“Keugh!”
Two of Huan’s teeth flew out in a parabola.
“Kyaa! Uncle!”
Dana screamed, but Carl’s ears heard nothing.
“This despicable guy, how dare you touch my niece?”
Pow! Carl’s fist struck Huan once more.
How dare he propose elopement to Dana! To covet Dana’s fortune behind his back, such an ungrateful b*stard!
“Uncle, stop.”
Only after Dana clung to him did Carl lower his fist.
“Uncle, please stop—”
At that moment, I was inwardly shocked. His arm muscles were incredibly tense and bulging, and the pulse felt below was throbbing madly. Is he really losing his temper to this extent?
Carl was indeed furious to the tips of his hair. I had expected it, but to this degree?
“Sorry. Dana. I’m sorry, really sorry.” Carl hastily wiped his face with his free hand.
“Sorry. I shouldn’t have let you see that, right?” He then smiled reassuringly, albeit belatedly. But the splash of Huan’s blood on his cheek only added to the dissonance.
“It seems Huan has been tormenting you.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“What do you have to be sorry for? It’s that dog… no, that man who’s wrong for exploiting your good nature.”
Carl hugged me and patted my back.
“I should have noticed sooner. I’m sorry.”
I buried my face in his embrace and swallowed my laughter. Sorry? Rather, I’m grateful. My expectations for his anger were more than fulfilled.
It seemed like things would go smoother now.
* * *
“Carl, what on earth have you done!” Sandra, holding her completely unconscious brother, wailed. “How could you do this to my younger brother? How!”
“You should be thankful it ended just that way, Sandra.”
“Honey!”
“Pathetic and incompetent. I made a man out of someone who used to wander back alleys and gambling dens, and he dares to overstep his bounds…” Carl gritted his teeth. “He proposed to Dana. Even suggested elopement.”
Sandra blinked. What? That was the look in her eyes.
“You did this to Huan over just that?”
“Just that?”
“Yes! What’s wrong with Huan! Are you saying my brother isn’t good enough for Danae?”
“You think he’s suitable? That worthless gambler, for Dana, who’s received honors from the imperial family?!”
“You! Are you insulting Huan now?!”
“That’s not all. Huan gave Dana a bouquet of moonlight flowers! He must have been secretly stealing them all this time!”
“Don’t insult my brother! Only I can do that!”
Carl and Sandra’s marital argument grew increasingly intense.
Meanwhile, unaware of these events, Allice was immersed in deep happiness.
“Your Highness, have you seen the newspaper?” Allice snuggled into Raios’ embrace with a shy smile.
“Yes, I saw it.”
Raios stroked her hair with one hand and smoked a cigar with the other.
“You were in the newspaper. <Allice Windsor, a Pioneer of New Markets>.”
“Hehe.”
“That’s great, Allice. I didn’t know you had such talent.”
Yay. Being praised.
Allice laughed softly and nuzzled his chest. Now, it was an embrace only she could enjoy. I’m so happy.
But Sister Dana wouldn’t receive such love from His Highness anymore. That thought brought a wave of pity.
“I feel sorry for Sister Dana,” Allice muttered sadly. “I feel so guilty. I’m not sure if I should be this happy.”
“Why not? You earned it. Enjoy it.”
Encouraged by his words, Allice felt happiness surge again.
“Your Highness.” Allice hugged Raios tightly. “I love you, Your Highness.”
“How cute.” Raios gently ruffled her hair.
As the sweet moment passed, a messenger arrived that evening. A letter from Windsor Duchy – from her mother, Sandra Windsor. It was news about a fight between her uncle and her father because of Dana!
“Your Highness, may I borrow some pen and paper?”
“Hm? Why?”
“I need to write a letter.”
“What’s going on?”
“Well, it’s just…” Allice hesitated. “Uncle Huan proposed to Dana.”
“…”
“And dad is very angry. As you know, dad thinks of Sister Dana as his daughter.”
Raios listened expressionlessly. His face was void of emotion, like a beautiful painting, only the cigar on his lips burning red.
“Here.” After a while, Raios gestured to the table. “Help yourself.”
* * *
[To my dear Sister Dana]
Allice’s letter arrived.
[Sister, I’m at the imperial palace. His Highness keeps holding me back, so I can’t return home. I apologize for replacing my visit with a letter]
I sipped my coffee and slowly read the letter.
[Could you please talk to dad for me? Actually, Uncle Huan is a good person when you get to know him. He’s manly and has a strong sense of responsibility.]
I laughed. Manly, really?
[Sister, being involved in such gossip isn’t good for you either. For your reputation’s sake, I hope you make a wise choice.]
[I don’t think Uncle’s love is a sin.]
“Really, this girl.”
I crumpled Allice’s letter.
“How did she hide this personality all this time?”
Truly extraordinary.
That’s when…
“Danae!”
Bang, the door opened, and Sandra entered.
“What’s so lacking about Huan!”
It looked like she would try to grab me by the hair again. Then, I should hit her on the head with a book. I secretly grabbed a book and prepared for the hair-pulling fight.
“Huan is just immature, not a bad kid!”
Oh, it seems like they had a big marital fight. And Sandra had been crying a lot, her eyes swollen, and even…
Ugh, the smell of alcohol. The strong scent of whiskey hit my nose.
“So talk to Carl for me! Right? Tell him Huan seems like a nice man. Right? Right?”
“I’d rather not.”
“What’s so lacking about my brother! He may be a little bloated now, but he was so cute before!”
“…”
“Huan was so sweet when he was young. Following me around saying, ‘Sister, Sister,’ so cute!”
Then she burst into a loud wail. “My poor brother. How did he end up being a bloated gambling slob? So pitiful!”
She’s drunk. Completely drunk.
“Ah, I see. You’re upset because of Allice!”
Why bring up Allice now? I was both amused and tired of this drunken rant.
“Allice is thriving, and you’re jealous. That’s why you’re tormenting Huan. Right? That’s it, isn’t it?”
As she furiously pointed and accused me, my secretary entered. Sandra glanced at my secretary and laughed coarsely. “Ah, I see. You have a young and handsome lover, so a man like Huan doesn’t catch your eye.”
“He’s my secretary, not my lover.”
“Of course, a secretary. A very handsome one at that. What a waste not to use him for other purposes!”
Really, mother and daughter shared a terrifyingly similar thought process.
“So lend me your lover! How much? How much would it be!”
After her intense drunken scene, Sandra was eventually escorted out by the servants. I sighed heavily, feeling like I had witnessed a one-woman show.
“Sorry, Lethe, for putting you in this position.”
“It’s not your fault, Milady.”
My secretary adjusted his silver-rimmed glasses.
“So, what will Milady do now?”
“We’ll stick to the plan.”
It was the perfect timing. Sandra’s outburst had fueled the already raging fire.
“Is a moonlight flower currently worth 20 billion Fran?”
“Yes.”
20 billion Fran for a single flower, almost madness. And it was the exact price I aimed for. So now…
“Lethe.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s start tonight.”
Allice, I hope you have sweet dreams tonight. Because from tomorrow, your reality will be a nightmare.
* * *
<Shock! Moonlight Flower Price Plummets!>
<Being Sold at Half the Auction Price in the Black Market!>
The next morning, Allice stared blankly at the newspaper.
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Thanks for the translation!
Thank you dear translator Alyalia for such a funny chapter!❤️🔥