Chapter 22
22
“Guh!”
Two of Juan’s teeth flew through the air in a perfect arc.
“Kyaak! Uncle!”
Dana screamed, but the sound didn’t even reach Karl’s ears.
“You despicable brat, how dare you lay a finger on my niece?”
Thwack!
Karl’s fist slammed into Juan once more.
How dare he suggest an elopement to Dana?
How dare this ungrateful wretch plot to steal Dana’s fortune behind my back!
“Stop it, Uncle!”
It was only after Dana clung to his arm that Karl finally lowered his fist.
“Uncle, please, stop.”
In that moment, Dana was inwardly startled.
His hard arm muscles were bulging with a terrifying tension. Beneath the skin, his pulse was thrumming like a wild beast.
He lost his reason this much?
Karl was truly, utterly livid.
She had expected him to be angry, but she hadn’t realized he would go this far off the rails.
“I’m sorry, Dana. I’m so sorry, I’m sorry.”
Karl hurriedly wiped his face with his free hand.
“I’m sorry. You had to see something so unsightly. Didn’t you?”
He then offered a belated, thin smile as if to reassure her.
It didn’t help much, considering there was a spray of Juan’s blood on his cheek, which only added to the sense of dissonance.
“It seems Juan has been bothering you all this time.”
“……I’m sorry.”
“What do you have to be sorry for? It’s that bast—no, it’s that man who is evil for taking advantage of your kind heart.”
Karl pulled Dana into an embrace and patted her back.
“I should have noticed sooner. I’m sorry.”
Dana buried her face in his chest. She swallowed back a laugh.
Don’t be sorry. I’m actually grateful.
He had gotten much angrier than she had even hoped for.
Thanks to this, things were likely to proceed even more smoothly.
“Karl, what on earth are you doing?!”
Sandra wailed as she threw herself over her completely unconscious younger brother.
“How could you do this to my brother? How?!”
“You should consider yourself lucky it ended at this, Sandra.”
“Honey!”
“I turned a man who did nothing but frequent back-alley gambling dens into a functioning human being, and he doesn’t even know his place……”
Karl spat the words out, trembling with rage.
“He proposed to Dana. He even went as far as to suggest an elopement.”
Sandra blinked.
Her gaze asked: So what?
“You turned Juan into this over just that?”
“Just that?”
“Yes! What’s wrong with Juan?! Are you saying my brother isn’t good enough for Danae?”
“Then you think they’re a match? A pathetic, incompetent gambler like him, and Dana, who received a medal from the Imperial Family?”
“You! Are you insulting Juan right now?”
“Do you think that’s all? Juan gave Dana a bouquet of Moonlight Flowers. It’s clear he’s been embezzling Moonlight Flowers behind our backs.”
“Don’t you dare insult my brother! Only I can insult my brother!”
The argument between Karl and Sandra grew increasingly heated.
However, at that same time, Alice—unaware of these events—was intoxicated by a deep sense of happiness.
“Your Highness. Have you seen the newspapers?”
Alice smiled shyly and snuggled into Laios’s arms.
“I have. I saw them.”
Laios spoke while stroking her hair with one hand and smoking a cigar with the other.
“You were featured. ‘Alice Winzer: Pioneer of a New Market.’”
“Hehe.”
“Impressive, Alice. I didn’t know you had such a talent.”
Kyaa. She had been praised.
Alice giggled and rubbed her cheek against his chest.
This was an embrace that only she could enjoy now.
I’m so happy.
But then she thought about how her sister, Dana, would never receive this kind of love from the Crown Prince again. A wave of pity washed over her.
“I feel bad for Sister Dana.”
Alice murmured dejectedly.
“I feel so guilty toward her. I don’t know if it’s okay for me to be this happy.”
“Why feel that way? This is an achievement you earned. Enjoy it.”
At those words, Alice felt a fresh surge of happiness.
“Your Highness.”
Alice clung tightly to Laios.
“I love you, Your Highness.”
“How cute.”
Laios gently ruffled her hair.
As the sweet time passed, a messenger arrived that evening.
It was a letter from the Winzer Ducal Mansion—sent by her mother, Sandra Winzer.
To think her maternal uncle and her father were fighting because of Sister Dana!
“Your Highness, could I borrow a pen and paper for a moment?”
