37 Charles Austin Trancy

I was born as the head of the Trancy Family and being an heir of the Trancy family means that you will have to inherit everything including being the King's 'watchdog'. Starting from my great grandfather until my father, they all became the King's watchdog until their last breath and now, as I took over the household, I became the next watchdog. This was something we cannot escape since this family was cursed to serve the royal family no matter what.

As a young man, before I was given the title of a ' Duke',I attended a variety of parties that many other nobles attended and my only reason is to widen my network and gain intels from others.

I was a handsome, well-dressed man with short black hair, amber eyes, and a beauty mark under my left eye. I never lack women and I was always surrounded by them. They would always come whenever I call them. Women were easy to use and manipulate that's why I use them whenever I want, to gain intel and to let them do other agendas for me.

Of course I wasn't the only 'watchdog' that the King has. He has ten watchdogs working in the shadows and I am one of them. We cover up any number of criminal acts carried out by the Royal Family and eliminates all who may seek to harm the Royal Family as well as every thread linking to the Royal Family's involvement, no matter how dirty the method.

I was the only child in the family and the secret of the Trancy family was taught to me ever since I was young.

Anyway, I was attending a festival in the kingdom of Lilly, though instead of attending, I was actually doing a mission that the King ordered me to do, to act as a spy.

I disguised myself as a rich merchant, using an appearance change potion, my black hair was now blonde while my amber eyes were now green although the mole under my eye was still there.

I would always go in a disguise whenever I attended parties like these.

Everything was going smoothly as how I planned things until I suddenly saw that girl within the depths of the hall.

I almost stopped breathing upon seeing her.

She was so beautiful, with long pink hair and beautiful red eyes. Her delicate figure and her straight posture. Each and every one of her movements were lovely. The dignified ambience she brought to that place was almost as if her surroundings were different from the rest.

I don't know whether she was in disguise or not but nobles attending these kinds of party are always in disguise. Even if she was in disguise, I am attracted to her, how much more if I saw her real face, right?

The place she occupied was the area where people went to take food. The people who came to this evening party were mostly people who sought to have sexual relations with the strangers who attended. I was one of those people. I would come here to seduce women and while in the middle of the deed, I will cast a spell on them, allowing them to tell me all the information I wanted to know from them.

The area for food and drink was prepared for form's sake, since this was an evening party after all.

At that place with proper manners and having fun enjoying the food, coupled with her appearance she was unusually conspicuous.

I had never seen that girl before.

Essential to my position, once I was involved with someone I would make sure to erase the memory of the night they met me.

From the way she dressed and act, I can say that she is a noblewoman. All her actions were graceful and elegant, the smiles she made were beautiful but then those lips that looks so soft makes we want to go and kiss her. Is this what they say love at first sight?

After taking a deep breath, I realized that I was charmed by her.

As if waking from a dream I suddenly became aware of the surroundings, and understood that the surrounding men were also conscious of her like I was. It was only natural.

They glanced at her here and there wanting to make eye contact with her somehow, but being engrossed in the food she didn't even notice those men.

At that time, having been wholeheartedly focused on eating, the girl suddenly stopped moving.

Unbearably curious about her state, as I continued observing, she gently slackened the corners of her lips into a smile.

I felt something struck my chest. Did a cupid's arrow just hit me?

Watching over her, I was entirely spellbound by her.

But it seems I wasn't the only one to see her smile, and I could feel the presence of the men who saw her approaching closer to her.

Men other than me started approaching her.

Just by seeing them, rage boiled from the bottom of my stomach. I won't allow that.

Reflexively thinking that, I sent the men a restraining look.

Then, I walked towards her.

Receiving my gaze, the men stopped their movements at once.

Without letting that opening go, I hurriedly approached her.

She didn't notice me at all.

She had been enjoying the food to her heart's content, but as if realizing something, she suddenly raised her face.

In a panic, she rushed towards the hall.

We passed by each other for a moment.

More so than not even wanting to make eye contact with me, I lost my patience at her who wasn't even aware of my existence.

I wanted her to gain recognition of me.

Those feelings swelled up, and while knowing it was against the rules, before I knew it I had called out to her. "Milady."

Reacting to my voice, she stopped her legs and turned back.

Meeting eyes with the beautiful ruby pupils, I froze for a moment.

I felt like my heart was jumping and pounding heavily.

"Do you have business with me?"

Her soft and gentle voice hit against my ears. That voice was captivating.

Watching as I was perplexed, she didn't give off such feelings of disgust or scheming at all towards I who had ignored manners.

Feeling relieved, I immediately gave her a bow.

No matter what, I didn't want to let her escape. I thought so instinctively.

Deliberately creating a charming smile that made every woman swoon to me, I spoke as courteously as possible.

"Yes, with you. Good evening, milady. I believe this is the first time I've seen you, but have you attended here often?"

"Good evening. It's a pleasure to meet you. As you've said, tonight is my first at this ball. I wasn't familiar with the etiquette, so I escaped over here. But to know that it is my first time here, you must know a lot. Have I done anything ill-mannered?"

Even while saying so, her confidence was fully overflowing. I thought her dignified behavior was charmingly beautiful, and inferred she was from quite a high-ranking noble family.

No matter how I looked at her, she didn't seem to be the type of person to come to these sorts of places.

