Chapter 100

<Young Earl, you are too much.>

<I will find out where to entrust the charity auction items. If we register them under your name, Meryl, many people will surely like it.>

<But Meia asked for it to be under her name.>

Thomas grew irritated again at Meryl’s words. If the auction was held under Meia’s name, there would be no way to pocket the money.

<That’s a bit problematic.>

<What is, Thomas?>

<Does it really matter whose name the auction items are registered under, when you are both members of the Hatzbellua family? Besides, she isn’t even in the Carpen Empire. There’s also an anonymous charity auction, so there’s no need to participate as Lady Meia’s proxy.>

<Now that you mention it, you’re right.>

Meryl scanned through the list of charity auction items noted on the slip Thomas handed her. Many of them were rare, limited-edition pieces that were difficult to obtain or possess. Thomas had tried multiple times to woo Meia, who was more elegant and intelligent than Meryl, hoping to make her his bride. But she was impenetrable.

It might have been satisfying to conquer such a proud woman, but unfortunately, she was too busy being the flower of social circles, making it difficult to win her over.

Just as he was about to give up, Meryl appeared. She was far too easy.

<I’ll help you with the charity auction. If it’s anonymous, there won’t be any issues.>

Meryl couldn’t shake off the thought of Meia insisting on using her own name for the charity auction. 

But Thomas was absolutely right. Why not just do it anonymously?

<Alright, Thomas, I’ll leave it to you!>

<And how about using the money earned from selling these items to fund my business?>

<Is that okay?>

<Of course. It’s charity money anyway, so no one would criticize Lady Meia of Hatzbellua if some of it gets diverted.>

<Thomas, you’re so clever.>

With Meryl’s approval, Thomas felt a thrill coursing through his body.

He imagined himself holding an enormous sum of money.

Yes, he could even recover the losses from the gambling den he visited last time.

As he mentally listed the things he could do with the money, Thomas’s eyes gleamed with greed.

***

Theodore stood in front of Meia’s room, his expression troubled. If they were married, they wouldn’t have to part even at bedtime… Theodore’s eyes drooped.

“I already feel like I’ll miss you, and it’s painful.”

Meia smiled as she spoke.

“Will you take a walk with me early tomorrow morning?”

At Meia’s suggestion, Theodore’s drooping eyes curved gently.

“Yes! I would love to walk with you.”

“Let’s meet earlier than usual.”

Theodore lightly kissed Meia’s left cheek and replied.

“Understood.”

Accepting the bittersweet moment of parting, Theodore returned to his room.

Knock, knock.

Butler Venable entered the room, trying to calm his excitement as he spoke.

“Congratulations on your engagement, Master.”

However, Theodore’s expression did not look happy.

“Did something happen, Master?”

“Yes, something did.”

Sitting on the soft bed, Theodore briefly recounted his encounter with Patzraelli at the Mage Tower.

“The Crown Prince of Carpen is clinging to Meia.”

Venable frowned at Theodore’s words, clearly displeased.

“How dare he, to our Grand Duchess!”

“Still, Mei told me she would stay by my side.”

At Theodore’s words, Venable smiled and nodded.

“What should we do about the Crown Prince of Carpen?”

“Since you’re engaged now, there’s no need to worry too much. But if you don’t like him, you could always erase the Carpen Empire from the map.”

“No, Mei’s hometown is there, Venable.”

“Ah… I was being short-sighted.”

“It’s best to deal with a mosquito quickly, isn’t it?”

Venable understood Theodore’s implication. He was likening the Crown Prince of Carpen to a mosquito.

“No empire would want to make an enemy of the Florence Grand Duchy.”

Theodore furrowed his brow slightly.

“Venable, a mosquito is a pest that bothers anyone at any moment.”

He had finally reached her. He had laid everything down and conveyed his heart.

He was grateful to Patzraelli for letting her go. But now he wanted to cling and grovel?

Unforgivable.

Still, if the buzzing of a mosquito reached his ears, anyone would be annoyed.

Being annoyed meant paying attention. And that was something he absolutely despised.

Meia’s attention was solely his.

If anyone else took her attention, forgiveness would be difficult.

“Master.”

“Hmm?”

“Mosquitoes may bother anyone at any time, but they avoid certain places. Especially high places. They can’t go there.”

“High places?”

“High places are windy. No mosquito can withstand the wind. And no one worries about mosquitoes blown away by the wind.”

As Venable skillfully attended to Theodore, he added.

“Don’t worry. After all, it’s just a pest under the name of Florence, Master.”

***

After his parents passed away, Theodore no longer felt the loneliness and sorrow he once did. These days, his heart was remarkably at peace. His day began early in the morning. As soon as he woke up, he took a light shower and dressed in the simple clothes that Butler Venable had prepared.

