Ruin's face remained gloomy throughout the commemorative banquet. Had Lila not repeatedly urged him to attend, Ruin likely wouldn't have attended.
He was raised as the heir to the Earldom of Winsley, and he knew he had to keep his emotions to himself.
But he was also a teenager who had a hard time accepting the fact that he was just being happy when his beloved family was in danger.
“Ruin, it’s not Ruin’s fault.”
While Ruin's face was blackened and dead, Nife grew impatient. Layla had asked Nife to be Ruin's escort to the banquet, but the mood was just not right. The escort wasn't the point right now. Nife couldn't bear to see Ruin suffer.
Ruin groaned, rubbing his forehead.
“It’s clear that my sister can’t rely on me.”
“Her Highness the Grand Duchess cherishes Ruin very much.”
But Nife knew. There was a world of difference between caring and relying. Nife wanted to be someone Ruin could rely on, but Ruin always treated her like a child, handing her a handful of candy.
Ruin shook his head. His face was etched with self-reproach and resentment.
“If you had asked me for help with this, I would have been happy to help.”
"The Archduchess is doing this because she values Ruin. And since Ruin is the successor to the Earldom of Winsley, she probably didn't want things to get complicated."
Ruin, who had been listening to Nife, suddenly raised his head. He looked at Nife. Clear eyes were staring back at him.
Ruin cherished Nife dearly. He couldn't possibly dislike the cute girl who had followed him around since childhood.
But he couldn't quite figure out whether those feelings were directed toward reason. So, Ruin always treated Nife with moderation. He believed it best to be like a friendly brother and sister.
“...Nife, you are right.”
But come to think of it, that was something only possible in childhood. Ruin and Nife were now on the path to adulthood.
“I am the heir to the Earldom of Winsley, and you are the only daughter of the Earldom of Sasha.”
“Ruin?”
Nife's voice trembled with anxiety. She had always hoped Ruin would respond to her feelings, but not like this. Ruin pulled Nife's hand away from his own and stood up straight.
“Young Lady Sasha.”
Just hearing that call brought tears to Nife's eyes. It was rare for Ruin to call her "Young Lady Sasha" like this.
"No!"
Nife shook her head. Each time she did, tears streamed down her face. But Ruin showed no intention of backing down from what he had decided to say.
"Considering the position of our family, let's end our relationship here. I sincerely thank you for your kindness to me."
Ruin lowered his head and turned away from Nife. Nife cried out, sobbing.
“I wasn’t being nice to Ruin! I was being sincere!”
It was a voice, frail and pitiful, yet filled with determination. Ruin's steps paused for a moment, then he continued forward.
Nife covered her face with her sleeve and sobbed. People passing by stole glances at the two, wondering what was going on.
“Bad! Ruin is the worst villain in the world!”
Nife shouted, not caring about the people's gaze. Still, it was so pitiful that she couldn't catch Ruin.
At that time,
“Gyaaaaah!”
A sharp scream was heard.
Someone looked out the banquet hall window and shouted loudly and urgently.
“Get him! He’s an assassin!”
At that shout, the banquet hall instantly turned into a scene of chaos.
“The Grand Duchess has been attacked!”
Nife stopped crying and looked out the window. Then, without realizing it, he started running.
“La, Sister Layla!”
The thought that Layla might be in danger made her heart pound. She began to cry, though with a different purpose. Still, she held onto the hem of her dress and ran aimlessly.
Running recklessly, unable to see what was ahead, she ended up falling forward. Nife, overcome by urgency rather than embarrassment, struggled, and a hand reached out to her.
Nife lifted her tear-stained face and looked at the owner of the hand.
“Ru, Ruin...”
“Catch it, let’s hurry.”
“Uh, yeah!”
Nife grabbed Ruin's hand, and they started running together. Tears still clouded her vision, but with someone running ahead of her, she didn't have to worry about falling.
'Ruin is an idiot! He kept confusing women until this moment!'
Nife couldn't stop crying.
