Chapter 39: 39
Zion muttered quietly with a murderous intent.
If he had let it go, he might have tolerated it.
But Shchedrin insulted his family and was about to swear.
The intense emotions made his body move on its own.
“You think you can kill me? I am a member of Duke Adelaira’s family!”
Shchedrin was furious, but he didn’t dare to approach.
He knew well who Zion Laird was.
Hanette’s fiancé, the youngest son of Marquis Laird, and a swordsman capable of using sword energy.
The fact that Zion could use sword energy alone was intimidating enough.
“… You insulted my fiancée. She is the eldest daughter of Duke Adelaira, ranking higher than you. Do I need to explain further?”
Zion let his magical power flow through his right hand, his voice sharp.
A mix of golden and purple energy swirled around him.
Shchedrin, gripped by fear, started to be cautious.
“I won’t ask you to apologize. Someone who insults my fiancée doesn’t think rationally. Even if you apologized, it wouldn’t make her feel better.”
Zion glanced at Hanette, subtly asking her opinion.
Hanette nodded slightly, signaling him to handle it as he saw fit.
“I’ll ask one last time. Will you leave quietly, or do you want to fight?”
Zion waited for Shchedrin’s answer, glaring at him.
Shchedrin slowly retreated and eventually disappeared from the garden.
“Phew…”
Zion retracted his power and approached Hanette.
Hanette hesitated for a moment, then lifted her cold teacup.
“Do you always put up with this?”
“… I could handle it myself.”
“Someone who can handle it shouldn’t be listening to such words from a brat.”
“I could ignore it, but since I was in the garden…”
“Sister, ignoring such people doesn’t solve the problem. If you let it slide, they’ll keep doing it until they’re corrected.”
Zion sighed and sat next to Hanette.
Hanette’s face showed faint signs of displeasure and anger.
She had probably endured being ignored for a long time, suppressing her emotions each time.
“If it happens again, tell me. I’ll handle it for you.”
“Even if I tell father, it won’t help. I don’t want to cause trouble…”
“I’ll beat some sense into them if needed. You shouldn’t be treated like this just because you enjoy drinking and gambling.”
“…”
Hanette’s eyes welled up with tears, which she quickly wiped away.
Her parents had always tried to mediate these issues but ended up telling her to behave properly.
No one had ever comforted or defended her.
Zion was the first to take her side and offer to stand up for her.
“You don’t have to stand up for me. You’ll just get tired.”
“I told you before. As long as you’re by my side, I’ll protect you. Do you want me to break my promise?”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Then what did you mean? What were you trying to say?”
Hanette couldn’t continue and hung her head low.
Zion’s fierce questioning left her speechless.
It felt like he had become a completely different person.
“I’m your fiancé. If you feel bad, I feel bad too. Do you understand what I mean?”
“I understand, but you should have just stayed out of it…”
“So, I should have ignored it?”
“…”
“Is that right or wrong? Just answer that.”
“Wrong…”
“You knew it was wrong but told me not to intervene? Think about my position, not just yours.”
Zion finally relaxed his tense expression.
Hanette only pretended to sip her tea, hiding her discomfort.
“I appreciate that you care, but please don’t do that again.”
“… What did you tell me before?”
“What did I say?”
“You told me not to do something.”
“I don’t remember saying that…”
Hanette recalled what she had said back then.
It was heartfelt and only meant for Zion.
But there was no need to impose it on others.
“You said you hated it. You told me not to do it to you but now you’re cowering before your half-brother?”
“…”
“I’ll say it again, you are my fiancée. I have my pride too. If you keep getting mistreated, it feels like I’m being mistreated too. Do you understand?”
“… A little.”
Hanette nodded slowly, feeling small.
Despite how their relationship started, they did have a wedding.
It wasn’t a typical relationship, meaning they had some room to intervene in each other’s lives.
If Zion was being mistreated, she wouldn’t hesitate to step in.
“What are you going to do now?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, what are your plans for today?”
“I was going to go out, but I guess I’ll stay here.”
Hanette answered quietly, turning her head slightly.
Zion seemed displeased, but oddly, a smile formed on her face.
“I’ll follow you around until you go to your room. Do as you wish.”
“… We’re already at the estate.”
“I don’t care if it’s the estate or not. Just do as you wish.”
“Are you mad at me?”
