“Next time, you die.”
After Masera left with that warning, Carlos stood in front of his mother’s portrait hanging on the stairwell wall, staring at it for a long time.
Carlos didn’t say that Helene was the one who did it until the end. He still had some sense of family loyalty.
“Ah, I told him to do whatever he wanted, kill you or let you live. Helene’s the Duke’s wife, so I can’t sell her out now, can I? You just have to sacrifice yourself.”
The Count Queensguard, seeing the bruises on Carlos’s cheeks and the blood from his nose, didn’t get angry. Instead, he said that it saved him the trouble of beating him.
‘Were the Brigadier General’s words true, that nothing would happen even if I died?’
Carlos swallowed his shame and humiliation, rubbing his throbbing cheek.
His father was a man who would use any means to get what he wanted.
And his children were just another tool.
“I was just a puppet on a string too…”
Carlos muttered hollowly, realizing that he, like Cynthia, was just his doll.
His father would choose whoever benefited him, regardless of blood ties, and would eliminate anyone who got in his way at any time.
“Haha, so Helene orchestrated this. To keep me in check.”
That clever girl must have known what his father was thinking all along.
Carlos left the mansion and headed straight to the Prime Minister’s residence.
Valeria, who was riding a horse in the garden, found him and frowned.
“Why did you come to see me?”
It was an implication that she had already seen the article.
Carlos approached her.
“Lady, did you send me a marriage proposal because you wanted to become the Princess Consort?”
At his question, Valeria raised the corners of her lips and retorted.
“You’re asking an obvious question. Are there people who marry for love?”
Carlos smiled softly, grabbing her hand holding the reins.
“Didn’t you already investigate my private life from behind? That I don’t have any issues with women. When you saw me in the forest, I was telling Cynthia that I was going to marry you.”
Valeria silently looked down at the wound on his cheek.
‘Where did he get beaten up?’
Carlos said in a serious voice.
“I promise you. I won’t cause any problems that you might worry about in the future. The same goes for alcohol and gambling.”
Her blue eyes narrowed as she looked at Carlos’s appearance. It was as if he had finished settling everything.
‘Was it one-sided on the younger sister’s part? Well, that kind of thing is common.’
Recently, her friend was also suffering from a sister-in-law who was extremely fond of her brother.
“What’s the conclusion?”
At Valeria’s question, Carlos pressed his lips to the back of her hand.
“I want you to marry me.”
At the Prince’s proposal without even a single flower, Valeria let out a self-deprecating laugh.
However, marrying a handsome man of her age and status was considered lucky.
Valeria nodded, thinking thoughts that were a mix of consolation and compromise.
“Okay.”
It was going to happen anyway.
Her father dismissed all the current events as minor problems and was pushing her to marry the Prince no matter what.
If it wasn’t this man, she would have to find another prince and leave her home country.
Carlos, taking his lips off her hand, slowly raised his eyes.
There was only one way to survive without being ashamed anymore.
‘Power.’
If he had that, he could do whatever he wanted and get what he wanted.
Just like his father.
* * *
I headed straight to Masera’s office upon hearing news of his return.
Misunderstandings should be resolved quickly.
“You must know this is all a lie! I can explain everything!”
I aggressively slammed the door open, only to witness an unbelievable sight.
“Huh.”
Captain Carlton was sitting on the desk, and holding Masera’s face in his hands.
‘Genre shift…?’
So this is how misunderstandings are born. I stared at the two, completely stunned.
“Oh no, we’ve been caught.”
Upon seeing me, Captain Carlton flashed me a weirdly meaningful smile.
“…We’re close enough that we drop formalities in private, you see.”
And suddenly he dropped some TMI.
Who even is this guy?
Masera scowled and batted the Captain’s hands away.
“Caught what? Don’t smile like that, it’s obnoxious.”
And on Masera’s cheek was a cute duck-patterned band-aid.
It was obviously the pediatrician’s handiwork. He didn’t seem to realize how absurdly adorable he looked.
“To a man who came by just to tenderly apply a bandage, you say such hurtful things.”
First-aid kit in hand, Captain Carlton gave me a smile fit for a rival villainess and sauntered off.
“You’re hurt?”
I approached Masera and asked gently.
“Yes.”
“What happened? Who did it?”
Who the hell would touch this national treasure-level face?
As I tried to get closer to examine him, Masera tilted his head slightly and asked.
