Episode 26

Ines turned a deaf ear to Enrique's kind-hearted yet prejudiced concerns and began to examine the Duke's children more carefully.

'Dante Ihar?'

He was an old-fashioned guy, following his family tradition. There were a few light rumors, but I don't have any impressive memories. He was a safety-first person who would never cross the line of danger, even if he did something behind someone's back.

'Leonardo Helves?'

He was only a year old, or at most two. Whatever it was, he was still a baby in my arms. She was only six, but even an eleven-year-old was not a person I could understand at all, even to the point where I couldn't even imagine her fully grown up.

Her eyes passed over Dante Ihar and Leonardo Helves, then back to Escalante's eldest son.

The legendary face that will make the social world buzz the most in the future.

'Cassel Escalante… … .'

It was just a quick, casual use of the name to tease Oscar, but maybe that wasn't a bad thing.

Ines paid new attention to the young noble ladies surrounding Cassel, rather than Cassel, who was just responding indifferently and curtly.

They would still be standing there, looking at Cassel, ten years from now. And twenty years from now, when each of them had a spouse.

'… This is not bad.'

To Ines now, it was just a joke, but in any case, the womanizing of Cassel that she remembered was very famous. At one time, she had despised and despised such people.

"… Ines… … ?"

"… … ."

"You look really strange. Should I take you to the Duke of Ballestena?"

Enrique was still watching Ines with concern, but he had now completely escaped her attention.

Ines, as if she hadn't heard anything, simply studied Cassel's detailed features with compassionate eyes.

He's a man who will grow up to be a rag with that perfect shell, but on the other hand, he's just a man who pursues a free life and refuses anything that requires responsibility.

A hopeless man who vehemently refused marriage proposals as soon as they were received, and even refused to marry when his father passed away, so he was never able to inherit the title.

People had different opinions about Cassel's decision, whether he gave up his title because he didn't want to get married, or because he didn't want to inherit the title, or both. But whatever it was, it was clear that he shuddered at the thought of having to take responsibility for something.

But how good is he? He has only met a very small number of women who come rushing in like a tidal wave, and he has never had a wife to deceive like some.

I thought his behavior was frivolous because he never met anyone seriously, but this also means that there was no woman he could betray, not only legally but emotionally.

Even without any effort, they were pushed in like that, so it's praiseworthy that they didn't roll over one by one… Ines muttered compassionately.

A body that makes a woman want to take off her clothes even if she keeps her mouth shut is better than a conman who only spouts out lies in hopes of getting a woman's body.

'At least he's not a scammer.'

The one who saw the other person's body first was also a woman.

And although she was a notorious womanizer, she didn't have any serious sexual diseases, was moderately promiscuous, had many women around her, never engaged in prostitution, didn't engage in sodomy, and had sex within the bounds of common sense... ... It was hard to believe that all the potential she needed was inside that little girl.

This was Oscar's guarantee. If Cassel Escalante had been carrying a venereal disease, prostituting herself, or buying male prostitutes, the Crown Prince, driven mad by jealousy, would have exposed her to the world long ago. The reason Cassel's womanizing was so famous was also because Oscar could not find a greater fault.

Ines gradually began to be convinced of Cassel Escalante. She could have children cleanly without a perverted relationship, and divorce would leave him with numerous blemishes.

Moreover, how comforting it is to see such clear records come to mind… Even Ines, who had no contact with or interest in Cassel, remembered so many things just from what she heard at the party. All the women he slept with were talking about it.

For the women of Mendoza, Cassel was a goal that they had to achieve at least once in their lives. He was a dream for some, and a medal for others. No matter how much a woman hid her love history and acted like a virtuous lady, she couldn't keep her mouth shut after sleeping with Cassel.

He was proud of even one night's mistake. Under the surface, he even talked about what positions he preferred. They were all accompanied by the rave reviews that said, "Big and good." Although there were so many bed stories, unlike anyone else, they were all so common sense that he didn't even remember them. It just means that he has a lot of desires, but he's not a particularly perverted person.

A man who looks like he might or might not sleep with ten women is a different kind of fuss than Cassel Escalante sleeping with one woman. That doesn't mean he's not a rag, but he's just a rag that stands out. He's not ashamed of having one night with women, and he's proud of it.

That's why, once you get married, you're the kind of spouse who will walk around throwing blame on the street.

"…Perfect...."

He was so perfect that the word perfect is an understatement.

