Chapter 11 - 11

Askin frowned at Aria's words. It was nonsense.

That woman didn't say or do anything?

"Aria, you promised never to lie again. I'll ask you once more. Are you sure that woman did nothing?"

"Yes..."

"Nothing at all?"

"Yes... She didn't do anything."

Aria hesitated for a moment, then clutched her own clothes tightly.

'Rather...'

The face she made when she saw me trembling, looking even more surprised.

Aria was confused by the expression she had never seen on Charlize before.

"Excuse me, is anyone there? Anyone? Someone collapsed...!"

She hadn't fainted immediately when she collapsed. So she heard Charlize's urgent voice calling for someone.

It was strange.

That was something Charlize Altsbeit would never do.

"I don't know, brother. But truly, the Countess didn't say or do anything."

"..."

After a brief silence, Askin sighed softly.

"She probably just hasn't done it yet."

Beside Aria stood Gary, the ducal physician, who bowed politely and then met Askin's eyes, nodding slightly.

It meant Aria was fine.

"The young lady is fine, Your Excellency. She just fainted from surprise."

Even though the doctor, Gary, said this, Askin couldn't believe it.

But this was Askin's chronic worry, and knowing it himself, he didn't say more and just stroked Aria's head.

"I'm glad you're not hurt. I'll break off the engagement with that woman soon, so just wait a little longer."

"...Okay."

Aria nodded, suppressing her confusion.

She thought that perhaps what she saw today was just a mistake.

* * *

The next day.

Askin woke up unusually late in the morning. It was because he had worked late into the night trying to control his anger over the atrocities committed by that woman, Charlize, who had turned the residence upside down the previous day.

'It's almost over. Securing the means to repay the debt.'

When that woman brazenly told him to give her the money yesterday, he was momentarily flustered, but the day when he would be swayed by money would soon end.

"Please take my hand anytime, Your Excellency. I will be waiting."

Recalling the ally who had reached out to him, Askin got up from his seat.

When he came out into the hallway, it was somewhat noisy.

The Dukedom of Lemut, with only a name, had very few servants because so much money was spent on Aria's treatment.

But Askin felt that for some reason now, all the few servants in the residence were gathered in this hallway.

"What is it?"

"Oh, Your Excellency...!"

A senior servant who worked at the residence was startled.

Usually pleasant and faithful to his duties like a veteran, his face for some reason held a mixture of bewilderment, shock, and unpleasant curiosity.

"Um, Your Excellency, you're awake."

It was Butler Bond who answered in place of the flustered senior servant.

"You may be troubled, but something has occurred that Your Excellency should know about..."

"What is it?"

Something he should know? Saying that seeing it himself would be better than hearing Bond's troubled explanation, he guided Askin.

And Askin witnessed an amazing sight.

'That is...'

Next to the front garden of the residence was a wide road. It was wide enough for two carriages. Currently, one carriage was parked there.

In front of it, no matter where they brought it from, sat Charlize Altsbeit comfortably in an armchair, even holding a teacup.

Askin had always maintained his composure in any situation, but at this moment, he couldn't help but slightly open his mouth.

'What am I looking at right now?'

The carriage, so shiny and luxurious it was blinding, bore the Altsbeit flag, so he wasn't mistaken, nor was he dreaming.

Askin wiped his face and groaned.

"What kind of crazy stunt is that supposed to be..."

"..."

He always thought she wasn't your average crazy woman, but upon reflection, Charlize was on another level when it came to 'wickedness'.

Aside from her drunken rampages and evil deeds, when sober, she was actually an arrogant, prideful woman who believed herself to be the most cultured.

She wasn't a madwoman who crossed the line of common sense.

'Could it be.'

"If you don't give me money, I won't break the engagement. I won't move from here."

"...Do as you please. Whatever it is, it won't go your way."

Was that the result of taking those words literally?

Askin didn't want to believe that this happened because of his answer.

He groaned only for a very brief moment. Anger welled up in Askin's eyes.

How far did she intend to mock him and his family? Mockery has its limits.

"Your Excellency? Your Excellency?"

Askin turned and headed somewhere. The place he arrived at was his own office.

