Chapter 27
“I see,” I replied flatly.
“Please, Lady Iris. You and I could make a perfect pair,” Anthony said with urgency.
“Just give me the paper first.”
Without hesitation, I handed it over. My goal had already been achieved.
“You won’t regret this. We’ll live happily in the Apellemeon duchy.”
He beamed like he had just won the world.
Smack!
“You bastard!”
Demeyra, who had somehow broken free from her dazed state, appeared behind Anthony and smacked his back with her palm while screaming.
“You fraud! You trash! You snake!”
Tears streamed down her face as she beat his back. Her hair was a tangled mess from running, and her face was drenched with snot and tears.
“You just kissed me—and now this, you scumbag?!”
Anthony froze for a second, then regained his composure almost instantly.
“Did you overhear something?”
Demeyra, with a face twisted by misery, cried out,
“Did I hear it? That you’ve never considered me as a lover or a wife? You think I didn’t hear that?!”
“Good. Saves me the trouble of repeating it. Yes, it’s exactly as you heard,” Anthony shrugged and pushed her hand off his wrist.
She stumbled back a few steps, stunned.
“Anthony…”
“I never made you any promises, Lady Demeyra.”
His voice was cold and unforgiving.
“I don’t know why you’re misunderstanding. Everyone in the social circles knows how many times I’ve rejected your advances.”
“But—but you kissed me…”
She choked on the words.
“You kissed me in front of everyone… and now you say we’re nothing? That there’s no misunderstanding?”
“You begged me for one kiss. Just once,” Anthony replied smoothly, expression unchanged. “I granted your wish. I thought that would be enough to make you go away. I see now I misjudged. You’re far more persistent than I thought—frankly, it’s disgusting.”
“W-What…?”
The anger vanished from Demeyra’s eyes, replaced only by shock.
“I endured something I didn’t even want out of pity. Clearly, I wasted my effort.”
“When did I ever…”
“Ask anyone. Anyone at all,” Anthony continued with cruel amusement. “Ask them if we were ever lovers, or if it was just you chasing me around like a lost puppy. I’ve told all my acquaintances how annoyed I was by your obsession.”
He laughed.
“You think anyone would believe I kissed you willingly?”
“But…”
“What exactly do you think makes you worthy of me? Your face? Your background? I’ll be honest—there’s not a single hair on your head I find attractive.”
He reached out and flicked her disheveled hair in mockery. He didn’t even try to lower his voice anymore, so everyone nearby heard the insult.
“Enough!”
Demeyra finally collapsed to the ground, defeated.
“I get it, so just stop!”
She sobbed uncontrollably. For a brief moment, I did feel sorry for her—but only a moment. At least now, even someone as foolish as her wouldn’t be clinging to Anthony anymore.
“Sit there and cry, or leave. Either way, it’s pathetic,” Anthony sighed dismissively.
“I’ll go have a meaningful conversation with Lady Iris now.”
He unfolded the paper I’d given him with a smug smile.
“A technique for getting chosen by a Pegasus that already has a master… This should be interesting—huh?”
That smirk vanished as soon as he read what was written.
“Lady Iris, what is this?”
“Exactly what it says.”
He blinked, reading the note aloud.
“‘Get close to Nael.’ That’s it?”
“The only way to tame a Pegasus with a master is to befriend the master. If Nael trusts you, the Pegasus might let you ride it.”
“This… This isn’t what I wanted!”
“You don’t always get what you want,” I replied with a shrug.
“Don’t like it? Find another Pegasus and try taming it. Though I doubt you’ll succeed.”
“Did you trick me?!” Anthony stared at me in outrage. “I thought we had an understanding…”
“Understanding? About what?” I tilted my head with a teasing smile. “You must be mistaken. I’m not involved with you in any way.”
Realizing what had just happened, Anthony’s face turned ashen.
“Why?” he growled.
“Didn’t you hear my proposal? Or are you too stupid to understand it?”
“You mean the one about marrying you? I heard it. Understood it. And I’m rejecting it. Did you also want the reason?”
Anthony’s face twitched with rage.
“You like honesty, don’t you? Let me be honest.”
“…”
“You have no loyalty. No compassion. No real skill. Only ambition, inflated pride, and an overblown sense of your own worth.”
“…”
“In short—you’re insufferable. Also, your face isn’t my type. Frankly, you’re a bit too slimy and remind me of Bartol in a bad way.”
I turned toward Demeyra, who was still sitting there, dazed.
“Honestly, there was a time I thought you and Demeyra were well-matched. Both awful in your own ways. But if I had to choose, I’d say… Demeyra has, I don’t know, maybe a speck more worth than you. A single grain of sand more.”
As I finished, Anthony clenched his fists tightly.
“You… You were toying with me?”
“I think that’s your specialty, not mine.”
“How dare you…”
“Yes, I dared. And I think even Count Morin would agree with me over you right now.”
“You damn—!”
Anthony cursed, crumpled the note, and threw it at my feet before storming toward the mansion.
“Oh, and by the way!”
I shouted at his back.
“You’re not the Empire’s best rider!”
Anthony froze mid-step, his shoulders rising and falling with rage.
“There are kids in the eastern slums who ride better than you.”
“You—!”
“I give it two years. Nael will surpass you. So maybe tone down the arrogance.”
Anthony didn’t stay to hear the rest. He ran toward the mansion—though with his fractured rib, it was more of a stagger than a dramatic exit.
The crowd slowly dispersed. I approached Demeyra, who was still sitting on the ground.
“Not getting up?”
“…Go.”
She replied stiffly, still hiccupping from crying.
“Don’t pity me. I don’t want to see your face.”
“Alright.”
I turned to leave, but her voice called out behind me again.
“Are you really just going to leave me?”
“You told me to.”
I turned back.
“Then what am I supposed to do?”
“What do you mean? Start by blowing your nose.”
I pulled a handkerchief from my pocket and handed it to her. Lately, I’d been using a lot of handkerchiefs to wipe other people’s faces. Not sure why.
Demeyra took it and blew her nose loudly.
“I… I guess I can’t get married now, right?”
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
“Maybe someone from a remote family without a title… How do I find someone who doesn’t know about this scandal?”
“You’re not that important, you know. People don’t care that much.”
“…Liar.”
I sighed for what must have been the tenth time today.
What kind of gaslighting did Lucilla feed her daughter? And why did Demeyra swallow it so easily?
“I was just publicly rejected by Anthony again. Kissed in front of everyone. Who would want me now?”
“Well, I confessed to the First Prince in front of everyone when they all thought I was engaged to Bartol.”
Demeyra looked up at me.
“…True.”
She sniffled.
“That’s pretty embarrassing.”
What the hell?
After all that crying, now she regains color in her cheeks because I might’ve been embarrassed?
Unable to hold back anymore, I grabbed her cheeks and pulled hard in both directions.
