Chapter 7 (Part 5)

“Today, Lia was truly amazing. The best.”

Sitting in his office, Anthus shivered with excitement.

Ferrell handed Anthus a lemonade, who was still dazed by his infatuation with Yuliana, and said,

“You’ve worked hard.”

“With the declaration of the territorial war, strongly press Young Lord Beonar for the debt collection.”

“I will pass it on to them.”

“I can already see Marquis Fedeurus collapsing.”

Anthus was a bit worried about what nonsense Rybid might spout at the engagement ceremony rather than the territorial war, but Anthus Rockbellion was a man who knew how to turn danger into opportunity. Although he intended to use only Beonar as a stepping stone, since Rybid was volunteering to become his ‘Stepping Stone 2,’ he had no intention of stopping him. He would step firmly on the stepping stone with all his might and climb up.

“The more stepping stones there are, the easier it is to stand up and climb. Ferrell, add Pope Rybid to the guest list.”

Anthus recalled Phillip’s words that love burns brighter when there are more obstacles.

“Are you really inviting the Pope?”

Anthus shrugged with a smile.

“It’s a decision made after discussing with Lia. So don’t worry and add him to the guest list.”

“I’m just concerned.”

“If Pope Rybid goes wild, that’s exactly what I want.”

When people see a fallen deer in front of a rampaging beast, they naturally assume the deer was attacked and either capture or drive the beast away. The more Rybid acts out, the more Anthus appears as the helpless fallen deer.

People don’t care what the fallen deer did to the beast. They just perceive, as they learned from a young age, that the ‘beast’ should be driven away or captured.

Knock, knock.

Philip and Frey entered the room.

“Ferrell, you may leave now. Prepare for the engagement ceremony thoroughly, as befits a servant of the Rockbellion family.”

“Understood.”

Ferrell bowed and left the room.

“Even though you’re my son, you really look sly with that expression.”

“I’m thinking of Lia, but can’t you see my face is frowning because you’re interrupting, Father?”

“You never lose a word.”

Frey intervened between the father and son, who seemed ready to start another verbal battle.

“Stop fighting and let’s start the meeting for the engagement ceremony preparations.”

“Mother is right, Father.”

“Your mother’s words are always right.”

The father and son, who had been about to fight, laughed brightly in agreement. Thus, the lights in the office stayed on until late at night.

* * *

The sudden preparation for the engagement ceremony made the Duke Rockbellion’s residence very busy. To prepare for the engagement, Yuliana decided to stay at the Ducal residence for a while. With the enormous financial power and personnel of the Rockbellion family, the engagement ceremony preparations were smoothly completed.

“What’s the matter, Lia?”

“Everyone must be surprised by the sudden engagement ceremony.”

Those who received the invitations were indeed surprised by the sudden invitation to Anthus and Yuliana’s engagement ceremony. The reason was that, being an important occasion, they needed to have new uniforms and dresses tailored, but they weren’t given the time for that.

“Don’t worry. We will treat the guests with the utmost hospitality and soothe their hearts.”

Anthus didn’t care what people said. What mattered to him was announcing his relationship with Yuliana through the engagement ceremony.

However, knowing that she was concerned, Anthus knew that resolving her worries was his responsibility.

“Lia, would you like to take a break?”

“No, I want to keep talking with you, Yan.”

Anthus pursed his lips to suppress the laughter that kept bubbling up at Yuliana’s loveliness.

“How is Young Lord Louis?”

“My brother cried a lot after hearing about Mother.”

Anthus wrapped his arm around Yuliana’s shoulder and quietly listened to her words.

“Mother’s story was sad enough to bring tears, but I was more angry than tearful. I’ve been thinking about what I need to do going forward.”

“If you wish for revenge, I will gladly help. If the path you walk is thorny, I will carry you and walk with you.”

“I… I just want to protect my precious people from now on, rather than seek revenge.”

