CH 125

Why the hell did he pull out a doorknob that was in excellent shape?

Before that, I was shocked that a human’s bare hand could pull that out. 

The door of the banquet hall was not the same as ordinary bedroom doors but was made of massive, solid iron. 

It was a type that was made together by melting iron from the beginning instead of making a separate handle and screwing it in.

“Why don’t you just destroy the house, huh, why not?” 

Why didn’t he just pull out the columns as well? 

I could hear Veronica mumbling in stupefaction. 

“I know right. He doesn’t seem to know how to control himself since he has a lot of money and power.” 

I should say something when he gets close.

‘I should ask him why he’s going around destroying perfectly good household goods.’ 

He was looking at me so I thought he had something to say, but before people could even give him their greetings, he turned his back and left. 

“His Grace must have been upset about something.”

Peter, who was staring blankly at the iron handle rolling from the door to the hall, stuttered and opened his mouth.

“He has a lot of work these days. He must have been tired because of that.” 

I stood up from the sofa, making excuses for Dietrich. 

“I think I have to go and check on him. Then, I’ll see you next time.” 

“Ah, yes! Definitely….definitely, next time.” 

I passed by Peter, who was about to say more and opened the poor door that lost its handle. 

‘How fast is he walking?’

I was sure I have just seen him leave but I couldn’t even see a shadow in the hallway. I rolled up the hem of the uncomfortable dress and moved quickly. 

There weren’t many places to go. Where else would he be heading apart from his office and his bedroom?

“Dietrich!” 

I barely caught up to him as he was about to climb the top floor. As he was about to step on the stairs, he paused at my call, but soon continued on his way. 

“Wait!” 

There was no way he couldn’t hear me so he was just blatantly ignoring me. Dumbfounded, I stumbled in haste to catch up to him.

“Kyaa!” 

Since they paid more attention than usual because of the guests that were coming, the shiny, glossy floor was just right in front of my face. 

Feeling like my head would crack open at this rate, I hurriedly held out my hand and closed my eyes. Fortunately, I didn’t hit the hard floor. 

“Oh my god!”

A familiar hand grabbed my arm and lifted me upwards. Dietrich, who had caught me leaving one railing between us, wrapped one arm around my waist and hugged me without showing any sign of hardship. 

My outstretched hand touched his firm chest but my lifted foot didn’t even touch the floor. 

“Gasp.”

I was more startled now than the moment I fell that I started hiccuping. Too close. 

His sharp jaw hardened when I pulled back to escape. 

“Stay still. Did you forget there’s a stair?”

“Ah.” 

‘I can’t get hurt.’ 

I stopped my struggle at his warning. He exhaled a deep sigh over my head.

“Look where you’re walking.”

“It’s because you didn’t stop when I called, Dietrich.” 

I opened my mouth, resenting him needlessly, however, I didn’t know what expression to make as my eyes roamed around while still in his arms. 

“Can’t you guess that there must be a reason why I didn’t turn back when you called?”

Thunk.

He placed me down on the floor and answered frigidly. I smiled mischievously when I saw that he was avoiding my eyes. 

‘He holds grudges more than I thought.’ 

“What reason?”

“.............”

“I already apologized about the holy sword. I also didn’t know I would sleep for that long. Is that something for you to be angry for so long?”

“It’s not that.” 

I watched Dietrich as he shook his head indifferently. 

He was wearing a shirt that wasn’t even properly dressed and not even formal attire for a banquet. It was clear that he definitely entered the hall while in the middle of working. 

“What was that earlier? If you’re going to come, then you should enter. Why did you only open the door and leave?” 

How agitated must the guests have been when the master of the duchy suddenly raised his temper and pulled out a doorknob and then leave without any explanation? 

‘Even though I tried so hard to foster unity among the Northern nobles.’ 

I had just been able to convince them that Lagrange was worthy to participate in high society and not just a family dominated only by unreasonable violence. 

“That’s because you.”

“Me?”

“You, that.” 

Dietrich stopped talking and scrubbed his face dry with his hand. Ha, with a dry sigh, he swept his fringe upward. His handsome forehead wrinkled. 

For a moment, I frowned as I thought I heard a curse mixed with his sigh. He was aggressive, and oftentimes - a lot - didn’t think about the consequences of his actions, but he’s fundamentally a decent guy. 

‘I didn’t even see him swearing even when he fought with Asmodeus.’

“What? What did you say?”

“Sorry.”

