How the Disgusting Suitor Met His End - Chapter 50

“Oh, really?”

“You’ll be making your debut soon, won’t you? If you reveal such a fierce personality there, you might have to return to your estate in tears, much less find a suitor.”

“Why? Are you saying someone would bully me?”

“B-Bully you? No…. Do you think intelligent gentlemen will like this kind of personality, Lady Cecilia?”

“Hmm.”

“No matter how beautiful a flower is, people don’t want to hold a thorny one in their arms. Do you understand?”

Cecilia, who had been nodding as if agreeing with their words, suddenly turned around and shouted loudly.

“Rogerick! Rogerick Montieux!”

Rogerick lifted his head sharply from among the crowd. As soon as he spotted Cecilia, he changed his pace. With his long legs, his steps were quick. Having approached in no time, he gently took Cecilia’s hand.

“What is it, Cecil?”

“I wanted to hear the opinion of an intelligent gentleman.”

At Rogerick’s appearance, the noblewomen’s expressions changed. There were those who blushed, failing to grasp the atmosphere, and the rest stiffened.

Cecilia intentionally behaved more intimately and asked.

“What do you think of my personality, Rogerick?”

“…What are you talking about, suddenly?”

“Don’t ask, just answer first.”

“You’re…… an incredible woman, Cecil.”

“Hmm.”

“You’re charming, smart, and you keep me entertained when we’re together.”

The surroundings murmured at the last comment. Cecilia paused for a moment but hid it, looking around at the nobles with satisfaction.

“What should I do? It seems the intelligent gentleman quite likes my personality.”

“……This is cheating! Involving a man in women’s business!”

“It looked fun to me earlier.”

“Mama!”

David suddenly appeared behind Eva. Startled by the huge man who appeared without a sound, Eva gasped, clutching her chest.

It was as if he’d been watching only Cecilia, appearing right on cue. He grinned at Eva without a word of apology.

“I’m the host of this gathering, shouldn’t I be included?”

“Your Grace, the Grand Duke…!”

“By the way, I wonder if everyone knows why this gathering was held.”

With His Grace the Grand Duke Raphaeli and the son of Count Montieux in attendance, it was only natural that people were drawn to the event. The Grand Duke turned to the crowd and spoke in a voice that carried like an announcement.

“I arranged this occasion because I wanted Lady Cecilia to try out the pistol I gifted her. But for some reason… people keep picking fights only with the guest of honor.”

“Y-Your Grace, the Grand Duke, that’s not what happened…….”

“Oh, but it is, Lady Eva Vermonte.”

Count Vermonte was the middle-aged man David had seen at the shooting range before. It seemed even the daughter of a business partner was not exempt. His gaze toward Eva was icy.

“Thanks to that, I’ll be ending today’s gathering here. If anyone has complaints, point them at these ladies.”

***

Eva and the other women flushed and hurriedly left. Some were said to have cried. Cecilia was leaning against a tree, waiting for her carriage.

‘This is ridiculous… Is he my bodyguard or something?’

She remembered the glare Eva shot her right up until the end. Viscount Lenard was the same.

Thanks to David rushing to her defense like an overzealous parent, Cecilia had made two new groups of enemies in one day. Of course, her own temper was a problem, but David’s attitude of escalating things played a part too.

‘I was planning to just let the girls go, though I might not forgive Viscount Lenard.’

Having been shamed in front of so many people, Eva Vermonte would surely not forget this grudge.

She knew well from the novel how important reputation was in high society. Especially for an unmarried woman facing her debutante ball and needing to succeed in the serious matter of marriage.

Not only was it her own wish, but her entire family and the country were fully pushing for her to marry into a prestigious family. The pressure was bound to be immense.

“Um… Lady Cecilia!”

“…Lady Sophia?”

Sophia had approached without her noticing, nervously picking at her cuticles. Unlike her vibrant self from earlier, she was timid and couldn’t meet Cecilia’s eyes, which made Cecilia feel sorry for her.

“If you have something to say, please say it.”

“I…… I came to thank you!”

Sophia bowed deeply at the waist.

“Thank you so much for taking my side!”

“It was nothing.”

Cecilia gave a small smile.

“Did it happen often?”

“Pardon?”

“The bullying, I mean. You look used to it.”

“Ah…….”

“I was just wondering why a bright and smart young lady like you would tolerate such unfairness. Especially since you’re a Marquis’s daughter.”

“….…”

“The Marquis Demore family is a capital noble family, after all. The daughter of a mere Count Vermonte shouldn’t be able to say anything if you just suppress her with your rank, no?”