The Bad Ending of an Otome

‘More options are always better, so yes. I’ll also give you a chance.’

“No matter what anyone says, she is Ophelia herself.”

Cassio Brahamdorff’s eyes relaxed. 

Edmund Gloucester, who was passionately talking and dropping his surface honorifics, had bloodshot eyes.

‘My goodness, another moron here thinks everything that shines is gold.’

He recalls Ophelia’s look, which appeared to mock everything in the universe. 

Her hair glistened like a halo. 

Her ivory-white radiance on her brow. 

Her brilliant green eyes, which no diamond could match. 

The girl with the gorgeous, petal-colored lips who did not hesitate to spout cynical phrases.

She was either a tyrant or a goddess.

Yes, she did have an unusual glow. 

Everything she said appeared to be true. 

Cassio, who regarded humans as intelligent ants, was moved by her radiance – there was nothing else to say. 

People literally worshiped her. 

She could have easily gained the crown of queen if she hadn’t been constrained by time and had been born into the royal family. 

Of course, she’d have looked at the crown with stone-cold eyes.

Would such a girl have taken a risk on ‘Edmund Gloucester’? 

Cassio disagrees. 

She was consistently frigid to everyone except Emilia, yet her coldness varied. 

She maintained a certain amount of civility with a few maids who had grown up with her and Emilia, as well as with Raretis. 

However, she was completely cold to everyone else. 

Of course, Ophelia was chilly and distant towards Cassio Brahamdorff, but her attitude toward Edmund Gloucester was…

An unsettling light flared from the man’s blue eyes. 

Cassio’s tongue clicked inwardly.

“If I lose her this time…”

The veins on the back of the man’s hand were bulging as he squeezed his fist towards the empty air. 

If it had been the ‘genuine’ Cassio Brahamdorff, he would have seen Edmund Gloucester as a valuable pawn. 

Regardless of the condition in the Gloucester family, or whether Edmund was a ticking time bomb, finding a man with that degree of status and influence is unusual. 

Even more so when he is the type of person who, with the right drive, would never quit up.

Cassio Brahamdorff, who enjoyed using people as puppets, thought Edmund was too important to be mismanaged and lost. 

His teeth made a grinding sound. 

It felt terrifying just imagining it. 

In the vacuum, Edmund Gloucester’s eyes whirled complexly.

“Lose?”

“I will no longer endure.”

Endure what? 

Cassio Brahamdorff’s eyes flashed with a sneer that quickly vanished. 

Had Edmund Gloucester ever actually possessed Ophelia?

After some thought, it became evident why that man, who had behaved reasonably gently during her funeral, is now going crazy like a horse with loosened reins. 

Yes, everyone should have fought, letting go of the ill will they had harbored for so long at that burial. 

However, everyone kept silent. 

It was partly to pay tribute to the dead…

Cassio Brahamdorff remembered Emilia, who hadn’t cried in her black gown. 

With a dry, cold, and emotionless expression, she offers a bunch of multicolored flowers to the casket. 

Even those two men, who viewed her with uncertainty, couldn’t help but remain silent in her presence.

The Marquis and Marchioness were the nominal chief mourners for their kid, but the true chief mourner accepted by them was none other than Emilia. 

Everyone could relate to that. 

Even though she hadn’t shed a tear, despite ignoring the many white lilies in favor of a magnificent and brilliant bouquet, she was the company the deceased actually desired.

Yes. 

Even if Ophelia died, even though their dazzling, beautiful, and harsh goddess died, he had the feeling that Ophelia hadn’t been fully sent out in a meaningful way as long as Emilia remained in her place. 

When they visited the Marquis’s residence without Ophelia, they, too, hurled the same vitriol at Emilia, and received the same prickly retorts from Emilia, as if everything was actually the same even without Ophelia…

He assumed those days would last. 

Nobody expected Emilia, who seemed to mock them, to abruptly go. 

Edmund Gloucester pretended otherwise, but he was among the most unsettled in the aftermath of Emilia’s disappearance.

He rationalized himself by stating it was natural since Ophelia had died, but Cassio thought it was strange. 

Of course, Edmund Gloucester did not just ruin himself by descending into meaningless anarchy; he did, after a few months, regain his wits… 

Cassio Brahamdorff was feeling uneasy at the time.

In that situation, ‘He’ Edmund Gloucester regained his senses in a matter of months? 

Why? 

When he thought about it again, it seemed weird. 

Originally, Edmund Gloucester was more aware of Raretis Hope than anyone else. 

There was enough reason to check him because Ophelia had initially viewed him kindly. 

Even Emilia–despite her calm denial on the day of the funeral–wasn’t she the one who was the most friendly in comparison to others?

With the face of Elodie, a guest at the House Windrose, Raretis Hope was Edmund Gloucester’s greatest rival. 

But what about Edmund Gloucester, who is definitely hostile and on the lookout for Cassio?

First and foremost, because Emilia is residing in a townhouse under the name of Lady McGinty rather than Cassio’s, the property that Edmund Gloucester barged into without notice was Brahamdorff’s main residence. 

