“…engagement?”
For a moment, I couldn’t understand what Bianca was talking about. No, my head was refusing to understand what Bianca was saying. Engagement? Did she mean the engagement between a man and a woman that promises future marriage? Like the engagement I once had with Sarah?
I raised my head. In my vision, Bianca’s figure, with her ears dyed red, came into view. Seeing Bianca like that, I felt a strange feeling: ‘This nasty girl also has such a cute side.’
The next moment, I had a delusion of really getting engaged to Bianca. At the engagement ceremony, we put rings on each other, smiled lightly at each other, and then kissed, which could be called the highlight of the engagement ceremony—
‘…damn it.’
I couldn’t help but laugh at myself. Even though I had been swearing at Bianca until just now, as soon as I heard the word ‘engagement,’ I had a delusion of having an affectionate relationship with her.
I quickly examined Bianca’s complexion. Fortunately, she wasn’t looking in my direction but rather had her head down toward the ground. The lobes of her ears were so red that they looked like they would explode soon. Bianca’s appearance was a clear indicator that she was feeling quite ashamed for speaking out about ‘engagement’ towards me.
‘…hmm.’
It was clear that the talk about getting engaged that Bianca had just brought up was not about getting engaged for real. No, in the first place, there was no way that there could be a sweet story like ‘engagement’ between the Duke of Estel and the Marquis of Castana. Moreover, it was safe to assume that Bianca, who considered me less than a house dog, would want to be engaged to me. It seemed clear that this was Bianca’s most vicious plan to see me panic.
“…I don’t think you really want to get engaged. I guess you’re just pretending. Are my guesses wrong?”
Bianca’s expression hardened once, as if her heart had been pricked by my reasonable reasoning, and then she looked at me with a terrifying gaze.
I was well aware that people who were often hit on the sore spot usually reacted this way.
“Smart…very smart, Cain. You are right. Yeah, I didn’t really mean to get engaged. You made a very rational and sober judgment, Cain.”
“…..”
“Hmm, yes. Right. You and lies…yes. The reason for suggesting a fake engagement is very simple. It’s for the same reason you were ordered by the emperor to hold an engagement ceremony with that foxy woman.”
“…?”
The engagement ceremony was held under the order of the emperor? Did I have such loyalty towards the emperor? I heard from my father that the emperor was involved in my engagement, but wasn’t that literally just arranging the engagement?
“Cain, can you please stop pretending to be stupid? Are you acting like that because you’re worried that I’ll run to the emperor and tell him everything? If not, are you acting like that to make sure what the Marquis of Castana knows? If we’ve come this far, can’t you trust us a little?”
No, I don’t understand what you’re talking about, so I’m just acting like this.
“The reason why a noble family with a deep history, such as the Duke of Estel, became engaged to an aristocratic family, such as Count Cernard, was to catch the scruffs of the rats sneaking behind the scenes with Count Cernard as their signboard.”
“A rat?”
“Yes, an unknown group whose name, identity, and purpose are unknown. We know it too well. About the fact that for the past 20 years, the Duke of Estel has been struggling to uncover their identities. It is also that he was faithful to his role to lure them to the point of enduring all sorts of ridicule and shame that he was a phantom and incompetent.”
“…..”
“And a few months ago, you partly caused a scandal to induce the breakup because you achieved more than a certain amount, right? Certainly, if you burrow into them more than necessary, you run the risk of being tracked back by them.”
Some unknown group was hiding behind Count Cernard’s family? So to sum up Bianca’s words, Sarah and I were not just engaged, but part of a ruse to uncover their identities. From what I’ve heard, Bianca’s claims were nothing more than cheap conspiracy theories on the streets. If it were usual, it would have been obvious that upon hearing such words, I would have snorted and then let it go through one ear.
Unfortunately, however, I was unable to refute Bianca’s claim. Because the moment I heard Bianca’s words, something passed through my head.
“…Cain, that’s great. It’s a curse that even most mages don’t notice.”
“The engagement ring I gave you is very precious, so don’t lose it.”
Sarah wished to entrust herself to the Duke of Estel. An unknown curse dwelled in her body. And the strange ring she gave me as a gift. All of that, combined with what Bianca had just said, was drawing a conclusion.
“…..”
As I gently bit my lower lip, unable to hide my bewildered eyes, Bianca nodded softly, looking at my face and wondering if she was misunderstanding.
“Looking at your expression, it looks like I hit the point. But don’t worry. House Castana also wants to find out their identities. The engagement I mentioned just now is only an extension of that matter.”
Only then did I begin to have a vague idea of what Bianca was talking about.
“So, the reason you asked me to get engaged…”
Was it meant to put on a play to uncover the identities of the hidden power behind Count Cernard’s family?
“Right. It’s quite disgraceful, but recently I’ve noticed movements indicating that they’ve infiltrated deep into the Castana marquis family. But I couldn’t figure out who the traitor was or how far they had penetrated. This is only speculation, but it seems there is a traitor in the family who has colluded with them. That’s why I felt the need to pull them out of their burrows.”
Goblin: Want to read more? Then please consider becoming a Patron at Patreon to read more chapters, and you can also support me by donating at BuymeaCoffee! A little support can help me a lot!
The Patreon page has (IPUAW Level 1) at $5 only a month. Member of this tier will get access to Two Advance Chapters immediately, then stay Two Chapters ahead of regular release for the month!
If you enjoy this novel, please take some time to rate it on NU
Become a Supreme Patron for only $30 to access all the advanced chapters of all the novels on Goblinslate!
Please point out any mistakes if you find one.
Please whitelist this site in your a*blocker to support the translation.
I had to make an acc for this sh!t but this guys stupid asf
Bianca is not helping herself lol
Thank you for reading!