Chapter 17
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: His True Feelings
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With the situation unfolding that way, an impromptu duel stage was quickly set up in the center of the party hall.
The hall was so vast that as people stepped back and formed a circle, a makeshift arena appeared in an instant.
Riiip!
Lilia kicked off her high-heeled shoes and slashed the hem of her flowing dress with a knife, tearing it away by hand.
Her thighs were fully exposed, setting the hearts of the men ablaze, but the flames were swiftly extinguished by the women standing nearby.
Lilia drew her sword, glanced briefly at Johann, then turned her gaze away and hardened her expression.
'I desperately hoped the rumors weren't true... but you're a devil beyond even the whispers. This duel won't go your way, no matter what!'
The gap in skill was clear. Even if she had trained with the sword since childhood, her opponent was the heir to House Rapelt, renowned as a prestigious sword family.
That difference was evident just from their expressions.
"I'll let you have the first move. You seem confident in your skills, so come at me with all you've got."
Andrea smiled leisurely and yielded the initiative, and Lilia didn't refuse. The skill gap was too obvious to decline.
Whoosh!
She kicked off the floor barefoot and dashed toward him.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
In an instant, three strikes flew back and forth. Even Andrea couldn't help but be surprised by the swift chain of swordplay.
'To move like this even in a corseted dress... she has reason to boast. Her swordsmanship surpasses most knights.'
After that, Lilia pressed Andrea sometimes fiercely, sometimes sharply, swinging her blade relentlessly.
The onlookers watching her exceptional swordsmanship were stunned. No one had imagined Lilia was this skilled.
"But her opponent's all wrong."
"Yeah. Of all people, Andrea... His personality's rotten, but his skills are the real deal."
"Rumors said he's unmatched among his peers training in House Rapelt. Looks like they're true."
In contrast to Lilia's desperate efforts, Andrea was the picture of composure.
The way he parried her fierce attacks overflowed with leisure, like a master indulging a disciple's tantrum.
'Looks like that's the extent of her skill... Time to get serious, then.'
Andrea's gaze drifted to Lilia's ornate dress.
He had no intention of ending the duel quickly. He decided to tear her dress bit by bit, humiliating her.
Andrea's eyes flicked briefly to Johann.
As if reading his intent, Johann flashed a lewd smile in return. Thinking their minds aligned, Andrea smirked back wickedly.
'Let's see how long you can hold out.'
The moment Andrea resolved himself and his sword began to move—
Zzt!
'Ugh...!'
Suddenly, his sword arm went numb, and his body refused to obey. He nearly got himself cut just standing there rigid, breaking into a cold sweat instead of shredding her dress.
'What... what was that?!'
Andrea's eyes widened in shock.
It was the same tingling sensation he'd felt when Johann handed him the sword—it had just paralyzed his arm again.
'Not an illusion after all?!'
Andrea glanced suspiciously at Johann, wondering if he'd tampered with the sword before handing it over.
But...
Johann's face was etched with boredom, irritation, and impatience as he glared. It was a silent command: stop dragging it out and end it.
'Of course. Even if he tampered with it, it'd backfire on that wench. No gain for him there. Then what? What's causing this numbness...? Wait!'
Andrea's eyes bulged.
'I've heard some high nobles rig their swords with mechanisms to prevent enemies from seizing them in emergencies. Could this sword...?'
He bit his lip. Earl Hayden, infamous for doting on his son, was exactly the type.
'That wastrel's never even touched a sword. No way he knows. Damn it! Should've refused... No, he would've nitpicked even if I did!'
But he couldn't halt the match or demand a sword swap now.
If Johann claimed ignorance and insisted it had no such device, Andrea would just look foolish.
Incurring Johann's wrath was a given.
But...
'Damn it! This cursed thing!!'
It was fine when defending, but whenever he tried to counterattack or shift to offense, the numbness hit without fail, paralyzing him.
'I can do this!'
Thanks to that, Lilia could focus purely on attacking without restraint. As she adapted to his movements, her assaults grew sharper and more precise.
She was prepared to bite her tongue and die before suffering humiliation in defeat. Her swordsmanship, fueled by resolve to face death, was no joke.
'This... this bitch...!'
Conversely, Andrea's frequent paralysis left him stiffening and slowing even without shocks, struggling to react properly.
Grinding his teeth to endure only made it worse. His body betrayed his will, succumbing utterly to the electric numbness.
Finally...
'N-No!'
Lilia's sword tip plunged into the momentary opening, halting right at Andrea's throat.
"I win."
Hah... hah...
Lilia's heaving breaths matched the razor sharpness in her eyes as her blade pressed against Andrea's Adam's apple.
Clang...
"Th-This... can't be..."
Andrea, who had held his sword high, let it slip from limp fingers.
"Andrea actually lost?"
"Can't you see? All that arrogance, and look at him now."
