The Elais family wasn’t wealthy either, so even their sponsorship could only amount to a very small sum.
Dylan and Kevin’s time at the sword academy overlapped with Jack’s.
So they sponsored less than originally planned. This meant that no matter how kind Lord Elais was, he wouldn’t give away money to others while starving his own children.
But Jack was completely unaware of this fact.
Lord Elais’s face was full of weariness, as if he hadn’t expected his failure to properly explain things to his son would come back to haunt him in this way.
Lord Elais spoke while rubbing his thin face, but Jack pretended not to hear.
“Everyone lives a hard life at the sword academy, who lives easily?”
“That’s right. For someone who claims it was so tough, your skills don’t seem that impressive.”
Kevin and Dylan remarked sarcastically. In truth, they wanted to turn the tables, but the other party was Lord Elais’s son. If they caused a scene here, it would only lead to Carol hearing unpleasant things, so the two held back. These people would be leaving soon anyway. They didn’t want to disturb Carol when she was finally happy.
Jack frowned at their words but didn’t say anything.
But as the two had said, even though he had graduated from the sword academy, his skills weren’t outstanding enough to immediately secure a job, forcing him to return home. His opponents were knights recognized by the royal family. Knowing he would only make a fool of himself if he spoke up, he bit his lower lip.
“The Duke had already mentioned wanting to sponsor you.”
Lord Elais, seemingly wanting to consider his son’s feelings, mentioned what had happened earlier at the tea house.
“Did you accept?”
“That…not yet.”
“If you live like Father, always at a loss, everyone will take advantage of you!”
Jack said, glancing at Kevin and Dylan. As Dylan was about to step in, unable to bear Jack’s attitude of feeling robbed of what should have been his, there was a sound.
Click.
The Duke opened the door and entered. He was about to say something, but Carol quickly stood in front of him.
As if to say she was the one who should speak from now on. The Duke read her intention and quietly closed his mouth. But he couldn’t suppress his gaze, and everyone averted their eyes from his sharp look.
The small sparrow, backed by a lion, came face to face with Jack as if in confrontation.
“Why do you dislike me so much?”
It was a direct question. Everyone looked at Carol in surprise, as no one had expected her to ask such a question so suddenly.
“…Were you eavesdropping?”
Jack returned the question instead of answering, as if dumbfounded.
“I couldn’t come in because I could hear you talking about me too loudly.”
“Then you must have heard the reason why I dislike you, right? Why ask again? Are you deaf?”
Jack muttered in a contemptuous tone.
“According to you, my siblings received more sponsorship, so I don’t understand why you’re showing such hostility only towards me.”
This was mentioned earlier. Before, she had let the answer slide, but not now.
“Your siblings will eventually be worth the sponsorship they received anyway.”
Carol snorted at his reply, which seemed prepared.
“To the beastmen? Or to you?”
Jack was at a loss for words at Carol’s sharp retort, despite having been quite cocky just moments ago.
“…”
“That’s not really true, is it?”
“What?”
“You’re just picking on me because I seem the easiest target, right?”
“Ha.”
Carol knew that the reason Lord Elais brought his son here wasn’t just because he needed someone to assist him.
She was aware of his intention to somehow benefit Kevin and Dylan by associating them with her.
It wasn’t that Lord Elais had bad intentions; he probably just thought it would be good for everyone.
So Carol pretended not to know, even though she did. And she genuinely wanted to help if possible.
“Am I wrong? I don’t know what kind of victim complex you have, but you’re trying to take out all your resentment on the easiest target, aren’t you?”
Carol straightened her back and glared at Jack. Even just standing face to face with him was threatening to her.
But Carol didn’t stop speaking.
“You seem to think you’ve been robbed of what you should have received, so I’ll return it to you. No matter how much it costs, I’ll do it personally.”
Carol wanted to be kind, but she didn’t want to be a fool. She glanced sideways at Lord Elais. She wanted to stay quiet for his sake, but unfortunately, Jack had already crossed the line too many times.
