Chapter 20

Translator: Happybear13 Editor: Rialm

Dante had become anxious because of Charlize, whom he could hardly reach.

That was why he recklessly entered the imperial palace and found Charlize.

Charlize, who was taking a walk, stopped slowly as soon as she saw Dante.

Dante approached her, struggling to suppress his unknown joy.

“… Charlize.”

Charlize, whom he met after a long time, was very beautiful. She was dressed in dark black and had a strangely ingratiating look.

A dress that shines like a mermaid’s scales. A shoulder line is softly exposed.

The expression on her face, which he could not read her thoughts from, was calm.

‘What should I say?’

Dante’s mind had become blank. Before he met Charlize, he had a lot of things he wanted to say.

Starting from the question of why she sent the letter back-

But when he saw Charlize, who looked indifferently at Dante, somehow the words didn’t fall from his lips.

“Brother Akan’s wedding has been canceled.”

Only after he uttered his words did Dante come to his senses. He’d never talked to Charlize about their family, he realized.

“Is that so?”

Charlize, who was walking in the flower garden, stopped and answered back. ‘Is that all she’s willing to say?’ Dante gulped down his saliva.

His forehead wrinkled, he frowned.

“Yeah. He must have been heartbroken that he didn’t win the fencing competition, so he postponed his wedding.”

“I see.”

Charlize looked at Dante.

‘If it was before my return, I’m sure you were very sad and heartbroken together. It doesn’t matter now.’

Destiny had changed. She was not as impressed when she had heard the news.

Dante seemed embarrassed by Charlize’s calmness. Dante said in a colder tone, voice hardened,

“…. Is that all?”

Even though it was a kind enough reply by her. Dante bit his lips roughly.

“Brother Akan’s wedding has been canceled.”

“Yes, I see.”

Dante was momentarily speechless facing the innocent Charlize as her intention to turn away was slowly revealed.

Charlize had changed.

So clearly. Not the usual Charlize. Begging for the love of our family. Not that kid.

Dante stammered in embarrassment.

“You. You’re going to talk to the Duke of Delmon about your marriage, huh? You should do something for the honor of the Ronan family.”

The marriage he talked about to the Duke of Delmon was her engagement to Kahu.

Unlike before her return, Charlize had not yet been engaged.

‘So that’s what this was all about.’

It wasn’t until Charlize was convinced. She just didn’t understand.

“Am I from the Ronan family?”

“…What do you mean?”

Dante frowned.

“Is my presence the honor of the Ronan’s?”

Charlize, who asked this, had a very indifferent face.

Dante was speechless for a moment and could not say a word. The answer was ‘no’.

No one in the Grand Duke’s mansion thought of Charlize as the Ronan’s honor. If one thought of a disgrace, one would think of her.

Because Dante grew up watching how the Grand Duke and his brother Akan treated Charlize…

“… Cough.”

Dante coughed.

As he turned his head, Charlize’s gaze unconsciously followed.

He gulped down his saliva and remained silent for a long time. The sun became a little stronger. The hem of Charlize’s dress waved back and forth in the wind.

Dante felt this atmosphere was stifling. But somehow, he wanted to hold onto it. He couldn’t let Charlize go like this.

“… Aren’t you curious about the family?”

Dante broke the silence, avoiding to answer the prior question. Charlize was blinking her pretty eyes without expression like a doll.

“Isn’t it normal to report on how you’re doing?”

“Why me?”

A very dry question. Dante looked at Charlize, feeling that something was falling apart.

‘Why?’

‘Of course, because you deserve to beg for our attention. How long have you been trying to be loved?’

‘Are you saying you don’t need it anymore?’

His back felt cold and his heart was beating faster. No, it couldn’t be. And even if Charlize had changed, what did that have to do with himself?

‘Why am I so upset?’

‘What on earth is that kid saying?’

“If you’ve said all you have to say…”

Dante came to his senses because Charlize was so elegantly polite.

Charlize, who bowed her head in impeccable manners, brushed past Dante. Dante hardened like a stone.

Wait a minute-

Dante tried to catch Charlize. But the moment he looked back.

“Master.”

“Oh, prince. … Why did you come out?”

Dante heard Charlize’s voice. A tone that was completely different from the voice he’d heard so far.

A warm voice, sweet and soft, with a smile of humor. A warm voice full of affection and interest.

Dante was embarrassed.

“I am looking for you because I was curious. Did I interrupt Master’s walk?”

“No, Prince. Teaching is my duty.”

A friendly conversation.

Was this the prince that Charlize had decided to teach? Dylan didn’t give Dante a single look.

But Dante couldn’t care less about it. It’s because…

‘That kid could’ve laughed like this.’

The strangely wrinkled corners of her eyes. A calm demeanor of subtle reverberation. A fascinating, luxurious smile.

It was Charlize’s smile that Dante had never seen before. In Dante’s memory, Charlize was always shaking and hardly smiled.

It was shocking.

‘What the hell?’

‘A truly happy smile. I’ve never seen it before. So, what kind of smile did I see that kid make before?’

‘It was a smile that barely held back tears.’

The realization struck him like a thunderbolt. Dante went blank.

