Chapter 32

His original plan had been to make a dramatic entrance and show everyone what a caring older brother he was to Bianca.

He had even put on the outfit Diena had picked out for him beforehand for that very moment…

‘So much for being a cool older brother.’

In the end, he had no choice but to make his entrance the way he was best at.

“And you. You were about to hit her, weren’t you?”

“Excuse me? That’s…”

“You were going to lay a hand on my guest?”

“I-I didn’t realize she was your guest.”

“Then what?”

“I thought she was just a maid…”

“It wouldn’t make any difference even if she were.”

At those words, Daniel’s face turned pale blue.

“Everyone in my house belongs to me. You touched one of my people.”

“…”

As he said that, Varkan’s gaze shifted toward Diena.

Without realizing it, Diena’s eyes widened.

“And touching one of my people means touching me.”

An invisible pressure burst from Varkan’s body.

Daniel desperately turned to Bianca as if grasping for a lifeline.

He thought Bianca, who had always been on his side, would stop Varkan.

But Bianca wasn’t even looking at him.

“Diena, are you okay?”

“My lady, your dress is going to get ruined.”

With tears welling in her eyes, Bianca was hugging Diena, who was sitting on the ground.

Then she suddenly turned this way.

Bianca ran over to Varkan’s side.

“Wait a second! Let me go first.”

For a brief moment, hope flashed across Daniel’s face.

Then Bianca put all her strength into her hand and slapped him across the face.

Smaaack—!

“Agh!”

Startled, Daniel staggered backward and slipped onto the ground.

Looking down at him, Bianca spoke coldly.

“We’re done. Don’t ever think about coming near our house again for the rest of your life.”

Unlike when she had grabbed his wrist earlier, it wasn’t especially painful.

But it was more than enough to humiliate him.

While Daniel sat there in shock, Varkan answered in Bianca’s place.

“I don’t think that’s something you need to worry about.”

He rested a hand on his waist.

“If he comes, he’ll die.”

As Varkan slowly drew his sword, the air around them grew so heavy it became difficult to breathe.

“I always repay what I receive.”

“P-Please calm down and listen to me…”

“And I only talk to people.”

Daniel tried to run away, but his feet wouldn’t move.

Thunk!

“A-Aaaah…”

When he opened his eyes again, Varkan’s sword was embedded in the ground right beside his hand.

Had it been even slightly off, it would have pierced straight through it.

Varkan grabbed Daniel by the collar and hauled him up.

Daniel clung to Varkan’s arm and struggled.

“P-Please spare me!”

“Stop exaggerating. I’m already holding myself back from cutting you down on the spot.”

A stunned gasp spread through the crowd.

Varkan had just thrown Daniel into the lake.

“Ugh, cough cough!”

Daniel emerged from the water, coughing, and tried to climb out.

But Varkan stood in front of him.

Pointing the tip of his sword at Daniel, he issued another warning.

“Hey, idiot. You’d better remember this.”

“…”

“Anyone who messes with my sister or my sister’s friend ends up like this.”

No one dared stop him.

A long silence followed.

Then Varkan looked around at the people who remained.

“The party’s over. Get lost.”

* * *

Diena followed behind Varkan through the garden.

Bianca walked beside her.

“Lord Varkan.”

Hearing Diena’s soft voice, Varkan turned around.

One eyebrow was furrowed as though he was in a bad mood.

“You knew something like this would happen at the tea party and deliberately provoked those idiots, didn’t you?”

Diena looked up at him with wide eyes.

After briefly averting her gaze, she answered carefully.

“To some extent.”

“You really are…”

Varkan ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

Since decorating the tea party venue had been Hasen’s responsibility, Varkan hadn’t known what Diena had prepared until he saw it himself.

The flawlessly arranged venue.

Bianca standing proudly at its center.

The noble young ladies glaring at her with displeased expressions.

Watching Diena stand against Eshina, he finally understood.

This tea party was a stage Diena had prepared to help Bianca, who was constantly looked down on in high society.

And when Diena had nearly been struck by Daniel, it had been so obvious that she had provoked him on purpose that Varkan’s head throbbed with anger.

‘What in the world does she think her body is?’

Anyone who valued themselves couldn’t act that way.

How could she provoke people so recklessly without protecting herself?

Had she intentionally done the same thing with Matilda before?

The thought suddenly crossed his mind.

His expression hardened even further.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think they’d go this far. Young Master Daniel seemed really angry.”

Diena spoke after a brief hesitation.

Daniel had been the one acting rudely, so why was she the one apologizing?

Even that irritated Varkan for some reason.

After letting out a sigh, he removed his jacket and draped it over Diena’s shoulders, which were covered only by a thin dress.

“You must’ve felt wronged. Having to sit there and listen to all that. You should’ve just slapped him.”

Objectively speaking, he figured she must have been furious having to listen to those insults while actually being the young lady of House Rothwell.

And even if problems had arisen because she slapped him, he would’ve handled them somehow.

At Varkan’s words, Diena gave an awkward cough.

Objectively speaking, the one who had reason to feel wronged was Daniel…

After all, he had done nothing but suffer at Diena’s hands.

Even his final counterattack had failed.

At this point, he might spend every night before bed remembering today and kicking at the air in frustration.

“Lady Bianca slapped him for me, so it’s fine. If I’d done it myself, I couldn’t have looked nearly as cool as she did.”

Varkan looked toward Bianca.

Ever since earlier, she had looked half dazed.

He waved a hand in front of her face.

“Are you okay?”

“Huh? Ah…”

“More importantly, when did you awaken? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Awaken?”

“Yeah. I was shocked when I saw how fast you moved. The nobles around here looked like they were about to faint from surprise too.”

Varkan finally brought up the other topic he had put aside because he had been worried about Diena.

It had only lasted for an instant, but he had definitely sensed an ability from Bianca when she countered Daniel earlier.

At his words, Bianca suddenly lifted her head.

“That’s right, my ability! But I think it’s gone now.”

“It hasn’t disappeared.”

“…It hasn’t?”

Diena explained to the excited Bianca.

“No. I think it’s because you still haven’t completely escaped from the Darkness Corruption.”

Bianca blinked.

Darkness Corruption was the name of her illness.

But escaping from it…

“What changes if I do?”

“The ability sleeping inside your body will awaken, and you’ll be able to use your power.”

“H-How do you know something like that?”

Diena met Varkan’s eyes.

Varkan gave a nod.