Chapter 24

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Betrayal
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A few days later.

“So no one’s really interested.”

I concluded after receiving the information on the central lands.

Just as I expected.

It made sense for a plot of land that would only become valuable years from now.

The future really is in real estate!

“Start buying up the land nearby, little by little, under an alias.”

At my words, Pielle bowed her head.

“I will relay the message at once.”

She then gestured to a nearby maid. It was one of the maids stationed on the fourth floor.

The more I watched, the more certain I became.

The people of Argenta on the fourth floor were completely different from those on the third floor and below.

I was starting to understand why Diello had said I could trust only the fourth floor.

For one, the servants didn’t dare come up to the fourth floor, as if there were an invisible wall.

And those who moved freely about the fourth floor were more tight-lipped and held higher positions than the other servants.

“And don’t forget to use my money.”

I reminded her again.

Diello already knew about my future plans and would learn more, but it would be shameless to use Argenta’s money.

“Oh, and one more thing.”

I almost forgot something important.

I gave Pielle another order.

“Argenta’s informants should be able to create a new commoner identity for me, don’t you think?”

Pielle asked in return.

“Are you referring to a forged identity?”

“I can’t exactly go all the way to that land and still be Croire Alloje.”

Just as I pointed to the map.

“Croire.”

My name was accompanied by a soft knock.

I looked at the door to see Diello peeking his head through the crack.

His fine, jet-black hair shimmered in the room’s light.

And the ocean-blue eyes visible through his locks shone even more brightly.

“Croire, may I come in?”

Are you really asking now, when you’re already halfway inside?

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Come in.”

Only after receiving permission did Diello fully step into my office.

Then, he noticed the map on my desk.

“...”

His blue eyes scanned the map.

His gaze fell upon the center of it.

“Are you really going there?”

I shrugged at his question.

“I have to. When the real Pero arrives, she’s bound to find the ex-wife a nuisance...”

Wait a minute. I stopped mid-sentence.

Hasn’t it been a while since I saved Redius Argenta?

Shouldn’t the real Pero be here by now?

...No, isn’t she overdue?

“—You could just remain an Argenta.”

Diello suddenly cut in.

For a moment, I blinked, wondering what he meant, then laughed.

“You’re going to welcome a new wife while the ex-wife is still in the duchy?”

At that, Diello’s blue eyes blinked a few times.

“Yes. Is there a problem with that?”

His blue irises sparkled with innocence.

I was dumbfounded.

Even if I leave this mansion, the mere fact that his ex-wife is staying in the duchy will bother Pero, won’t it?

Besides, I heard that Pero has quite the temper.

“They say there’s no such thing as friendship between a man and a woman. How on earth are you going to explain it?”

He has to truly share his heart with Pero to fully awaken the head’s abilities.

If Pero can’t open her heart to Diello, it’s all over.

Moreover, in this world’s high society, a scandal could erupt just from a man and a woman being seen together.

And he wants to keep his ex-wife in the duchy?

“Hmm...”

Diello tilted his head as if contemplating my words.

If I stayed at Argenta even after Pero arrived.

Setting aside the reactions from the Cartiels, who would know I’m a fake, or the Allojes, whose plan would be exposed, there were a host of other problems.

The biggest problem was Diello’s new wife, the real Pero.

If Pero found me bothersome, what could I even say?

“I’ll just introduce you as an Argenta.”

Diello suddenly spoke up.

He smiled brightly.

“Become an Argenta, Croire. It wouldn’t be strange for an Argenta to stay at Argenta.”

“Oh, for goodness’ sake.”

I ended up pressing my throbbing temples.

I have no intention of being in the middle of a lover’s quarrel.

I waved my hand dismissively.

“I respectfully decline. My goal is a peaceful retirement.”

“What if it is peaceful?”

Diello immediately countered. I answered without hesitation.

“I refuse to be the woman caught between the new wife and the ex-husband, I refuse the title of ex-wife, and on top of that—”

If we get divorced, high society will be in an uproar, won’t it?

High society, unaware of Pero’s secret, would just assume that Diello and I had a falling out, broke off the engagement, and yet I was still clinging to Argenta.

I waved my hands back and forth.

“I refuse to be in a position where I have to walk on eggshells around the new wife, and I absolutely refuse to have my name gossiped about in high society. That leaves only one option, doesn’t it?”

I wagged my index finger in front of his face.

“I have to leave.”

Is there any other way?

At my words, Diello touched his lips, looking troubled.

“...”

His silent expression was tinged with disappointment.

How is he going to survive this harsh world being so sentimental?

I let out a deep sigh.

“I’ll still visit sometimes, though.”

Diello seemed so disappointed.

I let out a small laugh.

“Ah.”

