Side Story 2 - The Miserable Fate of Fabian (2) |
It was common for businesses to struggle during times of turmoil. Viscount Rizalus’s business had a subtle competitive or partnership relationship with that of the Duke of Cardian.
Viscount Rizalus described this as a glass balance. Bianca, the daughter of Viscount Rizalus, could not admit at the time that this was an arrogant statement.
The Duke of Cardian was a huge shark, and Viscount Lizalus was, to put it bluntly, a small fish parasitic on the huge shark, but he could not admit it.
Because Viscount Rizalus’s business has grown unexpectedly.
When the delicate equilibrium that kept the business afloat was disturbed, its business activities quickly became difficult. They required additional funds, but access to those funds was difficult to come by.
He believed that because of Rizalus’s name and credit, it would be simple for him to acquire financial resources, but this was not the case.
The stumbling block was Cardian.
It was not the Cardian duchy that stepped forward and did something. However, Lady Rizalus caused a commotion at the imperial ball, and as a consequence, she was unable to borrow any money from anyone because they believed that the man she was going to marry was Fabian.
“Oh, my God! I should have thought of this!”
The Duke of Cardian.
He was a man criticised for being a fearsome murderer, but this was the price that had to be paid for ignoring the fact that his influence was greater than that of the emperor.
Since ancient times, people have had a natural tendency to show respect to those who hold positions of authority.
“Vivi. Let’s call off the engagement.”
“Breaking off the engagement?”
Bianca’s voice rose immediately. She felt that Fabian did not live up to her expectations. Not only was he not as friendly as his previous lovers, but he was blatantly ignoring her needs.
Nevertheless, Fabian was a man of respectable position, appearance, and wealth.
Even Bianca knew that among all of the prospective grooms she could have, Fabian was the highest-ranking man. That’s why she is turning a blind eye to Fabian’s arrogance ‘for now.’
“Vivi… This could put us in a sticky situation. You know that we need money in our family to be able to provide it to you, right?”
“That’s inevitable.”
Bianca was just starting to come to terms with how conceited her man was and the fact that he would never help her out unless he was promised something in return. She would be happy if someone really loved her, but she knew that money couldn’t buy that.
‘What do you think? I’ve never loved him either.’
“We desperately need funds now. I have to get all of the money back from that damn family as soon as possible.”
No matter how much she thought about it, there was only one way to escape the current crisis. Of course, there are also ways to sell a few businesses and sell valuable mines and estates… No matter how much she thought about it, it wasn’t it.
If she had to cut it down, she had to cut it off because it was rotten and giving off a bad smell. She thought it was the appropriate time given the negative rumours that were circulating about Fabian.
“Then it will be quite difficult in that family…”
As Bianca tilted her head, she remembered how Fabian had yelled at her and asked if he was trying to use her like an accessory.
“Please.”
Only his face and title were usable. It was Bianca’s last appreciation for him.
✦ ✦ ✦
When the document finally arrived that stated that all investments would be recovered in full, the Marquis of Yersil felt an overwhelming amount of embarrassment. He even got his son engaged for the sole purpose of making more money. Are they going to get the money back?
However, at Viscount Rizalus, it was not just about recovering funds. He went on to say that he had broken off her engagement to Fabian like it was nothing by announcing it.
Fabian’s behaviour was the driving force behind the decision to call off the engagement.
‘Behaviour? It’s the way in which they carry themselves!’
It is not true that his son was getting drunk and hanging out with robbers, nor is it true that he was drinking in bars with prostitutes. Even if this were the situation, it is impossible for someone in the position of the offender to find anything wrong with what they have done!
It should be because of the nature of the aristocracy… Viscount Rizalus was not alone among them. The family had long had a deep connection with the Balthazar family.
Even though the Balthazar family is currently preoccupied with the process of recovering from the loss of both the duke and the young duke, it was obvious that they would step in if the Marquis of Yersil attempted to mess with Viscount Rizalus.
It was not because the Duke of Balthazar had any affection for Viscount Rizalus; rather, it was because Viscount Rizalus used a sleight of hand to bring about the desired outcome.
The Marquis of Yersil ground his teeth together in exasperation because he knew this. For now, even disassembly cannot touch Viscount Rizalus.
Like many noble families with businesses, the Marquis of Yersil was not stable. There were some prosperous families, but all of these families were connected to the Cardian duchy in some way through their businesses.
‘I should have joined that family a long time ago!’
What kind of pride is that! They said that if you give up your pride to a nobleman, you have thrown away everything, but the Marquis of Yersil knew that there is no such thing as a nobleman without pride in the same way that there is no such thing as a nobleman without money.
If he had the decency to not join the Cardian Dukedom, he would have been ridiculed for giving away his fiancée and other things as well, but at least he wouldn’t have to deal with something like this.
“Bring Fabian in.”
His son was smart and good at math. And he has the appearance of being able to win a woman’s heart quite easily… It dawned on him that perhaps he could convince Lady Rizalus of his point of view.
