Obsessed with Regressors

The surroundings became quiet again.
Sir Sekei? People looked at each other, trying to see if they had heard correctly or if they were right.

“Oh, no…”

Rust was embarrassed and began to speak gibberish.

“I just want it to be a good experience for Lauren, no, I mean…”

The atmosphere started to get colder.
Everyone knew that Sir Sekei had a lot of money.
Because he had people who did business with him or had received investments.
And for the same reason, everyone knew that Chi was married and that he was flirting with young women.
Naturally, there were people who had unpleasant experiences with him.
But they had been keeping their mouths shut since Chi was acquainted with wealthy and influential people.

The ballroom quickly became quiet.
Even to those who were a little further away and did not know what was going on, it was known that Lord Masterson and Lady Biscon were quarreling.
The quarrel between the courteous and inflexible Lady Biscon and the Duke-like Lord Masterson quickly became intrigued and silenced.
Meanwhile, Eugenie didn’t say anything and just glared at Rust.
In people’s eyes, Eugenie seemed to be protecting Lauren and Julia from Rust.

Eugenie’s gaze came to Rust like criticism.
He was restless and shouted out loud.

“No, I didn’t ask you to do anything great! Just have a cup of tea…”

Because the room was so quiet, they could hear someone gasp in surprise.
But Rust couldn’t hear it.
He shouted, pointing his finger at Eugenie and Lauren, who were still glaring at him in silence.

“Is it so hard to have a cup of tea with a lonely man? Is it that hard to smile a little! You’re eating and sleeping with my money!”

“Julia.”

Eugenie, who had kept her mouth shut until then, looked behind her and called out to Julia.
When Julia, who was holding Lauren’s hand tightly, made a face asking why, Eugenie said calmly.

“Go first with Miss Liz and get into my carriage.”

She didn’t have to let Lauren see this.
Julia and Lauren hesitated at her instruction, but the other wives who were watching stepped forward and took the two out.
Only then did Rust realize what he had done.
He made a fuss.
Suddenly, people were giving him cold eyes.

“Oh no, I mean look at her dress.
Do you know how much that is?”

He tried to rectify the situation, but the situation got worse.
At Rust’s remarks about the cost of Lauren’s dress, not only the women but also the men began to whisper.
After Eugenie saw Julia taking Lauren outside, she turned her head to him.

“I give it back.”

What? Rust opened his mouth at Eugenie’s words and then closed it.
It was unfair.
She was not just talking about the cost of the dress.
He said as he approached her.

“My lady, think carefully.
that guy…”

“Lady Biscon.”

Rust hesitated at Eugenie’s words cutting him off.
What? When he made a face asking what he was talking about, Eugenie spoke again.

“My name is Lady Eugenie Biscon.
Sir Masterson.”

At the euphemism to be polite, Rust’s face turned red.
Only then did he realize that the woman in front of him was the daughter of the Earl of Biscon.
Lady Biscon.
That meant she was not married yet.
That meant she had no children.
When Rust noticed the point to attack, he said quickly and kindly.

“Yes, Lady Biscon.
You don’t know because you haven’t raised children, but you don’t know how much money it costs to raise a child, right?”

Lauren cost a lot of money.
Besides, he even sent Lauren to the academy.
Rust continued to persuade Eugenie.

“Do you know how much the academy tuition is? Besides, the clothes…”

“I don’t know.”

She did not know.
Eugenie cut off Rust’s words with a single sword.
She didn’t go to the academy.
Biscon hired several tutors in the house to educate the only daughter.
In terms of cost alone, it was far more expensive.

Rust’s face contorted at Eugenie’s words.
She’s a tough, inflexible woman, yes.
He thought so and opened his mouth again.

“I’ve heard quite a bit.
Everyone knows how much a child costs.
How easy is it to raise someone else’s child?”

Was she saying this now? A puzzled expression appeared on Eugenie’s expressionless face.
However, there were also those who agreed with Rust’s words.
Raising children was hard work.
It took a lot of resources, both emotionally and financially.
Even if Lauren wasn’t Rust’s child, he took care of her relative’s child as her guardian and sent her to the academy.

