The Tyrant Wants To Live Honestly

“Clara.”

 

Clara came running to Ethan’s call.

 

“Yes, Master Ethan!”

 

“I heard that you were introduced by Baron Gregory a while ago.”

 

“Yes…” 

 

“I see you are thinking about getting married.”

 

“I’m old enough and I want to have my little family.…”

 

Clara smiled awkwardly.

 

She found Ethan strangely difficult.

 

Of course, it must indeed be difficult when looking at status or relationships, but should she say that there is some other subtle tension that arises?

 

“I would like to introduce you to a good man.”

 

Ethan sat on the sofa and looked at her closely.

 

The overly beautiful golden eyes were very burdensome.

 

“I… I don’t plan on that for a while.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because I didn’t do so well the first time, I didn’t feel comfortable in the previous meeting. If I don’t get along well with him, Your Majesty will also be in trouble.”

 

“Whether you roast him, boil him, or throw him into the stream, I won’t be in trouble, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

 

There was leisure in Ethan’s voice.

 

Clara tilted her head at that.

 

‘What kind of man is he trying to introduce me to?’

 

“Don’t feel pressured, let’s go out for fun. There’s no way I’m going to introduce just anyone to the head maid, right?”

 

Clara is a precious person to Dorothea.

 

Clara hesitated when Ethan said that he would not introduce people so carelessly.

 

The person who caught her heart was none other than Stefan.

 

‘Why are you thinking of the knight here, Clara?’ 

 

She tried to shake off thoughts of Stefan.

 

These past few days, she has been thinking that if she were to get married, it would be great if it were someone like Stefan.

 

‘That is also not possible…’

 

She and Stefan had known each other for a long time.

 

The current relationship was good enough.

 

Clara did not want to break that relationship due to unnecessary greed.

 

Moreover, she is a commoner, and Stefan is a noble.

 

No matter how much he treats people without hesitation and does not discriminate between nobles and commoners, their status is clearly different.

 

For the sake of the Greenwall family, it was right for him to marry a noble lady.

 

When Clara thought about that, her heart felt heavy.

 

“Please trust me, Clara.”

 

When Clara was worried, Ethan interrupted her.

 

“Thank you, Master Ethan.”

 

Clara eventually succumbed to Ethan’s temptation.

 

‘Just to get my mind off Stefan, I thought it would be a good idea to meet another man.’

 

Then Ethan smiled.

 

“Okay. Oh, and I have a favor to ask you.”

 

Ethan rummaged through the drawer next to him and handed her an envelope.

 

“I have some changes to make regarding the knightly duties, so I would like you to deliver it to Sir Stefan, in person.”

 

“Me?”

 

Clara asked, surprised by Stefan’s name that suddenly appeared.

 

“Don’t you like it…?”

 

Clara shook her head in response to Ethan’s question.

 

‘How rude of me to question Master Ethan’s orders!’

 

“No, I’ll pass it on!”

 

Clara accepted the envelope he handed her.

 

Then Ethan smiled brightly.

 

“This is an important document, so the head maid must personally deliver it.”

 

After receiving Ethan’s request, Clara left the room holding the envelope.

 

She took a deep breath while holding the envelope.

 

‘It would be better if you ordered someone else.… ‘ 

 

It was a little awkward to meet Stefan today.

 

But Ethan’s orders are orders.

 

Clara took a slow deep breath in front of the vice-captain’s office.

 

When Clara knocked lightly on the vice-captain’s office door, she heard Stefan’s voice coming from inside.

 

“Come in.”

 

At that moment, her heart was pounding.

 

She carefully opened the door and went inside.

 

Stefan, who was working in front of his desk, immediately stood up from his seat as soon as he raised his head.

 

“…..!”

 

He didn’t expect it to be Clara, so he stood up and didn’t know what to do.

 

“Master Ethan sent me here.”

 

Clara handed him a fancy envelope to briefly convey the matter.

 

“……” 

 

Stefan, who took the envelope, hesitated, not knowing how to respond to her.

 

After all, this was the first time Clara had ever been in his office.

 

‘Should I show her around or offer her tea?’

 

While he was thinking about it, Clara bowed again.

 

“Then I’ll just leave.”

 

Before Stefan could catch her, she quickly left the vice-captain’s office.

 

“…..” 

 

‘Yeah, she must be busy.’

 

Stefan sat down again in his seat.

 

After fiddling with the envelope Clara handed him a few times with his fingertips, he opened it with the intention of concentrating on his work again.

