TCBCVF 81

~Chapter 81~

Chapter 6. Why It Feels So Unbearably Unpleasant

The curtains were drawn, leaving the room in darkness.

The air reeked of alcohol.
Bottles were scattered across the floor and table, with half-eaten food rotting on neglected plates.

And in the middle of it—

“Wine… where’s the wine…?”

Gregory, completely drunk, reached out with a twitching hand.
After fumbling several times, he managed to grab a bottle—
but it was empty.

“Damn it!”

He cursed and hurled it.

Crash!
The bottle shattered against the wall.

Breathing heavily, Gregory dropped his head into his hands.

“Ha… how could you do this to me, Larit…”

Larit Ansie.
Once his, but now flaunting her closeness with another man.
The image of her smiling at Dietrich Claudius—head of the most noble house in the Empire, equal to royalty—wouldn’t leave his mind.

“Ha… this is hell.”

Jealousy and helplessness twisted his gut.

I can’t let Larit go.
If he lost her, he’d lose both the Ansie viscounty and its lands.

But how could he win her back?
If Larit truly cared for the Duke…

“Just a viscount’s daughter, yet acting above her station!”

He spat angrily, but deep down he knew—
if he had to compete with the Duke for Larit, he didn’t stand a chance.

“Wine! Is there no more wine?!”

Bloodshot eyes darted around the room.

“I told those useless servants never to let the stock run out!”

At that moment—

Bang!

The door slammed open, sunlight flooding the filthy room.

“What the hell…?” Gregory scowled.

A stern-looking middle-aged man entered, shoes thudding heavily.
His sharp eyes swept the disgraceful mess.

Finally, he fixed Gregory with a chilling glare.

“Gregory.”

Gregory froze. His arrogance vanished.

“A… father.”

It was Count Gusto, the man who had funded Gregory’s lavish life.

“What is this pathetic sight?!”

Count Gusto roared.

Gregory shrank like a cornered rat.

“A‑a father, I…”

He staggered up to defend himself, but his drunken body betrayed him.
He crashed to the floor in disgrace.

Count Gusto rubbed his temple in disgust.

After calming himself, he spoke in a low, cold voice:

“So… are you planning to just sit back and watch Larit slip away?”

Gregory dropped his head, unable to answer.

Count Gusto’s words bit like a whip.

“When she boldly sent me the notice of annulment, I endured it. Because you said you’d handle it.”

“F‑father, I—”

“You bragged you’d take care of it yourself! And yet look at you now—losing her, and the Ansie estate with her!”

“Please, trust me…” Gregory crawled closer on his knees.

“I’ll do my best. Larit loves me. She always begged, saying she couldn’t live without me…”

“Ridiculous.”

Count Gusto sneered.

“A girl who ‘couldn’t live without you’ sent an annulment under her family’s seal?!”

Gregory flinched.

Memories stabbed him:

“An engagement is the perfect way to bind a man—especially one who doesn’t love you.”

“And I chose to abandon even that.”

“Doesn’t that mean I’ve completely let go of you?”

Her cold, merciless pink eyes haunted him.

“Damn it…” Gregory squeezed his eyes shut.

Then Count Gusto continued, narrowing his eyes.

“Do you know why I came to the capital? To finalize your brother’s marriage.”

Gregory’s head snapped up.

“My… my brother’s marriage?”

“Yes. With the Lionel family. Surely you’ve heard?”

Gregory swallowed hard.

His elder brother already had a strong standing in the family.
The Lionel house was influential in the capital.
A successful match would cement his brother’s position—
and leave Gregory as nothing.

“The family has nothing left to give you.”

“…What?”

Count Gusto’s words struck like a slap.

“Understand this: your only option now is Larit Ansie. Fail to win her, and you’ll be thrown out of the townhouse.”

He glared with contempt.

“I won’t tolerate your idiocy forever. Do you hear me?!”

Clicking his tongue, Count Gusto left.

Gregory bit his lip until it bled.

So it’s come to this.

If his brother truly married, Gregory would be cut off entirely.

“No… it can’t be!”

Despair nearly drove him to scream.

But then—

Wait.

A thought struck like lightning.

“…Marriage?”

Yes.

The surest way to bind Larit—
and seize the Ansie title and lands—
was through marriage.

A dark glint lit Gregory’s eyes.