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Stefan’s eyes shone grimly. He swept the blood flowing down his cheeks with the back of his hand and glared at Rodrigo. He seemed ready to end him.
“Let’s get straight to the point, Count.”
Stefan and Rodrigo sat opposite each other. I wandered for a while before situating myself beside Stefan.
In the end, I was Cartina. In addition, unlike Stefan, Rodrigo seemed to stand by the circumstances.
“Let’s get straight to the point.”
“Why, you should at least have a cup of tea.”
Stefan pushed a warm teacup that Lance had prepared towards Rodrigo. Then, he dipped his blood-stained finger inside the cup.
“Oh, do excuse me!”
There was no guilt written on his face. He didn’t even bother to replace the teacup. With each different species of monster, their blood could act as either medicine or poison. The blood Stefan dropped onto Rodrigo’s tea belonged to a spider-orge. The blood had the effect of blurring one’s vision momentarily. Simply put, it was poison.
I contemplated pulling the tablecloth, but immediately stopped.
“Ah, the teacup slipped from my hand.”
Since Rodrigo lifted the teacup and dropped it as it was.
His actions were natural and swift, but the problem was his tone of voice…
Sure enough. Stefan’s temper soared as he recognized Rodrigo’s deliberate intentions. The air in the drawing room cooled.
“Father, you promised to be my dance practice partner today. The tutor will arrive soon.”
Truth be told, the dance practice was a guise for my physical training. Stefan’s skin slowly regained normal temperature like a burnt piece of wood touching water. I patted Stefan’s forearm. I could feel Rodrigo’s gaze.
Why do you keep looking at me?
I glanced back and encountered his scarlet eyes.My chest tickled.
State your business and hurry back.
When I motioned with my eyes, Rodrigo held forth the documents.
“Last night, assassins attacked my residence.”
I pulled my hand back from Stefan and adjusted myself in my seat. I grew curious as to how Stefan would react.
“Oh, it seems we aren’t the only family who dislikes Erhardt.”
Stefan pretended to be oblivious.
“They were Cartina’s assassins.”
Rodrigo brought forth a dark scented bag. Stefan was agitated. I don’t know about Rodrigo, but I could tell as I stood beside him.
He must be curious as to how Rodrigo came to possess the scented bag. After all, the sachet was well hidden inside the uniform.
Wouldn’t it be possible if one removed all the attire and inspected thoroughly? No. The sachet was concealed so well that it would be seen as part of the uniform, even if one did try.
Unless someone taught you. Stefan wouldn’t even dream of that person being me. I’m sorry, Father.
“If you demand proof, I will comply with anything I can. Are you in need of my witnesses?”
Stefan scowled in response to Rodrigo’s firm answer. A dignified and persistent attitude that could only exist with solid evidence. You could dismiss the sachet as not being enough proof, but the story shifted in a different direction with more components to the case.
Stefan glanced at me. Did he recall the time I warned him to leave Rodrigo alone?
“The assassins are our children, but I never gave such orders. It appears to have been driven by personal resentment.”
Stefan took a step backwards.
“It doesn’t matter whether the reason was for personal grudge or not. We have lost a precious knight, and the family of the knight lost a precious member.”
It’s heartbreaking. I took the risk yesterday, but my efforts were not enough. I already knew of Cartina’s evil deeds, but it still hurt to see someone fall victim to their actions. It would be none other than Rodrigo who would have to bear his knight’s death. It was just heartbreaking.
“What do you want?”
“Naturally, this amount would be required for compensation for the damage.”
A thick document appeared. It seemed to be a supplement to the compensation list we prepared yesterday.
Wow, and I couldn’t even sleep a wink.
Come to think of it, Rodrigo also seemed a bit worn out.
“Only one knight is worth as much as gold bars?”
Stefan raised a corner of his lips.
“The cost of his life? Can you put a price on a person? This is compensation for the time they could have enjoyed.”
Stefan laughed in ridicule at Rodrigo’s words. Rodrigo didn’t conform to Stefan’s approach. Stefan was a pragmatist. The only thing of importance to him was his own desires.
