Chapter 28
Meanwhile, at the same time.
Rumors praising Charlize had recently spread far and wide throughout the Remute Territory.
The rumors that started from the moment Charlize helped the flood victims only grew bigger with time, showing no signs of dying down.
They had faltered a bit when it was said that Charlize had ignored the local specialties prepared by the flood victims, but they exploded even more upon hearing that she had accepted the humble mountain strawberries from the children that day and given them gold coins in return.
‘Such a noble Duchess!’
‘Such a merciful Duchess!’
‘The lady who will become the mistress of our territory!’
Even among the farmers, there were cases where the lyrics of work songs were being changed to praises of Charlize.
This phenomenon seemed poised to spread explosively now that Piache and Pina, the children who had just returned from being dragged to the Altizeit Duke’s residence, came back laden with gifts.
“Stop it immediately.”
Askin, the master of the Remute Territory, pressed on his throbbing head and said.
“Stop the rumors, by any means necessary.”
“……Understood.”
Askin trembled with rage at Charlize’s cunning for using even the children. But the even more unforgivable fact was……
“Oppa, the Duchess isn’t…… as bad a person as we thought!”
“I think I was foolish for harboring resentment all this time.”
That his kind younger sister Aria had fallen under that woman’s spell.
And the even more unforgivable fact than that.
“One year. Just maintain this relationship with me for one year. Then I’ll set you free afterward.”
“Just risk your life here? Bring the enchanted contract if you have it.”
“Even if I trick you, it’s just like meeting her once and all your worries are solved, right? Even if I deceive you, you’ll push through the broken engagement anyway, so nothing changes.”
It was Charlize’s voice that muddled his mind and his own momentary temptation toward her proposal.
Why had he? Toward that woman? Why had he even considered her proposal positively?
A shadow of worry clouded Askin’s exquisitely beautiful face.
Soon, a look of resolve crossed his features.
“Ben. Prepare the carriage.”
By the time I returned to the residence, I was quite exhausted.
Just before the carriage door opened upon arrival, Noah, who had escorted me all the way here, cautiously called out to me.
“……Duchess, are you all right?”
Would you be all right in my shoes? Of course, I did think it was good that I went to the Imperial Capital today.
Otherwise, I might have kept that knight by my side forever, never learning the truth about the hairpin and thinking he was just a fool.
Still, I was tired.
Moreover, the knight’s punishment hadn’t been decided yet.
I didn’t even have the energy to respond, so I just shot him a look that said, whether I’m okay or not is none of your business, right?
Noah looked a bit troubled. A handsome man with blue hair looking troubled because of me. My mood lifted slightly.
“His Majesty asked me to relay a message to you, Duchess.”
“What is it?”
“He said to leave that knight’s punishment to him.”
“Tell him no.”
Why would he want to punish the guy who struck the back of my head himself?
From the way he’d been teasing me, I reasonably suspected he just wanted to handle it poorly to rile me up.
At my firm refusal, Noah smiled awkwardly again and said he understood.
As I was about to step down from the carriage, my body suddenly floated up.
“You seem fatigued. Would it be all right if I carried you inside myself?”
The moment I saw Noah holding me up, my hand moved first. As if a habit had naturally emerged.
Slap!
“…….”
“How impertinent. Do you think you can touch me carelessly?”
Noah set me down gently and, after apologizing for his rudeness in stepping forward first, turned away.
‘……What was that.’
I hadn’t even had the energy to get angry, but the original Charlize inside me had suddenly gone off like a rocket.
And Noah apologizing and leaving so familiarly felt perfectly natural to me as well.
I irritably ran a hand through my hair.
‘That man wasn’t someone who’d stay meek just because the villainess said so in the book.’
Was he trying to treat me well now because we shared an important secret with the tyrant?
‘Because I’m the only one who can control his Madness?’
It made sense. I decided to accept it that way and entered the garden instead of the main gate on foot.
I was a bit tired, but I wanted to get some fresh air for a moment.
I sent the maids who followed me away first and sat in the pavilion in the garden, closing my eyes lightly.
“Ugh, my hand throbs so much.”
That part was unexpected.
In my memories, Charlize had slapped cheeks, and in my irritation, I’d clenched my fist first and hurt myself.
‘And I even slapped Noah when he picked me up.’
