Chapter 1
Thank you for the kofi, Puppynado85! (10/24) done~
Translator: Yui
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Maybe they were afraid I’d do something about the upcoming match.
Wow, hahaha. I’m sick and tired of misunderstandings, but I think this misunderstanding is worth using. Can I be the embodiment of fear from now on?
“…It’s a hot day. Drink something.”
You too… Should I say chameleon skin or great acting? Is that what you’re going to say as soon as you see me?
I stared at Cesare sitting next to me for a moment in the same way as yesterday.
Dark blue hair and deep blue eyes. A copper-toned face.
He felt like a stranger, who I thought I knew so well that I was tired of.
Moreover, it was even more so because he was looking straight ahead even though I was staring at him.
Look at this. Are you avoiding my eyes? Since when did you start having such a good habit?
“It’s been a long time so I’ve adapted to the climate here.”
I threw it out to test waters, but surprisingly, Cesare still maintained an upright attitude.
I thought he’d stare at me.
Ah, he’s tempting me to do whatever I want. What do I need to do now? I always attract attention anyway.
I jumped up. As soon as I did that, sure enough, he opened his mouth again.
“Where are you going?…”
“Washroom.”
I answered briefly and turned around.
As I strode through the door attached to the inside of the balcony, I felt a gaze on my back.
This is so funny.
* * *
The public washroom was empty.
In fact, I didn’t have much to do, so I approached the sink, turned on the water, and began to wash my hands.
Hmm… Did I lose more weight? I think my fingers got thinner. Was the ring this loose?
“You’re amazing.”
Surprised. I looked back and just focused on washing my hands again.
Ah. It’s Freya. This is so obvious that it’s neither fun nor a twist.
“It’s admirable how you can be so brazen in that human mask.”
I’m more impressed with you. How can you find such a convenient chance to talk with me alone? With this kind of attitude, what queen, she should have established a kingdom earlier.
“I didn’t expect it to be true… Are you ashamed?”
“…….”
“Are you listening?
“Hmm? Did you just talk to me?”
“Ha. You’re killing me.”
“Oh no, hiccups won’t kill you.”
Freya didn’t make any noise for a moment.
I took the ring off my finger and looked carefully.
I don’t think it changed sizes. It’s impossible for the ring to become big, so did I lose weight on my fingers?
“As expected, you’re finally showing your true colors. Is this what your true self, Lovely Duchess?”
“Amazing, you knew my status? I thought you didn’t even know that because you were so bad at understanding.”
“What did you say?”
“I said you’re amazing. Is there a problem with your hearing?”
I glanced away as I put the ring back on.
“You talked about treason. It’s shocking that there are people who do that openly.”
“Rebel? When did I…”
“Didn’t you make a fuss about becoming a queen? You were very ambitious.”
Freya’s expression staring at me was a spectacle if I had to express it in a single word.
The combination of a waxy pale face and cold frozen purple eyes was quite overwhelming.
Soon after, she raised the corners of her mouth.
“Poor boy. I wonder what will happen to him after he finds out who you are.”
“It’s not something you should be worried about. You still don’t understand the subject.”
“It’s you who doesn’t understand the subject. Are you aware that you insulted the entire north?”
“Oh, please don’t say stuff without being able to distinguish between places. At best, you talk as if the North could live under the rule of a Marquis’ daughter. I don’t know if I should call it hopeful or simply pathetic.”
“What did you say?”
Her pale face quickly turned red.
It was a rare scene to appreciate, but the feeling was not good, so I shook my wet hands and focused on drying them with a handkerchief.
Freya, who was shaking like a tree, was about to say something again.
“Frey, what are you doing here?”
Ellenia, who suddenly appeared, said as soon as she entered the bathroom.
The atmosphere was so unusual that I thought she was talking coldly.
What is this? Did the two of them fight? Well, it’s none of my business.
“Frey?”
“…I’m just using the washroom.”
