Chapter 20

However, no matter how vague his memory, he was sure of one thing.

‘Why would I think of you like that?’

Leonard never considered the only daughter a shame to his family.

That day, in the carriage on the way back.

Leonard, who could not quench his anger even after beating the head of the altar, occasionally gritted his teeth with a harsh breath.

When he caught sight of Rubette, who was crouching next to him and forcing herself to hold back tears, his barely controlled heart raged again.

“Ha, damn it…”

Yes, in such a situation where there was nobody else except for the surprised party, thousands of thoughts must have been tormenting his daughter.

Perhaps… Did she think he was angry with her?

“Couldn’t you just say it’s okay?”

Unfortunately, no matter how much he searched in his head, he couldn’t find it. He didn’t remember telling his daughter who was crying in fear that it was okay.

“Yes. I should have.”

Leonard slowly lowered his arm that covered his eyes, staring into the air, and said self-deprecatingly. 

“…Truly the worst father ever.”

***

I didn’t feel good about pouring a lot on my dad.

It wqas understandable. It was because Rubette, whose ego I had absorbed completely, was not a person who expressed her feelings completely, and rather being alone when hurt.

‘But Juliet Karenina is a person who has to say what she wants to say.’

Feeling restless thanks to the conflicting ego, when I was about to head to the room.

I stopped because of the shadow blocking my way.

“… ?”

When I looked up, I saw a familiar face that was so desperately left in my memory.

I was surprised with my eyes wide open.

‘Kedrick Reiger? Why has he been here since noon?’

Kedrick Reiger, the boy that Rubette had a lifelong crush on.

Kedrick, quite handsome but not my cup of tea, stood in front of me with the young face of a 16 year old youth.

“Rubetria.”

“Oh, Kedrick. Hi.”

With his neatly brown hair and blue eyes, he is, in a word, a handsome boy.

And with this face, he played the kind Rubette all her life.

‘You bastard… Just looking at that face makes me angry.’

I choked up again as I recalled the kind Rubette, who was so pure.

***

It was Rubette’s 16th birthday.

So, at this rate, this is the actual situation that will happen about half a year later.

At the initiative of the twins, a splendid party was held at the Diollus Duchy that day.

“Aren’t you going to eat? I even invited a cook from afar for you…”

There was no way the demons would give me a birthday with simple favors…

“You don’t seem to want to eat it.”

“What’s this, Kedrick? Khu khu… Did she say she’d eat everything you ask?”

The fact that Kedrick was here to celebrate her birthday, made Rubette so excited. Like a fool.

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

“I, I… Kedrick…. I-Is this…r-really edible?”

Rubette smiled awkwardly at the table filled with food.

Raw, whole mashed fish, leftover soup, hard pieces of meat…

As far as I remember, they were leftover food from the duchy for about three days. Things that were usually put together and sent to a barn.

“Then what do you see this as?”

“All in all, there are many other delicious things. Let’s eat them together…”

Rubette’s refusal was unexpected, so Kedrick looked around with flushed face.

At the party that day, the twins and the whole group that Kedrick was hanging out with were there.

All of them were children of noble families. The so-called immature, golden spoon rich children, who will soon become the center of the social world. The third generation.

“Hmm, you bragged so much earlier. But what’s this? How boring.”

“Yeah, it’s not fun. I thought she ate everything without being picky, but I guess she doesn’t eat things like this anymore?”

The young master of Alon March and the young lady of Pelkan County, who are the heads of the group, giggled at each other as they looked at the pale-faced Rubette.

“…”

None of the faces gathered to celebrate her birthday were close to her.

Looking around the table at the demons laughing and chatting, Rubette had to bite her lips to avoid crying.

“If you don’t eat, what’s the point of me setting the table?”

“…”

Kedrick, who was sitting next to her, gritted his teeth and whispered quietly.

The most desperate thing was that he, whom she believed in, was leading this situation.

Rubette was kind and timid, but not an idiot, so she knew at least that Kedrick was thinking of her as a toy.

Yet…

“I-I’m not hungry… I’ll have it later.”

“Hey!”

“Pu ha ha ha!”

“Young Master Kedrick, you were so confident!”

“She said she wasn’t going to eat it, right? I’m the only one who got it right, so all the stakes are mine!”

“No, this bet is void!”

“Hahaha…!”

Kedrick, whose pride was hurt, trembled among his mocking friends.

