Karhan’s Crime

They were in a carriage returning home after the deal was completed safely. Lilia was a little tired and slumpedn her seat. It was because she was mentally tired after hearing too much.

The Baron, who had been running around without reins, became much calmer after Violet stepped in. Still, he said nonsense from time to time, but Violet quietly picked up the dessert knife instead of answering.

Each time, as if the knife was the limit line, the Baron subsided. As a result, Bloden’s side was able to close the negotiations on the terms they wanted. Violet, who sat across from her, asked Lilia.

“Did you learn anything today?”

……No. I couldn’t learn from it.

Lilia recalled Violet, who was raising her knife with a gentle face. Her aura, which swept the atmosphere at once, was still vivid. If she wanted to imitate her mother, she would have to learn swordsmanship first, not how to negotiate.

When she fell into her own thoughts for a while, Violet asked again.

“Are you getting along well with the Lord these days?”

“…..Yes. We are busy with our work, but we see each other every day.”

She answered after a pause. Violet muttered to herself at Lilia’s attitude saying that there was no problem.

“At first, I was very worried…….”

When Lilia told her that she was dating the Lord Evantheon, Violet couldn’t sleep due to the anxiety.

Karhan, who had been in the war for a long time, was surrounded with all kinds of bad rumors. A demon on the battlefield, a cruelty without blood or tears, a cold blooded monster.

Violet thought Karhan Evantheon would be a savage and dangerous man just by hearing the rumours. She thought Lilia, who is inclined to bad boys, has finally brought a large bomb.

However, when Violet met Karhan, he was very different from what she imagined. Although he had a fierce impression, his tone was polite and behavior was careful. Even a well-educated young master did not seem to be this good.

It was very impressive, but she couldn’t judge everything from the first meeting. Violet still had a prejudice against Karhan. Although she did not object to the relationship between the two, she did not like it and secretly hoped to break them up.

In the midst of such days, she happened to teach Karhan. In fact, she was going to dig into Karhan’s reality in the name of education. If the actions he had shown her so far were acting, she planned to kick him out immediately.

However, Violet realized that her perception of Karhan was changing over time. Karhan, whom she thought to be barbaric, was very gentle and had a soft sensibility like a flower. Karhan even worried about Violet, who made him roll mercilessly under the name of training.

—Is it because of me that you can’t do other things….

The fragments of prejudice that had been ingrained in the consistent attitude to the very end were removed. In the end, Violet had no choice but to admit it. That she had misunderstood him so far.

When the veil of prejudice was removed, Karhan was a genius that would never come by again. He was usually polite and calm, but when he picked up the sword, he suddenly changed. Karhan, who exudes a chilling sense of intimidation as if the rumor that he is a demon in the war zone was true, made Violet realise Karhan was different.

Frances was also talented in swords, but he was another talent. He had sense and judgment accumulated through long practice. Violet vowed to make Karhan the best hero of the empire, who could become a monster if something goes wrong.

A moment of silence engulfed the carriage. Violet broke the silence and opened her mouth.

“How did the breakup go?”

Lilia, who was looking out of the window, turned her head and faced Violet. Violet sat calmly, but her eyes were cold.

“I don’t think he would have accepted it.”

“……He came to see me a while ago.”

“Richard Tersian?”

Lilia nodded quietly.

“I asked him to break our engagement, but he didn’t accept it…….”

After that, Lilia looked around for ways to break up her marriage. Richard was an obscure piece of garbage. He abandoned all his morality and was playing with the Imperial laws. Because of that, a powerful background was needed to break the engagement.

Lilia was preparing step by step. Although she had gathered some information, she was observing how their counterattack would come back if she attacked them first. Above all, she was worried about Heinley, who was soon to be promoted properly.

And recently, rumors have been circulating that Richard is struggling with money. It was obvious because he couldn’t reduce his spending and there was no income. She thought she could use money to bully Richard. Lilia told Violet what she thought,

“The joint project has been completely withdrawn. I cut off all the money that was supposed to go in later.”

Violet explained that she has done everything else that she could do. The Tersian family could no longer rely on Bloden economically. Rather, those who run a business would not want to play with Bloden, so they would stay away from the Tersian family.