✦ ✦ ✦
“I can’t do it.”
said Fabian, stubbornly turning his head away. A second break-up! His resentment towards his ex-fiancee reached a fever pitch, but for some reason, he nursed a grudge against Celia more than he did against Bianca.
It dawned on him that her husband had become emperor and caused the current catastrophe.
“Fabian, stop acting like a child! Don’t you know that engagement is also a business?”
“Then why don’t you tell me what kind of family Viscount Rizalus comes from? They have already carried out the calculations and handed over the required document! That woman is even more cruel than her own father was! She’s poisonous!”
She was a woman who was irate because she couldn’t carry him around with her like an accessory so that she could show it off to her friends. Although they were a viscountess and a count, he did not understand why Fabian would not bend to her.
“Do you know what happens when I go to Viscount Rizalus? If that woman were to laugh at me just once more, the Marquis of Yersil’s reputation would crumble to the ground!”
The Marquis of Yersil seemed to have similar thoughts about that, so he kept his mouth shut. Fabian couldn’t hold back his anger and screamed.
“You would rather ask the Marquis of Montague for help! Who can say for sure whether or not that family will care about the engagement that was unilaterally broken off?”
Fabian thought his father would be angry if he said this. But it was Riche who caught his father’s eye.
“Yes. The Marquis of Montague is a different family from those merchant families! Moreover, he is also someone who does not care about the Duke of Cardian…”
“What… Father! Don’t tell me you’re going to visit the Marquis of Montague.”
However, the Marquis of Yersil had already signalled for his servant to bring him his clothes. Fabian was in such a state of embarrassment that he was at a loss for what to do.
The Marquis of Yersil uttered those words while casting a pitiful glance at his son.
“You will go too. Pay for the fare.”
✦ ✦ ✦
Contrary to Fabian’s expectations, the Marquis of Montague permitted their visit. It was an unreasonable visit in the middle of the night without making an appointment, but he didn’t seem to care.
A handsome middle-aged man with a still cold and demanding face greeted them in his office. The Marquis of Yersil and the Marquis of Montague had an aristocratic meeting despite ‘such an incident’.
In reality, the breakup of the engagement did not reflect their wishes, and the atmosphere at the time of the engagement was not bad.
Under the flickering light of the lamp, Fabian had to swallow his shame. The one who spoke was his father and the Marquis of Montague lived up to his reputation and did not even insult them. He was just quietly listening to them.
When the Marquis of Montague’s gaze suddenly fell on Fabian, he knew that his ice-cold eyes were harbouring a certain thought.
“…I would like for you to send your son away for a while.”
The Marquis of Yersil felt that those words were unusual, but at the same time, he knew that the Marquis of Montague would not just let him go.
Fabian felt anxious about leaving his father behind and left the place with his servant.
The Marquis of Montague was the next Marquis of Yersil, and he did not treat the Count of Rowan poorly. He merely led him to a drawing room that was close to his office and served him tea there.
‘Shit. What does he want to say?’
Although he had a difficult temperament, he was the Marquis of Montague and was respected by some. He knew that he rarely said anything derogatory to others.
He was a man who was judged as a stolid, aristocratic nobleman.
In Fabian’s eyes, he just seemed like a duplicitous man who had his own interests in mind despite his stubborn personality.
The conversation went on for quite some time, but ended before midnight. Fabian, who came out into the entrance hall after being guided by a servant, found it strange to see his father’s face looking distressed.
It did not look like the face of someone who had been hurt or was in danger.
The Marquis of Yersil was completely silent up until the moment that he got into the carriage. Fabian was the first to speak.
“… So what did the Marquis say?”
Fabian questioned the Marquis Yersil as the carriage pulled away from the Marquis of Montague; however, the Marquis Yersil did not respond. Instead of answering, the Marquis Yersil looked at Fabian’s face.
“Do you still have feelings for Celia?”
It was the Marquis of Yersil, who was thoroughly courteous to her until she became the Duchess of Cardian. Fabian was surprised when his father brought up Celia for the first time in a long time.
“What’s wrong with you? What did the Marquis say?”
“I know you did something useless. Thank God the Duke of Cadian didn’t step up and touch our family. I’ll ask you this one more time, Do you still have feelings for your ex-fiance?”
Fabian’s face turned red like he had been caught.
“See! It was just short-lived excitement! How many people in the nobility don’t feel this way?”
“……”
However, the Marquis de Yersil did not get angry and just stared at his son. He also knew Celia, and he knew that she had a kind disposition for this child.
“That love won’t be so great either!”
Fabian knew it was time to stop talking, but he couldn’t help himself. It happened so suddenly that she stopped loving him, and he found himself wondering what set him apart from the Duke of Cardian.
Even though Fabian’s voice was angry, the Marquis of Yersil did not answer. He had just caught a glimpse of Fabian’s face, which was clearly deep in thought.
