Chapter 63
“Could they really put pressure through the family?”
A letter had arrived recently from the Blanche Duke family.
The content was simple: to be the partner for Rosia at the ball.
Kadin, having no real reason to refuse, naturally took on the role of her partner.
“This will make Eila misunderstand.”
Anyway, the marriage with Rosia was already a settled matter.
What worried him more was Eila, who seemed to have completely forgotten about him.
“By now, she’s probably with that commoner guy.”
At the thought of that sneaky commoner’s face, his stomach twisted painfully.
Even after learning that Eila was dating Felix, he couldn’t let go of his lingering feelings for her.
“But I can’t keep pestering her and look pathetic either…”
With complicated thoughts, Kadin slowly walked on.
Not long after, he saw Rosia waiting for him in front of the academy garden.
“Kadin sunbae!”
She ran toward him cheerfully.
To anyone watching, their familiarity could be mistaken for a couple already.
Kadin forced a smile and started speaking.
“How have you been…”
But before he could finish, his expression hardened.
At the edge of his vision, the person who had been giving him a headache appeared.
Long pink hair, yellow eyes sparkling like topaz.
And the deep navy dress that made her stand out even more.
The fabric softly wrapped around her slender waist, perfectly showing off her elegant silhouette.
Seeing her, he almost felt breathless.
“Eila? But who’s that guy beside her…?”
For a moment, Kadin almost didn’t recognize him.
Because the man had taken off his usual glasses.
“It’s Felix, isn’t it?”
Perhaps prepared for the ball, Felix looked remarkably handsome, unlike the disdainful guy Kadin usually knew.
His navy formal wear, matching Eila’s, was embroidered with silver thread, and the cravat was neatly tied over his well-fitted shirt.
The coat’s elegant hem enhanced his tall stature and solid physique.
Beside such a Felix, Eila was covering her mouth in delight, smiling repeatedly as if she was very happy.
Though distant and their voices barely audible, the expression alone showed pure happiness.
Kadin’s face soon twisted in anguish watching that scene.
“They look close.”
Though he tried to act calm after learning they were dating, inside it hurt deeply.
No matter how much he tried to forget everything, it wasn’t easy.
Seeing the two flaunting their matching outfits as if to show off their relationship made his heart boil.
He struggled to maintain his expression in front of Rosia.
Rosia seemed to notice his awkwardness and quickly tugged his arm.
“The family has already arrived. Everyone’s gathered, so shall we go meet them together?”
Rosia’s charming smile was truly lovely.
But his gaze wouldn’t leave Eila’s smiling face.
“Let’s hurry, everyone is waiting.”
With Rosia’s gentle urging, Kadin reluctantly followed her.
He took deep breaths to calm his emotions.
Soon, near the academy building, a group of nobles laughing and chatting came into view.
They were direct members of the Blanche Duke and Late Marquis families.
Kadin bowed politely to Kalios as he approached.
Kalios looked at Kadin and Rosia standing side by side with a pleased expression.
“You two look quite good together.”
The Late Marquis happily agreed.
“Well, it’s natural since they are soon to be engaged.”
Listening to the family elders’ talk, Kadin noticed two unusually quiet people.
Gerard and Cedric.
Observing them, Kadin tilted his head in puzzlement.
Gerard, unlike Cedric, always maintained a perfect appearance during public activities.
But now his eyes were dark and seemed painful, and they were bloodshot with fatigue.
Yet when his eyes met Rosia’s, he forced a smile as if nothing was wrong.
“Rosia, you’re beautiful today as well.”
Rosia blushed and shyly smiled.
“Thank you, brother.”
The siblings looked affectionate, but Kadin couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
Gerard’s gaze at Rosia was filled with some kind of regret.
“Seems like his mind is elsewhere.”
Moreover, Gerard and Cedric kept glancing around as if searching for something.
But not finding what they wanted, they soon wore disappointed expressions.
At that moment, the Late Marquis’ wife spoke softly to Rosia.
“Miss Rosia, I heard you ranked second in this year’s exam.”
The Marquis enthusiastically nodded.
“Truly impressive, ranking second right after entering the academy!”
Rosia blushed and bowed her head. The Marquis lady continued praising her.
“Finally, we have a smart fiancée worthy of our Kadin.”
Kadin felt deeply annoyed by their words.
Rosia was not even engaged to him yet, and their words carried a subtle sneer toward Eila.
Well, it wasn’t surprising.
His mother had always disliked Eila.
“A Blanche daughter with mana insensitivity? What if her child inherits that?”
“I’ve heard rumors she’s a child taken in from outside. Their levels don’t match; it’s worrying. Such a waste of my son.”
These were rumors often heard, so at the time, he didn’t pay much mind.
But now he finally understood.
How insulting and rude everyone around Eila was.
Thinking about the sorrow she must have endured alone filled him with an indescribable feeling rising to his throat.
“This shouldn’t be like this.”
He could have just praised Rosia, agreed with his parents’ words, and quietly let it go.
Yet, listening to them, an unusually strong resistance welled up inside him.
Had his mother said harsh words to Eila, causing her to distance herself?
Why was she so cold and cruel to Eila but so kind to Rosia?
Finally, Kadin couldn’t hold back and spoke up.
“Do you know who ranked first in this year’s exam?”
“…Kadin?”
“Eila, Mother. Right after overcoming mana insensitivity, she took first place. Isn’t that amazing talent?”
At that one sentence, the atmosphere turned icy.
The Late Marquis couple looked at their son in shock.
“K-Kadin, what are you saying…!”
The Marquis lady grabbed her son’s arm in surprise.
Kadin sighed deeply and roughly swept his messy hair back.
“…I’m going to get some fresh air.”
He bowed politely and immediately left.
Rosia stared blankly at his retreating figure before bowing her head to hide her expression.
Her hand tightly clutching the hem of her dress had turned pale white.
At that moment, only one thought filled Rosia’s mind.
“How dare she humiliate me like this… I’ll make her pay back many times over, Eila.”
It wasn’t enough for Eila to just be expelled from the academy.
She had to be completely destroyed.
She needed to be so miserable that Kadin wouldn’t even look at her!
Rosia wanted Eila to feel the same humiliation she did now.
“I will trample on everything you have. I will take everything you possess, leaving nothing!”
Rosia’s tightly clenched fists trembled violently.