Oh, I thought she’d tell her right away, but Freya quickly left the bathroom, mumbling as if she were making excuses.
In the meantime, I folded my handkerchief well again, put it in my hand, turned around and passed by Ellania, who was quietly standing next to the door.
“Ruby, are you okay?”
I wondered if she was being sarcastic. Indeed, it was an unexpected question that far exceeded my expectations, but I didn’t want to know the significance.
When I paused for a moment and looked back, those expressionless red eyes blinked quickly.
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t be okay with.”
Ellenia didn’t say anything for a moment. Instead, she just pursed her lips.
I almost knew what kind of conversation was going to go back and forth. Probably the second round from a while ago.
In a way, it was natural for me to be criticized, but the opponent I had matched with was the noisy Freya.
I didn’t feel like doing that again with Ellenia, so I walked out of there.
* * *
“Hey, Galar.”
“What’s wrong with you, Ivan?”
“Do you think it’s possible for the Duchess to jump through the holy barrier?”
At that moment, he thought he heard something wrong, so he didn’t respond.
Instead, he stared at his colleague’s face, whose dark circles came down to his chin, with a look of displeasure.
Therefore, Ivan, of course, was furious.
“Do you think it’s possible?”
“I think you’re not sober. I don’t think you should be walking around. Do you want me to help you?”
“Why are you picking a fight, you useless b*stard?”
“What’s wrong with you today?”
No one answered Galar’s calm question.
Rub and Ezekiel just shook their heads puzzled.
Except for Camu, who was staring into the air with a look similar to Ivan.
Galar’s splitting dark red eyebrows wriggled.
“Camu. Ivan. What are you hiding from us?”
“What? What are you talking about, punk? What are we hiding all of a sudden? You said we’re hiding, but I think you’re the one hiding something!”
Camu’s reaction as if he had been waiting was beyond suspicious of his mental state.
Speaking of Ivan, he was now staring at one place with a series of sighs that did not suit him.
They followed the gaze and looked away.
“The gist of your question is, if Izek gets hurt during the game, you’re worried that the Duchess will lose her composure, show unexpected behavior, or something like that… ?”
“…crazy b*stard, it’s not like that.”
“Then what are you worried about? She didn’t look troubled today. I think she’s calmer than yesterday.”
That was the problem.
Swallowing briefly, Ivan exchanged complex gazes with Camu.
After holding their heads all night and contemplating in their own way, they planned to talk to Rudbeckia first before discussing with Galar and others.
So they went there early in the morning, but they didn’t know Ellenia would welcome them.
For those who were worried, Ellenia confessed about last night’s commotion in a calm tone that seemed to convey some objective information.
The Omerta family had already suffered the tragic end of their Duchess once.
Ivan couldn’t even imagine what would happen to everyone if that struck again.
As soon as his head was about to explode, his anger, which was close to living, soared.
If he could, he wanted to run out like this and kill that Borgia, who was sitting there shamelessly.
Rudbeckia seemed really strange.
Should he say that it was not like her or that it seemed like she herself had suddenly changed?
Considering the usual appearance of Rudbeckia they know and yesterday’s mess, it felt unfamiliar.
Ivan approached her earlier with the intention of talking to her even for a short time, but she looked at him with a look he had never seen before.
To be honest, Ivan thought Rudbeckia would get blue or feel intimidated as soon as she saw him.
But such an empty and dull face.
Rather than being shaken, she seemed calm.
A face that looked like it was about to go somewhere. She looked like she had no regrets or feelings.
‘Don’t tell me…’
He was afraid of the worst happening, especially if Izek found out.
Ivan just grabbed his head with both hands. Now they had no idea whether they should worry more about Izek or Rudbeckia. It was a complicated situation.
Even if he wanted to take action right away, he couldn’t do anything because the situation was sensitive.
They had to let go of everything and wait anxiously until the end of the match.
He wanted the creator of the matches, who had nothing to do with this situation, to rot in hell for a long time.