It’s Trouble Because Unrequited Love Is So Fun - Chapter 77
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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***
“Brother, are you okay?”
The door to Max’s dark and gloomy room opened slightly. Evelyn showed her face through the crack and whispered softly.
“It must be really hard, right? Because of that terrible sister…”
Evelyn kept chattering because Max lying on the bed like he was dead seemed so unfamiliar to her.
Max slowly sat up and looked at Evelyn. His eyes were empty, but there was a piece of paper clutched in his hand. And the words that flowed from his mouth were…
“Evelyn, there’s going to be a party at the Imperial Palace soon.”
…words that seemed rather out of the blue to Evelyn.
“Huh? What do you mean by that, Brother?”
“Exactly what I said, Evelyn. Time has passed safely, and now all the seeds have been planted.”
For Evelyn, who was born with a flower garden-like brain, she couldn’t understand at all what Max was talking about.
‘Is it Father’s order?’
Except for Serenthia, all their family members would follow Count Rosemary’s words.
‘But it doesn’t seem like Father contacted Brother separately…’
As Evelyn tilted her head, Max’s lips curved upward as if drawn.
“I should go to the party hall soon.”
“…Even though you’ll only be ridiculed? If Sister goes crazy and embarrasses us…!”
Max stared at Evelyn as if he was hearing the stupidest thing in the world.
“Embarrass us, what are you talking about.”
Evelyn hesitated. Looking at such Evelyn, Max smiled gently.
“Evelyn.”
“Yes, Brother. Why…?”
“You can endure hardships for our family. Right?”
Evelyn didn’t yet know exactly what his words meant.
What she could know right now was…
‘Brother has gone crazy.’
…only that there was madness dwelling in Max’s eyes.
“I should prepare to attend the party.”
“…”
That party would be one praising Serenthia, so why on earth would Brother…
“It’s going to be a very splendid party.”
A beautiful and wonderful party where perfect fireworks will explode.
Max’s eyes curved into circles.
He was laughing with a giggling sound, just like his father.
***
Before long, the day of the party hosted directly by the Emperor had dawned.
It was also the day to announce the imperial edict about transferring the Perilde Mine to House of Kairozen.
There was still no news that the Princess’s Palace had found any way to retrieve the Princess.
But the Emperor seemed to be finding joy by examining the interior of the Princess’s Palace one by one.
Were there trivial items left behind like the stuffed animal the Princess used to sleep with, or the diary the Princess had written?
‘To be so overjoyed just by looking at a few used items. It makes me wonder what family really is…’
Even while envying the Princess, I shook my head inwardly.
Instead, I decided to face the reality before me.
I opened my eyes wide as I looked at the gorgeous chandelier decorating the ceiling.
“Look at that, Lord Raphael!”
“…Ah.”
Today’s Raphael was a little different from yesterday when he had slammed the door shut and entered.
Though his expression was stiff, he was well-dressed in a suit that matched mine.
Moreover, he was carrying something thick like documents in his arms.
“What’s that? Could it be marriage registration papers?”
“I don’t have a hobby of committing bigamy.”
“Oh, right. We’re already married. …Then what is it?”
“Mine transfer documents and… something you don’t need to know about.”
It seemed he had no intention of telling me exactly what was in his arms.
I looked up at him and said seriously.
“I see. Honey, I have something to tell you after the party ends today!”
I was planning to say, ‘It seems like I’m the key to calming your rampage. You probably noticed too, seeing how you came to my room yesterday, right? Let’s hurry up and get all lovey-dovey!’
But the area under Raphael’s eyes looked a bit dark.
“Yes, …if possible.”
It was a tone that strangely seemed to assume ‘impossibility.’
I tilted my head inwardly, but decided to take care of his health first, like a virtuous wife.
“Honey, are you feeling alright?”
“To some extent.”
Raphael was escorting me today with an expression as if he had resolved something. He didn’t even say “no calling me honey.”
Instead, he quietly murmured to me.
