Translator: Nox

Chapter 25

Among the two children, the girl’s expression hardened in an instant. I’d just managed to soothe her, but now her face was filled with fear once more, so I tilted my head.

“D-Duchess. I-I’m sorry.”

“What for?”

“Piren, uh, Piren is my little sister, th-that kid…….”

The girl began shedding the tears she had stopped.

“She lost the hairpin you gave her……. So she searched everywhere outside until night and c-caught a cold.”

It must have been the smallest girl who had been with her when they gave me the wild strawberries.

I had definitely given her one of the pins that was in my hair back then.

In truth, Charlize had so many ornaments that the children had no reason to take it so seriously.

I decided to lighten the child’s heart.

“It doesn’t matter. It was something I was going to throw away anyway.”

“B-But…….”

“You’re crying again.”

I rose from my seat and headed toward the dresser.

Then I fetched a pin decorated with a butterfly and placed it atop the ornaments the child was clutching.

“Here, give her this and tell her to get better already.”

The child looked up at me with wide, surprised eyes.

Then, suppressing her sobs, she bowed her head deeply again and again.

That was when the door opened, and maid Anna entered cautiously.

“Duchess, the Duke is asking for you.”

“Is that so?”

……What did that grandfather want with me this time?

On one hand, I had a pretty good guess what it was about. I glanced at the children.

“Anna, buy a ton of the pastries and snacks I eat and send the kids off with them. Package up the ornaments they’re holding so they’re easy to carry, too.”

After a moment’s hesitation, I added one more instruction.

“They’re things I don’t need anymore anyway.”

The children exchanged looks, and the boy was the first to bow his head deeply with surprising maturity. ‘Thank you, Duchess!’ The girl hurriedly followed her brother’s lead and bowed as well.

I nodded and left the reception room.

As I departed, I instructed Anna, who remained behind, to pass on my words in case any knights tried to harass them.

* * *

Piache was a child from Remute Territory.

Pina, standing beside him, was Piache’s cousin and younger sister.

These cousin siblings were also the children who had mustered their courage to give Charlize wild strawberries.

Those wild strawberries had sparked trouble, leading them to be practically dragged into this mansion.

But now, as they headed back, the children had completely forgotten about being brought here against their will.

The Duchess is pretty, super pretty, and totally kind!

Piache blinked down at the box cradled in his arms.

His little sister Pina wore a similar expression.

I’ve got to brag about this so much when we get home.

Oppa, me too, me too!

Guiding these children to the carriage were three maids.

Excluding Anna, they were maids Charlize hadn’t seen up close since returning from her trip.

To them, Charlize remained an object of terror.

They clutched bundles of desserts, snacks, and toys, whispering among themselves all the while.

“……That seems right?”

“Yeah, that’s it. That’s the one.”

One of the maids nodded with a stiff expression.

‘It’s definitely to shut these kids’ mouths.’

No matter what mess Charlize had caused this time, she had always silenced people with money or goods before.

The maid figured lavishing so much on these no-name children was no different from her usual methods.

Sure, the targets weren’t nobles like before, which was odd. But not entirely strange.

Silencing with money or goods was Charlize’s go-to first step, and after that…… Well, the rumors said she killed to seal mouths for good.

The maids, excluding Anna, gazed pityingly at the children.

‘Poor things, still so young……. They might even lose their lives.’

Oblivious to it all, the children looked utterly cheerful. The maids shook their heads ruefully as they headed for the carriage.

* * *

Grandfather had summoned me, but rather than going straight to his study, I stopped by my room first before setting out.

There was something I needed to bring with me.

“You’re here.”

When I arrived at the study, grandfather set down the newspaper he had been reading while seated on the sofa.

I hadn’t come in alone.

At my nod, the servants who had entered with me carefully placed the items on the table. It wasn’t just one box—there were heaps of them stacked high.

A flicker of puzzlement crossed grandfather’s face.

“What is all this?”

I smiled brightly.

“What else could it be, Grandfather? It’s the interest Duke Remute owes for this month.”

I signaled the servants to open the boxes. Piles of gold coins gleamed inside.

“While I was in Remute Territory, I collected the full interest due this month from the Duke. It’s four times what he paid last month, right? We should collect these things while we can.”

Grandfather’s face lit up with surprise and satisfaction.

“……I was always worried you were so immature, but it seems it was just this old man’s needless fretting. Excellent. That’s my granddaughter.”

The amount included the gold coins I’d received from my fiancé and part of what I’d borrowed from my tyrant brother.