"His movements seemed off... Just defending like that. Hope he's not sick or something."
As murmurs rose at the unforeseen outcome, Johann rose and strode toward Andrea.
Andrea, face twisted like a demon's, frantically tried to stop him.
"W-Wait! Young Master Johann! That duel had an issue with the sword—!"
Thwack!
Before he could finish, Johann's fist smashed into his face without mercy. Then he stomped relentlessly on the fallen Andrea, unleashing his fury.
"Was it wrong of me to bestow my sword upon you? Or are you saying my father gifted me a faulty blade?! How dare you mock House Crimford with your three-inch tongue, you dog! Can't even beat that pathetic girl, humiliating me, and now insulting the earl's house? Die! Just die, you trash!!"
"Forgive me! P-Please stop... Gahk!"
Andrea spat blood under the merciless trampling but couldn't muster a single resistance.
Because he was weak? Because it was justified? Because he was mild-mannered?
None of those. He endured the injustice and bloodshed because his tormentor was Johann.
Dying underfoot here would end him alone.
But if he lashed out in rage? Then it wouldn't just be his life—his entire house's fate hung in the balance.
If Johann were gravely injured or killed, it would doom the family.
That's why no other nobles or Andrea's friends stepped in.
Helping now would just get them bitten by a rabid dog in Johann's eyes.
But...
Whoosh!
In that moment, someone wedged between them, arms spread wide, blocking Johann with a stern face...
Lilia.
Johann's reaction was pure disgust and annoyance, of course.
"What are you, nuts? Move!"
"Though Sir Andrea wasn't at his best and I won by luck, we both gave our all in that duel. He doesn't deserve this. Please show mercy, Young Master Johann."
As she bowed sincerely and pleaded, Johann's breathing grew ragged, as if his uncontainable rage narrowed on her.
But his true feelings were entirely different.
'I'm sorry. For being this kind of man. You're the only one besides family who ever looked at me straight. Sorry for giving you only wounds in return. This time, live freely without being bound to a wretch like me. Truly...'
Sensing the approaching presence, Johann deliberately advanced on Lilia threateningly.
"If dying together is your wish, who am I to deny?"
And just as he timed his hand to grab her—
Slap! Thud!
Shockingly, it was Johann—not Lilia—who got slapped. And the one who struck him was none other than his brother, Howard.
"Young Master!"
Johann slumped unceremoniously, clutching his cheek and glaring murderously at his brother. Joanna rushed over to support him.
Howard stared back with icy eyes and commanded.
"Return to your room. Reflect deeply on what you've done wrong, Johann."
"Why'd you hit me?! I did nothing wrong! These trash are the ones insulting me and the house!"
"What are you lot doing? Get Sir Andrea to the infirmary and fetch a priest!"
Ignoring Johann's protests, Howard rushed to the fallen Andrea and barked orders to the guards.
In the end, Johann quietly left the hall amid contemptuous stares, sorting his thoughts on Lilia.
She was his fiancée, decided while he was confined to the villa.
It stemmed from the earl family's hope that marriage would stabilize him, aligning with House Avangardi's desire to ally through marriage.
Johann hadn't known until the party, but Lilia apparently had.
Yet she never revealed herself, wanting to judge him with her own eyes.
Of course, neither had a say—even if they refused, both families had decided.
So it had to end like this.
If it started as a twisted grudge from the outset, even the elders would eventually abandon it.
'Not sure it'll break the engagement, but worth a shot.'
"Young Master..."
Joanna fretted over the silent Johann. Confirming no one around, he turned with a grin.
"I'm fine. I'm used to being hated. Don't worry."
"I know! You played the villain on purpose to protect Miss Lilia! I don't know how you made her win, but you sabotaged Sir Andrea to redirect his grudge from her to you! I know everything! So..."
Johann smiled brightly and stroked Joanna's head wordlessly. She was so endearing, tearing up for him.
The next day.
Johann's mother, Annette, visited with regrettable news.
"Johann..."
"What? It's not like being locked in the villa is new. Why act so sympathetic now?"
The three-day party had ended prematurely yesterday because Hayden and Howard went to House Rapelt with Andrea.
Obviously over Johann's antics. And now he was confined again, so naturally irritable.
Though inwardly, he was barely containing his joy at returning to the villa.
Annette couldn't fathom her second son's true feelings, seeing only pity and frustration.
"I thought you'd reflect a bit, but I guess this mother expected too much."
"He should be the one reflecting. Getting smacked by Howard because of him is unfair enough..."
At Johann's sulky attitude, Annette steeled her face with resolve.
"Fine. To fix you, I need a harder heart too. From now on, all villa staff are dismissed. No living expenses or support from the main house. Feel the bone-deep hardship of surviving alone."
'Mother...'
Annette could never imagine: among the family, the one who knew that pain best was Johann himself...