CHAPTER 46…..
Claire stood on the terrace, looking down with delight at her half-brother’s dumbstruck face.
This had all been her plan.
She had provoked the countess to her heart’s content, then sent a maid to deliberately goad her.
“Young master sent me to the countess. If you have anything you wish to say to her, please tell me.”
“Hmm… Tell her to meet me after the party.”
“I’m sorry, but young master said he already has plans after the party. Since Lady Nina and the count are here… he said it would be fine to meet briefly during the party.”
“Ha! So they’re going to laugh and have fun without me? Fine—tell her to meet me right now!”
“Understood. If you go out into the garden and walk to the left, you’ll find a hedge of orange roses. Please wait there.”
After confirming that Alex had gone into the garden and met the countess, Claire went up to the platform and called the guests together.
“Everyone, do you remember I mentioned earlier that we had a special event prepared? Please move to the right and look up at the sky.”
Naturally, she guided the guests inside the hall toward the garden side.
“We’re about to start the fireworks. My father developed them especially for this.”
The fireworks device Franz had made would burst continuously for a full five minutes once ignited.
Claire aimed the fireworks directly over the hedge of orange roses—exactly where the two were having their secret meeting.
And as the crowd’s gaze turned in that direction, she used her blessing power to clear away the trees and hedges that had been shielding Alex and the countess from view.
Pathetic, Alex.
Watching her little brother standing there like an idiot, frozen in place, Claire put on a look of feigned shock.
A sideways glance told her the marquis and marchioness Ravello were also standing rigid in horror.
Apparently all three of them were so stunned their minds went blank—leaving the crowd with an even better spectacle.
“They were kissing just now, weren’t they?”
“They’re still holding each other.”
At those words, Alex suddenly came to his senses and shoved the countess away.
“Ah—no, everyone! You’ve got it wrong!”
He waved his hands frantically, sweating like it was midsummer.
If only one or two people had caught them, he might’ve silenced them somehow—but exposed like this, in front of everyone, his mouth went dry.
“I really didn’t—”
But the crowd’s response was cold.
“Wrong, my foot. I saw it with my own two eyes.”
“Are they insane? Young master Ravello and the countess…?”
“And Lady Merrison, his fiancée, is right here at the party!”
All eyes turned to one spot—to Nina, standing pale-faced but resolute.
“Nina, I swear—it’s just that the countess felt dizzy and I was helping her walk.”
Alex moved toward the terrace where she stood, piling on lies no one would believe.
“Nina.”
“You believe me, right? How could I ever fool around with a woman like that when I love you so much? Don’t misunderstand—”
“Stop treating me like I’m stupid.”
For the first time, Nina cut him off with a firm voice.
“…Nina?”
“I have eyes, and ears, and feelings too.”
Nina stepped forward. The hand clutching her dress trembled slightly.
“I didn’t smile in front of you because I was happy or because I knew nothing.”
Her gentle eyes brimmed with transparent tears. She fought to speak without crying.
“No matter how much it hurt, I endured it because we were already engaged… because I thought our relationship couldn’t be undone.”
But in the end, a tear slid down her round cheek.
The timid, fragile woman he’d always looked down on had just talked back to him so clearly—it shocked Alex deeply.
A large, sturdy hand came to rest on Nina’s small, trembling shoulder.
“Who told you it couldn’t be undone?”
“…Father.”
“That’s enough, Nina.”
Count Merrison softened his stern expression and spoke gently.
Realizing the meaning of those words, Nina let out a sob of relief. The long, lonely days of heartache flashed through her mind.
The count patted his daughter and moved her behind him, then glared at Alex with a face like stone.
No father alive could stand to watch his daughter be made a fool of right before his eyes.
“I will make it clear here and now.”
His deep voice rang out.
“Our House Merrison hereby notifies the House of Marquis Ravello of our intent to annul the engagement!”
“Count!”
The marquis of Ravello pushed through the crowd, face pale, and grabbed the count’s arm with a forced smile.
“Why be so hasty? Our Alex just made a small mistake. Every man slips up once in a while, doesn’t he?”
