Chapter 100
“Perhaps Mrs. Bohen was the impetus, but the person who truly changed me was you, Count. You trusted my words and my very existence.”
In fact, she wasn't expecting much.
She believed that her life would not improve so easily, and that Laszlo would harbor feelings of hatred or contempt towards her.
But Laszlo trusted her.
He may not have realized the impact this had on her life.
“You have given me recognition and empathy that I have never heard in my entire life. You have given me the strength to live. My gratitude for all that you have given me is my true feelings.”
Finally, some tears welled up in Idil's eyes.
With her gentle smile and tear-stained features under the moonlight, she looked more beautiful than ever.
Laszlo felt ashamed of his simple words, which now seemed worthless to him.
Looking at her, shining like the ruler of the moon, was difficult for him, so he buried his face in his hands.
'I... I'm not that great a person. I didn't say anything that important. It was just a few words to get through the moment...'
But he was unable to say any of it.
To tell Idil, who had found meaning in those few words, that there was little meaning to them, seemed to him an unforgivable rudeness.
Therefore, he chose to change the subject.
“I was the one who thought you hated me. You didn’t like me at first, did you?”
"What? Me?"
“Do you remember when you almost fell when you got out of the carriage?”
“Yes, I managed to fix it thanks to your help and I didn’t stumble embarrassingly.”
“But then you pushed me away in a panic. I don’t blame you, of course. It’s only natural that getting close to someone who has captivated you would be disgusting.”
Laszlo nodded understandingly, while Edel seemed to be thinking about something else. Then she quickly shook her head in negation.
“Oh, no, I misunderstood! It’s just that I felt I had done something inappropriate, so I backed down immediately!”
"Inappropriate behavior? What inappropriate behavior did I commit?"
Edel felt embarrassed to explain herself, but she couldn't avoid answering.
“Well… for a woman to feign illness and fall into a man’s arms is, in fact… a very old method of seduction.”
"Really? But you didn't mean it, did you? I think your leg had a cramp at the time."
“Yes, that’s true. But I thought the situation might be misunderstood, so I backed down.”
Only then did Laszlo's face gradually begin to brighten.
"So... it wasn't because you hate me?"
“I was scared, yes, but I never thought you were a hateful person.”
"never?"
"never."
“And the fear was also only at the beginning of my arrival at the palace.”
"And now? Do you see me as just an ordinary person?"
A confident smile appeared on Lazlo's lips, and Idil responded by defiantly raising her chin.
“I have definitely realized that you are less assertive than I expected.”
Laszlo laughed loudly. His laughter was so warm that it suddenly made the cold night air seem warm.
After a while of laughing, Laszlo looked back at the dark garden, then said without looking away.
“I may not be trustworthy, but I want you to believe this… From now on, I will protect you.”
Edel felt such obvious surprise that it seemed as if she could feel it in her skin.
"So... don't try to endure something like this alone again. Whether it's pain, hardship, sadness, or even just something annoying!"
Then he continued with a deep sigh, as if pleading with her.
"Just give me a chance to protect you."
"But... by what right do I have to ask that of you?"
“Because you are the one who turned this foolish, barbaric mercenary into Count Crisis. Yet, I have nothing to offer you, and that is what makes me feel ashamed.”
Laszlo, resting his chin and grumbling, looked more like an eighteen-year-old teenager than a twenty-eight-year-old young man.
'I need to stop thinking that he's nice.'
But without realizing it, Idell smiled slightly and nodded in agreement.
"So, I'll be counting on you in the future."
Upon hearing these words, a calm smile appeared on Laszlo's face, as if all the worries that had preoccupied him before going out to the garden had completely vanished from his memory.
***
News of Angela's engagement arrived shortly afterward.
The engagement was the talk of the town in aristocratic society, not only because Angela was considered one of the most beautiful women in the upper class, but also because her fiancé was a completely unknown person.
“Leandro Bilbro? I’ve never heard of that name before.”
“He is a distant relative of the Marquis of Winbler, and it is said that he came to study in the Empire a few years ago and now lives in the Marquis’s house.”
"He seems like an insignificant person, doesn't he?"
“Never! He is said to be the heir of Teal Amend from the kingdom of Vis.”
The name Bilbro may be unfamiliar, but no nobleman is unaware of Teil Amand, since silver mined from that region is used to make fine tableware, candle holders, sacred objects, and even priests' supplies.
"So, he's extremely rich."
“Moreover, he has considerable influence in the kingdom of Vis. Perhaps marrying someone like that is better than being associated with the royal family itself.”
Once people knew the truth about Leandro, they considered Angela's engagement to be a "wise choice".
But from Demacross's point of view, the situation was extremely troubling.
"So, does this mean that the Count Bliss family has allied itself with the Winblayer family?"
“Most likely. A family like this cannot make a decision about the marriage of one of its prominent members without careful calculations.”
Count Tallon, Chamberlain, who always spoke the truth without distortion, was fully aware of the Emperor's displeasure, but he made no attempt to sugarcoat the reality. He knew that Demacros hadn't asked the question because he didn't know the answer.
Demacros remained silent for a while, thinking deeply, before addressing Laszlo without looking at him.
“What do you think? Angela Bliss, who was trying so hard to seduce you not long ago, has suddenly become engaged to a man we’ve never even heard of.”
Of course, Laszlo didn't care at all who Angela married.
But from a political standpoint, the situation was a bit strange.
“Of course, it’s unexpected. She doesn’t seem like the type of person to marry a wealthy man from a small kingdom so easily.”
"Don't you feel any remorse?"
“…Since you know very well that I have been avoiding that woman, what is the purpose of this question?”
Demacros laughed softly, which angered Laszlo, who realized that this man enjoyed teasing him.
“In any case, Count Bliss is a man of his word. If he has suddenly changed his family’s position and joined another side, it means that Leandro Bilbrow has more than we expected, or that Marquis Winbler has made an offer that cannot be refused…”
“But Winbler has never shown any interest in the Bliss family before, so what would motivate him to make such a radical offer now? Isn’t that so?”
"correct."
“Exactly, and that’s what worries me.”
Why now?
Despite various investigations, no news has emerged of an increase in the influence or power of the Count Bliss family.
The Bliss family is not particularly special other than that they are of foreign royal origin and that they have an Angela Bliss.
Although this may be useful for expanding influence, the question that arises from Isaac Winbler's point of view is: Why specifically the Bliss family?
As Laszlo contemplated the situation, he said in a quiet voice.
“If this isn’t just a deal between the Bliss and Winbler families, then it may be necessary to investigate Leandro Bilbrow’s identity more deeply.”
“Yes, I have already started doing that. It is true that he is an unknown name, but he was not completely absent from aristocratic society, he just did not attract attention.”
He had not previously been declared the heir to Till Amand.
“But I heard that he fell in love with Angela about a year ago after seeing her at a party. Since then, he has been showing up at every party she attends, but he hasn’t dared to approach her.”
Count Talon said with a smile.
“Are we dealing with an innocent love story of a man in love? In fact, it is quite common for a haughty woman like Angela Bliss to fall in love with a sincere and innocent man.”
Demacross smiled sarcastically and let out a soft sigh.
“If it were just an innocent love story, I would feel more at ease…”
But Leandro's recent actions were worrying.
The man, who had lived in the shadows for a long time, suddenly began to boast about his fiancée and show her off to everyone.
Human nature does not change that easily.
It is clear that Leandro is not as simple or innocent a man as he appears.