Chapter 38
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Bella's Recollection
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Haah!
In a small dojo located on the Izarkhel ducal estate.
A sharp kiai echoed through the space.
Clack! Clack! Clack!
The sound of wooden swords clashing rang out menacingly.
Two people in protective gear exchanged fierce blows.
After several exchanges, they pushed each other back, creating some distance.
Hoo.
Haa.
The dojo was filled only with ragged breaths and tense air.
The two sized each other up, waiting to see who would strike first.
In the end, the taller one moved in first.
Using her height to her advantage, she extended her wooden sword high over the shorter ones head.
But her opponent was no pushover.
She deflected it effortlessly along the swords side.
The taller one staggered from the impact.
Her opponent didnt miss the opening.
Crack!
A satisfying cracknot the crude clash of wooden swordsechoed through the dojo.
Beep!
The protective gear flashed red, sounding an alarm.
It was over.
The mana-forged protective gear faded away smoothly.
Revealing the taller ones face.
Phew, I cant beat you at all. I surrender. I never imagined your swordsmanship had improved this much.
The middle-aged man, Duke Fred Izarkhel, wiped his sweat as he spoke.
His opponents face was revealed as well.
Bella Izarkhels flowing silver hair gleamed dazzlingly in the sunlight.
Its because youve been neglecting your training, Father. I come to the dojo every day. This is only natural.
Fred scratched his head at his daughters stern remark.
Urgh. Youre right, Ive got nothing to say.
Then how about starting now? Ill spar with you.
It had been quite a while since Fred last showed up at the dojo.
At his daughters invitation, Fred shook his head.
No. Im getting on in years, my body isnt what it used to be, and Im too far behind you to be of any help.
Hmm. Thats a shame.
Bella shrugged.
It was at that moment, as she reached for her water bottle.
By the way, sweetie.
No.
I havent even asked yet.
Still no.
Fred scratched his cheek and spoke.
Come on, why dont you ask your mom to lend your old man just 200,000 kael?
I knew it. Thats why you came to the dojo this morning. Youre going there again, arent you?
No, I told you Id never go back there. This time, Wellington Baek said theres a good spot.
A good spot? Sure it is. Didnt I tell you not to hang around with that Wellington Baek?
Thats true, but.
You two went to that hotel casino last time, and I let it slide. But now this again?
Dont worry. Sweetie, a casino doesnt mean its all gambling. You have no idea how many other entertainments they have there.
Bella let out a deep sigh.
She barely held back a curse.
Staring at Fred with eyes that said he was the most pathetic man on earth.
Father.
Hm?
Please get your act together. You know we still havent paid off the debt to the Ruelverta family.
No, were paying it off little by little. Even I deserve some leisure time once in a while
Thats all I have to say to you.
Sweetie, wait!
Bella turned and walked away.
She wanted to get even a second away from Freds face.
She returned to the mansion without once looking back.
And as she soaked in the bathtub, she fell into reminiscence.
When Bella was young, the Izarkhel ducal family had been buried in debt due to Freds gambling addiction.
What saved the family from total ruin was the Ruelverta family.
Millium, the count of Ruelverta at the time, paid off the ducal familys debts in exchange for a portion of their territory.
It was shameful enough that the prestigious Izarkhel ducal family had racked up massive debts, but borrowing from a lesser counts family was utter humiliation.
The problem was that even after that, Duke Fred didnt come to his senses.
He sank deeper into his gambling addiction, and the debts only grew.
Eventually, even the remaining territory fell into Ruelverta hands.
As finances worsened, the once-lavish ducal lifestyle changed.
The number of servants dwindled, and artworks that had decorated the mansion vanished.
Those unaware of the situation praised the family for their frugality, but the truth was simplethey had become poor.
Hoo.
Soaking in the hot water, Bella thought.
The day the count paid off the ducal debts, everything of the Izarkhels had been sold to the Ruelvertas.
Their noble honor, authority, prideall of it.
And herself as well.
After Count Milliums death, Tristan had lent the ducal family huge sums of money, just like his father.
It was an undeniable fact that the Izarkhel family had survived thanks to Tristan.
So when he proposed marriage, Bella couldnt refuse.
Perhaps the girl she had been might have welcomed an engagement to Tristan.
There had been a time when he seemed like a prince on a white horse to her.
But after becoming count, Tristan changed.
He gained weight and spat insults at random, earning everyones resentment.
He judged everything by money, looked down on the poor, and reveled in lording over them.
His cold tone remained, but the Tristan Bella had once admired was no longer the shining figure hed been.
The prince seated on his throne had become a tyrant.
Though the ducal family steadily repaid the money, the massively accrued debt was at a level they could never clear in a lifetime.
If Bella married Tristan, they could escape that debt.
She knew that well, but she despised Tristan too much.
She didnt want to become that villains woman.
Bellas head sank beneath the water.
.....
.....
She resented everything.
Her debt-ridden family, her parents who hadnt opposed the engagement, and the changed Tristan.
Bella had no choice but to accept the engagement, but she absolutely refused to marry.
So she kept delaying it, claiming she was busy.
She didnt want to sell her heart to him too.
That was her last shred of pride.
Bella had persistently nitpicked at Tristan, begging him to cancel the engagement.
Of course, he refused every time, but she never gave up.
She vowed she would never belong to that man.
Yet recently, Tristan had accepted her plea to cancel the engagement.
I dont like wasting money needlessly. And I dont have time to invest in hopeless love either. Still the time we spent together was enjoyable. Thank you.
It was strange.
As if hed known all along that Bella was rejecting him.
Tristan had let her go without a hint of regret.
It was a relief for Bella, but somehow it left her uneasy.
I intended to have you. I wanted to make you completely mine.
Then why say something like that.
To make her completely his.
How arrogant.
As if she were some object.
And depending on how you heard it, it was awfully embarrassing.
.
Her face heating up, Bella rose from the tub.
She didnt want to stay any longer and get dizzy.
Wrapping herself in a bath towel, she used wind magic to dry her wet hair.
The water droplets sparkled as they scattered, reflecting the bathroom lights.
She looked in the mirror.
Her eyes met those of the woman with shining silver hair.
It might sound unlucky, but Bella knew well that she was a beauty.
Shed only ever heard compliments from everyone shed met, so itd be weirder if she didnt know.
Bella touched her face.
Her skin was supple and firm.
Aside from her cheeks being slightly flushed from the long soak, everything was perfect.
By the time Bella left the bathroom, her hair was fully dry.
Shed felt down earlier, but now her mood was good.
Good enough to crawl into bed and sleep soundly.
But as she thought that, a furrow formed between her brows.
Are you really like that, Dmitri?
Her gaze went to the doll on the bed.
The teddy bear she hugged to sleep when she couldnt drift off, Dmitri.
More precisely, to the spot where its seam had torn, with stuffing poking out.
It was an imperfect morning.