The Empress would never interfere with Cassel Escalante. While she desperately wanted to marry the Duke of Ballestena, she did not like Ines as the Crown Princess for even a moment. The more she saw Ines' shortcomings, the more she could not stand it.

Like many Ortega mothers, Oscar's mother was a great woman who thought her son was the best in the world.

No matter how much Ines lived in the adoration of society, she was still a mere swindler who tarnished Oscar's reputation. She would have looked at him no differently than a six-year-old girl who was childishly playing with her own son.

However, there was only one reason why the Empress worked so hard to arrange the marriage between the Crown Prince and Ines. It would be more terrible if Duke Ihar, who was always at odds with Duke Escalante in politics, or Duke Helves, who still did not support the Crown Prince, were to ally with Duke Ballestena.

But what if the troublemaker finds his way to his statuesque nephew, who keeps turning his perfectly good son into a flawed creature, rather than to the most talented redhead in the world?

If I could just pass on the annoying headache to my brother and prevent the nobles from coming together… … .

'Rather than hindering me, I'm sure you'll bless me and help me.'

Is there another man who is this good to marry? What can turn Oscar's heart the deepest is a bonus.

'You're smarter than I thought.'

Just looking at the fact that he never got married, it's clear that he made such a wise choice, knowing full well that he has no loyalty whatsoever.

But now it was Cassel Escalante's turn to take a less wise route.

And in the midst of the oppression that marriage brings, you can pursue your former freedom and find your own freedom at the same time.

Didn't some men imagine married life with a woman just by seeing her smile once? Ines went even further and imagined their divorce and taking their children to their respective homes each season.

"Father, I have decided."

"huh?"

"I decided to marry the most handsome man in the world."

Ines created a girl's voice full of dreams and hopes, the exact opposite of her eyes that were looking at Cassel without emotion. The heart of an adult is best known by a child who has the memories of an adult.

The more absurdly naive a statement is, the less likely it is for an adult to doubt the child.

"… … Are you talking about Cassel Escalante?"

The Duke of Ballestena turned his gaze to the place she had pointed with her finger. The pretty boy, surrounded by layers of girls like flowers, tilted his head, not understanding Ines' pointing.

Duke Ballestena immediately distorted his face when he saw that sight. However, he did not tell his only daughter in detail about his pessimistic thoughts. What kind of a father he was, what kind of a man with so many girls he could become when he grew up, etc…

The duke closed his lips tightly for a moment as if he was patient, then asked again in detail.

"… Do you want someone like that?"

"yes."

"Is that the only reason? Because he's handsome?"

"yes."

"My daughter, I really only see your face… … ."

"All families are similar, so all you can see is that face."

The Duke looked surprised for a moment at the rationale presented by Ines. Then, he suddenly smiled faintly and asked again.

"But what about the crown prince? He's handsome and he'll probably become the emperor, so I think that's good."

"It looks like he's going to go bald, like the Duke of Escalante."

Phew… … A breathy laugh flowed out undignified from the serious lips of the Duke of Ballestena. It was a laughter filled with personal sincerity.

He was a close friend of the Duke of Escalante, having studied together since childhood, but rather than building a friendship over the years, they had a strange relationship in which they only hated each other due to all sorts of childish competitions.

"But Lord Oscar is the one who will become the emperor, Ines. Don't you regret it? You are turning down an opportunity that could have given you a very high position. If you marry him, even your father will have to bow to you."

"I don't care if my father bows his head to me… and even His Majesty the Emperor doesn't like bald heads."

The Duke said, swallowing his laughter.

"Then Cassel is also in danger."

"Fortunately, Cassel Escalante does not resemble the Duke of Escalante. He resembles the Duchess, so Escalante's forehead will probably be fine."

"…Your Majesty, you really do resemble him."

It was unclear whether she was particularly fond of the prophecy that her father would be bald 'like the Duke of Escalante', or whether she found the prophecy that 'the Crown Prince would one day be bald' to be true.

In any case, the Duke of Ballestena cheerfully accepted his daughter's grave whim.

"My only daughter can't spend her life with a bald guy… … ."

"As expected, you are my father."

"Ines Ballestena. If a handsome face is so important to you, you should marry the most handsome man."

Well, you can fix a habit by beating it… … The Duke muttered meaningfully and touched his daughter's shoulder. This was where Ines's hot temper came from.

I felt a brief moment of pity for Cassel Escalante.

But is it really such a bad thing if a womanizer gets punished in advance?