“How much money could you possibly have? Instead of trying to stand up to me, don’t try to leech off your family or lover’s money…”
“Why do you think I would leech off someone else’s money?”
“…”
“I’m capable of earning money. Do you think I would just leech off others because that’s what you do?”
Carol openly looked Jack up and down, as if to show that she wasn’t the only one who could make judgments.
“Hey! You… Ha.”
Jack flared up but couldn’t say anything due to the Duke’s menacing gaze behind Carol.
“But even if I repay all that money, I don’t think it would improve your standard of living.”
Jack’s face turned bright red.
“What are you…!”
He was the typical petty man who was fine criticizing others but couldn’t stand being criticized himself.
For a moment, unable to control his anger, he raised his hand, but was lightly restrained by the Duke.
“If you had begged like a beggar instead, I might have given you alms.”
The Duke’s sarcasm made the air freeze.
“Duke!”
Lord Elais’s face, which was already pale, now looked blue.
“Ugh.”
Jack let out a low groan from the strong grip.
Slap.
The Duke sharply brushed off his hand as if touching something worthless was unpleasant.
Jack grabbed his pushed-away arm and glared at Carol.
“Jack. Please stop.”
Lord Elais shouted, holding his forehead.
Carol turned towards Lord Elais.
“I’m sorry, Lord. I think my presence here will only cause more trouble.”
“Miss Carol, I’m sorry. I’ll…apologize on his behalf.”
“No, I’m sorry for ruining the meal time.”
Carol added.
“Then enjoy your meal. You two, eat and come out.”
Kevin and Dylan, who were half-standing to leave together, shook their heads at Carol’s words.
“No. We just finished eating.”
“Me too.”
Louis quietly added his opinion from behind and stood up. Thus, the dinner ended in a messy atmosphere.
“I’ll visit you again tomorrow.”
Carol spoke to Lord Elais. It meant she didn’t intend to cut ties completely. Realizing her meaning, Lord Elais nodded once to express his gratitude.
“Yes. Thank you, Miss Carol.”
His tired face looked rougher than when they had first met.
As the group hurriedly left, Jack finally sat down next to Lord Elais, looking aggrieved, and said,
“Did you just hear that, Father?”
“Yes, I heard.”
“They clearly said they’d return the money, so when it comes back, you’ll give it to me, right? I’m practically the one who got it back.”
Jack looked oddly proud. He seemed to think that if he managed to get the money back, it would be his victory. His one-dimensional thinking was clearly visible.
“…Is that all you have to say?”
Lord Elais looked at his son while rubbing his face tiredly.
He had thought his son was just immature, but this wasn’t immaturity—it was a lack of character education. Was it because he had always indulged his son’s words after losing his wife early?
When they were alone, he could pretend not to notice, but now that his son had behaved disgracefully in front of others, he could no longer ignore it.
“To speak so brazenly just because she has backing. She’s really shameless.”
Jack trembled again, seemingly angered as he thought of Carol.
Seeing that his son still failed to grasp the situation, Lord Elais had no choice but to take drastic measures.
“Go back home.”
He had planned to make him apologize tomorrow, but even that now seemed unlikely.
“Father!”
“It seems I’ve been too lenient with you. I’ll manage my own way back. You pack your things and leave immediately.”
Jack stood up in disbelief at Lord Elais’s cold dismissal.
“But you said you’d look into finding me a job in the capital.”
“You’ve ruined everything, and now you’re talking about what!”
“What did I do!”
“Your job isn’t the important thing here.”
To think about a job after saying such things in front of the Duke. He should be worried about his immediate safety. Even his old self felt his lungs being crushed by the Duke’s menacing aura.
“Father!”
“Go back, right away.”
Lord Elais said firmly. Jack looked wronged, but he had no choice but to obey his father, who was rarely angry with him.
