13
Chapter 13
Did I hear wrong?
But denying it was impossible, considering the ominous aura of the deep blue envelope Lord Penadel had placed on the table.
With a trembling heart, I tore open the envelope's seal.
As expected, it was an Engagement proposal.
But it looked a bit... like a blank contract.
My face was expressionless thanks to Synchronization, but my mind was in utter chaos.
An Engagement proposal, I could understand. Yes, they must be after my dowry.
But a divorce?
"One year from now, once the Lady safely inherits her dowry, she only needs to transfer the ownership of the Herrington Mine to Valuashten. His Grace desires only the Herrington Mine; he will not demand anything else."
In that instant, an exclamation mark popped up above my frantically spinning head.
The Grand Duke's proposal was precisely what I wanted.
It was called a dowry, but it was money I couldn't even touch until I got married.
Moreover, this kingdom had a ridiculous law stating, 'The bride's dowry becomes the couple's joint property.'
The Grand Duke was saying he only wanted the mine, even though he had the chance to take half of my dowry.
Curiosity piqued, I decided to poke at the knight before me.
First, it would be good to find out if the rumors about the Grand Duke were true.
"What kind of man is the Grand Duke?"
The knight opened his mouth as if he had been waiting for the question.
"He has all his limbs intact."
"......"
"He is skilled at hunting Demon beasts, values discipline, and carries out his duties responsibly."
"Not that useless information. What about... here?"
I cleared my throat and tapped my cheek with the end of my fan.
It was a bit too blatant to ask if he was handsome.
"Is there any specific information you desire?"
Seriously, why is this guy so clueless?
If you're here to arrange a marriage, you should be explaining things in a capitalistic way, like what he looks like and how much he earns.
Contrary to his imposing first impression, he was a strangely clumsy man.
"What does the Grand Duke look like?"
"His hair is black, his eyes are blue, and his nose and mouth are all properly attached."
Is this guy an AI or something?
"I mean, is your master handsome?"
"Hand... some..."
"......?"
"Hand... some, perhaps?"
A question mark? A question mark came out here?
For the first time, Lord Penadel showed signs of being flustered. I couldn't see his expression, but I was sure of it.
"...It is difficult to explain. I believe the Lady has heard the rumors about His Grace."
Right. Of course, I've heard them. The rumors made him out to be the worst tyrant. Was he going to say it was all a misunderstanding?
Here, true to the cliché, it was all nonsense, and the Grand Duke was a stunning beauty who was cold to others but warm to his woman!
"They are all true."
"Good. Let's reject His Grace's proposal. And you, never, ever, absolutely, must not think about arranging another marriage for anyone."
I jumped up from my seat.
Although the deal with the Grand Duke didn't work out, I had an idea of how to secure my fortune.
'I should propose a deal to other nobles about how much I can squeeze out of them.'
It was then, as I turned my back on Lord Penadel.
"One last thing, I have a question."
His voice was right next to me.
When I hurriedly turned around, the man's solid chest was already right in front of my eyes.
I thought he was a huge man when I saw him from afar, but when I looked up at him from close range, he wasn't just huge, he was overwhelming.
His whole body was lean like a carnivore, and I could feel that it was filled with well-defined muscles even through his clothes.
Before I could push him away in surprise, Lord Penadel's hand, covered in a black glove, gently grabbed my chin and lifted my head.
Behind the mask, his shadowed eyes seemed to hold some sinister secret, like a spring in an unknown cave.
The moment I discovered some ominous energy in the dim blue light that could not be expressed in human language.
"Where did you get this necklace?"
I realized he was interested in the choker around my neck.
At the same time, I realized what kind of state I was in, being half-embraced by him.
I swung my fan with all my might and shook off Lord Penadel's hand.
He readily took a few steps back.
My heart was pounding.
Like master, like servant, for a moment I thought he was going to shake me for daring to reject His Grace the Grand Duke's Engagement proposal because he was ugly.
That was how cold his gaze was as he looked down at me.
'He's someone I can't figure out at all.'
I fiddled with the choker around my neck and asked, not letting my guard down.
"Why do you ask?"
"...The design is to my taste."
I quickly moved one step further away from Lord Penadel.
The choker that had sniped Lord Penadel's taste was Belinda's daily accessory, which she had been wearing since she woke up in bed on the first day of her possession.
It wasn't flashy, but the delicate lace and bright red ruby pendant stood out, making it obvious to anyone that it was for women...
This is his taste? A lace choker on that masculine, thick neck...?
"Are you willing to sell it to me?"
And he's persistent too!
"I refuse."
I headed for the door, fleeing before Lord Penadel could cling on any longer.
Lord Penadel's words followed me from behind.
"I will be staying in the Royal capital for a while. If your answer to His Grace's proposal changes, please contact the Valuashten annex in the Royal capital."
His low voice echoed through the closing door.
"Please take care of yourself."
Like his masked face, I couldn't tell if the concern in his voice was a warning or a worry.
* * *
Even late into the night, the lights in Marquess Blanche's office remained on.
Schwebel took out the will he had been looking at all day and examined it again.
"The old man was quite clever."
There was even admiration in his voice.
A dowry, it was an unexpected move.
With this, Schwebel could neither send his dear sister to a monastery nor eliminate her in a staged accident before the wedding.
"Lord, I have brought the materials you requested."
The aide visited the office with a stack of documents.
Only then did Schwebel's gaze move away from the will.
"Lord..."
"Now you have formally become the head of the Blanche family. As you wished..."
"Yes, it has become as I have longed for it for a very long time."
Schwebel continued, writing a letter without hesitation.
"Except for that stupid girl, who only has a noble bloodline, stealing gold from my pocket."
His expression was so calm, but the aide noticed the anger in his words.
Soon, Schwebel, who had sealed the letter, placed it in the aide's hand.
A purple envelope sprinkled with pearl powder.
It was a letter to be sent to the Royal Palace.
"Now that the succession of the title has been confirmed, I must start discussing business with the Royal family in earnest. I should ask if His Highness the Prince is interested in welfare projects."
"Welfare projects, you say?"
A reluctant question followed.
This was because he knew very well that Schwebel and the Prince had no interest in welfare projects.
"Yes, if there is a lot of money to be returned to society soon, wouldn't His Highness the Prince be interested?"
The aide did not bother to ask about the hidden intention in those words.
He simply bowed briefly and hurried off to send the letter.
After the aide left, Schwebel's gaze turned to the portrait of the late Marquess hanging on one wall.
He had a gentle impression, but Schwebel thought the portrait was looking down on him disapprovingly.
"You're holding me back even in death. Was Belinda that precious to you, Father?"
A sneer leaked out.
He willingly looked up at the Marquess in the portrait and whispered.
"I won't let it be as you wish."
Because in the end, you are just a corpse buried in the ground.
