|| 4 || The Capital's Social Circle

David came into the Royal Palace to meet his sister but heard that she was away for a while, attending to a guest. It was boring to sit down and wait so he went looking for his sister. When he heard that she was at the Rose Palace, he slowly made his way there.

Although David was offended by his sister's rebuke some time ago, he did not want to be estranged with her. Even if she kept saying annoying things when they met, Beth was one of the few people that David was limited against. If his relationship was bad with his sister who was the Queen and mother of the future King, he was the only one that would suffer.

'My sister still sees me as a child but it's a matter of time. Someday, she'll see me differently.'

In order for the King to carry out his important goals, there had to be someone that he could trust at his side and he(David) was the best of that kind. After the coronation, the King would start to do many things in earnest.

David was positively confident that he would be placed in charge of an important task. And in preparation for that time, David was diligently gathering young talents. He firmly believed that his efforts would come to light one day.

As he drew closer to the Rose Palace, he was swarmed with a strong fragrance. The Rose Palace was to be given to the most favored woman of the king and was empty throughout the lifetime of the late king.

'When the coronation is over, the Rose Palace should become my sister's.'

David heard that a princess had briefly stayed in the Rose Palace.

'And that princess married the Duke of Taran.'

How great the influence of the Taran Duke. It was obvious that the princess had begged to stay in the Rose Palace.

'Princess, my ass. Because one is royal family, one is called a princess. If they were nobility, they would just be an illegitimate child.'

David wanted to belittle everything related to the Duke of Taran. Because he was distracted for a moment, he went on the wrong path and entered the garden instead of the entrance. David grumbled at the annoyance of retracing his steps.

Suddenly, the blowing of the wind intensified. The summer breeze was strong so the petals piled on the floor became a whirlpool and flew towards David. To protect himself from the wind, he covered his face with his hand and narrowed his eye.

When David was finally able to see properly, he discovered a hat that was blown to his feet. The hat was richly decorated with lace and was most certainly a noble lady's. David picked up the hat and stood up, lifting his head.

And he froze.

The woman who was flustered because of her flying hat, turned towards David. The woman's dress glistened like the surface of a lake bathed in sunlight. The sunlight seemed to pass through her white skin that was clear like it would soon disappear. Her exceptionally red lips stood out among the red rose petals in full bloom.

The atmosphere made by the fantastical view of the rose garden, the sweet scent of flowers, the sunlight and the soft wind, unbelievably suited the woman and for David, it was indeed love at first sight.

David held the hat and approached the woman. His heart raced like a teenage boy experiencing his first love. The face of his fiancée from long time marriage talks already flew from his mind. There was a maidservant next to the woman but the maid was completely disregarded.

David stopped a step away from the woman and courteously held out the hat.

"A hat with the heart of a beautiful noble flew to my feet so I shall return it. May I please be allowed to hold onto that heart?"

Lucia received the hat and turned her head sideways as a small laugh escaped from her mouth. How could one say such things without reddening in the slightest? Lucia was just laughing because it was her first time being hit on by such a blatant man.

Lucia wanted to take a look around the spacious rose garden so she had obtained consent from the Queen and was taking a walk. A sudden gust of wind blew her hat away, surprising her, and when an unfamiliar man picked it up and approached her, she was even more surprised.

Lucia felt reassured since she was together with her maid and the handmaid placed by the Queen. She remember Jerome's advice that she should never be alone outside the mansion.

'So this kind of unexpected situation can happen,' Lucia thought to herself.

"Thank you for returning the hat."

Although Lucia laughed because the situation itself was strange, in David's eyes, it looked like she was giving him a smile.

"Even your voice is beautiful. I am Count David Ramis of the Duke of Ramis."

When David introduced himself, Lucia was able to recall memories from her dream.

The eldest son of the Duke of Ramis. Lucia had seen him several times at parties. He was not inferior to the Duke of Taran and went around with followers. There weren't many occasions where the two men were at a party on the same day and the same time but on such a day, the crowd was divided into two.

Lucia did not see David in a very good light. He acted like a good person but he was arrogant. If the Duke of Taran's arrogance was confidence without a care for others, David's arrogance was to trample others beneath his feet.

It was purely Lucia's subjective gaze. In the dream, Lucia liked and admired the Duke of Taran. In any case, Lucia always felt a sense of discomfort when she saw David's smiling face. He seemed to be wearing a thin mask on his face.

Lucia had merely just felt that he was a bad person but then she happened to come across a scene of David's. She had attended a very large ball and had secluded herself at a corner in order to rest and avoid the bustle of people for a while.

[What? Is that true?]

She heard a loud voice and when she looked, it was David together with some man.

[Did father really?]

[Yes. I'm afraid one's intention…]

The distant sound of grinding teeth could be heard. And when Lucia saw David's terribly distorted face, she was shocked and hid herself again. His murderous expression was completely different from his usual smiling expression. But the fact that there was no awkwardness was appalling.

After the men left, Lucia remained hidden for a while then she carefully went out to the hall. Her disturbed beating heart did not settle down for a long while. This happened some time before her marriage to Count Matin was over.

