Chapter 9

Yvonne quickly bowed her head at Kiryan Hishleger’s appearance.

No matter how much she pretended to be a man, lowered her voice and acted harshly, it still wasn’t enough to hide her pretty feminine features.

Above all, since the same face is not going anywhere, Franz resembles Yvonne enough to be considered brothers.

‘Let’s call it a cousin relationship with Franz.’ Yvonne shrugged her shoulders and tried to pass him by.

The last time they met at the Imperial Palace for the first time, became the worst meeting immediately.

“Stop there.” Kiryan’s eyes on her were different from the last time he saw her as “Franz”.

He is now savage and fierce. This made Yvonne sad so she just bowed her head but deep inside, she’s crying.

‘I must be crazy to come to the Imperial Palace alone.’ She thought to herself but the famous Duke Hishleger did the same today.

‘Who would have thought that he would enter the palace and work on a happy weekend? Of course, he’ll be relaxing at home drinking coffee.’ she thought once again.

“You…” Kiryan menacingly uttered.

“Y-Yes?” Yvonne trembled with his tone.

Kiryan’s eyes narrowed. He wondered why she was still alive.

He apparently ordered the death of Yvonne Moore, but now he knows that this woman is alive.

‘Luckily, you must’ve been down somewhere in the countryside.’ With that in mind, he waved his hand.

“Nothing. Just go.” Kiryan clicked his tongue as he watched Yvonne run away.

He could tell how scared she was just by looking at her wrinkled shoulders. He despised people like Yvonne Moore. He grits his teeth when he sees weaklings like her.

As his thoughts reached that point, his brother Franz came to mind.

The young Franz he remembers was a crybaby and a coward. Sticking his lips out and being stubborn. He was often too bright because he was ignorant of the world.

Those were the only redeeming aspects Franz had but still he was different.

‘It still looked like it.’ He thought fondly of him.

Franz, whom he had reunited with a week ago, was trembling with a pale complexion. He must have been brave enough because he was entangled with the rumored gang causing accidents in the back alleys, but it didn’t seem like that.

‘In all likelihood, such a guy is his friend.’ It was surprising that the successor of Marquis Laurent was his close friend.

Since Franz is from a good family it means that he grew up without suffering and a soft guy like Franz might need a good-tempered guy.

While thinking about it, he arrived at the emperor’s office.

“Welcome, Duke Kiryan Hishleger. Your Majesty was waiting for you.” The butler said to Kiryan and silently opened the door for him.

The emperor, the older brother of his biological father, was very similar to the former Archduke Hishleger and was something Kiryan often thought whenever they met. But whenever somebody asks if Kiryan resembles them, that’s not true either.

His dark hair and golden eyes were features of foreign origin. Features he had gotten from his mother which was a prostitute when he was born.

“Are you there?” The emperor called.

“You look very good, Your Majesty.” Kiryan greeted the emperor with a slight bow.

“Maybe he is happy to see his nephew.” The emperor smiled.

Kiryan snorted inwardly. The emperor never once recognized him as his nephew.

If he hadn’t manifested the powers unique to the imperial family, he would have ceased to be a wild dog of Furtra forever.

In fact, Kiryan’s outstanding business acumen also contributed to his recognition. As he joined the imperial family, the imperial treasury rapidly expanded. It is thanks to the great success of the businesses he proposes and receives investment from the imperial family.

“Are the preparations for the diamond business going well?” The emperor offered him to be seated.

“Yes. You have nothing to worry about.” Kiryan answered.

“Okay. By the way, Kiryan, I have one problem.” The emperor grimly said.

“What is it?” Kiryan asked because he has always been doing errands for the emperor.

“Your great-grandfather, Anterta III, regarded the diamond mine to be at the end of its life. Nonetheless, mining technology was not as advanced at the time as it is now. It was nothing more than a deserted mine,” the emperor began.

“What are you trying to say?” Kiryan, still puzzled about where the conversation is going.

“For your great-grandfather and for my grandfather, I sold mine to others at a bargain price because I thought the mines were no longer useful. Of course, the mining rights were also transferred.” he continued watching Kiryan’s expression.

Kiryan’s eyebrows gathered gently. It is difficult to say out loud that there is nothing to worry about when it comes to providing mines.

It was a project that was pushed forward, but the person concerned, which is him, made sure it would go smoothly.

The Emperor took an old paper from the drawer and showed it to him. It was a mining contract. The buyer identified in the documents is “Edmund Moore”. Kiryan can’t believe the name written in the contract.

“As far as I know, the descendants of the Moore family have a young heiress, Yvonne Moore.” The emperor said while looking at the document.

“Hmm. We can either take over the mining rights from Miss Moore or get the mines back.” the Emperor added, contemplating on their options.

Kiryan resisted the contortion of his face. He never imagined that he will be dealing with the heiress soon, and taking something from her nonetheless.

It was like taking something from a store.

Of course, he said this was no big deal to him. However, the Emperor had a bad attitude towards him.

‘How lowly does he think he was to announce this kind of news at the end of a project?’ There are even no words of apology, Kiryan thought.

“I’m glad Yvonne Moore is still alive.” He muttered.

If she had died, things would have been more complicated because all of her fortune would have been inherited by her close relatives.

On the way home, he checked the papers about Yvonne Moore.

She was an orphan with many relatives as a child, but she was wise enough to hire a lawyer to defend her wealth from relatives who claimed to be her guardians.

