NOVEL NEXT Chapter 30
Chapter 30 Marquis Tezeb. Deborah’s partner, Mikhail Tezeb, was one of the characters I knew very well after reading the novel. In the novel, after Deborah’s arranged marriage with Daniel, there was a man who constantly flirted with her now that she was a married woman. It was Marquis Mikhail Tezeb! The only son of the Marquis Tezeb, with wine-colored dark brown hair and bright amber eyes. However, despite his somewhat despicable appearance, he was a famous playboy in the kingdom, and there were rumors all over the world that he was dating various women. ‘No wonder he was so shameless and flirted with a married woman.’ Even though Daniel in the original story was not interested in Deborah at the beginning of their marriage, Mikhail was enough to offend Daniel. In the end, Daniel breaks Mikhail’s wrist, which leads him to reveal his possessive desire for Deborah. In other words, Mikhail is a villain extra who ignites the relationship between Daniel and Deborah. ‘But I’m surprised that her partner is Mikhail.’ Well, there was no way that guy would refuse Deborah’s request. There’s no way a guy who dates this woman and later flirts with a married woman would be afraid of the king’s arrangements. In a way, it seemed quite reasonable for Deborah to appear with Mikhail. ‘Then you don’t have to worry about that side?’ Deborah and Mikhail deliberately moved to the opposite side of where we were. Because the two couples at the center of gossip would have less of an impact if they were separated than if they were together. As I was sipping juice and looking at the Deborah, I made eye contact with her. She even smiled, as if to reassure me not to worry. ‘Is she an angel? How can be such a sweet women?’ I chuckled to myself, thinking she looked even more formidable than her partner. “Rosieta.” “Ugh!” I was staring blankly at Mikhail and Deborah when my name was called from behind and I jumped in shock. When I checked behind me, I saw Daniel carrying two glasses overflowing with champagne. “… Daniel?” “What are you so surprised about? Are you committed crime” He stared at me with a puzzled expression. But he handed me the glasses with the champagne. If I’m guilty of secretly comparing you to the heroine, so be it. However, I couldn’t honestly say that Deborah was better than you, so I trailed off. “Rather than saying I committed a crime. I was looking at something…” Feeling embarrassed, I sipped the champagne that Daniel brought me. The tart liquor along with the pungent bubbles filled my mouth. It seemed like Daniel had finally gotten rid of all the people who were attached to him. He said with a slightly tired face. “Don’t drink too much. Because you might get drunk.” “It doesn’t look like it has much alcohol? It’s champagne.” Then Daniel frowned. “Just because it’s champagne doesn’t mean it’s not contain any alcohol. If you want to be carried home drunk on the first day of the party by me, drink a lot.” Tsk, I quietly licked my lips with regret. I’ve never drink until I got drunk, but it might be better to take Daniel’s advice. As I was sipping a little drink just to get me in the mood, Daniel came closer to me. “Why?” “… Is it worth it? Doesn’t your foot hurt?” Daniel’s eyes turned to the hem of my skirt. He seemed worried because I had never been wearing high-heeled shoes. Well, it was helpful just that I didn’t trip and fall here. I playfully tugged at the corner of my mouth and nodded. “I’m okay, I guess, for mowing down 300,000 billings in one night.” When I responded, Daniel narrowed his eyes as if his concern was meaningless. “… I don’t know if you’re making a fuss about doing this again.” “Hey, what are you thinking?” While we were arguing, someone walked past Daniel’s back “… I’m sorry, I just pass by.” “Ah yes.” A noble lady passed by with a low voice. She, who had calm wheat-colored blonde hair, walked quietly and stood in a deserted corner. Perhaps because of her heavy, sorrowful expression, my eyes turned to her without me realizing it. “Daniel, do you know that noble lady?” Even though I didn’t know anything about the capital’s nobility, I asked Daniel about the noblewoman. Somehow, I felt like I should. The sight of her walking around among people with a gaunt face kept stealing my attention. Daniel looked in my direction and nodded quietly. “Viscountess Bulossen. I’m not a central noble, but I’ve met Viscount Bulossen a few times for business reasons.” “I see. But her complexion doesn’t look good.” Everyone has this level of awareness, but perhaps because I took care of Uncle Hans, who had a chronic illness, I quickly noticed signs of illness in people. The Viscountess was not suffering from an internal illness. Daniel said. “As far as I know, she lost a child about ten years ago.” “Child?” “In the past, there were many cases of kidnapping the children of nobles and demanding gold coins, though it’s not entirely unheard of now. I heard that Viscount Bulossen and his wife had their child kidnapped.” So, then, the Viscountess had a bad complexion due to mental illness. It means that she still carries her lost child in her heart. When I heard that, It felt like my heart was unnecessarily heavy. That’s because I have lived half my life seeing children who were abandoned by their parents or separated from their parents due to unavoidable circumstances. Of course, my situation was also like that. My heart was heavy, and it seemed Daniel’s was too. As we stared at the Viscountess with darkened eyes, the music that had