Anthus looked at Yuliana with beautifully curved eyes. He was deeply attracted to Yuliana, who was pushing herself to move forward rather than sitting and crying over her sadness.

He was already deeply in love, but this incident made him fall even more. To the point where he couldn’t regain his senses.

“Since we can’t go back to the past, we can’t save Mother. And even if we could, there’s no way to save her. I’ll bury the past in the past. But once is enough for burying.”

Anthus reached out and lightly kissed the beautiful golden hair that flowed down Yuliana’s back.

“I’ve fallen for you again, seeing you overcome rather than blame the world and others.”

Yuliana chuckled and snuggled into Anthus’s embrace. Feeling Yuliana’s scent suddenly envelop him, Anthus let out a small breath.

“I was very distressed, thinking about how sad you would be hearing about Mother.”

Anthus murmured, pressing his lips to Yuliana’s shoulder.

“It’s painful, but I was loved that much… So instead of blaming and resenting Mother’s love, I will live happily with gratitude.”

Anthus gently stroked Yuliana’s hair, taking shallow breaths.

“You must have a lot on your mind, but let’s take it one step at a time. I’ll be here to help. But I’m a little worried about the engagement day.”

“What is it?”

“I’m worried about what Pope Rybid might say to me on the engagement day.”

“It’s okay, Yan… I don’t understand nonsense. Whatever nonsense he says, I’ll treat him like a rabid dog.”

Anthus laughed out loud at Yuliana’s words.

People who suddenly received the invitation to Anthus and Yuliana’s engagement ceremony were surprised. Naturally, the invitation was also sent to Rybid.

Rybid was not in a good mood. It was because someone from the Rockbellion family had visited.

“A messenger from Duke Rockbellion is here, Your Holiness.”

“Rockbellion? Why are they here?”

A messenger from the detestable Anthus had arrived unexpectedly. The messenger who entered the room where Pope Rybid was staying greeted him politely.

“My master asked me to deliver this invitation.”

Aens frowned and nodded, accepting the envelope from the messenger. The messenger placed a hand on his chest and bowed.

“My master hopes that His Holiness Pope Rybid will come and offer congratulations.”

“An invitation? Congratulations?”

“Yes. You must bring the invitation and envelope to be admitted, so please do not tear or lose them.”

Aens looked down at the envelope he received. He was sure it wasn’t an ordinary invitation. He had a bad feeling.

Aens handed the envelope to Rybid, who was pressing his temples with his thumb.

The edges of the white letter were studded with diamonds of various sizes, like a galaxy.

He thought it would be worth a fortune even if he just sold it.

“So that’s why the invitation felt so heavy…”

Aens sighed involuntarily. He had heard that the Duke Rockbellion had a lot of money, more than they could spend. But he never imagined they would send an invitation envelope studded with diamonds.

Rybid opened the envelope and touched the invitation paper, surprised.

“This is paper made from the Sea’s Halo!”

One of the handmade luxury papers was the Sea’s Halo. Seeing the diamond-studded envelope and the Sea’s Halo invitation, Rybid was dumbfounded. But what was even more shocking was the content of the invitation.

[You are invited to the joyous engagement ceremony of Yuliana of the Loengrin family and Anthus of the Rockbellion family.]

Rybid tried to tear the letter as soon as he read it.

“Don’t tear it, Your Holiness!”

Instead of tearing the invitation at Aens’s urgent plea, Rybid crumpled it in his hand.

“An engagement ceremony… in a week? So that’s how they want to play.”

Holding an engagement ceremony was a ridiculous situation.

“Your Holiness, you’re not planning to go, are you?”

“I should see the face of the Duke who is taking away my partner.”

“But Your Holiness, your divine power has weakened significantly. You should return to the Holy Kingdom and offer that ‘prayer.'”

“Have you found her?”

Rybid asked, looking at Aens with cold eyes.

“Yes. I have found her, Your Holiness.”