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Chapter 30




Translator: Happybear13
***
 
Dante had a nightmare.
No, it was just a piece of the past to be a nightmare.
[Brother.]
It was a four-year-old Charlize.
The child who seemed to have been so small like this talked and laughed.
But.
Tak.
Dante of the past threw away the little hand that reached him.
[Don’t come closer.]
The tumbled Charlize’s knee was grazed. Blood gushed over the wound.
Dante was weak-hearted, but not so far away the Grand Duke was watching him.
Akan with a face of displeased.
[Brother?]
Charlize looked blank as if she could not grasp the situation. Until Dante found the Grand Duke.
Because he was nice to Charlize.
[Did I do something wrong?]
Dante bit his lips.
‘Don’t come, don’t come.’
Even if he says it to himself, Charlize stands up with a face that trusts Dante. And came again.
At least Dante took care of Charlize. The Grand Duke and his brother didn’t treat her well. If there’s no one watching.
He used to play with Charlize very often.
[I’m sorry.]
As if acting like a baby, Charlize opens her arms and tries to be hugged by Dante. She bears the tears bravely, but the child’s eyes are wet.
Dante was only 10 years old then.
It’s a young age to betray the expectations of parents and older brother. Dante eventually pushed Charlize hard.
[…I told you not to come…!]
Shouted Dante.
Charlize was a young but precocious child. But is maturity that doesn’t fit your age really right?
Because he pushed hard, Charlize’s dress was torn when she had fallen.
The child’s blood leaking out of her knee becomes thicker. Charlize, thrown into the ground, looked up at Dante calmly.
[…]
It was a situation that would make her cry, but Charlize was quiet.
The Grand Duke, who was watching from afar, turns back with Akan, clicking his tongue.
Dante’s body trembled. He had to choose. Will he be with his family or will he hold the hand of Charlize, whom his family hates?
What Dante chose.
It was the former.
In his dream, he went after the Grand Duke without hesitation.
He left Charlize, who was only four years old.
Dante awoke from his dream and opened his eyes in the dark.
What Charlize’s fault was then. There wasn’t.
Nothing.
The blanket rolled down the upper body that had been raised. He clicked his tongue. It was very cold as if one side of his chest was empty.
“…”
I’m sorry. I wanted to say it.
But he can’t even talk to himself. Because he can’t move his lips.
Dante held his breath for a long time and just clenched his fist.
 
