Chapter 15 - 15

"..."

Wow, what a trashy statement...

I covered my mouth slightly. Otherwise, my expression would have given me away, or I would have cursed without realizing.

That's right, this old man isn't exactly a good person either. Good people don't entangle others in debt. It's fortunate that he at least seems to care for his granddaughter.

"Hmm, well, anyway, it's good that you pulled that young lady's hair."

Cough, I barely stopped myself from hacking. W-what? What did this grandfather just say?

I clearly said I didn't pull her hair, but he had a 1% belief face. I understand that, but.

"Wait..."

"Thanks to you, I can charge more interest."

"Pardon?"

I paused. As if not hearing my question, my grandfather stroked his chin.

"I was just thinking, it's been bothering me that he's been paying the interest so diligently lately. I was wondering how I could increase it... and you came up with a brilliant idea."

"What do you mean..."

"Well, didn you intentionally get pushed and fall by that bastard?"

I stammered.

What is this old man saying?

"Of course, that bastard is still a wretch for daring to push my precious granddaughter... but he's still useful, so I can't just keep having him pay interest like this. You had it all planned, didn't you?"

"..."

"You want to own him, after all."

I grabbed my face. Calm down. Calm down. Answer well.

Fortunately, I have Charlize's memories, and her habits and mannerisms remain in the body.

I smiled and answered.

"...That's right."

At the same time, I thought. I'm in big trouble. This family... is crazier than I thought!

Either the villainess Charlize, or that grandfather who cares for Charlize but treats people as tools without hesitation.

I gulped.

Although it's not a situation where I want a breakup, I had a feeling that if I joined hands with that grandfather, I definitely wouldn't avoid a bad ending.

Above all... Askin Lemut is not a person who can be owned through oppression and restraint.

He must have endured and endured inwardly, but the anger he's suppressed hasn't gone away; it's been piling up.

Having already seen it at the Lemut territory, that grandfather's methods will not just provoke but cause an explosion.

It would definitely not be in a positive direction.

Hey, my life is at stake!

Unaware of this, my grandfather, feeling good, even laughed heartily in front of me.

I roughly appeased him and left his office.

I wiped my chest and sighed.

'Seems like... I should think that not all my family in this world is on my side.'

Even the male protagonist tyrant brother, who I thought was close in the book, and the maternal grandfather, called a doting grandfather, are like ticking time bombs.

As I sighed, the door opened slightly.

"Char."

"...Grandfather?"

Between the open door, my grandfather stood.

Seeing me, he frowned.

"...Is your cold not better yet?"

"Pardon?"

"I'll call the priest again."

"..."

I felt a strange sensation. I found it strange, but I shook my head.

And so I returned to my room from the office.

* * *

The next day, my body felt completely light.

As soon as I felt light in the morning, I prepared to go out.

"Let's go to the Lemut territory."

The maids all looked worried, but not having the courage to object, they faithfully followed my orders.

The road to the Lemut territory wasn't far, but there was a problem.

"Um, Countess... A knight says he wishes to see you for a moment."

"What is it?"

The carriage stopped midway. Apparently, due to the heavy rain a few days ago, the road was blocked, and people had come out to repair it. So the carriage had to stop.

At that, I stuck my head out of the door to check the situation.

'It's true.'

What looked like residents were personally busy shoveling dirt.

The residents' houses on both sides were a mess, with collapsed roofs or walls.

They said it was a near-flood... It must be a disaster for my fiance.

He already has financial worries.

I grabbed my skirt and got off the carriage.

Then the maids and knights were all surprised and rushed after me.

"Countess, your dress has dirt on it!"

"It's fine."

"Kyaak, l-limited edition shoes got dirty too, C-Countess!"

"I said it's fine."

I also like pretty and shiny things.

In Charlize's wardrobe and shoe closet, there are easily over a hundred similarly expensive and good things.

"Countess, please forgive my rudeness."

"Huh? What do you..."

Before I could say anything, one of the knights offered me his hand.

Before I could think, I instinctively took his hand. It was a habit remaining in Charlize's body.

'Aah!'

My vision changed, and my body floated. Surprised, I looked at the man who lifted me.

Ah, this person...

'Isn't he the knight who also carried me at the Lemut residence that rainy day?'

That's right. Definitely, the one who lifted me when my grandfather appeared in front of the Lemut Ducal residence.

He was huge, and his expression was calm, as if it were his natural duty.

His solid face was quite handsome.

Sorry, but after seeing my fiance's face, no handsome man is impressive. Still, he's handsome enough to catch my eye.

"...I never told you to carry me."

"...I apologize. I prioritized the order to not let a speck of dirt get on the dress and shoes from before. I'm sorry for the slow action."

No, that's not what I'm saying to apologize for.

I patted the nameless escort knight's shoulder and told him to put me down.

He looked momentarily flustered, then fell into thought.

Soon after...

"I've brought it."

I was seated on a palanquin that had been stored behind the carriage. A palanquin carried by four knights.

I felt strange. What is this.

"You should be comfortable now."

"No, no... That's enough. Put me down quickly."

Right, I clearly understand that this villainess sister used taxis... no, knights for anything more than 3 steps.

I pressed my temples and touched the ground again.

The expressions of the escort knights looking at me were mixed.

Specifically, except for the knight who first lifted me, the others looked at me with不安 (fuan) and fear.

The knight who first picked me up was... looking at me like a lost puppy.

What is it with this guy? I looked closely, but nothing came to mind in Charlize's memories.

He's not an original character either.

Anyway, that's not the problem.

'I need to see my fiance first and clear up the misunderstanding.'

This can't be delayed any longer.

People around suggested it might be better to go back carefully, but I was lost in thought.

Soon, I raised my hand and spoke to a nearby knight.

"Call the workers."

Then the knight looked flustered. Unlike last time, today's outing had many people accompanying me.

It was the result of my grandfather assigning more people after the last incident. So besides knights, servants also came.

"Um, Countess... If you're thinking of calling workers to clear the logs and debris, it will cost a lot because workers probably won't want to come all the way to the Lemut territory."

The Lemut territory wasn't wealthy.

So, the lead knight cautiously tried to persuade me, saying it might be better to come another day, as workers wouldn't come here, leaving the abundant work in the capital.

He clamped his mouth shut as soon as I slightly frowned, though.

"Say it again. Are you saying I can't go there because of that?"

I spoke a bit sharply instead of raising my voice, pointing towards where the Lemut castle was.

"My path is blocked. What's a little money?"

Then the knights glanced at each other and bowed their heads.

I brushed my hair back. Besides, I made a fuss saying I absolutely had to go there today.

"...I-I'll call the workers!"

Eventually, the scared servants and knights went to call workers.

Fortunately, the workers arrived much faster than I thought.

"What are the knights doing?"

And not only workers but also knights and servants were mobilized to clear the debris in front of us.

'Heh, this... It seems it won't be resolved today, unfortunately?'

I don't know how it became such a mess, but the road was in disarray, and it seemed unlikely a carriage could pass even if cleared quickly today.

And it's not like that man, Askin, would come just because I called.

I thought about just walking in a fit of pique, but my attire wasn't suitable for walking.

As I was standing lost in thought, looking towards the castle, I felt a gaze.

Turning my head, it was children.

They seemed to be the children of the residents here.

They were standing quite close to me, trying to hide behind a cart, looking at me.

They flinched the moment our eyes met.