Side Story - Chapter 1

News was also reported to the Royne’s. This was because of the people Ben had planted in the residences of Duke of Tonz and the Marquis of Weiand.

Even though he didn’t know what kind of discussion was going on inside, he could at least keep a look on the people who were visiting them.

Bang!

Ben hit his wooden desk loudly, rage taking over him. The things placed on the desk shook. In the end, he could not make a change in the partners chosen for the Imperial Ball.

—

There was another person who was shocked. It was none other than Cecia Royne. What came off more as a shock was the piece of news delivered by Ralph, compared to having no partner for the Imperial Ball.

“This can’t be.” She had heard it clearly, but she didn’t want to believe it.

Ver was a knight of the Order. Cecia couldn’t help but think that Prillance must have done something like last time.

‘Yes, he probably got fooled,’

Ver trusted too easily. He was so kind and caring, that he paid attention to every person around him, making sure nothing was wrong. Even when the Grant family’s incident took place, he thought about others first. He was that kind of man, one that placed others before himself. So it was highly likely that Prillance’s sugary-sweet words and elegant actions moved him, making him agree to that.

He may have been persuaded by her.

“I-I have to let him know.”

Ver will definitely attend the Imperial Ball. At that time, she had to meet him.

“And…”

Cecia curled her fingers up in a fist. Her eyes glowed slightly.

She had to get her revenge on Prillance. It was all her fault. She’s the one who made everything go wrong.

“Give me the details of the deal made with the Royne family.”

—

As soon as Roman reached the Tonz’s mansion, he called Fred. Following that, he headed straight to the office. It had been less than a day after he’d returned from the Kingdom of Barua. But right now, tiredness was not the nagging issue.

“Here you go.” Like a deacon who had long assisted him, Fred quickly brought the documents. He quickly read the document when he received it. There was no loss written in case the deal was broken. “Fix the appropriate compensation for breaking this deal.”

“Are you going to break it?”

“Maybe,” Roman leant back, drumming his fingers on the table. He had to keep in mind the timing. Roughly after the Imperial Ball. That was when he would strike.

He still needed to think about it. As if she knew what he was contemplating about, Cecia paid him a visit. It had only been a day since he had returned.

“I think it’s the first time you’ve visited me yourself.”

Did Ben order her to do this?

Roman felt that was the case.

“Are you going to this Imperial ball with Marquis of Weiand’s daughter, Prillance?

“Do you wish for me to remind you about the rudeness you exhibited the other day?” Roman’s eyes narrowed, and he retorted sharply.

“No, I’m here for something else.” Her hand stopped stirring the tea in her hand, the cup clinking as she placed it down.

“You made a deal with my family. Engagement.” It felt awkward to term it as an ‘engagement deal’ but she pushed it aside for now. Words continued to pour out of her mouth, it was unknown whether she read the surprised look on Roman’s surprised face or not.  “I’d like to go look for good estates as compensation after the Imperial ball. It should be around the Minipi area, where most of my father’s business exists.”

There was no reason for him to take Prillance instead of her. “If you break the engagement before then, there’s no reason for me to pay for it.”

“No, you have to. Even though you haven’t cancelled the engagement at the moment, I’m here to hear a definite answer.”

Roman looked into her burning eyes quietly. Like an angered demon’s eyes, they were smouldering. He could only vaguely guess where it was coming from.

“Alright, I’ll agree for now. But I get to decide when we’ll look at estates.”

He recollected the time when her eyes always seemed dull, uninterested in everything. She had changed. It wasn’t that difficult to tell. The face she had when she dined with him, the longing that appeared on the mention of Ver, the anger she felt when she saw him with Prillance.

Cecia was venting out the anger she had for Prillance. “I think you’re done venting your anger on me.” Surprised and guilt flickered on Cecia’s face, which gave Roman his answer.

He just smiled with a knowing look on his face. “I hope I’ll see you next time with a more gentle face.”

At the end of the sentence, Roman asked Fred to lead Cecia away.

It was the day of the Imperial ball. Roman and Prillance were expected to enter the Ball through a different route compared to ordinary aristocrats.

“Duke Tonz’s carriage has arrived.”

Roman’s carriage, which arrived a little earlier, entered the residence of the Marquis of Weiand.

Prillance was having last-minute grooming and touch ups, her servants fussing over her.

“I greet the Duke.”

The first person Duke Tonz, who was getting off the carriage, faced was Ver.

“It feels strange that the first person to welcome me to the Marquis Weiand’s residence is Ver Grant.” He smiled.