HRNGDS 77

~Chapter 77~

Ivelina glared at Kassen, who had come to take her away.

Kassen smirked at her.

“Ivelina, you said you wanted to break off the engagement, but now you’re suddenly asking to keep it?”

His gaze was ice-cold. Because of Alphonso’s request, the Duke of Fuat’s household had sent someone to fetch her.

“I heard you refused to take me with you.”

“That’s right. I don’t want to marry you. How could I marry a woman who lies every time she opens her mouth?”

“That’s my line, isn’t it? Acting like this won’t do you any good, Kassen. It’s better for you to just keep quiet.”

After saying that, Ivelina flinched. Kassen’s gaze on her was very cold.

But she was still confident. In the end, Kassen would never abandon her.

They were in the same boat. Even though he hated marrying her, Kassen had no choice but to come for her.

Ivelina gritted her teeth.

“Kassen, you know what will happen to you if my father opens his mouth, right? He’s holding back because of me. That means it’s not in your interest to pick a fight with me.”

Kassen’s eyes filled with contempt.

If it weren’t for Ivelina, he wouldn’t have been in this situation in the first place.

The one who had driven a wedge between him and Delphina, making things the worst, was Ivelina.

But her words weren’t entirely wrong. In the end, they couldn’t completely break ties.

Still, Kassen had no intention of just leaving things as they were.

If that guy dies and I inherit the Duke of Fuat’s title completely, everything will be over.

With a dark expression, Kassen ground his teeth.

Elcayan turned to Delphina.

“What are you planning to do, Delphina? Will you return to the North?”

After hesitating for a moment, Elcayan continued,

“If you want to stay here longer, you can. There’s still time until winter. Since you’ve reunited with Lord Alphonso after so long, you might need more time.”

Delphina shook her head.

“The Grand Madam is safe for now, but I want to return quickly to cure her illness. But there’s something else bothering me more right now.”

Delphina felt uneasy.

No matter how kind the Duke of Fuat is to accept Ivelina, would Kassen really accept the situation so easily?

She remembered the scene at the dessert shop, where Ivelina and Kassen had fought fiercely.

With Kassen’s narrow-minded and grudge-holding personality, there was no way he would forgive Ivelina easily.

Even if he forgave her, he would only do so after making Ivelina and Duke Rikeion desperate first.

So to accept it so easily? That’s too suspicious.

And then—

Tap, tap.

Delphina widened her eyes at the sight of a bird tapping on the window.

“Pepper? Elcayan, excuse me for a moment.”

Pepper had several letters tied to his leg. Delphina quickly noticed they weren’t from Kassen—the seal on the paper was not his.

She opened the window.

<Pepper, the very happy bird>
Delphina, Kassen finally abandoned me for Jerian.

“Abandoned you?”

Delphina whispered quietly so only Pepper could hear.

<Pepper, the very happy bird>
I pecked Kassen on the head every time he passed by. He got so mad, he even developed a bald spot.

Delphina burst out laughing.

But what Pepper said next made her face stiffen.

<Pepper, the very happy bird>
This is a letter from Jerian. Delphina, Jerian really wants to see you. You two used to be close friends, right?

“Yes, we were close.”

Delphina thought of what kind of person Jerian was.

Kassen’s younger brother.

Even though her relationship with Kassen had turned to the worst, that didn’t mean she was enemies with everyone in the Duke of Fuat’s family.

The second son, Jerian Fuat, was unusually kind and gentle for a nobleman.

When Delphina had been ostracized at the academy, he was the only one who reached out to her.

I heard he was sick, but for a long time…

She hadn’t had the time or energy to contact or visit him.

Kassen disliked his younger brother, and Jerian disliked Kassen just as much.

“Delphina, why put up with a guy like that? He always puts Ivelina before you. If he really loved you, he wouldn’t do that. Why do you always just take it? You’re such a fool!”

Jerian was one of the few who had openly criticized Kassen’s behavior.

