This Type Of Courtship Is Complicated - Chapter 2

A Very Kind Yet Very Wicked Man

——♦ ⋄· 🜲· ⋄ ♦——

“That’s right.”

“That’s right, but don’t you feel anything about it?”

“Do I have to be happy about it?”

Helios, tilting his glass again and surveying the chessboard, chuckled at his question.

He was not like a man who took advantage of this engagement by spreading his scandal widely in the gossip.

Black Fox.

Last summer, due to outrageous scandals, Helios Arzen heated up the social circles and earned a new, highly dishonourable nickname.

It had been long since the young ladies seeking the position of Duchess had stopped visiting him, following his planned pursuit.

No matter how vital wealth and status were, and despite the Duke being nearly perfect except for his womanising, marrying off their beloved daughter to the Duke was out of the question.

Even after hearing the Duke’s advances, there might still be greedy suitors who offer their daughters, but their miserable backgrounds had no appeal to the Arzen Madames.

‘Should he be happy with the outcome of an engagement that he worked so hard to achieve, no, to get?’

Deon shook his head in response to the indifferent attitude and unenthusiastic reply.

‘Well, what’s so great about a marriage he’s forced into?’

“But don’t you think you’ll regret it? If you go on with this engagement, it’ll lead to marriage.”

“I’ll take responsibility for what I have to. Among the things I can give, it is the one I want the most. What can I do?”

Helios placed the goblet he was holding on the table. It was where the letter he had just read was placed.

The neatly written sentences had smudged and turned black due to the moisture under the glass.

“You are morally ambiguous in some aspects. It’s regrettable that Roseanne had to go through trouble to save you, but strictly speaking, it’s not your fault, and yet you’re agreeing to an engagement you don’t even like…”

“I like it.”

Deon’s mouth, which had been moving without rest, was shut at once. Hearing a word from Helios, he was stunned, narrowed his brows and pulled his body back.

“Yeah, I had a feeling. It seemed strange from the beginning. Even during the Whist games, it was odd that you always sat next to me.”

Helios gazed at Deon, looking rather displeased, then gently curved his lips. And he added very firmly.

“It’s not an engagement I don’t like; I like it. Not you, but Roseanne.”

‘I can assure you that this revelation was more shocking than the previous misunderstanding,’ Deon thought.

“I’d rather you say you like me. That seems more promising, doesn’t it? Compassion and love are different, you know?”

“We’ve known each other for a long time and are comfortable with each other. What more do we need? It doesn’t matter who’s by my side.”

Deon looked at Helios Arzen, who was excessively arrogant and difficult to understand, with a puzzled expression.

Beyond the window, dry branches trembled in the cold, perfectly fitting the desolate landscape.

“Ah, poor Duke Arzen, who knows nothing about love! What if fate brings him great love? What will he do then?”

Ignoring Deon’s continued sarcastic remarks, Helios checked the pendulum clock.

The time for getting ready to go out was approaching.

Today was the day of the Christmas charity ball.

Thanks to the Arzen Madames, who were eager to find a noble girl to be engaged to a well-off young man, there might be some annoying tasks ahead. However, since they received an invitation, it was only proper for them, as the Arzen family, to attend. It was also Helios’ duty as a member of the Arzen family.

Deon, realising the significance of checking the clock, belatedly thought and finally picked up one of the chess pieces on the board after careful consideration.

“Anyway, being the daughter of a railroad king from the working class, she’ll surely lose honour but gain wealth. Your mother will be furious.”

“She’ll accept it eventually.”

“Well, I don’t think so. Be careful with the letter you received today. If it catches the Madame’s eye, it will definitely be torn to shreds and flow down the Firmwill to Bretzen.”

As Deon needlessly fretted about trivial concerns, it was his turn again. Without hesitation, Helios moved the queen diagonally on the chessboard.

Deon, preparing for the next move, stared dumbfoundedly at the chessboard. The queen had surrounded the king.

Helios, with a relaxed smile, slowly raised his head.

“Checkmate.”

On this peaceful morning, a voice calmed down an unexpected disturbance.

***

The scenery gradually changed as they continued for a few more minutes along the road, with dry branches forming a tunnel.

Velia leaned closer to the carriage window and gazed at the gradually bustling streets.

The afternoon drowsiness was nowhere to be found, and lively laughter could be heard from here and there. People were busier than usual and excited.

