Newlywed Life Begins with a Mistake - Chapter 18

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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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Chapter 18

“Why did you cause such a commotion?”

As the carriage left the Nordil estate, Casian asked in a scolding tone.

Evelyn, who had been looking out the window, blinked her long eyelashes and asked back nonchalantly.

“What do you mean?”

“The mural incident.”

“Oh, that? It was a way to get Count Nordil and his son outside!”

Did I do well?

Such a look flew his way.

Far from being intimidated, she was looking up at him with bright, sparkling eyes.

Casian swallowed the sigh that naturally came out and revealed his true feelings.

“It was dangerous.”

It was fortunate that he had sent the Valhalla Knight Order as part of his contingency plan, otherwise Evelyn would have been trapped in Count Nordil’s castle without any way out.

Thanks to the Valhalla Knight Order alerting him through Jeonseoggu that it was an emergency situation, he was able to use a teleportation scroll to arrive quickly, but if he had been even a little late, Evelyn would have…

“Her safety couldn’t have been guaranteed.”

“But you came just in time, didn’t you?”

So isn’t that fine?

Casian was speechless at her innocent eyes.

Should he say she was bold, or that she had no fear at all?

She was like a flying squirrel, chattering away – a woman he couldn’t take his eyes off for even a moment.

Still, perhaps knowing it was scary, Evelyn had kept her mouth tightly shut and observed the situation in the drawing room.

She had stuck close to Casian’s side and stayed quiet, then urged him to leave quickly as soon as the discussion ended.

A lady raised delicately like a flower in a greenhouse would have been frightened after witnessing such a rough scene.

Though she didn’t show it, she must have been terribly shocked, Casian thought, and tried to console her with a softened voice.

“Even so…”

“You were so cool earlier!”

But Evelyn gave him a thumbs up and praised him, leaving him speechless.

Looking at her twitching lips, there was no sign of being startled at all.

Rather, she was smiling wickedly like a villain, as if she found it satisfying.

‘There’s no trace of fear at all.’

Then what was it when she leaned against me and poked my arm in the drawing room?

Unaware that Evelyn had been quiet because she was secretly feeling his forearm and observing every detail of his well-built muscles, he finally came to a conclusion.

Whatever the case, she was a woman who constantly defied expectations.

“Don’t do that again next time.”

“Then should I just watch while being ignored?”

“Ignored?”

“When we went to Count Nordil’s castle, the head butler looked down on Sophia. It wasn’t just a day or two of poor treatment – he looked down on her the moment he saw her. Why should I just watch that?”

“…I see.”

“Enduring isn’t always the answer. And why did you do that earlier?”

Casian, who had been pressuring Count Nordil and his son at the negotiation table, stepped back despite having the advantage.

[I hope we can have smoother discussions next time.]

Even though the situation had come where he could reclaim all the palladium, he gave a warning and left.

While it was fortunate that they could visit Count Nordil’s castle more easily than before, they hadn’t reached a proper conclusion.

Even if they promised to meet again, would those people willingly hand it over?

As if anticipating that reaction, Casian answered readily.

“The Imperial Court is involved.”

Though he didn’t know the detailed circumstances, Casian had vaguely realized that the Imperial Family was connected to the palladium.

So he had to approach carefully.

If he took it recklessly, even though they were blood relatives, the Emperor wouldn’t look favorably upon it.

“Still, you shouldn’t have backed down. It’s not like you were trying to steal someone else’s property – you were trying to reclaim what’s yours.”

“Even so, people would have pointed fingers saying I acted ruthlessly.”

“Is public opinion more important than my people being disrespected?”

“Then what should I have done?”

Casian asked.

As if he was genuinely curious, not reproachful.

He was accustomed to always enduring and yielding.

Whether receiving new toys or holding a good sword, it was natural for him to give them to the Emperor, who was two years older.

Even when something he liked or cherished appeared, it would quickly disappear with a single word from the Emperor.

When he was young, he had once complained to his mother that he didn’t want to give up what he had, but his mother advised him to yield, saying he should still get along well with his brother.

As a result, Casian learned at some point not to become attached to things or people.

He learned to give up and comply before learning to be greedy.

Therefore, he considered the power he currently held to be nothing more than an empty shell that could disappear at any time.

