Viola saw a handsome man with thick eyebrows.
His sharp, clear eyes under double eyelids, prominent nose, and chiseled jawline made him stand out, even in a somewhat uncomfortable-looking blue leather uniform.
Strangely, his uniform was made of leather instead of cotton or polyester, making it seem hot just to look at.
[He always wore a blue uniform with Louis Bartengan’s unique logo to showcase the brand’s craftsmanship.]
Louis Bartengan was a very famous and prestigious family in Parasan. All products produced by Louis Bartengan were considered luxury items and came with a high price tag.
[Some people even referred to him as a walking billboard, but later, this became the beginning of a new industry known as ‘modeling.’]
His name was Serphon, the second son of Louis Bartengan.
[He was a character who destroyed the Seall Viscounty by seducing Viscount Seall’s wife, who later gave birth to the great Archmage Vengas.]
‘His face is really handsome.’
Tall, well-defined features, and fair skin. Just looking at him, he gave off the impression of someone from a different world.
‘His style is different and his attire really stands out here.’
Zenon asked, “Milady, do you recognize someone?”
“No,” Viola replied without looking at Serphon.
Viola did not particularly like the character of Serphon. In fact, she disliked him to the point of almost hating him.
‘He’s an incorrigible playboy known for his good looks, exceptional charm, and the way he seduces many women with his polished manners.’
His character was famous for lines that went beyond being cheesy to lines that were dreadful and embarrassing to Han Arin, who lived in 21st-century South Korea.
[“Every lady in the world deserves the right to be loved.”]
[“Your father is undoubtedly a thief. He must have stolen all the stars from the sky and put them in your eyes.”]
Most of the rest areas on Mount Parr had large cabin-like structures. There were no proper rooms, just a big open space for everyone to rest.
Many of the attendants appeared to be casting curious glances at Serphon.
‘Hey, don’t look in that direction. His hobby is breaking families.’
If Serphon could hear Viola’s thoughts, he would just reply with something like, ‘The people who really need love are the lonely and marginalized women.’
[“I’m grateful that I can love you, Lady Vuvak.”]
Like they say, if your tail is too long, it’ll get stepped on. In the original work, a few years after Viscount Seall met his tragic fate, a low-quality rumor about Serphon began to spread among the nobility.
Meanwhile, he seduced the mistress of a famous martial artist, the Duchess of Purilke, and the Duchess of Brandia. However, the night he spent with Duchess Brandia became his last night.
The morning after he spent the night with Duchess Brandia, he met his end at the hands of Duke Brandia.
Duke Brandia shattered Serphon’s skull with a single punch but just before dying, Serphon laughed heartily.
[“You made your wife lonely. You made your wife lonely and miserable, which led to infidelity. That is the decisive difference between you and me. You have learned barbaric and violent techniques, while I have learned tender-heartedness in dealing with women.”]
After saying this, Serphon left behind a famous testament:
[“I dedicate my death to all the women of this land. You have the right to be free and happy.”]
Viola leaned against the wall, her head shaking in disbelief. At least from Han Arin’s perspective, it sounded absurd.
Didn’t they say, ‘It’s adultery when others do it, but it’s romance when I do it?’ From Han Arin’s point of view, Serphon was nothing more than a playboy who seduced women without discrimination.
But why was he approaching this way? It felt like he was coming towards them. Yes, Serphon’s gaze was definitely directed this way.
“It seems that I’ve come this far under the Lady’s enchanting gaze.”
Serphon’s eyes were fixed on Ersa.
***
After Serphon returned to his area, Zenon spoke.
“Milady, how do you intend to respond to Lord Serphon’s proposal?”
“Well…”
Serphon made a proposal to Viola’s party.
On Mount Parr, there were three entrances to the Parr Duchy: the Gold Road, the Silver Road, and the Bronze Road.
The Gold Road was exclusively for the prestigious families and direct descendants of the Parr Duchy. Only those who received a direct invitation from these families could enter and exit quickly.
No matter how high-ranking a noble was, they couldn’t enter via the Gold Road without an invitation from one of the prominent families of the Parr Duchy. This was an imperial decree issued by the emperor who bequeathed the Parr Duchy and even the current emperor could not travel the Gold Road without permission.
Hera raised an eyebrow.
“Viola, I thought you would certainly accept the proposal.”
“Why?”
“You’re undoubtedly the Iron-Blooded Princess who appreciates reason, aren’t you?”
Serphon’s proposal was undeniably bold. He offered to treat Viola and her party, who were first-time visitors, as ‘guests of Louis Bartenga.’.
“The proposal allows us to bypass all entrance procedures as well as secures us at least three additional days to enjoy the various conveniences within the Parr Duchy. You’ll also receive VIP treatment at Louis Bartenga’s stores.”
Traveling with Serphon would provide them with all these benefits.
Originally, Viola’s party planned to enter the Parr Duchy through the Silver Road. The Silver Road was the most common and universal entry route, used by most nobles.
Viola said, “I don’t like the look in Lord Serphon’s eye.”
“Giggle!”
Hera laughed again. She had no idea such words could come from Viola’s mouth.