"Your Excellency, you're he... oh, Your Excellency?"

"Ben. Bring 'that document' immediately!"

Askin sat down.

Soon, a letter was completed in his hand with elegant handwriting.

'The debt. Will you make an issue of the debt?'

For Askin Lemut to break off his engagement with Charlize Altsbeit, he must repay the debt borrowed at the time of the engagement.

But the Duke of Altsbeit, not stopping there, threatened that upon breaking the engagement, the penalty would be the enormous interest accrued so far plus an additional huge sum.

"It seems we can help... Your Excellency, we will be great partners."

Thanks to a family that offered cooperation to Askin, a light shone on the dark, inescapable debt.

He had been holding off on joining hands, not knowing what their scheme was, but he could no longer endure.

"Send this letter to that place immediately. As soon as possible."

"Yes!"

Regarding Charlize's action of coming to see his sister yesterday, and now that sight, it seemed she was even losing common sense!

"And thoroughly monitor that woman camped outside. Ensure she never meets Aria again."

"...Yes!"

Thus, Charlize Altsbeit began her overnight stakeout in front of the Lemut Ducal residence.

* * *

The crazy villainess Charlize Altsbeit is camping out in front of the Lemut Ducal residence!

"...That's the rumor going around?"

"Yes, yes! Countess."

The maid nodded eagerly. While doing so, she covertly gauged my reaction.

Her expression showed she was worried she might have upset me by conveying such a rumor.

I smiled.

"Leave it be."

"Pardon?"

"It's true, isn't it?"

I sipped the steaming tea.

'Wow, the view is nice.'

How are the plants in the Lemut residence so beautifully green?

Several days passed.

It meant three days had passed since I started my overnight stay.

'At first, I was turned away at the door, I think?'

They say Charlize, being the tough bitch she is, camped out in the garden after being turned away by her fiance for two days.

'The rumor is quite accurate.'

I leisurely took another sip of tea.

Honestly, it is camping. But to be precise, after hearing that I was staying in the garden, the maids brought a portable luxury carriage, so I was staying quite comfortably.

'I didn't know magic was this good.'

Thanks to that, I was happily sipping warm tea.

...Is it okay to be this happy during my first camping experience?

Three days have passed since I set up camp like this. Have I seen my fiance during this time? I have seen him.

He would pass by me, grinding his teeth.

The problem is that those faces were so beautiful, like looking at a statue carved by God, so it wasn't unpleasant.

'...You must be bewildered too, but please bear with me a little. I'm also upset.'

Although my body was reasonably comfortable, my mind wasn't at ease.

Because I have to prevent the engagement from breaking, but... I couldn't think of a clear solution.

"Break the engagement."

Askin's eyes as he shouted 'break the engagement' were, so to speak, 'for real'.

His face was full of 100% pure sincerity, I guess?

Since I know that when the break is truly imminent, my heart also hurts.

If the engagement really breaks like this, I'll surely die.

'How does he plan to solve the money issue?'

Surely, he must repay the debt to break the engagement.

I couldn't quite guess the means.

The Dukedom of Altsbeit was such an amazing family that its only comparison was the Imperial Family.

A magnificent family that, when it came to cash, gold, and wealth, would be proud to be second to none, and was also famous behind the scenes for its money dealings.

'It's no easy task to repay the money that could only be lent because it was Altsbeit.'

Moreover, my maternal grandfather was a man who would jump out of bed even in his sleep for money.

If he felt that Askin, whom he coveted, was trying to leave his grasp, he would surely not simply forgive the debt, but demand a huge interest along with it.

Anyway, since no clear plan came to mind, camping like this was the only thing I could do, and there was no other major method or harvest.

'I feel my fiance's eyes getting colder by the day. Moreover, he seems to be starting to ignore me. It's unfair, but...'

The thing is, I didn't want to open my eyes in this body either, but for my happy return, I absolutely need you...

'Isn't there a way that benefits both me and that man? No, there is.'

However, to use that method, that man has to trust me, even a little.

Back to square one.

It seems like I'm just fueling his anger like this. I really need to settle this.

And that day came much faster than expected.