FMY 43

Bloody Monday had returned once again.

‘This damned family luncheon….’

‘Bloody Monday’…. It was a nickname he had given the occasion because every Monday morning, he would have to face Gabriel and pretend to have an amicable relationship in front of Duke Arthur while having breakfast, which was always enough to make him sick to the point of vomiting blood. This goddamn, useless piece-of-shit luncheon.

Besides that, there was another reason Serge had given it that nickname….

“N-no way! This can’t be happening!”

Gabriel screamed, dropping his fork and knife. To be precise, he had thrown them onto his plate without realizing it. The luxurious silver tableware, embossed with the Arthur family crest and made a needless sacrifice, was pitifully slammed down onto the plate.

‘Right. I knew something bloody like this would happen one of these days.’

Serge nodded his head like an old man, observing the current situation which perfectly suited the nickname ‘Bloody Monday.’

The reason why the angel-faced Gabriel was so agitated that he was tossing aside his table manners and beautiful smile, veins bulging in his neck, was this.

“To think you would refuse the candidacy for Crown Princess!”

That was right. Just a moment ago, Duke Arthur had declared that he could not permit the marriage talks proceeding between his ward, Gabriel Lutel, and the Crown Prince. He was causing this scene because of the thunderbolt-like news that shattered all his dreams and hopes.

Sensing that the situation was about to become more heated, Serge gave a subtle glance to Madame Rolland. She understood the message from the young master she served and quickly helped the twin siblings up, leaving the luncheon.

As the atmosphere turned sour, the butler and servants also took the hint and left. Now, only four people remained at the table: the Duke Arthur and his son, and the siblings Gabriel and Leana Lutel. Serge breathed a sigh of relief at the quick thinking of the nanny and the servants and began to focus again on the conversation flowing across the dining table.

Duke Arthur put down the silver spoon he had been using to eat his soufflé and spoke with a firm expression.

“It is just as I said, Gabriel. I will find a more suitable match for you.”

“What?”

“In fact, I have already found one. The Marquisate of Dampierre. I heard that after the previous marquis passed away early recently, his heir succeeded the title. I was told he is a young, dominant alpha around your age, a very dependable and sincere young man. His appearance is also said to be very strong and magnificent, as befits an alpha. He will be a good partner who suits you well.”

The more he looked into it, the more he really liked the young man, Duke Arthur added. The way he wiped his mouth with a napkin was unusually dry and composed.

“…The Marquisate of Dampierre, you say?!”

It was a pity that the person facing him was not at all composed.

“Ah, you must not have heard of them much in Anser’s high society. I understand. Their territory is near the northeastern border, so I’m told they rarely come to the capital residence. As you know, they have traditionally carried out the duties of a margrave….”

“Your Grace!”

At Gabriel’s shriek-like call, Duke Arthur, who had been speaking, was so startled he almost dropped the glass he was holding. The delicately crafted crystal glass did not fall from his hand and shatter, but the red wine soaked the duke’s cuff. It was truly a color of discord, fitting for a Bloody Monday.

“This is ridiculous. It’s absolutely ridiculous. You can’t do this to me.”

Gabriel shook his head frantically, trembling like a man who had lost his mind. It was a complete contrast to his usual demeanor of fawning over Duke Arthur, acting as docile as possible in a desperate attempt to curry favor. The shock must have been that great. Serge calmly swallowed the same beverage his father had spilled and quietly observed them.

“You know how much I’ve wished for that position! How can you do this when you know full well how much I’ve wanted it my entire life? How can you be so cruel?!”

“Gabriel.”

“And the Marquisate of Dampierre, of all things! Isn’t it a family famous for defending the border in the provinces, just as you said? It might be a family that Your Grace or His Majesty the King would appreciate, but not in high society! Most people consider them country bumpkins, even if they are a marquisate in name!”

“…You are speaking too harshly of a traditional family that has served Blanche with loyalty, living as officers their entire lives.”

“But that’s the truth, isn’t it? Have you ever seen a member of the Dampierre family in the capital?”

