FaRtaL Chpt 9

==From a Ristar to a Lady - Chapter 9 -==
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Haynes Palatial Manor
Innerman City, Inman
Milligan PDZ, Woodbine Operational Area,
21st February, 30611930 hrs (1930 hrs on local 28 hr cycle)
Stravag. She twisted her body around on the sofa and lifted her head to look at Renard. Renard’s smile widened as he stood in front of the sofa where she was sitting.
He was tall and handsome with his hair neatly brushed over to the side. Anastasia felt the unpleasant feeling come back despite his clearly pleasant face, as if her chest was being squeezed. It was not that he had a scary visage, but her heart was somehow racing.
“What are you doing here?”
“……”
“Ana, are you still angry?”
“……”
Are you angry? Was it normal to simply say that to a woman who jumped into a lake, begging him for his love?
“Ana, you need to be careful. There’ll be trouble if you keep coming to the reserved lounge.”
No wonder this room was at the very end of the hall. It was reserved for the Count’s family to use.
But why is he here? Anastasia observed the man in front of her warily.
“What would you do if the Countess or Raymond came in? You’re lucky I came in first.”
He stood in front of her, his posture aggressive and domineering. Anastasia chose to keep silent because she was not sure how she should react in this situation and still thinking of what to do.
“Can’t you say something?” he asked her, but it sounded like he was ordering her about.
When Anastasia still didn't answer, Renard sat down next to her. He brought up his hand and stroked her chin, then touched her lips with his thumb before his hand dropped down below her shoulder.
She stood still to see what he was doing and grimaced at the subtle gesture of his. She tried to slap his hand away, but he grabbed her wrist firmly.
“It’s no fun if you keep resisting.”
“What…!”
As Anastasia was about to get up, Renard pushed her down with a strong grip and forced onto the couch. His heavy body threatened to crush her.
"I missed you, Ana. I really, really missed you…"
Twisting her body, she tried to escape, but Renard reached out with one hand to press both her arms down above her head with tremendous force. In an instant, his mouth was on hers, her lips were forced open and his tongue pushed in. At the same time, his other hand fondled her chest.
Savrashi! Anastasia cursed inwardly. He asked her if she was angry but then suddenly started doing this. Is this guy crazy?
“That mech that went nuts didn’t get you, did it? You are still here, still my Ana.”
“Let go of me……!”
This piece of surat shit! Anastasia tried to push him away, but she was too weak, despite having improved her fitness somewhat since awakening in this body. But the dance lessons and intensive etiquette lessons had prevented her from doing her physical exercises for the past two weeks, so she had fallen behind again.
Even in this degrading situation, Anastasia felt resentful, but her hard-won discipline was keeping her calm while her mind was already trying to think of a way to extricate herself.
He tried to kiss her again, but when she shook her head to resist him, the Baron clicked his tongue and lifted his face, looking down at Anastasia angrily. Seeing his furious expression, he looked like a complete madman.
“I told you to stop being angry.”
Angry……?
“I know you love me. So now you have to let me love you.”
This is love? She scoffed inwardly.
"You were really impressive, Ana, to jump into the lake with that weak body to prove your love for me."
Anastasia frowned. From what she heard, Anastasia had jumped into the manor lake while begging this piece of shit for his love. However, was it to prove her love? Was there something more? She tried to retrace the memory.
“Ahhhh…”
Anastasia moaned and bit her lips as her head suddenly throbbed and ached. Renard’s voice suddenly sounded distant, even though he was next to her and his mouth did not move… the voice was clearly in her head.
A scene began to appear in her mind that Avryl had never seen before.
Earnestness. With a desperate, imploring expression on her face, the original Anastasia was looking at Renard.
Although their relationship was known publicly, Anastasia wanted it to be officially recognized that they were lovers. When that happened, she would be able to suppress all the other bitches, the socialite girls, especially Lady Venice, who were jealous of her beauty and her position. But Renard didn't want that.
