Chapter 15

Lady Veilney, standing beside him, quickly supported him.

"You have tarnished the family name. Go and kneel before His Highness Chase immediately, declaring this all to be a misunderstanding."

Even in this situation, Veilney's eagerness to continue the engagement with Chase was repulsive.

"I have already informed His Highness Chase that the engagement will be considered null and void. The fault is mine, so I will ensure he suffers no harm…"

Elise couldn't finish her sentence.

With a crack, her head snapped to the side from a slap by Fraser.

Elise clutched her stinging cheek and glared at Fraser.

His excited ranting was unintelligible to her.

'He hit me with all his might.'

Her muffled hearing gradually returned.

"…You've made a mockery of the Earl of Worton. Go to His Highness immediately and kneel. I will make it as if it never happened."

"How can something that happened be undone? That would be deceiving His Highness Chase. Isn't that a greater sin?"

Fraser, dumbfounded by Elise's defiant responses, gasped for breath.

Elise had changed completely in a few days.

The child who used to flinch and bow her head at his slightest shout was now standing up to him without avoiding his gaze.

"In your eyes, I am a joke. Let everyone leave."

Flames seemed to leap from Fraser's eyes.

His intention to be left alone with Elise suggested he planned to unleash his anger without restraint.

"Dad, don't be too harsh. She's just immature."

Iris saw her chance and intervened.

Pretending to be concerned and caring for Elise, she began her act of the good sister.

"I'll try to talk to her."

"Iris, my good daughter. Remember, animals are not tamed with words. They are taught through discipline."

"Dad, Elise is a person."

"My dear, pretty daughter. You only see her that way because your eyes are treasures. You try to see only the pretty side… Go on up for now. Try to talk to her as you said."

The conversation between Fraser and Iris was revolting.

Pretending to be a good father, a caring daughter.

Veilney escorted Iris to her room, and the servants disappeared. Only Elise and Fraser remained in the spacious hall.

"You've grown arrogant because things with His Highness Chase went a bit well."

Fraser stepped closer. Elise braced her feet, refusing to step back.

'I've done nothing wrong. No need to retreat.'

She didn't want to show weakness to him.

Fraser raised his hand again.

With a smack, Elise felt a tearing pain and collapsed.

"When I speak nicely, do as I say. Tell His Highness Chase you were scared and wrote him a false letter."

"No. I will not do that."

Fraser wouldn't kill her.

Nor could he hit her anymore, because there was an upcoming banquet at the palace.

For Fraser's plans of getting along with Chase to work, Elise needed to attend that banquet.

So the slap he had just given was the most he could do.

Elise had calculated this when she instigated the incident.

She glared at Fraser from her collapsed position.

Fraser, puffing in disbelief, sat down in front of her and grabbed her hair.

Elise's head was jerked backward.

"Listen, Elise. Without marrying His Highness Chase, you have no value. Do you think we'll keep someone without value in our house? You'll be thrown out of the Earl's house, disgraced. Shall I tell you how your life will be after that? How your mother died?"

Elise bit the inside of her mouth hard. Tears quickly filled her eyes.

Seeing Elise's tears, Fraser's mood improved significantly.

That's what you get for being insolent. It always takes a few slaps to set things straight.

Fraser released Elise's head roughly, causing her to stagger and fall.

Fraser shook his hands and clicked his tongue.

"Stay locked up in your room. Don't even think about wandering around for a while. Everyone got that? Keep a close watch!"

There was a bustle of footsteps.

Elise's shoulder heaved as she lay on the ground.

"Stop crying here and get back to your room. You're a nuisance."

Despite Fraser's words, Elise couldn't immediately get up. If she did now, she might be caught laughing.

Elise had to bite her lower lip hard until she reached her room, so hard that it bled.

Once inside her room with the door shut tightly, she finally released her bitten lip.

Pfft.

Laughter escaped her lips.

Elise was simply overjoyed that Fraser had reacted exactly as she had anticipated.

This also thwarted Iris's plans.

'She must have planned to meet His Highness David at the hunting ground, but now she can't.'

Even if Chase was the king's out-of-favor son, David participating in leisure activities in the midst of a scandal involving his brother wouldn't look good to the public.

'His Majesty will have to intervene. How will he resolve this situation?'

Elise fervently hoped the king would be enraged.

"Cut out the article from the paper and keep it," said Karan, handing over the Alleycat Times to Hartvin, who tilted his head.

