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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Rima's Resolve
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Of course, Rima was a little tempted.
If she went to the Degladis territory, there was a letter hidden by the late Duchess.
She considered finding it to quickly win some favor, but in the end, she decided against it.
Now wasn't the time.
Heading to the territory could wait until after her current tasks were safely completed.
'...This is the world from the novel I wrote.'
Rima repeated those words to herself over and over.
A world created from the novel I wrote.
A world where only I know the future.
A world where I'm the protagonist.
"...So, I have to fix it."
Rima had confirmed that this world contained an 'error' she hadn't authorized.
As its author, she had a duty to eliminate these 'errors'.
Sitting at her desk, Rima wrote a letter to the information broker.
The broker's owner, Dellac, had kindly placed one of his employees in the ducal residence as a maid, considering how difficult it was for Rima to go out.
"Rima, it's lunchtime."
Just then, that very maid opened the door and came in.
The previous maid who had cared for Rima had been reassigned after the outing incident.
Even as a child, she had been deeply hurt by Rima trying to shift the blame onto her.
Rima finished writing the letter and handed it to the new maid.
The maid tucked the letter into her bosom and extended her hand with a bright smile, as if nothing had happened.
"Shall we go to the dining hall?"
"Yes!"
Rima beamed back and grabbed her hand.
News of Count Petra's worsening condition appeared in the newspaper.
At the same time, an article about the Petra siblings competing over the Petra Bank was published alongside it.
"Hmm..."
Nibelria nodded as she looked at the paper.
"The world's tough."
"Is the world hard?"
Arep, sitting beside her, asked with a deeply serious expression.
Nibelria crumpled the newspaper into a total mess as she replied.
It was more like crushing it than folding.
"Kinda, yeah."
"You brats."
"Waa!"
Nibelria's body floated up.
Startled, Nibelria whipped around with wide eyes.
Kaleo, who had briefly stepped away, was grinning at her.
Nibelria waved her arms at Kaleo, who had lifted her high. The newspaper in her hand rustled noisily.
"Daddy! Nini read the newspaper!"
"Really? It looks like you just played with it from how crumpled it is."
"Nooo! I really read it! Right, Arep?"
"We studied reading the words in the newspaper."
Arep jumped in eagerly to defend her.
The children were telling the truth.
After mastering letters perfectly at kindergarten, Nibelria and Arep had become obsessed with racing to see who could read words faster.
In truth, Arep—who was four years older—was a bit quicker.
But Arep deliberately slowed down so Nibelria would win.
He loved seeing her grin and claim victory first.
"Nini's winning!"
So far, it was an overwhelming victory for Nibelria.
"Oh, impressive?"
Kaleo, who had roughly pieced together the situation, praised Nibelria while gently stroking Arep's head.
Arep pressed down on his petted hair with both hands and flashed a beaming smile.
Smiling came naturally to him now.
"But where were you, Daddy?"
Nibelria asked from Kaleo's lap.
Kaleo smoothed out the crumpled newspaper as he answered.
"I went to write Mommy a quick letter."
"Mommy? Why?"
"Hmm, a bank matter."
"This one?"
Arep pointed at the newspaper.
It featured an article on the Petra succession conflict.
The article was full of difficult words, but thanks to the stories from Al and Rubens during their recent visit from the Degladis family, they could guess the content.
"Uncle Petra from the bank..."
"Mustache uncle! Fighting over the bank!"
Nibelria recalled it too.
"You two know about that?"
Kaleo nodded after a brief moment of surprise.
"That's right. The article says the succession battle will intensify as Count Petra's condition worsens."
"But why write to Mommy?"
"Because her name's in this article."
Kaleo handed the paper to the children.
"Take a look."
Nibelria and Arep bent over it, heads nearly touching, fumbling through the words.
"Mommy's name is Seletrina. Right?"
"Yeah. Seletrina Dayamor."
Arep pointed to a spot while Nibelria struggled.
"Found it!"
Nibelria shouted.
Arep slowly read the part where Seletrina's name appeared.
"Lubeo conglomerate's president, Seletrina Dayamor, in this Petra succession conflict..."
"I'm just so dumbfounded...!"