“Specifically, what do you find unpleasant?”
“It’s easy to see that he’s trying to hit on Ersa.”
“Then, we say ‘no’?”
“Correct.”
“Why?”
Serphon had requested that in exchange for treating Viola and her party as honored guests of his family, Ersa would accompany him on a date.
“It’s absurd.”
Ersa’s situation, Viola knew it all, as well as Serphon’s temperament.
Viola’s response surprised Ersa so she asked, “May I ask why it’s not allowed?”
“It’s Hera. I don’t want my dear sister to be unhappy.”
Hera and Ersa both flinched. It was an answer they did not expect.
“Unhappy?”
“Milady, unhappy?”
Both women’s gazes turned to Viola. Hera didn’t seem particularly pleased.
“While I’m grateful for your concern, how can you decide if I’ll be unhappy?”
Hera’s gaze grew serious.
“Please answer carefully, Viola.”
In some ways, this comment was insulting to Hera. Why would Serphon’s proposal make Hera unhappy? Viola and Hera maintained a good relationship, but Hera was still Bellato. Without adequate justification or reason, Viola’s words would be considered as being dismissive and insulting of Bellato. It could easily be interpreted as calling Hera an incapable and helpless Bellato, someone who couldn’t control her own unhappiness.
Viola said, “I trust my sister but I don’t trust Ersa to the same extent.”
“I’ll work hard to gain your trust.”
“It’s not your fault. It’s your ex-husband’s.”
Viola knew well why Ersa had to raise her daughter alone. In this world, there were also many characters who tried hard to be good fathers like Hickson, but there were also characters like Ersa’s ex-husband, who were utterly incompetent.
For an inexplicable reason that no reader could agree with, Ersa’s husband abandoned her when she was pregnant.
‘Her husband began to fear Ersa.’
It was when Ersa rescued her husband from bandits.
[“Don’t, don’t come near me.”]
She was already an outstanding martial artist, even before meeting her husband. To rescue her husband from the bandits, Ersa wielded her sword. She saved him from the bandits but in the process, Ersa was deeply wounded.
As a reader, Han Arin could clearly see the inner thoughts of this character.
[Ersa, whose clothes were soaked in blood, approached her husband. “Don’t, don’t come near me.”]
He felt fear more than thanks or gratitude for saving his life. In the end, he hurt Ersa with absurd nonsense.
[“You’re not well-mannered. You imitated men with a woman’s body.”]
That night her husband escaped while Ersa was asleep.
“This is just a guess, but on that dark night when your husband ran away, I think you were awake.”
Ersa was an exceptionally keen martial artist. A martial artist of her caliber couldn’t have missed her husband fleeing.
Viola spoke as if she had witnessed everything, describing it in detail.
“You were probably just silently crying under the thick blanket. You probably thought it was your fault, not his. Because you made a mistake. You thought it was because you showed him such a terrifying sight.”
Ersa had no response to Viola’s precise observations.
“If it were me, I would have cut his tongue out right then and there. But you didn’t do that. You just let him leave while crying silently. Why did you do that? It’s because you loved that worthless guy.”
She made one thing clear.
“It doesn’t mean you’re wrong.”
Those words pierced Ersa’s heart deeply and her eyes turned red.
“If you did anything wrong, it’s probably that you didn’t kill him right there.”
Viola’s heart ached. Ersa, who did nothing wrong, was carrying painful bruises deep inside her heart. The villain was that guy.
“Don’t cry. Your love was noble. You were a mother, and you were great.”
Ersa truly loved her family.
“But someday, if I meet that guy, I’ll cut his tongue out.”
From Han Arin’s perspective, Ersa was a beautiful but foolish character.
“I feel your pain. That miserable feeling of being abandoned by your family. I know how deep and big that wound is. I know it can’t be healed by anything. But you forgave the one who gave you that painful wound, and you loved him so much despite that. Foolish.”
Hera grimaced.
“So, what’s the conclusion?”
“Ersa is foolish.”
She looked into Ersa’s eyes. Ersa’s gaze was endlessly shaky, like a lion who didn’t want her vulnerable spot exposed.
“You are overly warm.”
“Nobody else but you would say I was warm to the villain.”
“To my eyes, it seemed like Serphon dared to pretend to bandage that wound. He aimed for Ersa’s foolish and warm side.”
Whether it was sincere or not didn’t matter. Serphon would pretend to soothe Ersa’s pain with sweet words, and Ersa, hungry for justice and love, would momentarily indulge in that sweetness. After gifting her a brief moment of honey, Serphon would go on to find another flower.
Just like in Seall’s case, it was a simple fact when viewed from a reader’s perspective.
“I don’t want my sister to be hurt again.”
Up to this point, Viola was speaking as a person. Now she spoke as a Bellato.
“More accurately, I don’t want her role as a butler to be compromised.”
“So what do you suggest?”
Viola, who had been lost in thought for a moment, finally spoke.
“Sister, could you lend Ersa to me for a while? We have something to discuss.”
—————————————————————
Translator Note:
This chapter was translated by Bree.
If you like my work please support us in Patreon. Next post will be released on November, 14.
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