Kassen had deep feelings of inferiority toward Jerian, who was better than him and more respected.

Even as the firstborn, he had always been frustrated that their father didn’t plan to pass the family title to him.

Maybe that’s why, even a short conversation between me and Jerian made him furious.

After graduating from the academy, she and Jerian naturally lost contact. Whenever they spoke, Kassen would blow up in anger.

“Why are you talking to Jerian alone? Is there a reason you need to?”

Not wanting to provoke Kassen, Delphina had naturally cut off contact with Jerian.

And yet Kassen had an affair with Ivelina.

Now there was no reason not to see Jerian.

Delphina opened the letter.

[Delphina, I don’t think I have much time left to live. I know this is a burden for you, but before I die, I want to see you at least once. There are many things I need to apologize for.

At the academy, when you were bullied, I often got angry at you. Now that I think about it, you probably couldn’t help your situation. I understand if you don’t want to see me, but I want to apologize to you in person. I’ve always regretted speaking harshly to you.]

Delphina turned to Elcayan.

“Elcayan, I’m sorry. Before I return to the North, can I stop by the Duke of Fuat’s estate?”

She thought Elcayan might refuse—after all, the Duke of Fuat’s house was Kassen’s family.

But she couldn’t ignore Jerian.

During their academy days, Jerian had sometimes been frustrated with her.

Now I think I understand why.

Back then, she had been under black magic.

He must have acted that way because he cared for her.

Jerian was the only one who openly told me Kassen was a bad man.

Delphina thought,

If my cooking can remove abnormal status effects, maybe it can heal Jerian’s illness too.

Her cooking carried the blessing of the god Frad. If there was even a small chance, there was no reason to hesitate.

“Yes, that’s fine, Delphina,” Elcayan said.

“Is he a friend?”

“I’ll say he could be a friend.”

“Then we should definitely go see him.”

“Thank you, Elcayan. I knew he was sick, but I didn’t know Jerian’s condition was this serious. I think I need to contact the Saintess.”

“Was he originally healthy?”

“Yes, back when we attended the academy, he was healthy.”

He had even been skilled enough to keep Kassen in check.

“Even Prince Johannes liked Jerian. But then one day, he couldn’t walk, and his health got worse and worse.”

Even the doctors couldn’t figure out Jerian’s illness.

“If Jerian hadn’t gotten sick, Kassen wouldn’t have become the heir.”

“Sounds like he was very talented.”

“Yes, I heard the Duke of Fuat intended to make Jerian the heir. He had exceptional talent in magic. The Duke of Fuat’s head has always been someone talented in magic.”

“…”

“Jerian and I met because he was in the magic department. I was good at drawing magic circles because of my skill with my hands. But Jerian could never beat me. He always said he wanted to surpass me and stayed by my side…”

As Delphina talked about her memories with Jerian, Elcayan’s expression grew strange.

Her face had brightened as she spoke, and Elcayan realized that these memories were probably her only happy ones from her academy days.

So Jerian was the only meaningful person in her academy life.

That thought made him envious of a man he hadn’t even met, and he was surprised at his own petty jealousy.

“I had no interest in magic. Jerian was frustrated that I was good at it despite not caring.”

“…”

“Maybe he wants to see me now to show me a new magic circle he made. He always said he would surpass me one day. But I never visited him when he got sick. Even if Kassen hated it, I should have gone at least once…”

Jerian had liked Delphina as a rival. He often said he enjoyed growing stronger by competing with her.

Of course, Delphina lost interest in magic and quit, which left Jerian truly frustrated.

Her face darkened.

When she heard he couldn’t even practice the magic he loved anymore, she had felt terrible.

And now, to hear he had so little time left…

His condition must have gotten worse while I wasn’t there.

“I think my cooking might help heal Jerian. That’s why I want to visit the Duke of Fuat before returning North.”

Elcayan nodded.

“If that’s the reason, then all the more reason to go. My mother will understand—she values friendship above all else.”