CH 137
—Always be happy.
That was the most precious of his wishes…
They were the sweetest and warmest words I had ever heard in my life.
To the point that I was ashamed of my heart as I counted the wealth and mines of Valienne.
Frankly, the love and kindness he gave me could never be repaid with material rewards.
‘I’m so stupid.’
I was drenched by an infinitely kind heart, and this time, I really felt like I was going to cry.
So I quickly turned around and covered my eyes.
A warm voice could be heard from behind.
“Annette.”
“Thank you, Marquis. However…”
I immediately turned around and spoke in a very firm tone.
“You can’t use the wish like that.”
“Yes?”
“I will do my best to be good to you. As much as I received, I will now stand by your side and be a strong support.”
“…….”
“I’m going to do a really good job!”
“…Annette.”
Now, it was Bizet’s eyes that were trembling. It was for a moment, as if touched, then he smiled softly.
It was a genuinely happy face. Sincere happiness was oozing out of his bright, clear smile.
“As much as the Marquis did for me, I will pay you back bit by bit.”
After a while, Bizet put a hand on his chest and said,
“Ah, what a wonderful daughter-in-law! How can I not covet it!”
“……!”
“……!”
Ah, how did the conversation turn into this?
‘It has been over 10 years since he proposed to me to be his daughter-in-law, but you still want me to be your daughter-in-law?’
Contrary to Annette, who was surprised by his tenacity, when Kyle heard the ‘declaration of a wonderful daughter-in-law’, his ears burned red as if embarrassed. Since… If his father wanted Annette to become his daughter-in-law, the first order of business was to get her to marry Kyle.
Kyle muttered after letting out a low cough.
“Father, let’s leave now. Other nobles are waiting for greetings.”
“Wait a minute, Kyle.”
Bizet firmly stopped Kyle with one hand, then he moved closer to me.
“I heard the story. There are three men who proposed to our Annette?”
“……Yes?”
Did the rumors travel that far that three crazy guys (one of which is your son) proposed to me?
…Could it be that Kyle told him?
But… I didn’t tell Kyle everything.
As I glanced at Kyle with a slightly skeptical look, Bizet said,
“Kyle didn’t tell me, but didn’t I operate an intelligence guild? Ahahahaha!”
‘No, can you say it out loud that you’re from an intelligence guild? …Wasn’t it a family secret?’
I could feel a gentle madness from Bizet’s cool smile.
I was really glad that everyone was wearing masks and hiding their identities. And that they didn’t seem to be interested in the bomb-like declaration.
Apparently, Bayonaire did not only have <Winston’s Shields>.
It was clear that there was something like an informant of a persistent prospective father-in-law.
“Annette, I’m not using the wish coupon, but I have a small wish.”
“…Tell me!”
Wouldn’t it be possible to make a small wish come true?
I listened attentively.
Then, Bizet whispered in my ear (but the voice was clearly audible even to Kyle).
“Even if you don’t choose my son, can you still make me your ‘father-in-law’?”
“……!”
What did he just say?
H-How does that work?
“It pisses me off to think that some other guy is going to become your ‘father-in-law’ for free, without even trying.”
“……?!”
Usually, it’s normal for a father-in-law to get that title for free when his son gets married!
‘You’re an obsessive maniac regarding the title of ‘father-in-law’.’
He continued speaking, his innocent eyes widening ferociously.
“If I remove all the other ‘father-in-law’ candidates, yes, it could end up being me.”
‘I-It can’t be, right?!’
Once again, usually… one wouldn’t plan to assassinate their ‘rival’ father-in-law, but try to get his own son married.
It was evident that Kyle’s madness in presenting me a pet slave prison was inherited from his father.
“…Father, please.”
Kyle rubbed his forehead with a flushed face, mumbling shamefully (he was definitely going to turn around).
“Oh, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen Annette. I’m so happy that I’m a little excited.”
The guy who was a ‘little excited’ was planning the assassination of other father-in-law candidates… I was afraid of what would happen if he got ‘too excited’.
Bizet returned with his usual good-natured and harmless look and smiled.
“Annette, I’m just saying.”
‘I don’t think he meant it.’
His hand popped out in front of my quivering pupils.
“Will you dance with me next?”
Whoa. Thank god.
Finally, it was a request I could grant.
Happily, I smiled and took his hand.
“Of course, Marquis.”
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
After Annette and Bizet danced together, Kyle barely managed to let her leave.
He was satisfied with preventing the situation of dancing together twice or three times according to Bizet’s greed.
He couldn’t stop his father from talking about being a father-in-law and daughter-in-law…
‘You shouldn’t feel pressured.’
