TPMBHSW 14

Chapter 14

“So you’re saying you did look for her?”

“…”

“When I was investigating Richard behind his back, you had all sorts of things to say.”

“…”

“I never thought that the person I was fussing at to stop with the one-sided love was actually talking about themselves.”

“Are you comparing me to Your Grace right now? I wasn’t even at that level, you know?”

You weren’t, huh.

Then how do you explain being red all the way up to your neck? I clicked my tongue and shook my head.

There was no way Asta had come back now to confess to Noah, so Richard must be behind this whole matter.

‘Which means he’s been with Asta all this time.’

Just thinking about it made irritation rise, and I pressed it down, trying to focus on the current situation.

Let me think.

Why did Richard attach Asta to Noah? Unless he was encouraging her to seize a love she couldn’t achieve until now, there had to be a reason.

Could he have known in advance that a monster would appear?

I definitely needed to confirm. Just as I thought that far, Noah muttered as if talking to himself.

“I wonder when she’s planning to forget me.”

“…Huh?”

He looked so serious that I thought he was thinking about the monster like me, but what on earth was he saying now? The conversation suddenly jumped to that?

But Noah didn’t even give me a glance and got up from his seat. His gait was perfectly fine, belying the fact that he had been groaning in pain just moments ago. I wondered where he was going—it was to the mirror.

And then he started examining the wound above his eyebrow from every angle.

Since when did he care so much about his face?

“I explained it so clearly. What on earth has she been doing for the past ten years? Is there not a single decent man in the North?”

“Hey, you really seem to like her…?”

“Does this look like liking someone?”

“Yes. Very much.”

The way he was smoothing his not-yet-dry hair clearly showed he was excited.

“I told her to forget me, though.”

“Yeah. She still seemed to like you a lot.”

I hadn’t actually seen Asta’s face, but I played along anyway.

“Really?”

“What?”

“Did Asta really seem to like me a lot?”

“Uh… I mean, didn’t she save you from the monster’s attack?”

“True. That’s right. She really is something. Honestly, with Asta’s looks, she could meet any number of decent people. The fact that she’s still alone must mean there’s a reason. Ha. Really. I’m such a sinful man.”

“Sure. Sure.”

What did Asta look like again?

It was hazy and I couldn’t quite recall, but she seemed ordinary. Brown hair, brown eyes, and she always snapped at me whenever she saw me… She liked Noah, so why did she hate me?

“Does she think she’ll stay young forever, being so relaxed? I heard she hasn’t dated anyone in ten years and just swings her sword around.”

“That’s the same for you… Yeah… But are you going out right now?”

“She’s probably worrying and unable to do anything because of me, so I should go tell her I’m fine.”

Then why is he putting on a shirt and even a cravat? He might as well pin a flower to his chest.

I looked at Noah, whose words and actions were completely disconnected, with a jaded expression.

The reason I realized my jealousy toward Asta had been entirely a misunderstanding was because of Noah.

The moment Asta, who used to stick right next to Richard, saw Noah, she had followed him around ever since.

It was incomprehensible then and it was incomprehensible now. Honestly, if I had to choose between Richard and Noah, wouldn’t it be Richard? Who would pick that guy? Asta clearly had very unique tastes or terrible eyesight.

“By the way, Noah.”

“Yes?”

Feeling a faint guilt toward the thoroughly excited Noah, I spoke.

“Damon knows about the privy purse incident.”

Noah turned to look at me with a horrified face.

At his gaze asking if I was serious, I replied with a look. This isn’t the time for romance. Put that flower back in the vase.

“I was so certain, and now that things turned out this way, it’s embarrassing. I underestimated Damon too much.”

“No. No, wait a moment. So that bastard knew about the privy purse incident and still went around meeting courtesans?”

I nodded as I looked at the appalled Noah.

“I heard he didn’t learn imperial studies but learned acting somewhere.”

I understand. You’d wonder what kind of crazy bastard that is. That was exactly how I felt.

“I know, right. He would have been a huge success if he’d become an actor.”

