Translator and Editor: Maru and Aki

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Chapter 8

Ravia’s face was filled with regrets when she said her brother, who stole her spot, and her lingering feelings were separate matters. But there was no hint of hatred at all.

It just like she simply existed. Like a butterfly that won’t be tied to anything, but will flutter away when you reach out your hands. Just like a diminishing dawn. Or the sunset that scattered into the dark night.

“I’m leaving Leontine. Forever.”

How could you do that?

Tidwell was genuinely curious. No, he had a lot of questions about his sister.

She was the type of person Tidwell had never seen before.

She was willing to let go of her position despite her lingering feelings, and she even waited for someone to take her position away. However, she didn’t lose herself.

A person without malice.

She seemed tired of everything and lost her spirit, yet she also seemed the exact opposite.

As if she was unaffected by whatever changes happened around her. She was as bright as willow branches in the spring sun.

“I’ve had enough of struggling for an unattainable goal.”

She spoke as if she was going to disappear.

That kind of Ravia was, indeed, unfamiliar to Tidwell.

It was better if she attempted to kill him. Since she had the absolute right to hate him.

Where in the world can you find an animal that won’t cry when its possession is taken away?

Before stepping into the duchy, Tidwell expected his sister would be against his adoption and brush him aside. He thought she would glare at him with contempt or insult him…

Either way, he didn’t expect she would welcome him.

She didn’t give up because she didn’t have the ability to do so. Ravia was fully capable of killing Tidwell.

If it was Herod whom she met today, it was unknown what would happen to Tidwell.

Despite all that, Ravia said.

She was leaving Leontine.

It was hard to understand. So Tidwell spat out mindlessly.

“Don’t you hate him?”

It was a question he couldn’t ask with a straight face.

“Don’t you want to take back what has been stolen from you? Don’t you hate your father who abandoned you and your brother who took everything away from you?”

“How can I not hate it?”

Ravia smiled slightly. But anyone could tell that it wasn’t a smile of joy.

“It’s not that I don’t know how to hate people. I never said I’m leaving because I don’t have any regrets either. I once dreamed of becoming Duke Leontine, too.”

Ravia paused for a while. Her gaze fell on him.

She breathed in for a moment. It was quite overwhelming to rummage through her old feelings.

His question was something that anyone would have. Including Ravia herself.

Nevertheless, she already decided to leave Leontine.

“I’m just…tired.”

She didn’t want to be chained here any longer.

“If I stay at Leontine, people will criticize me for being a fool. It won’t change even if I succeed the duchy. If there are two people who want to be successor, then one of them must die. I don’t want that.”

Of course, she could go to Herod and make a deal to kill Tidwell instead of proposing.

But what if Herod refused? What if she failed to kill Tidwell?

She didn’t want to risk her life for such a dangerous gamble.

After all, she only had one goal: Survive.

So, Ravia chose to leave quietly without getting on Tidwell’s bad side.

“We’ll be family anyway.”

She wanted to get along well.

Ravia talked to him, but his opponent did not answer.

It would be nice if she could see his expression. It was hard to read him because of his mask.

Although she couldn’t read his thoughts, she managed to explain her reasons neatly. Ravia took a deep breath and tried to continue, but Herod opened his mouth first after a long silence.

“What difference will it make if you marry me?”

“It’s clearly different.”

He met Ravia’s eyes. Her eyes were glistening again as if her regrets a while ago were a lie.

“Since it’s a marriage under the condition that we’ll divorce after a year.”

“…What?”

“This is what I’m proposing today. Marry me under the condition that we’ll divorce after a year. I think 500 million would be appropriate for the alimony.”

“Is there any reason for me to accept the deal?”

“I’m sure you’ll accept it. Why would I come here empty handed?”

Ravia smiled leisurely.

Having a lot of knowledge certainly becomes an asset. Above all, Herod didn’t seem to have any intention of killing her right now.

When Ravia glanced at Herod’s hand, she finally spoke.

“You’re looking for spring users, aren’t you? I know where one is.”

Of course, she wouldn’t let him know now. Ravia wore her mask and hurriedly said before her opponent could move his hand.

“If you want to know, I’ll see you in ten days at Velocio Theater.”

After that, she leisurely left the party.

Tidwell stood there like a stone, looking at the fluttering blonde hair that resembled a butterfly’s wings.

***

Velocio Theater. It was the largest theater in the capital, and the main venue one uses to hold noble social gatherings.

Of course, one of the reasons why Velocio Theater was the most prestigious private theater was because it had an excellent opera.

‘Primadonna Laricia.’

The heroine of this novel.

Her real name was Letica Rosalie. She was the only daughter of Count Rosalie.

The Rosalie couple had several children because of their harmonious marriage, but a problem arose when the Rosalie County gradually began to decline.

They were struggling to feed their 5 children with only the income from the county, so when the remaining nanny was in danger of being fired, Leticia entered the Velicio Theater Troupe under the stage name ‘Laricia’ and took the role of primadonna.

Her singing ability was impressive.

‘Of course, it wasn’t purely her singing ability.’

Ravia thought as she was looking at the bustling night view.

Spring users could heal the sick and boost people’s energy as well. In other words, if she used her abilities while singing, the listener would feel deeply immersed.

Thanks to her ability, Primadonna Laricia became a sensational and popular figure, and those who were looking for spring users were kept in the darkness under the lamp.

(T/N: Refers to how people tend to neglect what is right under their noses.)

“We’re here, milady.”

“Thank you.”

The carriage stopped, and Ravia stepped on the dark garden.

Meanwhile, the Leontine residence was still bright even at midnight.

There were so many people, and it was natural since two of the three owners went out.

After answering the butler’s greetings, Ravia immediately climbed the stairs.

It wasn’t because the butler particularly bothered her, but because she was bound to attract attention now even if she was only breathing.

Who would be the next successor? Lady Ravia had been trying so hard to become the Duke. Would she really do nothing when her seat was taken?

Having felt the curiosity of the servants who were lurking in the shadows, Ravia tried to ignore it as much as she could. She didn’t want to feed them anything.

Especially when it came to their piercing gazes.

‘They must’ve received orders from my father.’

There must be an order for them to report to him immediately if I behaved strangely. There was nothing that Duke Leontine didn’t know in his own residence.

So, Ravia wasn’t surprised when she opened the door to see a middle-aged man with silver hair sitting on the sofa.

“Where did you go this late at night?”

“Social gathering.”

“Suddenly? The butler said you didn’t get any invitations.”

Ravia was walking past the sofa and stopped.

It just occurred to her that her usual trip was done in a rather complicated way.

Ravia needed to clearly state her destination, reason for the trip, and lastly, Duke Leontine’s approval.

Mainly because he hated it so much when Ravia behaved as she pleased.

Just like a dead mouse.

He wanted her to stay invisible.

That was what Duke Leontine asked from Ravia.

Of course, he didn’t say it directly, but anybody could tell whenever he frowned each time he saw her.

Still, Ravia was loyal to him like a dog. In order to become Duke Leontine’s successor.

And then…the end finally came.

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