 

If it’s a letter from Ethan, he should read it quickly.

 

And when he took out the envelope, there was a small note attached to the front of several documents.

 

[I am being forced by the Duke to go to the date. Lunch the day after tomorrow, Restaurant Caro.]

 

* * * 

 

Clara stood in front of Restaurant Caro and sighed.

 

‘What kind of wealth and fame will I enjoy after getting married?’

 

‘I shouldn’t have done this…’ she thought.

 

‘But if it’s the person Duke Ethan Bronte recommended, he must be a really good person.’

 

Ethan has a good sense of perspective and sharp eyesight.

 

Besides, he knew that Clara was close to Dorothea, so there was no way he would introduce her to a bad person.

 

Clara entered Caro intending to be deceived one more time.

 

A room was reserved in her name.

 

When Clara entered the room, it was empty, as if the other person had not arrived yet.

 

Clara sat down alone.

 

‘Because I came a little early…’ 

 

She decided to wait until the appointed time.

 

However, as time passed, there was no sign of the opponent coming.

 

‘How could he be this late from the first meeting?’ 

 

He was supposed to be a nice guy, but he made a bad first impression.

 

She stood up while waiting impatiently for the other person. 

 

She wanted to go to the bathroom for a moment and look in the mirror.

 

‘If I come back and the other person isn’t there, I’ll have to go home.’ 

 

She feels sorry for Ethan, but she’s learned since the last time that when she quits, she makes sure to quit.

 

So she got up, opened the door, and was about to go out.

 

“…!”

 

Stefan was standing in front of the door.

 

“Knight Stefan?”

 

Stefan’s face turned red as she called out to him in surprise.

 

Clara smiled brightly at this fateful coincidence.

 

‘It was amazing. We met by chance at a bar last time, and this time we met by chance at Caro.’

 

She wasn’t happy that she was getting caught every time she went out, but she was thrilled that it felt like fate.

 

“What brings you here?”

 

A restaurant with a romantic atmosphere.

 

It’s a place that doesn’t suit Stefan.

 

‘Could it be that he came to meet a woman?’

 

“I…I came to see someone.”

 

Stefan’s voice rang out.

 

“Ah…coincidentally, me too.”

 

Clara smiled awkwardly.

 

She was excited for a moment. She wonders if Stefan has come to meet her.

 

‘But still, the knight is a count, so there is no way he would see any good with me, a commoner.’

 

“Then, I hope you meet a good person today, knight.”

 

Clara smiled, hiding her bitterness. And then she headed to the bathroom as if to avoid him.

 

‘Well, it’s time for him to get married.…’

 

Moreover, since he is a guard knight favored by Her Majesty the Emperor, everyone will definitely want to marry him.

 

Clara thought as she looked in the mirror.

 

For some reason, she felt bad and wanted to go home.

 

But today’s meeting was arranged by Ethan. It would be very rude to do that.

 

‘I’ll just eat, apologize, and leave.’ she thought, still not ready to see another man.

 

Clara gathered her thoughts and headed back to the previously reserved room.

 

“Your partner has arrived.”

 

The waiter in front of the room kindly informed her.

 

‘I hadn’t been in the bathroom for long, did our paths cross?’

 

Clara went inside, thinking about leaving early today.

 

But a large person was sitting in front of the table.

 

“Knight…?”

 

Clara was startled and froze standing in front of the door.

 

Stefan looked at her and stood up awkwardly.

 

“How could Knight Stefan be here…?”

 

Well, it’s too long to explain. A series of situations that are too long for Stefan to explain.

 

* * *

 

After receiving the note from Clara, he went to see Ethan after a long period of conflict.

 

And Ethan gave him advice.

 

“This will be your last chance to catch Clara…”

 

Coincidentally, Clara’s appointment with another man was during a time when he was off duty.

 

‘I’ve felt this for a long time, Duke Ethan Bronte was a man with a foxy side, and bears and rabbits were easily caught in his trap.’

 

But Stefan didn’t think the trap was bad.

 

‘If it’s a trap like this, I think I’ll have to fall for it at least once.’

 

Stefan clenched his fists and took a deep breath.

 

“Do you mind if your partner today is…me?”

 

He gathered courage and asked with a trembling voice.

 

Then Clara’s round eyes immediately softened.

 

“Of course!”

 

Clara smiled brightly with a tearful voice.

 

It looked like she would have to stay late tonight.

 

At least for the sake of Ethan, who provided the space.

 

* * *

 

End of Clara and Stefan’s chapter