I’m not joking—I’m genuinely reflecting.

I thought he was a real son of a bitch living a dog’s life. How was I supposed to know he was a crazy bastard pretending to be a son of a bitch?

“Heh. So how did you find out about that?”

I briefly explained the events at the banquet to Noah. Noah grabbed the back of his neck, sighed, opened his mouth as if to say something, then shook his head.

“You’re saying he knew all about the Grand Duke embezzling from the privy purse and said he wouldn’t make an issue of it?”

“For now.”

“Is he really insane…?”

“Or there’s another reason.”

“Still, he’s insane.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Noah furrowed his brow again and fell into thought. I waited a moment for him to organize his thoughts, then gestured.

“Anyway, we need to deal with the urgent matter first. Come with me somewhere.”

“You’re going to work your cousin who just barely escaped death like that? Does that satisfy you?”

Who was it just now primping in front of the mirror?

Noah didn’t back down even at my reproachful gaze. Watching him dawdle and burrow into the bed, it was hard to tell if he was eight or twenty-eight.

“Oh yeah? Then lie down.”

“…?”

“If you’re hurt, you should lie down and rest. I’ll go to the Winston estate alone. If Asta comes looking for you, I’ll tell her you can’t get up from the shock of encountering the monster.”

“Ah, Your Grace! Your Grace!”

Noah shot up as if he had never been lying down.

I knew it.

Noah rolled off the bed and ran to the door in one breath. Then he blocked me as I grabbed the doorknob.

“Why are you suddenly going there?!”

Seriously, isn’t he way too fine? As I looked at my cousin, who was not just fine but overflowing with energy, with a jaded expression, Noah gradually loosened his grip. He even made sure to pat his shoulder while groaning.

“Does pretending make your perfectly fine body ache?”

“Aren’t you being too cruel to a cousin who died and came back to life? I’m telling you, my whole body aches. You should have seen me running for my life with all my might to survive.”

Yes. I heard you loud and clear—you’ve held a sword for nearly twenty years, and instead of fighting, you ran away immediately.

“Why on earth does Asta like you?”

It was a question that remained unsolved even ten years later. Noah straightened his shoulders as if he had never been groaning.

“My face.”

He was bragging.

Even at my pitying gaze, Noah stood firm. I hadn’t known he was that confident about his face. I waved my hand dismissively and spoke.

“Anyway, let’s secure Asta first. To hear about the monster in detail, she’s better than you.”

“You’re going to capture Asta? How?”

“Trespassing on the territory.”

“No, you’re going to become enemies with a count over just that? And what about after we capture her? Where are you going to put Asta? Don’t tell me you’re going to throw her in a dungeon that hasn’t been used in over a hundred years.”

“If you like her that much, just confess. Confess.”

“Ah, is that important right now? For now, let’s not touch her and see how she plays it.”

“A fire needs someone to poke the embers to flare up.”

“What kind of ‘let’s just set everything on fire’… Your Grace. Ah, Bella!”

I ignored Noah shouting behind me. Even as he said that, he was the type to talk a lot but would somehow find out about the monster once he met Asta.

‘Asta.’

I swallowed a sigh as I thought of someone who only brought back bad memories.

For now, I’ll catch her and hear what she has to say.

***

“There is no such knight in Winston.”

I never imagined a situation like this. I stared blankly at Richard, who was now formal as if he had never casually dropped honorifics with me.

I couldn’t believe the man who used to call me “Bella, Bella” was the same person standing before my eyes now.

“There isn’t?”

Hey.

Look at my eyes. I looked Richard straight in the eye and asked. Can you lie to me while looking into my eyes?

Richard’s gaze fixed straight on me. A faint trace of amusement flickered through his dark red eyes.

“There isn’t.”

“Kuh.”

I shot a glare at Noah, who was grinning obliviously. I could see his face turning bright red as he stifled his laughter.

Ha. Even Bellua isn’t on my side. I’m dying of loneliness. I glared at Richard, who was still smiling faintly, and ground my teeth.

So that’s how you’re going to play it?