Raising my Fiancè with Money - Chapter 36

Richard threw the tabloid away. It wasn’t explicitly written that he cheated on her, but with a title like that, it could easily be inferred. It was clear that Lilia had published that article. If she used public opinion first in this way, he would be at a disadvantage.

He tried to solve it in a nice way, but it came down to this.…?

Richard breathed heavily.

“Guide me to where my father is.”

The butler took the lead. Richard, who was following, was ready to go crazy because of his wounded pride. Lilia did not accept conciliatory or forgiveness. As long as she refused him there was only one way to solve this matter. He had no choice but to resort to coercive means.

The butler’s walk stopped. When he knocked lightly, he heard a voice telling him to come in. The door opened, and Richard went inside alone. The Marquis of Tersion, who was reading the newspaper in a dark space, said without looking at Richard,

“You’re here.”

“Yes…”

In an uncomfortable atmosphere, Richard gently bit his lips. Richard’s father, the Marquis of Tersion, was a typical aristocrat. He prioritized authority and was proud of being a nobleman.

When he was young, he nagged a lot about his progress in his successor’s class, but after the engagement with Lilia, he was left alone. However, as he and Lilia were close to breaking up, Richard became nervous of his father’s reaction. A long time later, the Marquis put down the newspaper and took off his glasses.

“What happened?”

Richard was able to figure out what he was asking without difficulty.

“We had a small argument…… she must be angry.”

Richard acted as though he had done nothing wrong.

“You mean they just wrote an article about something small like that?”

The Marquis of Tersion slammed the desk with his fists. At the sound, Richard flinched, but quickly opened his shoulders proudly. If he was wrong to cheat on her, Lilia was also at fault for having a new lover before breaking her engagement.

Karhan Evantheon was a bother, but he didn’t think he had to mention it yet. It hasn’t been long since the two met, but if his father comes forward to complain, it can be solved somehow.

“Father, please help me.”

“Pathetic bastard. Couldn’t even move a girl’s heart…….”

The marquis clicked his tongue.

“Have you talked to the Bloden family?”

Richard shook his head. The marquis said, recalling Heinley Bloden, who was working for him,

“Let me talk to Heinley Bloden.”

***

Karhan parted ways with Lilia and returned home. He had a dessert bag from Lilia in one arm and a thick art dictionary in the other. He had wondered when he would be able to read it all, but had already read more than half of it whenever he had the time.

He studied hard with Tession’s help, but Tession was worried the book alone wouldn’t be enough, so Tession told Karhan to go to the exhibition in advance and do some research.

It wasn’t bad advice, but Karhan stood out so much. As soon as he’d enter, it would reach the ear of Count Bloden. So he had no choice but to memorize it.

As Karhan took off his thin cloak, Tession took it immediately. Recently, Tession had been looking very bright, especially today, he seemed to be walking on air.

“I didn’t know you could say no so well,” he said.

Tession was proud of his work.

“It feels like just yesterday that you were sent to guard at night for 3 days straight because you couldn’t refuse…….”

He said as though he was moved and pretended to wipe away his tears. Tession first met Karhan on the battlefield, and so far had watched him the closest.

It had been a series of disappointing things. How frustrating it was that the savior who saved his life turned out to be a pushover. In the battlefield, where food is precious, his food was taken away, and in return was sent to participate in the battle.….

Had Tession not stepped up, Karhan would have died of starvation or overwork on the battlefield.

“If you hadn’t met Young lady Bloden…..”

Tession shivered his shoulders. He looked like he didn’t even want to imagine. It wasn’t long since Karhan met Lilia, but Tession was feeling deeply grateful. How much had he changed since he met Lilia?

From the time they first met, Frances and Malek kept praising Lilia, so he thought it was because she was the heir of the house Bloden, but now Tession was also praising Lilia.

Karhan looked at Tession acting like that, then unbuttoned his shirt. Suddenly he remembered what Lilia had said.

– So please be a villain.

It was still difficult to figure out what a villain was. But Lilia asked him to be a villain, so he thought he had to do so.

A bright smile flashed in front of his eyes.  Karhan’s hard expression softened a little when he saw that she was happy with his efforts.

He didn’t want to disappoint her. He wanted her to smile every time she looked at him. To do that, he had to work hard.

