Chapter 8
“Come now, what’s everyone doing for dinner tonight? Of course we’ll be going out together, won’t we?”
Someone banged on the table.
To a stranger, they would look less like nobles and more like thugs.
“Obviously. Why even ask something so obvious? Too tiresome to answer.”
“Jakoran, your fiancée will cry. Shouldn’t you hurry home and help your poor fiancée? Sweep, scrub, and all that.”
The group erupted into loud, vulgar laughter.
Their coarse voices grated on the ears.
They were the sort who blamed their lack of success on being born in the countryside, and filled their hollow pride by treating women like objects.
“And why bring her up all of a sudden? Am I the only one with a fiancée? You all have them too, don’t you?”
Jakoran snapped irritably.
But it wasn’t because his fiancée had been mocked.
What mattered to him more was that his pride had been pricked by his friends.
He could not bear being ridiculed because of Lunaria.
All his life he had suffered under the shadow of a strict father and an accomplished elder brother.
Once, Lunaria had understood his family situation and wanted to comfort his wounds.
So she forgave him even when he treated her harshly and spoke cruelly.
She convinced herself that he was simply a hurt man acting out.
But in the end, it was all meaningless…
If he truly respected her, how could he have gone after her younger sister?
“Hey, Jakoran, I’ve been meaning to ask. Why are you still keeping the engagement? Why not switch to her smarter, prettier younger sister? Unlike her useless elder sister, the younger one’s obedient and docile. That’s how a woman ought to be, isn’t it?”
“Right, what’s the reason? Let’s hear it. Surely it isn’t because you actually feel love for that sort of woman.”
“Love? If pity counts as love, then maybe. Did you ever think she was truly worthy of me in the first place?”
Jakoran smirked.
“Knew it. So why not break it off already?”
“Well, shouldn’t I at least have some fun before throwing her away?”
“What, you haven’t even touched her yet? Hahaha! A gentleman indeed, Jakoran!”
Crude, unpleasant laughter burst out again.
Lunaria shut her eyes tightly, then opened them. Her face flushed red once more.
How could I ever have liked such a man?
Shame coursed through her. That she had given her precious heart to trash like him.
I must pull out the hyacinths in the garden as soon as possible.
“Are you unwell?” Frantes asked, puzzled.
Was it showing on her face? Lunaria forced the corners of her lips upward.
“No, I’m fine. Actually…”
“Oh? Hey, Jakoran, isn’t that your fiancée over there?”
“Where, where? Let us see the ever-busy fiancée of yours.”
It had come.
Lunaria braced herself to rise from her chair.
Even though this was the countryside, they were still nobles.
Some of them must have gone up to the capital during the summer season.
Her memories were hazy, but she recalled that some had recognized Frantes back then, greeting him with meaningful attitudes.
She must not let them put Frantes in a difficult position.
A man stepped closer, then exclaimed in surprise.
“No, Lord Rot…!”
The man hurried to Frantes’ side.
Too late. Lunaria looked at Frantes with anxious eyes.
This is all my fault.
Just by being with her, he was already caught up in trouble.
“Mr. Frantes.”
Frantes’ cold voice cut in.
“Yes?”
“Call me Mr. Frantes.”
“Ah, so it is Mr. Frantes! Goodness, I nearly made a terrible mistake. What a coincidence, what a miracle of fate! To meet again in such a rural place—surely this must be destiny, arranged by God Himself, to bind me to you. Mr. Frantes, do you remember me? I greeted you once before! It is my great honor to introduce myself again: I am Baron Nadian Eclobe.”
Baron Eclobe rubbed his hands together as he spoke.
“Mm.”
Whether that meant yes or no, it was unclear.
Frantes merely rested his chin on his hand, expression indifferent.
Even seated, his gaze clearly looked down on the baron.
“I have no idea who you are.”
“It’s fine if you don’t remember. In fact, I’d be more shocked if someone as great as you remembered a nobody like me.”
