Chapter 223
After successfully lifting Marghetta’s spirits, I was able to enjoy truly peaceful days. Maybe it’s all the crisis I’ve attracted that will explode in the future.
Even the birthday I was nervously waiting for passed by quite ordinarily.
“I’ve already received something precious, you know.”
Looking at Marghetta’s beaming smile as she stroked my left hand—specifically, the ring on it—I could hardly bring myself to say anything.
It’s a secret I’ll carry until death: that it was originally one ring. Saying something like, “Actually, it’s broken,” would surely shatter Marghetta’s feelings again.
“I’ll give you something better next time.”
All I could do was lay the groundwork for replacing it with a proper ring.
“Haha, nothing can beat this. It’s my first ring, after all.”
Not that I was successful in that, either.
Uh-oh. Do I have to keep wearing this broken ring forever?
‘…Opportunities will come.’
Engagement rings, wedding rings. There are plenty of justifications. Someday, I can surely swap it for a proper one.
“Hey, Carl.”
“Yes, Marghetta?”
“Can you lend me your hand for a moment?”
With a slight smile at yet another request, I extended my left hand.
Marghetta faced me beaming, extending her left hand in return.
“Look, it’s really one!”
I nodded along as she hummed cheerfully. The ring I had on and the one Marghetta was wearing seemed to form a single ring when our left hands overlapped.
‘Since it was originally one…’
The secret I couldn’t quite say lingered in my mouth. No matter how many times I promised myself, it wasn’t enough. It’s a secret that absolutely, definitely must not be revealed.
Thanks to that, I’d given a merchant a generous sum of gold coins a few days ago. Not to do business at the Academy but to sell in the capital. This way, the chances of Marghetta finding out would be infinitely low.
It was a rather abrupt measure, but the merchant was happy about entering the capital, so it’s a win-win, right? At least, that’s what I believed.
“…I won’t take it off again.”
Marghetta said softly as she held my hand.
She seemed determined to wear it for life, even if the world crumbled around us, so I simply nodded.
Everywhere I went, countless eyes were on us.
“It’s true.”
“What a magnificent merging ring.”
I could hear the whispers of some female students from a distance. And with that, my fingers began to tingle. When did gazes start to have a physical pull?
‘So strangely familiar.’
This situation felt like being the prey of a safari beast. Too familiar. It reminded me of the Marcilio incident.
One side claimed Marcilio confessed to the Head of the Information Department, while another side said he gifted a ring to the Iron Blood Duke’s daughter. It was a perfect storm for attention, wasn’t it?
Of course, unlike then, it hadn’t spread throughout the Empire yet, but I instinctively felt it was only a matter of time.
‘The Academy is the best place for rumors to spread.’
A social gathering of all sorts of noble children, and even a few foreigners occasionally enrolling. If even a single rumor got going in such a place, it could ignite interest across the Empire, even the continent, especially if it was something uncontrollable.
“Carl.”
“Oh, Marghetta.”
Thanks to Marghetta wandering around the Academy, control seemed nearly impossible.
“What a coincidence to see you here, Carl.”
“Indeed.”
Her shy smile while covering her mouth with her left hand made me awkwardly chuckle. It didn’t seem like a coincidence, but since we’re saying it is, let’s go with that.
Anyway, Marghetta initially remained in the Vice President’s Office for student council matters. But ever since she received the ring, she has been energetically roaming the Academy.
Knowing the reason made her adorable but also a bit frightening. If, IF, I hadn’t prepared that ring that day, what on earth would have happened…
‘It would’ve been pandemonium.’
I didn’t have the courage to imagine in detail. Let’s just say it would have been chaos.
“It’s lunchtime. Would you like to have a meal together, if you don’t mind?”
“Sure!”
Satisfied by her quick reply, Marghetta smiled and extended her left hand.
For an escort, it was a totally normal gesture.
‘Her left hand…’
If it weren’t for the fact that Marghetta was originally right-handed.
Normally, whether she covered her mouth, held a fan, or took my hand, she always used her right hand. That’s how I remembered it.
Yet since she received the ring, she’s been using her left hand for everything—covering her mouth, holding the fan—all to showcase that sparkling ring on her left hand.
“Carl?”
“Oh, sorry! Let’s go.”
Ignoring the murmurs as best I could, I took Marghetta’s hand.
Yeah, what do stares or rumors matter? As long as Marghetta is happy, that’s all that counts.
I’ll just be proud that Marghetta is happy enough to show off, proving my gift wasn’t off the mark.
No matter if I make a ring into a band, or find a couple’s ring, my role as the advisor of the pastry club remains unchanged.
Looking over at Louise, who frequently stole glances at my left hand, Irina, who had suddenly started participating in club activities, and the other members who seemed to have dropped the pastry concept for some blackjack games.
Completing my advisory duties among them was more challenging than I’d anticipated.
Yet, the harder the work was, the greater the joy I felt when leaving for the day.