been floating around inside the Sapphire Hall stopped. Our eyes turned to the large staircase in the Sapphire Hall. A man with bluish black hair and a grave appearance was coming down. Everyone bowed their heads to him. I also followed Daniel and lowered my head. “Your Majesty the King.” Leonid III. He was the one who tried to forcefully marry Deborah and Daniel. * * * “Raise your head.” A heavy voice spread throughout the Sapphire Hall. The people who filled the banquet hall raised their heads one after another. “I am so glad you have chosen to join my party. I hope you have a good time, for this is a time to unite with the new forces that will lead our kingdom, and may it be for the good of all.” Leonid III spoke politely with a friendly smile. After the King finished his brief greeting, the orchestra began playing again. The king did not stop at greetings, but came down the stairs and exchanged greetings with the nobles. ‘That would mean he’s coming this way too.’ It was a public rumor that Leonid III cared for Daniel. Just as I expected. While talking with the nobles, the king noticed us in one corner of the banquet hall and pretended not to know. Daniel led me first and headed towards the king. “I see Your Majesty.” “You came, Count Drunia. How about it, have you gotten used to the title ‘Count’?”King Leonid III smiled cheerfully with his gray beard. Just by looking at his appearance, he really seemed like an acquaintance with Daniel, but knowing the novel, I felt like I could clearly see his dark inside. “I have been awkwardly managing the estate under the care of His Excellency.” “I see. I heard your business is booming in Crown Square in the Earldom, with a flood of new customers.” I guess it’s because he’s the king after all. The information is fast. He was genuinely pleased to hear that Daniel had transformed the land, which had been uncultivated and underdeveloped when the lord’s seat was vacant, into a shopping place, if only because of its proximity to the capital. The economy of the kingdom, which had been dead after the defeat in the war, was at least able to breathe thanks to money flowing into the Earldom. Even when the two people were talking amicably, I looked down with a nervous look on my face. Soon, Leonid III’s gaze fell on me. He must have seen me as we approached, but the King only pretended to notice my presence now. His eyes narrowed. “Hm, but what about this young lady?” “She is my best friend.” “I see Your Majesty the King. I’m Rose….” After offering my greetings, I secretly observed the King’s feelings. The king looked at me with a strangely stiff face, neither smiling nor angry. The king’s head quickly turned to Daniel.“Hmm, I think I said it would be nice if you came with the saint… Have you not heard the news?” Daniel looked at the king with a perfect smile, as if he had expected that question. “I apologize for not being able to follow His Majesty the King’s wishes. However, this friend has helped me a lot even before Holden existed, so I wanted to let her attend His Majesty’s great party.” “Tell me in detail.” “Rose is an old friend of mine. She was a friend who was like a support to me long before I started a business. In other words, I can say that she is the benefactor of the Holden that I created, and now, after all these years, we’re reunited again.” “Hmm.” “Well, she’s also a smart, solid friend who’s been a great source of advice for Holden, so I’m here to make it a good experience for her.” “Did the saint give you permission?” “Thankfully, she graciously gave her permission.” I smiled at the king, hiding my dazed feeling. In short, it meant that since I was such a precious friend, he wanted to attend this party together. The king grumbled with a dissatisfied face. “Anyway,I am not pleased that the saint came with Tezeb only son in your absence. Isn’t he a man with a lot of rumors?” The king seemed concerned that Deborah’s reputation would be damaged. It was very unpleasant to see Deborah treated as if she were his property. The king then turned back to me and Daniel. He seemed to have picked up on the part about me being helpful to Holden. “It is interesting, by the way, that this little lady has had such an effect on you. She even has advice for Holden. She must be a very bright young lady.” I smiled and nodded. Daniel’s excuse seemed to work, as the king’s expression softened a little. ‘He’s finally move on.’ I was just about to secretly breathe a sigh of relief. The King looked at me with interest, then smiled brightly and said to Daniel. “Well, now that you’re going to married saint, you’re going to do everything together, so what’s the harm for not going together with her in this party? Don’t you think?” It was as if he was saying, ‘Your marriage is a foregone conclusion anyway.’ In front of everyone. Daniel’s eyebrows rose subtly at those words, but only I, who was standing next to him, could notice. “… That’s right.” Daniel answered reluctantly. The king nodded in satisfaction behind him, and then turned toward the upper lords to speak with the others. The banquet hall was rather noisy, but Daniel was silent for a moment. ‘I thought he was a snake-like old man, but seeing him in person makes him even worse.’ Daniel of the world deserved to stop the king. Daniel has always been weak to people who say ‘good things are good things’. ‘Well, the novel only really begins when Daniel accepts his arranged marriage with Deborah.’ I deliberately pretended not to notice and sipped the champagne in my hand.