My fiancé had only repaid a portion of the interest, but honestly, how was he supposed to cough up four times as much all of a sudden? I’d decided to handle it this way.

“You are an Altzveit.”

As he said that while looking at me, my tyrant brother’s words suddenly sprang to mind.

“Abandon Altzveit and become imperial family.”

The image vanished more swiftly than it had appeared.

Grandfather’s satisfied smile filled my view.

“The festival honoring the Goddess’s blessing will be held soon. The imperial family will throw a grand banquet like always. This year, no causing trouble—behave yourself. I’m telling you not to act rashly. Got it?”

“……Yes. When have I ever caused trouble?”

I shrugged, and grandfather’s voice sharpened with a stern tsk.

“Rumors are already flying that you went on that trip after stirring up a huge scandal. Show everyone you’ve changed since coming back.”

I let grandfather’s earnest plea slide in one ear and out the other.

Sorry, Grandfather. I’ve already promised to wreak even bigger havoc in exchange for money……

Still, seeing that satisfied look on his face, he probably wouldn’t ditch my fiancé over a bit of mischief.

Grandfather seemed to genuinely cherish Charlize, after all.

“I’ll do my best.”

Grandfather clicked his tongue at my words, lowered his gaze, and soon began counting the gold coins himself.

The book had been full of descriptions about his love of money, and now, watching him, I could really feel it.

“And at this imperial banquet, we’ll announce your wedding date with Duke Remute, so keep that in mind.”

“……Wedding?”

The unexpected announcement left me at a loss for words.

Why did this grandfather fix one problem only to drop an even bigger bomb?

I tilted my head, desperately holding back a groan.

“Has Askin agreed to it?”

“Do we need that fool’s permission? As if he has any way to refuse.”

Wow, if Askin heard that straight from him, he’d explode and demand a breakup on the spot.

‘Then I’d be staring down another death flag.’

Cold sweat trickled down my back.

“It can’t be helped.”

“……If Askin demands to break the engagement, has he found some other way to repay the debt?”

“As if something like that could happen? That fool will never repay it.”

For some reason, grandfather spoke with utter conviction.

“As long as he keeps dragging around that sickly, useless thing.”

Resentment surged the moment I heard that. Aria’s beaming smile flashed in my mind.

I hid my clenched fists behind my back and simply smiled sweetly.

“You just behave yourself and win that man’s heart. Captivate him with your beauty or whatever. Tsk, how long do you intend to chase after him like a fool?”

To grandfather’s continued directives, I merely smiled and gave half-hearted assurances that I would.

* * *

……We’re just engaged—endure it for a year, and now marriage? What marriage?

I grew serious as I left the study.

Right up to the end, Grandfather had insisted that now I had the savvy, I should at least win over my fiancé’s heart.

I’d vaguely agreed to his emphatic demand, but I had zero intention of following through.

For that man, securing a promise to just quietly spend a year together was more than enough.

‘Besides, would he even want to marry me?’

How stressful is it when someone you hate keeps throwing themselves at you?

Ditch the unwanted advances and negotiate our freedom through plain talk—that’s way better.

‘At this point, I need to settle things with my fiancé as fast as possible and get him to sign off on that one-year contract!’

Your life? It’s my life! Marriage my ass. Back in my room, I vented my irritation by thumping the pillow furiously when unexpected news arrived shortly after.

“Duchess, a servant from the imperial palace has arrived.”

From the imperial palace? After Grandfather had just drained every last bit of my energy, it wasn’t welcome at all.

But when the so-called servant removed his cloak and hat, I was startled.

First, I sent the maids from the room.

“……Lord Noah? Since when are you an imperial servant?”

“Greetings to the noble Duchess.”

It was Noah, the original story’s sub-male lead and the tyrant’s adjutant.

He apologized for deliberately coming disguised like this to avoid the Altzveit Duke’s notice.

I crossed my arms and cocked my head.

“His Imperial Majesty summons you.”

“……Do I have to go just because my brother calls?”

“It is not for anything harmful to you, Duchess.”

“But what if I get there and he’s lost it, sword in hand?”

My mood was already foul, so I shot back snarkily.

Only when I saw Noah’s troubled expression did I realize my mistake. Right, what had this man ever done to me?

I stood. Staying cooped up at home would just mean more pillow-punching anyway.

“Lead the way.”

Noah strode forward and extended his hand to me. Planning to carry me like last time?

I started to reach out, then tilted my head.

“It’s not urgent, right?”

“Yes? Yes. Correct.”

“Then I won’t need to be carried by you this time.”

“Ah…….”

Noah nodded and gently released my hand.

“Let’s go.”