The Age Of Arrogance

꧁༺Decker & Dorothea (2) ༻꧂

 

“As expected, someone who has learned well can also teach well.”

 

Decker praised Dorothea with a proud expression on his face.

 

“No! Anyone can do this.”

 

“I can read and write the Imperial language, but my pronunciation is not as accurate as Miss Dorothea’s. I don’t have a voice that children would like either.”

 

He sincerely admired Dorothea.

 

It must have been rare for her to meet dirty commoner children so closely, but she led them naturally. She even stroked the children’s heads without hesitation.

 

She was kind and gentle, yet full of culture.

 

Decker had never seen a teacher before, but he could tell by looking at Dorothea. That’s what a teacher is, he thought.

 

And Dorothea was also filled with a strange sense of emotion.

 

‘Children are really beautiful.’

 

If her father had seen her, he would have scolded her, saying that she was playing school even if she had been up all night.

 

However, the clear eyes of the children who were looking only at her drew out a hidden strength from her.

 

The eyes that longed for learning, that pure longing, tickled Dorothea’s heart.

 

‘Maybe I can be of help to Pervaz?’

 

However, her pounding heart sank heavily in less than half a day.

 

I will send Seth. Stop talking nonsense and follow your brother to Zyro. We don’t have time, I’m very disappointed in you for being so reckless.

 

This was because Giles had sent another letter from the capital.

 

“Sigh…….”

 

Dorothea sighed deeply.

 

Judging by the way he accused her of being reckless, it was clear that he didn’t know anything about Dorothea’s suffering.

 

And two days later, an unwelcome guest visited Pervaz Castle.

 

“My lord. A man from the Raphelt family has come to take Miss Dorothea away.”

 

Decker, who was told the identity and purpose of the visitor, reflexively looked back at Dorothea. Her face was pale.

 

Decker thought of Asha’s letter, which had asked him to take responsibility for Dorothea’s safety. Of course, he would have done so even if Asha hadn’t asked.

 

“Miss Dorothea. I will help you. If you don’t want to go to Zyro, I will stop those who came to pick you up.”

 

Dorothea couldn’t say anything. She seemed to be trembling.

 

Decker understood her fear. To others, it might seem like nothing, but to Dorothea, it was something that required her to break out of her comfortable shell.

 

However, a bird that is ready to hatch must break the egg. Otherwise, it will suffocate and die inside.

 

“Young lady. Choose a life that you will not regret, even if you die tomorrow.”

 

Decker’s gentle encouragement gave Dorothea a little courage.

 

“I want to stay here. I don’t want to be hurt anymore by my father’s unrealistic goals. I’m tired of being in a suffocating place and just rolling my eyes. I just…”

 

“It’s okay if you don’t want to. You don’t have to say anything more.”

 

At those words, Dorothea finally burst into tears.

 

Until now, she had to persuade her father if she wanted to ask for something. That man who had the Academy library memorized in his head.

 

So she was always desperate to explain herself.

 

But Decker said she didn’t have to do that, that it was enough to just say no. Her heart, which had been suffocated for her whole life, felt like it was opening up, and she couldn’t stop the tears.

 

“I know you’ve been through a lot. I also know that you’re trying to be brave.”

 

Decker patted Dorothea’s sobbing shoulder, and when she threw herself into his arms, he hurriedly hugged her small body.

 

“I’ll protect you. Don’t be afraid.”

 

TL/N: Now Carlyle and Decker are taken…tsk 🙁

 

Dorothea couldn’t say thank you and just cried. These were the words she had always wanted to hear from her father or family.

 

Decker comforted Dorothea until she calmed down.

 

It was an hour after they were shown into the drawing room of the castle that the visitors met Dorothea.

 

The person who came to see her was, as Giles had predicted, Seth, the second son of the Raphelt family.

 

“Welcome. I am Decker Donovan, the representative of Lord Pervaz.”

 

Decker was the first to greet them.

 

Seth, wondering what Giles had told him, looked at Decker uncomfortably and introduced himself hesitantly.

 

“I’m Seth Raphelt. I’m the second son of the Raphelt family.”

 

“I see. Did Sir Raphelt tell you to come?”

 

“Well, yes. I came to take Dorothy away because she seems to be causing trouble for Pervaz.”

 

Decker forced a smile as Seth glanced at Dorothea, who was standing behind him, and blocked his view.

 

“You’re mistaken. Lady Dorothea is very helpful to Pervaz, and she has informed Sir Raphelt of her firm decision not to go to Zyro.”

 

“Surely… you didn’t instigate that child, did you?”

 

Seth asked, frowning. He wasn’t aggressive, but he was clearly blaming Decker.

 

However, Decker didn’t waver at all.

 

“Is Lady Dorothea so wise that she would be swayed by my words? She refuses to be burdened by the unwanted empress competition.”

 

“That’s none of your business. Dorothy! Come here!”

