WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Haruto

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Pushover Young Lord in a Romance Fantasy Won't Take It Anymore ◈

Chapter 19: That F***ing Bastard?

──────

In a secluded corner of the lavish banquet hall's balcony, two young ladies were speaking in secret.

"Will this really be all right? We're going up against the grand ducal House Cardenos...."

"Are you thinking of backing out now?"

One nervously fidgeted with her fan, while the other bit down hard on her lip and glared.

A few days earlier, they had received orders from Rosenthal's eldest young lord.

"At this Founding Festival, humiliate Cardenos by any means necessary. Make them the laughingstock of high society, and Rosenthal will have your backs."

With the great magical House Rosenthal behind them, their futures at the Magic Tower would be smooth sailing.

For two young ladies walking the Magic Path, the offer was a sweet poison apple they could not refuse.

"But if we provoke Young Lord Astin...."

"Even Rosenthal would have trouble dealing with that violent wastrel. Did you forget? He told us to humiliate Cardenos, not Astin."

"You mean we should target the bastard?"

"Yes. Celine, was it? She'll do nicely."

She was already a bastard. If they spun it right, they could at least tarnish Cardenos's reputation.

"But he seemed to care about her. Will this be all right? What if Young Lord Astin beats us up... like he did Lady Azelin?"

"That'd be even better for us. Only his reputation would suffer, right?"

"...Ah! You're right. We should make him even angrier."

Astin had even laid hands on Rosenthal's precious daughter.

It was obvious what he would do if his temper flared.

If he struck a young lady during the Founding Festival, his reputation would hit rock bottom.

It was crude phrasing for young ladies, but they would simply let him use them as punching bags.

The only concern was Cardenos's retaliation.

Rosenthal had promised to smooth that over too, so there was practically nothing to worry about.

"Then how should we humiliate that bastard?"

"I've already thought of something. First, when we pass by that bastard......."

* * *

My sleeve was taut.

Lucia, crouched beneath the table, was tugging on it.

"You don't need to go. Stay here."

She had suddenly popped out like a cat, and now she was even holding me back.

It took me five seconds to recover from my daze.

"It's not about needing to go. I need to get out of here fast. I don't think anything good will happen if I stay."

"If you're not here, nothing good will happen for me. You're tall enough to hide me by yourself, aren't you? Please save me."

Save her from what? It wasn't as if she was being chased by hunters.

"Didn't you hate even being near me?"

"Me?"

"You looked like you didn't even want to breathe the same air as me."

"When did I ever say that? I never said anything like that."

"Do people have to say everything out loud? It was obvious."

Lucia, who had been looking up at me, lowered her gaze.

Her lips pouted as she tapped the floor with her heel.

"I'm telling you, it wasn't like that......"

"I know. I'm very perceptive."

"Fine, whatever."

"Yes. Enjoy the Founding Festival."

I gave her a slight bow and turned away. Just as I was about to leave, my sleeve was pulled taut again.

Why was she so determined to keep me here?

I knew she was using me as cover to avoid the four men. But why did it have to be me?

She had been glaring at me like I was her mortal enemy just moments ago.

She should have hated even sharing a space with me.

"Did you hear something from Sir Julian?"

"......."

Bullseye.

"What did you hear that made your attitude change so much?"

Lucia hesitated before finally forcing out the words.

"I'm sorry for misunderstanding you. I was wrong about you, Young Lord."

"That's unexpected. I didn't think you'd apologize right away."

"To be honest, I'd suspected Azelin and Sir Julian for a while."

"You thought they seemed too close to be merely senior and junior acquaintances."

"...Yes."

"Let me ask you one thing. What did Azelin say about the duel? About what caused it."

I had plenty of things I wanted to know about the story Azelin had spun.

More precisely, I wanted to know just how much of a bitch she had been.

"She said that if you looked at the cause, Young Lord, you were the one who gave her no choice. That escaping your oppression was the only way...."

"So she painted me as a villain out of nowhere."

Lucia gave a small nod. A dark shadow crossed her face.

I liked that she did not blindly defend her friend.

"I can roughly guess what happened. She must have dressed up her inappropriate relationship with Julian as a tragic romance defying oppression."

"That's right."

"Aren't you going to object to me insulting your friend?"

"How could I? Sir Julian told me everything. Taking your friend's side no matter what is wrong too."

I did not bother asking how Julian had explained himself. It was probably similar to what he had told me.

"I actually thought you'd be angry."

"Me?"

"Azelin insulted you terribly behind your back. Anyone would be angry to learn their fiancée had been doing that."

"What's the point of getting angry? I'll only go bald."

"...You're completely different from the rumors."

Lucia's expression said, "I didn't expect that."

"Actually, I didn't believe Azelin's words alone. The rumors were why I judged you on my own."

Azelin's tearful act and my trashy reputation had created quite the synergy.

"Now that I've met you, I guess rumors really aren't trustworthy. You shouldn't judge people carelessly based on rumors alone. I keep trying to remember that, but I keep forgetting."

I deeply agreed with that.

You should not judge people carelessly based on rumors alone.

Everyone knew that, but when they faced that situation, it was easy to be swayed by hearsay.

I had been no different.

"The fact that you admit it and apologize means you're a good person, my lady."

"Oh, that's only natural."

Her ruby-like eyes shone brightly.

The willingness to admit and correct her own prejudice. She truly had the integrity of a protagonist.

"Most people can't do that. I was the same."

"You too, Young Lord?"

"I was worse than you."

"Then I'll tell you the same thing. The fact that you admit it and reflect on it means you're a good person too, Young Lord."

No way.