Though born from the union of noble royalty and a prestigious family, enjoying the benefits of his birth, he could fall to the bottom at any time with a single gesture from the Emperor.

Dominated by resigned emotions, he would half-give up on anything related to the Imperial Court.

The palladium was also such a case.

Unable to resist the pressure from his father, who desperately sought the palladium, and his more proactive servants, he would periodically send communications to the Nordil Manor, but he had judged that the palladium couldn’t be returned.

He thought it was fine since the ducal house wouldn’t die without it, but…

“I’m not sure how to handle situations like this either.”

Evelyn had touched his raw emotions.

She had brought to the surface the desire he shouldn’t dare harbor, which he had wrapped in heavy rocks and sunk deep into the abyss where no one could see the old, festering wounds.

Though there were times he wanted to rebel against the Emperor, Casian would suppress himself each time, telling himself it was an ugly emotion.

Evelyn had unexpectedly pulled up the dark thoughts he had buried in the deepest places.

For the first time in his life, he had revealed his inner feelings that no one had ever seen.

It was ironic that it was Evelyn, but Casian needed advice.

He needed answers on how to handle such situations, how others would have dealt with them.

At Casian’s question, Evelyn moved her lips slightly, then lowered her head and chose silence.

Did I ask for nothing?

As Evelyn’s silence lengthened, Casian felt belated regret.

I thought I had become accustomed to controlling my emotions, but I ended up acting like a child.

Unable to bear the quiet silence, Casian was about to stop the carriage.

“Let’s pretend you didn’t hear what I just said…”

“How about we do this instead?”

At that moment, Evelyn’s eyes sparkled as she came up with a new plan.

* * *

The next day.

“You’re asking for Cispel?”

Casian and Evelyn had stormed into Count Nordil’s castle from the early morning breeze, making an unexpected demand.

Former Count Nordil asked back in confusion.

“Not palladium?”

He had been mentally preparing to somehow give up less palladium… but suddenly a plant popped up out of nowhere.

What on earth are they thinking?

Cispel is the most abundantly produced mushroom in the Nordil Estate.

It’s not a rare species, but before palladium’s sudden rise, it was widely used as a healing medicine.

Though it’s also an edible mushroom, it had high utility as it was used extensively for cosmetic materials and preservatives.

Now its value has significantly decreased and it’s treated as a troublesome surplus, but it was once a highly preferred mushroom…

Why are they suddenly demanding that?

“There’s an increase in respiratory disease patients in Heteus County. So we need water boiled with mushrooms.”

Ah, if that’s the case, it’s completely understandable.

Cispel would be perfect for feeding many people.

“You can’t take back those words!”

“Stay quiet, son. Well then, that works well for us. How much quantity…”

“Equivalent to the current palladium value.”

“What? We’d have to pull up all the mushrooms in the entire estate to match that value, wouldn’t we?”

“Even so, you’re not taking them all, are you!”

There was nothing to regret, but something felt unsettling.

What if Cispel had some efficacy they didn’t know about…

“If you don’t want to, then never mind.”

“Considering what’s happened so far, I think it’s a fair trade, but if you find it disagreeable, we’ll withdraw and take the palladium…”

“No! We’ll give it to you!”

“It will take time to gather that quantity, so please understand that’s why my son spoke that way!”

When Casian, who had been quietly listening, supported Evelyn’s words, Count Nordil and his son, who had been hesitating, frantically waved their hands.

At this, Evelyn presented a contract.

“Then please sign this.”

【Asset Exchange Contract</p】

This contract has been drafted to stipulate the asset exchange between the parties.

Article 1 (Background)

1. The former Count Heteus borrowed 2,000 gold from the former Count Nordil and provided palladium as collateral.

2. During the return process, disagreement arose between the two houses due to the rise in palladium value.

3. To resolve the dispute, Casian Heteus agreed to exchange palladium for Cispel.

Article 2 (Transaction)

1. Count Nordil, Damon, shall provide Cispel instead of palladium to Count Heteus, Casian.

2. Count Nordil, Damon, shall transfer all Cispel in the estate to the House of Count Heteus.

3. Count Heteus, Casian, who receives the Cispel, renounces all rights to the palladium.

.

.

.

Once the asset exchange is complete, no additional demands or returns shall be possible.>

After reviewing the document, the Nordil father and son quietly exchanged glances.

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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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