Ari Eriant's bright brown hair was by no means rare. It was so common that it was easily seen even among commoners.
Nevertheless, Ari stood out wherever she went. With her porcelain-like white skin, her eyes were as clear as a sliver, and her curvaceous figure was surreal yet elegant.
Ari was unlike any other witch. She possessed such grace that it seemed she was born to be an Empress. Every man begged for her attention, and every woman admired her.
So when Ari went missing, the social world was in turmoil. Many suspected her of being kidnapped or murdered by a paraphilic, and some even speculated that she was so beautiful that a mad artist was trying to stuff her.
There was even talk that she was taken by a religious force that worshipped her as a goddess.
But Ari's whereabouts were intertwined with a common and vulgar reality. People assumed she would never reappear in society again.
But Ari now appeared here, proud and confident. Wearing a dress more splendid than anyone else's, her beautiful face fully exposed.
Ari was smiling brightly at people who were curiously greeting her.
I watched Ari from a distance, sitting in my wheelchair. Ari seemed perfectly attuned to the everyday life of society. She didn't mind the stares. She blended in so naturally.
Certainly, it was not surprising that she was here, as her older brother, Shuan, was attending the hunting competition.
But then why wasn't she seen at the hunting competition? If Ari had been sitting in the spectator section, there would have been a commotion.
Ari, who had been mingling with the crowd for a while, suddenly raised her head. Her gaze, without context, fixed on me. It was a gaze without hesitation, as if she had been paying attention to me all along.
I was inwardly flustered, but I calmly greeted her. Ari looked at me and smiled meaningfully.
What does that mean? The moment I thought that, Ari turned and started heading somewhere. I watched her for a moment, and she turned again to look at me. Then,
Nod.
She nodded. It was a clear, unmistakable signal. She was telling me to follow her.
I looked around and gestured to Anna, signaling her to follow Ari. But soon I found myself grabbing her hand as she pushed the wheelchair.
'Layla, I want to be a little more valuable to you.'
It was because the words he had been whispering honestly, without hiding his feelings of regret, came to mind.
I couldn't tell why Ari had called me. She might have wanted to have a quick conversation, but she might also have been trying to harm me. Maybe I could be of help, maybe not. Normally, I would have chased her away without fear, either way.
I gripped the wheelchair handle tightly. The new Ari had seemingly disappeared from sight, having left the banquet hall and gone into the hallway. She was probably waiting for me to appear.
I decided not to follow Ari. If I consulted with Julian, he would undoubtedly warn me not to meet Ari, but I still wanted to seek his advice.
Perhaps Julian could devise a safer way to meet Ari. And... I want to be trusted by him.
I instructed Anna to turn the wheelchair around. She headed in the opposite direction Ari had gone. She was headed toward the barracks.
It was when I passed the knights guarding the banquet hall and entered the dark path leading to the barracks.
“It’s strange.”
It felt too quiet. Even if everyone was engrossed in the banquet, there must have been someone sneaking out and returning to the barracks, but there was no one here. I gazed at the brightly lit banquet hall and urged Anna on.
And at that moment,
Chang!
I heard the sharp, frictional sound of swords clashing. I raised my head. There, a man dressed in black and a man I'd seen before were locked in a sword fight.
“Young Master Eriant!”
“Avoid!”
I wanted to help Shuan, but I was injured and unarmed. But I couldn't just pretend not to see him and run away. I screamed at the top of my lungs.
“Gyaaaaah!”
Someone shouted through the window from the banquet hall, as if they had heard my screams.
“Get him! It’s an assassin! The Grand Duchess has been attacked!”
At that sound, the assassin pushed Shuan with all his might and began to run away. Hearing the commotion, the knights rushed out and began to pursue the assassin.
My head was spinning from the sudden turn of events. Shuan approached me and asked.
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
“It’s okay. Thank you for saving me.”
I calmed my startled heart and expressed my sincere gratitude. However, Shuan's expression upon hearing my thanks was deeply complicated. Seeing his face, my heart felt cold. I was certain.
