CH 36

Disgusting Desire

Nathaniel, who heard Julia’s suggestion, nodded unexpectedly.

[It’s better to meet them at least once.]

“That doesn’t sound very good.”

Kyrie stared at him, wondering what he was thinking. Nataniel smiled strangely after placing the cane horizontally between the thumb and index finger of his hands.

[Does it bother you?]

“A little.”

In response to Kyrie’s answer, Nathaniel stopped moving his finger as if he was playing the piano. 

When she saw the blue gaze looking at her, as if he was asking for an answer, Kyrie answered like a child.

“I’ll take care of it, so please don’t overdo it, okay?”

[Ah. The nerve.]

He laid his head back and said nothing more.

* * * 

News of the salon which would be attended by the Legendary Lord and the Princess, spread throughout Sel Arellano. 

Everyone rushed to bribe Kyrie to receive the invitation, but Kyrie politely returned the money using the family carriage. It was a salon that the Princess really wanted. She couldn’t let anyone in.

Cesar was most pleased with Julia’s visit. When Kyrie was called to his study, she laughed scornfully at him when she saw a chair lying there

“Why is there a chair here?”

“Sit down.”

“I’ve been always standing, so I’ll stand this time as well.”

Cesar did not make the offer any more after hearing her cold words. He was not the type to usually spoil himself, but now, he was halfway through a rare cigarette. Kyrie had only seen him smoke a cigarette a few times.

‘When he divorced my mother. And when I was engaged to the prince.’

Even at a young age, Kyrie noticed that he only smoked when he was in a very good mood, so she tried to make it happen. But that was all in the past.

“You’re smart because you take after me.”

“I hate the thought of that, but intelligence is mostly genetic.” 

“I’m not sure who you got that attitude from. Tch.. This time, I called to tell you that you did well.”

“From now on, please send me a letter for such useless conversations. Can I go now?”

“Sit down, Kyrie.”

The atmosphere was different from the usual Cesar. Kyrie sat calmly on the opposite and looked at Cesar.

He looked young for his age, especially with light purple hair, sharp purple eyes, and a slim face. 

Overall, he was a handsome-looking middle-aged man, but his impression was reminiscent of an elder. 

The hidden voraciousness that gnawed at the back of his head revealed itself more clearly as the naivety allowed by his youthfulness disappeared.

(T/N: it means that his greed/nasty side that consumed his mind, which he tried to hide, appeared more clearly as he lost his youthful innocence)

“I’ve always believed that you would do what I raised you to.”

“Parents are obliged to raise their children, but the children are not obliged to repay them, Father.”

Cesar gave a distorted smile.

“Is it because of what I said before? As the head of the house, it was something I couldn’t help. Or are you so stupid that you don’t even understand such thing?” (T/N: he is referring to the scene where he he accused her that she was pregnant)

“The phrase I like the most these days is, ‘There is no tomb without a story’. Have you ever heard of it?” 

(T/N: 핑계 normally means “an excuse”, but here it’s used more like a reason or cause that brought about something. That is, there is no grave (a dead person) that did not have a (long and involved) story behind it. So she is indicating that the “kindness” he is showing her now is due to his hidden motives)

“Let’s keep getting along with the Legendary Lord and the Patriotic Lord. And, of course, with Princess Julia. However, don’t be too biased, and the current situation of Treverum is in an extremely sharp conflict.”

“Don’t tell me what to do with my relationships. Father’s obedient daughter died when she and Eden broke up.”

Both of them didn’t back down at all. Cesar’s momentum became fiercer than ever.

“Will you lose anything by listening to me?”

“You think my reputation is nothing.”

“That’s because you didn’t listen to me. I’ve told you several times to be affectionate, but you couldn’t do that…”

Cesar’s eyes shone in reproach.

“You’d better behave this time. I’m busy meeting with the aristocrats of the Southwest, so don’t bother me.”

Kyrie paused. There was something she couldn’t just let go.

“What do you mean? That’s not our area.”

“We need to enlarge our family’s influence. You might soon become a duke. Are you not going to do anything with the land of the Legendary Lord and the land of the Patriotic Lord?

“Or are you just going to let the land rot?”

Cesar laughed uproariously. His disgusting desire for power left Kyrie speechless. She shouted low with her mouth covered.

“It’s beyond what I can handle. Neither the Royal Family nor the aristocracy will stand still!”

“That’s why we have to negotiate with the Royal Family. It’s a great thing. The Buchanan family will have a duke in my generation. For sure.”

“It’s not Father’s, that it’s my land!”

Cesar’s expression became sullen at Kyrie’s words. Rather, he gave Kyrie a look of contempt, as if he was looking down on her shamelessness. 

Soon, his face hardened to the extent that it was hard to believe it was directed at his own daughter.

“Kyrie Buchanan. So you’re going to monopolize the land by yourself?”

“That’s not what I meant! A larger estate than the Royal Family, a larger income than the Royal Family, and a bigger support than the Royal Family, you’ll definitely have a problem! How could you not know that?!”

“So you have to do it right!”

Cesar shouted and threw the cigarette he was holding at Kyrie.

“This time! Do it right! With your head and body! Don’t miss this chance! I don’t care how you twist the Legendary Lord and Patriotic Lord, just tie them up properly! Then neither the Royal Family nor the aristocrats will be able to say anything!”

The cigarette bounced off her skirt and rolled on the floor. Kyrie looked at it with a fine breath.

“My body? Are you telling me to act like whore right now? Just because of that territory?”

“Just because of territory? It is more than just a territory! Even if I sell you, do you think you will get 120 billion dollars! You even know that, yet you say those stupid things!”

“It was my father who told me to remain dignified! That’s what you taught me! And now you want me to use my body like a whore! What a noble attitude!”

Kyrie knew that her voice was trembling with anger. The front of her eyes turned white, so she couldn’t see anything, but she could only hear Cesar’s snort. She really wanted to ask.

“If that wasn’t the purpose in the first place, why did you have to raise me?”

Cesar was no longer willing to deal with the paled Kyrie.

Kyrie returned to the room without even knowing how she came back. When she came to her senses, MarryAnne looked up to her with worried eyes.

“Lady…”

“…….” 

Kyrie managed to hold back on her sadness with a throbbing anger.

“It’s all right.”

“You’re not okay…”

“Anne, nothing happened. I didn’t get hurt, did I?”

“…….” 

“You don’t have to worry because it’s the truth. It’s really okay.”

Kyrie smiled and lightly pinched MarryAnne’s cheek. MarryAnne knew it was a lie, but she tried to smile with her.

“I think I’m going to have another migraine. Can you get me some tea?”

MarryAnne nodded and left the room. Before she closed the door, she looked back at Kyrie sitting on the sofa. She sat with a straight back.  

She wouldn’t relax unless MarryAnne pretended to leave the room.

MarryAnne closed the door with a gloomy heart, at least so that Kyrie could grieve in peace. That was all she could do for her master.