Chapter 44
“What?”
“You said it before, didn’t you? If there’s no answer, you should take the hint. I didn’t answer because I didn’t want to go with you either. That elegant rejection you talked about? That’s what I did.”
Ian’s face twisted in disbelief as he finally understood what Aisha meant. She was bringing up the charity event from the spring — the one he hadn’t replied to.
“You’re calling this revenge for something that happened ages ago? Unbelievable.”
“……”
“Aisha, get this straight. Back then, there was nothing between us. But now it’s different. We’re about to be engaged.”
“…We’re not engaged yet.”
“Are you serious right now? So what? You don’t want to get engaged to me? Is that why you’re acting like this?”
Aisha’s eyes wavered at his sharp question. Seeing that, Ian felt the heat of his anger cool just slightly.
Yes, Aisha Parden couldn’t possibly be reluctant to get engaged to him. Still unaware of his own misconception, Ian felt he was back in control and pressed on.
“Let me warn you. Don’t ever pull something like this again. How can a woman who’s about to get engaged attend an event with an unmarried prince as her partner? That’s insane.”
“……”
“And I’ve said this before. Maybe the Parden family lets their daughters say and do whatever they want, but I won’t tolerate it. I won’t have my fiancée going around holding hands with other men. So don’t act carelessly and behave yourself—”
Thunk.
But Ian’s rant didn’t get to finish. A light object struck the back of his head and fell to the floor. Startled, he turned around. Standing there, panting heavily, was a red-haired prince — and at his feet lay a white glove.
“……It’s painful to listen to, truly. Marquis.”
The moment he saw Jared, Ian’s face turned cold and expressionless. He fully turned to face him, positioning himself between Jared and Aisha.
“This is none of Your Highness’s concern.”
“She’s my partner tonight, so it is my concern. Are you seriously insulting my partner right now?”
Jared looked ready to pounce. Ian sneered at the sweat-covered prince and pressed his foot firmly onto the glove Jared had thrown.
“Insult? Who’s insulting whom? So what — are you challenging me to a duel?”
“Do you not see the glove you just stepped on? That glittering thing that hit your head? Yes, Marquis — I’m challenging you to a duel.”
At the word “duel,” Ian tilted his head slightly, unimpressed. Even facing a famed knight like Jared, he didn’t flinch. In fact, the one who reacted more strongly was Aisha, who sprang up in shock.
“But you don’t have a sword, do you? Then how about I use my fists instead?”
Ian realized Jared never intended for a formal duel. If he had, he would’ve sent for a sword or appointed a substitute since Ian wasn’t a knight.
“Fine. I wouldn’t be able to strike royalty with a blade anyway.”
“You might graze me at best, is that what you’re saying?”
Ian chuckled at Jared’s confident tone. Knights really did think only they knew how to fight with fists and blades.
“Your Highness! Ian, please — this is outrageous. Please stop, both of you!”
As both men removed their coats and unfastened their cuffs, Aisha jumped between them. But neither of them acknowledged her.
“I’ll say this now — if I end up hitting you, don’t come crying about being insulted. I’m in a foul mood, and once I raise my hand, I’m not sure I can stop. If you start shouting about royal insult laws or whatnot, that’ll be a problem.”
“Don’t worry. Judging by that frail body of yours, I doubt you could even lay a finger on me.”
Aisha hesitated, debating whether to jump in between them. But the atmosphere was too intense — she didn’t dare. While she stood frozen, Jared rolled his fists and spoke.
“One last time. You sure you won’t regret this?”
“Not at all. And Your Highness — a warning. Don’t come crawling around my future fiancée again. The last time and today… I find both highly unpleasant.”
“Right back at you. You are the one I find highly unpleasant.”
“Ian! Your Highness! Please… Aah!”
In a flash, both men threw their fists at each other.
It looked childish — a plain old fistfight — but the presence of two large men made it anything but a joke. Aisha squeezed her eyes shut. Just as she did, a dull thud echoed in the air.
“…Finally got my shot in. I’ve been wanting to punch that smug face of yours since last time. Feels damn good— Ugh!”
