I want to clarify that it wasn’t only my fault that I caused Pinter to faint by kicking him between his legs.
Pinter has been harassing me tenaciously since the day my mother died a year ago. He could come to the restaurant where I work and propose publicly, make false rumors that we’re dating, or touch my shoulder and leg while pretending it was by accident…
I refused him dozens of times and was angry hundreds of times. But it never worked.
In other words, he would mock me by saying ‘you are a commoner and I am a lord’s son’.
Nobleman, of course. It’s not like I haven’t thought of marrying a noble and living comfortably. But Pinter is 32 years old! 12 years older than me! His personality is persistent and irritating, and he’s even losing his hair!
Seriously, whenever I would shout ‘there’s no tree that can pass over ten times’ (t/n note: it’s a korean proverb that means no matter how hard you try, you cannot succeed) with a cheesy smile on my blunt face, I instead want to ax his head about ten times.
It was just one of those ordinary days.
“Hilde, what are you wearing today? The clothes are so big where I can’t even see your body.”
A late afternoon when the sun has not yet set. Pinter said that as soon as he came into the restaurant and sat down. He already had a drink somewhere else, so his face was red.
“Sit here for a second. Talk to me.”
“I’m busy.”
“You don’t even have guests.”
I learned that it was best to just ignore as much as I could, so I turned around and proceeded to put away the glass of beer. Then, Pinter snatched my wrist and pulled me. He grabbed them so hard that I thought my wrist would break.
“Ouch!”
“Hey, come on. Did you know that I was coming?”
Pinter swung my arm back and forth. Maybe it’s because of the drinks he had, for his pretentiousness was getting worse. If only you weren’t the lord’s son, or else I would take your head off with this beer mug!
… But because I couldn’t say that, I gently warned him instead.
“Let me go. If you keep doing this, I won’t stay still.”
“What are you going to do if you won’t stay still? Huh? What will you do?”
“It hurts! Let me go!”
“What can you do even though you can’t up your mind? You’re very cute right now! Thank you for coming here…!”
“Argh!”
Pinter was drunk and twisted my arm.
It hurts.
It really hurts. It was so painful to the point I had to strike him.
“It hurts, you madman!”
I hit between Pinter’s leg with my knee. My reasoning told me not to do this, for even if I were a human being living today who hit the lord’s son’s crotch, it would be a big deal. When I came back to my senses, my knee had already done its work, and customers were looking at me with disgusted faces.
“Ugh! I’m going to die…!”
Pinter rolled on the floor while shaking.
Oh my gosh! That was very fast, accurate, and powerful! My knee! You did a great job!
… Oh, no, not this!
I’m done against the lord’s son. Even though he is from the third generation, I am a commoner, which means that my life is dead one way or another. The thought blackened my vision.
“You… you, what? Why are you looking at people like that?”
Pinter also noticed that my expression has changed. As I strode toward him, he faltered backward until his back had hit the table.
My late mother would always say.
‘Hilde, never let yourself be tempered.’
That’s it.
“You’ll be X-ed anyways.”
I lifted my right foot.
“Oh, stop! Stop! Stop it!”
Sensing my sinister tone, Pinter shook his head strongly while shouting. I stepped between his legs without mercy.
“Ahhhhhhh!”
His scream roared through the store. The other guests hugged their legs by reflex upon the scene. It didn’t take long for Pinter to faint.
*
My lord. It was never intentional. My legs were stiff, so I slightly raised and then lowered them and they just happened to hit an important part of your son. Really.
That is why your son should wear steel panties. He needs to protect his important areas well. In the end, it was your son who was wrong. Do you understand? It can’t be my fault that your son laid down. Ack, on his back.
“… This is a big deal. All I can think of is a hearing to confirm the death penalty…!”
I was caught red-handed and dragged into the lord’s castle. While sitting in the cold dungeon and waiting for the trial, I recalled my final argument, which was the worst one since I couldn’t think of anything. Every time I thought of Pinter’s face, I showed my true intentions.
“What would be less painful? Biting off your tongue or cutting your throat?”
Before I could answer, the door to the dungeon, which was closed tightly, opened first.
“Hilde Ruth. Come out.”
Two armed knights spoke to me with a grim look. My blood seems to cool down just by looking at the big swords that were on their waist. My body trembled so much to the point where both of them had to hold me. I wanted to be calm for I knew this would happen anyways, but my body won’t follow.
‘… At least don’t cry.”
I don’t want to contribute any satisfaction to that beggar-like Pinter.
*
The place where I was dragged to was a very spacious hall where the lord and his son can be seen at the front. Pinter’s pose was still staggering.
‘Why did you come out when you’re supposed to be in bed? Did you really want to see my head fall like that?’
And one more.
There was a man who I’m seeing for the first time standing next to those two.
‘…Who’s that?’
He was handsome enough to make you forget who you are. He’s tall, has broad shoulders, white skin, black hair and eyes with a calm and intelligent expression. It was a look that I have never seen in 20 years of my life in this village.
