Not Knowing The Betrayal Of That Day

She felt disgusted at herself. She was saying this even though she was the one who had pushed him to hell. Even so, she couldn’t stop.

Tessa didn’t want to let Hert go. She knew that this was selfish greed, but still.

“I… can’t … do this to you, but I keep… getting… greedy…”

“…….”

“Actually, I, I don’t know…”

Hert had a bright future ahead of her. As she was the wife of the dead, old marquis, she was only an obstacle. Maybe not right now, but someday, it will give him trouble. So, if she was really thinking about Hert, it was right to stop here.

Because stupid women only bring misery. She has been and will always be.

“Can I… be greedy… even though… I would only be… an obstacle… for you…?”

Can she be by his side because of greed? Will this choice now lead them to unhappiness like the choice she made seven years ago? As she stuttered, Tessa trembled. Even though she was determined to be greedy, her body endlessly cowered, fearing that Hert would be displeased by her again.

In the end, tears covered her eyes, making her vision blurry. As she thought about how Hert had been taken away as a gladiator slave because of her, sorrow welled up in her heart. She couldn’t help but cry when she thought of how he returned alive from that hell.

And yet, to make him unhappy again with her greed?

‘I can’t… I can’t do this…’

Her stomach continued to churn. She shouldn’t ruin the life of a normal person by being selfish. Maybe it’s her inner voice. A warning not to be greedy.

“No, nothing, pretend you didn’t hear…”

As Tessa was about to let Hert’s hand down and bowed her face. Hert lowered his head and quickly kissed her lips. Tessa’s eyes widened at the soft touch of his tongue. The man’s large hand gripped the back of her neck to prevent Tessa from running away.

“Ah, mmph…”

Suddenly, Tessa quietly closed her eyes and grabbed Hert’s collar with both hands. She exhaled hot breaths. Her whole body seemed to fill herself with the man’s breath. Tessa breathed in, following the entangled tongue sweeping her teeth evenly. After that, the kiss continued for a long time.

“Haa…”

Hert raised his head, checking Tessa’s lips shiny with saliva. He said softly as he wiped her lips with his thumb. The voice sounded like it was being pressed down.

“Please… Be greedy.”

“…Her—”

“What, do you think that I’m doing this because I’m a saint?”

Hert let out a low sigh and put his forehead on Tessa’s forehead and continued speaking harshly.

“From the beginning, you were the only one for me. I came here thinking of only you… Your very existence makes my greed run rampant. That’s why I’m doing this.”

“…….”

“I don’t really care, so be greedy. Tessa. That’s what I want. If it’s you… I can give you my everything.”

She knew early on that he had come this far to hear the reason for her betrayal, but that was not the case. It was only an excuse that he wanted to know why she betrayed him. He just wanted to see Tessa once again. He wanted to see Tessa alive with his own eyes. Whenever he was having a hard time, he wanted to see that face that smiled brightly.

‘Her!’

…That lovely girl.

Someone who has always shown sincerity and shared affection with him. In his small world, she was the only light. A bright light that illuminates the way to a wider world.

Hert loved her existence. No, he couldn’t help but love her. Even the reason he lives was because her existence told him to.

‘Why did I come back alive? …It was all for you.’

At first, he couldn’t accept Tessa, who kept her mouth shut and turned away from him, so he was taking out his anger for a while. It was unfair, and it was only him that seemed to be fussing over her, so he couldn’t stay still. For that reason, he just wanted her to feel the same way as he did, so he acted harshly.

In fact, it was difficult to control his raging emotions. For seven years, the worn-out emotions began to creak and run wild. Like the foolish child at that time who didn’t even realize his feelings.

“Tessa.”

Hert covered Tessa’s face with both hands. Then he stared at her, as if he wanted to take in everything with his eyes. Tessa, who went from a girl to a woman during the seven years they had not been together, occasionally made Hert’s heart pound to the point it was going to break. So he couldn’t have been more impatient.

Because he doesn’t want to lose this light he found again.

He just wants to keep her in his arms.

“…You still don’t know why. Or are you pretending not to know?”

“Her…”

“I want you. Before and now.”

Tessa’s breathing was getting worse. Hert said as he watched her chest rise and fall rapidly.

“You are always late. You won’t know unless I tell you first.”

