The Heroines Are After My Fortune

14 – Let Us Not Wed – 1

During the two weeks leading up to the Este family’s banquet, Aiden kept a rather busy schedule.

Mainly, he’d invested a considerable sum to acquire multiple theaters.

‘To gain some influence in noble society, I need to show tangible results.’

If he didn’t achieve business success that outsiders would recognize, he wouldn’t be Aiden Loen but just ‘Yulne’s Loen’s pathetic successor.’ That would be extremely bad for his future plans. He needed to make the persona of Aiden himself an attractive option to attract talented people.

For his initial success, theaters of this era were a good choice. He’d skipped classes every day, but he was still a Film Studies student at heart. Movies in this world, limited to 1930’s black and white level, were full of flaws that he could fix.

Theater operation was the same. He saw plenty of possibilities in operations targeting only nobles, and production methods that relied too heavily on patronage from a few wealthy individuals.

‘More than anything, I might even use them to bring down Marquis Raphael.’

Though still in its planning stages, Aiden had even considered using these theaters to form a massive public opinion campaign. He figured that purpose alone justified his expenditure.

“We’ve arrived, Baron.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Lost in thought, they’d already arrived in the Este marquisate. This time, Aiden had brought only Cassano and a few attendants, leaving everyone else behind. He was usually accompanied by Caesar as a hidden bodyguard, but bringing him to the Este’s, an ill-fated family, was dangerous in more ways than one.

Aiden, guided by the Esté household servants, soon arrived at the lavish banquet hall. He exchanged greetings with a few people, his eyes darting around, taking in the scene.

‘No sign of that Marquis Rafael, it seems.’

The seat that appeared to be the place of honor on the second floor was empty. It wasn’t that surprising, as the marquis disliked these kinds of boisterous gatherings. He’d barely show his face even at banquets hosted by the Emperor. He would meet with the marquis in private soon enough. Aiden scanned the room in search of Rène, his original purpose, but she was nowhere to be seen either.

‘…She’ll come on her own if she’s resting.’

Thinking this, he moved to sit in a corner chair, but a man approached him, greeting him.

“Are you not Baron Aiden?”

“I am, but may I ask who you are?”

“Ah, my apologies, I was a bit hasty. I am David Blackwell, from the south.”

A handsome man with sun-kissed bronze skin, slender, squinting eyes, and long, tied-back silver hair. Aiden knew very well who this silver-haired, tanned squinty-eyed type was.

“The eldest son of the Blackwell family, I see. Your reputation precedes you. I am Aiden Roen.”

‘One of the four male leads from “Redal Dream,” the genius spirit mage, David Blackwell.’

The eldest son of the ‘Invincible Admiral’ Carlos Blackwell from the southern coast, in the latter part of the story he is the strongest one who forms a contract with the Spirit King of Mol. But Aiden was determined to do everything to stop him if he ever tried to court Elena later on.

‘This philandering b*stard, over my dead body.’

David had a special ability to see the ‘color of souls.’ Since childhood, he learned it was difficult to find a ‘good person’ using this power. He had no expectations from most, opened his heart only to spirits, and kept shallow relationships with those around him. His outward personality was cheerful, so people didn’t even realize he was being superficial. He had at least a double-digit number of women he had secret casual affairs with.

One day, feeling a sense of futility with his own behavior, he glimpsed Elena’s pure soul and fell truly for her, cutting off his relationships with other women. He began courting Elena with the passion of a first love. The author confirmed his sincerity but Aiden looked towards the distant future.

‘Once a man gets a taste of meat, he can’t stop. True love is bullshit, this guy would have another household within a couple years of marriage.’

Like salmon swimming upstream to their home, Aiden, knowing the homing instincts of these kinds of men, would absolutely not allow a playboy like David to court Elena. He had a rough idea why David was even greeting him.

“Haha, I was disappointed I couldn’t greet you at the last welcoming party, I’m glad we finally got a chance. By the way, your sister didn’t come with you? I heard you were siblings…”

“I’m bursting with pride to show off my lovely sister, but circumstances at home prevented her from coming.”

The truth was that he didn’t bring her so that she wouldn’t get tainted by Rène, but that didn’t matter. Aiden inwardly clicked his tongue at David’s feigned ignorance, asking about the sister as if he didn’t know who Elena was, having only heard the siblings were related.

‘Aha, you’re transparent, so very transparent….’

He saw the flicker of disappointment, a fleeting thing, when he said he couldn’t come, and that sealed it. In the original story, the previous welcoming party wasn’t a place Elena, being a commoner, could attend, delaying David’s encounter with her. But now, right from the start, he was already showing interest in Elena.

Who knew what changes this might bring, but seeing as it was happening, Aiden felt a need to get a better handle on David. And so, he started with some small talk.

“Ah, I hear the boat rides in the south are quite extraordinary, is that true?”

“A hundred words wouldn’t convey it as well as experiencing it for yourself. When summer comes, the whole city turns into a festival…”

Being of a similar age, with some unexpected common ground, they discovered they got along well, much better than anticipated. Unintentionally, they even found themselves delving into deeper topics.

‘He might be good as a close friend, actually?’

Even so, by sheer ability, he was an S-class character.