"It's not exactly good content."

"It's a glorious matter. My relationship with Elise is now officially acknowledged."

"A scandal…"

"What does that matter? The important thing is that mine and Elise's names are side by side."

Hartvin sometimes couldn't understand Karan. A logical and cold person, yet he lost his rationality when it came to Elise.

But since it didn't harm him, Hartvin just watched.

"How about keeping it in a frame?"

Hartvin was somewhat amused by Karan's enthusiasm.

"Fine. Get a few more copies."

Karan said this and grabbed his coat.

"Where are you going? Should I come too?"

"You stay and work. We haven't finished the Bedrocca business withdrawal yet."

Karan had nullified all the plans he had in Bedrocca.

Without Elise, Bedrocca meant nothing to Karan.

'I'll have to destroy it someday. I don't want my hard work to be wasted there.'

Karan glanced at the streets of Bedrocca through the window and then stepped outside.

His destination was a small park known for its walking paths.

Karan, watching the Bedrocca nobles leisurely strolling along the lakeside with parasols, felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

'They live such carefree lives.'

The joys of Bedroccan life were luxuries not permitted to a Titrisian.

Whether it was ugly jealousy or inferiority, Karan's criticism was somewhat justified considering the ancient past that put Ragnaros to sleep.

'The Bedrocca royal family is a bunch of frauds.'

Karan's gaze sharpened.

"Your Highness? You're here early."

At the sound of Elise's voice, Karan's demeanor changed.

His gaze remained lofty, but his eyes softened.

"Elise, welcome… What is this?"

But the tender mood didn't last. Karan lifted Elise's chin. His gaze lingered on her swollen, bruised cheek.

"It's nothing."

Elise forcibly removed Karan's hand.

A fury ignited inside Karan. Her pale, delicate face was swollen and bruised, like a canvas smeared with paint, and yet she said it was nothing?

"Is this a familiar occurrence for you, or do you want me to ignore it? Or perhaps, do you enjoy the pain?"

In his anger, Karan couldn't help but speak sarcastically to Elise.

"It's not about being used to it. I don't want to cause you concern. Pain… depends on what I'm willing to endure for the consequences. I don't enjoy it."

Elise answered without a single hair out of place, as if determined to upset Karan.

"Who did this? Is it because of the article?"

Karan felt ashamed of himself for being pleased by the article, not fully realizing the situation Elise had to bear responsibility for and endure.

Karan clenched his fist.

"Your Highness, it will heal soon. If you keep this up, I'll regret coming out today."

In fact, Elise intended to refuse when Karan suggested they meet. Sneaking out wasn't easy.

But she had to meet him to ensure the scandal didn't end as just a scandal.

And she hadn't expected Karan to react so sensitively to her injury.

Chase often dismissed it when Elise was hit by Fraser.

"Just apply some ointment."

That was all the reaction Chase showed.

At that time, Elise thought Chase was holding back his upset feelings to appear favorable to her family, the Worton Earl's house.

'It wasn't that. He just didn't care about my injuries.'

Whether Elise was hurt or not.

She had thought most men would be like Chase, but Karan was different.

His anger was visible in his eyes. His lower eyelid muscles trembled, and his jaw was set firmly.

"Let's walk."

Elise pulled Karan's arm.

Walking together affectionately was better for fueling rumors than standing in confrontation.

Karan, finding it painful to look at Elise's face any longer, turned sharply.

He began walking ahead, and Elise quickly followed.

"Your Highness…"

"I need some time to think."

Karan cut off Elise's words, slowing his pace to allow her to catch up easily.

It was a day with nice sunshine and breeze. Many people were at the lakeside, some even boating.

A few recognized Karan and Elise and pointed fingers.

Karan quickly noticed and glared sharply.

Those who made eye contact with him were startled and turned away, but the murmuring didn't stop.

"It will be like this in Bedrocca for a while."

Elise lightly grasped Karan's arm, and even that slight force made him stop.

"For the time being, it's unavoidable. I'm sorry, but you'll have to get used to it. It's unpleasant, isn't it?"

It wasn't the scandal that bothered him. He was angry because of Elise's face.

"What exactly should I get used to? Tell me what I should get used to while living with you."

Karan's voice was unusually rigid.

"Scorn? Criticism? Or perhaps a wife who's beaten and bruised?"

------------------------------

This novel has been translated up to chapter 30.

To read ahead, join my Patreon: patreon.com/emmi99