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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: The Friendship Contract
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The next day.
After finishing breakfast, the Duchess and I made our way leisurely to the annex.
“There are a total of thirty art pieces housed in the annex. Among them, my absolute favorite is…”
The Duchess, chattering on with her explanation, suddenly paused.
An attendant was approaching from a distance.
“Your Grace, the Hall of Stars has been opened.”
The attendant bowed his head and continued calmly.
“His Grace the Duke asked me to tell you that he hopes you have a wonderful time.”
“My brother did?”
For a moment, the Duchess wore a look of disbelief.
“Well, I understand.”
She dismissed the attendant.
I cautiously posed a question to the Duchess.
“Um, what is the Hall of Stars?”
“Ah, it’s a hall where the most precious pieces from the collection are displayed separately. Only the direct line of Claudius and those permitted by the head of the family are allowed to view it…”
The Duchess couldn’t quite hide her suspicious gaze.
“What possessed that fastidious man to open the Hall of Stars?”
***
After viewing all the works on display in the annex, including those in the Hall of Stars.
Lalitt returned home with a look of satisfaction.
And Evanjeline, after seeing Lalitt off, headed straight for Dietrich’s study.
“Brother!”
“Eva, my hearing is still perfectly fine. I’m a long way from going senile.”
As she shrieked, Dietrich furrowed his brow slightly and took off his silver-rimmed glasses.
Ignoring him, Evanjeline scurried over to stand before Dietrich.
“What possessed you to open the Hall of Stars? You always said absolutely not whenever I begged you to open it just once.”
“I just thought Lady Ansi seemed to have an interest in art.”
Hmm?
Evanjeline’s eyes narrowed.
“I can afford her that much consideration. Is she not the lady who deigned to become your friend?”
Evanjeline bristled at that.
“Hey, what’s wrong with me?”
“Hand on your heart, you shouldn’t be asking a question like that, should you?”
“Huh? Eva has ab-so-lute-ly no idea what you’re talking about, brother.”
Evanjeline stuck her tongue out playfully.
Shaking his head, Dietrich asked again.
“So, how is Lady Ansi? Does she seem to like it?”
“…”
Evanjeline stared intently at Dietrich, as if observing something fascinating.
Dietrich’s brow furrowed.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It’s just so fascinating that you care about a lady’s feelings.”
“…What kind of person do you take me for?”
“What kind of person? A workaholic who doesn’t have a single ounce of interest in ladies, of course.”
Evanjeline shook her head for emphasis.
“What good is a handsome face? If you keep holing yourself up in your study like that, you’ll end up in an arranged marriage without ever having dated anyone.”
“…”
For once, Dietrich was silent.
In aristocratic society, it wasn’t at all uncommon to marry based on status and wealth.
Dietrich himself had always considered strategic marriages to be efficient.
And yet.
*Why does this feel so… unpleasant?*
For what reason, he wondered.
Why did the image of Lalitt’s smiling face flash through his mind at that moment?
“…You’re talking nonsense.”
Dietrich forced the afterimage away, speaking with feigned indifference.
“More importantly, I’m relieved that you seem to have made a good friend for once. Be sure to stay close with her.”
Evanjeline’s eyes sparkled.
“Does that mean you like Lady Ansi too, brother?”
“Well, yes.”
Dietrich shrugged.
There was no need to be hostile toward his sister’s one and only friend.
“Hmm… good.”
Evanjeline looked at Dietrich with a resolute expression.
“Brother, let me borrow Sir Douglas for a bit.”
“Sir Douglas? Why?”
Dietrich looked puzzled.
And for good reason—Douglas was the ducal family’s lawyer.
Which meant he’d had no connection to Evanjeline until now.
Evanjeline smiled slyly.
“Well, there’s a contract I need to draw up.”
***
The next day.
I was waiting anxiously for the Duchess.
*Why did she suddenly ask to meet?*
The salon had just ended not long ago, so I’d thought I wouldn’t be seeing her for a while.
But she had suddenly sent word that she would be visiting today.
And so, at the appointed time of two o’clock sharp.
The Duchess entered the Viscounty of Ansi’s townhouse with a dignified stride.
A middle-aged man in a sharp suit followed behind her.
*Who is that man?*
I was a bit puzzled but first paid my respects to the Duchess.
“Lady Ansi, it is an honor to see you, Your…”
I was about to greet her out of habit.
The Duchess shot me a sharp glare.
In that instant.
Her words flashed through my mind.
“There’s no need for friends to be so formal with each other. It’s just the two of us, anyway.”
Oops.
With an awkward smile, I changed my words.
“Welcome, Your Grace.”
“It’s good to see you, Lady Ansi.”
Her expression finally softening, the Duchess replied primly.
“Please, have a seat here.”
I offered the Duchess a seat.
Once seated, the Duchess handed me a document envelope.
“Here, take it.”
What is this?
I took it, bewildered, and cautiously glanced at the Duchess.
She nodded as if to say it was all right.
“Open it.”
I carefully opened the envelope.
In that moment.
My eyes widened.
*This is…?!*
I lifted my head with a start.
Our eyes met, and the Duchess gave a slight shrug.
“It’s the friendship contract we talked about.”
She then gestured with her eyes toward the middle-aged man standing beside her.
“This is Sir Douglas. He’s the ducal family’s lawyer, and he’ll help review and notarize our contract.”
“N-Notarize?”
“Yes. So if there are any parts of the contract you don’t understand or don’t like, you should ask Sir Douglas.”
The Duchess furrowed her brow and urged me on.
“Review it carefully before you sign. What if I were trying to swindle you, Lady Ansi?”
“Oh, come now. As if you would ever do such a thing, Your Grace.”
“…”
Hearing my response, the Duchess turned her head away with a huff.
But I saw it.
The faint curve of her lips forming a smile.
*She’s so cute.*
Smiling to myself, I carefully reviewed the contract.
Even to my eyes, thoroughly trained as the heir to the Viscounty of Ansi, there didn’t seem to be a single unfair or malicious clause.
In fact…
*Aren’t these terms a little too favorable for me?*
Overall, the conditions were incredibly generous.
And then.
*W-What is this?!*
I couldn’t believe my eyes.
[Article 3, Clause 2. Obligation to Maintain Dignity]
Evanjeline von Claudius shall provide Lalitt Ansi with an upkeep allowance of 50,000 dercs per quarter.
Lalitt Ansi must spend approximately 70% of the upkeep allowance on clothing, spending money, and other expenses for maintaining her station.
The remainder may be disposed of by Lalitt Ansi at her personal discretion.
Why would the Duchess be paying me an upkeep allowance?
And 50,000 dercs at that?!
Roughly converting to my past life’s currency, 10,000 dercs was about ten million won.
That meant the Duchess would be giving me fifty million won every quarter.
And I would have to spend about thirty-five million of that on clothes and other expenses to maintain my station…?!
I mean, this wasn’t like joking about a “friend fee” or something.
This felt a bit much, didn’t it?
