CHAPTER FOUR
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His gestures were unlike the one who was titled head of a military family, you could see his refined and gentle mannerisms from his conversational habits. The people were like parrots chattering beside Ian with their artificial feathers. One way to describe it was to say that he was like a peacock.
He gave off the feeling as if he alone, lived in this world. Because of that many of the women seemed pitiable.
A background with immense authority, along with an appearance that gave a favorable impression and a personality that made women trust him, made him the object of envy. However, due to the fact he was gay, everyone’s attention went toward the man chattering next to me. Barrett.
“You are very lovely today too, Lady Laurencia. Last time when you invited me to the mansion you didn’t seem to be doing well. It seems that you are fine today.”
It’s because of you that I’m not feeling well, in fact, it would be great if you’d get lost. If I had lost control of my nerves or got distracted, those words would have escaped my mouth. To prevent saying those words out loud I forced myself to think of something else repetitively.
“I’m managing.”
I responded without looking at his face unlike a noble. As if I were either a bastard or someone who didn’t learn any manners, I refused him strongly without the politeness one would have as a noble.
Without manners, one can not live in this aristocratic world due to the backlash one would receive. Barrett is a noble of an incredibly powerful background. Everyone was focused on the conversation I had with Barrett.
However, even though that was the case, delicate words did not come from my lips. I kept thinking that it would be great if he left before I started to sprout out curses.
“Ha, haha… It seems that Lady Laurencia’s body condition isn’t well today either.”
“I’m indebted to someone for that.”
At the sound of my chilling voice, Barrett shut his mouth. No matter how good of a mask you wear, you’re still trash. This won’t change.
“La...dy.”
“If there are no more words you want to say, I will be leaving first.”
I had a feeling that Barrett followed me after I left my seat. In a hurry, I went through the crowd of nobles and went outside. I didn’t want to be in the same space as him any longer.
Originally, I didn’t like to participate in parties much. It was already tiring to interact with people with a fake smile to obtain connections for my business. I didn’t want to make more efforts in keeping appearances. Even if it was an enjoyable party, I always felt like I was working.
However, I had come to the party of Duke Veridian in order to refuse Marquis Acpencia, but due to him continuously talking to me the plan backfired.
For a long time, the Aztane and Acpencia families had secretly agreed on this marriage, but now everyone had gotten wind of it. It has been four days since Barrett came to the mansion but now rumors were spread.
That rumor was spread by someone with loose lips, Barrett. I had wanted to remove my relations with Barrett by conversing with other noblemen, but couldn’t because he kept talking to me.
Who would flirt with the girl the Marquis of Acpenica had his sights on and risk living being resented by the court? Other men avoided having conversations with me.
I was aware of how awful Barrett was due to the fact that other men avoided me because of fear.
“There’s no way this will work damn it!!!”
It’s been for four days since I’ve come to the past, I thought I could change my path but I am still tied to Barrett. His possessive greed was focused on me. To be honest, it wasn't me but the possessions the Aztane family held.
He was a character that had a lot of greed. If he were to absorb all the Aztane family’s possessions he would be prosperous enough to become a duke. In reality, he had used my younger sister to do so.
But now everything is different. There was an opportunity. To get rid of him, and protect myself and my family.
For that reason I needed power. The power to get rid of the contract without being afraid of the Acpenica family. I needed that kind of power.
However, in this land, there were not many that could ignore the Acpencia family.
‘Veridian, Safeldric, and the Imperial family’
First, the current crown prince was a close ally of Barrett. So, rejected.
The Safeldric family now only has four daughters. So, reject this too.
The last is the head of the Veridian family, Ian.
“... What course do I take to persuade a homosexual man?”
Including myself, there would be no chance for even the greatest beauty on the continent. He likes men.
His licentiousness may be unexpectedly helpful though. If I were to support his funds I may be under his protection.
No, before that the possessions of the Veridian family needs to dry up. No matter how prodigal he may be, they were still named a ducal family. How much is his yearly budget? I can’t even imagine the amount.
So I deemed establishing a contract based on money to be impossible.
After debating this or that, my only choice was to pick another Marquis family but…
If I were to look at my candidates they were mostly men much older than I am, or very young children. I couldn’t find any my age no matter how hard I looked.
I took a deep breath as I wandered around the garden while thinking, I could hear someone called me from behind.
A voice that will give you goosebumps just from hearing it. I scrunched up my face and turned my head towards the figure of Barrett who was quickly approaching.
“Lady Laurencia! So you were here!”
The image of him called out my name with short breaths wasn’t honest. There was no sweat on the face of the man who was supposedly short of breath.
After being conditioned to detect a lying face, I would not fall for his acting.
I looked at him with pathetic eyes and turned away. It was not worth having a conversation. If I do this he should know and get lost.
However, he was more persistent than I thought.
“Lady, please wait for me!”
Barrett called out loud and strong, unlike someone who was out of breath. I wasn’t going to be moved to stop moving because of his voice and lung capacity.