He thought little of people’s lives. Although he considered his body as one of class and unlike others. Naturally, he treated people differently depending on their title as Captain, soldier, or individuals who died in battle. Those who weren’t soldiers and died during a battle weren’t even tracked to be commemorated.
In Stefan’s view, Rodrigo was an inefficient figure who lived drunk on useless ideals.
Stefan raised his chin and signaled for Rodrigo to continue. Rodrigo frowned.
“50 gold bars.”
“What? Did our children kill 50 people? We should have a party, Sir Rodrigo.”
Stefan flared. 50 gold bars wasn’t much for Stefan, but the amount wasn’t currently available.
“But I will not accept it.”
Rodrigo swiftly blocked him from continuing. Stefan’s eyes narrowed.
“50 gold bars is too cheap an amount. If you wish to take issue with this, it could eventually lead to a family war.”
Stefan’s fighting spirit soared from deep within his body. It wasn’t long after that his anger gushed from his brain.
“I, Rodrigo Erhardt, will take responsibility for the compensation of the knight. Instead, please allow me to go on a date with Estiya.”
“Crazy bastard!”
Stefan slammed the table.
“50 gold bars. And I will ignore all the atrocities that Cartina has committed against Erhardt as if they never occurred.”
“Ha? Just announce the war. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything. Let’s go, Estiya. This bastard is crazy. I can’t believe he really tried to go on a date with you for 50 gold bars!”
Stefan snorted and reached out to me.
Uh… Why? He’s suddenly reaching out to me during his conversation with Rodrigo. What does this mean? Is he telling me to hold his hand?
I stared at Stefan’s hand. Stefan’s eyes shook vigorously.
“E-estiya… Let’s hold Dad’s hand and leave.”
Stefan’s voice flowed desperately. As I thought, Stefan wanted me to turn this game upside down and leave with him.
I glanced at Rodrigo. He only sat calmly, giving me no indication as to his thoughts. On the other hand, Stefan remained restless.
“Estiya, 50 gold bars are nothing. Your family is rich, Estiya. We also have a gold mine in the south.”
Does my father think I’m worried about our finances? Not at all.
I was more drawn to the part where Rodrigo claimed to forget all of Cartina’s atrocities thus far.
Does this mean the counter is zero?
I guess I’ll have to go on a few dates with him. We’re in a relationship anyhow.
“Father.”
“Please, Estiya…”
Stefan gazed at me like a puppy in the rain.
I’m sorry Father, but my answer is set.
“I like it.”
I accepted Rodrigo’s offer.
Quareung.
Dark clouds flooded the drawing room. I could even hear the thunder and lighting. Of course, the clouds were situated over Stefan’s head.
“This is a matter for me to decide. I want to do as I wish.”
I’ve never heard of lovers being allowed to date under the form of a transaction. I felt bad for Rodrigo, but the most scared person here was Stefan. I could tell just by looking at his expression. It broke my heart to see his face, which was reminiscent of having lost everything in the world.
The servants swallowed their saliva and observed Stefan restlessly. It could have been an instantaneous situation. There were so many weapons surrounding Stefan that could knock the life out of a person.
In case of a disaster, it was a rule for a Cartina to leave behind their weapons when entering the drawing room.
But what’s the point of all that? Father could cut off a person’s neck with the plate before him.
I prayed there would be no blood marks on the new high-end carpet. I glanced at the servants.
PR/N: Notice her priority is the carpet not the servants lol
TL/N: I mean, the carpet is new~
I’m sorry.
“Estiya, you know this isn’t because of the compensation, right? If I don’t do this, I won’t earn permission from your father on a date. I don’t want you to trick your parents and meet secretly.”
Should I use the phrase ‘cat and mouse’* at this time?
*TL/N: She’s basically saying Rodrigo’s tormenting Stefan and enjoying it at the same time smh
I could bet my entire fortune that Rodrigo was enjoying this situation.
That person is not normal either.
He leaned into the sofa with a relaxed smile.
Bang!
Stefan struck the marble table. The material split in half with that one punch. The meeting, as usual, ended with a huge economic loss.