TPMBHSW 04

Chapter 04

Richard had waited a long time for Bellua. For someone bearing the Bellua name. That was why, upon hearing only “Bellua” and coming straight down to the drawing room, he furrowed his brow the moment he saw a familiar face.

Because the one waving lightly as if greeting an old friend was Noah Bellua.

“I didn’t expect you to come looking for me.”

“I didn’t expect it either, so don’t blame yourself.”

Noah shrugged and rose from his seat.

“Honestly, buying the estate across the street was too obvious, I admit. Ah, our young lady—no, I suppose I should say Your Grace now. Didn’t you see her when she came out to look?”

“……”

“Don’t worry. Bella has no idea that you buying the house right across from the Bellua Dukedom is a coward’s plea begging her to come find you.”

Is this supposed to be comfort?

If Richard didn’t know Noah, he might have been confused. But he had dealt with Noah to the point of exhaustion.

That bastard was mocking him right now. And quite enjoying it, too.

“Wipe that look off your face. Still, this isn’t a bad reunion, is it?”

“In what way?”

“The power dynamic has flipped? Now I’m in the position of speaking formally to a count—doesn’t that feel satisfying?”

“Sure it does.”

“My, can’t you feel how jealous I am of the count?”

“At least wet your lips before you lie.”

“This is why I hate people who know me too well.”

Richard twisted his lips at Noah, who was smiling shamelessly.

As he said, the positions between Noah and himself had completely changed from ten years ago.

According to the late Duke Bellua’s plan, Noah should have become the next Duke Bellua. That was the whole reason he’d been adopted. And Richard would have been a knight with no title, bowing his head to him.

“Anyway, for a house acquired in a hurry, it’s not bad—but you’ll need to hire new staff. No matter how rushed the purchase was, shouldn’t you at least employ a butler who can recognize persons of interest?”

“If you have the presence of mind to worry about someone else’s household, why not worry about your own life?”

“What’s wrong with my life? The count’s household is the problem. Even if you’re a overnight count, you’re the hero of the North—the hero’s butler not recognizing a Bellua Dukedom vassal is a disgrace.”

Richard quietly watched Noah, who sat occupying the center of the drawing room, sneering.

He’d been someone whose thoughts were unreadable since childhood, but he wasn’t the type to obsess over pointless things either. If Noah had gone out of his way to come here, it meant there was a reason worth it. Richard slowly looked Noah up and down.

His attire was light, as if he were departing for somewhere far. In a situation where the head of family had just changed, the reason a adjutant would vacate his post was obvious.

“On your way to the Bellua estate, I take it?”

“…I came all this way to see you, and that’s all you have to say?”

“Was there anything else to say between us?”

“Ha.”

Noah shook his head. He looked at Richard with a sickened expression. Wondering where he should even begin.

‘Even if the Grand Duke hadn’t opposed it, they would have broken up eventually.’

And just like now, neither would be able to speak first, circling each other like dogs needing to relieve themselves.

‘Though I really don’t like it.’

Noah clicked his tongue. It wasn’t empty talk—Noah genuinely wasn’t sure whether Isabella reuniting with Richard was truly a good thing.

Fixing a once-broken relationship is difficult. Especially when the end was a mess.

“Very well. Then let me tell you something the count will find interesting.”

However.

“Why did you come back? I thought you’d given up five years ago—was I wrong?”

They say choices are about picking the lesser evil, not the best option.

“Or else, are you planning to become royalty by marrying the Princess?”

At that moment, Richard’s contemptuous gaze was so blatant that Noah found himself explaining unwittingly.

“Everyone’s whispering that the count is clearly after the Princess’s side.”

“I should be the one asking. Seeing you scurry off to the estate like a rat at a time like this—are you going to clean up the mess the predecessor made?”

Noah, who had been trying to provoke Richard somehow, momentarily froze.

“How on earth do you know…! No, phew. No. First, just answer. Do you still have feelings for Bella?”

Richard’s head tilted sideways. As if wondering why he should answer that. That alone was answer enough.