“And why does he make that mistake with my daughter?”
The count shook off the marquis’s hand as though it were an insect.
Then he spoke again, voice laced with contempt and fury.
“To the marquis, my daughter and House Merrison must seem quite laughable. Did young master Ravello learn such behavior from you?”
“…!”
Sweat began to soak the back of the marquis’s neck. Count Merrison was the foreign minister, and his house was a noble family that could not be taken lightly—financially, they currently far outstripped the Ravellos.
Would Alex ever find a better match than Nina Merrison?
Even before, it had been unlikely—but after a scandal like this, it would be impossible.
No, we must hold on to House Merrison no matter what!
Eyes flashing, the marquis spoke in as conciliatory a tone as he could manage, even if it sounded servile.
“What I mean is, there’s no conclusive proof that Alex has been unfaithful—so let’s not be rash. Of course, my son did act in a way that could cause misunderstanding, and I will see that he apologizes.”
“That’s right, Count. Our Alex would never do anything truly bad—he’s such a kind and gentle boy.”
The marchioness chimed in, defending her only son.
But public opinion among the onlookers was not on their side.
Dozens of pairs of eyes had seen Alex and the countess pressed together under the glittering fireworks.
Some had even glimpsed their kiss firsthand.
“Enough with the lies. We all saw what happened.”
“And what were the two of them doing alone in that dark, secluded garden?”
“Tsk. Count McQuarrie should’ve been here tonight.”
Amid the murmuring crowd, a thin, slightly trembling voice spoke up.
“I’m so sorry, everyone. I only wanted to show you the fireworks… I never dreamed it would turn out like this.”
Claire placed a hand over her chest as if to steady her startled heart, speaking in a regretful tone.
“I think it will be too difficult to continue the party, so we should end it here for tonight.”
Some people looked at her with sympathy, thinking how her carefully prepared event had been ruined.
As guests began preparing to leave one by one, Alex grew desperate.
If it ends like this, it’ll be certain I was having an affair!
Of course, that was the truth—but he couldn’t allow himself to be branded and dumped so easily.
“Please, wait! Just hear me out before you go!”
No one looked at him; they even avoided him like he was contagious. Then—
“I agree.”
The one to extend him a lifeline was an unexpected person.
“I think we should hear young master Ravello’s explanation.”
It was Theodore, still standing beside Claire with his arms crossed, watching the whole scene.
At his words, the departing guests paused.
The marquis and marchioness, however, looked far from pleased. They feared their unprepared son might make matters worse.
“Your Highness, perhaps it would be better to wait until everyone has calmed down…” the marquis began hastily.
But Theodore had no intention of helping them.
“Why wait? If it’s not true, it’s not true. Explain yourself right now.”
He meant to prevent House Ravello from dragging this out.
“Your Highness, this is rather inconvenient…”
“Why? Did you really do something that needs explaining?”
“Of course not! I have nothing whatsoever with the countess!”
Alex nearly jumped in his denial. The countess’s expression darkened.
She had no intention of acknowledging their relationship here—but watching him desperately reject her stung nonetheless.
“Then why were you embracing her?”
Count Merrison pressed, eyes narrowed.
“As I said earlier, I was just helping her walk—”
“And the kiss?”
“T-that must have been a trick of the light…”
“Are you toying with me? Speak clearly, young man!”
The booming voice made Alex flinch.
The marquis and marchioness shot him urgent looks, silently pressuring him to answer carefully.
Damn, they’ll never believe it was an accident…
His mind whirred, but no convincing excuse came. In the end, he shut his eyes tight and played his last card.
“It was Countess McQuarrie who forced herself on me! I was only trying to help her, and she suddenly kissed me without warning!”
It was the act of throwing his lover under the carriage.
“Alex!”
The countess called his name in shock, staring at the man who had just betrayed her in an instant.
Alex turned his head sharply, mouthing—
Sorry. Please help me out!
If you’re sorry, you should be the one helping me!
The way he scrambled only for his own survival was beyond absurd.
As the countess stood speechless—
“Just a moment.”
Claire raised her hand, making it clear she had no intention of letting Alex wriggle free.