And after a considerable period of time, Lucia was again privy to news of the high society as a maid and heard that the Duke of Ramis passed away of old age and David took up his mantle. When she heard that it had been some time since the second son of the late Duke of Ramis died in an accident, she somehow felt strange.

Time passed since she quit her job as a maid and the last she heard of the Ducal Household of Ramis was by chance. She heard that the (new)Duke of Ramis attempted a rebellion and their family was wiped out. She didn't hear what subsequently happened to the Queen who was from the Ducal Household of Ramis or the Crown Prince whom the Duke of Ramis had tried to establish as King.

"The moment I saw you, I thought the roses had turned into a person." (David)

Lucia who was reminiscing about what might happen in the distant future was brought back to reality. Her memories from the dream overlapped and her impression of the man in front of her changed.

'Maybe he's acting this way because he knows who I am.'

She had doubts about his intention for approaching her.

"You overpraise." (Lucia)

"It is not an exaggeration. I have never seen such a beauty. Will you please give me the honor of hearing your noble name?"

It didn't seem like he approached her purposefully since he was asking for her name. Lucia's silence made David's heart grow more impatient.

"I will not go somewhere and say something rash. I am blinded by your noble beauty. Would you like to take a walk with me for a moment? I am earnestly looking forward to having you open up a little bit as we take in the abundant scent of roses."

David was an aggressive young man. He had no hesitation about boldly confessing his love to a woman that caught his fancy. In return, his passion cooled off just as fast as it ignited.

David was full of confidence as he had never been rejected by any woman. By nature, he liked things that stood out and he preferred the pure and elegant type of beauty rather than a beauty that was so gorgeous it suppressed him. The woman in the garden matched his tastes perfectly.

David was so absorbed in his feelings that he did not notice that there were eyes watching them. They were from the side that was close to the rear of the direction where Lucia stood.

Lucia could not see them but if David moved his gaze a little, he would be able to.

***

'Why is that child here…'

Beth watched her younger brother hit on the Duchess with a rather embarrassed expression. It was embarrassing to listen to and her face automatically grew hot. She never wanted to know how her brother seduced women.

After the Duchess left to the garden, Beth was busy instructing the maids to prepare the refreshments and the Duke of Taran showed up. Beth wondered if there was something urgent since he was looking for the Duchess and she hurried with him to the garden and was met with an unseemly sight.

Beth shifted her gaze to look at the Duke of Taran standing next to her. The usually cold expression of the Duke remained unchanged. Fortunately, he didn't seem to be greatly angered.

'How do I kill this fool?'

Beth couldn't not even imagine that the Duke of Taran was currently contemplating her brother's murder in his head.

As Hugo watched the scoundrel make a pass at his wife, he was thinking of a dozen ways to end him. Beneath the icy mask on his face, his eyes sparked violently.

A little while ago, Hugo was certainly in a very good mood. He knew that she was in the palace so he made his way to the Rose Palace and was looking forward to seeing her surprised at his appearance.

However, as soon as he entered the garden and saw such a scene, his mood instantly hit rock bottom. There was a fly was buzzing around his fragrant flower. The radiant flower that he had been hiding away in his bosom had now reached the point where its blossoming fragrance couldn't be hidden anymore.

Hugo clenched his teeth in worry. Damn it. Why was she so pretty? She ended up attracting this kind of bum. It was enough for him alone to know how lovely she was. Not for some other bastard to come snooping around the fortune that was his wife.

Outwardly, Hugo's expression was unchanged but inwardly, his blood was boiling and he was on the verge of exploding. He took some deep breaths and barely managed to control himself. He had to find composure. He couldn't kill the brother-in-law of the King inside the palace.

'What? Blinded by beauty? This bastard should really go blind then he can't pull this kind of crap again.'

Hugo could no longer stand the sight of the man zealously trying to woo his wife. When the man asked her to take a walk with him, Hugo stepped forward.

***

Lucia was wondering how to turn down the persistent David's insinuation of a date. When she was in the north, she should have learned from Kate how to reject a man's courtship without hurting each other's face(dignity). She hadn't pay any attention at all because she had thought it was something unrelated to herself.

"That is difficult. She has a prior engagement."

Lucia's eyes widened when she heard that familiar voice that made her heart pound every time she heard it. Before she could say 'ah', he was right beside her. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his arms.

"Why are you…"

Lucia mumbled with a puzzled look on her face. His arm around her waist was holding her strongly.

"What business do you have with my wife?"

David was surprised at the sudden emergence of the Duke of Taran, he was surprised again at him naturally embracing the woman, and he was shocked speechless by the following words of the Duke of Taran.

"W…ife? Then, the Duch..ess?"

David's eyes shook tremendously with shock. The woman who captured his heart in an instant already had a husband. It can't be. David blankly stared at Lucia in disbelief. The sight of her nestled in the Duke of Taran's embrace as though accustomed to it, shocked him all over again.

David's gaze did not move away from her. Hugo wrinkled his eyebrows. It was a waste to even let the fool see.