“...Young Master, you knew I would be attacked.”
He was raised as the heir to the Earldom of Winsley, and he knew he had to keep his emotions to himself.
But he was also a teenager who had a hard time accepting the fact that he was just being happy when his beloved family was in danger.
“Ruin, it’s not Ruin’s fault.”
While Ruin's face was blackened and dead, Nife grew impatient. Layla had asked Nife to be Ruin's escort to the banquet, but the mood was just not right. The escort wasn't the point right now. Nife couldn't bear to see Ruin suffer.
Ruin groaned, rubbing his forehead.
“It’s clear that my sister can’t rely on me.”
“Her Highness the Grand Duchess cherishes Ruin very much.”
But Nife knew. There was a world of difference between caring and relying. Nife wanted to be someone Ruin could rely on, but Ruin always treated her like a child, handing her a handful of candy.
Ruin shook his head. His face was etched with self-reproach and resentment.
“If you had asked me for help with this, I would have been happy to help.”
"The Archduchess is doing this because she values Ruin. And since Ruin is the successor to the Earldom of Winsley, she probably didn't want things to get complicated."
Ruin, who had been listening to Nife, suddenly raised his head. He looked at Nife. Clear eyes were staring back at him.
Ruin cherished Nife dearly. He couldn't possibly dislike the cute girl who had followed him around since childhood.
But he couldn't quite figure out whether those feelings were directed toward reason. So, Ruin always treated Nife with moderation. He believed it best to be like a friendly brother and sister.
“...Nife, you are right.”
But come to think of it, that was something only possible in childhood. Ruin and Nife were now on the path to adulthood.
“I am the heir to the Earldom of Winsley, and you are the only daughter of the Earldom of Sasha.”
“Ruin?”
Nife's voice trembled with anxiety. She had always hoped Ruin would respond to her feelings, but not like this. Ruin pulled Nife's hand away from his own and stood up straight.
“Young Lady Sasha.”
Just hearing that call brought tears to Nife's eyes. It was rare for Ruin to call her "Young Lady Sasha" like this.
"No!"
Nife shook her head. Each time she did, tears streamed down her face. But Ruin showed no intention of backing down from what he had decided to say.
"Considering the position of our family, let's end our relationship here. I sincerely thank you for your kindness to me."
Ruin lowered his head and turned away from Nife. Nife cried out, sobbing.
“I wasn’t being nice to Ruin! I was being sincere!”
It was a voice, frail and pitiful, yet filled with determination. Ruin's steps paused for a moment, then he continued forward.
Nife covered her face with her sleeve and sobbed. People passing by stole glances at the two, wondering what was going on.
“Bad! Ruin is the worst villain in the world!”
Nife shouted, not caring about the people's gaze. Still, it was so pitiful that she couldn't catch Ruin.
At that time,
“Gyaaaaah!”
A sharp scream was heard.
Someone looked out the banquet hall window and shouted loudly and urgently.
“Get him! He’s an assassin!”
At that shout, the banquet hall instantly turned into a scene of chaos.
“The Grand Duchess has been attacked!”
Nife stopped crying and looked out the window. Then, without realizing it, he started running.
“La, Sister Layla!”
The thought that Layla might be in danger made her heart pound. She began to cry, though with a different purpose. Still, she held onto the hem of her dress and ran aimlessly.
Running recklessly, unable to see what was ahead, she ended up falling forward. Nife, overcome by urgency rather than embarrassment, struggled, and a hand reached out to her.
Nife lifted her tear-stained face and looked at the owner of the hand.
“Ru, Ruin...”
“Catch it, let’s hurry.”
“Uh, yeah!”
Nife grabbed Ruin's hand, and they started running together. Tears still clouded her vision, but with someone running ahead of her, she didn't have to worry about falling.
'Ruin is an idiot! He kept confusing women until this moment!'
Nife couldn't stop crying.
***
Ari Eriant's bright brown hair was by no means rare. It was so common that it was easily seen even among commoners.