Kyle turned his gaze to follow her, who had disappeared into the crowd of masks.
He missed her already even though it was just a brief parting.
However, the entire banquet hall was splendid and full of lights, so Annette could not be seen.
She was a woman who always made him like a free, but sad butterfly.
Occasionally, he felt like a fool, hovering around her with a single white flower.
But today…
“The correct answer is ‘Kyle’.”
‘She recognized me.’
It felt like he had finally received a small reward for the love he had been sending one-sidedly.
His heart felt as red and sweet as a ripe apple in the autumn sun.
Even his breathing was invigorating, as if he had taken his first breath in a fine dawn.
“Why are you absentmindedly blushing alone? Kyle.”
“……!”
Kyle raised his back a little and turned to look at his father as he put his hand on his shoulder.
With a slightly sullen face, as if his inner feelings were discovered.
“…Did my face turn red?”
“Son, even from 100 meters away, you had a pitiful face of unrequited love.”
Bizet shook his head.
“Judging from the atmosphere, Annette hasn’t responded to your proposal yet.”
“That…”
Keuk keuk. After clenching his first, raising it to his lips, and coughing once, Kyle threw his gaze into the crowd with an upright, noble posture.
“I’m working on it.”
His eyes kept looking for Annette, and he continued.
“She will need time.”
“Well, is that so?”
At Bizet’s words, Kyle then turned his gaze to his father.
“…What do you mean?”
“Love is pretty unfair.”
Bizet’s lips curled up. Thinking of the simple yet beautiful woman who gave his son hair like a wheat field.
Marielle, the wife he loved most passionately until she passed away due to her illness.
The love he had with her was the only romantic love in his life, but because of the density of love, he knew the feeling quite well.
―That sweet feeling,
And how cruel it was sometimes.
“‘Unfair’ means that it is never proportional to ‘time’ and ‘effort’. Kyle.”
“…….”
“Even if you love someone for the rest of your life, there is no guarantee that their heart will turn to you.”
“Father, Annette—”
Kyle opened her mouth in a small protest.
“She lost her mother not long ago. Besides, she just fell out with her brother, whom she trusted and cherished. She’s not in a position to care about love.”
“Well, did you love in consideration of your situation, Son?”
“……!”
—Of course he didn’t.
Even when he spent the night on the battlefield infested with magical beasts, no matter what complications he faced, he never forgot Annette for a moment.
It controlled him without any hesitation or consideration.
That wretched, tenacious attraction of the heart.
Bizet’s calm eyes turned to his son.
“The cruel thing about love is that you just fall into it, no matter the situation or circumstances.”
“…….”
“That’s why your whole life is shaken up.”
It was a reference to his son, whose life was shaken up by Annette.
Of course, it happened for him, and perhaps it was happening to Annette now.
A strong emotion that could never be suppressed by fear or reason.
That was the reality of the love that Bizet experienced.
“…….”
Kyle blinked as if feeling something. With a calm and cold face, Bizet’s words continued.
“For her to still not have an answer for you, it doesn’t seem like a positive sign by any means.”
“……!”
Kyle quietly shook his head. His lips were closed and unconsciously bitten, as if he had forgotten how to speak for a moment.
Actually, maybe, deep down in his heart, he knew it, but he was trying to ignore it.
Bizet was simply pointing out the truth.
“You can’t just be faithful to your feelings. What matters is her heart.”
“…….”
‘…Her heart.’
He knew. The most important thing was Annette’s heart.
No matter how passionately he loved her alone, love was originally for two.
“Don’t just love by yourself, but love for Annette, Son.”
Bizet put his hand on the shoulder of his son, who had grown up to be a handsome young man just like himself, and taught him. Just like his predecessor did to him.
“Because that’s the way Winston men love.”
Ame: Thanks for tuning in to Bizet’s ted talk! This chapter really pricks my heart regarding my own love life ahahaha… I really appreciate the way the author writes about Kyle’s realization and acceptance that Annette doesn’t love him in the way he wishes. In many novels, the 2nd/3rd ML that is the ‘sweet’ character type like Kyle just gets the ‘Oh no… she doesn’t love me… and now, promptly fades into the background’ treatment.
Tassie: Poor Kyle ;-; the whole time I had that one line from The One That Got Away by Katy Perry repeating lol. “In another life~~~~~”
+ to add on what Ame said, even if 2nd Ml’s have the realisation that she may not love him the way that he wants her to, some of them don’t even take her feelings into consideration. From what we can see so far, Kyle would definitely choose her happiness over his own so that makes him all the more pitiful ;-;
That was the most precious of his wishes…
They were the sweetest and warmest words I had ever heard in my life.
