Tiendavis - For Perfect Salvation - Chapter 46

At this time, Cassel was still in a good mood.

“It seems the Count will not be coming out again.”

He was pleased because Count Laurel did not attend the evening banquet, allowing him to take the seat under the wisteria.

“He’s quite blatant, isn’t he?”

Cassel tilted his wine glass with a pleased expression.

The Count, who had been constantly watching Ibi, invariably disappeared when Ibi didn’t come to the banquet hall.

So Cassel found the terrifying Count’s devotion secretly amusing.

And he was quite pleased that it was his cute puppy who had that Count wrapped around her finger.

“By the way, where did Ibi go? She said she’d come all prettied up.”

“She must have heard by now.”

When Cassel inquired about Ibi, a curt response came from beside him.

Cassel had been going around since this morning saying he would nominate Rio as the Holy Maiden. So Ibi must have heard the news by now.

His friend responded as if disgusted by Cassel’s brazenness in looking for Ibi while knowing this full well, but Cassel chuckled without remorse.

“Surely she’s not crying alone? That would be too heartbreaking.”

Cassel downed the remaining wine in his glass while saying words he didn’t mean.

Though no one would believe it, Cassel quite liked Ibi.

Unlike the haughty ladies of Tienda, she was small and pitiful like an animal, making him want to tease her whenever he saw her.

So Cassel was quite excited because of Ibi.

He was very curious how that utterly submissive girl would react when she realized she had been abandoned.

She’ll probably avoid me without saying anything, showing signs of being upset? It would be fun to chase her around and torment her then.

Unexpectedly, she might come looking for me with eyes full of betrayal and whine first. Then I should carefully explain things one by one so she understands her place.

Either way, it seemed too cute, making Cassel more satisfied with his decision to support another Holy Maiden.

It was when Cassel was in such high spirits.

“Cassel!”

Suddenly a shout rang out and a man rushed at Cassel. If Cassel’s friends hadn’t stopped him, he looked ready to grab Cassel by the collar right away.

“Tell me honestly.”

The man who accosted him like this was Cassel’s younger cousin from his mother’s side.

That fellow glared at his elder cousin as if he would devour him and said,

“Breaking off my engagement, was it your doing?”

At his cousin’s question, Cassel’s eyes, which were always curved in a smile, widened.

‘How did he find out?’

As his cousin said, Cassel had secretly trampled on his love before.

It was because his only cousin had thrown a fit about marrying a daughter from an insignificant family. Cassel wanted to have a reliable relative if possible.

But that was already last year’s affair, and he had cleaned up the aftermath neatly, so what on earth had he heard to be acting like this now?

When Cassel made a bewildered expression, the man shouted at the top of his lungs, demanding an answer.

So Cassel burst into a hollow laugh.

“My, you’re quite drunk. What are you all doing? Quickly escort my cousin to his room before he makes more mistakes.”

Cassel feigned innocence and nodded, and soon people dragged his cousin away.

‘Where did the word leak from?’

And Cassel just tilted his head, not thinking much of it.

However, not long after that insignificant commotion ended, this time three women came.

“Cassel, let’s talk for a moment.”

They were former lovers who should no longer have any reason to speak to Cassel Montra, having parted ways most cruelly.

Cassel was quite surprised and pointed at them with his finger.

“Was this a combination that hung out together?”

“At least we weren’t on non-speaking terms. Before we met you.”

“But when we talked today, we found we had a big misunderstanding.”

“We don’t even want to mention what kind of misunderstanding, but would the Marquis care to explain?”

The three women in glamorous dresses shot back with cold faces.

But Cassel had no idea what he was supposed to explain.

‘What have they come to confront me about?’

Did they find out I was seeing that lady while dating this lady?

Did they discover I lied about that lady cheating in order to seduce this lady?

Did they catch on that I asked to see this lady again because that lady seemed likely to cling to me?

Cassel had no clue what his former lovers knew and how much they knew.

So he looked at his friends with a cornered expression, but even those who were loyal to Cassel in hopes of getting something couldn’t readily step forward this time.

“Well, it’s an old story, so I don’t quite remember…”

In the end, as Cassel smiled and tried to brush it off, wine was poured over his face.

With a splash and a refreshing sound, as water dripped from his face, Cassel froze in place.

Meanwhile, the woman who had doused him with alcohol ground out with a face full of anger.

“To have played with three people and claim not to remember, I wonder how you’ll lead the family business of the great House Montra with such a memory.”

With those final words, the three women turned away coldly.

Cassel quietly watched the red drops of alcohol dripping down his forehead, then forced a smile at the hand offering a handkerchief from beside him.

“Ha, what day is it today?”

Cassel brushed up his drooping bangs, pretending nothing was wrong.

His friends also burst into laughter on purpose, averting their eyes from his humiliation.

“You should think of it as a wound of glory.”

“To be denounced by three ladies, it’s something others can only wish for.”

Cassel barely shook off the embarrassing feeling by cackling with his group.

But because attention was already drawn to him, it was uncomfortable to stay here longer, so he moved to the villa.

They started playing cards again while eating and drinking in the hall.

It was just when a good hand finally came into Cassel’s possession.

“Marquis, may I interrupt for a moment?”

The person who came this time was Viscount Verde.

