Chapter 104
Pigge quickly recovered his wits, and the surprise was instantly replaced with humiliation and irritation.
The Shibre Family could now be considered as strong as the Twelve Families.
Who in their right mind would dare to interrupt him while he was making a move on Charles?
“You… Are you…” Charles’ eyes widened with understanding.
Pigge stepped closer and scowled. “Who are you to behave this rudely?”
“Rude?” the handsome man tilted his head curiously.
“You tried to invite my partner to dance. How is that not rude?” Pigge said with a frown.
“Ah…” The handsome man nodded as if he understood, but he soon started laughing.
‘He’s laughing?’
Pigge’s face went red.
“Are you sure she's your partner? I don’t think so,” said the handsome man.
“Haaah. Is that so?” Pigge’s face distorted.
At that, the man continued. “Did the Lady grab your hand? It didn’t seem like it.”
“What? You…”
“Am I right, Lady Charles?” The handsome man smiled brilliantly at Charles, ignoring Pigge’s murderous glare.
“Well, that’s…” Charles avoided the handsome man's eyes. She felt ashamed for some reason. “I’m—”
“Lady Charles! Think hard before you answer! If you refuse me now, I’ll make sure that the Shibre Family will never have anything to do with the Pontier Family! I hope you understand the severity of it!” Pigge cried out. His expression seemed desperate, and his desperation made him sweat, which resulted in his face looking like a fat blob of oil.
“...!” Charles bit her lips. She would do whatever it took to avoid endangering her family. It didn’t matter if she had to pay the price herself.
‘But…’
Charles stared at the handsome man and revealed a determined look.
‘I told myself that I don't want to appear like I was weak. Now that he has appeared, I now have the strength to pull through as well.’
Having made up her mind, Charles responded while looking directly into Pigge’s eyes.
“As I previously stated, my answer is still no.”
“Are you serious—Oh, come on!” Pigge exclaimed, and his tiny eyes widened.
“Princess?Charles, you will be sorry.”
“Oh, how the world changed so much that a Count’s son can threaten the daughter of a Duke,” said the handsome man. He seemed like he was mocking Pigge with his sarcastic tone.
“How dare you act so flippantly in front of me? What did you just say?” Pigge turned toward the handsome man and brandished his hand.
Swish.
Pigge grabbed the man by the collar, after much struggle to reach it, and exclaimed, “How dare you be so arrogant before the great Shibres! Who are you?!”
Pigge's sudden actions attracted the attention of the noble children, and they curiously observed the scene. Pigge was infamous for the way he always flaunted his noble blood, and he also had a penchant for putting on a show for the people around him.
In response, the handsome man stared down at Pigge holding him by the collar and said, “Baron Joshua Sanders.”
At that, everyone kicked up a fuss.
“Joshua Sanders? THAT Joshua Sanders?!”
“Ah! I know! He's that person's kid, right?”
“I heard he was good-looking, but I didn’t think he’d be this good-looking. This is also his first public appearance.”
“He’s the youngest to have ever received an official title in history!”
The many voices penetrated Pigge’s ears. They sounded incoherent to him, but one word stuck out the most.
“Baron? That’s your title?” Pigge glanced at Joshua, spitting his words. “A mere baron dares to offend me?”
Joshua expressionlessly peered down at the squealing pig before slowly peeling Pigge’s hand off of his collar.
With Pigge’s wrist tightly gripped in his hands, Joshua muttered, “I’m not just a mere baron or the child of a baron…”
When his words fell, a horrible noise echoed throughout the hall.
Crack!
Pigge’s eyes widened. He became aware of what just happened. Joshua had just bent his wrist the other way, and he let out a terrible scream. “AAAAAAHHH!”
Joshua ignored Pigge’s cry and continued. “I’m an official Baron.”
Joshua smirked and pressed his face against Pigge's nose, which was trembling along with his entire body.
“I am your superior because you are nothing but a Count’s son, while I'm an actual Baron. Can my words get through that fat head of yours?”
“Go away, you crazy…!”
“I’m completely sane, you know.” Joshua reached out to Pigge once again.
At that, Pigge trembled and screamed, “Hel…Help!”
“Stop.”
Joshua turned around upon hearing Charles next to him.
“Don’t dirty your hands with blood just because of me.” Charles shook her head.
Joshua shrugged. “It’s not because of you, Lady Charles.”
Joshua clenched his hand.
Thud!
“Keugh.” Pigge’s eyes rolled back in his head, and a dull thud followed.
“...” Joshua slowly rose to his feet. He stared at the unconscious Pigge with bright eyes.
