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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: The Proposal
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"Next time, I'll kill you."
After Masera left behind that warning, Karos stood before his mother's portrait hanging on the staircase wall, staring at it for a long time.
Karos never said to the end that it was Helen who had done it. He still had at least a shred of family loyalty left.
"Ah, he said to kill you or save you however you like. She's a duchess in name at least, so I can't sell out Helen, right? You just need to sacrifice yourself."
Seeing the bruise on Karos's cheek and his bloody nose, the count didn't rage. Instead, he said it saved him the trouble of beating him himself.
'Was the brigadier general right when he said nothing would happen even if you killed me?'
Karos swallowed his shame and humiliation, rubbing his throbbing cheek.
His father was a man who would use any means necessary to get what he wanted.
And his children were no exception as tools to that end.
"I was just a puppet on strings too..."
Realizing, just like Cynthia, that he too was merely one of his father's dolls, Karos muttered hollowly.
His father would choose whichever side brought profit, regardless of blood ties, and eliminate any obstacles without hesitation.
"Haha, so that's why Helen plotted this. To keep me in check."
That cunning girl had known their father's intentions all along, it seemed.
Karos left the mansion and headed straight for the prime minister's residence.
Valeria, who had been strolling through the garden on horseback, spotted him and frowned.
"Why have you come to see me?"
It was a way of saying she'd already seen all the newspaper articles.
Karos drew closer to her.
"Lady. Did you send me that letter of intent because you wanted to become a crown princess?"
At his question, Valeria lifted the corner of her mouth and countered.
"What a predictable question. Does anyone marry for love?"
Karos took her hand gripping the reins and smiled softly with his eyes.
"You've already investigated my private life behind the scenes, so you know. I have no issues with women. When you saw me in the woods, I was telling Cynthia that I would marry you."
Valeria silently looked down at the wound on his cheek.
'Where did he get beaten up?'
Karos spoke in a serious tone.
"I promise you. From now on, I won't cause any trouble that would worry you. Not alcohol, not gambling—none of it."
Her blue eyes narrowed as she took in his disheveled appearance. He looked like a man who had tied up all loose ends.
'Was it one-sided from his little sister's side? Well, that sort of thing is common enough.'
Her own friend had recently been dealing with headaches from an overly affectionate sister-in-law who doted on her brother.
"What's your conclusion?"
At Valeria's question, Karos pressed his lips to the back of her hand.
"Please marry me."
At the prince's proposal, barren as a flowerless bouquet, Valeria let out a self-deprecating laugh.
Still, marrying a handsome peer her age ranked among good fortune.
With thoughts somewhere between consolation and compromise, Valeria nodded.
"Alright."
It was bound to happen anyway.
Her father dismissed all these recent events as trivial matters and had been pushing her to marry the prince by any means.
If not this man, she'd have to find another prince and leave her homeland.
As Karos lifted his lips from the back of her hand, he slowly raised his eyes.
There was only one way left to survive without further humiliation.
'Power.'
With that, he could do as he pleased and obtain what he desired.
Just like his father.
The moment I heard Masera had returned, I headed straight for his office.
Misunderstandings must be cleared up quickly, after all.
"You know this is all lies, right? I'll explain everything!"
I flung the door open aggressively, only to witness an unbelievable scene.
"Gasp."
Captain Carlton was perched on the edge of the office desk, gripping Masera's face as he sat across from him.
'Genre shift...?'
So this is how misunderstandings happen. I stared at the two of them, frozen in shock.
"Oh dear, our little secret's out."
Captain Carlton flashed me a strange smile the instant he saw me.
"...The fact that he and I are close enough to use casual speech in private."
And then he suddenly dropped some TMI.
What kind of person is he, exactly?
Masera swatted the captain's hand away and scowled.
"Outed what? Stop grinning like that—it creeps me out."
A cute duckling bandage adorned Masera's cheek.
He'd fallen victim to a pediatrician, it seemed. And he had no idea how adorable he looked.
"Saying such hurtful things to the man who so kindly bandaged you up."
Captain Carlton grabbed the first-aid kit and shot me a smile worthy of a rival villainess before leaving.
"Are you hurt?"
I approached Masera cautiously and asked.
"Yes."
"How did it happen? Who did this?"