After changing his clothes, Karhan placed the bag of desserts on the table. It smelled sweet, but he couldn’t eat it because it would be a waste. He slowly sat down on the bed. In the quiet space, only the beating of his heart could be heard.

It was still pounding. The first swear word he uttered lingered in his ears. Lilia said it wasn’t even that much of an insult, but she said it was a fresh and strange experience for him.

It was stipulated that swear words should not be used for Karhan. And it was the first time he had rejected someone’s request or offer in such a way.

Lilia said it was because he had a good heart, but Karhan knew better. Contrary to what she said, he is not nice. He was just trying to look like a good kid. Karhan brought out faded memories from long ago.

– The young master is very nice.

As a child, someone said as a passing comment. It may have been meaningless, but it was the first compliment he had ever heard. For him, who was timid and passive, thirsty for the affection of his parents, the praise became a very small box.

From then on, Karhan forced himself into that box. He didn’t care if it was cramped or uncomfortable.… He listened to fit in.

In order to become a good person, Karhan tried to be considerate, calm, and kind. Even if he lost money, he wanted to remain as a good person to his opponent.

Just as a thirsty child was obsessed with water after drinking only one sip, he stayed like that. Who knew that only one word would control his whole life? But Lilia told him,

-You don’t have to be nice to everyone.

Do you think I don’t have to remain a good boy anymore?

He wanted someone to answer the question, and he finally got an answer from Lilia. Karhan no longer hesitated and came out of the box. Outside the box that he had suppressed himself was not as bad as he thought.

And Karhan buried the worn-out compliments deeply because he had chewed over them thousands of times. There was now someone complimenting right next to him.

Karhan got up from his seat. Tession’s gaze naturally followed.

“Do you need anything?”

“I should see my mother.”

“Yes…?”

Tession asked back, embarrassed. Karhan did not take his words back and changed into a slightly more formal outfit. It was as if he was going to meet someone new, not his parents.

After leaving the hallway, Karhan held onto an employee and asked. The employee, who was trembling, guided him to the place where the Duchess was.

They lived in the same house, and yet they arrived at a place they had nothing to do with. Karhan took a deep breath and then knocked on the door.

“Who is it?”

A quiet voice rang out. His body stiffened with tension over the person who answered behind the door. Karhan barely uttered his voice,

“I have something to tell you.”

“Say it there.”

She didn’t let Karhan in.

“……it’s important.”

Even after listening to Karhan, an answer did not return for a long time from the inside. The time passing felt like he was getting closer to death, and then the door opened.

“What’s going on?”

The Duchess of Evantheon looked up at Karhan, who was much taller than her. He was not a child, but the gaze felt like she was looking at something tiresome.

Karhan clenched his fist without realizing it. He couldn’t even remember since she had begun looking at him with these eyes. From a long time ago, Karhan was considered as her son who could not be rehabilitated. He wanted to correct anything he did wrong, but he didn’t know what he needed to fix, so it was an unfair situation.

Karhan recklessly tried to regain his mother’s trust. But he was only getting further and further away. The only thing that connected the two people who stood at the extremes was the name of Evantheon.

Karhan silently stared at her. Her eyes pierced through his chest, but somehow it didn’t hurt as much as before.

Did I get used to it, or did I get a little stronger?

Karhan thought it was the latter. There was no way he could ever get used to that look.

“I have found a new acquaintance.”

The Duchess’s face hardened. Before the slap could fly in, Karhan continued,

“It is Lilia Bloden.”

Her body paused. Karhan looked down at his mother silently. He wasn’t as nervous as he thought he would be.  It was as if Lilia was by his side whispering that he could do it. Karhan slowly opened his lips.

“Bloden…..”

The Duchess’s head turned quickly. There was no one in the Empire who did not know the Blodon family. Just as the imperial family was at the top of power, the Bloden family was at the peak of wealth.

The Delotta family also held tremendous wealth, but had to fold a few times in front of the Bloden family. As such, no one could be considered an opponent to the Bloden family.

“Now you are doing something useful.”

The face of the Duchess, which had only been cold, softened a little.  It was the most benevolent of her expressions towards Karhan so far.

She was a woman who was willing to sell Karhan in favor of her eldest son, Blair. She smiled as she measured between Stella Delotta and Lilia, planning on how to get the most money. Then the Duchess opened her mouth,

“I need to say hello, so bring her to me soon.”