Cassio, standing in front of his office desk, chuckled at the guest who seemed to strike a punch at him at any moment.

“Wouldn’t it be preferable to speak clearly? Anyway, it’s the lady’s mind, whoever she chooses as a cavalier. Do you have the right to fight about the lady’s selection of foolish men?”

“What, what, what?”

“Could it be that you, Sir Edmund Gloucester, who are unsure of being chosen, are going to a competitor who appears to be a competitor and making an unreasonable argument? No, I don’t think so. There’s the Gloucester family’s honor, and I apologize for my rash assumption.”

Edmund Gloucester’s face flushed with rage.

“I haven’t met Lady Elodie in person, but I’ve heard the rumors. A modest, lovely, and noble lady?”

“That’s correct! So, dare you…”

“A prudent lady would make a wise choice.”

“How do you know the swarm of flies surrounding her will not be enchanted by the gleaming exterior…?”

‘So I am the fly to her gleaming exterior?

The real target that man is guarding, no matter how I hear it, is…. ‘

For a brief while, his grey eyes shone with a terrifying glow. 

Cassio Brahamdorff burst out laughing. It was a wonderful laugh, almost mocking in its delivery.

“What’s wrong with a gleaming exterior?”

“What?”

“Isn’t the most plausible ornament for a beautiful and prudent lady a handsome man with a perfect background? Lord Gloucester, you don’t appear to understand the social rules. We are both male nobles who have reached the age of marriage, so we have knightly titles to our names, but isn’t that all? Without a convincing accomplishment like Lord Raretis, we should flaunt our good looks.”

Of course, there was an issue with the statement ‘that’s all’. 

Looking at the present Brahamdorff family head, he was a finance minister who was liked by the bedridden monarch, and even Cassio Brahamdorff was involved in different family decisions, and there was a story that he had tripled his already significant fortune several times over. Despite his lack of physical power, Edmund Gloucester was a notable theologian and magical researcher in this country.

In fact, in today’s reality, when religion’s authority and magic’s substance are both half outmoded, there wasn’t much genuine power. 

He wasn’t unpopular in the social sphere, despite his clever appearance and serious scholar persona. 

The Gloucester family has been a prestigious family since the reign of the previous king, which would have also played a role.

Cassio Brahamdorff, on the other hand, effectively reversed Edmund Gloucester’s psychology. Edmund Gloucester felt deeply inferior to Raretis. 

At first glance, despite their acceptable looks and great pedigree in many professional disciplines, there seemed to be no cause to be concerned… Edmund’s expression hardened even more.

“Am I inferior to Lord Raretis?!”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Of course, he meant exactly what he said. 

Cassio Brahamdorff shook his head, as if to apologize. 

Like a masterpiece, the sunshine streaming in through the window emphasized the man’s golden hair and gorgeous grey eyes.

“If we were to compare ourselves to Lord Raretis, who among us could compete? He commands the allegiance of the valiant Glamis Knights and has annihilated the foes who threaten our frontiers. Were the untrustworthy people who emerged from the calamity 20 years ago labeled unbelievers? He skillfully thwarted their plan to offer a human sacrifice. He is a new hero. Are we brave enough to follow his footsteps?”

The blue eyes of the man writhed in rage.

Should we add some additional flavor? 

Casio swirled the high-end pen on his fingertips, exaggeratingly opening his mouth.

“There’s no rush now; I hear he’s staying with the Marchioness and supporting her ahead of the big event. True story. My heart would race even if I were a lady. Don’t we both know Lord Raretis Hope’s demeanor? And, as far as I know, Lady Elodie hasn’t made many friends yet, despite having recently arrived from the countryside.”

“Making assumptions about a lady you’ve never met!”

The ‘woman Casio Brahamdorff had never personally met’ was brought in by Edmund Gloucester. 

Casio, on the other hand, sighed regretfully rather than openly contradicting him.

“That’s why I said ‘no’ to your proposal earlier. I’m not familiar with that lady’s predicament.”

“What kind of nonsense are you…”

“All I heard was ‘a kind Marchioness is sponsoring a destitute young lady of the Baron. I didn’t hear anything about partners… or her situation. And, if no one has been assigned as her cavalier, won’t it be an honor for the lady if more people offer to be her cavalier?”

The haughty nobility would not risk the embarrassment of offering to be a cavalier in public only to be told, ‘Sorry, I already have someone.’ 

Unless a young man was blinded by love and bravery, the invitation to be a cavalier would be meticulously coordinated between families ahead of time. 

Of course, rumors would spread. 

Gossip like, the lady from a certain household has gotten over 5,000 requests to be a cavalier, and so on. 

Courtly love is generally encouraged as long as it is not excessive, especially when a young unmarried man is pursuing an unmarried lady.

In other words, the more ‘Lady Elodie’ followers she has, the greater her social standing. 

She will be established as the social circle’s flower, the top invitee to all salons, and the center of attention for everyone.

“And whether that is determined by the lady’s wishes or by Marchioness Windrose, who has a strong chance of becoming the lady’s chaperone, I don’t know.”

Casio Brahamdorff’s fresh prospect caught Edmund Gloucester’s attention.