NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3 - Part 1
Chapter 3 – Part 1
October 11, 2022.
“This is outrageous-!”
“It’ll only take a moment.”
She looked at him expressionlessly as she rudely grabbed his arm and pulled him out.
His expression was quite cold, causing Callen to panic and tighten his grip on the hand he held, but surprisingly,
Alicia resisted strongly. She didn’t flinch or show any sign of fear.
“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting? So at least for a moment, can we talk-”
“Let go of this.”
While earlier he had made an effort to maintain some semblance of courtesy, upon sensing the refusal, his pride seemed wounded, and he became abrupt.
“If you don’t let go now, you’ll regret it.”
“It’ll only take a moment.
Being too pushy might cause problems for both sides.
Still, I am a part of the Marquis’s household-.”
“I don’t want to meddle in other people’s affairs.”
She turned her head at the sudden voice.
Eric, who had been leaning against the wall waiting for William to come out, spoke hesitantly.
“Do we really have to do this?”
She had intended to stay quiet and leave quietly, but it seemed inevitable that an argument would ensue somehow.
Contrary to expectations, she was the one initiating the argument first.
“It just seems pathetic, you know? Even embarrassing for another man to see.”
“What’s your business? Who are you anyway?”
“I’ll pass on the answer. I don’t particularly want to become chummy.”
“What?”
“First, let go of that hand.”
Eric pointed at the hand he had grabbed with his finger, urging him to let go.
“Mind your own business and stay out of other people’s affairs. Who do you think you are?”
“Don’t ask about that. I said I don’t want to become close, but is your memory also bad?”
As Eric approached, grumbling as if it couldn’t be helped, Alicia, startled by the pressure, let go of his hand that was holding her arm.
“You should leave.”
It was bothersome to think that the lady might ask for unnecessary courtesies or inquire about names, and it was also bothersome to get involved again later.
“Thank you. Then I’ll leave the rest to you.”
Alicia, without a hint of regret, left a thank you and really set off, which was slightly awkward but quite intriguing to Eric, who chuckled.
Then he turned towards Callen.
“All right, then.”
“What’s up with you?”
Nevertheless, at the moment when William, the prince, was contemplating how to handle Callen, who was struggling with pride, he cheerfully emerged with a bottle of brandy.
“Eric, sorry. Have you been waiting long?”
“Was there a problem? Cowardly bastards. And what about you?”
“Me?”
William looked back and forth between Eric and Callen, then chuckled as if he roughly understood the situation.
“Call me William.”
“Who asked for your name? What do you want?”
“Oh, your occupation? If you must know, I’m a prince.”
“Really?”
“What’s with you? Did you really ask because you didn’t know? Eric, looks like I’m not the only clueless one here.”
“Do you think all citizens know? Surely not.”
“Still, wouldn’t it be basic knowledge for the nobility? Oh, are you not of noble birth?”
“Hmm. Come to think of it, your behavior doesn’t seem very dignified.”
“Oh, not of noble birth, then. I suppose it’s possible not to know. Sometimes it’s better not to know if you’re noble.”
Callen’s face turned pale.
Today’s luck was truly the worst.
“Not only did I fail to get a single word in properly, but now the prince shows up.
And on top of that, seeing that unlucky man talking to the prince without any reservation made me wonder who he might be, as if I should know.”
“Did he say Eric earlier? If it’s Eric who personally accompanies the prince, could it be Eric Russell, the Viscount?
Instinctively, realizing that standing out at this point could jeopardize my life, I greeted him with a forced smile.”
“Ah, excuse me.”
Then I quickly darted away.
Once his disappearing figure was completely out of sight, William finally asked Eric.
“What was that about?”
“It was nothing. Just exchanged a few words with a lady who seemed a bit startled.”
“Turns out he’s really insignificant. Can’t even recognize a prince. The future of this country looks bleak, really.”
William chuckled as he raised the wine bottle.
“Shall we offer another toast to the prince who will be responsible for the bleak future ahead, in that sense?”
“…Haven’t you had enough?”
“I barely had any. You kept rushing me.”
“If you had just stayed in the palace, you could have comfortably had more. Instead, you wasted time coming and going for nothing.”
“No, if we just stayed in the palace, some poor lady might have gotten into trouble with a strict noblewoman. Going out, enjoying good wine, and rescuing damsels in distress, it’s a win-win.”
“Why do I have to do all the heavy lifting for this supposed win-win situation?”
Seeing Eric’s expression of extreme annoyance, William sobered up a bit.
“Geez, can’t you control your expression? Anyway, didn’t I end up resolving the conflict in the end? Be grateful.’’
“Can we just leave already?”
As if giving up, Eric spoke, and William cheerfully climbed into the carriage.
“By the way, who was that woman?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did she ask who you were?”
“She didn’t ask.
“Huh? Isn’t it usually in these situations where you ask who the other person is, exchange courtesies, and then it becomes some sort of connection, leading to something like, well, you know, that kind of thing?”
“Is this a novel or something? Isn’t that pattern too cliché and embarrassing to even consider using as a plot device?”
“Am I the weird one, or are you?
“What does that matter? Isn’t it weird to try to make connections like that?”
With a furrowed brow, Eric stared at William.
“Okay, okay, forget it. It’s my fault for asking you about the woman, my bad.”
William quickly gave up and lowered his head.
More important than anything else was to properly conclude this golden day, where I could relax for the first time in months.