That caused them to fight, and it wasn't long before rumours spread in social circles that the Baron had dumped Anastasia. And now, Renard was humiliating her in front of other people.
“I wish you wouldn’t bother me anymore.”
At those words, the people around Renard giggled and laughed.
With an intense expression on her face, she hoped that he would smile at her, formally telling her in front of everybody that she was his lover, and soon-to-be fiancee and wife.
“Don’t you have any pride? Why are you so persistent?”
Despite the words that broke her heart, Anastasia struggled to maintain her composure.
“Now, stop bothering me and get lost!”
Hearing his words, Anastasia smiled brightly at him in happiness. Her beloved, Baron Renard Haynes, had given her the signal.
Not long after they quarreled, Renard and Anastasia met in secret. The Baron confessed his love for her had not changed and promised her the position as his Countess once he had ascended to the position of Count. However, he had a condition for Anastasia.
“Show me your love by giving me your life, Ana. You know, we've been lonely for too long, so we don't believe in love. So, prove your love; prove that I can trust you. Show me that you deserve to be my lifelong companion, to be the Countess of Inman.”
Anastasia told him she would do anything she could to show her faith.
“Ana, listen carefully. I will treat you coldly, but it's only because my parents don't like you, so I am trying to protect you,” Renard said.
The Count, for some reason, looked at her with displeasure, and she didn't know what kind of character the Countess was, but she believed Renard if he said she wasn’t happy with Anastasia.
“I also need a justification to accept your love.”
“What should I do?”
“When I tell you to ‘get lost’ at the banquet, prove your love for me.”
Anastasia nodded her head happily.
I'd be happy to do that. Renard, I'll do it again and again if you want. If I could be by your side, if we could love each other without any hindrance, if we could never be lonely anymore.
That was why Anastasia smiled broadly at the Baron's insult. Then, without hesitation, she plunged into the manor lake. To prove her love to the Baron, she wanted to show that she would risk her life. And the last thing she saw as she was drowning was…
“As freebirths go, you’re as bad as Amaris!”
“Huh?”
Seeing the real Anastasia's memories, Anastasia, no, Avryl was outraged. So, without hesitation, she kicked the Baron right between his legs. She supposed she could have used his momentary confusion over the comparison to Amaris to get him into some form of shoulder lock, but a kick at the crotch was far more satisfying.
Renard’s desperate screams of agony echoed through the lounge. His hand fell from where it had been stroking her body to protect his crotch area, and the Baron scrambled across the common room away from her, screaming in pain.
The last thing Anastasia had seen as she sank into the water of the manor lake was Renard, pointing his finger at Anastasia as she was dying and bursting into laughter at her foolishness.
Anastasia realized that the man she loved so much, that she was willing to die for him, had played her so completely that she did die for him.
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Finn did not feel well that day when he met the second person on his most-hated list.
Captain Larouche, who he hated the most, would not be attending per se because he claimed to be in charge of the manor’s security during this banquet and went to the guard area. That was good. However, because of the Count’s invitation, he was forced to face that other piece of shit, Baron Renard Haynes.
A few hours before the banquet, the Count had summoned Finn. Baron Renard and Raymond were seated in the drawing room.
When he met the Baron, Renard’s face immediately lit up with a smirk.
“It’s been a while, Viscount.”
“Yes, my lord,” he replied automatically.
He didn't know what that smile meant. After all, everyone already knew that Finn’s fiancee was Anastasia, and that the Baron was her ex-lover.
He was not surprised that the Baron was making fun of the situation. There was no way that filthy bastard would let that pass.
He heard that the Countess had sent a personal invitation to Anastasia Kalinska even though she was ill, but Finn didn’t believe it. It was evident that the Baron was behind it. He knew the man’s sick personality.
The Baron himself did not like Finn or his father the late Viscount, as they had not liked him from the beginning, so the feelings were mutual. Finn also disliked the vicious and promiscuous Baron.