“…How is your physical condition?”
“Me? I’m so refreshingly happy that I couldn’t be more fresh!”
“That’s fortunate.”
Raphael entered the party hall of the Imperial Palace while holding my escorted hand.
“Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Kairozen are entering!”
The sound announcing our entrance rang out loudly.
I looked around.
Countless people were staring at me intently.
“Being invited to an Imperial Palace party like this, it’s all thanks to Lord Raphael!”
“No, it’s all what you accomplished.”
As we two exchanged pleasantries, the noble ladies looked at me and Raphael and smiled softly.
“You two have such a good marital relationship.”
I spoke quickly before Raphael could even answer.
“Of course!”
Naturally, I should nod my head.
When I gave him a look that said ‘nod if you understand,’ Raphael looked down at me.
“You’re getting ahead of yourself.”
“Of course. The more praise a person absorbs, the more wonderful they become.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes! How about it?”
Raphael stared intently at the woman’s round eyes, nose, and mouth, then turned his gaze away.
…Because of the pleasant fragrance, he unnecessarily added other words.
“…Look, the Emperor is coming.”
The Emperor was entering with a splendid royal scepter, accompanied by a high-ranking minister holding his imperial edict.
Seeing that magnificent sight made me feel proud anew.
The Emperor too was looking down at us with a happy face, not like the tired middle-aged man he used to be.
Raphael and I held hands and stepped forward one step at a time on the path toward the Emperor.
The moment when everyone in the audience became quiet.
The high-ranking minister beside the Emperor recited the imperial edict.
“In recognition of the merits of Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Kairozen, the Perilde Mine is hereby granted, and Grand Duke Kairozen shall duly express gratitude and courtesy for the imperial grace.”
At those words, Raphael and I knelt down.
It was the moment when ownership of the Perilde Mine was transferred to House of Kairozen.
***
“Congratulations, Your Highness the Grand Duke, Your Highness the Grand Duchess!”
After the Emperor proclaimed the ‘mine transfer,’ the banquet hall was immersed in a party atmosphere.
“His Majesty has bestowed great honors upon House of Kairozen, so the Northern Reconstruction will proceed much faster now.”
“His Grace the Grand Duke of Kairozen is truly such a distinguished gentleman as well.”
The noble ladies and young lords competed to flatter House of Kairozen.
Serenthia smiled brightly as she engaged in social conversation with the other noble ladies.
‘She’s surprisingly good at conversation.’
Letting her handle the social activities on her own, Raphael drank his champagne.
As the alcohol flowed down his throat, it became parched as if burning.
But not yet.
Raphael looked around his surroundings.
‘That day, the signs of rampage began from the Princess’s Palace.’
Serenthia was no longer a variable. She was simply a presence constantly by his side. So the hypothesis that she had triggered his rampage was ruled out.
What remained was only the likely deduction that it was due to external stimuli.
‘There’s a saying that criminals always leave traces and always return to the scene of the crime…’
Then someone would be circling around him, watching to see when he would go on a rampage.
Raphael’s gaze swept around loosely, yet intensely.
At that moment, his eyes landed on Max Rosemary.
Just as there is darkness where there is light, even in this splendid party hall there existed beings like darkness.
Max remained pressed against the wall, not conversing with anyone.
Instead, he stared intently at Raphael Kairozen.
Max’s lips slowly curved upward as he too whispered like talking to himself.
“Congratulations, Your Grace.”
But there was no sincerity of congratulating someone in that voice whatsoever.
And the very moment he heard that voice, a strangely chilling sensation pierced through Raphael’s entire body.
A bizarre phenomenon, as if the air itself had become distorted.
His ears became muffled as if he had fallen underwater.
Only the sound of his own frantically beating heart seemed to echo abnormally.
His vision gradually began to blur. The decorations of the party hall, the sunlight beyond the windows, all of it disappeared one by one…
Finally, dark blue mist began to rise around Raphael’s body.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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