Translator: Nox

Chapter 21

Aria wore a puzzled expression as well.

Her coughing had already stopped, and she was staring with wide eyes.

“What’s going on?”

“I-I don’t really know either…….”

“I’ll go check.”

“Ah, l-let’s go together!”

I wondered if Aria’s body was truly up to it, but since she stubbornly insisted on coming along, I had Susan, who had chased after me, fetch a shawl for her and draped it over her before we set off.

We hurried through the garden and arrived where the crowd had gathered.

Remute Castle’s garden wasn’t as vast as the Altsbeit estate, which was a good thing—if it had been the same size, we probably would have needed a carriage.

“Please, sir knight, just let us see her! I beg you! Just once!”

“We only want to offer our greetings!”

“Wh-what is this? Stand back at once. It’s dangerous!”

As we drew near, it seemed most of the gathered people were locals from the territory.

They wore somewhat worn but clean clothes. What they all had in common was that each one clutched something in their arms.

Some held bundles, others baskets filled with eggs.

And on the ground were piles of what looked unmistakably like local specialties.

Standing before these territory folk, blocking their way, were knights who all looked utterly flustered.

“Please, just let us see the lady once!”

The lady? Aria? I glanced at Aria.

Aria’s eyes went as round as a startled rabbit’s.

“Please, let us see the Lady Altsbeit who helped us—just once!”

“We beg you!”

This time, Aria looked at me.

……Me?

“Thanks to her, my husband regained his strength.”

“The children were able to eat their fill, thanks to the lady!”

“Please, just let us give our thanks……!”

Oh my. I blinked.

Could these be the people who received help from the workers I sent, along with the food and water?

Spotting a familiar face peeking through the crowd confirmed my suspicion.

It was the child who had secretly watched me when I’d gotten out of the carriage because the road was blocked and shouted that I was pretty.

Soon, the child spotted me and tugged frantically at her mother’s skirt. Then the others noticed me too.

“It’s the lady!”

“Oh, it’s the lady!”

The knights looked panicked.

“D-don’t approach the lady!”

“Damn it, you could get killed!”

The knights, well aware of Charlize’s infamous reputation, barely managed to hold back the territory folk.

I blinked, then stepped forward slightly. It didn’t seem like things would resolve if I didn’t.

“…….”

As I approached, the people fell silent all at once, as if by agreement.

Not one of them could call out to me anymore; they just stared blankly or froze in place.

Amid the piles of local specialties, I picked up a round fruit.

What was this? I tilted my head as I held it, and Aria whispered softly from beside me.

“It’s an Emeri orange. It only grows in this land, and only for one season.”

“Ah, it’s bigger than regular oranges.”

“Yes, I heard that when the soil was more fertile…… they grew even bigger and more plentiful.”

Now the yield had drastically decreased, making it a rare fruit.

The quantity was low, so it sold for a good price, but it was so scarce that even that was hard to come by.

“In this territory, it’s considered sacred, so every household keeps at least one as a protective talisman. They could sell them for money, but they treasure them.”

……So they were giving something like that to me.

Looking at the basket full of fruit, I felt a bit troubled.

At the same time, my chest swelled with emotion.

“Um, Lady…… You’re the Lady Altsbeit, right?”

A elderly man from among the territory folk stepped forward cautiously.

The moment he saw me, he dropped to his knees and bowed his head deeply in greeting.

When I looked at him, he flinched but continued speaking.

“We live in poverty and couldn’t prepare much, but as representatives of the territory folk, we truly thank you. Thanks to your help, lady, our neighboring children and my family survived.”

In fact, helping these people had nearly gotten my fiancé changed, putting me through a near-death ordeal.

Even so, I had no regrets.

And now, I was glad I had helped.

‘Well, I managed to borrow the money from my tyrant brother one way or another…….’

Just as I opened my mouth to say something in response, seeing their anxious faces, the sound of fluttering clothes accompanied by a whoosh made the fruit drop from my hand.

Turning around, I saw my fiancé glaring at me, with Aria hidden behind him.