The Baron did not say anything about Finn and Anastasia's engagement in front of him. That was wise. If he insulted him by talking about his fiancee, the Count next to him wouldn't let him get away with it.
The actions of the Baron, this time, directly touched Finn's nerves. He was mocking not only Anastasia but also Finn.
The Count looked at his son and Finn alternately.
It was clear he had summoned him because he wanted to check to see if Finn harboured any resentment towards Renard because of the engagement he was forced into.
“It’s been a while, Viscount.” Raymond greeted him by asking for a handshake. Black spectacles slid down his nose. Finn smiled bitterly inwardly, he was getting tired of watching that ridiculous façade.
“Your eyes seem to have gotten worse.”
“I read a lot of books. Maybe too many.”
Finn deliberately squeezed Raymond’s gloved hand hard, but Raymond just smiled at him. With the greetings over, the Count finally spoke.
“Viscount Rason.”
“Yes, my lord.”
The face of the Count, who had been wearing a hard mask, softened at once. The old Count smiled.
“Boy, you don’t have to be so uptight.”
Despite their differences, the late Viscount Rason and Count Haynes had been close friends, and the Count favoured young Finn. The Count smiled as if looking at his son, but Finn’s expression remained the same. No matter their relationship, the Count was the Count, his liege lord.
“I may have made a mistake, Finn. You're getting into an engagement that's embarrassing for you.”
“It’s not like that. I think there was a reason.”
He wished there was a reason. If he put himself in such a horrible situation, there had to be a good reason. He had to believe there was a good reason. Otherwise, he would do whatever he could to cancel it.
“I want to believe that you will not have an uncomfortable relationship with Renard, right?"
Finn smiled at him.
“Matters of the past belong to the past. This should not affect my relationship with Baron Haynes.”
The Count chuckled at his answer. The Baron also looked across at him and smiled.
“That is fortunate, Viscount Rason. I was afraid of losing your support.”
Losing? How so? From the beginning, he and the Rason family were never on the Baron's side. He laughed bitterly at the Count’s decision of openly giving power to the Baron and providing political backing.
And the undercurrents of the recent takeover by Archon Katrina Steiner was still shaking itself out throughout the entire Federated Commonwealth. Nobody was yet sure who stood where on the issue. Finn suspected it would have repercussions on the succession issue on Inman.
More importantly, Victor Steiner-Davion was coming home, he was sure of it. If the Smoke Jaguars had lost, according to news from Diamond Shark merchants, there could be no other outcome. And if they had pledged their fealty to him, what would happen if he demands his throne back from his sister?
He looked at Renard. The young man with his hair neatly combed over had a handsome appearance, looked as if he belonged in a painting. But Finn always had his doubts. Why is he the heir?
Count Haynes was not a fool. Then, why did he appoint Renard as heir? Yes, nobles throughout the Inner Sphere practised primogeniture, but it was not absolute, with significant allowance to select other scions as heirs, particularly if the eldest was unworthy.
So Count Haynes could decide his successor. Was it because of his love for the first Countess who gave birth to Renard? Count Haynes had appointed Renard as his heir when he was only ten years old, and from that moment, Renard had been steadily gathering supporters and consolidating political power, even if he sometimes made mistakes, such as the recent corruption scandal.
Finn looked at Raymond, the second son. Raymond was smiling somewhat vapidly. The Count may have thought that he was a little lacking and that a meek, docile Raymond could not lead the Trivet. In Finn’s estimation, that meant the Count actually didn’t have good enough judgement to actually know Raymond’s capabilities.
Finn looked at the Haynes in front of him. They looked alike, but at the same time they didn't look alike.
When the time came, everyone got up from their seats. Following the Haynes family to the banquet hall, Finn surreptitiously glanced around, looking for his fiance as they would have to dance today in this troublesome place in front of many people. It had been arranged through a series of grudging text messages on their mobile phones, in order to keep up appearances.