***
That day. The day Akan lost his words after witnessing Charlize’s talent.
Akan stayed out overnight for the first time in his life. He was a young master who was often told that he lives a textbook. This is the first time he has been out of work.
He drank so much that Dante stayed by his brother all night.
[Please stop crying. Brother.]
[…To that kid, I can’t say anything to her.]
Akan said, his breath hot.
[I can’t.]
[At this rate. What’s the difference?]
[Dante…]
Akan had raised his bloodshot eyes and looked up at Dante. Dante, flinching at the glaring eyes, shut his mouth.
[Charlize, Charlize…]
Akan had never called his sister’s name. That’s why. The word stuttered out.
[She’ll hate us, won’t she? Right? She’ll blame us to death. Right?]
That brilliant talent…
Akan, muttering to himself, soon buried his head on the table.
Dante couldn’t be honest at the time.  Charlize. Our little sister. She wouldn’t even resent it.
She forgot it in her memory, and she was already free as if flying. She doesn’t care what happens to her old family.
That’s how she was able to send an application for expulsion because she really didn’t have lingering feelings anymore.
But Dante didn’t say it in the end. He knows Charlize’s feelings very well, but he wanted to deny it somehow.
Therefore, Dante was distressed.
“Young master, Your Grace the Grand Duke has called a family meeting.”
“…Wait a minute.”
He hasn’t slept well every day since that day. There was never a day when he didn’t dream of a nightmare.
Akan didn’t speak either, but it seemed to be the same as Dante.
The news was that he lost his motivation these days and didn’t even raise his favorite sword.
Dante gave a stiff answer to his servant. When he was ready, a skinny young man was seen in the mirror.
‘Have I lost weight?’
He walked while thinking. He soon arrived at the Grand Duke’s office.
Akan was already there.
“Akan. I heard your news often these days.”
The Grand Duke, who browsed through the document, said without giving Akan a glance.
The news. It was obvious that Akan’s life had been messed up. These days, Akan neglected his swordsmanship training, and he didn’t take the successor’s classes well.
“If you show an example, then. What will your brother see and learn?”
Dante was no different from Akan.
Dante, who attends the academy, recently received an academic warning that his attitude in class was not good.
The Grand Duke, who urged his sons with an insensitive face, gave a cold look.
However, Akan did not listen. Until this moment. Only the Grand Duke who still does not treat Charlize as his daughter.
He only saw it.
“…”
“Given that there’s no report, it wouldn’t hurt to think that Charlize’s case has been settled, would it?”
Asked the Grand Duke.
Akan was silent. Dante followed him and shut his mouth.
The Grand Duke took his eyes off the document. His voice became harsher.
“I mean the expulsion application. I’m asking if it’s okay to incinerate it.”
“Father.”
Akan, who had been quiet all along, opened his mouth for the first time.
“That. I don’t think so.”
“What?”
“At least once.”
Akan looked straight at the Grand Duke.
“Why didn’t you treat Charlize warmly? If so, would she have been like this? That kid. At least once.”
“What?”
“You should have taken care of the living first, not the dead.”
The Grand Duke kicked the chair and stood up. The tall man, well above the average, was daunting. The Grand Duke crumpled his face harshly.
With a smack.
The sound of hitting the skin with the skin.
The Grand Duke slapped Akan on the cheek. Dante stopped breathing and hardened.
Akan didn’t move, just as he turned his cheek. A reliable eldest son who had always been praised as a straight successor.
But at this moment.
The cold chill flowing between the two father and son was real.
“Who are you blaming now? What? The living, not the dead?”
The Grand Duke’s expression was distorted.
“Then what about you? Are you going to treat that kid warmly at least once and then blame me?”
“…”
Akan’s mouth was shut tight.
For the cold-hearted he showed to Charlize, he was the first young master who was no different from the Grand Duke.
Akan looked straight at the Grand Duke.
“But I’m a child.”
“…”
“And you’re my father.”
“…”
“Who would I have seen and learned from?”
If he wants to be a successor, he shouldn’t do this kind of rebellion. Akan now had a wife to take responsibility for.
The Grand Duke could not overcome his anger, so he clenched his fists.
Dante, who would normally have stopped the two, was quiet now.
“…”
The Grand Duke stomp out of his room as if he didn’t want to see both.
Akan and Dante were the only ones left.
The silence resembling death continued.
“…Brother.”
“Do you think so, too?”
Akan asked, wiping his bloodstained cheeks with a handkerchief.
“Yes. I am the same as our father. Who will blame who?”
Dante said nothing. Dante couldn’t have been free from the responsibility. He was the same too.
All three men at Ronan’s family. They were harsh on Charlize. They were all the same.
It was an undeniable truth.
“But if I want to somehow get Charlize’s heart back. Am I too selfish, brother?”
Akan didn’t cry, but his voice seemed to be wet with tears.
Dante also wanted to hold onto his sister’s heart.
“A few days later. The ball will be held to commemorate the Crown Prince’s installation.”
“The ball…”
“Isn’t this an opportunity that we must hold onto, brother?”
Akan raised his head slowly with hope.
“Come to think of it. Soon it will be the anniversary of our mother’s death.”
Akan murmured. The anniversary of the Grand Duchess’ death is the birthday of Charlize.
They had never even said happy birthday to Charlize. Or giving any gift.
The silence continued for a while.
Akan’s voice trembled.
“Preparing a birthday gift for Charlize. What do you think?”
“I think it’s really good.”
Dante rarely agreed with Akan’s opinion. So Akan came alive a little bit.
Gift.
There was a lot of money overflowing in Ronan’s family. No matter how precious and expensive the gift, he could give it as much as she wants.
“What kind of gift does a Lady usually like?”
“I guess flower or something. Maybe such kind of jewelry, dress, isn’t it?”
“Flower. That’s a good idea.”
Akan decided to give a flower gift for Charlize.
“Blackshaw flower. That would be great.”
It was famous as the most expensive flower among flowers. Dante nodded, looking at his changed brother.
But they didn’t know.
Of all things, Charlize is allergic to ‘Blackshaw flower’.
It was the flower that Charlize was in great pain just by inhaling the pollen.
‘She’ll like it.’
I hope she likes it.
If they had any interest in Charlize, it would have been a flower they wouldn’t have chosen.
Neither Akan nor Dante knew.
They spent the rest of their time choosing a gift that Charlize would never need.
Time passed quickly.
The day of the ball has already come.
***
On the morning of the ball. Charlize stared at herself strangely in the mirror.
“Are all the preparations done?”
“Yes, Grandmaster.”
“No doubt. Grandmaster will be the brightest at the ball.”
Charlize was wearing a fascinating red dress. It matched perfectly like her tailored color.
It was a cool material with a low-cut back, so it was not burdensome even in the summer.
The simple makeup’s Charlize is also pretty, but since it was been decided and decorated, she shined even when viewed from a distance. It is commonly referred to as an aura or sparkle.
“Oh, wait a minute.”
The maid, who was in charge of makeup, raised her hand as if asking for a moment.
As Charlize nodded, the maid brought the blusher and knelt down carefully.
Emphasize by applying glitter pearl powder to the skin under the eyes. It was very beautiful as if it were a jewel in itself.
The maid’s face turned bright.
“It’s really done now. Grandmaster.”
Despite the long decoration, the maids were very happy, rather than being difficult.
Charlize expressed her gratitude lightly.
“Thank you, everyone.”
The maids sincerely followed Charlize. They had rarely seen a woman memorize each name, remember the situation carefully, and take care of them like her.
“His Highness is waiting.”
The maid came and said.
For the ball escort, Dylan was waiting at the door.
Now that Charlize was ready, the maid glanced at the gatekeeper.
Slowly. The door is open.
She can see Dylan’s face over the open door. Charlize felt her eyes slowly dazed.