EWOWMAIBTYPF Chapter 164

Chapter 164

***

 

“**** it!”

Kenneth Pettier stormed out into the garden connected to the ballroom and, unable to contain his rage, kicked the ground.

The images of Viscount Elard and the Grand Duke’s daughter he’d seen just moments ago floated through his mind, bursting the bubble of sweet fantasy he’d briefly entertained.

“**** it all! Elard again?!”

Kenneth couldn’t stop himself from cursing.

⟨Waaah! I hate monsters!⟩

He could still vividly remember the day that insolent young lady had screamed at him in front of the academy.

It was the first time in his life Kenneth Pettier had been insulted to his face.

If anyone other than Lady Elard had said that to him, he wouldn’t have cared even if it was a child—he would’ve made them pay for it.

But unfortunately, her status was higher than his, so he could do nothing but laugh it off.

Kenneth forced himself to treat that day as just an unpleasant, unlucky memory—until everything the Pettier family touched began to fall apart.

Although he had falsified an inspection report, nothing had gone wrong with the merchant ship until just a few days ago, when suddenly, they were forbidden to sail.

Or the simple gift he had customarily given while conducting business was suddenly deemed a bribe, and he was hit with a massive fine.

Even his shady money lending business was exposed and shut down. To top it off, he was even sued for assault when all he did was ‘correct’ the behavior of a lowly commoner.

Even so, Kenneth didn’t take it all too seriously at first.

After all, he had powerful nobles he’d built relationships with over the years.

But… not a single one helped him.

Worse yet, they acted like they had nothing to do with the Pettier family as if they wanted to avoid being associated with them altogether.

Only after his once-proud family, known for its booming trade empire, suddenly collapsed did Kenneth realize this wasn’t just a streak of bad luck.

He became convinced it was all the doing of Lucio Elard.

His family called him paranoid, accused him of being insane, and even Kenneth himself knew it might be an irrational suspicion… but he couldn’t let go of the idea.

So he tried appeasing the Elard family, offering them favors in hopes of mending things. But all he received in return was cold indifference.

His father, the Count of Pettier, told him not to worry, that he had a secret plan to revive the family—but Kenneth, utterly demoralized, couldn’t bring himself to believe it.

Then, hope appeared.

In the form of the Grand Duke’s daughter.

The moment Kenneth saw her, he felt a strong sense of destiny.

‘She smiled at me. I’m sure of it.’

In his head, a dreamlike future unfolded.

He saw himself as the son-in-law of the wealthiest man on the continent, starting a new life.

But…

“**** it!”

How far was Lucio Elard planning to ruin his life?!

Seeing Lucio sweet-talking the Grand Duke’s daughter, holding her hand, no less, drove Kenneth to the brink. He almost rushed over in a blind rage.

He couldn’t stand to watch anymore, so he ran outside but he couldn’t let things end here.

When he returned to the ballroom, he overheard the Grand Duke’s daughter speaking.

“Then I’ll go rest on the third floor for a bit.”

Whether overwhelmed by the crowd or tired, she was headed to a special lounge prepared for foreign dignitaries.

Kenneth’s eyes lit up.

Even if the Pettier family was no longer at its peak, they’d long been involved in trade, which meant frequent contact with foreign nobility.

Thanks to that, Kenneth had often visited that very lounge, a space even imperial nobles found difficult to access without Foreign Ministry clearance.

Confidently name-dropping a foreign noble he once worked with, Kenneth pressured the hesitant guards. Unable to resist his bold demeanor, they opened the door to the third-floor lounge.

‘Maybe this too is fate,’ he thought with a sly grin.

He finally located the terrace where the Grand Duke’s daughter was resting.

Without even knocking, he threw the door open.

 

***

 

I stared at Kenneth, who stood there with a creepy smile, in complete disbelief.

After Lucio left, I’d been surrounded by people with even more curiosity and questions than before. Wanting to avoid the crowd until my parents arrived, I’d slipped away.

I handed Diana off to Aidan and came up to the third floor, finally feeling like I could breathe…

And then this guy barges in?

I let out a dry laugh in disbelief, and Kenneth’s eyes sparkled as he exclaimed,

“I knew it!”

“…?”

“You recognized me, didn’t you, Your Highness?”

“How would I know you?”

I shot back immediately, annoyed by his smug attitude.

“Eh?” Kenneth blinked in confusion.

“Did you already forget what you just said? That I recognized you? I don’t associate with rude people like you.”

I shook my head in disbelief.

Kenneth flinched, then smiled as if he suddenly understood something.