“Bad girl…”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“If you’re sorry, eat it! It’s not that you can’t eat it!”

“B-But…”

“Even if you eat it, you won’t die!”

Frightened by the scolding Kedrick, Rubette instinctively picked up the spoon.

It was only then that her maid, Rebecca, who was watching the situation, bravely intervened.

“Ah, my lady!”

“Rebecca?”

Silence fell on the table as Rebecca took the spoon from Rubette’s hand.

Among the noble children who were arrogant enough for their young age, Rebecca spoke tremblingly and bravely.

“I-I’ll go to the kitchen and bring you more delicious food. There is a lot of food prepared.”

“…”

“…”

“Ha…”

The only thing that broke the silence was Lillia’s, who was sitting at the end of the table, sigh.

As she waved once with a bored expression on her face, the other maids who were waiting mercilessly grabbed Rebecca’s arm.

“L-Let go of me!”

“Take her away. How dare a mere maid be so cheeky…”

“Re-Rebecca!”

“My lady!”

Surprised, Rubette tried to get up after Rebecca.

“Sit down.”

She stopped at Kedrick’s angry voice that grabbed her ankle.

“Can’t you see that the atmosphere was ruined because of you? Everyone gathered to wish you a happy birthday, and you’re acting like this?”

“…”

Tears welled up in the corners of Rubette’s, who only looked at Rebecca’s back, eyes.

Thousands of thoughts ran through her mind.

‘Why is Kedrick doing this to me? Why does he hate me so much? Is it because he likes Lillia? To look good in front of Lillia?’

There was no prince-like Kedrick, who made Rubette fall in love at first sight when she was eight.

Still, she was so afraid of the emotions that had built up over the years.

“It’s so boring. I’m going to go to my room and sleep.”

When Lillia tried to get up with brooding eyes. Ricky came over, sat Rubette down himself, and handed her a spoon.

“Hey, you idiot. Our princess is mad. Eat up, quickly.”

“I-I don’t like it. Don’t be like this.”

“You don’t like it?”

She should have just kicked her seat and left the room then.

“Rubette, are you going to the debutant ball alone this time?”

Kedrick’s voice, which had been softened unlike before, caught Rubette again.

“Huh?”

“I thought you found another partner because you didn’t ask me to go with you. You haven’t found one yet, have you?”

“Uh, uh…”

With a friendly expression on his face, Kedrick rested his chin on his hand and said with a smile.

“I’ll go with you.”

“… Really?”

“Of course. If you’re not going with me, who are you going with?”

“…”

“Rubette, this is just a game. It’s not fun if you just celebrate and receive congratulations in a normal way. Can’t you see everyone having fun?”

Kedrick pointed to the giggling children.

In the end, after hesitating a little more, Rubette picked up the spoon with her trembling hand.

“Pfft. Is she really eating?”

“Ah, wait a minute! This girl, I will bet a million marks on you!”

“Hihi, be quiet!”

“…”

She picked up the spoon not because she didn’t want her debutant partner to be disappointed.

She had learned that bullying was already a daily routine, and for Rubette at that time, her willingness to escape from such a life had disappeared by half.

She just wished that the nightmare would end soon.

“Puhahaha…!”

“Oh my god! She really ate it!”

“Ah, that’s so funny!”

In the end, the fishy fish intestines and pork fat pieces that she put in her mouth tasted as disgusting as she had imagined.

***

“Uwekh.”

For a moment, I felt like I could feel the taste of food waste in my mouth, and I felt nauseous.

Kedrick, who was standing in front of me, looked puzzled.

‘Go to hell!’

I wish I could run to the kitchen right away and put the leftover food waste in his mouth.

‘It’s a shame it hasn’t happened yet. If I get angry now, I’ll look like a crazy person.’

I managed to endure it with great patience, clenching my teeth and avoiding Kedrick’s gaze, stepping aside.

As I was about to go upstairs.

“…”

Kedrick blocked my way.

‘What’s this?’

It is common knowledge to avoid dirty poop. The moment I tried to step aside again.

The steps overlapped again.

It’s ridiculous, so I raised my head with a look of dissatisfaction. On the contrary, Kedrick looked more displeased than I was.

“How annoying.”

“What?”

“It’s annoying. Why are you doing this again? If you have something to say, say it quickly and go away.”

“…?”

Is he crazy?

It was as if he thought I was blocking his way on purpose.