“What are you doing?”
Joshua suddenly found himself surrounded by knights wearing light armor. The knights’ breastplates had the number ‘1’ engraved on them. Obviously, the knights were part of the Imperial Knights Order’s 1st Battalion.
“Just what did you do, Reserve Battalion Commander, sir…”
A middle-aged knight, who appeared to be the strongest among the 1st Battalion knights, walked up to Joshua. He was Baron Hughes. Aside from the battalion commander and vice commander of the 1st Battalion, Baron Hughes, with his neatly pulled-back hair, was the 3rd strongest member of the 1st Battalion.
Both Joshua and Hughes were honorable barons, but Hughes slightly outranked Joshua as a member of the 1st Battalion.
“Are you asking because you’re unaware?” asked Joshua.
“No, but I came here for this.” Baron Hughes stared into Joshua’s eyes with a determined look before saying, “This is excessive, Reserve Battalion Commander, sir. Remember that you’re supposed to protect and guard this place.”
Joshua avoided Baron Hughes’ gaze and muttered, “I was standing guard…”
“Haaah.” At Joshua’s uncharacteristic meek behavior, Baron Hughes let out a light sigh.
With that done and dusted, Joshua turned around and started walking away, attracting everyone’s attention in the process.
Charles, who had been staring at Joshua's back, soon followed after him with a solemn look.
***
Charles found Joshua on the outdoor patio.
Under the bitter moonlight, Joshua exuded an even more intriguing aura than he had in the raucous banquet hall. Charles also calmed down under the moonlight upon arriving at the seemingly desolate outdoor patio.
Charles’ gaze briefly landed on the shining black earring on Joshua’s right ear, and she said, “You’re still the same arrogant and rash kid.”
Joshua, who was still gazing up at the moon, smiled softly in response to Charles' words.
“People are often resistant to change.”
“...” Charles glanced behind her for a moment before she joined Joshua to stare at the moon.
“I know that you went overboard on purpose,” she said.
“What makes you think that?” asked Joshua.
“The Joshua von Agnus whom I know had never been the type to lose his cool.”
“...” Joshua was still staring at the moon.
Charles didn’t seem to mind it as she said, “After I grew up, I finally realized that you went overboard for a reason that time. You wanted to protect your mother.”
At that, Joshua stiffened before bursting out into laughter. “You have a very subjective opinion of me, and how did you even think of that?”
“It’s just…” Charles’ ruby-like eyes twinkled beneath the moonlight as she said, “A woman’s intuition?”
“...” Joshua didn’t know what to say.
Charles grinned and turned to face the silent Joshua. “Now, I can be more relaxed. Those people will have to change their behavior because of what you have done.”
“It doesn’t matter because I’m glad to help,” said Joshua.
Charles' crimson eyes attracted Joshua's gaze. The tranquil night was filled with nothing but the sounds of crickets, and their eyes eventually met.
At that, something inside Charles cried out. It was crying out because it wanted to ask…
‘How come you still don’t understand? Why haven't you come to look for me even once? Have you never thought about it even once? Have you never thought about what it means for a young lady to give their family crest to someone?’
“I—” Charles started.
However, Joshua interrupted her. “You should go back. I’d like to be alone right now.”
“...” Charles was forced to shut her mouth. However, she had also made a decision just then.
‘It was a thrilling ride.’
.
Charles had decided to think of their brief encounters as a passing romance.
Why?
Charles took a step back and thought about it. She eventually discovered why her feelings were fluctuating so much, even though she could always remain indifferent in any situation before, and it was all because…
‘I’m annoyed.’
Charles was chewing on her lip while avoiding Joshua’s eyes.
All of a sudden, she turned around and said, “Please excuse me.”
At that, Charles started strolling toward the dance hall.
“...” Joshua stared at Charles’ back with an indescribable expression.
Then, he suddenly said, “Come out.”
“Are you not going to come out?” Joshua’s voice reverberated clearly amidst the silence.
Joshua stared at a certain location and suddenly emitted a wave of invisible energy.
“...”
A figure collapsed upon being struck by the invisible energy wave.
However, they quickly recovered and charged at Joshua without a moment’s hesitation.
Clang!
Sparks flew and briefly illuminated the darkness as metal clashed against metal.
The figure’s blue eyes widened, seemingly surprised that Joshua managed to block their attack.
“YOU! Who are you? How come you can use True Kill?”
Joshua's grinned and responded, “I should be the one asking that. Why do you know about True Kill when only a few Dark Elves are supposed to know about it?”
The dark-robed figure’s blue eyes went wide in shock upon hearing that.
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