 

Seth beckoned to Dorothea. He seemed to believe that she would naturally come to him.

 

Dorothea clenched her fists. She had no ill feelings towards Seth at all. Perhaps because of the sense of camaraderie from growing up under a strong father, he was a kind older brother.

 

However, she didn’t want to show him that she was wavering towards Decker.

 

“I don’t want to, I’m not going.”

 

“Dorothy! Are you crazy? Don’t you know your father’s temper?”

 

“So you’re telling me to sacrifice my life for my father? I don’t want to live like that anymore.”

 

Seth’s mouth dropped open.

 

This was the first time he had seen Dorothea like this.

 

Decker stepped forward again.

 

“Neither of you has the right to throw away Dorothea’s life, whether it’s in exchange for your own or for Sir Raphelt’s. This is exploitation.”

 

“What, what did you say? What did you just say!”

 

“I said, ex-ploi-ta-tion. Have you given any thought to the pain that Dorothea has been through and will continue to go through?”

 

“Of course she’ll be happy once she becomes empress! What are you talking about…!”

 

“Happy? Who?”

 

Decker snapped back sharply.

 

“The only one who will be happy is Sir Raphelt. Not Dorothea, who loves to read quietly, hates noise, and is happy with a simple life.”

 

“A woman’s happiness is…!”

 

“Don’t talk about a woman’s happiness when you’re not even a woman yourself. Tsk.”

 

Seth flinched at the sound of Decker’s short tongue click.

 

Decker’s physique was much larger than Seth’s, who was of average height for a noble male. As a warrior, Decker looked incredibly fierce when he scowled.

 

Seth, feeling burdened, turned to Dorothea again and tried to coax her.

 

“Dorothy, don’t you think I know your heart? But as your brother, you should go when your father calls you. What can we do?”

 

“I know very well what will happen if I go, brother. His Majesty has no intention of accepting me as empress. I’ll just be stuck there, following His Majesty around like a mindless puppet.”

 

“Don’t worry, you’ll be an empress. My father has never failed in anything he’s set out to do.”

 

“I don’t want that! And my father has already failed!”

 

As tears welled up in Dorothea’s eyes again, Decker stood up abruptly.

 

“Please leave now. I will be punished by the lord if I fail to protect Lady Dorothea, a guest of our castle.”

 

Decker began to emanate a truly dangerous aura, and Seth had no choice but to freeze and slowly stand up.

 

“Dorothea! Your father will really cast you out. We won’t be able to help you because of his favor. What will you have left then? Please come with me, okay?”

 

Seth clung to Dorothea one last time, but Decker completely ignored him and shouted loudly.

 

“The guests are leaving! See them out!”

 

Decker led Dorothea out of the drawing room as the warriors of Pervaz Castle surrounded Seth’s party.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

Dorothea lowered her head deeply, not wanting to show Decker her tear-streaked face.

 

“I just… want to die.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“My brother is right. I may have escaped the situation for now thanks to the Baron’s kindness, but if I am abandoned by my family, I am nothing.”

 

But she didn’t want to live by her father’s words either. So the only way out was death.

 

Decker, who had been looking down at Dorothea as she sobbed, hesitated for a moment before slowly taking her shoulder.

 

“If your life is so easily discarded…”

 

Dorothea looked up at Decker with trembling eyes.

 

“Give it to me.”

 

“What…?”

 

“Miss Dorothea, you seem to think your life is worthless, but to me, it seems very precious.”

 

Her eyes shook even more.

 

“Give it to me. I will live with your life, and I will treat it with the utmost respect.”

 

When Dorothea didn’t say anything, her face filled with surprise, Decker’s voice finally softened.

 

“Of course… I know that someone like me shouldn’t dare to be greedy…”

 

“I’ll give it to you.”

 

“Yes?”

 

This time, it was Decker’s turn to ask.

 

But in the meantime, Dorothea’s eyes had hardened, as if she had gained some kind of conviction.

 

“I love you, Baron.”

 

Decker was stunned by the words he had never dared to imagine.

 

The world around him seemed to empty, leaving only Dorothea, or rather, it seemed to be filled with a brilliant light.

 

And that light swelled inside Decker’s chest and burst open.

 

“Miss Dorothea. I love you. I mean it.”

 

Dorothea’s tear-stained face lit up with a radiant smile at the confession that had blurted out involuntarily.

 

* * *

 

“I see…”

 

Asha, who was engrossed in Decker’s story, muttered, and Carlyle sighed softly next to her.

 

“Because of me, even Miss Dorothea had a hard time.”

 

Carlyle felt a little embarrassed when he remembered how he had been harsh to Dorothea because of Giles.

 

“Anyway, congratulations to the two of you. If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know.”

 

“Please cherish and love Her Majesty the Empress for the rest of your life. I will make Miss Dorothea happy.”

 

They hugged each other lightly, smiled, and parted ways.

* * * *

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