‘Elaine is just being manipulated by that guy! But why Elaine of all people?’
By bringing Elaine, who is famous for being the ‘Stain of the Newt family’, as his partner and transforming her, Sergey succeeded in capturing the attention of all the nobles.
If that was the strategy, it was excellent. If he had been just another nobleman, it would have been scandalous, but since he was the successor to the Count of Lindell, it became a picture that stimulated romantic imagination.
But for the owner of the stain, Count Newt, or rather, Lark, it was both offensive and embarrassing.
‘If it was to attract attention, the partner didn’t have to be Elaine. Why Elaine?’
‘Being the daughter of a poor family would have been enough to attract that level of attention.’
‘Why take the risk of an illegitimate child who could hardly be considered noble?’
Lark could not understand Sergey’s calculations at all.
And Lorina, standing next to him, glanced at Lark’s hardened face and bit her lips nervously.
‘Is he surprised to see Elaine all dressed up? No, no I hope not…’
At that moment, Martin, who had returned from eating the food prepared at the banquet hall, shouted.
“That’s Elaine! Is she crazy? Come here!”
At that sound, Sergey and Elaine’s gaze turned towards Newt.
Elaine’s expression turned cold, while Sergey smiled as if he had encountered something he had been waiting for.
But Newt didn’t bother pretending to recognize them.
In the end, it was Lark who took the lead.
“It’s been a while, Sergey Lindell.”
“Ah, you are Lark of the Count Newt family. How have you been?”
“I’d be fine if it weren’t for Elaine.”
Lark’s gaze turned to Elaine.
“Elaine. If you were going to attend the debutante, you should have received support from your family. What trouble have you caused to Count Lindel’s family?”
Even though Lark sent letters three times saying, ‘I’ll help you prepare for your debut,’ Elaine said she didn’t need it, so Lark thought she really didn’t want to debut.
So, although it was regrettable, he thought that Elaine would debut in the winter of her twenties. After all, the chaplain can only serve until she leaves the temple, and then she can be released from the temple when she comes of age.
But who would have thought she would appear at the debutante in such a beautiful appearance?
It was Sergey who answered Lark’s question.
“A trouble? All I did was buy a dress and earrings for my precious chaplain.”
Lark was quite annoyed by Sergey’s use of the possessive form ‘my’.
He tried to draw a line between Sergey and Elaine, barely keeping his expression from distorting.
“It was a nuisance to have caused the Count Lindell family to worry. I apologize on behalf of our family. Please charge us for the expenses incurred in preparing for Elaine’s debut.”
“This is just my ‘gift’. How can I receive money after giving a gift?”
“A gift is a gift, but those earrings alone are worthy of any family heirloom.”
“Well, they are heirlooms in other families, but for me, it’s more like a gift for a friend.”
Sergey smiled arrogantly.
If only Elaine had allowed it, he would have covered not only Elaine’s ears, but also her neck, wrists, and fingers with all sorts of precious jewels. And only what Lark would call ‘heirloom quality’ jewelry.
While Lark clenched his teeth to hold back his anger, this time Lorina started to tease Elaine.
“Oh my goodness, how can you have a debutante ceremony with the help of another family? Don’t you even know that it’s shameful to be an illegitimate child?”
This time, Sergey fought back.
“Elaine wasn’t planning on doing a debutante, but she stepped in for me. If it weren’t for Elaine, I wouldn’t have had a partner.”
“If it was you, Sergey, finding a partner wouldn’t have been a problem. Anyone would want to be Sergey’s partner.”
“That’s their problem, Elaine is the only good woman I know.”
His lips formed a smooth curve, and his blue eyes were glaring coldly at Lorina.
Lorina cringed at the sensation of her skin like it was being exposed outside her dress.
However, Lorina’s hatred for Elaine was so great that it surpassed even the faint threat of magic from Sergey.
“What’s so good about a beggarly girl like her—!”
“Lorina.”
The one who silenced Lorina’s rude mouth was Elaine, who had remained silent until now.
Elaine said with an extremely expressionless face.