“You must be shy, Your Highness. My apologies. Allow me to introduce myself again. I’m Kenneth Pettier, eldest son of Count Pettier. We met a few hours ago at the preliminaries of the swordsmanship competition. To be blunt… I fell in love with you at first sight. I couldn’t bear the thought of regretting it forever, so I apologize for being so forward in seeking you out.”

‘Wow. This is beyond ridiculous.’

No wonder I felt gross when I saw him blushing earlier.

“This is so disgusting.”

“…What?”

“I was going to go easy on you, but just seeing your face is making me lose my appetite.”

I frowned and quickly waved him off.

“I’ll overlook your rudeness this once, so if you’ve said your piece, get out.”

“What are you talking about…”

I even turned my head, as if I couldn’t bear to look at him anymore, and Kenneth suddenly snapped.

“Please stop playing coy!”

“…What?”

“I know you have feelings for me too, Your Highness!”

“…Are you insane?”

I was genuinely appalled.

But even with my clear expression and blunt words, Kenneth didn’t waver.

“Is it… because of him? Did that wicked man speak ill of me again?”

“What are you even saying…”

“I saw it earlier! Lucio Elard—he was bothering you!”

At that moment, my expression turned cold.

‘Wicked man,’ he said?

He wasn’t even talking about himself, and yet he had the nerve to call someone else wicked?

Yes, Lucio had made things difficult for me just a while ago, but hearing Kenneth say that made my blood boil.

I was so furious, I let a bit of my magic leak out—and Kenneth, completely unshielded against mana, started gasping for breath.

Just one flick of my finger…

I could almost see it play out, but I quickly shook my head.

This wasn’t the place to cause a scene, not in the Imperial Palace.

But I swore I’d make him pay someday. As I reached toward the door…

“Y-Your Highness…”

Kenneth, wheezing as if he might faint any second, suddenly latched onto my hand like it was a lifeline.

I winced from the pain and tried to shake him off…

But at that moment.

Slam! 

The door burst open.

“…Huh?”

Lucio appeared and roughly tore Kenneth’s hand from mine.

“Why are you… No, how did you get here?”

Lucio frowned as he looked at Lia’s confused expression.

“Is that really what matters right now?”

“…Well, yes?”

“Hah.”

Lucio let out a short, dry laugh and twisted his lips in irritation.

“I said I’d be here soon, didn’t I? Unlike some people, I keep my promises.”

“What are you talking about…?”

“You really can’t be left alone for a second, huh.”

Lia looked dumbfounded at Lucio’s remark.

There were more than a few things she wanted to question, but seeing the unusual tension on Lucio’s face, she decided to hold back for now.

Instead, she looked at Kenneth’s wrist, which looked like it might snap at any moment, and said,

“Let go of his hand first.”

“…Why?”

“What do you mean, why…”

“So blondes really are your type? You weren’t scared—you were interested?”

Lucio snapped without thinking, and Lia’s eyes widened in surprise.

Lucio clamped his mouth shut right away, regretting his words, but he was struggling to keep the storm of emotions under control.

Honestly, it was the worst.

After hearing that Lia had come to the Empire, Lucio had been on edge the whole time, afraid they might miss each other again.

Even though he’d criticized the princess for being irresponsible, he had wanted to drop everything and return to the Empire the moment he heard the news.

He had barely kept those feelings in check, worked himself to the bone, and rushed back—only to find this scene.

‘If it had been someone like Jack from the Order… No, that wouldn’t have been okay either.’

Lucio quickly shook his head internally.

He had always been known as cold and rational, but now he realized just how temperamental and emotional he could be.

And again, unable to hold back, Lucio sharply asked,

“Were you two having a secret rendezvous or something?”

“W-What? A rendezvous? Of course not!”

He had meant to make it crystal clear, especially not this guy, but Lia’s reaction, clearly offended and hopping mad, quickly soothed his irritation.

Still, keeping a stiff face, Lucio flung Kenneth’s unconscious hand aside and asked again, as if to confirm,

“Really?”

“Of course! This guy barged in here out of nowhere. What do you mean, ‘rendezvous’? That’s so gross.”

“Right. He’s not really the type you’d be interested in…”

“Do you have an overactive imagination, or is it just that thing where you only see what you do yourself? Maybe you’re the one sneaking around behind people’s backs?”

Lia snapped, glaring at him, and Lucio flinched.

A moment later, he asked with a strangely delighted expression,

“So… you’re bothered? The idea that I might’ve been in a secret rendezvous?”

Lia couldn’t answer and just made a sour face, which made Lucio’s smile grow even deeper.

“Tell me. Who do you think I’d be having a secret meeting with?”