Chapter 30: CH 29

Ethan’s world was divided by simple dichotomies.

Goodwill or hostility.

Useful or useless.

Rationality or desire.

Reality or fiction.

Truth or falsehood.

Humility or arrogance.

Diligence or indolence.

Human beings were complex, as though there was an elaborate labyrinth within them. As much as he had to live in a world where he had to exist amid society, still, nothing was difficult for him.

For Ethan, everything was simple and clear.

For him, who tended to listen and observe everything, he was truly tired of this boring, tedious world. He was certain of it already—everything was just so dull.

That’s why he was always calm. And, his refinement was to a frightening degree. He was indifferent to everything. He was rational to a fault, and he was always the victor on top of it all. He was curious about nothing at all.

Well, it certainly was like that.

“Really, I think I was born in this world just to meet you, my love.”

Until Reina Chantra appeared in his life.

* * *

Perhaps it’s because the sky looked especially high and especially blue. Perhaps it was because the people around him were needlessly enjoying the refreshing breeze. Or, perhaps it’s because he thought that the elitism that was evidently apparent in this gathering of the nine families was so utterly absurd.

He felt particularly lethargic that day, and so everything was even more boring.

Ethan glanced sideways at his father, Duke Liam, who was giving a speech in front of the representatives of the nine families.

He’s giving so much effort for something that was entirely useless.

On top of that, this hall was still filled with such interest in Ethan himself.

‘It’s Marquis Gerard! Should I go talk to him?’

‘If I knew that the Marquis was coming here, I should have dressed prettier…’

‘Haa… Won’t he look at me? Still though, he’s not called the Cerulean Freak for nothing.’

At the voices that he was so sick and tired of hearing, his expression crumpled so slightly that no one would notice, then he headed towards a terrace. At least it wouldn’t be as noisy over there.

‘To beat House Uren, we’re going to need House Liam’s support…’

‘Ethan doesn’t seem to be interested in the maritime trade of the West.’

Of course, even if it was ‘less’, the attention and the noisy ringing could still be heard from his spot on the terrace.

‘Ahh… Even today, he’s so handsome.’

‘How can he possess such beauty that it’s difficult to imagine that he’s a human being? It’d be perfect if he also has a good personality.’

“Honey.”

‘Still though, it would be nice to be connected with House Liam…’

‘That Anton Liam— that fellow and our Celine, they once…? Just from the branch family, but since it’s House Liam, still not bad, I guess?’

“Honey.”

‘God is so unfair. How could he favor Ethan so much that he’s been given everything? All but his personality…’

“Honey.”

‘If we give up our rights to the maritime trade to them, we’d have nothing left to fall back on, and… Wait, isn’t that Reina Chantra?’

“Honey.”

‘Why is Reina Chantra over there?’

‘Reina Chantra and Ethan Liam…? As far as I know though, they’re not acquainted.’

The name, as it was mentioned multiple times, made Ethan pause.

Reina Chantra?

“Honey.”

‘She isn’t on friendly terms with Marquis Gerard though.’

‘Why is she standing so close to him?’

Close.

At the echoes that started repeating the same thing, eventually, Ethan turned his head and looked to his side.

And, right there.

“Honey.”

Reina Chantra really was right there.

For a moment, his expression hardened like a stone.

The closer anyone was to him, the stronger he’d hear their innermost thoughts. That’s why he could always easily notice people approaching him, even with his eyes closed.

However… He didn’t notice anyone approaching just now.

“Honey.”

And what’s with the ‘honey’?

“Were you calling me just now?”

“Yes, Honey.”

What’s wrong with this woman. He didn’t hear anything about her having problems with her head though.

“There seems to be a misunderstanding.”

“That’s impossible. I’m sure of it.”

The ever so determined voice somehow threw him off his balance—and this feeling surged within him.

“You look like you’re going to be my Honey.”

He was perplexed. He could hear only one voice. At this very moment, the only sound he could hear was just Reina’s voice.

He had never experienced such a thing before, and so his thoughts began to move at a rapid pace.

“The stars in the sky whispered this into my ear.”

No matter how much he focused, the only thing he could hear was the mesmerizing voice that was flowing through Reina’s lips.

Meanwhile, however, he replied reflexively in the manner he was accustomed to.

“Then I believe there’s something wrong with the food. I’ll have to order someone to check.”

Because he was so used to people approaching him with intentions different to what they outwardly said, he reacted habitually like this. He uttered these words without a moment to think about it.

And yet, she, too, was formidable.

“Oh, that’s not it.”

“Then you must be drunk.”

Usually if he talked this way, they would flush bright red and leave while thinking of all kinds of curses in their heads.

“Us people of Chantra never get poisoned, so we don’t get drunk though?”

Since he couldn’t hear her thoughts, how could he know what exactly her intentions were?

Ethan stopped thinking for a moment, then he stared at the woman in front of him as though she was an unknown entity.

Why couldn’t he hear her? How was it possible that he couldn’t hear her?

Maybe she was simply a woman who had no thoughts? No, that’s not it. Still, it didn’t make sense that he couldn’t hear a single sound like this. And besides that, he also stopped hearing other people’s voices.

Perhaps because his thoughts were so tangled together like this, he felt a bit lightheaded. After managing to calm down the onslaught of nausea, he calmly opened his lips to speak.

“Please be careful with your drug intake, if any.”

Then, one corner of the woman’s lips twitched slightly. At the same time, Ethan’s eyebrows twitched as well.