Ch.92Epilogue – Enella Chester (1)

In the banquet hall where swarms of red butterflies scattered like ripples in a fountain, the girl’s cheeks flushed pink. The woman, wearing not a uniform but a pure white dress, kissed her partner and smiled happily.

The future of the two who had won their happy smiles seemed as brilliant as a straight-lined Milky Way.

[I’m envious…]

The girl unconsciously murmured aloud. Her soliloquy was merely a simple emotional resonance. But from that moment, that quiet resonance transformed into a mission for a certain boy.

The result was the current Arnel Chester. A man who, with a serious expression, was now begging his sister for answers in the garden.

“So… you’re asking me what women like?”

“Yes.”

Enella scolded Arnel with a look of disbelief. Arnel nodded with an earnest gaze. For Enella, this made the situation even more frustrating.

“Why are you asking me that? Don’t you know that all the women in our family prefer swords over jewels? And I’m already nursing a broken heart. Sigh… what would you know?”

“I thought you might understand since you’re a woman after all.”

“Wow, saying such offensive things with such an innocent face really pisses me off.”

“Forget it then. It’s my fault for choosing the wrong person to consult.”

“You little—ack!”

Enella almost struck him with her tilted scabbard but stopped herself just in time. Unlike before, she now knew that Arnel clearly had the upper hand.

‘Damn… why am I intimidated by Arnel who’s never properly swung a wooden sword even once?!’

In the past, she had bullied Arnel without knowing better. Choking him with her arm or beating him with whatever stick she could find.

It was hard to accept that Arnel, who preferred reading books to playing outside, was actually extraordinary. How much better it would have been if she’d never found out.

Then she could still be happily tormenting Arnel now!

‘Ah, ugh…!’

Enella unconsciously groaned. Since her train of thought ended with tormenting her brother, it became an opportunity to reflect on her thoughtless past.

‘Come to think of it, I really did bully him a lot… Is Arnel secretly good-natured?’

Looking into the abyss of the past, Enella was like a wolf. She was comparable to a rabid dog who sought out Arnel whenever she was bored and bit him.

There were times when Arnel would make a tearful face after having his book taken away…!

“Ahem!”

Enella cleared her thoughts with a dramatic fake cough. And she made a decision. Just this once, she would be a helpful sister to the clueless Arnel.

“You, don’t do anything unnecessary and just wait. Refrain from saying tactless things and stay put. I’ll find out for you.”

“You’re not my older sister.”

“Shut up! I’m going to help you just this once, so be grateful.”

“I don’t have high expectations, but… fine.”

“If you don’t have expectations, don’t drag me into this in the first place!”

Enella barely restrained herself from raising her hand again. Yes, Arnel’s subtly irritating attitude was largely to blame. What made it worse was that he wasn’t even aware of it. And the fact that Enella was his only target made it even more infuriating…

Turning her back sharply, Enella strode away with confident steps.

As she left the mansion with such dignity, Enella thought:

“Now what should I do…?”

She faced a massive wall right from the start. Miren was the only female acquaintance Enella had. She was a clear outsider who would rather swing her sword one more time than attend social parties.

What to do? She could already picture Arnel’s expression if she returned sheepishly—that elegant frown with his eyes creased. She’d rather die than face such an expression.

Snap!

Just then, Enella snapped her fingers as a brilliant idea crossed her mind. There was no need to ask a woman what women like. It might be more effective to ask a man who knows women well!

“Male acquaintances… someone suitable… Brother Nepy? Ugh… impossible. I’d still cry if we made eye contact. Brother Bartlant is… there’s a reason he’s single at that age. A man with a light-hearted wit who’s admired by noble ladies…”

…

While searching for the right candidate, Enella thought of the perfect man. Although they weren’t close, she had enough connections to approach him. After all, he had indirectly benefited from the Chester family.

Rumors said that his room used the fireplaces with countless marriage proposals from noble ladies. Such a person would surely know what elements would please a woman of ordinary sensibilities.