What kind of monster would mar a national treasure of a face?
As I leaned in closer to inspect it, Masera turned his head slightly and asked.
"What if you knew?"
"I can't fight well enough to beat them up, but I'll curse them out with you."
I'm confident in verbal beatdowns!
But the moment I saw the scandal articles on his desk, my confidence crumbled, and my shoulders slumped.
I have no shot at winning a verbal fight against that man.
"If I tried to explain this..."
"No need to explain separately."
Masera cut me off firmly.
Did that mean since we're just a political marriage with no real bond, there's no need for him to explain or for me to hear it?
"I'm being hit with all sorts of slander right now."
"I know."
In the past, I might have brushed it off with 'Doesn't bother me? Then we're good.' But now, I felt deeply wronged and wanted to vent about the unfair criticism I'd endured.
"You should stop sniffling and head back to your room."
Was he telling me to get lost right now?
"Or you'll catch a cold..."
"A cute little duck bandage won't save you! Being adorable doesn't excuse everything!"
I exploded without thinking and stormed out of the room.
"Ahh, why did I do that?"
I regretted it in one second, but I lacked the face to go back and start a calm explanation session.
I hung my head and sighed.
"Guess I should prepare for the upcoming tea party. Sigh."
Of all times, the official residence's tea party was scheduled amid this mess.
It was for a major announcement regarding the Media royal family and Knox, and with invitations already sent, cancellation wasn't an option.
'Tea party in three days. I'll make up with Masera somehow before then.'
I resolved firmly.
"Huh?"
Masera felt baffled as Cynthia suddenly got angry and stormed out.
Why is she mad? Did I say something wrong?
"No need to explain separately." (I already know the whole situation, so no need to struggle clearing up the misunderstanding.)
"You should stop sniffling and head back to your room." (You might catch a cold, so go rest in your room.)
And what was that about a 'cute little duck'?
Masera glanced at the mirror on the wall, spotted the bandage on his cheek, and gritted his teeth.
"Damn doctor..."
Masera yanked open the drawer where the bandages were, only to find the bread bag tie ring Cynthia had given him long ago.
He examined the ring this way and that before tossing it back into the drawer.
Then he quietly stared at the hugging photo in the newspaper. More precisely, he was analyzing Cynthia's expression.
What expression had Cynthia made when he pulled her into that embrace?
Masera replayed Cynthia's expressions in his mind. Truth be told, due to their height difference, he'd mostly only seen the top of her head.
If the day came when things between Cynthia and Karos were genuine, and she asked to leave...
Masera peeled off the duck bandage and slowly lowered his gaze.
"If I killed that guy, would she not even talk to me anymore?"
"Please tell me how to soothe a man's heart."
While selecting tea leaves for the party in the shopping district, I earnestly pleaded with Diego, who had come along.
Diego, sniffing a tea leaf sample, made a wistful face.
"I've never dated, so."
"Then you must know what the brigadier general likes, right?"
Diego's expression grew even more wistful.
"Yes... somehow I only ended up knowing that much."
In any case, Diego agreed to cooperate with 'Operation Restore My Reputation and Clear Masera's Misunderstanding.'
The soldiers who'd come along for security somehow got roped in too.
Diego asked,
"By the way, we were just picking tea leaves, so why are we suddenly waiting in front of the Queensguard Count's capital mansion?"
"Might as well knock it all out while we're out."
The moment I spotted the Queensguard Count exiting the mansion, I dashed over and threw my arms around him.
"Daddy!"
"Wha? Huh?"
"We're shooting a PR photo. Come on, smile for the cheese, nice and affectionate."
I whispered discreetly. The flustered count, hands raised, glanced around at the onlookers before patting my back.
I signaled Diego, who held the camera, to hurry and capture the moment.
"You've put some real thought into this."
The quick-witted count seemed to grasp my intent.
"Did she eat something bad—urk!"
Not wanting to hug Edford, who was following behind, I clung to the count's back and wrapped my arms around his neck to look as loving as possible.
"Smile."
"Gah, let go!"
"Happily."
Under my threat, Edford—choked like in a headlock—forced a grin.
Click—
Thanks to that, I got a perfectly heartwarming family photo.
One of the soldiers snapping photos from the rooftop across the street gave me a thumbs up.