To the point that I was ashamed of my heart as I counted the wealth and mines of Valienne.
Frankly, the love and kindness he gave me could never be repaid with material rewards.
‘I’m so stupid.’
I was drenched by an infinitely kind heart, and this time, I really felt like I was going to cry.
So I quickly turned around and covered my eyes.
A warm voice could be heard from behind.
“Annette.”
“Thank you, Marquis. However…”
I immediately turned around and spoke in a very firm tone.
“You can’t use the wish like that.”
“Yes?”
“I will do my best to be good to you. As much as I received, I will now stand by your side and be a strong support.”
“…….”
“I’m going to do a really good job!”
“…Annette.”
Now, it was Bizet’s eyes that were trembling. It was for a moment, as if touched, then he smiled softly.
It was a genuinely happy face. Sincere happiness was oozing out of his bright, clear smile.
“As much as the Marquis did for me, I will pay you back bit by bit.”
After a while, Bizet put a hand on his chest and said,
“Ah, what a wonderful daughter-in-law! How can I not covet it!”
“……!”
“……!”
Ah, how did the conversation turn into this?
‘It has been over 10 years since he proposed to me to be his daughter-in-law, but you still want me to be your daughter-in-law?’
Contrary to Annette, who was surprised by his tenacity, when Kyle heard the ‘declaration of a wonderful daughter-in-law’, his ears burned red as if embarrassed. Since… If his father wanted Annette to become his daughter-in-law, the first order of business was to get her to marry Kyle.
Kyle muttered after letting out a low cough.
“Father, let’s leave now. Other nobles are waiting for greetings.”
“Wait a minute, Kyle.”
Bizet firmly stopped Kyle with one hand, then he moved closer to me.
“I heard the story. There are three men who proposed to our Annette?”
“……Yes?”
Did the rumors travel that far that three crazy guys (one of which is your son) proposed to me?
…Could it be that Kyle told him?
But… I didn’t tell Kyle everything.
As I glanced at Kyle with a slightly skeptical look, Bizet said,
“Kyle didn’t tell me, but didn’t I operate an intelligence guild? Ahahahaha!”
‘No, can you say it out loud that you’re from an intelligence guild? …Wasn’t it a family secret?’
I could feel a gentle madness from Bizet’s cool smile.
I was really glad that everyone was wearing masks and hiding their identities. And that they didn’t seem to be interested in the bomb-like declaration.
Apparently, Bayonaire did not only have <Winston’s Shields>.
It was clear that there was something like an informant of a persistent prospective father-in-law.
“Annette, I’m not using the wish coupon, but I have a small wish.”
“…Tell me!”
Wouldn’t it be possible to make a small wish come true?
I listened attentively.
Then, Bizet whispered in my ear (but the voice was clearly audible even to Kyle).
“Even if you don’t choose my son, can you still make me your ‘father-in-law’?”
“……!”
What did he just say?
H-How does that work?
“It pisses me off to think that some other guy is going to become your ‘father-in-law’ for free, without even trying.”
“……?!”
Usually, it’s normal for a father-in-law to get that title for free when his son gets married!
‘You’re an obsessive maniac regarding the title of ‘father-in-law’.’
He continued speaking, his innocent eyes widening ferociously.
“If I remove all the other ‘father-in-law’ candidates, yes, it could end up being me.”
‘I-It can’t be, right?!’
Once again, usually… one wouldn’t plan to assassinate their ‘rival’ father-in-law, but try to get his own son married.
It was evident that Kyle’s madness in presenting me a pet slave prison was inherited from his father.
“…Father, please.”
Kyle rubbed his forehead with a flushed face, mumbling shamefully (he was definitely going to turn around).
“Oh, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen Annette. I’m so happy that I’m a little excited.”
The guy who was a ‘little excited’ was planning the assassination of other father-in-law candidates… I was afraid of what would happen if he got ‘too excited’.
Bizet returned with his usual good-natured and harmless look and smiled.
“Annette, I’m just saying.”
‘I don’t think he meant it.’
His hand popped out in front of my quivering pupils.
“Will you dance with me next?”
Whoa. Thank god.
Finally, it was a request I could grant.
Happily, I smiled and took his hand.
“Of course, Marquis.”
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
After Annette and Bizet danced together, Kyle barely managed to let her leave.
He was satisfied with preventing the situation of dancing together twice or three times according to Bizet’s greed.
He couldn’t stop his father from talking about being a father-in-law and daughter-in-law…
‘You shouldn’t feel pressured.’
