KFBRV Ch 73
- Feb 12
- 6 min read
The hall was buzzing with noise, and the moment Marco turned his head, she acted.
She leaned her weight against the outside of the railing. Her upper body tilted precariously, and she began to fall backward. Her platinum-blonde hair unraveled, whipping upward toward the sky before her eyes.
[Marco] "Damn it! What the—!"
Leaving his panicked voice behind, splash! she plunged directly into the fountain.
The crystal fountain in the garden was a wine fountain. Fortunately, the first-tier basin was filled to the brim with alcohol and was deep enough to prevent her from sustaining any injuries.
[Odette] "Cough, cough!"
Wine rushed into her nose and mouth. Even if a terrace was considered a secret and private space for two, the situation changed entirely the moment an accident occurred.
In an instant, the terrace where she had been standing was swarmed by guests. Among them were Johan and Zion.
[Odette] "That... that gentleman suddenly lunged at me."
She lifted a finger, pointing at Marco while looking pitiful and drenched. Every eye in the crowd fixed on him.
[Marco] "No! That's not it!"
She curled her body as if she were terrified and trembling. In moments like this, her reputation as a villainess was actually an asset. Because she was known for being haughty and composed, her sudden, broken expression appeared genuine to the onlookers.
The noble guests crowding the terrace stared at Marco with looks of pure horror.
Goodbye, Marco.
Attacks on civilians by Transcendents were strictly forbidden. Among such crimes, an attack by a Transcendent against a Purifier was punished with the utmost severity.
Purification required both physical contact and the Purifier's will. Therefore, mere contact did not result in purification. It meant the act couldn't be forced.
However, there had been a history of Transcendents abusing their overwhelming power to take purification from a Purifier forcibly. They used their abilities and physical strength to torture them, essentially. This dark history had led to Purifiers dying or fleeing to other countries, which resulted in the laws becoming incredibly strict.
Even though B-class Transcendents can stop their rampages with drugs alone and don't technically need a Purifier......
The people would imagine whatever they pleased. They would assume Marco had tried to force himself on her for purification and, in a fit of rage at her refusal, had pushed her.
Odette watched as several soldiers stepped forward and dragged him away. That man would likely be interrogated thoroughly, and many records of him blackmailing helpless women in the past would surely surface. He had the distinct air of an expert.
Besides, a gentleman attacking a lady during the social season? That is social death.
Furthermore, he had just pawned off the training Johan had ordered onto a subordinate. Since he had disobeyed an Admiral's order, he would be punished under military law. Since he had disobeyed the Crown Prince's order, he would also be subject to Imperial law.
I must look quite unsightly, fallen into a wine fountain. Well, I can endure this much damage to my reputation.
The nobles of Barzeha were conservative. Their views on women, in particular, were extremely narrow. A lady in distress whom no gentleman helped was often a target of ridicule in social circles. Odette was already known as a wallflower; now her reputation would likely become even more of a joke.
Still, it is incomparable to being dragged around by a blackmailer.
As the alcohol soaked into her skin, she felt deeply cold. She began to shiver.
It was then that she heard the sound of water splashing behind her. Before she could even turn around, a warm military greatcoat was draped over her shoulders.
[Viktor] "Sweetheart, are you alright?"
When she turned her head to look up, Viktor was there, shielding her.
Why is he here?
Her eyes widened in surprise. Before she could process the situation, he scooped her up and carried her out of the fountain.
Viktor had acted unlike himself today.
Instead of his usual mess of a military uniform that looked like a delinquent's school outfit, he was dressed in a clean, khaki-colored ceremonial uniform. He had even pinned on several medals he usually found annoying, slicked back his loose hair, and donned a black military cap.
In other words, he looked like the "cringing peacock" he so despised.
[Viktor] "Damn it, I can't believe I came to this disgusting place of my own accord."
He scowled, muttering a string of curses. A wave of self-loathing hit him again at the realization that he had come here just to see if the woman who had been vomiting blood was alright.
[Viktor] "Why did that idiot Crown Prince even send her back?"
I'm the one who saved her! Am I not her literal savior? Why is he the one acting like he's in charge?
Thanks to that, I had to come all the way to a place like this just to check on her. Look at these hives breaking out on my handsome body.
He grumbled that the royals only cared about themselves. He promised himself he would give them a taste of a coup d'état one day.
However, the sight he witnessed upon entering the banquet hall—while grinding his teeth—was Odette dancing with the Crown Prince.
He had confirmed her well-being, which was his original goal, but his stomach felt strangely unsettled.
A sudden, unbearable irritation rose within him, and he eventually left the hall.
[Viktor] "To hell with this. I shouldn't have come."
He stormed out, irritably unbuttoning his ceremonial coat at the main gate, when the scent of peach blossoms exploded from somewhere. It was an enchanting, intoxicating fragrance that made his head spin.
Then, he lost consciousness. When he came to, he found himself near the fountain, having followed the scent. The bewitching fragrance that seemed to enthrall people had completely vanished.
What was that? Was I just possessed by some spirit?
His constitution was incompatible with supernatural abilities. Because of that, even minor use of his power caused him pain. The alluring scent from a moment ago had felt as if his brain were about to explode. Even a brief sniff had felt like a rainstorm pouring over his scorched body.
As a result, even though the scent was gone, his eyes were still somewhat dazed. It was then that he heard it.
[Odette] "Aaaaaah! Please, stop this!"
A terminal scream in her voice.
At the same time, he saw a woman fall and—splash!—plunge into the fountain.
Why is she......?
He wanted to save her immediately, but because his body had been soaked in that soul-melting pleasure just moments ago, his limbs wouldn't move quite right.
Despite his confusion, he moved toward the fountain with heavy, splashing steps to save the woman.
Her white dress was soaked, revealing her silhouette with stark clarity. He wrapped his coat around her.
[Viktor] "Sweetheart, are you alright?"
[Odette] "Co—Colonel Viktor? Why are you... here...... Cough, cough!"
She seemed to have swallowed a significant amount of wine after falling from that height. Her face, flushed red and wet, felt strangely provocative to him.
Her ears and cheeks were crimson from the alcohol, and her hair was plastered to her skin. Even though he had covered her with his jacket, she was a woman who stimulated a man's imagination.
[Viktor] "What are you looking at, you bastards?"
He pulled the jacket up further to hide not just her shoulders but her face as well, snarling at the people standing on the terrace. He then pulled the sleeves of the jacket and tied them, wrapping her up tightly.
[Odette] "Co—Colonel?"
Ignoring the muffled protest of the woman whose face was hidden, he slung her over his shoulder like a piece of luggage and marched away from the fountain.
Looking back at the terrace, he saw Johan breaking the arms and legs of some potato-looking bastard. His eyes met Johan's blue ones.
Yes. I finally understand. What I felt earlier was jealousy.
That feeling of something burning fiercely in his chest. The emotion that had made him feel miserable back in the banquet hall.
Viktor offered Johan a smirk.
And right now, you're likely the one feeling it, aren't you? My noble Crown Prince?
As if to show off, he pressed a kiss against the bundle slung over his shoulder. The woman wrapped in the jacket likely didn't know, but he did it for the audience.
After confirming that Johan's expression had turned to stone, he left the garden with a light step.
The thought that he had returned the misery he felt earlier made him feel immensely relieved.
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