“…….”

“I like you, Tessa.”

And I still like you.

Tessa took in a breath. The boy of that day was right in front of her.

She couldn’t stand it and burst into tears. There was a man as foolish as her right here.

* * *

The sound of people laughing and chatting so much that the soft melody of stringed instruments is buried. In the spacious hall, under the sparkling chandelier, dozens of tables were centered around a crowd of colorfully dressed people.

Ferdale was half reclining on the sofa, wearing a mask that covered his entire face. He had a glass of champagne in one hand and a card in the other. He was currently immersed in the game.

“All in!”

After checking the hand, Ferdale pushed all the chips in front of him and shouted. Then the people around him cheered and applauded. Other players on the same board checked their hands and either folded their cards or, like Ferdale, chose to go all-in.

“Hahaha, I won again!”

Soon after the hand was revealed, Ferdale took another victory. After another thunderous applause broke out and all the chips on the board were his, Ferdale started throwing some chips at the people. Everyone cheered and was busy picking up the falling chips. Participants who lost their chips burst out in anger and left their seats and disappeared somewhere.

“Young Marquis.”

An employee quietly approached Ferdale’s side, who was scattering chips and chasing the woman next to him, and whispered in his ear. Ferdale could not erase the regretful expression and got up slowly from his seat.

“Oh, I’m just about to have fun…”

“Forgive me.”

“It’s all right, lead the way.”

Ferdale followed the staff out of the hall and walked down a secluded hallway. At the end of the hallway hung a portrait the size of an adult male. The staff in front of him touched a certain part of the portrait, and the wall opened and another passage appeared. Ferdale skillfully stepped into it. The staff no longer followed.

‘How many secret passages are there in this building?’

Ferdale came out into the space leading to an aisle, and when he saw the other staff waiting for him there, he gasped inside. The security here was unexpectedly tight and tight. Ferdale, who came as a guest and became a business partner, was not easily shown much and was hiding.

‘At first, I accepted that it was good… It’s getting worse and worse.’

After meeting the owner of this building in search of the ‘red beard’ at the Lindehal estate, Ferdale has been enjoying a pleasant and comfortable life. He can also enjoy gambling to his heart’s content using the infinitely provided chips every day, and from bed to meal was perfect, just like he did at the marquisate. Thanks to him coming here, Ferdale thought he had been to heaven for a few days.

But after twenty years of living a gambler’s life, Ferdale realized one thing. Everything had a price. He was slowly assimilating into this comfortable and pleasant daily life, but at the same time he was getting a little anxious.

Of course, he paid the owner of this building a fair price by contract. But…

‘It’s like I’m missing something?’

Moving along with the staff, he pondered what he had missed, but he still couldn’t find anything. Then Ferdale stood in front of a room.

“We have a guest today.”

“Guest?”

“Yes, just go inside.”

The employee bowed his head at Ferdale and stepped back.

When Ferdale had to open the door and enter, the owner of the building was sitting in a room he had seen several times before. And opposite him was a man in a mask that covered his entire face like Ferdale.

“Come here, Young Marquis. I have been waiting.”

“Uh, hmm, ahem, what’s going on this time…”

“Before that, I have someone to introduce. Would you like to sit this way?”

As Ferdale sat down at the owner’s guidance, he felt the man opposite him staring at him.

“Then let me introduce him. He is the one who will help the Young Marquis.”

“Ah? Really. If so, then nice to meet you.”

Ferdale smiled and stretched out his hand toward the man, but the man only glanced at Ferdale’s hand and did not hold it. Because of this, Ferdale’s face began to turn red. Who was this person? Was he looking down on the person right in front of him?

Ferdale smirked and looked at the owner, but he gave no response.

‘Huh, what is it? Could it be that he is in a higher position than me?’

As Ferdale’s face, which had been dissatisfied until recently, was slowly gathered, he unknowingly straightened his crooked posture. The intimidation felt by the man was no joke.

“Then let’s start talking about it properly.”

“Wait, what are we talking about?”

At the owner’s words, Ferdale looked at him again with a puzzled face. The owner opened his mouth with a cheerful voice, as if saying why was he asking for something obvious.

“Well, are we not talking about the recapturing of the Jutert estate? A territorial battle.”