“Has Lady Meia woken up yet?”

From the moment he opened his eyes until he closed them, Theodore always thought of Meia.

“Yes, she has woken up.”

“Then I must go quickly. I miss her terribly.”

Early in the morning, he would meet her for a walk or head to the training grounds. She would practice her mana training while he focused on swordsmanship.

By the time they finished, Venable would bring over a refreshing strawberry ade.

Watching her enjoy it so deliciously made him realize how precious life was and what it meant to feel true happiness.

They would eat breakfast together, work together, eat lunch together, work again, and then have dinner together. Afterward, they would read books together in the library.

He was so happy that he sometimes wondered if it was all a dream. When he pinched his cheek, Venable would shout from the side, 

“You mustn’t pinch your face like that!”

“Venable, I’ve been so happy lately that I wanted to check if I was dreaming.”

“Master, your body is no longer yours alone. Please do not harm it. You must take even greater care of yourself now that your engagement is approaching.”

“That’s true. I’m getting engaged. I’m so happy it feels like my heart might burst.”

“You must control your heart.”

“But I can’t help it.”

“Even so, you must calm yourself.”

Venable consoled him, saying it was inevitable since he was lovesick.

While reading books in the library, Theodore would sometimes feel distressed. He would have to be apart from her until morning.

‘I want to get married quickly.’

That way, they would never have to part… 

When he escorted her to her room, he would encounter Juan and Agnita glaring at him with dagger-like eyes.

They were fiercely loyal to Meia.

They viewed Theodore as a thief who had stolen away the lady they served, and they stared at him with hostility.

Theodore, understanding their feelings, would simply smile and let it go.

“Well then, Mei, I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

The warmth of her hand, which he had been holding, gradually faded away.

“See you tomorrow, Theo.”

“I’ll come to escort you to your door.”

“Let’s just meet at the training grounds comfortably.”

“I want to see you earlier.”

Meia chuckled softly.

Seeing her laugh at his words made Theodore feel elated.

He wanted to make her laugh even more.

“Alright.”

Watching her retreating figure as she entered her room made his heart ache again.

Honestly, he wanted to stay up all night sitting outside her door, waiting for her to come out.

But in reality, he couldn’t do that. Mainly because of Juan.

“Please return now, Your Grace.”

Seeing Juan seated in front of the door, Theodore asked with envy in his voice.

“Juan, you’re staying here all night, right?”

“Yes, I am.”

“I’m jealous.”

Theodore was incredibly envious of Juan. But Juan couldn’t understand why he would say such a thing.

Once Theodore left, Meia, who was inside the room, called for Juan. Handing him a letter, she said,

“Deliver this letter to Yudy.”

“Yes, my lady.”

When Juan suddenly appeared from the shadows, Yudy was startled. After reading Meia’s letter, Yudy was shocked.

“What is this? Juan! The lady is getting engaged?”

Juan, struggling to keep a neutral expression, replied,

“She is… getting engaged.”

Yudy slapped Juan’s back with both hands.

Smack, smack.

“What have you been doing by her side?”

“Your hands are still as strong as ever, Yudy.”

Juan explained everything that had happened. From obtaining Luman’s permission to sealing the engagement contract. Hearing this, Yudy stood up abruptly.

“I’ll call Helena. Wait here.”

When Helena heard that Juan had brought a letter from Meia, she dropped everything and came running.

After reading the letter, she, like Yudy, smacked Juan’s back mercilessly.

Smack, smack, smack.

“Right there, where I was already hit… Ugh!”

“What have you been doing by her side? Who is this scoundrel? Tell me!”

Wiping the blood dripping from his nose with his finger, Juan replied,

“He is the Grand Duke of Florence from the Sirius Empire.”

“What?!”

“What did you say?”

Upon learning Meia’s fiancé’s identity, Yudy and Helena were dumbfounded. The Grand Duke of Florence held the right to succeed the throne of the Sirius Empire. If Meia became the Grand Duchess, even the Emperor of the Carpen Empire would have to bow to her.

“Well, that’s not bad…”

“He ranks higher than the Carpen Emperor.”

“But that’s not enough!”

Helena exclaimed loudly.

“Juan, did he pass the latest version of the 62 compatibility tests for potential fiancés?”

“He passed.”

“Are you sure you did it properly?”

“The Grand Duke of Florence sincerely wishes to serve the lady.”

“Really?”

“Even on the yacht, he personally prepared and served her strawberry tea.”

“What?”

“I taught him how to make the strawberry tea she likes, and he followed my instructions exactly. Every single day.”