CH 37

“Basically, that’s how it is.”

“But why are you here when you should be at sea?”

“There was a temporary ceasefire. So, I visited my brother in his territory and was playing around to see when you would notice. Then, I was challenged to a gambling game by some lady from somewhere.”

Aurelio sighed, looking tired as if he had lost count of how many times this had happened, as he watched Emilio make a movement that seemed like he would shrug his shoulders if he wasn’t bound.

“If you do something like that, it will cause trouble for me too. You should have known what would happen if you did something like that to a lady from the prestigious Baron family, right?”

“Of course. She’s not someone who would easily be swayed even if I wished to marry her. So, I thought if I didn’t like her, I could just ask my brother for money. But when I saw her, she was quite to my liking, so I decided to do as that lady offered.”

“Emilio, I’m not saying that playing is bad. But you don’t seem to know the difference between play and serious matters… Did you want the title of nobility that badly?”

Aurelio looked at his younger brother with a piercing gaze. Emilio, who received that gaze, smiled a twisted smile and laughed with the corners of his mouth raised.

“If I wanted it that badly, I would have killed my brother a long time ago. What I don’t like is that he’s the only one who gets recognition… That’s why I joined the military. If I excel there, I will leave a name filled with much more honor than just being a noble.

Besides, I intended to take responsibility.”

“You… Did you do this knowing that she was my fiancée?”

I looked at Jeremiah in surprise as he spoke in a low voice. He glared at Emilio with a fierce look that seemed to say he wanted to kill him. However, Emilio remained calm with a cool expression.

“No, I didn’t know that. The lady I was asked to do this said she would awaken Lord Jeremiah’s eyes before she became engaged, so I thought it hadn’t happened yet. Oh, I see, she’s already engaged.

I may have done something bad… If you want to duel, I’ll accept it. However, I’m pretty good at shooting even in the military, so you’ll probably be the one who gets hurt.”

“Emilio! That’s enough. I’ve been too lenient until now. I and the Caldelara family have nothing to do with you. From now on, no matter what happens, I won’t support or speak up for you.”

I’ll take care of the lady who asked you to do this. Don’t worry about the money. Also, leave the house in the capital… If you come back, you understand?”

Aurelio said coldly, pushing Emilio away. However, Emilio didn’t seem scared or confused, but rather laughed happily.

“I understand, but I can’t change my face, so it’s better not to completely cut off our relationship. Well then, please untie the rope first. I’ll leave here right away as you said. That was a close call, by the way.”

When I noticed Emilio’s eyes were on me, I glared back at him. Despite that, he just smiled.

Aurelio stood up from the sofa and untied Emilio’s rope. Emilio, who soon became free, rubbed his wrists and looked at me.

“Goodbye, Lady Lorraine. Let’s meet somewhere again… When you get tired of him, if you want, you can become my lover.”

Emilio said with a charming smile – but his face had a bruise and his lips were cut and bleeding. I felt Jeremiah next to me was full of killing intent, so I spoke up first.

“Too bad, that will never happen, and I don’t need a lover.”

“Is that so? But people can change their minds. Remember that.”

“I refuse.”

In response to my words, he turned his back and waved his hand, then walked away somewhat awkwardly. Outside, someone screamed. It was probably one of the guests who had come in surprise at the screams of Dorothea and me. Eventually, the sound of the door closing was heard, and Dorothea opened her mouth as if she had been waiting.

“So, what are you going to do with that lady?”

“I’m willing to file a police report if it’s too out of the ordinary… Jeremiah, what do you want to do? And Lady Lorraine, you suffered the most.”

When Aurelio said that, everyone’s gaze turned towards me.

I groaned, “Um,” and asked myself what to do.

Certainly, something terrible had been done to me. For a moment, I thought it was all over. But I also understood how that lady felt. Even I would have felt a boiling rage if Jeremiah had been friends with a plain and unremarkable lady.

Above all, it was all over now.

From the conversation between Emilio and Aurelio, it was also clear that Emilio was the one who had been dissolute. Aurelio had just been falsely accused.

And so, Dorothea’s worries were resolved, and the worst-case scenario was avoided.

So, I thought it was enough.

“I don’t want to make too big of a deal out of it. There may be a need to be angry with that person, but…”

“But I can’t just let it go. I almost lost my fiancé. Besides, where is the guarantee that something similar won’t happen again?”

“That’s true, but…”

As I struggled to figure out what to do, Dorothea spoke nonchalantly.

“I don’t think there’s any need to do anything.”

Everyone looked at Dorothea. She put her index finger on her lips and said with a smile.

“Isn’t that right? I’m sure that lady will faint when she sees Lorraine at tomorrow’s ball. I only know Lady Tatiana, who has the same caliber as you and Jeremiah-sama standing side by side. Am I right?”

“Well, that may be true, but…”

Jeremiah still seemed dissatisfied. As for Aurelio, he seemed to have no idea what Dorothea was talking about because he hadn’t seen it.

“If they still have something to say after that, you can just report it to the police. Also, I know the president of the support group that Jeremiah-sama belongs to. I’ll tell her about this and let her know that Jeremiah-sama is heartbroken. You know how formidable they are, don’t you?”

“Well… that’s true.”

Even Jeremiah couldn’t help but nod at this. I conveyed my thanks to Dorothea with just my mouth moving without saying it out loud. A mischievous smile came back to me.

At that moment, a yell echoed from the hallway.

The familiar voice was definitely my Aunt Fiorenza’s.