“…….”

Askin’s cold eyes flicked once to Aria, who was hurriedly clutching his skirt, then to the territory folk and the piles of specialties.

“Ha, now you’re even plundering my territory?”

“What? What did you say?”

“How much more do you plan to take?!”

At his words, I bit my lip hard.

Patience, patience.

It was unfair, but this man was always the victim, so it was natural for him to think that way.

The grudge ran deep. Still, if I explained calmly, he would listen.

“Get lost! I really hate you. Don’t touch my little sister, and get out of my territory—how many times do I have to say it before you understand? Get out!”

First, pick up the fallen orange……

But when the orange at my feet was kicked away by Askin’s foot, as if he couldn’t even bear for it to touch my hand, my pent-up frustration finally erupted.

‘What did I even do wrong!’

I knew it. This man was Charlize’s victim.

But me? What wrong had I committed by suddenly waking up in this body and desperately clinging to this unfamiliar man just to hold onto my lifeline and return home?

It was so heartbreaking, rage surging up fiercely.

What I had overlooked was that when I got angry, tears welled up first.

“……You’re treating me like absolute trash.”

Our eyes met, and Askin’s expression twisted ever so slightly.

He was protecting Aria, so the distance between us was uncomfortably close.

Right now, not even his breathtakingly beautiful face registered.

I picked up the orange again and placed it back in the basket.

“Thanks for the help? What a joke. How pitiful. Territory folk under a lord who repays aid with curses.”

I felt the elderly man who had knelt looking at me in confusion.

I gripped the basket tightly, then released it as I scanned the crowd.

“I don’t need this junk. You all eat it.”

Then I glared venomously at Askin.

“Why did I come? I have business. Why else? Grandfather told me to collect the interest.”

“……What?”

“What should we do? The interest this month seems much higher than usual. Can you even pay it?”

At my words, Askin looked flustered and glanced at Aria.

He seemed embarrassed to have such talk come up in front of his sister.

“Come to the study.”

I smiled coldly.

But I couldn’t be cold to Aria’s worried gaze, so I gave her a slight smile.

At the same time, I brushed back my hair and followed after that man.

* * *

The quiet study.

We each took our seats, but neither Askin nor I said a word.

A tense air hung between us. Askin, who had been glaring steadily at me, placed a hand on his face.

A small sigh soon escaped him.

“……Why are you doing this?”

He ruffled his hair slightly.

“I know you’re very interested in me. But it wasn’t to the point of this level of obsession, camping out and all.”

No, that was just Charlize being scared. Pathetically, Charlize had truly liked only you.

Of course, her way of showing affection was so twisted that it must have only tormented you.

“And lately, demanding the money right away…… There’s still time left on the deadline. Why?”

His face said he was willing to hear my reasons. No, he should have.

It was the moment of conversation I’d been waiting for.

But perhaps because I’d seen the orange drop and get kicked away just moments ago, my emotions wouldn’t settle easily.

“And…… didn’t you promise not to bring up money in front of Aria? It seems the Altsbeit word is thinner than a sheet of paper.”

I pursed my lips.

“Well, I think it’s still better than the ears of Remute stuffed with waterlogged cotton.”

“What?”

“Aria’s ears aren’t like that, so it only applies to yours.”

“Don’t speak my sister’s name so casually.”

I smiled brightly.

“Aria specifically asked me to call her by name, so I granted her wish.”

“Don’t make me laugh. You must have deceived that innocent girl.”

“Oh my, I didn’t know you thought so highly of my charms that you believed I could seduce her.”

This was why I was confident I could start a conversation.

I knew I was good with words. And I knew you well.

“And as for promises, I don’t know about that—I only came because Grandfather told me to collect the money.”

Since the conversation had gone off the rails from the start, I planned to probe why Askin was so boldly declaring the breakup and how he’d secured the funds.

“……It all comes down to money, doesn’t it.”

Askin’s gaze grew calm. Even without moving, an ominous pressure emanated from him.