It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 154
“Don’t just stand there, won’t you join us? That is, if you’ve time for tea.”
Halid glanced at Lionel and me, then gave a small nod.
“Gladly.”
Dantère had already claimed the seat on Vivian’s right, so Halid took the chair to her left. Just days ago, it had been Ardin in that very spot.
“Receiving the annulment notice must’ve knocked some sense into you, Duke Calitas.”
“…….”
Halid ignored Dantère’s barb with saintlike composure.
“Ah, brother.”
Vivian, quietly sipping tea between the two men, suddenly turned to Lionel.
“It would be good to consider replacing your bed.”
As Lionel’s gaze shifted to her, Vivian smiled sweetly and set down her teacup.
“Dantère broke it last night. One of the posts should be cracked if you go check.”
A total bombshell of a statement.
‘W-Wow… did she really just say that out loud?’
Vivian’s nonchalant confession threw Dantère into panic, and a strange, smug little pride, as he glanced at Halid.
Lionel, meanwhile, frowned in exasperation.
And Halid…
“The Young Marquis shared Lord Luanax’s bed…?”
…showcased a truly remarkable creativity.
“You absolute idiot…!”
Before either Lionel or I could react, Dantère exploded.
“She’s talking about me and her!”
Given that hint, Halid quickly reached the actual conclusion.
“Then last night, in the Duke’s bedroom, you and Lady Vivian… committed some indiscretion? But wasn’t it a different man the night before?”
Halid turned to Vivian, utterly stunned.
“Yes, that’s right. And tonight, I plan to spend time with someone else entirely.”
“Hmm… is that so.”
Halid, lost in thought, gave a firm nod.
“I understand. Then let’s do that.”
“…Do what exactly?”
“Isn’t that what she meant? That it’s my turn now? I didn’t expect to be third, but I suppose that’s fair, given I’ve done a poor job fulfilling my duties as fiancé.”
“Excuse me?”
“…?”
Halid looked genuinely convinced. Not a shred of doubt in his expression.
That was the first time I’d seen Vivian like that, on the verge of combustion. Annoyance, anger, embarrassment, and utter disbelief all collided and painted her face red and pale by turns.
‘Why is this so funny?’
It really shouldn’t be, but I was riveted. This was the joy of front-row seats.
I pretended to sip tea, desperately trying to hide the corners of my lips twitching upward.
“You do know how to please a woman, don’t you?”
Dantère drawled, his smile crooked with provocation.
“I’ll figure it out firsthand. Unlike the Young Marquis, I’ve no interest in practicing with hundreds of women.”
“H-Hundreds…! That’s not…”
His words trailed off, like he wasn’t quite sure himself. Judging from his troubled look and twitching lips, he was probably running the numbers in his head.
Still, surely not hundreds… Then again, a hundred sounded… disturbingly plausible.
Halid, having inadvertently thrown a numerical grenade and sent one rival into a tailspin, turned calmly to Vivian.
“Where would you prefer? My estate? Or your bedroom? If you’re in the mood for something different…”
“Just a moment, Halid. Can you please shut your mouth for a second?”
Vivian buried her face in both hands and let out a tortured groan.
‘Uh…’
It was only then I noticed the flush creeping up her neck and ears.
“Um, Lionel…”
Ignoring the chaos around us, Lionel continued sipping his tea at a leisurely pace. I gave his sleeve a gentle tug.
“Shouldn’t we excuse ourselves first? We’ve got a lot to do.”
“Hmm…?”
Lionel’s gaze dropped to my dessert plate. He raised an eyebrow at the half-eaten cake I’d left untouched.