My wrist, throbbing more than expected, was bothering me.
I’d have to go back and apply a hot compress or something.
‘Come to think of it, ever since I opened my eyes in this body, I’ve been suffering from all sorts of pains—colds, stomachaches, and now even a sprain (I’m guessing)—never enjoying it fully.’
I opened my eyes and let out a bored sigh.
Whatever. I could think of this as just another trial on the path to becoming a wealthy idler. I’d be happy once I got back.
Should I head back now? As I started to sit up, a shadow fell at my feet.
Slowly lifting my head, I saw a familiar face standing there.
“Hello, Duchess. It’s an honor to see you again, noble lady.”
I squinted against the backlight. Soon, his full features came into view. Ash-brown hair, pretty emerald eyes. And even the beauty mark right under one eye.
It was the man I’d met at Remute Castle.
Ian Child, was it? The man from the family my grandfather had designated as my new fiancé in case of a broken engagement.
“…….”
When I didn’t respond, the man naturally withdrew his hand this time as well and bowed politely.
His etiquette was flawlessly perfect.
“I had been hoping to see you once more today, on this most fortunate visit to the Altizeit family.”
“Why are you here?”
A strikingly handsome man harassing Charlize.
Excuse me, villainess. What kind of grudge did you rack up with this guy too?
Thinking that this man might be grinding his teeth at Charlize behind that smile made me feel regretful and sad, since he overlapped with my type.
Of course, my fiancé was the most handsome, but he had that overwhelming beauty that shattered my tastes.
I’d always been weak to men like this one, whose smiles suited their eyes so well.
However, I knew the Altizeit Duke hadn’t created a special guard knight order for Charlize for no reason.
Tensing inwardly at the thought that this man might suddenly turn hostile and lash out or do something, I braced myself.
“……I feel a bit wronged. I don’t think I’ve done anything yet to warrant your wariness.”
Every word and action of his was so suspicious that my eyes narrowed further.
“Ah!”
Ian suddenly turned away, asking me to wait a moment.
Had my silence driven him off? But no, he spoke with a servant who’d been waiting at some distance and came back with something.
Soon, he held out what he’d brought to me.
And he’d even brought a servant along carrying a box.
“It’s the finest wine from the Kingdom of Adete across the sea. It’s the top-grade vintage that only comes from the region I visited on business a month ago.”
The servant opened the box lid, revealing it filled with bottles of the same wine.
Ian’s eyes curved into a charming smile.
“I heard you like alcohol, Duchess. I hope you enjoy it.”
“…….”
Charlize felt troubled.
Alcohol? To her, alcohol had become something she couldn’t even bear to look at after suffering severe hangovers at gatherings with those scoundrels.
Of course, living as Charlize, a day might come when she had to drink even if she didn’t want to, but at least not today.
Moreover, Ian suddenly appearing and offering wine as if trying to win her favor was far too suspicious.
Watching the silent Charlize, Ian felt puzzled but also a bit anxious.
It was strange.
From his investigations, Charlize wasn’t just someone who liked alcohol—she was obsessed with it to the point of collecting it.
That’s why he’d prepared this rare wine on purpose, yet the Charlize before him showed absolutely no interest for some reason.
She was the type who would smile charmingly even at people she didn’t get along with if alcohol was involved, or so he’d heard.
Rather, after her curt “Why are you here?” she hadn’t spoken a single word since, which could have felt like she was ignoring and treating him coldly from Ian’s perspective, but he wasn’t particularly offended.
He was just puzzled.
“Perhaps…… you don’t like this wine?”
Charlize still suspected he might turn on her at any moment and remained on guard.
Though outwardly, it just looked like she was gazing at him haughtily.
‘What should I do? Refusing the alcohol here might seem strange too.’
With her reputation in the capital for loving alcohol so much she’d wake up from sleep for it and swoon over it, refusing this wine?
If word got out, people might think it odd.
But accepting the wine outright felt off too.
It really felt like the original Charlize’s karma—what if it was poisoned and she got assassinated?
‘Even if this villainess had enough grudges to warrant poison, it’d be perfectly understandable.’
Charlize hesitated inwardly but extended her hand.
Ian gladly offered the wine with a pleased expression.
Then, the moment their fingers accidentally brushed, Charlize startled and yanked her hand away.