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Chapter 20
' Stupid Derrick. '
Stepping out onto the shopping street, Richard wandered the thoroughfare with a noticeably lighter step.
' Honestly, he’s far too easy. '
Defining a human like Derrick Friedrich was simple. He was a third-rate villain—mean-spirited but equally dim-witted, making him easy to manipulate. He was exactly the kind of character destined to be a mere extra whose only role in this ' story ' was to harass the sub-male lead, Richard Friedrich.
“I don’t hate you, Derrick.”
Е̊n̂ ûma
Richard recalled the words he had spoken a few moments ago. If called a lie, it was a lie; if called the truth, it was the truth. One might ask what kind of nonsense that was, but...
' …It’s because I neither like nor hate him. '
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Glancing at the leather pouch that gave off a clinking sound, Richard curled his lips in satisfaction.
Certainly, Derrick was the man who had persistently bullied him since childhood. A long time ago, Richard had feared him, hated him, and even wished for him to vanish from this world.
But….
' That’s all in the past. '
Ӗ nu̇ m̀ а
Richard lazily interlaced his fingers and stretched. Having repeated his regressions forty-nine times, Richard no longer feared or hated him. After all, he was just stupid Derrick. Even though he was the man who had made his childhood a living hell...
' Anyway, thanks to him, I met Lady Daphne. '
That was enough. The corners of Richard’s eyes curved elegantly. He held no particular ill-will toward him anymore. Not that he liked him, of course.
After wandering the streets for a while, Richard came to a stop. It was the highest-class boutique in the Imperial capital: the Bellinod Tailor Shop. With a broad smirk, he stepped inside.
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***
Tailoring a formal suit was a long and arduous process. Choosing the fabric, taking measurements, checking the silhouette, adding detailed decorations...
Е̃ ǹ ǔ mâ
It was only after going through that entire lengthy process that he could escape the tailor. Richard emerged into the boutique's main hall with his shoulders slumped.
“Whew……”
He leaned back into the sofa, exhausted.
' I’m set to pick up the clothes in three days…. '
Richard let his weary eyes wander. Now that the attire was ready, the next thing to secure was a partner. When attending a ball, finding a partner is the most basic of basics. A noble who attends alone receives nothing but cold stares and indifference.
As for a partner to accompany him...
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It was just as he was lost in thought.
' Oh my. It’s Young Lord Friedrich. '
' Did you hear that rumor? Not long ago at the mansion…. '
' Of course I heard! The rumors are everywhere. '
The nobles who had come to be fitted for their own suits and dresses began to buzz upon seeing him.
' I heard that last time, he even snatched and drank the Crown Prince’s poisoned tea. '
Ê nu m̂ а. і̊ d
The hall was instantly swept into a restless atmosphere.
' Poisoned tea? '
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' You haven't heard? A few days ago, at the tea party…. '
The gossiping nobles cast constant glances at Richard.
' …Hmph, did he do it on purpose? If so, what was the reason? '
' I don't know. Perhaps someone should ask…. '
Е̊ ñǔ m а̀
A few whispering nobles exchanged looks and approached Richard. Among them, a young lord stepped forward.
“Young Lord Friedrich. We meet here.”
He spoke while looking down at Richard, who was leaning half-reclined on the sofa.
“Have you come to have a suit made?”
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“Well… I suppose so.”
Richard straightened his slumped body as he answered. However, his body immediately slid back down.
Wӗb n̂ о v̌еl̃ Еń.u m̃ а
“Many rumors are circulating about the Young Lord….”
The young noble’s eyes narrowed.
“By any chance, are they true?”
“Which one do you mean?”
“First, the rumor that you snatched and drank the Crown Prince’s poisoned tea.”
Eyes glinting with a meaningful light scanned Richard from head to toe.
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“Ah, if it’s that, then yes, well….”
Richard answered, rubbing his drooping eyelids.
“It’s true.”
Because it was a fact.
“Why?”
“Pardon?”
Ёn̊ u̇ mа̇
“I am asking why you did such a thing.”
The noble’s gaze turned cold. A small flame flickered in his eyes, as if determined to dig out Richard’s true intentions.
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“……Hmm….”
Why did I snatch it and drink it again....
Richard fell into thought. To be precise, it was because if Lady Daphne drank that tea, a romance would bloom between the two of them, so he had to stop it somehow....
No, to put it simply.... Well, that poisoned tea was mine....
Ē nu̇.m̊ а̌
“Because I had to protect it.”
Because I had to protect my tea. Richard answered with a nonchalant air.
“……!”
At those words, the faces of the surrounding nobles stiffened.