‘I thought so, but thank goodness. I can use him in a pinch.’

It was worth splitting my time to stop by.

“If you still have feelings, please help the young lady.”

Richard’s eyebrow twitched. He chewed over Noah’s words like someone who’d heard something absurd.

“Help? Me? Dare to, the Duke Bellua?”

“Yes. Coincidentally, it’s something only the count can do.”

He’d told her to break up, but Damon wouldn’t let Isabella go. Not because he loved her, but because he needed her.

But the more Isabella got tangled with Damon, the more dangerous it became. If unlucky, she might even be branded with the absurd accusation of seducing Damon to get at his personal funds.

To hide a tree, go to the forest. That was why Noah had come to Count Winston’s estate. To use Richard to hide Isabella amid a loud scandal.

‘Fortunately, that guy still has feelings for Bella.’

Whether it’s love, I don’t know.

Lingering attachment?

Perhaps, love-hate?

‘Whatever it is, doesn’t matter. As long as I can use it.’

Noah twisted one corner of his mouth upward and looked at the man approaching him, thinking.

It’s natural that Isabella doesn’t know. She hadn’t seen the expression on the face of the man who’d caught her as she was about to fall into the grave.

Surely, even as he entered the cemetery, Richard had been the cold Northern knight incarnate. The nobles who’d been whispering fell silent the moment his gaze touched them.

But then.

‘Thinking about it now, it seems like he was trying to look cool in front of Bella.’

Ah, the raw bewilderment he couldn’t even hide the moment Isabella’s body tilted.

That was why Noah hadn’t resisted when Richard grabbed him by the collar. It was obvious which way this relationship leaned.

Richard, as if reading Noah’s thoughts, muttered low.

“Noah Bellua. If you thought I’d dance in the palm of your hand again, you’re sorely mistaken.”

“…Even if Bella might become Empress?”

Ah. As expected.

Amid deep suspicion, an unmistakable expectation peeked through.

Phew. Truly, how are these two so alike?

“Explain.”

“Does the reason matter?”

“Then what does?”

“That the young lady—that Bella—far from liking Damon, hates him.”

Richard flinched.

“That she still seems to have someone in her heart.”

Noah narrowed his eyes as he watched the bones stand out on Richard’s hand from how hard he was gripping.

Almost there?

But at that moment.

“Ha.”

Richard let out a hollow laugh and released the collar he’d been holding. Noah, half thrown aside, rubbed his neck.

No trace of hesitation or bewilderment remained on Richard’s face. As if there had never been any sign of being swayed by Noah’s words—he was simply cold.

“Duke Bellua likes me?”

“…Yeah.”

Noah couldn’t understand what there was to be so angry about in that, so he trailed off instead of answering.

Unfortunately, for Richard, that alone was enough.

“She doesn’t like me.”

No, why are you so certain about someone else’s feelings?

“What Isabella loves is wealth and power.”

…Our young lady does like money and power, but she’s not that shallow.

More than that.

Noah looked up at Richard with a bemused expression. He was currently indignant at the fact that Isabella didn’t like him.

Icy cold, freezing.

In other words.

“…So, that—sweeping away all the monsters of the North and getting a count’s title, was that why? Ah. You said you made a lot of money too. Wealth and power.”

You still like her, don’t you?

At Noah’s assertion-like question, Richard flinched. But he soon spoke with a face cold enough that not even a needle could penetrate.

“Me? Impossible.”

“Ah, I see. Then it’s a—perfectly fine thing if our young lady dances the first dance of the banquet as Crown Prince Damon’s partner, isn’t it?”

No answer came.

Noah swallowed a sigh as he looked at the man frozen like Northern ice.

“It’s about time the young lady enters the palace—if you want to stop her, why not go?”

At those words, Richard glared at Noah, then turned abruptly and left. Without a word either way.

In a situation where even being called rude would be understandable, Noah leaned back on the sofa and let out a hollow sigh.

No, really, so—

“What on earth happened five years ago to cause all this?”

Thinking that matters between men and women are truly unknowable.