– Jooookkaaaah! Joookkaaaah!
“My ears are fine! Please say that just once more!”
But when the joy crumbles, the despair is even bigger.
As soon as I lay on the bed, the glowing communicator buzzed. I first thought it might be my mother or the Judicial Minister with some gossip, but surprisingly, it was the Wise Duke.
‘This is going to be crazy.’
Today, yet again, the Wise Duke was tipsy, babbling like a silly fool. I felt like cutting him off right then, but I couldn’t ignore the Duke’s call.
“What can I do for you?”
– Oohh, ohhhu! Joookka, I need a legit reason to contact—!
Of course, you do. The Duke calling the Head of the Information Department directly means something.
But I kept those thoughts to myself. No matter how drunk he was, a Duke is still a Duke. I didn’t want to irritate him and create more problems.
Besides, although drunk people usually forget what they said while intoxicated, the Wise Duke seemed to have clear memories. Maybe he belonged to some other species entirely.
“Busy with work—”
– Aunt.
Why is he so clear on the pronunciation only at a time like this?
“…If your aunt is calling to contact you, it must be something serious…”
– Phuhuh, definitely, that’s true!
Hearing the Wise Duke chuckle while gulping down more booze made me rub the back of my neck discreetly.
– Uh? Joookka, how have you been lately?
Yeah, great. Because of you.
“It’s nothing. I just think I slept poorly, and my neck is a bit stiff.”
– Haha! My dear nephew! That happens to me too! It looks like we’re similar!
Just the thought of the Wise Duke living with him made a sudden respect swell up in me.
“…Yeah, it seems so.”
– Yhuh, is that so?
As he kept laughing and drinking, the Wise Duke finally got to the main point of his call.
– Hehehe, I actually wanted to ask dear nephew something~
“Yes, go ahead.”
At my answer, the Wise Duke inhaled deeply before exhaling a cloud of reddish smoke.
This makes me uneasy. What could he possibly want to say with such wit?
– Nephew. You haven’t forgotten what I told you, right?
“Eh?”
The line tingled like my instinct kicked in. ‘Did you do what I asked?’ was the kind of line that sent shivers down the spine.
I quickly thought back to what the Wise Duke had said to me. Just what had escaped my mind?
After all the drunken talks, complaints, whiney escapades, and madness, not much stayed in my memory—
– Nephew! If you feel like the Iron Blood Duke is pulling you along, make the first move! You’ll make him squirm!
‘Ah.’
That’s it. That’s the only thing.
– You haven’t forgotten, right?
“Yes, of course I remember.”
– Then why didn’t you do it?
His sly grin dropped into an expression full of genuine concern. It looked as if he were watching a child struggling and drowning in a well.
Then, he pulled out a handkerchief and pretended to wipe his eyes while sobbing.
– I’ve heard it all. I am just so sad, thinking about my nephew’s dark future.
“Uhh…”
– If you happen to get torn into pieces, I’ll be sure to send one piece to Krasius!
This freaking guy. Am I a relic of the past?
My expression froze as the Wise Duke burst into laughter and kept talking.
– Nephew. I’m happily congratulating you on your marriage. Iron Blood Duke’s youngest, right? I’ve seen before, they’re cute and smart!
But how about other people?
As he added that, I unconsciously swallowed hard.
– The Iron Blood Duke’s youngest looks embarrassed, waiting eagerly for the New Year’s Ball, yet suddenly your beloved fiancé gifted a ring to another girl?
Cold sweat began to trickle down my spine.
– Oh, that ungrateful person! I’m here fretting, yet she’s out there living it up!
That line felt a bit unjustified. Living it up? I was heartfelt and serious while giving that ring to Marghetta; I wasn’t lounging around for fun.
Still, I couldn’t open my mouth. Was it just another rumor lingering around the Academy? Unlike before, there were no letters going around.
‘But there are mages at the Academy.’
I had let my guard down. There are people who can operate under Marcilio’s eye. Had I seriously forgotten that?
As I splashed water on my face with shaking hands, the Wise Duke grinned mischievously, dropping the decisive blow.
– Teleporting, do you need that?
“…Please do.”
Nodding eagerly, the Wise Duke seemed satisfied with my answer.
A wry smile crept across my mouth. Now I had to rush to the capital to put out this urgent fire—no, this bomb waiting to go off.
The thought was dreadful. I had sworn I wouldn’t go, see, or otherwise approach the capital until the New Year’s Ball.
– Don’t make idle promises you can’t keep!
While I stared blankly at the communicator, the Crown Prince’s words from earlier echoed in my mind.
Crown Prince, you were right. Avoiding the capital is a promise I couldn’t keep…
‘Before even that, if I show up there, I’m an animal.’
Then the promise I hurried to make at the National Cemetery flooded back.
‘Damn it.’
In fact, I was an animal. Having fought with beasts in the Northern lands, I’ve become one myself.
Let’s just roll with that.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.