Turn away! Hugo suppress the urge to yell and darkly called out to the man.

"Sir. Ramis."

When David's gaze turned to him, Hugo was satisfied.

"Do not personally approach my wife like this again."

And Hugo's eyes were strongly saying: Get lost, greenhorn. It was a gaze that completely looked down on the other.

David was annoyed.

"Your words are too harsh. It was just a momentary idle conversation. Marriage does not mean a woman becomes another's possession."

To Hugo, it sounded like he was saying he would make a pass at her again. This man was making great effort to die. Hugo's scarlet eyes darkened sharply.

Should he just kill him and damn the consequences? He would have seriously considered it if his wife was not here. He couldn't allow her to see him killing people.

Usually, Hugo thought of David as beneath his notice. The sight of the man getting riled up alone was like an ignorant puppy so Hugo didn't feel the need to deal with him as an opponent. However, with this incident, Hugo definitely marked David down.

If David knew, he would have been infuriated several times over. So far, he had been insignificant existence to the Duke of Taran, but because of a woman that David fell for at first sight, he had become a presence to be blacklisted, and that woman was the Duke of Taran's wife.

"Ramis Gong must have great talent. Since he has a son who lives like he has an extra life."

For the first time in his life, Hugo made a gentle threat.

"Wha…what??"

David arrogantly faced the other.

However, in the face of Hugo's fiendish bloodthirst, his throat was clogged and the words refused to come out. It was true bloodthirst that had reaped the lives of countless men. Even a courageous enemy general could only lower his tail. There was no way David could receive it upfront.

David went pale, shaking like a leaf and fell to the floor. Seeing this sight, the Duke of Taran raised his lips in a sneer. David felt dizzy as blood rushed to his head. Anger, shame, humiliation. The dark emotions that he'd felt throughout his life surged to their limit.

The Duke of Taran grabbed the wrist of the Duchess and pulled her to the rear of the garden. The two of them soon disappeared into the wall of rose vines.

David, who was on the floor, was stunned. He couldn't understand why he was forced to this state. Beth approached her brother. She inwardly clicked her tongue at her brother who showed such an ugly behavior.

"Are you okay?"

"Sister! Did you not hear what that guy said? He threatened to kill me!"

"You don't have to take it that far."

Beth countered indifferently. Hugo's bloodthirst was only focused on David so Beth did not feel the situation was that serious. She just thought that her weak brother could not withstand the Duke of Taran's momentum.

"Didn't I say you should regularly brush up on your training with the sword? Although the Ramis family is not a warrior family, it is easier to obtain the loyalty of the knights if one is be able to use to sword to some degree."

"This is not a matter of swordsmanship! No matter how audacious one is, how could one make such a threat? Do you see this as something that should happen?!"

What threat? Beth was dissatisfied with her younger brother's excessive statement. Actually, Beth had thought of it that way a little but because of David acting overboard, she ended up regarding it as not a big deal. She knew the character of her younger brother who thought that he was the priority in everything.

"You were at fault first. Did you not make a pass at the Duchess?"

"Did I know?!"

"Anyway, stand up already."

Beth frowned at the pathetic sight of her brother sitting on the floor. David grit his teeth. He didn't want to be like this either. What did she expect him to do when his legs gave out? After some time, he staggeringly got to his feet.

"Is that really the Duchess?"

"Yes. She came into the palace today and we had a meal together. So, do not be rude when you see her again next time."

David's shoulders sank down. He was really disappointed. He thought he had met his fated woman.

"Why didn't you inform me that there was such a beauty? Since she is a princess, sister could have known first."

"Now you're saying all sorts of nonsense. Do you mean I am supposed to find out if the princesses are beautiful or not?"

Beth coldly cut off her brother's whining.

"If there is nothing urgent, go back for today. I still have to attend to my guest."

"…When you say guest, do you mean the Duchess?"

Seeing through to his obvious interest, Beth clicked her tongue.

"It seems you didn't understand Taran Gong's warning at all. Instead of engaging in this futile endeavor, go back."

"Seriously? I'm speechless. Is there a law that a married woman cannot talk to others?"

It was, of course, rude to make a pass at a woman in front of her husband. It was enough reason for them to apply for a duel. However, if there was no intention to ridicule and one applied for a duel with that reason, in Xenon's aristocratic culture, it would be regarded as an act with no class and would draw ridicule.

The sexual customs of Xenon's nobility was very liberal. The reason that one's partner, whether it was the man or the woman, had a lover, was not enough grounds for a divorce. The culture was tolerant of the illegitimate child of the male as well as the illegitimate child of the female. Receiving a declaration of love after getting married could not even become a source of gossip.

In David's opinion, the Duke of Taran's actions were ugly. Restraining a woman was the action of country bumpkins.

"From the standpoint of a husband, if one sees a man approaching their own wife in front of them, they will certainly feel bad."

While Beth was talking, deep down, she was surprised. Taran Gong's reaction was excessive. Anyone could see that it was the aggressiveness of a man that was overcome with jealousy.

'Jealousy?'

To Beth, there was no word that did not suit the Duke of Taran as much as that one.