He’s not just handsome, but he was a man full of elegance and grace. Even if he were dressed in a matte cloth, people can still tell right away that he’s from noble blood.
‘Wow, my eyes are good even before I die.’
Maybe this is the last gift from god.
After looking at this handsome man and then seeing the child-like Pinter, I feel like I can die with no regrets.
I have also heard that I looked classy thanks to the blonde hair and unique purple eyes I inherited from my mother, but it is clear that those words I heard were just polite greetings.
Come think of it, my late mother also said.
‘Hilde, men can just have a face.’
I felt wronged for no reason. If I had resembled my dad, I might’ve become the beauty of the century. Hah.
“Hilde Ruth!”
I was staring at the man’s face until the lord’s thunderous voice could be heard.
‘That old man is interrupting a crucial moment.’
“You know what you did wrong!”
The old scoundrel shouted.
‘Wrong?’
What did I do wrong?
Oh right, I had a bad incident with that little jerk. I forgot for a moment.
“Lord, save me!”
I said while I sat on the floor. I think I should try my best to find a way to live. It was disgusting to see Pinter giving me an empty smile.
“I didn’t mean it! It was an accident! Just like how you said it was a coincidence… that your son hates me because he’s also stubborn!”
“What, what?!”
“It’s my fault that I turned down your son, who kept nagging me! You don’t want a daughter-in-law like me?”
“What?! How dare you be my daughter-in-law?!”
“I mean, I hate it too!”
When I saw the lord tremble in anger, I jumped up and shouted.
“I wouldn’t have stolen your son if that were the case! You can’t look handsome with bad hair! If you don’t have manners, you don’t have personality! Hey, if you have a mouth, talk to me! Why the hell does he try to grapple with me!”
…Oh?
I was going to beg for forgiveness and ask for help, but why am I raising my voice and pointing my finger at Pinter?
‘…I’m such a hothead!’
I was surprised myself when I saw their faces. I crumpled my index finger, which was pointing, but it was too late. At my loud voice, a terrible silence fell in the hall. It couldn’t be because the lord wasn’t angry, for I was quite embarrassed that it came out like this.
What broke the silence was the very handsome man which I have no way of knowing why he was here.
“…Pfft.”
The man, who had been expressionless the entire time, bowed down and laughed as if he couldn’t stand it any longer. I glared at him with my eyes for the laugh did not fit the situation.
What are you laughing at?
I’m in a situation where my throat might get cut off, is that funny?
“Listening to the defense, I don’t think the lady did anything wrong.”
The handsome man then said.
I thought I heard it wrong. Is he really taking my side? I’ve never met him before, so why?
What do you mean ‘lady’? Why is he calling me in such a way?
“V, viscount Strauss…!”
At that time, the lord spoke with difficulty while looking at the man.
‘Viscount Strauss?’
He looked young, but he already has a title as expected from a handsome and capable man. The world is wide.
“Isn’t it just your son being refused by his flirting? I’d like to ask why he kept accusing the woman he doesn’t even like.”
“Oh no, but it’s still unjustifiable to use violence…”
“I got hit first! That idiot… No, he broke my wrist! Look at this bruise!”
While listening to their conversation, I quickly stepped in. When I revealed my bruised wrist, the lord’s and Pinter’s expression soured.
“That’s just self-defense.”
“Self-defense. It’s not like…!”
“No, actually, I need to point out that your son has injured the lady’s body, but…”
The handsome man slowly glanced at Pinter and murmured. His voice is still soft, but there was a cool feeling to it unlike before. The lord and Pinter also sensed the energy, and their expressions quickly darkened while looking at the man.
“…I’m sure you’re very sorry, so why don’t you let it slide?”
“Sir Strauss! I can’t believe it! You even said that after looking at my son’s status!”
“You can say that to cover up from time to time. Of course, you should know that Duke Arpegio never forgives his enemies.”
“Huh, but there is no clear evidence that the woman the Duke is looking for is…”
“No, I’m sure she is. So you’d better not say any more rude words from your mouth.”
The man threatened the lord as he and his son groaned with a look of defeat.
‘…No, what? What the hell is going on?’
I feel like they’re talking about me. But this is one of the atmospheres where they know, you know, and everyone else knows except for me.
‘Someone tell me too!’
My inner cry almost seems like it reached him for the man finally looked at me. He slowly approached me and knelt down on one knee while not caring about getting his clothes dirtied.
‘Woah, sir.’
I almost screamed. He looked more handsome up close, with skin that doesn’t show pores. Also, why are his eyelashes so long?
“You don’t have to worry about anything now, Princess.”
His voice was as sweet as cotton candy, huh?
‘Wait a minute.’
What did the man just say?
“I’ll say my greetings officially. My name is Rogen Strauss. It is an honor to meet a princess like this.”
In particular, one word kept hovering in my head. A word that doesn’t suit me at all.
‘Princess?’
Who?
…Me???