Please Support My Revenge - Chapter 45

“Did you hear? The Duke showed mercy to that poor Evelentia’s bastard child at the fencing tournament?”

At first, Jade cocked his head, not knowing who people were referring to as ‘that poor Evelentia’s bastard child.’

“The Duke of Evelentia is quite unpredictable. How does he raise someone like that?”

“That’s right, and she’s a gypsy’s daughter. No matter how beautiful she may be, what’s the use? She looks at us with such sharp and insolent eyes.”

“The Duke is truly kind. How could he embrace such a woman and even bring her to the drawing room?”

The nobles, having discussed it to that point, soon moved on to other topics, forgetting about the story concerning Lobelia.

It was only after a while that Jade realized they were talking about the woman with silver hair he had seen at the fencing tournament.

“She’s not a lady, but a bastard child.”

Jade’s assessment was simple; there was nothing more for him to feel or say.

In a society filled with bastards and those who would trample upon others, this was a trifling matter.

Jade’s realization that Lobelia’s situation was more serious than he had thought came when he saw her boldly stepping into the Duke of Ferdau’s residence to request an audience.

“She looks this haggard.”

Jade pondered when he saw Lobelia, who had entered confidently, speaking with a stern expression.

“I thought she was thin when I held her back then, but not to this extent.”

It was only later that he learned of the feverish sickness Lobelia had suffered from after Julia’s death.

“She must be under a curse,” he thought.

However, soon Jade found himself distracted by what Lobelia was saying, leaving him no room to contemplate just how emaciated she had become or the hardships she had endured.

Jade’s second reconsideration of this woman named Lobelia happened when she performed her first dream treatment.

“It’s the first day; don’t you listen? You’ll… if you stay by my side…”

“It’s okay.”

“Don’t come any closer!”

Jade screamed desperately. He no longer wanted to lose his sanity and turn into a beast, hurting someone else. Every time he went through such an experience, it felt like a piece of his humanity was being chipped away.

But the woman before him, Lobelia, didn’t back down. Most people would have panicked and run away by now, but she was stubborn.

“Don’t… come closer.”

It was when Jade had resigned himself to getting hurt and had given up everything.

“I’m fine.”

Lobelia’s green eyes, which he had considered cold, now shone with determination.

“I won’t be hurt by the Duke’s sword.”

How much he longed to hear those words. Lobelia probably didn’t think much when she said it. She must have said whatever she could to reassure Jade, as she needed to remove the curse’s mark and put his mind at ease.

“Sigh.”

Jade sighed, leaning back against the chair’s armrest and tilting his head. Would it make him look foolish to say that he had received such enormous comfort from the words she had just uttered?

After that, Lobelia appeared different to him.

“It’s really an unavoidable situation.”

A woman appeared with a solution when he believed there was nothing left for him but death. A woman who had said the words he longed to hear as he lost his humanity under the curse

Furthermore, her appearance was exactly to his taste.

But how could he not be intrigued?

After the first dream treatment, Jade continued to observe her, studying her every move.

When she gazed at the cake at the opera house with a starry-eyed look, he unexpectedly recommended a fresh one for her.

But after being rejected and perhaps sparking a romance that might have kindled, he thought it was over.

Now, he vowed that she would only adhere to the contract and draw his attention as she had wished.

However, Lobelia had a way of drawing his attention back, no matter what.

“When you see her sent out in the morning, it’s not that deep of an emotion, right? It’s just a matter of the flesh.”

“Indeed. How could that woman capture the Duke’s heart? It’s obvious.”

Jade was furious when he learned that the maids were gossiping rudely about Lobelia in a place he was unaware of.

He was angry with himself for not properly controlling the servants, and he was angry at Lobelia for not seeming to care about these words.

“Well, just in case you’re wondering, I have no interest in anything other than reclaiming what’s rightfully mine.”

However, Lobelia responded with a jab, telling him to mind his own business.

“So, you don’t need to treat me like a regular human being.”

There is no need to treat her like a human being.

It was a ridiculous statement, but at the time, he thought that this woman was truly obsessed with revenge. He felt pathetic for even briefly entertaining romantic feelings toward such a woman.

“Trust me.”

“Trust me…”

But after realizing it was a lie, he was even more perplexed.

Lobelia wasn’t a woman obsessed with revenge. She was a woman who, out of fear of losing everything, had entrusted her revenge to someone else while her focus was elsewhere.

The reason she was hesitant to show vulnerability was probably that she feared relying on someone. If she relied on someone, her revenge would become less clear, and if her revenge became unclear, she would lose her motivation to live.

“Are there really women like that?”

Jade couldn’t comprehend it at all and shouted as he abruptly stood up from the chair.

“Are there really women like that?”

And he found himself, in the privacy of his own room, giving his heart to such a woman.

Jade lifted the poetry book that sat on the negotiation table and put it back down. This was a matter that required the utmost clarity of mind, especially without the aid of herbs.

“Romantic feelings,” he said.

It was a word that felt completely out of place in the current situation. Most importantly, the biggest issue was that Lobelia, who had entrusted everything to her revenge, wouldn’t have the capacity to accept his feelings.

Jade was well aware of how foolish it would be to court someone like her who was facing her worst enemy, Marlon.

“Besides, I’ve never had a proper romantic relationship.”

Up until now, Jade had always been on the receiving end of his relationships with women. They made advances, arranged dates, and even gave more gifts.

So, Jade didn’t know how to express his affections to someone else. Lobelia wasn’t in a position to reciprocate his feelings.

So he decided to just let things flow naturally.

There was no need to get excited just because it was his first experience with romantic feelings. He wasn’t a good man, so this fleeting passion would likely dissipate quickly.

“Yeah, let’s just leave it be.”

Jade made up his mind once more.

In the end, he put the poetry book in his mouth. Along with the fragrance of the poetry, he wanted to let go of the emotions he had for Lobelia.

Of course, that decision would turn out to be the biggest mistake of Jade Ferrdo’s life.

****

News of Jade Ferrado’s appearance in Merdaneon had the Merdaneon social scene (if it could even be called that, with only the Countess Evion’s party hall) buzzing for a while.

Lobelia remained holed up in the hotel, relying on Joachim and Joel to keep her updated on the opinions of the Merdaneon people and the movements of Marlon.

“Marlon has finally acquired over half of the union members,” Joel reported.

“As expected, he’s quick,” Lobelia casually muttered while sipping her tea.

“You don’t seem particularly pleased. Is something wrong? Has the plan changed, perhaps?” Joel asked with concern.

“No. I’m just…”

Lobelia trailed off.

The truth was, she was concerned about Jade.

Lobelia regretted involving Jade in her plans. There was no other way to protect Mine 9, and she had paid a significant price for it. But…

“It’s like I’m sinking for some reason.”

It wasn’t that she didn’t benefit, but she felt like she had suffered unexpected losses in some areas.

When she spoke with Jade and had face-to-face conversations, she felt uneasy deep inside.

Maybe it was because Jade’s attitude toward her felt unfamiliar.

Lobelia had never encountered a man like Jade before.

But what had Jade actually done? She had no answer when asked that.

Jade’s attitude toward Lobelia was, as he claimed, quite sensible. He treated her considerately and expressed genuine concern for her within the bounds of common sense.

“Maybe I’ve never met a normal man before, which is why I’m like this.”

Lobelia thought as she fidgeted with her teacup.

Lobelia had never given much thought to men when she was young. During her adolescence, she was confined to the Evelentia estate’s auxiliary residence.

The men who had approached her when she served as a maid for Lady Aina were all rather foolish, each with a savior complex.

“Yeah. I’ve never met a normal man before, so it’s just unfamiliar. Besides, I don’t have any feelings for him, so I shouldn’t make a fuss.”

Lobelia thought as she let go of her teacup.

“Then I’ll be going. I need to see my father.”

Joel left the room, and several more minutes passed by peacefully.

Lobelia looked at the clock on the wall, calculating when she might receive the news she was waiting for.

Knock, knock.

A knock at the door, and Joachim entered.

“Countess Evion is making her move.”

“Yes, and she’s doing it very noisily.”

In response to Lobelia’s question, Joachim nodded.

“There’s a party at Lady Evion’s mansion tomorrow, and, of course, an invitation has been sent to our lord as well.”

“It’s a chance they don’t want to miss, inviting the Duke of Ferrado, given that Lady Evion, who admires the capital’s social scene, is hosting it.”

It was good news. Things were progressing as Lobelia had anticipated.

“And here…”

Johann presented a card along with his report.

The card was quite unusual. It was an invitation to the party hosted by Lady Evion, but it wasn’t from her.

The sender of the invitation was Marlon.

Lobelia read Marlon’s letter accompanying the card and couldn’t help but laugh.

“‘I heard about the attack by the ruffians. I’m worried and want to check on your well-being, so attend Lady Evion’s party.’ That’s what he writes…”

“He probably wants to press you about when you’ll release the mine. He likely thinks the miner’s employment issues have been resolved.”

In response to Joachim’s words, Lobelia nodded and crumpled the letter.

“I should go. He’s laying a trap for himself.”

Lobelia got up from her seat.

She had cast the bait, and now that the fish had bitten, it was time to reel in the fishing rod.