She socializes, without leaving the mansion. She was uninterested in the outside world, and unidentified visitors come and go from her mansion.

Her status was everything about her.

It would be even rarer if the young girl, who was still only twenty-one, had any other problems.

Kiryan immediately composed a letter to Yvonne upon his return to his home. It’s perfect because he has a business with her and needs to meet her right away.

The letter was delivered to Yvonne within the evening by her maid, Beth.

However, the letter was placed in the corner of the desk and was blown by the wind through the slightly opened window and fell to the floor. Because of this, Yvonne was unaware of the existence of the letter and left for the library.

She found a book and left to see Paradis.

“It’s evening, so it’s okay if you play Balzac’s Spring 2nd movement. Right?” Yvonne asked Paradis.

“Look. I have something to do today.” Paradis’ refusal made Yvonne’s eyebrows rise a bit.

“What are you going to do?” She asked then.

“You’ll find out soon.” Paradis dodges her question.

“What? Why are there so many secrets today?” Yvonne insisted.

“Don’t be a fool and stay at home until tomorrow. I suppose you need to go into hiding. Kiryan Hishleger would have done it if he had known you were Franz. Do you have any idea what Franz’s nickname is?” Paradis said to her.

“I know. “Backstreet dwarf”, “Mad geek”, “Eater of affection”.Yvonne enumerated those with a smirk.

“And there’s nothing good about being tangled up with that illegitimate child. The rumors are bad.” Paradis exclaimed.

“How bad is it?” She asked then.

To keep from learning that Kiryan appears to be the owner of Furtra, Paradis bit his lip all the way. But Yvonne had to find out since it would have surprised him even more.

“In any case, be careful, there’s something wrong with that guy and the assassins who showed up at your house. I’m worried that even after looking at it, it didn’t turn out well, so why don’t you come back to my place tomorrow?” He offered it to Yvonne.

“I can’t be, sorry Marquis.” She teased him.

“How inspiring of you.” Paradis retorted.

“Who sent them?” She still won’t let go of the topic.

“I don’t know. The important thing is that I decided to sit in your house according to your intention that you won’t be able to stay at my house. Who the hell plays on the piano to look like this?” Paradis, who was tuning the piano, sighed deeply.

Yvonne played with Paradis outside and returned drunk to play the piano.

She couldn’t say that she ran all over the place. Then, following the ban on going out, a ban on alcohol was also issued.

“I will read a book while you finish that.” Yvonne said.

“Alright.”

Yvonne opened a book. Her calm voice resembled that of Paradis with her temper. It tickles his ear. A smooth but subdued voice.

“I don’t believe erotic affection is solely motivated by love. The world thinks it is the best value, but when you close your eyes, you can feel the essence of love infiltrate deep into your soul.” She read aloud.

Paradis glanced at her as he touched the piano. He loved seeing her reading her books. It seems like she only reads adventure novels, but in fact she is used to devouring any field.

The world didn’t know Yvonne’s true worth.

They said, “The greedy Yvonne? That’s funny.” He wishes they knew her sincerity, but even if they don’t does not matter.

He said he didn’t know who Yvonne Moore was to them because he couldn’t stand it without loving her. He didn’t want to make a competitor.

Paradis, who had finished tuning the piano, asked when she was ready to listen to him play.

“I have a new poem I wrote this time. Would you like to hear it?” He said.

“Yes. Great.” Yvonne nodded.

A gentle melody started from his fingertips. It was romantic like the twinkling stars in the peaceful rural night sky, and it was soft like the warm sunlight and soft wind of a spring day. Yvonne closed her eyes and listened to him play.

“If a person lives by love, it is love toward you that gives me strength,

I love your eyes that are as lively as summer grass,

I love a smile like the sun shining on the waves,

And it is the only reason to love.”

Yvonne’s heart pounded at Paradis; she felt he was in love with someone. He had great affection for her eyes and smile. But that wasn’t the reason for love. She pondered his poems in secret jealousy and smiled longingly. Paradis’ woman seemed to fit him very well.

They were like pieces of torn paper. They were the kind of beings that could be perfect with each other.

“I want to be with you forever,

No matter who you are, if anyone listen to your poem, everyone will fall in love with you,

And I will be very happy to be that person.”

Paradis ended his performance. He looked at Yvonne.

“The piano and the poem went well together. I feel it.” Yvonne commented after.

“Is that all?” He asked.

“Well. I can feel how much you love her. It felt good to hear everything. Is this someone I know?”

At her question, Paradis glanced at her. As Yvonne tilted her head at her unknown gaze, he let out a sigh of relief and he jumped up and came over to her then he slapped her on the forehead.

“Hurt.” Yvonne rubbed her forehead.

“Idiot. I am proposing.” Paradis simply said.

“Yes. I know. So you said you would be very happy.” Yvonne ignored him.

“Sigh. To you.” He quietly repeated himself.

“To me?” This caught her off guard.

“Yes. You.” He once again said.

“Uh… Why, me?” The sudden proposal doesn’t sink in Yvonne’s reasoning.

“Why? Anyway, that is not important.” Paradis knelt before her on one knee. He pulled out a small jewel case from his arms. Standing in it came a very old-style diamond ring.

“This is a proposal ring that my great-great-grandmother, Princess Renee, received before marriage, Nini. My Yvonne, I ask you now.” Paradis held her hand.

“Quit messing around.” The only words Yvonne uttered.