The Christmas spirit was in full swing, and the streetlights beyond the showcase windows sparkled. A tree adorned with candies and dolls was also visible.

Even without snow falling, this Christmas was beautiful in its own way. Velia momentarily forgot the despair of the morning and smiled gently.

“It’s beautiful again this year. Right, Evan?”

“Yes. That’s true.”

“But the tree in that dressing room, it would be even better with more decorations. It would add more atmosphere, wouldn’t it? Right, Evan?”

“Yes. Maybe.”

Evan repeated the same words with his eyes closed. Although it was evident that he didn’t look at where she pointed, Velia paid him no mind.

There were so many things to see in the streets of Derviana, the busiest city in the Kingdom of Eurnel.

The distant sound of bells from Bern’s Bell Tower echoed faintly in her ears. The tinkling sound of small bells, like the laughter of a fairy, also rang out from somewhere.

A passing car rattled noisily and momentarily blocked Velia’s view, but even that hulking mass of metal was just a part of the rapidly flowing Christmas scenery in her eyes.

All the way to the mansion where the ball was to be held, Velia chattered to herself like the wheels of a chariot rolling non-stop while Evan sat silently, trying to wake himself up and stretch his stiff body after sitting for hours.

At that time, the carriage was passing by the Firmwill River, which flows through Bretzen, Derviana, and Winstle…

“The terrace cafe that opened this fall is over there. Evan, let’s go there together sometime.”

Finally, Evan looked at the spot Velia’s fingertip was pointing to. The terrace cafe with the Firmwill River in the background was filled with Christmas lovers.

“You mean with me?”

“Yeah! You and me.”

“Well, I’m not really interested.”

Evan let out a sluggish yawn and continued talking while arranging Velia’s white gloves that had been thrown over her seat.

“How about going with your lover that you’ll meet at the ball today?”

“Lover?”

Lover. Just by whispering that one word, it felt like her mouth was warming up and sweetening, as if taking a bite of freshly baked pie.

“Hmm, come to think of it, that might be better.”

As if destined to meet, she imagined scenes of holding hands with her lover and visiting the terrace cafe, a scene that would soon come true, a senseless laugh leaked out for no reason.

Evan Arcus had a clearly forgotten expression.

As Evan gazed at Velia, who seemed lost in sweet daydreams, he nonchalantly wondered if she would encounter her destined lover today.

Just as he pondered that question, his expression suddenly hardened as he thought of someone who would attend this ball.

Helios Arzen.

Since last summer, he had been a man surrounded by various rumours.

At that moment, the carriage hit a small bump on the road, causing it to shake. Evan put his arm around Velia’s shoulder to steady her.

Then, instead of responding to the coachman’s apology, Evan made one earnest request to Velia.

“Velia, I don’t intend to watch over you tonight, but still, please don’t get involved with Duke Arzen at this ball.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s not the right person for you.”

Velia raised an uncommonly puzzled expression at Evan’s firmness.

“Are you hurt?”

As there was no response from inside the carriage, the worried coachman slowed the carriage down. Finally, Velia announced in her melodious voice that she and Evan were unharmed.

“We’re both fine!”

“Understood, Velia?”

Even with a firm grip on her shoulders, Evan asked again.

Helios Arzen was a famous figure in society. Velia had not entirely been unaware of the various rumours about Duke Arzen that had circulated since last summer. However, he was someone from a different world, unrelated to her.

Although she had attended two previous balls where he was present, they had never crossed paths even once, making it clear that they had no connection.

But if he came out like this, he might be even more formidable than she had thought.

“I don’t even know what that person looks like.”

“Just avoid men who are very kind but very wicked.”

Can someone be both kind and wicked? Velia was puzzled by the strange question but simply nodded without saying anything and turned her gaze back to the window. Following the gradually quickening sound of hooves, dry dust rose faintly in the air.

The light passed through the sparse tree branches on this green Christmas afternoon and grazed Velia’s face. The winter sunlight shimmered over the chilly river water.

“A very kind and yet very wicked man.”

Looking at the people beyond the glass window, Velia murmured in a low voice, feeling inexplicably amused by the odd combination.

Through the cold, clear December air, the carriage continued to run non-stop to the mansion where the ball was to be held.

——♦ ⋄· 🜲· ⋄ ♦——