The baron grinned and extended his hand.
Frantes ignored it neatly, leaving the baron’s hand hanging in the air.
“You said Baron Eclobe?”
“Y-yes!”
“Will you keep standing there?”
Frantes tilted his head.
“A-ah, no, of course not! Forgive my rudeness. Then, Mr. Frantes, might I have the honor of joining you at your table?”
“I think not.”
The baron’s face twisted.
“Haha… then even another table is fine.”
Without caring, he plastered on a fake smile and dropped into a chair at the next table.
“So, Mr. Frantes, what brings you to Tilbury? Charming place, isn’t it? Though of course, it cannot compare to the capital. I’ve seen your estate—it was the most refined, beautiful, elegant, noble residence imaginable. Still, even for one so lofty, surely a bit of rustic rest is welcome now and then.”
The baron poured out a stream of empty words.
In truth, he was nothing but a wastrel who gambled and chased women, squandering the fortune his father had left him.
In her past life, Lunaria had heard that he eventually lost everything and fled to the capital, clinging to his last hope.
As his speech dragged on, Frantes yawned.
Where could he have seen Frantes to act as if he knows him?
Lunaria frowned at the baron’s presumptuousness.
But Baron Eclobe was desperate to connect himself to a grand duke’s heir.
He kept talking, as if Lunaria were invisible.
The estate he mentioned could only be the grand ducal residence—yet how could a minor country noble like him have ever set foot there?
At best, he must have glimpsed Frantes from afar, unable even to speak to him.
Just then, the server brought their order, mercifully interrupting the baron’s drivel.
A cup of black tea was set before Lunaria and Frantes, and several colorful desserts arranged on the table.
“Luna, do you like strawberries?”
Frantes asked gently, sliding a slice of strawberry cake toward her.
Luna? Did he just call me Luna?
In the middle of worrying about how to shake off the leech-like baron, Lunaria froze in surprise.
Frantes had just used an affectionate nickname for her.
The whole crowd must have heard it too.
She could feel her fiancé’s burning glare from behind.
Once the server left, Baron Eclobe resumed speaking as if nothing had happened.
“The pride of this region is that on my estate, one can hunt to one’s heart’s content. There’s nothing like roaming the grounds in the fresh air.”
Why boast about something like that?
Lunaria was speechless.
Did he think that would impress Frantes?
Frantes owned hunting grounds dozens of times more beautiful.
Ignorance, or simply nothing else to brag about?
Either way, it was absurd.
“Do come join us someday, Mr. Frantes—whether hunting or playing cards. It will be most delightful. Even when you return to the capital, you will remember us fondly.”
Frantes set down his knife with a sharp clink.
“Ah, speaking of which, Mr. Frantes, I forgot to ask: where are you staying at present? Allow me to invite you to my estate. I’m sure it would be more comfortable than wherever you’re lodged now.”
Lunaria marveled at the baron’s shamelessness.
He had a remarkable talent for ignoring inconvenient truths.
“You dare invite me to your shabby estate?”
Frantes’ smiling face was starting to tighten with annoyance.
He could just ignore him and walk out.
Was he tolerating this only for her sake?
“Baron, you must have much free time, to meddle here so shamelessly. I, on the other hand, will be busy tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that. So stop disturbing us and return to your seat.”
“Mr. Frantes, please, don’t be like that…”
Even Frantes’ cold words didn’t deter him.
Perhaps he knew Frantes wouldn’t escalate too harshly, for some reason, and so he refused to give up.
Ah.
Suddenly, Lunaria thought of a way to both rescue Frantes and fulfill her own wish.
“Mr. Frantes.”
“Yes, Luna.”
Frantes’ voice was warm—so unlike the one he used with the baron.
“You may have already noticed, but my fiancé is sitting just behind us.”
Frantes’ expression remained calm—clearly he had already known.
But her next words stunned even him.
“I’m about to go annul my engagement. So don’t be too surprised.”
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