Charlize walked slowly, being kind to Dylan. Even from a distance, one could see just how precious Dylan was treated by Charlize.

Dante felt like he had lost something very precious and valuable. It felt strange and cool. His heart sank with a thud.

*****

 

It was when the funeral hall of the 7th concubine was being cleaned up. Dylan held Charlize’s sleeve.

Charlize stopped because of the look in his eyes that indicated he had something to say.

As if there no one was there, the employees quietly cleaned the funeral hall. The last portrait of the 7th concubine was also taken.

The boy said clearly,

[Master, what do you want?]

Dylan finally asked Charlize a ‘question.’ The relationship had changed.

‘You’re here.’

At that moment Charlize had a hunch:

The choice of fate had been bestowed upon her. The white drawing paper could be colored differently depending on what paint the painter holding the brush used.

Now it was the time to paint. Black, very dark.

Dylan was devoted. What Charlize wanted soon became Dylan’s desire.

[I….]

In an empty funeral hall, a person’s voice sounded more irritating.

Charlize’s whisper was languid.

[I hope the Prince puts the world under his feet.]

Dylan’s expression was unshakable. Charlize looked at the boy and engraved the words clearly.

[Please rule the Empire. Take it thoroughly and crush it perfectly. Crush it into powder so that no traces are left.]

Despite the tremendous talk, Charlize had a soft face. How much effort and sacrifice would she have to make?

For the average person, they would become hardened just by listening to those words. However, Dylan did not fall behind Charlize.

He accepted it as he was.

[Is that the desire of Master?]

[Yes, Prince.]

Charlize whispered.

The outstanding beauty that destroys the country is the color of its administration. It was the most famous test, and Dylan couldn’t have known it.

Dylan agreed, even though he must have read clearly what she thought in her beautiful appearance.

[If the Master wants it.]

As if he knew, and would be willing to take over her desire.

It was an immoral act to dare to ask this of a member of the imperial family, to destroy the person directly involved. Charlize had nothing to say even if she was executed for defaming the imperial family.

But Dylan left everything to Charlize. To take the initiative to lead his life, neatly.

Anything else was impossible.

Is there anyone else in the world who can do it other than Dylan?

‘No.’

 

No one. Charlize was able to affirm.

A person who will listen calmly even when asked to destroy the country.

A person who embraces every request with a face that says he will accept it. There’s no way there’s someone other than Dylan.

He was in the perfect condition beyond his blind devotion.

“Master.”

Charlize awoke from her thought. It was in the middle of a real sword battle with Dylan.

Dylan and Charlize now knew each other. All the acting had stopped. He showed his real skills, and the real lessons were being taught.

They were on a deep mountain in the islands.

She couldn’t show her skills to anyone else.

“Ah.”

Charlize blinked.

 

A true sword fight. The boy called out politely as if asking her to give him more attention.

All of a sudden, Charlize was pointing a real sword at Dylan’s neck. She moved inadvertently, and she won.

“… The fight is over.”

Charlize put away the sword softly. The sword entered the scabbard gracefully like a butterfly.

Dylan was defeated by someone for the first time in his life. He didn’t feel bad.

No, Charlize could have tried to kill him, but first offered him her neck to make it easier to cut. A benefactor,

Wasn’t he the only one in this world?

“Let’s take a break.”

‘Master wouldn’t know.’

How narrowly she revealed herself when she swung a sword. This was the reason why he fought smoothly even though he knew the results clearly.

Charlize, holding a real sword, had the power to make him look helpless.

After Charlize’s words, Dylan gently put the sword in the collection of swords. He was a good student. A genius who broke down the ranks when taught one thing.

To a teacher, he was an outstanding student who was admired beyond the worth of teaching.

But Dylan.

‘A creepy genius.’

He thought Charlize higher than himself.  Dylan knew how high her sword skills were.

Even if it was a swordmaster, he thought that he couldn’t follow Charlize’s swordsmanship.

“Drink, Master.”

Dylan offered the bucket he brought to Charlize with both hands first. Charlize accepted without hesitation.

“I’m tired, but is it okay to close my eyes for a while?”

“Of course. Master.”

“Thank you.”

Dylan nodded at Charlize’s request while she drank the water.

Charlize leaned her back against the tree. The black dress spread wide over the grass.

Dylan’s sword suit was blue.

He pretended to have overcome his mother’s death in case she might be worried, but it was not true. He did so because of Charlize’s consideration, who did not ask but wore black dresses in remembrance instead.

Dylan was very grateful.

“…”

During the funeral, he was so distracted that he did not know: how much Charlize sacrificed for him.

‘I can see your heart now.’

When Dylan didn’t eat, Charlize also had to skip meals. ‘You probably didn’t want me to smell the food. ‘

Not only that.

But she never left his side even though she couldn’t sleep properly.

Dylan got too much from her. Too much.

Colorful-

Charlize, who was asleep, had white cheeks. The petals blown by the wind gently stuck to her cheeks.

He sat down, kneeling in front of Charlize while contemplating whether to take them off.

The breathtakingly beautiful face remained the same, even though her sharp eyes were covered by her eyelids. Her white skin was smooth like porcelain.

Dylan carefully stretched his finger.

And it was then.

Charlize’s eyelids trembled.

 

***