Love Doesn’t Matter - Chapter 62 – Troubled Heart

“Why, we have such an imprudent bitch here? I gave up my precious time. Even if you have no luck, there is a limit…”

It was at the moment when the man spat on the sidewalk. Perhaps Sir Beppy, who was nearby, was striding towards him. Dram opened his mouth at the huge shadow that fell over his head and slowly began to backtrack.

“Si– sir! It’s okay. Let’s go now.”

Emilia grabbed Beppy’s forearm, and he was growling like a brown bear.

“Then, Mr. Dram, I’ll get going.”

She didn’t even forget to greet him politely on purpose. He was terrified now, but didn’t he do the same earlier? Those ‘big guys’ he had hired for the bar. She couldn’t let Sir Beppy get into a fight because of her stupidity and immaturity.

Emilia rushed into the crowded square. For a completely different reason than when she knocked on the General Store door, her heart was beating wildly. She once again realized that she was still too ignorant and too naive. What would have happened if it wasn’t for Sir Beppy?

‘I thought that if I removed the tag of being Meyer’s fiancée, I would be able to live completely independently and freely…’

“Sir, let’s go home now.”

Suddenly, Hadius Meyer came to mind. How much would he have laughed if he saw her like this? He may think that, just as that bully Dram, she is worthless with just a strong pride.

Emilia bit her lip.

‘No, don’t be discouraged, Emilia. Surely there must be a place to work somewhere.’

I have to make money, and then throw it in front of Hadius Meyer.

* * * 

Contrary to Emilia’s thoughts, at that time, Hadius was meeting with the Queen and the Crown Prince at Etna side Palace.

“Are there real matchlock guns in your shooting room?”

“Yes, Your Highness. This antique was bestowed by His Majesty Myer in commemoration of the Trunia negotiations. There is also the Mamat revolver, which Your Highness likes.”

Anticipation rose on the face of the young man hearing Hadius’ answer. It was the Crown Prince, who had just turned eighteen, Louis Bohr. The young man with bronze-colored hair, the symbol of the Volden royal family, was looking at Hadius, who was two years older than him, with eyes full of admiration.

“Does Mamat have two guns? So can you really use both a pistol and a shotgun with it?”

“Yes, the top is a 42 caliber and the bottom is a shotgun. Its firepower is so great that it is a masterpiece that every soldier in the new continent covets.”

[tl/n: Mamat is a fictional version of the LeMat revolver, which was a .42 or .36 caliber cap & ball black powder revolver invented by Jean Alexandre LeMat of France; it featured an unusual secondary 20 gauge smooth-bore barrel capable of firing buckshot]

A wave of joy fluttered in the eyes of Louis Bohr, a maniac weapon collector.

“Why hasn’t it been commercialized? Why can’t we make such weapons in our country?”

“It’s because of the cost of production. Cost is important to make it possible for mass production. The cost to produce one Mamat revolver is equivalent to producing three regular revolvers. It’s not as efficient as military supplies.”

“Oh, I see… I hadn’t even thought that far. As expected, you are different.”

Hadius smiled softly and bowed slightly.

“It is natural for me, a businessman, to have good knowledge, and Your Highness, who will become the king of this country, cannot pay attention to such details.”

“You even have such a tendency for flattering!”

Even as he said that Louis Bohr couldn’t hide his joyous look.

Queen Yvonne watched the two of them from a few steps away yet was deeply submerged. Wearing a large bonnet and a parasol, she pretended to be indifferent and looking elsewhere, but in fact, she was focused on their conversation. Yvonne didn’t really like how her son liked Hadius. It was also contrary to her expectations. A weak and timid boy usually feels both awe and wariness in front of strong opponents of his age. Of course, she expected that Louis Bohr would be wary of Hadius Meyer. But to fall in love with him in just a few minutes…

She compared Meyer’s successor to a lion cub, so she guessed he was a ruthless, tough man, but it turned out he wasn’t a lion.

He was a fox in a lion’s mask.

“Louis Bohr.”

The young man looked at his mother with a smile on his face.

“Now is the time to look forward to an appointment for next time.”

“Ah…”

Although he nodded, there was a hint of regret. Noticing the gloomy Crown Prince, Hadius also looked disappointed.

“Her Highness, in fact, I was just asking the Crown Prince if he could come over to my residence.”

“If it’s your residence… ”

“It’s my new townhouse named Basilion. If the Crown Prince would visit us, it would be an honor.”

As soon as Hadius finished explaining, Louis Bohr looked back at the Queen with anticipation.

“Can I go, Mother?”

“I’ll consider it.” After the chilly answer, she nodded at her son. “Now, let Young Lord Meyer go. It’s time for the history teacher to come.”

The Crown Prince dropped his shoulders in disappointment. Yvonne had her attendant escort the Crown Prince back to the palace. Finally, she and Hadius were left alone on the quiet lakeshore.

Yvonne, who had been walking silently for a long time, stopped somewhere in the lotus wetland. The end of the dress, which was slowly swaying leisurely, turned toward Meyer’s heir who was following her.

“You’re like a riddle, so unpredictable. You’ve probably heard that phrase a lot, right?”

Hadius recognized the mixed vigilance in Yvonne’s eyes at a glance.

“I accepted the offer because of the money, but there is no way to control my troubled heart. You’re famous for not revealing your true feelings, so I’m sure you’ll understand.”

Hadius bowed politely.

“I have a lot of doubts. I’ve been bitten on my leg by a snake once or twice.”

“Don’t worry. It’s me who is troubled. It is never too late to doubt when your strength has grown.”

Fair enough.

Yvonne sat on a bench by the lake and coughed. The calm waters reflected the deep blue ridges as they were, creating beautiful scenery. The Queen, who had been pensive, slowly opened her mouth again.

“The reason I told you to come alone without your fiancée is because I don’t trust you yet. I don’t understand the third condition at all. If the engagement is broken anyway, then why are you leaving the child to us? What’s your real intention?”

“Do you think I have other hidden intentions?”

“Yes, as promised, the royal family must protect the child as well as her family. I thought it would end with giving up the Sitmer villa, but you asked for the Royal Guard’s knights, right? Even that is not enough, my husband and I must become guardians, take that child into the socialite, and even educate her. His Majesty accepted the request without asking why, saying it wasn’t an unreasonable request. But the more I think about it, the stranger it gets.”

Hadius faced the queen, trying not to show any signs of dissatisfaction.

“Everything is too much. I would have believed it if you had chosen a suitable family and asked us to give her a title.”

“…I thought that Her Majesty knows better than anyone else how commoners who have been given titles for no reason are treated in the social world.”

In an instant, a hysterical laugh erupted from the queen.

“That’s why I don’t believe it. Let me put it bluntly. It seems to me that all of this is a trap that you and your mother created. You want to plant the child as a spy.”

For the first time, Hadius’ expression was blank.

“If not, why are you doing this for the sake of that one lover?”

Yvonne folded her parasol.

Two eyes that seemed to be unable to comprehend his intentions were staring intently at the man in front of her as if trying to extract the truth.