Seletrina, home from work, was in a rare foul mood.
Of course, she kept her usual kind and gentle demeanor in front of the children, but the moment they went to bed, she unleashed her pent-up anger.
"What on earth made them drag my name into this?"
"Petra Yeong-sik got too greedy."
Kaleo made no effort to hide his own irritation.
"Selri, sorry. It feels like it's my fault somehow..."
"How could this be your fault?"
Seletrina took several deep breaths to suppress her anger, which refused to subside easily, and swept her hair back with both hands.
"It's not your fault. You know that, right?"
"I know, but sorry is still sorry."
The trouble seemed to stem from their coincidental encounter at the Petra Bank during their recent visit with the children.
The conversation between Kaleo and Petra Yeong-sik had been nothing more than a few awkward pleasantries—hardly worth calling a greeting.
Yet Petra Yeong-sik had inflated the incident to his advantage and spread it around.
[I exchanged greetings with Marquess Dayamor at the bank. I personally opened an account for his lovely daughter.]
That much could be overlooked.
[I recently met with the Lubeo president as well. We share promising investment opportunities. A mutually beneficial relationship...]
Once those remarks hit the newspapers, it sparked the misconception that the Dayamor and Lubeo families were backing Petra Yeong-sik in the succession race.
"Help? What help!"
Seletrina's anger flared anew.
"It's obvious he's just a parasite clinging on, hoping to lick free sugar dust."
"Speaking of which, what's this about sharing investments? That Froch Kingdom thing you mentioned?"
"Yes, that one. The Froch Kingdom mana stone mining venture."
Seletrina slumped weakly onto the sofa.
Rumors of the Froch Kingdom mining project had been circulating secretly for some time.
A herbalist had stumbled upon a vein in a remote mountain valley—blue stones believed to be mana stones.
With Froch's poor finances, however, they were seeking funds from foreign elites for the excavation.
The payoff? A share of the mined mana stones.
"...Mana stones do make it worth considering."
Kaleo massaged her hand gently.
"None have surfaced in over ten years."
"But the quantity, the quality—they haven't been verified."
"No word from the Magic Tower? The Magic Tower Lord should be interested."
"That's why it's so strange."
The Froch mine investment was tempting for anyone.
Mana stones especially should have the Magic Tower jumping—essential for mage research.
Yet their response was lukewarm.
"They showed mild interest at first, then backed off. Said they'd appraise them if any are mined—that's it."
"Maybe they're touchy about the artificial mana stone development."
"Even so, it's odd."
"So, what about you?"
Kaleo paused the massage and slowly laced his fingers between hers.
"Going to invest?"
"I can't."
Seletrina's shoulders trembled faintly as she answered.
It sent a thrilling shiver, like a warm snake gliding over her skin.
"Lubeo's swamped right now. The pharmaceutical company issues, and the bank setup with Viscount Preto is coming up soon..."
"Haha, Petra Yeong-sik would faint and hop mad if he knew."
With their fingers interlocked, Kaleo stroked her hand tenderly and whispered in her ear.
"If he keeps being a nuisance, just say the word."
"You planning to kill Petra Yeong-sik?"
"If you want."
"No thanks. If you come home reeking of disgusting blood, it'll be a disaster. The kids would be terrified."
"Can't have that."
Kaleo sounded disappointed.
He wanted to be a father the children could boast about—proud and upright, just as Ardores had been for him.
"Oh, right—today Nini found and read your name in the newspaper."
"Really?"
Seletrina's face lit up in an instant.
Kaleo's watching face bloomed into a smile as well.
Even they, who once sparked fireworks with a mere glance, now drew strength from their children's stories as parents.
"Arep pointed it out, but they're both reading well now. Ask them yourself tomorrow."
"I regret missing it. How was Solles today?"
"He spent the day so diligently I'm grateful he's my son. Still, with Arep around, he's more active than before."
"I'm glad Arep's settling into our home so well."
Seletrina's eyes wavered faintly as she thought of Arep.
"...That child."
Sadness shadowed her downcast light green eyes.
"Will he never know the immense favor he's done for us?"
"Dear."
"I just... every time I see him, I feel so sorry and grateful..."