Kyle turned his gaze to follow her, who had disappeared into the crowd of masks.
He missed her already even though it was just a brief parting.
However, the entire banquet hall was splendid and full of lights, so Annette could not be seen.
She was a woman who always made him like a free, but sad butterfly.
Occasionally, he felt like a fool, hovering around her with a single white flower.
But today…
“The correct answer is ‘Kyle’.”
‘She recognized me.’
It felt like he had finally received a small reward for the love he had been sending one-sidedly.
His heart felt as red and sweet as a ripe apple in the autumn sun.
Even his breathing was invigorating, as if he had taken his first breath in a fine dawn.
“Why are you absentmindedly blushing alone? Kyle.”
“……!”
Kyle raised his back a little and turned to look at his father as he put his hand on his shoulder.
With a slightly sullen face, as if his inner feelings were discovered.
“…Did my face turn red?”
“Son, even from 100 meters away, you had a pitiful face of unrequited love.”
Bizet shook his head.
“Judging from the atmosphere, Annette hasn’t responded to your proposal yet.”
“That…”
Keuk keuk. After clenching his first, raising it to his lips, and coughing once, Kyle threw his gaze into the crowd with an upright, noble posture.
“I’m working on it.”
His eyes kept looking for Annette, and he continued.
“She will need time.”
“Well, is that so?”
At Bizet’s words, Kyle then turned his gaze to his father.
“…What do you mean?”
“Love is pretty unfair.”
Bizet’s lips curled up. Thinking of the simple yet beautiful woman who gave his son hair like a wheat field.
Marielle, the wife he loved most passionately until she passed away due to her illness.
The love he had with her was the only romantic love in his life, but because of the density of love, he knew the feeling quite well.
―That sweet feeling,
And how cruel it was sometimes.
“‘Unfair’ means that it is never proportional to ‘time’ and ‘effort’. Kyle.”
“…….”
“Even if you love someone for the rest of your life, there is no guarantee that their heart will turn to you.”
“Father, Annette—”
Kyle opened her mouth in a small protest.
“She lost her mother not long ago. Besides, she just fell out with her brother, whom she trusted and cherished. She’s not in a position to care about love.”
“Well, did you love in consideration of your situation, Son?”
“……!”
—Of course he didn’t.
Even when he spent the night on the battlefield infested with magical beasts, no matter what complications he faced, he never forgot Annette for a moment.
It controlled him without any hesitation or consideration.
That wretched, tenacious attraction of the heart.
Bizet’s calm eyes turned to his son.
“The cruel thing about love is that you just fall into it, no matter the situation or circumstances.”
“…….”
“That’s why your whole life is shaken up.”
It was a reference to his son, whose life was shaken up by Annette.
Of course, it happened for him, and perhaps it was happening to Annette now.
A strong emotion that could never be suppressed by fear or reason.
That was the reality of the love that Bizet experienced.
“…….”
Kyle blinked as if feeling something. With a calm and cold face, Bizet’s words continued.
“For her to still not have an answer for you, it doesn’t seem like a positive sign by any means.”
“……!”
Kyle quietly shook his head. His lips were closed and unconsciously bitten, as if he had forgotten how to speak for a moment.
Actually, maybe, deep down in his heart, he knew it, but he was trying to ignore it.
Bizet was simply pointing out the truth.
“You can’t just be faithful to your feelings. What matters is her heart.”
“…….”
‘…Her heart.’
He knew. The most important thing was Annette’s heart.
No matter how passionately he loved her alone, love was originally for two.
“Don’t just love by yourself, but love for Annette, Son.”
Bizet put his hand on the shoulder of his son, who had grown up to be a handsome young man just like himself, and taught him. Just like his predecessor did to him.
“Because that’s the way Winston men love.”
Ame: Thanks for tuning in to Bizet’s ted talk! This chapter really pricks my heart regarding my own love life ahahaha… I really appreciate the way the author writes about Kyle’s realization and acceptance that Annette doesn’t love him in the way he wishes. In many novels, the 2nd/3rd ML that is the ‘sweet’ character type like Kyle just gets the ‘Oh no… she doesn’t love me… and now, promptly fades into the background’ treatment.
Tassie: Poor Kyle ;-; the whole time I had that one line from The One That Got Away by Katy Perry repeating lol. “In another life~~~~~”
+ to add on what Ame said, even if 2nd Ml’s have the realisation that she may not love him the way that he wants her to, some of them don’t even take her feelings into consideration. From what we can see so far, Kyle would definitely choose her happiness over his own so that makes him all the more pitiful ;-;
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