Affront
"Everyone could see he was trying to bully you. Even the Old Duke felt it was inappropriate for him to do that in front of the late emperor and intended to refuse on your behalf. But what did you do?"
Even though many years had passed, every moment of that scene remained clear and vivid in Chloe's mind.
"You climbed straight over the railing and jumped onto the dueling platform. You were beaten, but everyone could see how furious you were. You would rather be beaten unconscious and collapse to the ground than be publicly ridiculed, pointed at behind your back, and called cowardly by nature..."
Chloe took a deep breath. This was the first time in all these years that she had recalled that incident in front of Kovishik. She could not help but smile, as though the young Kovishik from back then still stood before her.
"...You were so brave," Chloe murmured with feeling. "I will never forget that day."
Kovishik still looked at Chloe blankly. He had no idea what the girl was talking about and no memory whatsoever of the story she had told... It had been a long time since he had thought about his life before becoming Duke Schiller.
To him, those days were shrouded in a thick fog. Whenever he glanced back at them, Kovishik instinctively felt a stabbing pain. That impoverished life seemed to have branded some unbearable essence into his body; whenever he remembered it, he felt as though he were burning. Thus, he had always been happy to cast it all aside... Those days would have been better off never existing.
Chloe said softly, "I still remember Mother saying that you were House Schiller's illegitimate son, of lowly birth, but—"
Kovishik felt his temple throb violently. His lips trembled,