I left as if I couldn’t hear him, but Barrett followed me and violently grabbed my wrist.
“I told you to stop moving!”
“Kyaaa”
It’s really painful! Where in this world would you find someone who would ignorantly grab a person’s wrist like this? I glared at him after looking down at my wrist that was painfully grabbed.
“What are you doing Marquis? Let go of me!”
“I can’t do that. From the start, you’ve been acting as if you can’t hear anything I say. I need to know the reason why you are ignoring me.”
“I never did such a thing. Promptly let me go! It’s painful!”
“Please tell me the reason!”
My body started to stagger in response to the action of him roughly shaking my wrist. No matter how skinny Barrett was, the me who had never trained could not beat him in terms of strength.
“What is your reason for disregarding me?”
‘Are you asking because you don’t know, you trashy bastard!?! You had an affair with my sister and betrayed me!’ Those words rose up to my throat. However, if I said those words it would clearly seem like I had gone insane, so I bit my lips and just glared at him.
“This is not the actions of a gentleman. Please let me go.”
“If you tell me the reason I shall let go. Because, wouldn’t you run away once I let go?”
His reactions are quick. It was uncomfortable to see Barrett act politely with a mask on despite the rage he may be feeling. I was aware of his true nature from when he coldly told me to get lost and laughed at my misfortune.
“Please respond!”
“Kkkyaaaaag!”
I got dizzy from him grabbing my other wrist and shaking me. I wouldn’t have come here if I knew I would be caught by the one person I didn’t want to see or meet. Because it was during the night no one would come to help me no matter how much I screamed.
“Lad—”
“What is this? Are you guys having a lover’s quarrel in someone else’s garden?”
I turned my head to the voice of the man who spoke over Barrett’s voice. A voice I heard for the first time. Who is this?
“Oh? Who do we have here? Viscountess Aztane and Marquis Acpencia who are in love with each other to the point of death? What are you two doing here? A private conversation? Or… a more advanced sexual relation than that?”
The man that had appeared is this party’s host Archduke Veridian, Ian. Why is this man here… No, before that, what?
“W..what are you saying!?! Who are you saying I love to death?”
“Oh, is that not correct? Because that is what everyone was saying, I had assumed. Besides you, two were together throughout the whole party. Anyone would think this way.”
He stumbled over as if he were drunk. When listening to his voice and seeing his eyes he didn’t seem to be drunk, he acted drunk on purpose.
He had acted drunk in order to intervene in the situation. At the party, he had shown a perfect appearance but now he started to stumble.
Heavens! Now is not the time to think about this.
“Please help me!”
“Huh? Help you? Are you in a dangerous situation right now?”
“It’s dangerous!”
“To whom?”
“To me!”
“Ah, is that so? I don’t know.”
You don’t know? Is that it?
“Please help me!”
“Lady, what are you saying right now…?”
“So, you need help?”
I evaded Barrett’s hand that tried to cover my mouth and nodded. This guy, with an amused smile saying that understood reached out his hand.
What’s this hand for?
With an extraordinarily shameless face, he spoke.
“I’m quite an expensive person.”
What did this guy say just now?
Seeing his action that didn’t fit the mood I blankly looked at him. Even Barrett felt the same...
Ian blankly looked at his held out hand and he looked at me and tilted his head.
“You don’t want it? If you don’t want it, it’s fine.”
What in the world…? Seeing him turn away I quickly said something. No, as I tried to say something Barrett covered my mouth and I could only let out muffled noises.
Just let me go! Barrett had held me down as I struggled to get out and opened his mouth to say despicable words.
“Laurencia! Are you going to continue to act this way? If you keep acting this way you will experience misfortune..”
The sight of him gently laughing made become feverish. I couldn’t retort the bastard that I couldn’t get away from, and I hated the me that had foolishly fallen in love with him.
“Mmmmf!”
I kicked my foot up with all my strength. I had targeted his shin with my sharp heel and he screamed, held his injury and jumped around
“Kkyaaaaaaag!”
What a hideous scream. It suits him. I wasn’t able to find my way to escape as he still held onto me as we both fell to the ground.
“This damn bitch!”
He grabbed my hair as I quickly got up to get away.
“Kkyaaaaag!”
“Trash like you dare hit me?”
I felt like my hair would be ripped out! Barrett deviously smiled as he saw me grab my hair to prevent the strain.
I felt as his hand slowly go down my back to hold my side. At that moment chills went through my body. Having mice and bugs crawl all over my body would be better than this.
“You should firmly fix your actions from today”
I closed my eyes as I saw his hand go up to hit me.
“Ah, could it be that…”
The hand from my hip didn’t go up anymore. Ian who had left without a care had come back and spoken. Then he looked at me blankly as he slowly opened his mouth.
“I can cut the price a little bit, do you have any thoughts?”
Seriously this guy!
“I don’t care about the price, help me! I’ll pay you any price!”
“Is that so?”
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