“If you were a young lady who had learned the manners and etiquette of a lady, you know it’s extremely rude to disrespect my partner.”
“What?”
“I don’t care what you think of me. But shouldn’t you be polite to the heir of the Count of Lindell? If you are truly a worthy and educated noble.”
Lorina trembled with anger at Elaine’s comment but was unable to respond.
No matter how Lorina felt, Elaine turned her head away, completely ignoring Lorina.
“And Lark.”
At Elaine’s call, Lark glared at her fiercely. However, Elaine did not waver at all.
“Stop acting like a sweet cousin. It’s too late.”
“Late?”
Elaine smiled faintly at Lark, who asked back.
“Once upon a time…I liked you. You were my only hope in the Newt…There was a time when I believed that.”
Lark’s eyes widened at Elaine’s sudden confession.
But Elaine soon poured cold water on Lark’s heart, which was filled with anticipation.
“But I don’t like you or trust you anymore. I’ve been hurt enough, and disappointed enough, over 10 years. It’s too late to turn back.”
“Elaine…!”
“So don’t come looking for me anymore. Don’t think you’re the one holding my leash.”
The smile disappeared completely from Elaine’s lips.
Lark first realized that Elaine could have such cold eyes.
And even as Sergey put his arm around Elaine’s shoulder and passed them by, Lark just stared at their back as if he had lost his word.
When they finally disappeared into the crowd, Lark gritted his teeth.
“How dare you…!”
Anger and shame welled up in him.
He couldn’t stand the fact that Newt’s stain and the shabby Elaine living in the attic, acted like she was in control of the relationship and that he hadn’t been able to say a single word in response to her arrogance.
But he was the successor to the Count Newt family, and many eyes were watching him in the banquet hall.
Lark barely came to his senses.
‘It’s not you who has to end this relationship, it’s me. It’s not over until I end it!’
Lark could barely regain his smile as the thought came to his mind as if he were making a promise.
But part of him thought Elaine was being mean, and the other part of him could hear her voice echoing in his head, “I liked you”.
* * *
“Good job.”
“huh…?”
Sergey was impressed by Elaine’s ability to stand up to Lark and Lorina without trembling, so he tried to pat her on the head but gave up because of the elaborately placed hair ornament.
Instead, he decided to encourage Elaine, who might be worried.
“Just do as you did before. You don’t have to be afraid of anyone from now on. I’ll protect you.”
“I can’t rely on you forever. But don’t worry. It doesn’t mean I don’t trust you either.”
Elaine smiled as she remembered Rabes, who had promised to be her supporter.
Sensing that Elaine was thinking of Rabes, Sergey almost burst out laughing with delight.
He turned his head, coughing to keep himself from laughing, and saw Sasha and Abel approaching from afar.
On the surface, they seemed to be greeting all the nobles around them, but Sergey could tell that they were targeting him.
‘I knew you’d approach me, but you’re in such a hurry that it’s obvious. The princess still seems to be waiting for the right time, perhaps because of her dignity….’
The most annoying thing about living like a human was having to follow the rules among humans so as not to look awkward.
If they knew that he was the Black Dragon Rabes, everyone here would have knelt before him and bowed their heads without question, and he would have played by his own rules, not those of humans.
It didn’t matter to him if it was called ‘self-indulgent’.
But for Elaine to be treated with respect and live among humans, this level of inconvenience had to be endured.
Sergey sighed softly and called Elaine.
“Elaine.”
“Yes?”
“There will be quite a few people looking for me today. I will finish as quickly as possible and go to your side, but if it becomes difficult for you to be alone and away from me, you can go to the balcony on the second floor, on the far right.”
“Oh! I will do that.”
Elaine realized once again that Sergey and she were in completely different positions.
She was present at Sergey’s request and had nothing to accomplish here today.
However, Sergey may have to meet many people and make important decisions due to his political or business relationships.
All she could do there was either stand there as a decoration next to Sergey or stay far away so as not to be a bother.
Although she was dressed more extravagantly than ever before in her life, she felt more shabby than ever before in my life.
At that moment, someone’s voice woke Elaine up.
* * *