Bang! The pale, slender fist of the agitated man slammed down on the table. The cream-colored tablecloth was crumpled and wrinkled under Gabriel’s fist.

“As I said, the heir recently came to the capital for the succession….”

“Yes! They’re probably the kind of people who come and go from the capital once in their entire lives! When they need to put their seal on a document to get His Majesty the King’s approval for their title succession!”

“……”

“Good heavens…. To think you’d suggest the Marquis of Dampierre after the Crown Prince, who is the best of the best. This is absurd….”

Gabriel was arguing with Duke Arthur, tearing at his own hair with a crazed look on his face. Right now, he was not in his right mind enough to dare talk back to the Duke. To be fair, just as he said, his most cherished wish was right before his eyes, only for him to be stuck in the provinces, married to some country bumpkin marquis he had never even considered, because of his guardian’s opposition. It was only natural for him to be this agitated.

“Why on earth are you against it?”

Bloodshot veins appeared around the beautiful blue eyes praised by all.

“Please tell me the reason. I won’t move an inch from this spot until you tell me the reason.”

No matter how much he begged, there was no way Duke Arthur would tell him the truth. Although Gabriel was a cherished ward, the Duke was by no means a man who would readily expose the dirty side of the royal family he served. Serge glanced sideways at his father’s expression. As expected, Duke Arthur’s face was that of a high nobleman, more resolute than ever before.

“I will only say that it is a matter between the heads of our families.”

It was a declaration that he would not explain any further, even if he wanted to know more.

Hearing Duke Arthur’s seemingly unshakeable statement, Gabriel, his reddened eyes welling up with tears that looked ready to spill at any moment, shot up from his seat. Then, with a body trembling with rage, he raised his right arm and began to point a finger at Serge.

“Again…! It’s because of Serge again, isn’t it?”

The faces of the Duke and his son colored with bewilderment at the furious words that came through gritted teeth. This was especially true for the unwitting victim, Serge, who was being directly pointed at by that pale, slender finger.

“Again, again, again! It’s because of this guy again. I know it even if you don’t say it!”

“What is this nonsensical assumption? It is not because of Serge, Gabriel. I made this decision because I know well that you will regret it for the rest of your life if you take that position. Please know that it is all for your happiness. You will realize it after time passes, but it was a choice made entirely for you.”

“That can’t be true! If you truly wished for my happiness, you should have made it so I could become the Crown Princess! Your Grace has always said you cherish me and Leana, but I know the truth. I know those words are nothing but sweet talk.”

The other victim who had been suddenly mentioned, Gabriel’s younger sister Leana Lutel, stiffened in bewilderment. Of course, so did Duke Arthur, who had been made out to be someone who spouted empty sweet talk in front of the wards he treated like his own children.

“When it always comes to the important moments, Serge has taken everything. It’s the same with the twins.”

“……?”

Well, of course, you’re not related to me, and the twins are my children…. Serge began to wonder whether he should or should not tell Gabriel the truth about the strange idea he was mistaken about, right here in the middle of this chaos. How could he be so confident, as if he were one of the biological sons who had been discriminated against…? He wasn’t even an adopted son, but merely a ward. The absurdity was beyond words.

Cases like Gabriel and Leana’s, where a guardian provided more than just financial support, were in fact quite rare.

From the moment Duke Arthur brought the Lutel siblings into his mansion, in accordance with the Duchess’s wishes, he had spared no support he could offer. It was a given that he fed and clothed them the same as his own children, he had them receive an education equal to that of his family’s sons and daughters, and he even provided backing in high society so that their status as members of a family without a title could be stable. He had even allowed them to take responsibility for social activities representing the Arthur name. What a baseless claim, so different from the truth. Contrary to Gabriel’s insistence, it was true that Duke Arthur had raised the Lutel siblings as if they were his own family.

But it seemed that was not enough for Gabriel.

‘To think he took for granted everything he’s enjoyed so far, while feeling resentful about being discriminated against in trivial ways compared to the biological children.’

It was truly an astounding level of self-confidence.

