CH 8

It was still a chilly spring night, but the banquet hall filled with the Imperial Knights was buzzing with excitement.

As surprising as meeting Cain Delacroix and him listening to her nonsense was, there was another astonishing event for Lariana. It was the fact that Crown Prince Lejandro showed favor toward her.

Count Heliosen was at a loss as to how to handle the situation. However, unlike her father, Lariana’s attention was solely focused on Cain Delacroix, who ignored her existence.

Slightly moistening her lips with red wine, Lariana casually scanned the knights. After she greeted the prince and the knights, Cain, whom she had met again, coldly disregarded her, pretending not to know her.

When they exchanged greetings with a handshake by the lake, he had clearly shown a friendly gaze… or was that just her imagination?

Despite Cain’s indifference, Lariana refused to give up and made efforts to engage him in conversation or catch his eye.

Unfortunately, the eighteen-year-old girl fell head over heels at the sight of the handsome Duke with a single smile.

Lariana’s actions were so overt that it made Prince Lejandro, who had shown favor towards her, feel bitter.

Everyone in the banquet hall noticed her infatuation, but Cain showed no reaction whatsoever.

What could possibly be wrong? Lariana replayed the events at the lakeside over and over again in her mind.

If he didn’t like her from the beginning, he shouldn’t have shaken hands or smiled to her. With a gloomy expression, Lariana quietly stood up from her seat.

Outside the banquet hall, elite knights were sitting and resting. Beyond the walls, ordinary knights were taking a break, forming a vast camp.

Lariana exchanged casual eye contact with them and headed toward the wall. She wanted to look down at the panoramic view of Heline from above, feeling her chest tightening.

“Ah…”

As she arrived on the wall and stood in front of the railing, the large, looming moon caught her eye. The lights of the camp, spread out below the castle walls, looked like the Milky Way.

She took out a necklace from her pocket. The locket in the shape of a moon sparkled as it caught the moonlight.

It was a necklace for wishing victory. In Martessen, it was customary to give such a necklace as a gift to a lover or spouse before they set off on a journey, hoping for their safe return.

Lariana had spent a lot of effort making this necklace. She had made it while eagerly awaiting the day she would meet her future groom, but now it had become completely useless.

She raised her hand high as if she was about to throw away the necklace. However, she raised and lowered her hand several times.

“Are you trying to throw away the necklace you worked so hard to make?”

“Ah… Jenox. I want to be alone.”

Jenox, who had been hiding in the darkness, appeared. He was Lariana’s cousin.

Lariana’s beautiful face crumpled without restraint at Jenox’s appearance.

Throughout the evening dinner, Lariana had been deliberately avoiding his gaze. She already knew what kind of nonsense he would spout without even listening.

“It seems like you’re quite infatuated with Cain Delacroix, aren’t you?”

Everything didn’t go as planned. As always, Lariana remained silent, showing no reaction. Seeing her indifferent attitude, Jenox became even more furious and began to get angry.

“Hey, Lariana Heliosen, wake up! Do you think someone as noble as Prince Lejandro or Cain Delacroix would be interested in a lowly peasant like you? Did you want to become their partners and rise above your station?”

“Jenox, stop it!”

Her cousin, who had always been overly attached to her, was truly terrifying and sent shivers down her spine. Lariana tried to escape this moment by leaving the room.

However, Jenox had no intention of letting go of his cousin so easily.

He grabbed Lariana by the hair, exposing her neck. She barely managed to hold herself back from collapsing onto the floor.

“Make sure you give this necklace to Iveth Kessas. It suits someone of your caliber.”

Grabbing Lariana’s hand, which was holding the necklace, Jenox said harshly.

“J-Jenox… It hurts.”

“It hurts?”

“Yes.”

Tears welled up in Lariana’s eyes, filled with pain and fear. As she sobbed and showed a submissive attitude, Jenox’s expression softened.

She could feel his grip weakening. Lariana’s legs gave out, and she collapsed on the floor. Jenox’s hot breath settled above her head.

“However, you will marry me.”

Countess Heliosen, who had departed from this world, always told her that she would marry Iveth Kessas. Whether it was because her mother had envisioned a future with him, or for some other reason, Lariana didn’t feel any affection towards Jenox.

Her cousin, whom she had never considered as a man, suddenly proposed to her. No, it wasn’t a proposal; it was more like a declaration of war.

After confessing his feelings, Jenox became obsessively fixated on Lariana, secretly watching her and meddling in her affairs.

When she thought it had gone too far and asked her father for help, it was in vain. Count Heliosen was lenient towards his pitiful nephew.

As Lariana sat on the ground, she didn’t raise her head. She simply wished for Jenox to lose interest in her and disappear.