“I’m not asking you to apologize. You didn’t even do it to me. But you have to tell me why you’re doing this so I–”

“Nevermind. I don’t want to talk about it.” 

Deep wrinkles formed on his exposed forehead. I grabbed Dietrich’s wrist as he was about to turn his back.

“Where are you going! I’m not done talking.” 

He never looked at me even though he had been wrestling with me, and only then did he finally look at me. 

But, wasn’t he scanning me thoroughly from head to toe? 

I forgot what to say at his slow and blatant gaze and became nervous. 

“W-what’s with that look?” 

I’d be less embarrassed if he scolded me off as Yuric did, but he didn’t even mention anything about my outfit. 

I just felt angry at the expression on his face that seemed to dislike it. 

“What are you looking at?”

“You. I’m currently looking at you. Have you lost your eyes?” 

“Speak nicely!” 

I bit my tongue in embarrassment as I met his sharp eyes. He looked at me as if he was annoyed and opened his mouth. 

“Speak.”

“Huh?”

“I told you to speak. Didn’t you insist that you still had something to say?”

Since he pressed for it like that, I suddenly felt scared. I watched his eyebrows twitch for a moment before answering hesitantly. 

“......I mean, I was wondering if you were angry at me. If you are, then we should settle it.”

“I already told you I have no quarrel with you.” 

He said he wasn’t angry but why would he be like this? His blunt answer was ridiculous and my jaw dropped. 

He placed his finger on my chin, closed it, then spoke. 

“I think I’m a little irritated.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.” 

“Are you playing with me right now?”

“Playing?”

Dietrich asked back with a smile. However, since only one side of his lips was raised up, for sure, he wasn’t smiling because what I said was funny. 

“I could say the same to you. Do you find my decree a joke? Hilarious. I ordered a ban of marriage in Lagrange.” 

“Wasn’t that order given to the people in the territory? In the sense that you don’t intend to hand over the demons so hastily.” 

“I don’t really care whether thousands of demons crawl out again.” 

‘You have to worry about it after all that hark work. Why don’t you care?’ 

Even as I thought of that, I couldn’t refute him and closed my mouth tightly at his cool gaze. 

“However, without even saying a word to me, I received a report of you declaring you’re looking for a fiance so I came down to see.” 

"........"

“And saw you wearing that dress I’ve never seen before, confused whether that’s clothes or just some stitched fabrics.” 

Some stitched fabrics, you say. 

It may have used a little less fabric than most dresses, but it looked elegant because it was a dress made by Madame Celine with great care.

“And out of nowhere, you’re trying to receive a rose from a half-wit bastard who can’t even hide his single sloppy desire?” 

“He was the one who said he’d give it to me. And why is that something to be angry about?”

“That’s right. If you want it, you can receive whatever the rose means. And I have no right to care about whatever you wear.” 

Dietrich admitted quickly and calmly. 

He wasn’t even an adolescent boy, but I was bewildered at his change of attitude as easily as turning one’s palm. He gritted his teeth as he faced me who was stunned. 

“But even so, I’m still irritated.” 

".........."

“I’m already suffocating with irritation as it is so why should I continue to watch that situation happen?” 

“Why….?

As the head of the household, he might be angry for not consulting with him that I would be looking for a fiance like he was being ignored. 

It’s my fault for not talking to him and avoiding him because I felt awkward. But why did he bring up the rose? 

“That’s why I don’t know. I’m on my way up to think, so let go of my hand now.” 

I was startled by his firm words that I had no choice but to let go of his wrist which I had grasped in a daze. 

He turned his body around roughly and started moving. I heard the sound of something falling and looked down to see that the wooden railing he had been holding on to with one hand had all but crumbled with dust flying around. 

‘Does he really plan to break the whole castle?’ 

A deep sigh from the pits of my stomach came out. 

It was an unfamiliar aura that I first saw. 

Unlike usual, because I was very agitated, I could only see it very briefly, but it was an aura that I’d seen for the first time. To be exact, it was the first time I’d seen it in Dietrich. 

It was dark red anger, but it wasn’t just dark red. In his colorless aura akin to that of a dead, there was a bright scarlet color like fresh blood mixed in that I couldn’t help but pound my head on the broken railing. 

‘Should I chase after him?’ 

No, what would I even say to him if I chased him? Don’t be like that? 

My heart was pounding fast. 

I didn’t know why it was pounding fast but I felt so overwhelmed that I crouched and sat down.