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Chapter 4
“What came?”
“It’s a letter from the Estria family.”
Kaian frowned when he heard the words from the butler, Rupert.
At the same time, he remembered the moment he had escorted Elina Estria not long ago.
What is this about?
When he also recalled how he had politely refused her offer to treat him to a meal, a strange uneasy feeling rose in him.
As he picked up the neatly placed letter and read it line by line, the frown on his forehead deepened.
[Dear Sir Kaian.]
Since when had they become close enough to call each other “dear”?
He knew it was just a polite greeting, but he couldn’t stop the discomfort rising inside him.
[I hope you will attend my birthday banquet, which will be held in a week.]
It had already been several years since he last attended her birthday banquet.
For the past few years, even the formal invitations had stopped coming.
The reason was obvious—she had been mindful of Verdin, who disliked Kaian.
Kaian barely held back a dry laugh as he continued reading.
[It would be my greatest honor if you would take the empty partner position by my side.]
This time, Kaian couldn’t hold back his laugh.
He had already guessed it when they met recently, but as expected, Elina Estria was exactly the kind of person he despised the most.
It was something even a common child could see—that she was completely obsessed with Verdin Pernia.
Since childhood, she had followed him around, and as she grew older, she even kept other noble ladies away from him.
No one openly criticized her because of the power of the Estria family, but no noble thought her behavior was right.
Kaian didn’t care much about what virtues a noble lady should have, but there was one thing he completely agreed with—
Loyalty.
Of course, chasing a man who hadn’t looked at you for over ten years wasn’t something easy.
Even with the name Estria, the fact that her marriage still hadn’t been settled showed that clearly.
But what bothered him the most was how she suddenly seemed to lose interest in the Crown Prince.
Her suddenly asking him for an escort in front of the training grounds—where she never used to go—was also strange.
He understood that maintaining one-sided love was difficult.
But—
The way she threw away her feelings as if they meant nothing disgusted him.
Well, if nothing else, her effort to quickly fill the empty partner position was something others might learn from.
After finishing even the unnecessary closing lines, Kaian tossed the letter down.
“Politely refuse it.”
The butler’s face, which had been reading the letter, slowly turned pale with shock.
“Y-Young Master… this isn’t something that can be refused like that.”
Of course, Kaian knew that too.
This wasn’t just any family—it was the Estria family.
Replying with a refusal under the butler’s name would be extremely disrespectful.
The Ovilion family was not weak, but because his father had neglected his duties, their power was no longer what it once was.
Kaian had been fixing things step by step as acting head, barely keeping the family from collapsing.
They were only just starting to recover.
Making an enemy of the Estria family now would not be wise.
“So you’re telling me to go there and act like a clown?”
Rupert felt troubled.
He knew the young master’s innocent, smiling childhood wouldn’t last forever.
But Kaian had learned about the world too quickly—
and it felt like he had lost all warmth in his heart.
Normally, he was rational and responsible, always thinking about restoring the family.
So Rupert couldn’t understand why he suddenly wanted to oppose the Estria family.
“But Young Master, you know how much the Duke of Estria treasures his daughter. At a time like this, making an enemy of them is too dangerous.”
Kaian couldn’t argue with that.
His brow twitched, and then he let out a deep sigh before starting to write the reply himself.
He pressed down hard with each letter, pouring the anger he couldn’t express into his writing.
Soon, his hand stopped.
* * *
When Masha said a reply had arrived from the Ovilion family, Elina immediately dropped everything and opened the letter.
Her face slowly brightened.
The stiff handwriting made it obvious—
he had been very nervous.
“Are you that happy?”
Of course she was happy.
But it wasn’t because of her feelings for Kaian.
It was because she was certain her plan for revenge—one that wouldn’t harm her family—would succeed.
Just imagining Verdin’s face twisted in anger and jealousy made her feel satisfied.
She was already grateful for the chance to fix her past mistakes.
Something like this—
Even the gods would forgive such a small revenge.
“It’s probably nothing compared to how Kaian feels.”
Elina smiled as she imagined Kaian writing the reply with a pounding heart.
“Of course.”
Ignoring Masha’s amused gaze, Elina read the letter again.
The truly cute one—
was Kaian Ovilion.
[Elina Estria.]
The letter began stiffly.
[Thank you for the invitation. It is an honor to have the opportunity to be your partner.
Kaian Ovilion.]
It was short and rigid, but the fact that he accepted was enough.
She had secretly worried that he might refuse because he was too nervous.
“That’s a relief.”
Now she was sure—
the expression she saw before was just her misunderstanding.
Kaian was simply nervous because he was facing the woman he had loved for so long.
His carefully written handwriting seemed to carry all his feelings.
Elina imagined the shy emotions hidden behind his cold face.
That cold personality—
must have been shaped by long, unreturned love.
She knew well how painful one-sided love could be.
So she decided—
She would give him all the affection she had never given before.
“But Miss… why him of all people?”
Masha, who had been watching her smile, finally asked out of curiosity.
Of course, she couldn’t say, because Verdin hates him.
After thinking for a moment, Elina gave the simplest answer.
“Because he’s handsome.”
“He… is handsome.”
Masha looked like she couldn’t argue with that.
Then she asked again,
“But His Highness Verdin is also handsome.”
Verdin was undeniably handsome—even Masha admitted it.
“So what? He doesn’t like me.”
“What about the young duke? Does he like you?”
Masha’s brown eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Elina answered confidently,
“Well, isn’t it obvious that he likes me?”
Masha nodded blankly.
“I guess… but there was also the exception—His Highness Verdin.”
“….”
Those careless words hit Elina harder than expected.
She wasn’t blindly arrogant.
She knew exactly how beautiful she was.
Her pink hair like cherry blossoms and her bright eyes attracted everyone.
Her flawless skin and perfect figure only added to it.
Both men and women tried everything to get close to her.
But—
there was one exception.
Verdin didn’t love her.
Not only that—
He destroyed her and her entire family.
Elina was certain—
Verdin Pernia was someone who couldn’t love anyone but himself.
“This time, it’s different, Masha.”
Masha smiled and nodded, as if she found her adorable.
As long as it wasn’t that unsettling Crown Prince, she didn’t mind.
She chose not to say what she really thought—
that Kaian Ovilion, known for being cold, would never suddenly fall in love with her.
A beautiful man wasn’t easy to win.
It seemed—
Her lady had once again started a passionate one-sided love.