He was a figure connected to Cassel through business, and Cassel set down his cards for a moment and moved to a place away from his friends.

“This is something we should discuss on another day, but I felt I couldn’t sleep unless I confirmed it right away, so I’m being rude.”

“Haha, what are you trying to say that makes you look so scary?”

Cassel sensed the atmosphere was not ordinary. Usually, Viscount Verde was a gentle old man.

“You said you wanted to catch and tame wild horses from the western mountains, so I lent you the mountain in my territory. By any chance, did you forcibly mobilize the nearby residents to capture wild horses at that time?”

Damn it. Cassel secretly swallowed a curse. Then he asked back with the most benevolent face possible.

“Forced mobilization? This is the first I’m hearing of it. Where did you hear such news?”

“I was already looking into the cause because strange rumors were circulating, but if it’s news to you, I hope that’s true. I’ll have someone check, so the results should be out soon.”

Viscount Verde’s voice was courteous to the end. But what he added was brutal.

“Until the suspicions are cleared up, I will suspend all the work you were doing in my territory.”

“No, Viscount. Why are you suddenly acting like this? What did you hear that makes you speak as if you’ll cut ties with our family? You seem too agitated, so let’s set another date to talk.”

At the bolt from the blue, Cassel hurriedly grabbed Viscount Verde.

Then Viscount Verde, who had turned away, stopped his steps and spoke as if he found it truly pitiful.

“Considering my loyalty to the previous Marquis, I’ll give you one piece of advice. The reason the old men haven’t spoken out against your actions so far is not because they don’t know, but because they’ve been waiting patiently. The House of Montra is the Prime Minister of Tiendavis. Just as Bayen protects the lower continent by commanding the army, Montra has a duty to be responsible for the continent’s livelihood. Yet far from looking after their circumstances, how can you wield tyranny even in someone else’s territory for mere wild horses? If you’re only interested in making money, you might as well become a merchant.”

Cassel couldn’t say anything in response to the Viscount’s rebuke.

Not because the old man’s admonition cut to the bone, but because he felt a sense of dissonance.

Everything he had just experienced could have happened eventually. But it’s strange for them to come rushing in one after another as if they had been waiting.

Cassel was just dissolute, not stupid. So he was certain this was not a coincidence, but someone’s intention.

“Find out what’s going on.”

Cassel snarled savagely as he returned to where he had been playing cards.

“Find out why these people are making a fuss at me.”

At Cassel’s urging, three or four of his friends rushed outside.

Meanwhile, Cassel threw away the cards and just kept downing wine. But he couldn’t get drunk at all.

Because three more guests had come by in the meantime. They too dug up Cassel’s misdeeds and got angry.

With this, the total number of people who came to see Cassel was six. But since there aren’t many who can directly confront a great nobleman, there are probably many more who have complaints but are quietly swallowing them.

So as time passed, Cassel couldn’t help but become more and more anxious rather than getting drunk.

After waiting for a long time feeling as if he was standing at the gates of hell, Cassel’s friends brought a servant.

“What is this?”

“I, I was asked to deliver something. So I just delivered it according to the names written there.”

Cassel snatched the paper the servant held out irritably.

On the back of that paper, neatly folded like a letter, only the recipient’s name was written cleanly.

And inside, Cassel’s misdeeds related to the recipient were written in detail. It also kindly instructed who to ask to confirm this.

The contents were as if someone had been watching Cassel’s every move from the side and written it down.

So Cassel instinctively glared at his friends. They shook their heads hurriedly as if it was only natural, and Cassel badgered the servant again.

“Who ordered this?”

“It was ordered by Lady Ibi Ariate.”

“Ibi?”

At the servant’s revelation, Cassel’s anger disappeared instead. Because he couldn’t believe it at all.

‘What nonsense is this…’

There’s no way that ignorant girl could do something like this.

Cassel looked at the note in his hand again suspiciously. And only then did he recognize that neat handwriting.

That writing, forming elegant curves as if drawn, was Ibi Ariate’s handwriting.

Cassel stared at that paper for a while, then threw a wine bottle with all his might and shattered it. Then he flipped the table and threw a couple of chairs too.

Crash, bang, crack.

He made a mess quietly in order to maintain his dignity, without shouting.

Only then did he seem to calm down, sitting on the sofa while catching his breath.

At that time, his friends were standing in the corner like frightened chicks, watching Cassel’s rampage. The servant had already fled.

Cassel gestured with his hand while unbuttoning his stifling shirt. At that gesture, a quick-witted friend picked up the crumpled paper and handed it to Cassel.

Cassel stared at the paper engraved with Ariate’s handwriting again and burst into a hollow laugh.

“Ha, this kid is really funny.”

“Was it really Ariate’s doing?”

“She must have been used, that idiot.”

Did she hold a grudge or something, falling completely for someone who approached her in that gap and stabbing me in the back. This fool has no fear.

Cassel concluded this without even doubting. Then he smiled cruelly, baring his canine teeth.

He was furious enough to go crazy, but his pride was hurt to throw a fit over this morsel of a girl.

So Cassel forcibly suppressed his anger and got up from the sofa, smiling leisurely as usual.

“I guess I should go meet Ibi for now.”

He intended to thoroughly scold this most abominable thing when he met her.