I almost forgot to ask something important while we were talking.

“By the way, is there any news of the real Pero?”

I wanted to bluntly ask why she wasn’t here when it was time, but I couldn’t.

Diello slowly shook his head at my question.

“Not yet.”

Not yet?

I almost asked again without thinking.

Did I miscalculate the timing?

Or did I remember the sequence of events incorrectly?

That can’t be right.

It’s been a while since Redius Argenta was saved, so there should definitely be news of the real Pero.

In the original story, it was around this time that Diello Argenta welcomed the real Pero, and Croire Alloje was revealed to be a fake.

After that, the uncomfortable marital relationship between the real Pero and Diello Argenta began.

Since the original story was told from the perspective of a maid from House Alloje, I never found out exactly why the two were uncomfortable with each other.

But then again, not every fated pair is going to be comfortable with each other.

“No news at all?”

Still, it was strange for there to be absolutely no news yet.

When I asked again, Diello gave a slight nod.

“Yes.”

What on earth?

The only major deviation I’ve made from the original story so far was saving Redius Argenta.

What does that have to do with the timing of Pero’s arrival?

What went wrong, and where did it start?

A strange sense of unease lingered in my mind.

“...I hope she arrives soon.”

But for now, it was time to back down.

“I agree.”

Diello also gave a small, regretful smile and turned to leave.

I watched his back, and a random thought occurred to me.

...But what did he come here to say?

* * *

That afternoon.

The peaceful mansion was suddenly filled with the sound of hooves and commotion.

“Huh?”

I glanced outside and saw Diello.

Dressed in the knight’s uniform he only wore for expeditions, he was rushing off somewhere.

A throng of knights followed him, kicking up clouds of dust.

Are they heading toward the Infinite Sea?

Just as I was wondering, a maid hurried over.

“My Lady.”

“What’s happening outside?”

The maid bowed her head at my question.

“There’s been an incident at the border of the Infinite Sea, so he has departed urgently.”

Sectors 3 and 4 had been chaotic lately, so there was no reason other places couldn’t be as well.

I gave a slight nod.

“He ordered me to tell you not to worry.”

The maid said to me with a cautious expression.

He left without a word when he went to Sector 4, but at least he had the presence of mind to send a message this time.

“I understand.”

There shouldn’t be any major incidents before Pero arrives, so I had no need to worry.

Nodding slowly, I raised an eyebrow slightly.

But really, isn’t it time for Pero to show up?

My thoughts became needlessly complicated.

I finally put down the documents about Argenta I was reading.

*Screech.*

As I pushed my chair back and stood up, Pielle approached.

“My Lady?”

“I can’t focus. Let’s go for a walk.”

Pielle immediately bowed to me.

“I will accompany you.”

My lack of focus must have been obvious.

Pielle readily guided me into the hallway.

Dusk, when a cool breeze was blowing.

The view wasn’t bad, thanks to the wide, open windows in the hallway.

*Swoosh...*

I watched the wind blow, lost in thought.

If the real Pero came to Argenta herself.

She would probably try to approach very cautiously, since it’s already known that Diello is married to a Pero.

If Argenta were the ones to find and bring her, there’s no way I wouldn’t have heard about it.

Either way, it shouldn’t be this quiet.

*Click, clack.*

I crossed the hallway and went down the stairs, intending to see the flower garden at dusk.

But then.

“Huh?”

Reaching the first floor, I suddenly stopped.

The knights on the first floor seemed a little different than usual.

Of course, it was impossible to remember the faces of everyone from Argenta who came and went from the mansion.

But there was no way I wouldn’t recognize the knights from the fourth floor, whom I saw often.

Aren’t these the knights stationed on the fourth floor?

“Why are the fourth-floor people here?”

Pielle gave a short reply.

“The master ordered them to be stationed here.”

“Diello did?”

I raised an eyebrow.

He wouldn’t have suddenly rearranged the first-floor defenses on his way out... Just as I felt a sense of strangeness.

“My Lady!”

Hasty footsteps echoed from above.

Rushing down the stairs was a maid from the fourth floor.

“In the master’s office...!”

The office should have been empty.

The maid was holding a white cloth, perhaps having gone in to clean.

“In the office, a contract is burning!”

“What? Why would it suddenly—”

I stopped before I could finish my question.

*Fwoosh!*

I remembered Mirta’s contract, which had burst into blue flames and vanished the moment Diello signed it.

“Don’t tell me, Mirta’s contract?”

Mirta, the one who had recently been made to leave Argenta.

The servant from the fourth floor who had signed a blood contract swearing not to speak of Argenta.

“Yes. It seems she has violated the terms.”

The maid said with a grave expression.

“It’s a betrayal.”

“...Ah.”

I pressed a hand to my forehead.