“Hm? Why?”
“I think I need to write a letter.”
“What happened?”
“Well, that is.”
Alice hesitated for a moment.
“I heard that Uncle Juan proposed to Sister Dana.”
“…….”
“It seems Father is very angry. As you know, Father thinks of Sister Dana as his own daughter.”
Laios listened to the story without expression.
Not a single emotion flickered across his face, making him look like a beautiful masterpiece. Only the cigar between his lips burned a bright, vivid red.
“There.”
After a moment, Laios gestured toward the table with a dry expression.
“Take whatever you need and write.”
[To my dear Sister Dana]
A letter arrived from Alice.
[Sister, I am at the Imperial Palace right now. His Highness keeps holding onto me, so I can’t return home. I apologize for sending a letter instead.]
Dana sipped her coffee and slowly read through the letter.
[Could you please speak well of him to Father? Actually, Uncle Juan is a good person once you get to know him. He’s manly and has a strong sense of responsibility.]
A laugh escaped her. Manly? Please.
[Sister, it’s not good for you to be caught up in such rumors either. For the sake of your reputation, I hope you make a wise choice.]
[I believe there is no sin in Uncle’s love.]
“This girl, honestly.”
Dana crumpled Alice’s letter.
“How did she live all this time hiding this personality of hers?”
She was truly something else.
It was then.
“Danae!”
Bang! The door flew open and Sandra marched in.
“What is so lacking about Juan?!”
Is she going to grab me by the hair again? If so, I’ll have to bash her head with a book. Thinking this, Dana surreptitiously moved a book closer.
“Juan is just a bit immature, he’s not a bad kid!”
My, they must have had one hell of a marital spat.
Furthermore, Sandra’s eyes were swollen as if she had cried a river, and even worse.
Ugh, the smell of alcohol.
The stinging scent of strong whiskey hit her nose.
“So tell Karl nicely! Okay? Tell him Juan seems like a decent man. Please? Please?”
“I don’t want to.”
“What exactly is my brother lacking?! He might have a bit of a belly now, but he used to be so cute!”
“…….”
“Juan was so kind when he was little. He used to follow me around going ‘Big Sis, Big Sis,’ hmph, he was so cute!”
She then began to wail at the top of her lungs.
“Waaaaah! My poor brother. How did he grow up to be a pot-bellied, useless gambler? Poor thing!”
She’s drunk. Completely wasted.
“Aha, I see. You’re angry because of Alice!”
Why was Alice being brought into this?
Dana was starting to find this drunken rambling both amusing and tedious.
“You’re probably jealous because Alice is doing so well. That’s why you’re trying to torment Juan. Right? That’s it, isn’t it?”
Just as she was pointing a finger fiercely at Dana and pouring out accusations, the door opened and her secretary entered the room.
Sandra scanned the secretary and let out a harsh, mocking laugh.
“Yes, I think I understand now. You brought in a young, handsome paramour, so a man like Juan doesn’t even catch your eye.”
“He’s not a paramour, he’s my secretary.”
“Of course he’s a ‘secretary.’ He’s exceptionally beautiful for a secretary. It’s almost a waste not to use him for other purposes!”
The thought processes of the mother and daughter were terrifyingly identical.
“Don’t be like that, lend your paramour to me too! How much do you want?! Huh?! Name your price!”
After putting on such an intense display of drunken behavior, Sandra was soon led away by the servants.
It felt like watching a one-woman show. Dana let out a sigh, feeling completely drained.
“Rete. I’m sorry you had to be treated like that.”
“It is not your fault, My Lady.”
The secretary spoke as he adjusted his silver-rimmed glasses.
“So, what would you like to do now?”
“I have to go ahead with the plan.”
This worked out perfectly. She was already quite annoyed, and Sandra had just added fuel to the fire.
“One Moonlight Flower is currently 2 billion Francs, right?”
“Yes.”
Two billion Francs for a single flower—it was bordering on madness.
And it was exactly the price she had been aiming for.
Which meant, now…….
“Rete.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s begin tonight.”
Alice, please have a good dream, at least for tonight.
Because from tomorrow, your reality will become a nightmare.
[Shock! Moonlight Flower Prices Crash!]
[Sold in the Black Market at Half the Auction Price!]
The next morning, Alice stared blankly at the newspaper.