Nevertheless, Ari stood out wherever she went. With her porcelain-like white skin, her eyes were as clear as a sliver, and her curvaceous figure was surreal yet elegant.
Ari was unlike any other witch. She possessed such grace that it seemed she was born to be an Empress. Every man begged for her attention, and every woman admired her.
So when Ari went missing, the social world was in turmoil. Many suspected her of being kidnapped or murdered by a paraphilic, and some even speculated that she was so beautiful that a mad artist was trying to stuff her.
There was even talk that she was taken by a religious force that worshipped her as a goddess.
But Ari's whereabouts were intertwined with a common and vulgar reality. People assumed she would never reappear in society again.
After all, I—the very person who saved Ari—she didn't even show up at Grand Duchess Duchzan's party.
Ari was smiling brightly at people who were curiously greeting her.
I watched Ari from a distance, sitting in my wheelchair. Ari seemed perfectly attuned to the everyday life of society. She didn't mind the stares. She blended in so naturally.
Certainly, it was not surprising that she was here, as her older brother, Shuan, was attending the hunting competition.
But then why wasn't she seen at the hunting competition? If Ari had been sitting in the spectator section, there would have been a commotion.
Ari, who had been mingling with the crowd for a while, suddenly raised her head. Her gaze, without context, fixed on me. It was a gaze without hesitation, as if she had been paying attention to me all along.
I was inwardly flustered, but I calmly greeted her. Ari looked at me and smiled meaningfully.
What does that mean? The moment I thought that, Ari turned and started heading somewhere. I watched her for a moment, and she turned again to look at me. Then,
Nod.
She nodded. It was a clear, unmistakable signal. She was telling me to follow her.
I looked around and gestured to Anna, signaling her to follow Ari. But soon I found myself grabbing her hand as she pushed the wheelchair.
'Layla, I want to be a little more valuable to you.'
It was because the words he had been whispering honestly, without hiding his feelings of regret, came to mind.
I couldn't tell why Ari had called me. She might have wanted to have a quick conversation, but she might also have been trying to harm me. Maybe I could be of help, maybe not. Normally, I would have chased her away without fear, either way.
I gripped the wheelchair handle tightly. The new Ari had seemingly disappeared from sight, having left the banquet hall and gone into the hallway. She was probably waiting for me to appear.
I decided not to follow Ari. If I consulted with Julian, he would undoubtedly warn me not to meet Ari, but I still wanted to seek his advice.
Perhaps Julian could devise a safer way to meet Ari. And... I want to be trusted by him.
I instructed Anna to turn the wheelchair around. She headed in the opposite direction Ari had gone. She was headed toward the barracks.
It was when I passed the knights guarding the banquet hall and entered the dark path leading to the barracks.
“It’s strange.”
It felt too quiet. Even if everyone was engrossed in the banquet, there must have been someone sneaking out and returning to the barracks, but there was no one here. I gazed at the brightly lit banquet hall and urged Anna on.
And at that moment,
Chang!
I heard the sharp, frictional sound of swords clashing. I raised my head. There, a man dressed in black and a man I'd seen before were locked in a sword fight.
“Young Master Eriant!”
“Avoid!”
I wanted to help Shuan, but I was injured and unarmed. But I couldn't just pretend not to see him and run away. I screamed at the top of my lungs.
“Gyaaaaah!”
Someone shouted through the window from the banquet hall, as if they had heard my screams.
“Get him! It’s an assassin! The Grand Duchess has been attacked!”
At that sound, the assassin pushed Shuan with all his might and began to run away. Hearing the commotion, the knights rushed out and began to pursue the assassin.
My head was spinning from the sudden turn of events. Shuan approached me and asked.
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
“It’s okay. Thank you for saving me.”
I calmed my startled heart and expressed my sincere gratitude. However, Shuan's expression upon hearing my thanks was deeply complicated. Seeing his face, my heart felt cold. I was certain.
“...Young Master, you knew I would be attacked.”
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