Lilia, who was listening quietly, lowered her eyes.

“……I’m sorry.”

Lilia muttered slowly. She was sorry for damaging her family with her foolish behavior. And she was grateful that they cared about her without blaming her. Lilia bit her lips because she felt the sudden need to cry for no reason.

Violet, who was staring at Lilia, said with a frown,

“What is your fault? The one at fault is the man who brought tears to my daughter’s eyes.”

Leaving his pretty fiancée like this was his fault, and Violet clenched her fists. If Richard was in front of her, her aura would have blown him away

Violet got up from her seat and sat next to Lilia. Violet whispered as she stroked Lilia’s head.

“We’re always on your side.”

***

Karhan, who had confessed his worries to Mezra, had been missing screws all day. He kept creaking and made a series of mistakes that he didn’t usually make.

After the last class, Karhan remained alone in the study room. Sitting blankly, Karhan scribbled meaningless graffiti on the blank paper with a pen. Then, he wrote down the word love without realizing it, and scratched it in surprise.

He knew the dictionary meaning of love. But the word has never touched him. It was because he had never been loved or given by anyone. However, Mezra said that his feelings now are love.

“I love Lilia……?”

His mind was complicated. Although he likes Lilia……There was something unsatisfying about the word like.  However, it was difficult for him to accept Mezra’s words as it is.

How dare he look at Lilia with such feelings? If he is more greedy than now, what will happen to this relationship?

Karhan, who was sitting in a daze, got up from his seat. It was time for him to return home. As he left the study room and walked down the hallway, he ran into Lilia, who was walking from the other side.

“Karhan.”

Lilia came to him and called him warmly.  Karhan stopped and looked away. It was still awkward to see Lilia’s face because of Mezra’s words and the other crime he had committed before.

“I’ll see you off.”

After hesitating, he nodded his head.  Karhan and Lilia walked along the hallway of the annex that was more familiar than his own house.

“How are your studies?”

“I can do other things, but the foreign languages are a little difficult.”

“I thought the language side was fun.”

The conversation continued more naturally than expected. Karhan, who kept his gaze elsewhere, looked down at Lilia without realizing it while talking.

Their eyes met and her plump lips came into view. It reminded him of the breath that naturally touched his neck. Feeling the sensation of his earlobes heating up, Karhan immediately turned his head. And seeing that, Lilia’s eyes narrowed.

“What’s going on these days?”

Karhan’s shoulders flinched noticeably. Lilia asked, as if it was even more suspicious.

“Is Richard Tersian here….”

Karhan immediately shook his head. The two of them came completely out of the hallway of the annex building. Lilia stood by the front door and looked up at Karhan.

“If there’s anything that bothers you, please tell me.”

Karhan, who had not made eye contact with Lilia, slowly turned his head. His tightly closed lips trembled like a box with a gap.  And as soon as he opened his mouth, a carriage ran towards the annex. Lilia and Karhan turned their heads to check the carriage. It was Heinley’s carriage.

Karhan was surprised and hardened. Lilia also looked puzzled. If Karhan and Heinley run into each other now, something uncomfortable would happen.

“Hide first.”

Karhan took a step backwards, not matching his large size. After contemplating where to hide, he hurriedly stood behind the porch pillar. The pillar was so big that even if you wrapped your hands around it they would not touch, but Karhan’s shoulders were wider.

“I can see your shoulders!”

Karhan, who was in a hurry, ran and hid behind the wall. Heinley got out of the wagon only after the fuss.

Since he rarely stopped by the annex, Lilia walked toward the carriage. Hainley, who stumbled, found Lilia and blinked slowly. She couldn’t even see his silver-rimmed glasses he had always worn.

“Lilia…..?”

Instead of answering, Lilia walked straight to Heinley. Then she smelled a lot of alcohol.  Startled, Lilia looked at Heinley.

“Did you come in after drinking?”

“…Yes.”

Hainley replied in a weak voice. Lilia’s expression hardened because he had always shown a straight face.

“Brother.”

Instead of answering, Heinley sighed for a long time. Standing precariously as if he was about to collapse, he murmured,

“I decided to resign.”