“What would you do if you knew?”
“I’m not a good enough fighter to beat the up, but I can curse them out for you.”
I’m confident I can verbally assault them!
But as soon as I saw the scandal article on his desk, my confident level plummeted along with my shoulders.
I’m not confident I won’t be verbally assaulted by this man.
“This is a long story…”
“There’s no need to explain.”
Masera cut me off firmly.
So what, we’re just in a marriage of convenience, nothing to each other, so there’s no need to explain or listen?
“I’m dealing with all sorts of slander right now.”
“I know.”
Before, he would have just said, ‘What’s the problem? You seem fine.’ and that would be it… but, I’m so upset right now I just want to vent about how unfair all this is.
“You should head back to your room instead of sniffling.”
Is he telling me to get lost right now?
“Otherwise, you’ll catch a cold…”
“You may be sporting that cute duck bandage! But that cuteness doesn’t give you a free pass!”
I unknowingly burst out in anger and ran out of the room.
“Ugh, why did I do that?”
I regretted literally a second later, but there was no way I could walk back in there and calmy explain myself now.
Sighing, I hung my head.
“I have to prepare for the upcoming tea party, ugh.”
To think that the official residence’s tea party is scheduled in the middle of all this.
It was meant to be when we made the huge announcement about the Medea Royal Family and Nox. Plus the invitations have already been sent out, there’s no backing out now.
‘The tea party is in three days. I’ll somehow reconcile with Masera before then.’
I made a solemn vow.
* * *
“Huh?”
Masera felt embarrassed by the situation where Cynthia suddenly got angry and left.
Why is she angry? Did I say something wrong?
“There’s no need to explain.” (Since you already know the situation, you don’t have to try to resolve the misunderstanding.)
“You should head back to your room instead of sniffling.” (It would be better to go back to your room and rest, as you may catch more of a cold.)
And what ‘cute duck’?
Masera turned to look at the mirror on the wall, found the bandage on his cheek, and gritted his teeth.
“That damn doctor…”
Masera roughly opened the drawer where the bandages were, and found the bread bag tie ring that Cynthia had given him before.
He looked at the ring from side to side and put it back in the drawer.
And he quietly stared at the embracing photo in the newspaper. To be exact, he was analyzing Cynthia’s expression.
What kind of expression did Cynthia have when she was embracing him?
Masera tried to recall Cynthia’s expressions. In fact, most of the time, only the top of her head was visible due to the height difference.
If the relationship between Cynthia and Carlos is genuine, and the day comes when Cynthia says she’s leaving…
Masera tore off the duck bandage and slowly lowered his eyes.
“If I kill that guy, will she not even talk to me?”
* * *
“Please tell me how to soothe a man’s heart.”
I was choosing tea leaves for the tea party in the shopping district when I earnestly pleaded with Diego, who had come with me.
Diego, who was smelling the tea leaves, made a sad expression.
“I’ve never been in a relationship.”
“But you know what the Brigadier General likes, right?”
Diego made an even sadder expression.
“Yes, I don’t know how I only came to know that…”
Anyway, Diego agreed to cooperate in the ‘Operation to Restore My Reputation and Resolve Masera’s Misunderstanding’.
The soldiers who came with me for security also ended up participating.
Diego asked.
“But why did we suddenly end up waiting in front of Count Queensguard’s mansion when we just went out for tea leaves?”
“I have to get everything done while I’m already out and about.”
As soon as I saw Count Queensguard coming out of the mansion, I quickly ran out.
And I shouted, hugging him tightly.
“Dad!”
“Huh? What?”
“We’re taking photos for the press. Now, say cheese affectionately.”
I whispered secretly, and the Count, who was flustered with both hands raised, glanced awkwardly around before patting my back.
I gestured to Diego, who was holding the camera, to quickly capture this scene.
“You planned this out quite well.”
The quick-witted Count seemed to have realized my intentions.
“Did she eat something weird- gack!”
I didn’t want to hug Edford, who’d followed him out, so I jumped on his back and strangle-hugged his neck, trying to look as affectionate as possible.
“Smile.”
“Cough, could you get off?”
“Smile like you mean it.”
At my threat, Edford, who was caught in a headlock, gave a forced smile.
Click-
Thanks to that, I was able to get a picture-perfect happy family photo.
One of the soldiers who was taking pictures on the roof across the street gave me a thumbs up.
