Chapter 70: Jealousy took away Yeuju's first love.
Tatiana felt as if she was about to lose her mind.
Raymond was one of the allies she absolutely trusted.
He was someone who would always grant her requests without a word.
Though he was rude to others, he was like an angel to her.
Especially, Raymond always hated Karina, which made her trust and rely on him even more.
Why did he swear to Karina?
Did his affection for her drop without her noticing?
In front of her, a window popped up, which was no different from a nightmare.
―Congratulations, you have confirmed the Raymond route ending! [3/??]
The fear she had momentarily forgotten now dominated her body.
―Your suppression power has weakened due to the achievement.
The thought of possibly losing everything made her rationality numb.
She tried to touch the bracelet with her trembling hands.
Wilhelm grabbed her shoulder.
Tatiana, startled, hid her hand behind her back.
She rolled her eyes, worried that Wilhelm's hand might touch the bracelet.
Wilhelm looked at her with a worried expression and asked,
Only then did she notice the countless gazes directed at her. Everyone was looking at Tatiana.
Though their eyes were filled with concern and sympathy, she instinctively realized not all of them were.
Mixed in were curiosity, satisfaction, and jealousy.
Tatiana had to make a decision.
Should she run away with her tail between her legs, or pretend nothing was wrong?
“I... I'm fine, I can handle it.”
Dozens of pairs of eyes pressured her.
Daniel and Raymond are now looking at Karina, not her.
As the world's suppression power weakened, Tatiana's solid world began to waver.
She felt as if she couldn't breathe.
Wilhelm stood in front of her, as if to protect her from the gazes of the people.
Tatiana grabbed Wilhelm's clothes.
It was fortunate that he was there.
She swallowed her tears and forced a smile.
But at this moment, she deeply resented Andrew, who wasn't by her side.
No matter how much she hated him, he shouldn't just disappear from such an important event.
But there was something more urgent now.
“Has Raymond already left?”
“Yeah, he seemed to leave quickly.”
Wilhelm felt disappointed that Tatiana didn't seem to think about him at all.
He consoled himself, thinking it was inevitable given the current situation.
But he couldn't hide his darkening expression.
Tatiana, noticing Wilhelm's mood, asked,
“Wilhelm, are you feeling bad?”
Tatiana felt relieved and reached out her hand.
“Huh? No, I'm fine. Why would I feel bad when I'm with you?”
“Then let's enjoy this ball. It's been a while since we've been here together.”
Wilhelm liked Tatiana for this reason.
Whenever she sensed his disappointment, she would comfort him as if she understood his feelings.
‘This is what makes her different from Karina.’
Compared to that mysterious and gloomy woman, Tatiana was an angel.
Thinking this, Wilhelm took Tatiana's hand.
The gazes directed at the two of them began to change, filled with goodwill and affection.
As if they had become the main characters of this world.
Raymond clenched his teeth as he returned home.
This hunting competition was truly the worst.
He gained nothing from it.
Instead, his pride was trampled, and he was now under the control of the current Magic Tower Master and the Pioneers family.
Raymond took out a crystal glass from the cabinet and poured himself a drink.
He downed it in one gulp.
After a few more glasses, his head spun.
He usually couldn't drink well, so it was no surprise his body reacted poorly.
He ran his hand roughly through his hair and cursed.
He was so angry he felt like he was going to go mad.
He had never felt such a sense of defeat and humiliation in his life.
He was angry at Karina and her family, but most of all, he was angry at the Emperor.
The image of the Emperor looking down at him with a calm face, as if reigning over him, was etched into his retina and wouldn't fade.
“Think calmly, Raymond Cassel.”
Perhaps this was for the best.
He had consistently shown a lot of interest in Karina.
He exaggerated his apologies and even saved her when she was in danger.
It was all a pretense to divert the Cassel family's blade from Tatiana.
He hadn't intended to draw so much attention...
Tatiana's voice came from outside the door.
He didn't want to see her today.
It was only natural after he had pledged his loyalty to her in a way that crushed his pride.
Raymond covered his ears and hid his body.
Like when he used to hide from the elders who belittled him in his childhood.
But Tatiana continued to call his name and knock on the door.
Her voice, mixed with tears, tormented Raymond.
Finally, Raymond straightened his clothes and reached for the doorknob.
When he opened the door, Tatiana was standing there in the same dress she wore at the ball.
He could also see Wilhelm standing a distance away, his back turned.
He didn't like that she had brought another man here.
As soon as she saw Raymond's face, she burst into tears.
“How could you betray me?”
She hit Raymond's chest with her small fists, filled with resentment.
Raymond, accepting her tantrum, pleaded,
“Titi, it's not like that.”
“What am I supposed to do if you abandon me too?”
“Just listen to me, Titi. I never abandoned you. This was actually for your benefit. Besides, I was forced to swear loyalty...”
No matter how much Raymond tried to explain, Tatiana wouldn't listen, only crying and shouting.
“I didn't expect this from anyone, but especially not from you. And you did it in front of so many people. What do they think of me...”
Raymond grabbed her shoulders and shouted. Tatiana, startled, trembled and stopped crying.
“I told you it's not like that. I didn't betray you. I had no choice. The Magic Tower Master said he would strip me of my succession rights if I didn't swear loyalty to Karina, on the condition that he wouldn't harm her.”
Tatiana couldn't understand at all.
The Raymond she knew would have given up the position of Magic Tower Master for her.
“Is that position so important to you?”
Raymond was speechless at her words.
“Is my pain, the love you swore to me, the talk about being the master of my heart, all just for the position of Magic Tower Master?”
Tatiana shouted as if in a scream.
How could a person change so much?
The Raymond Tatiana knew wasn't like this.
“Titi, I need power to protect you.”
Raymond muttered, looking at Wilhelm standing behind her.
“If I don't have the position of Magic Tower Master, I'm just another ordinary mage. Then, every time I stand by your side, I'll feel inferior.”
He wouldn't become a duke's knight like the foolish Wilhelm.
He didn't want to live a miserable life, losing everything he had and relying on his rival's help.
But Tatiana didn't understand Raymond's words.
“What's so bad about that? You only need me, right? Do you have to be the Magic Tower Master?”
It was an unreasonable and forced argument.
The Magic Tower Master was the pinnacle of all mages. It was a position he had dreamed of his whole life.
Tatiana must know this, so how could she say such things?
‘Was she always this inconsiderate?’
For the first time, Raymond felt tired of Tatiana.
Tatiana had always been sensitive to his feelings.
She would ask if he needed anything or if he was uncomfortable.
But at some point, she seemed to only impose her own perspective.
She clung to him when he was tired and pushed him to do things.
‘Even that woman said it would be good for her to rest.’
Upon reflection, he felt he had received more consideration from Karina.
Tatiana reflexively touched her bracelet.
Even though she hadn't done anything, Raymond's affection for her had dropped.
She felt the blood drain from her face.