“Ah, is that why you raised her? Are you going to use her like this when she grow up?”

Then, Elliot appeared.
Standing behind Eugenie, he asked Sir Masterson with an amused expression.
Rust’s face contorted at the harsh remark about using her in this way.

“Oh no, what are you saying…”

He quickly tried to counter Elliot’s words.
At the end an excuse flowed out of Rust’s mouth involuntarily.

“My, since I raised my horse, at least he should pay for the meal…”

Then the surroundings became cold again.
The people watching around them were momentarily speechless at Rust’s words, but immediately started whispering.

“It’s a bit hard to hear that it’s the price of food.”

“It must have cost quite a bit since we sent her to the academy.”

“Then shouldn’t you have accepted it in the first place?”

“I know, right.
I heard things aren’t going well with Masterson.”

“For that matter, Lord Masterson’s use is quite good.”

As Rust’s spending went on the cutting board, people’s eyes turned to the clothes he was wearing.
Everyone saw the same thing as Eugenie.

“I’ll pay.”

Then, Eugenie opened her mouth.
She said again to Rust, who had a questioning look on her face.

“That meal price.
Send the bill to Biscon mansion, I will pay it.”

That would be a huge amount.
But Eugenie decided not to think about it.
She just needed to sell her jewelry.
The most important thing right now was Lauren’s safety.

“Ah, no, not only the price of food, but also the academy…”

“Charge everything.”

Rust’s face turned pale at the emotionless calm voice.
He didn’t know what to say, so he opened his mouth and cried out as if it was unfair.

“It’s not just me! Count Serado over there…”

All eyes turned to the man standing to one side drinking and watching the scene.
Count Serado was startled and began to cough.

“Oh no I… No, what are you talking about!”

At first Count Serado tried to make excuses.
He then tried to deny it.
But soon he decided to run away from this place.
Like Lord Sekei who disappeared at some point.
But Rust had no intention of leaving it that way.
It didn’t stop.
He yelled at the idea that he couldn’t be the only bad guy.

“Don’t lie! You promised to have a meal with Lord Sekei next month, didn’t you!”

His shrieking shout drew people’s attention to Count Serado.
The Count, who was about to sneak away, looked around in confusion as the people retreated from him.
Lord Masterson shouted again, not missing the chance.

“Look! Count Serado is like that too! That person is not even sent to the academy!”

The unexpected revelation made Count Seradon’s face pale.
He was conscious of people’s stares and hurriedly made excuses.

“No, I, I mean, he’s the maid’s son…”

That was enough.
People’s eyes narrowed.
At the same time, Rust continued to scream.

“Why do you only have me! Everyone says it!”

“If that is true.”

Eugenie opened her mouth again.
She looked back at Count Serado with a hard face.
There was nothing she could do this time.
It quickly spun around in Eugenie’s head.
There would definitely be something she could do.
Eugenie looked around her and calmly opened her mouth.

“I guess I won’t be able to attend Count Serado’s ball next week.”

She already replied to the invitation saying she would attend, but she wouldn’t attend.
If Lord Masterson’s accusation was true.
Of course, even if that happened, Eugenie knew that she didn’t have much influence.
And Count Serado knew that too.

“Well, whatever.”

Even if she straightened his posture right away, the Count replied with an expression that was not a big deal.
She’s not even single, and the man she’s already engaged to said he wouldn’t come.
That said, no male attendees would be targeting Lady Biscon.

But then, Count Burns stepped in.

“Ah, then I’ll have to decline too.”

Why were people’s eyes turned to Elliot? He grinned and came to Eugenie’s side.
And he added, holding out one of her arms.

“Because I don’t think any girls would attend a ball held by such a disgusting person.”

Count Serado put his hand on Eliot’s arm and cleared his throat as he watched Eugenie leave the mansion.
Well, there were only two of them.
One was already betrothed and the other was an upstart aristocrat.
There can be no great influence.
Besides, it’s next week, but now there were only three days left.

Count Serado thought there would be nothing wrong with his ball.
People would gossip.
But he just had to ignore it.
However, from the next day, letters began to arrive to Count Serado to cancel the ball.