IMPOV 11

Chapter 11

I was busy spinning my hopeful delusions when Charlotte added,

“I don’t know the details of what’s happening in the North, but either way, it doesn’t look good.”

“…Is the imperial family still quiet?”

“Yes, for now.”

The tragedy of Forsyte twelve years ago originated from the imperial family’s jealousy. The previous Duke of Forsyte was the current emperor’s younger brother, and he had been talented in many ways since childhood. There were apparently even frequent whispers that the crown prince should be changed.

The emperor wanted to purge anything that could threaten his authority, and in that process, only Kalis barely escaped.

No—actually, looking at the narrative alone, Kalis is not the perpetrator but the victim. I understand his reason for wanting revenge. But our family truly had no guilt at all. The Restein ducal house was a family that actually tried to stop the emperor.

Though they failed.

Anyway, we survive only if Kalis is stopped. After a great clash with Restein, Kalis is (for all his trouble) defeated by the male lead, Lucifer, and eventually dies.

But actually, I don’t think Kalis should die either. The real sin was committed by the imperial family. Kalis certainly committed crimes too, but I really hated the idea of the imperial family surviving unscathed.

I let out a faint sigh.

“Tell me if you find anything out. And thanks for this. I’ll use it for something important.”

“If it’s something important, is it a confession? Or a proposal? Or maybe a wedding? If you get married, will you invite me too?”

“I-it’s not like that! I’m just going to try meeting him once… Aigoo, I’m leaving!”

Why do I always feel like I’m being pushed around when I’m with Charlotte or Alina? Leaving the witch-like grinning Charlotte behind, I slipped out of the shop.

Whew. They really are formidable older sisters.

It was thanks to Charlotte that I first found Alina, anyway.

Bringing Alina to the mansion happened eleven years ago.

I had been pestering the adults and going out often to find Alina, and that was the day I met Charlotte.

I think it was right around this spot.

‘P-please save me! My friend, my friend is dying…! Please help me!’

Charlotte had been clinging to people and begging them to save Alina, who was being beaten to death by a gang of beggars. In the original work, no one helped, so she was taken to the temple and then caught.

It was such a relief that I came out that day.

Actually, I’d been anxious because I didn’t know the exact date, but this much is fate, I suppose.

I was walking toward Schu Bakery when someone tapped me on the shoulder.

“Terry.”

A soft, milky voice. It was Lauren. I turned my head, and Lauren was looking at me with a smile.

This neighborhood is really small.

Every time I went out, I kept running into Lauren or Silas.

Ha, really, it’s a shame no matter how I look at it.

“Lauren?”

“I had business at the bank and was on my way back, and I saw you, Terry. Isn’t this fate?”

Looking at Lauren smiling, my heart ached.

Strike while the iron is hot. Is today the day?

Lauren gestured toward the coffee house behind him.

“Would you like to have a cup of coffee if you have time?”

Fortunately, I still had time left, and I had something I absolutely had to say to Lauren. Matters like this are better resolved quickly. With that heavy heart, I accepted.

“…Sure, Lauren.”

And there was someone watching that scene.

Why does that guy keep catching my eye?

Silas stared out the window with a stiff expression. From the window of the bank’s VIP room, the outside scenery was all too visible.

The sight of Thersia and Lauren of Grail heading to the coffee house together was crystal clear as well.

He wanted to run over right now and tear the two apart. He wanted to show Lauren clearly whose person Thersia was.

But.

‘You’d hate that, wouldn’t you, Terry.’

She was someone who loved things soft and delicate. She had been that way since childhood. Whenever Silas was sick, or whenever he was struggling, Thersia was by his side.

‘Does it hurt a lot? Want me to hurt for you instead?’

‘That’s nonsense.’

‘Eeng. Colds are supposed to be passed on to get better. Come here, Silas. Isn’t my hand cool? I’ll put it on your forehead.’

She would be playful like a child, but often she would hug Silas in an adult way. Thersia was the only sunlight in his hellish childhood.

She was the reason he could endure those times.

The days when he had lost his parents unjustly, couldn’t even go to the North, and had to live crouched under the name of Lorenz. Each day was like walking on thin ice, and Thersia comforted and embraced Silas so easily.

Without knowing anything.

She was so warm it was hard to believe she carried the blood of the Duke of Restein, who was called the Iron-Blooded Duke.

Silas could never lose that warmth.

“Um… Lord Silas Lorenz?”

Silas turned his head at the voice calling him. The attendant in charge was calling him with an awkward face. Silas withdrew his killing intent. Only then did the attendant continue speaking with a slightly more comfortable expression.

“The bank president says to come in.”

“Understood.”

Silas opened the door to the bank president’s office.

This bank had originally been started thanks to Forsyte’s grace. Bankroad, the bank president, could never turn his back on Forsyte.

Bankroad greeted Silas with a tense face.

“Lord Kalis.”

“Have you been well?”

“Thanks to Forsyte’s grace.”

Silas was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly.

“…I have a request.”

“Say anything.”

“I saw the son of Grail visit the bank. Has Grail borrowed money from Bankroad?”

“Yes. He is a prime customer. He has never been late on interest and has been steadily repaying the loan. These days, he’s a rare diligent family, uncharacteristic of nobles.”

“…I’d like to make things a little difficult for Grail.”

“Yes?”

“Just a little. Very slightly.”

Just enough for that fellow to be completely separated from Terry.

Enough that Terry, who can’t turn away from the weak, wouldn’t give him her interest.

Silas’s eyes glinted coldly.

“That time, you said you liked drinks with lemon in them, didn’t you?”

“You remembered?”

Lauren smiled brightly.

“Because it’s about you, Terry.”

Goodness.

Ha, he really is such a good person.

I poked at the ice with my straw. It was hard even to look at Lauren’s face, and the words wouldn’t come out well. Rejecting someone is really hard work.

Before I could open my mouth, Lauren began speaking first.

“After watching the play yesterday, I regretted it so much. No, um—I regretted it from the moment I first met you and left you behind, Thersia.”

“Lauren?”

“I shouldn’t have done that.”

Lauren smiled somewhat bitterly.

“What kind of man leaves the woman he likes behind and walks away? Without knowing someone would slip into that spot.”

“Lauren…?”

“I heard you watched the next showing of the play with Silas Lorenz yesterday. And unlike me, Silas drank coffee with you and even walked you home.”

“That’s… Silas has been a friend since childhood… so it’s just that.”

Ugh, how pathetic, pathetic. Is this what I’m calling an excuse?

But even with my excuse, Lauren seemed to know everything. Lauren spoke as if regretful.

“I left, and Silas kept staying by your side. I suppose that’s the difference?”

“Lauren… Lauren, you really are a good person. Truly.”

“I think so too.”

Lauren burst out laughing.

“If Silas Lorenz hadn’t appeared, would you have considered me your top priority, Thersia? To be precise, could I have become your lover?”

“Perhaps so? I truly enjoyed my time dining with you, Lauren. Enough that I wished it would continue.”

Lauren nodded deeply. Then, with a refreshing smile, he lifted the bill.

“Thank you for saying that, Thersia. At least I know I wasn’t lacking as a person, so that’s enough. This was simply a matter of timing and mindset. And this—”

Lauren gently waved the receipt.

“—you’re paying, Thersia. Because I’m sad, and you’re going to be happy from now on.”