The short sentence rolled around in my mouth.

Only now did I think about it.

The protagonist in the romance fantasy who had neglected her responsibilities to fool around with men.

I had judged Lucia that way based on rumors alone.

Because that was the only way I could dump all responsibility for the destruction onto her.

In truth, the romance fantasy I had seen was a fantasy novel wearing the shell of a romance fantasy.

My long regret drew out a bitter smile.

Just as I looked up at the sky to shake off that feeling,

Creak-

a door suddenly opened behind me.

I quickly stepped away from Lucia. Lucia flinched back as well.

"Ah......!"

She reached out, but grabbed only empty air.

Sorry, but it couldn't be helped. If I kept hiding her, it would only invite needless misunderstandings.

Not that I was actually sorry.

"There you are, Brother."

"Hm?"

Celine approached with a broad grin.

It was you?

"I got worked up for nothing."

"...? About what?"

"Nothing."

Celine abruptly stopped.

The moment her gaze dropped below me, she clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Gasp! The pretty lady?"

Lucia sighed in relief and patted her chest.

It was fortunate that Celine was not one of the four men, but this was hardly the time to relax.

"What were you two doing...?"

Celine looked between us with a knowing gaze.

I did not feel the need to explain. I assumed Lucia would handle it herself.

When I looked at her with that expectation, Lucia was staring right back at me. Was this some kind of staring contest?

"Lady Lucia."

"Yes?"

"Aren't you going to explain this to my sister?"

"Your sister? Wow, she's adorable. She doesn't look anything like you, Young Lord."

"...That's because she's a bastard. Unlike me, she has plenty of adorable qualities."

Celine scratched her cheek, apparently embarrassed.

The knowing look that had suspected something between us disappeared at once.

She was remarkably quick on the uptake.

It was impressive that she could read the utterly unromantic mood despite a handsome young man and beautiful young lady being alone on a terrace.

Tap!

"Lucia!"

Another presence entered in the meantime.

One of the four men, Damian, deputy tower master of the Sirius Mage Tower.

I quickly turned around to keep my face hidden.

"I knew you were hiding here! Hm? But that's... a man?"

Step. Step. The footsteps drew closer.

I hoped he would simply pass by, but he suddenly leaned in to look at my face.

"Hah! Young Lord Astin!?"

"Pleased to meet you, Lord Damian."

"What is Young Lord Astin doing here?!"

It sounded more like a shout than a question.

He looked between Lucia and me, then flew into a rage.

This was why I had been trying to leave. Damn it.

"How dare a Cardenos wastrel like you! What reason do you have for standing beside Lady Lucia?!"

"That is rather rude for a first meeting. I'm not here because I want to be-"

"Silence, Astin!"

"You ask me a question, then tell me to shut up. Which tune am I supposed to follow?"

"You shameless man who beats women! Get out of here at once!!"

Damian glared fiercely. The mana around him churned so violently that the air itself seemed to crackle.

The way he did not even ask what happened before killing intent filled his eyes showed just how insane he was about Lucia.

I had promised Father I would not cause trouble, but screw it.

I had no intention of backing down either.

"You're calling me shameless? You're a moron who throws away his duties and goes weak at the knees for a woman."

"...Ha! You truly are mad! I came purely to escort Lucia!"

"You're as obvious as a dog in heat."

"You bastard!!"

"It's amazing a moron like you is the deputy tower master. Isn't that right, Lady Lucia?"

"Uh... I suppose so......?"

The muscles in Damian's face trembled.

He jabbed me.

He came right up to me and pressed a fingertip against my shoulder. It did not hurt, but it was irritating.

"Stop changing the subject and answer me at once. Why are you alone with Lady Lucia? If you threatened her into staying here, I will turn you to ashes."

"Alone? Are your eyes just for decoration? Can't you see there are three people here?"

"Are you trying to play word games with me again?!"

Without much thought, I pointed at Celine with my index finger. Damian's murderous gaze followed my fingertip.

Celine's shoulders shrank under that look.

In case any of it reached her, I clenched my fist hard.

If things went south, I would punch him in the jaw and knock him out first.

A mage was only a mage at range. At this close distance, I had the advantage.

"......?"

Why was it? Damian froze like a stone statue without moving at all.

Seeing as he had frozen while looking at Celine, he must have sensed her potential.

A fifth-rank mage could gauge a person's potential just by looking.

"...Ah."

Just as expected, Damian approached Celine with a blank expression.

Her potential was enough to draw even the next tower master's attention.

I had already expected it, but confirmation from an expert was different.

Smack!

Damian suddenly clutched his own face with both hands.

"Craaaaaaagh!!! This can't be trueeee!!!"

"Damn, you startled me."

Damian let out an incomprehensible scream and tore at his hair.

He must have recognized an insurmountable gap between his own talent and Celine's, then realized how insignificant he was.

"Ghk! N-no... I can't...... Craaaaaaagh!!"

Thud!

At last, Damian's knees hit the floor.

His head hung low, his eyes closed.

Had the unbearable shock knocked him unconscious?

The three of us stared at Damian as if he were insane.

Lucia and Celine looked worried, but neither dared approach him.

They instinctively understood that one should not associate with a madman.

Flash!

Damian suddenly opened his eyes.

"Ah. How futile inner beauty is...."

After spouting incomprehensible nonsense, he raised his head toward Celine.

"Oh, unnamed beautiful young lady. If there is a goddess of love and beauty, she must surely resemble you. I beg you, tell me your name. Please whisper it with those sweet lips."

"...What?"

That fucking bastard?

Author's Note

One more chapter will be posted at 1 p.m.

Footnotes:

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried