YL 19

Chapter 19

“Haha. Well, it’s true. Both you and Mari love sleeping in.”

“Larisa, that’s easy for you to say since you’re up at dawn training every day. But Mari and I aren’t like that. Don’t expect the impossible from us.”

Larisa laughed softly.

Rose smiled along with her, but her thoughts wandered elsewhere.

She had spoken without much thought, but for the sake of her future, it would be better to leave her family someday.

The moment she remained tied to her household…

She would inevitably be swept up in fate.

Still…

There was time.

For a little while longer…

Couldn’t she stay like this?

Couldn’t she enjoy this peaceful life just a bit longer?

“Let’s head back. Mari’s probably waiting.”

“Yeah.”

A trace of sadness crossed her heart.

Meanwhile…

“…Hey, Owen. No matter how much I do, this never ends.”

Herys slumped over his desk, practically lying on it as he complained to his aide.

To be fair, he had every reason to complain.

Herys was exceptionally capable, and whenever he truly focused, he could process an enormous mountain of paperwork in a single day.

The problem was that the Emperor had neglected so much work over the years that even Herys’s abilities couldn’t keep up.

Looking at the endless stacks of documents still waiting for him, Herys sincerely wanted to give up being Crown Prince altogether.

His aide, Owen, however, remained perfectly cold.

“It’s Your Highness’s own fault for putting things off. Staring at me won’t help. You’d be better off reading another report.”

Instead of wasting even a second complaining, Owen advised him to spend that time working.

Without even looking in Herys’s direction, he continued reading his own documents.

“You’re heartless.”

“That’s precisely why I’m still Your Highness’s aide.”

Owen showed absolutely no mercy.

Then again…

Owen himself was half-crazed from the overwhelming workload, so Herys couldn’t really complain much.

Taking a sip of his now-cold tea, Herys returned to the paperwork.

“Ah… The war really is almost over. Otherwise ridiculous proposals like this wouldn’t be coming in.”

“…Again?”

Without even needing an explanation, Owen frowned deeply.

Herys answered with the expression of someone who had already transcended frustration.

“Yep. The famous ‘Regulations on Limiting Rewards for Enoch Chester.’ Or, to put it another way…”

“‘The Don’t Give Everything to Enoch Chester Act.’”

“Honestly, considering his achievements, even giving him everything wouldn’t be enough.”

“True. But human nature hates seeing one person get it all.”

Even if someone fully deserved every reward…

People still couldn’t stand the idea of giving it to them.

Such was the ugliness of human greed.

Herys clicked his tongue.

Owen did the same.

“So they’re loading their weapons before tearing him apart.”

“My guess is they’ll attack him through marriage proposals.”

“They’ll try to exploit Enoch through marriage—and maybe even swallow up House Chester in the process.”

“Exactly.”

“Our rotten old Emperor is thinking the same thing.”

“He has plenty of imperial princesses lying around, so he’s planning to throw one at Enoch and profit from it.”

“Fortunately, though…”

“He knows Enoch is terrifying enough that he’s started treading carefully.”

Grinding his teeth, Herys muttered those words.

Owen sighed.

Would Enoch Chester really marry an imperial princess?

A man who hated being used…

A man who despised troublesome situations…

Especially one of the Emperor’s daughters, who were little more than political pawns?

Even Princess Carlea, the Crown Prince’s younger sister, wasn’t much different from the others.

“So I advised him to get married before anyone else could manipulate him…”

“…But he won’t, will he?”

“Who knows?”

“Maybe this time he actually will.”

“He’s certainly old enough.”

Herys snorted.

“But we’re talking about Enoch.”

“Even if he married someone…”

“I doubt she’d be treated like a wife.”

“Can you even call that a marriage?”

Owen couldn’t disagree.

The odds of Enoch agreeing to an arranged marriage were less than one percent.

And even if he did…

Nothing would really change.

His wife would probably exist only on paper.

He’d treat her little differently from one of the household maids.

The very idea of Enoch Chester falling in love…

No one could even imagine it.

No one expected it.

“Still…”

“There are countless noble ladies dreaming of becoming the Duchess of Chester.”

“So finding someone willing to marry him shouldn’t be difficult.”

“Which only proves they’re all insane.”

“They know exactly how he’ll treat them…”

“And yet they still want him.”

“Maybe they’re clinging to some impossible fantasy.”

“Or maybe…”

“They simply can’t picture it.”

The classic mindset:

“Surely he wouldn’t treat his own wife like that.”

That was probably how most noble ladies thought.

Owen could only shake his head.

Did they have any idea who Enoch Chester really was?

He was more than capable of doing exactly that.

Herys also clicked his tongue.

“No one realizes that the rumors about Enoch Chester are actually the kind version.”

“You mean the rumors calling him a monster?”

“I feel sorry for monsters.”

“Enoch Chester is far scarier.”

“At least to me.”

As if proving his own point, Herys shuddered dramatically.

Owen rolled his eyes.

It was exaggerated…

But not entirely wrong.

“So, I guess Enoch won’t be getting married anytime soon.”

“You never know.”

“What if someday he meets a lady he genuinely likes…”

“…and simply snatches her away?”

Of course…

Owen was certain Enoch wouldn’t spare a single thought for the woman’s own feelings.

Still, it was an unusually optimistic thing for him to say.

Herys stared at him as though he’d gone mad.

“Owen.”

“Try saying something believable.”

“Have you been secretly reading romance novels lately?”

“Enoch Chester?”

“Just imagining it gives me goosebumps.”

“Eugh.”

For a brief moment, Herys remembered the young lady who had given him one of the funniest moments of his life.

She wasn’t especially extraordinary.

Yet somehow…

She always caught people off guard.

That was probably why even Enoch Chester—of all people—had shown so many different expressions around her.

Whether male or female…

She was the very first person to make Enoch display his emotions so openly.

Perhaps…

If those two stayed together…

People would get to see many more of Enoch’s expressions.

Even so…

That was a completely different matter.

In fact, Herys was convinced Enoch himself would hate the idea and avoid getting anywhere near her.

Completely unaware of what Enoch was actually thinking…

Herys dismissed the possibility.

“Impossible.”

“I can’t even imagine Enoch Chester choosing someone to marry.”

“Choosing who, exactly?”

“Then I’ll bet on it.”

“Hope exists for a reason.”

Herys blinked.

“Since when did the coldest man I know become such a romantic?”

“What have you been reading lately?”

The truth was that Owen had secretly been reading the romance novels his lover was obsessed with.

Naturally, he pretended otherwise.

“Enough talking.”

“Care for a wager?”

“Fine.”

“What are we betting?”

After a moment’s thought, Owen answered,

“My paid vacation.”

“If I win…”

“I get three months of paid leave.”

“Three months?!”

“Are you insane?”

“Do you know how much work is piled up?”

“Not confident you’ll win?”

That challenge struck Herys’s pride.

“Deal.”

“But if I win…”

“No vacations for you until next year.”

“Agreed.”

And so…

Another bet was made.

As always, Herys accepted with complete confidence.

Current Record:

57 Bets

• 3 Wins
• 54 Losses

The numbers spoke for themselves.

Herys had absolutely no talent for gambling.

Elsewhere…

“Rozen.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Rozen was incredibly anxious.

He almost wished Enoch would simply get angry.

His master silently working as though nothing had happened was far more terrifying.

The old saying that “it’s easier to get punished sooner than later” had never felt truer.

The very first question Enoch had asked him was…

“Rozen.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“How does one speak privately with a young lady?”

That question completely caught Rozen off guard.

Which young lady?

The question was so sudden that he couldn’t even guess what Enoch meant.

Desperately trying to find the answer his master wanted, Rozen began considering every possibility.

A terrace?

No.

The moment a man and woman stepped behind the curtains together…

Rumors would instantly spread that they were lovers.

That definitely wasn’t what his master wanted.

A lounge?

Not ideal either.

Following her after she leaves the banquet?

That would be rude…

And could easily make him look like a stalker.

Granted…

No one would ever mistake Enoch Chester for a stalker.

Simply talking during the banquet obviously wasn’t the answer Enoch was looking for.

Otherwise…

He wouldn’t have bothered asking.

After thinking desperately, Rozen finally offered a suggestion.

“How about asking her for a dance?”

“A dance?”

Enoch frowned immediately.

Naturally.

He hated women touching him.

Rozen calmly explained.

“If you don’t want others overhearing your conversation during the banquet, there’s no better opportunity.”

“Even if people try to eavesdrop…”

“The music will drown out your voices.”

“It’s the perfect chance to speak quietly together.”

Of course…

The entire banquet hall would explode with gossip.

Enoch Chester…

Dancing with a lady?

That alone would become the biggest scandal of the evening.

Still…

Since Enoch had specifically asked about speaking privately during a banquet, Rozen believed his answer was reasonable.

After all…

Being seen alone with any young lady would already cause an uproar.

Whether they danced or not wouldn’t make much difference.

However…

There was one thing Rozen had completely overlooked.

He assumed Enoch understood exactly how the Imperial nobility viewed him.

In reality…

He did not.