“Should I be smiling? Should I applaud?”
“Why are you like this?”
“That’s what I want to ask. Why live like this? It’s frustrating.”
“Hey! I did fight back!”
“What’s the point of fighting back? It’s all meaningless to me.”
“That’s harsh.”
“If you don’t like it, act better.”
“You really… sigh…”
Hanette, at a loss for words, furrowed her brows.
She felt like Zion was pushing her limits.
Yet, it felt oddly comforting that he cared enough to get angry.
‘He remembered that I hated being called a brat. How annoyingly considerate…’
* * *
Duke Adelaira’s estate, office.
Zion and Hanette were summoned by Robbenz in the evening.
They could guess why, but they weren’t certain.
Even if they had reported it, they wouldn’t have been blamed; instead, they might have been supported.
There was no way they would make such a foolish move on purpose.
“… I have a personal question, and I need an honest answer.”
Robbenz turned to Zion as soon as he sat down.
He could have asked Hanette, but her answers were always unsatisfactory in these matters.
It was better to ask Zion, who was almost like an outsider.
“What is it about?”
“I heard there was a disturbance between Hanette and Shchedrin today. You intervened. Can you explain what happened?”
As expected, it was going in this direction.
Zion found it hard to believe and momentarily kept silent.
Hanette remained still, listening quietly.
“… Duke Adelaira, I intended to let it go quietly. Sister wanted that, and I didn’t want to trouble you over such a small matter.”
“Tell me what you saw. I can’t judge based on one side’s story.”
“I’m certain Shchedrin was wrong. He openly mocked my fiancée, calling her a brat and saying she only does bratty things. How can I stay quiet?”
“…”
Robbenz stroked his chin, holding back his anger.
Shchedrin had said Zion had unreasonably picked a fight while talking to Hanette.
He had caused the trouble and then hid the truth.
“Hanette, is what Zion said true?”
“…”
“Answer me. Is it true?”
“… Yes. Shchedrin started it, and I tried to let it go. Then Zion saw it.”
Hanette avoided Robbenz’s gaze, answering calmly.
Robbenz had never encouraged or praised her.
He always scolded her and told her to behave, blocking her whenever she tried to do something.
He was her father and the head of Duke Adelaira’s family, but he had long seemed like a stranger.
“… Should I call Shchedrin to verify?”
“I don’t mind if my sister is okay with it.”
“… I don’t mind either.”
Robbenz stood up and picked up a bell from his desk.
He shook it violently, and a maid appeared at the door.
“Fetch Shchedrin.”
“Yes, sir.”
Robbenz set the bell down, trying to calm his rising anger.
Hanette never lied about these incidents, even if she tried to downplay them.
Zion was her fiancé, but he wouldn’t lie to his face.
“… Uh.”
Shchedrin entered the office hurriedly and noticed Zion and Hanette.
Before he could grasp the cold atmosphere, Robbenz spoke.
“Just answer the question. Did you call your sister a brat?”
“What? That’s…”
“Just answer the question! Did you insult your sister?”
Shchedrin, startled by Robbenz’s shout, regained his senses.
Robbenz had scolded him before but had always let him off with a warning.
This time seemed different.
“I… I did, but…”
“Useless boy!”
“Ow!”
Robbenz struck Shchedrin as soon as he answered.
Shchedrin fell, and Zion and Hanette stood up immediately.
“I told you not to do that, but you still caused trouble!”
“F-father…”
“No noble dares to belittle your sister in my presence! Do you know why? Because she’s my daughter and the eldest of Duke Adelaira’s family! And you dare speak like that to her?”
Robbenz’s rage shook the office.
Hanette, surprised by his reaction, watched quietly.
Zion remained calm, observing.
“Your sister might ignore you, but do you think Zion would? How could he stay calm when his fiancée is insulted?”
“I… I…”
“Do you know what you’ve done? You’ve disrespected Zion Laird and insulted Marquis Laird’s family! Do you think Marquis Laird will let this slide? Fine. I’ll handle this personally.”
Robbenz looked around and then headed somewhere.
Zion and Hanette, bewildered, quickly followed.
Robbenz grabbed a sword hanging on the wall and drew it swiftly.
“I’ll punish you with this sword and ask Marquis Laird for forgiveness. Zion Laird will understand my intentions, won’t he?”