Like how it’s difficult to make a pass at a close friend’s sister, if he could just keep him from going too far, he figured he might have a decent connection.

“It has been a long time since I’ve had such an enjoyable conversation. If you’re amenable, David, I’d like to interact more often…”

“Haha, I’m happy to. There is no reason to refuse.”

They shook hands, laughing heartily.

David looked around, then cautiously asked Aiden.

“Lord Aiden, could I offer a bit of advice, in the spirit of our new friendship?”

“Of course, I’m all ears.”

As Aiden agreed, David leaned in, lowering his voice. It was not a topic to discuss loudly.

“I have a knack for reading women, and Lady Renee is not someone easily swayed.”

“…Well, I expected that. Any solutions then?”

Aiden, who hadn’t been particularly hopeful, perked up at the mention of something he was deeply concerned about. If anyone had a new approach to offer, it’d be David, with his ability to see the colors of souls and have otherworldly insights.

“Just between us men, if you let her overpower you from the start, you’ll have a very difficult marriage.”

‘Shit, no way…?’

I thought it was about how to control a person, human to human, but it was all about married life. Of course, just because it wasn’t what I expected didn’t mean I wasn’t interested. My ears perked up even more, actually.

“When you get married, first things first, you need to forget everything else and establish dominance on the first night–“

“You two seem to have gotten pretty close.”

““……………!””

Startled, they quickly moved apart. David, even sweating, greeted her with a rather awkward tone.

“H-ha, hello. Miss Renée, it’s been a while.”

“Ah, Lord David. It has been.”

Renée treated David with a somewhat cold and formal manner.

It wasn’t entirely due to the whispers about his reputation, but she clearly intended to differentiate her treatment from how she acted with Aiden.

“It’s nice to see you, Baron Aiden. You look even more dashing than last time.”

Aiden flinched when he met her gaze. Renée, in a flamboyant red dress reminiscent of a rose, radiated an intense beauty that outshone anyone else in the ballroom today. When she touched his shoulder lightly with a fresh smile, he felt a jolt, instinctively.

‘Damn, wouldn’t you know, like a fox….’

A sensual touch, neither too heavy nor too light. Even someone with a fair share of experience with women could fall for such a powerful strike the moment they let their guard down. Somehow managing to compose himself, Aiden greeted Renée as if nothing had happened.

“It’s a pleasure to see you, Miss Renée. You’re even more beautiful than when we first met.”

“Hehe, thank you.”

Renée laughed, covering her mouth. She soon gave a coy smile and took a step closer to him.

“Coming here looking so dashing, can I take it that you’ve made up your mind?”

“…………….”

Aiden smirked at her question and lightly nodded his head.

It was a gesture that anyone would take as a positive sign.

Quick-witted David immediately grasped what was required of him in the current situation.

“The two of you, truly, a well-matched pair. I’ve seen countless couples come and go in social circles, but I can confidently say you two are the best of them all.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Even Rhene, who had been cold toward David just moments ago, looked pleased at the compliment of their being a good match. Embracing the mood David had set, Rhene slyly moved closer to Aiden, beaming with bliss as she hooked her arm through his. Movements so calculated, anyone would undoubtedly deem her a “woman in love.”

“…I am truly a lucky one.”

‘Hoo, impressive?’

David understood that Rhene was playing a bigger game. And it was surely the cunning fox’s special move – ‘arranged marriage, but anyway, my husband is so handsome’. He’d usually side with his fellow man, but figured that supporting these little white lies, ones that elevate the marriage partner, would be for Aiden’s good, so he decided to play along.

“Hoho, a lucky one you say. May I ask why?”

“Though my father chose my partner, I never imagined I’d meet someone so wonderful.”

The back-and-forth between David and Rhene was escalating. David, wondering if Aiden might be sporting an embarrassed expression, glanced over at him, and couldn’t help but be shocked.

‘…No reaction at all?’

He remained as still as a stone, his face cold. Aiden, who’d been silently listening to their exchange, finally parted his tightly closed lips.

“So I will gladly fulfill my role as wife….”

“Ms. Rhene.”

“…Yes?”

“I do not appreciate sugar-coated lies.”

““…………!?””

Aiden’s bombshell struck everyone by surprise.

Even Rhene, who never lost her composure, looked dumbfounded, as if caught off guard. However, it didn’t take long for her to regain her smiling facade, as if nothing had happened, before asking,

“Lord Aiden, might we move somewhere a bit more private to speak, just the two of us?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Lord David, do enjoy the rest of the banquet.”

“Ah, I will. Thank you for your consideration.”

As René led Aiden away towards the second-floor balcony, David, watching them go, quietly sipped his wine.

‘Skilled at hiding his emotions, that one. Looks like he’s quite furious, though.’

He’d seen it, the roiling of René’s soul’s color.

To most eyes, perhaps it appeared as if a man with a fierce inferiority complex had simply lashed out, but David, who had been observing the situation, didn’t think so at all. He was certain it was a deliberate action, aimed at achieving a desired outcome.

‘…Quite an interesting fellow, that one.’

David’s narrowed eyes, reflected in the wine glass, slanted upwards.

He hadn’t seen it today, not once—the color(色) of another person.