Once again, I desperately combed through my memories, but I couldn't find any information matching her figure.

"Your manners are perfect. Not that, but it is my first time witnessing someone of your caliber of beauty."

Making free use of flowery words, I sought to catch her interest. Taking her hand, I dropped a kiss. Touching her smooth skin, my body naturally became heated.

This was a first for me... I never experienced this when it comes to other women.

I gave her my killer smile that made every woman I met fall for me in an instant. "My name is Charles Grondu"

"Oh. I see. My name is Catherine Brielle Arstein." She smiled back at me.

This is no good. The smile she just gave me made my heart race! I feel like falling for her instead!

I must not lose!

Perhaps if I wasn't noticed by her, some other man would have taken her away.

Just thinking of it gave me chills.

I didn't want to let any other man take her. And above all else, I wanted to know her better.

With those feelings, I desperately appealed to her. With a girl that I really wished for, I never knew that I could speak words without end.

"… I wonder if it's fine to ask the reason why you called out to me?"

She was different from all the women I've seen until now.

While looking at her dumbfoundedly, something that was hardened inside me began to unravel.

"I was just thinking that I wanted to know you a little more in detail, is all. I have no objective other than that."

"Really?"

Before I realized it, I began speaking to her in my normal manner.

I was hesitant she might be uncomfortable with it, but rather she seemed to show relief instead.

In a better mood because of that, I began to solicit her with more enthusiasm. Of course, I was serious. I don't remember ever having appealed so desperately to a woman before.

"How harsh. Are you doubting me? I really just wanted to get to know you… Actually, I would like to ask you for a dance too, would it be okay for you?" I offered my hand to her.

She chuckled. "If that's the case, then fine." She placed her hand on mine.

I smirked inwardly, I will make her mine no matter what.

----

I continued pursuing Catherine Brielle Arstein while I did my best to finish my job as soon as possible so that I can focus on my beloved. I showed my true form to her and I was surprised to see that she was not in disguise that night.

After two years of pursuing her, following her from one place to another, she finally became my lover. I found out that she came from another country, she was someone who loves going to different places. I followed her wherever she went until she became pregnant of my child. *winks*

Because of this I brought her to Rosse kingdom and made her stay in my manor. Making a woman pregnant is one way to hold them down to a man,especially in my case since she didn't want to marry me.

In the end, she was forced to marry me and I made to sure to take care of her and our child that's why I requested for a break from the king.

It was a good thing that the king was my classmate in Rosse Magical Academy back on our teenage days. I befriended him and we were both close with each other just like how our fathers were close.

But things didn't went well since I resumed doing my work because the war between Lilly and Rosse started and I have to go do everything to assassinate the list of names that were given to me.

Since I told Catherine about my position as the watchdog, she helped me in collecting necessary information about the list of names I have. She was a very intelligent and a very scheming woman, the perfect woman for me, that's why I appreciated her help. Other than that, I assigned my best guard to accompany her whenever I'm not at home.

I was a very busy person. I was in the Lilly kingdom, cleaning some dirt.

When I returned, what greeted me was my wife's grave. I was so heartbroken upon learning that my wife died after giving birth to our daughter.

At first I blamed our daughter. If it wasn't for her, my Catherine would still be alive. I didn't want to see our daughter even once that's why I ordered my servants to lock my daughter in her room whenever I was at home.

To distract myself from the pain of my wife's death, I asked for the hardest mission and never returned home for two years.

I locked myself in my office and went drunk every night as I remembered my wife.

Until one night, I was woken up by a knock.

My head was aching badly that I decided to ignore it but I continued hearing the knock. I was in a very bad mood when I went and opened the door. "What is it?!!"

There was no one outside.

"D-Daddy..."

Upon hearing the small voice, I lowered my head and saw my daughter, she was hugging a bunny toy and she was looking up at me with watery eyes.

This is... my daughter. All her features were the same as Catherine's, except for her black hair.

Guilt filled me in upon seeing the tears that formed on the side of her eyes.

I cleared my throat and stood tall in front of her. "What is it?"

"V... Violet ish afraid... Bad dream... Daddy... scary... "

My heart ached upon seeing the tears that rolled down her cheeks. She went here to me because she had a bad dream and I ended up scaring her because of my angry voice earlier. The guilt keep on eating me up, the way she cried in front of me was the same way my wife would cry.

That's when it hit me. I shouldn't be acting this way. I should be treating my daughter well. Catherine left her to me, for me to take care of her.This daughter of mine is the proof of Catherine's love for me. Violet Brielle Trancy, this was what Catherine gave her before she died. Brielle... that beautiful name that belonged to Catherine.

"I'm sorry for scaring you, sweetheart." I said softly as I bent down and carried her in my arms.

She wiped her tears before she pinched her nose, she looked adorable while doing this. "Daddy... bad smell."

Ah, yes, I smell like liquor right now since I just was drinking some since afternoon.

I chuckled. I walked back in my room and placed her on my bed, I placed the blanket on her. "Wait here, okay? Daddy will take a quick bath."

She smiled, the smile that Catherine would give me. Ahh, Catherine, thank you for giving me an adorable daughter that looks like you.

"Stories!"

I smiled. "Yes, yes, I will read a lot of stories for you."