Serge quietly turned his gaze to Leana. Unlike her beautiful brother, who was praised as an angel incarnate, she was a beta woman of utterly plain appearance. He found himself re-examining Leana, a person with an unassuming appearance—a mousy blonde hair that looked simply brown unless under strong sunlight, an average build, and a plain face that wouldn’t remain in one’s memory even if seen passing by.

She was not standing there with her chin held high in agreement with her brother’s statement. Rather, she wore a look of fear and astonishment, as if thinking, ‘What is wrong with that man….’

‘Father raised Gabriel and Leana exactly the same. So the reason Gabriel is acting so shamelessly is….’

Serge came to the conclusion that the reason was, after all, simply Gabriel’s innate personality. The fact that he was a dominant omega, a rare trait, had probably also become the source and basis for his aggrieved tantrum. That was how much he had been praised and raised because of his trait.

“Since Serge can’t attain the position of Crown Princess no matter how hard you try, and he’ll end up with nothing more than the position of a duke’s consort! That’s why you’re stopping me from becoming the Crown Prince’s consort!”

No, what on earth is this overinflated ego…?

“Because you can’t bear to see me finally beat your precious son! Because you can never admit that I’m better than that Serge, who has nothing going for him but his birth!”

The three people who heard the ravings of the rage-filled Gabriel gaped, their mouths hanging open. They were so astonished, it felt as if their jaws would drop onto the table.

“But what can you do when that’s the reality? The highest position a big-boned, recessive omega like that can attain—even for you, Your Grace, who holds sway over all of Blanche—that’s as far as it goes. The position of consort to Duke Bernadotte, who is ostracized by the royal family.”

“You are crossing the line now…!”

Gabriel was so far gone that he was now insulting the second prince without hesitation.

“Admit it. It’s because Serge is getting engaged to Duke Bernadotte that you think I shouldn’t rise higher than him, isn’t that right! This is so unfair!”

“Gabriel!”

Duke Arthur raised his voice, looking at him who, in his overwhelming anger, had crossed a line he should not have crossed, and crossed it hard.

“What an absolutely ridiculous conjecture! I will not watch you make any more verbal mistakes like this, so stop it!”

At the Duke’s stern warning, tears streamed down Gabriel’s furious face.

“I will say it once more, clearly. I cannot permit the position of Crown Princess, so give it up. All of you, remember this. There will never be a consort for François, the Dauphin de Blanche, from our household!”

The Duke dropped the napkin he had been wearing around his neck onto the table and rose from his seat. His tone was colder than ever before.

“Gabriel, from now on, all meetings with His Highness the Crown Prince are also forbidden. So, do not entertain any foolish thoughts and stay confined to your room.”

With those final words, Duke Arthur swept out of the luncheon hall, his coattails fluttering. Serge stared blankly at the back of his father as he left in a rage.

Once they were left alone, Gabriel, no longer needing to manage even the minimal image he had left, stomped his feet and shrieked.

“You again! What did you do, Serge! This can’t be happening!”

At the sight of him like a demon of jealousy, revealing a nature that didn’t match his name, Serge grew even colder.

“…Gabriel, you always used to tease me for being such a crybaby.”

It was a comment that pointed out exactly that he was now shedding tears of indignation. Gabriel had always teased Serge for being a crybaby because he would get scared and cry and lock himself in his room whenever he was even slightly flustered.

“I guess it’s true that the words you use to slander others eventually come back to you.”

“What did you say?”

“You said it just a few days ago, didn’t you, Gabriel?”

Serge, with a cold face, reminded him of their conversation in the salon.

“What was it exactly? Was it, ‘I guess everyone has their place in the world’…?”

“Ah…!”

“I’ll return those words to you exactly as they were, Gabriel. I guess everyone does have their place in the world.”

“……”

“Stop being so greedy and accept reality now. Even the position of the Marquis of Dampierre’s consort is too good for someone as nasty as you.”

If he abandoned his greed and accepted it, he could at least lead a peaceful life. Serge forced himself to swallow the words he could not say further. The Crown Prince’s secret was not a topic to be lightly brought up at a family table like this.