Enella’s grand misadventure began through this process.

“So, you visited without notice to ask about this, Lady Chester? How to capture a woman’s heart…”

“I’m sorry. I tend to be impatient.”

Enella apologized briefly to the man before her. He awkwardly scratched the bridge of his nose.

‘I hope my choice was right.’

He was a man with abundant golden hair that swayed like willow leaves. His amethyst eyes contained a magical charm that could captivate any woman’s heart. His tall figure and voice like rolling jade beads seemed to perfectly embody the concept of perfection.

“Lord Philliah Estern. You don’t seem busy, so please teach me.”

“I am busy! W-well, today is a holiday so I am free. But… teaching…”

Philliah smiled brightly as if troubled. No, he merely curved the corners of his mouth, yet it created an illusion of radiant light.

“Women seem to like it when you just smile quietly.”

“So quiet smiling is important.”

“No, that’s important, but more… how should I say… fundamental…”

“Oh come on, why are you being so ambiguous? Stop trembling like a girl and just tell me!”

“You’re also a gi— no, never mind. It’s embarrassing to say this myself, but I am quite handsome.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes.”

“By that logic, shouldn’t Brother Nepy have far more women flocking to him?”

“P-pardon?”

Philliah reflected on how many times he had stumbled over his words today, when he was usually so eloquent. He prided himself on being objective about his appearance, considering himself the most handsome man in the Empire.

While Nepy Alteon was certainly good-looking… comparing himself to Nepy seemed unfair. He became convinced that Enella had a very peculiar aesthetic sense.

“Ninety-nine out of a hundred would say I’m handsome.”

“Asking your servants would obviously get you that answer.”

“I’ve never asked them!”

“You can praise yourself that much without even asking? Wow… impressive.”

“It’s not something you need to ask to know… but why am I explaining my appearance to you, Lady Chester?”

“Then just admit it.”

“Ugh…?!”

It was the kind of sophistry a child might use. But appearance was a major issue to him. His pride, built since childhood, was too solid to lower himself regarding his looks.

So Philliah, with twitching cheeks that he struggled to control, proposed:

“Lady Chester.”

“Yes?”

“You wanted to ask me for secrets… Very well. I’ll gladly teach you.”

“You should have done that from the start.”

Enella crossed her arms haughtily. Philliah gave her a knowing smile.

“But, in a practical format.”

“You mean sparring?”

Shing!

Enella drew the real sword at her waist. Alarmed by her unexpectedly quick draw, Philliah hastily explained:

“Who on earth seduces someone after a bloody fight?! What I mean is… you, with me, should go on a date.”

“That doesn’t sound appealing…”

Crack-!

Philliah barely maintained his fragile smile. For the first time, he experienced the maddening feeling of blood vessels popping in his forehead while talking to a woman. Even maintaining polite speech was reaching its limit.

“I’m certain you’ll blush during our date. Then you can simply relay that experience.”

“Well… I’ll accept for reference.”

“But! If you do feel embarrassed, I request a sincere apology and acknowledgment.”

“Note to self… to seduce women, set conditions for dates…”

“I’m canceling this, damn it.”

Philliah’s last bastion of polite speech crumbled helplessly. Every oblivious remark from Enella cut him to the bone.

‘Should I have just made something up and sent her away?’

For the first time in his life, Philliah trembled with fear before a woman.

‘Ah, did I make a mistake? Have I dug my own grave by giving in to my emotions?’ Regret rose like smoke from his toes to his head.

He resolved to give his all to this date.

To seduce this brazen uninvited guest—the iron-walled girl Enella—by any means necessary.

His misfortune was that Enella had also made her own resolution.

‘If I lose today, I’ll invite a courtesan teacher from the marketplace and learn how to get revenge.’

‘I’ll approach this date for Brother Nepy’s honor!’

And so, with Nepy’s honor being invoked for no relevant reason.

A tense war between the children of the four ducal families began.

I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for your debutante, Enella…