Jared had landed the first punch. But as he climbed on top of Ian to keep swinging, Ian’s fist came up from below, knocking Jared off balance.
“You run your mouth, and now you’re getting hit by someone who’s not even a knight—!”
“I run my mouth and still beat you. But Marquis, if you want to land another punch, you better lock that mouth of yours first.”
What began as a duel devolved into an all-out brawl. Ian and Jared were both desperate to land one more blow.
“Ian! Your Highness!”
Their neatly tailored clothes were now wrinkled and dusty from rolling on the floor. Their hair was soaked in sweat, clinging messily to their faces. Aisha, horrified, watched the chaotic scene unfold in the corridor.
Smack!
And then—blood. A drop of it stained the carpet. Aisha saw Ian spit blood onto the floor and knew she had to do something.
“Daniel oppa… no, not him. Edward oppa!”
She ran off in search of someone to stop the fight. Her ankle wobbled in her heels, but she didn’t slow down. Behind her, the ridiculous fight between grown men continued.
* * *
“That happened in just a few days? What on earth were they thinking… Edward, you should’ve stopped them. Are you trying to be like Daniel?”
Marisa held her head in her hands, sitting across from her eldest son. To return from her trip and be met with this news was unthinkable. But Edward, who had brought the tale, only sipped his tea and smiled faintly.
“I let it happen on purpose. It was quite satisfying.”
“Still, it was inappropriate. The Empire — especially high society — draws sharp distinctions between men and women. A woman who’s engaged showing up with another man as a partner causes far more scandal than the reverse. And for a fight to break out right there… It’s mortifying.”
“True, but the outcome wasn’t bad. As you know, that bastard Ian went out with other women seven times. So now, people see Aisha’s one-time act as payback. Plus, the rumors about her being mistreated? All gone now.”
“That was sheer luck. You don’t know how this might affect things later. You’d better be more careful next time. Understood?”
“Yes, Mother. I’ll be careful.”
Edward grinned and nodded. Marisa shot him a look, tempted to scold him further, but she gave up. Though she’d never have allowed it if she’d been there, she had to admit — part of her felt oddly satisfied.
“Still… Ian’s reaction was unexpected. Fighting a prince over Aisha? That’s not like him.”
She imagined Ian now, likely lying in bed at the marquisate. No one outside of the Parden family and the Marquis’s household knew what had happened, but both Jared and Ian had been carried out in absolute ruins.
“I was surprised too. I’ve never seen Ian like that. And… I don’t know if I should be glad or not, but seeing him laid out with a busted face confirmed it for me. Ian, that bastard… sigh.”
“……”
“…He really likes Aisha. It might seem childish, but a man wouldn’t do all that over a woman he didn’t care about. Especially not when the other man is a prince.”
It was Edward who brought Ian — barely conscious — back to the marquisate. In the carriage, Ian had muttered repeatedly, “Stay away from my fiancée.” That both comforted and unsettled Edward.
“You’re right about that. But…”
Marisa seemed to share the same mix of emotions. Something gnawed at her. She turned to Edward with concern.
“You already suspected, didn’t you? That’s why you gave your blessing for the engagement.”
Marisa sighed. Yes, she had. Ian getting on his knees had shown her how serious he was. Still, something had always felt off.
“But now that I’m sure he loves her, I’m even more worried. If he loves her so much, why does he treat her the way he does?”
She finally voiced the question she’d held for so long. Ian’s behavior had always been odd — he acted like he hated Aisha, yet never let her go. Marisa traced back the signs.
“…It’s been over three years since Ian started changing. It was so gradual — I was too angry to notice something was wrong. But looking back… His behavior was strange.”
When did Ian start treating Aisha differently? Was it when the engagement was first discussed? Marisa tried to recall the beginning.
“It was odd before, but it really changed after that last trip. Before, he still partnered with her for events. But after that six-month journey, he completely ignored her.”
Marisa nodded at Edward’s observation. He was right. After that long six-month trip, Ian had started treating Aisha terribly.
“…And it was around that time he completely broke from his father politically, too.”