He quickly found her.
His fiancee had stunning looks; it would make his brain hurt to find the right words to compliment her. She was very beautiful, and it was only natural that the accessories on her made her even more beautiful. This was an objective evaluation, he was not being biased.
The Count’s family was at the upper level on a dais. Due to its high location, Finn could look down at the entire hall, and he realised that people had gathered around Anastasia. It couldn’t mean anything good. He had heard she wasn't feeling well, so she was probably having a hard time.
Then Anastasia was looking at him. Was she looking at him because he was her fiancé? But it was an illusion, and her gaze shifted to the Count. It looked evaluative, and he was momentarily reminded of the way a predator stalked its prey.
She didn’t seem interested in what was going on though. She looked around, turned her head, and then headed elsewhere.
What was she doing? As Finn watched her with a frown on his face, she went up to the second floor.
Finn looked back at her and turned his gaze to where she was standing.
People were gossiping about her. All the people who did not respect Anastasia turned their attention to Finn to look at him, seemingly after whatever was said.
Finn kept a blank expression, opposite of what they expected. He gave a warning glare to those who stared at him.
“I’m thirsty. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Renard, who had been standing for a while, went down to the banquet hall. He received greetings from those who approached him and mingled with the group. Then Baron Haynes quietly slipped away and disappeared to the second floor. Was he going to meet Anastasia? Was it a sign that she was looking for Renard and that she wanted to meet him? Damn it! Were they really going to play around like this?
Finn cursed inside. He didn't know when he would get married, but it would be very far in the future, and he would divorce her as soon as possible so that she would remain on the list of nobles involved in scandals. It would be disgraceful, but it would be more honourable than continuing to watch this scene.
His anger rose. Thinking about it, Anastasia was utterly reprehensible. She promised to dance with him today too, but she also arranged for a secret meeting right in front of him?
Then he made eye contact with Raymond. His smiling face said he knew everything.
His mind being read by Raymond, of course, made him feel shitty. He thought about what to do. Then, without realising it, he found himself heading to the second floor.
Was it sleazy to investigate his fiancee’s possible infidelity? Finn swore that if he ever got to date another woman, she had to be faithful to him. He didn’t want to experience such a lousy feeling ever again.
As the banquet had not yet begun, there was no one in the hallway leading to the break rooms.
He searched for Anastasia and Renard, but Anastasia didn't seem to be on the second floor. Then, his gaze reached the far end of the room. The lounge reserved for the Count and his close family. Finn frowned and headed towards it.
As he drew closer, Finn sensed there were people inside.
The Count and most of his family were still in the banquet hall, so it had to be Renard. At the same time, a woman's voice was clearly heard.
It was obvious whose voice it was. Finn forced himself to calm the fury he felt at the undoubtable adultery. Well, he wasn’t a man if he was going to get cuckolded like this!
Then the door opened.
What? A roar of pain leaked through the door. Finn frowned and walked over to it.
“...I will kill you! How dare you do this to me?”
Finn thought he must have heard wrong. Renard was clearly screaming in pain and anger. Anastasia's voice followed.
“If you want to kill me, you can try. But I don’t think you can.”
“Ugh, ahhh!”
“You should tell your father the Count that you acted like a total scumbag and then got kicked in your dick! I’m glad to have done that.”
Her words were clear and harsh, but they contained all the keywords that Finn needed to understand the situation.
As Anastasia came out of the room, their eyes met, and she quickly looked away, with a look of somebody who had committed a crime and had been caught red-handed.
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*;Chapter Note from the Author : If the text feels a bit off, that's because I was lazy and just adapted from a translated version of the original web novel.After about chapter 20 the translations stop, so I'll be adapting it off the manhwa, and changing some scenes to suit the setting, e.g. the battle on the FL's family holdings / Altoona.BTW, the story of the original FL in the web novel was quite tragic.
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Chapter 9