duke. So I just took care of it.”

Many coveted Yuliana for her mother being a saint, her talent as a Spirit Mage, and her bloodline. It was troubling enough dealing with those who pursued her for her status without loving her, and now Sophia and Ophelia were adding to the mess.

In her fishbowl, only I should exist. If more fish jump into her bowl, what should I do? How should I bite and kill the fish that jump in?

“Do as usual, Houston.”

“Understood.”

Anthus couldn’t tolerate the idea of other fish voluntarily jumping into Yuliana’s fishbowl and spoiling the environment that was meant for him alone. He had no intention of leaving the fish that tried to jump in alone.

“Fools.”

Despite spreading rumors about his relationship with Yuliana under the name of Rockbellion, there were more empty-headed fools than expected who still dared to challenge him.

“I can’t stand seeing others approaching and seducing Yuli before we’re even engaged. The only men allowed to approach her are family.”

“What if you create a situation where engagement is inevitable… Duke?”

“I don’t want to force an engagement on her when she’s slowly opening her heart to me. If she just says she wants me…”

Even if you love and enjoy delicious food, eating it too quickly can cause indigestion. The more urgent it is, the more you need to chew slowly and thoroughly. To avoid indigestion.

“Houston, what about Young Lord Beonar’s bonds?”

“We’ve bought up all the bonds in Young Lord Beonar’s name.”

“Well done.”

Beonar’s current business was doing exceptionally well. To expand his business, he had taken out significant loans from banks.

“Sell the bonds to tenacious but poor people.”

Houston understood exactly what Anthus meant by tenacious but poor people—vicious loan sharks.

“I will find suitable candidates and report back.”

“It’s finally time to dispose of the used oil, Houston.”

“Yes, Duke.”

“Make sure Earl Lumichua knows that Rockbellion bought Young Lord Beonar’s bonds.”

“Understood.”

No one thinks about used oil once it’s discarded.

Since used oil can’t be reused, it’s only natural to dispose of it. Who doesn’t know that? Dirty and damp oil cannot return to clean oil before use.

* * *

Matthias hung his head low, sighing repeatedly.

“Father.”

“Louie, don’t speak. My heart aches right now.”

Matthias was in a foul mood. The reason was that Anthus had taken Yuliana’s partner spot for the Crown Prince’s birthday celebration. Anthus had logically and convincingly presented his case, leaving Matthias with no choice but to agree in the end.

<I will be her partner. I promise, in the name of Rockbellion, to make her a happy lady admired by many.>

With Anthus promising in the name of his family, Matthias couldn’t refuse. Moreover, he thought it better for Yuliana to be admired rather than pitied, so he decided. Matthias knew well that there was no better groom for his daughter than Anthus if he loved her sincerely.

Knock, knock.

The door opened, and Yuliana peeked in.

“Father, did you call for me?”

“I have something to tell you.”

The serious atmosphere and Matthias’s unusual demeanor made Yuliana’s smile fade slightly.

“I have some matters to attend to… So it seems difficult for me to enter with you as your partner on the first day of the Crown Prince’s birthday celebration… But don’t worry, I will join the banquet later.”

“Is it something bad, Father?”

Seeing Matthias’s dark expression, Yuliana asked worriedly.

“There’s nothing for you to worry about. Louie will be escorting Selenia… As for your partner, how about Duke Rockbellion? He has given you many gifts recently, and I believe he is trustworthy enough to be your escort.”

“I’ll do that.”

Matthias was grateful that Yuliana would appear at the Crown Prince’s birthday celebration escorted by Anthus, making Beonar envious. Yet, thinking about the event made him tear up. He felt sad and tormented but resolved to endure it for Yuliana’s sake.

“Two days ago, the Duke asked to be my partner, but I declined because I planned to enter with you…”

“Two days ago?”

“Yes, the day he sent the gifts to the residence.”

Matthias put his hand to his forehead.

“What’s wrong, Father?”

“It’s nothing. You may leave now. I must prepare to go to the Imperial Palace.”

“Okay, Father.”