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' ……He had to protect it? '
' Protect what…? '
Ė n̆ ú m ă
' Could it be… the Crown Prince? '
The nobles whispered under their breath. A certain misunderstanding bloomed among them. Young Lord Friedrich drank poisoned tea to 'protect' the Crown Prince!
“You had to protect it... but why….”
The young noble asked with a hollow laugh.
“Well, because the tea belongs to me.[[nojkxy]]”
A flat answer flowed from Richard’s lips.
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' Because it’s my tea. '
It was the same reason.
' Good heavens…! '
However, the nobles began to misunderstand yet again.
' He said the Crown Prince belongs to him. '
' Oh my, how romantic…. '
W̆ёbǹо̃ v̂ еĺ Е̃ṅ ù mа̄
' Are you in your right mind, My Lady? He’s a man! '
Of course, these voices did not reach the ears of the exhausted Richard. He withdrew his gaze from the departing noble with a strange expression. Resting his chin on his hand, Richard drifted into other thoughts.
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' A partner……. '
A partner to attend the Czeska ball with.
' I suppose 'she' would be best. '
Richard pictured ' her ' in his mind.
Е n̄ùm а̊. і̌d
' It would be difficult to have Caelus as a partner…. '
If he asked for a partnership from someone who was still wary of him, he was bound to be rejected. Richard decided not to challenge things that had no chance of success.
' Above all…. '
Actually, he really wanted to be her partner....
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“…….”
……Yes, honestly, this was his true heart. He wanted to stay by her side for even a moment longer. Just as Richard, having decided to ask her, was about to rise from the sofa.
Еn̂ u m̃ а
“Richard?”
A pair of pure, light-green eyes stared at him intently.
“……!”
Richard’s cheeks instantly turned red.
“Lady Da-Daphne?”
He almost stepped backward without realizing it. No, he actually did take a step back before realizing the sofa was blocking his way. Richard opened his mouth with a dazed expression.
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“When did you… arrive?”
“Just now.”
She burst into laughter upon seeing Richard’s flustered face. Then, after slowly scanning the wide boutique hall, she spoke.
“Richard, are you planning to attend the Czeska ball as well?”
She was asking if he had come to get a suit made for the ball.
“Ah, yes…! That’s right.”
Еn̂ u m a . і̇d́
Richard took a deep breath to cool his flushed face.
“I just finished getting measured and was about to head back….”
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Richard, who had been carefully choosing his words for fear of making a mistake, suddenly fell silent.
' Come to think of it…! '
Since he had run into Lady Daphne, couldn't he just ask her to be his partner right now?
“……!”
Ӗ n̈ uṁа́ .і ď
Realizing this a beat late, Richard almost slapped his own cheek for his stupidity, but he barely managed to restrain himself.
“That’s right, Lady Daphne.”
“Hmm?”
“There is one favor I would like to ask….”
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“What is it, Richard?”
She smiled brightly, as if she would grant him anything.
Ẇ ѐ b̈ n̈ о̀ ṽ е̃ l Ẽ n ůmа̄
“……By any chance….”
Richard spoke, struggling to calm his racing heart. His voice trembled slightly.
“Would you... attend the Czeska ball as my partner?”
He was instinctively nervous, but Richard knew her answer wouldn't be a rejection. At this point, she hated Caelus. There was no way she would become his partner. Therefore, the possibility of her accepting his request was high.
It was just as he was expecting an answer of consent.
“That is….”
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Daphne rolled her large, light-green eyes as if troubled.
“I can’t, Richard.”
“Pardon?!”
Richard asked back in shock.
“Why?! No, I mean…. For what reason?”
He was truly flustered. At this point, he was the noble lord closest to her. This was the truth. After her engagement to Caelus was broken, Richard was the one who had always stayed by her side while she disappeared from high society.
Е̂ n̄ û_m̀ ӑ
Just as Richard’s mind was filling with confusion, an unexpected answer came back.
“I’ve given it some thought….”
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“…….”
“I’m still worried that you might get hurt by the Crown Prince. But still……”
She scratched her cheek.
“If you truly... like the Crown Prince, then it’s only right for me to support you.”
Е nu m ā
“…Wait a moment, Lady Daphne….”
“The position of a ball partner is an important one….”
Before Richard could even spit out a word of rebuttal, she spoke as if she had already reached a conclusion.
“I’m not so tactless as to steal away your partner's spot.”
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She smiled brightly, saying she would step aside for him. As if telling him to be Caelus's partner instead.
“…….”
Е̂num̃ а. і d̄
…Dammit. Richard sincerely felt like crying.
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