At that moment, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the quiet castle walls. Someone was approaching the two of them.

Just then, a deep voice reverberated through the air.

“How dare you dream big as a commoner.”

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Being born as the successor of the Delacroix Ducal family meant becoming the guardian of the Martessen Empire.

He had no desires or grudges, but with his birth, Cain had to shoulder the fate of his family.

As a result, he was always alone. That was how his family’s upbringing was. During his childhood, he endured what was disguised as education and discipline, but was actually abuse and torture.

He had to think only of his family and his homeland. It wasn’t until his father died that he finally gained freedom, however by then, Cain was already thoroughly indoctrinated in the family’s ways of education.

Life after becoming Duke Delacroix was mundane and tedious, filled with obligations.

He always thought it would be like that forever. At least until he came to Heline.

With a furrowed brow, Cain took a step forward. As the imposing figure of Cain drew closer, Jenox hesitated and stepped back.

“How dare you dream big as a commoner.”

Growling, Cain’s words caused a fleeting displeasure to pass over Jenox’s face. Cain found the feeble rebellion of an insignificant person quite amusing.

“You don’t even offer greetings.”

“…I greet the Duke Delacroix.”

Jenox reluctantly bent one knee and bowed his head. He seemed to be trying to control his expression, but the forced attempt at greeting was apparent.

At that moment, Cain inclined his head slightly, meeting Jenox’s eyes.

“A commoner talks about marrying into nobility. Did the Empire’s Advocate failed to educate the people about the difference in social classes? Step aside. Nobles have matters to discuss among themselves.”

“Duke, times have changed. Marriages that transcend social class occasionally occur.”

As Cain emphasized the word ‘noble’, Jenox clenched his fist tightly. Cain, his face filled with mockery, extended his hand as if telling him to disappear.

“Jenox Heliosen, you dare to lecture me? Do you think I can tolerate your insolence forever?”

Considering his true nature, it was a mild but chilling threat.

Jenox couldn’t confront him any longer. Since Cain Delacroix’s appearance, there had been an aura emanating from him that made his spine shiver, causing his legs to weaken. If he held on a little longer, it felt like he would collapse in a pitiful manner.

Unable to express his discomfort any further, Jenox passed by Cain without a greeting. Simply avoiding the greeting was the maximum defiance he could muster.

Only silence filled the space left between them. He looked down at Lariana, who was crouching down, hugging herself tightly.

Lariana Heliosen was a fearless woman. Before, she talked to him like a chirping bird.

Everyone around her was cautious in their dealings with Duke Cain. It was natural considering he was born as the eldest son of the Delacroix family.

Numerous noblewomen approached him with their own purposes. There were many moments when he found them disgusting and repulsive.

For someone like him, Lariana Heliosen, a woman or rather a person who saw him for who he was, was a first. She was willing to see beyond his Delacroix title.

…She was exceptionally beautiful as well. Even he, who had little interest in the beauties renowned in the capital of Petika, was momentarily captivated.

Her flowing blonde hair, blue eyes, and porcelain white skin. Every aspect of her was faint like a delicate painting, yet left behind a beautiful lingering impression.

Cain believed he was going mad just by having such thoughts about a woman.

Seeing Lariana, who gained favor from Prince Lejandro and the cousin of Count Heliosen, he felt it was somewhat natural.

It felt only natural that any man, not just someone like him, would fall for Lariana.

He reached out his hand to Lariana again.

Just as he was about to reach out his hand once more, Lariana wiped away her tears with the sleeve of her dress and stood up resolutely. Her delicate face was stained with tears from how much she had cried.

Looking at Cain with resentment, Lariana took several deep breaths. Her lips parted after a long while, as if she had decided not to cry anymore.

“…I won’t thank you, Duke, for having thoroughly humiliated me.”

“How long has this happened to you?”

“It has nothing to do with you, Duke.”

As his question was ignored, Lariana clasped her dress tightly. It was her most cherished sky-blue dress, but the lace at the hem was torn, most likely from the earlier struggle. Seeing the dress so heavily damaged, Lariana felt the urge to burst into tears once again.

“Lady Heliosen, Iveth Kessas is already engaged. I understand that Iveth may not be important to you anymore, but…”

Lariana’s gaze shifted from her dress to Cain.

“What are you implying?”

“Doesn’t Prince Lejandro also show interest in you?”

“…Duke, why do you presume to dictate my feelings as you please?”

“I apologize. I simply thought it would be better for you to become the companion of His Highness the Prince… as a loyal subject…”

Oh my.

He didn’t expect Lariana’s mouth to close so abruptly. No matter how great Delacroix might be, he was still a vassal. Therefore, when the prince showed favor, it was evident that he was a better choice.