Chapter 25 - 25

The girl's expression hardened in an instant. After I had soothed her, she looked scared again, so I tilted my head.

"C-Countess. I'm s-sorry."

"For what?"

"Pirenn... ah, Pirenn is my little sister. Sh-she..."

The girl shed tears that had stopped, drop by drop.

"She lost the hairpin the Countess gave her... So she looked for it outside until night and c-caught a cold."

I guessed she meant the smallest girl who was with them when they gave the wild berries.

Back then, I had definitely given her one of the pins from my hair.

Actually, Charlize had so many accessories that the children didn't need to take it so seriously.

I decided to make her feel better.

"Don't worry about it. I was going to throw it away anyway."

"B-but..."

"You're crying again."

I got up and walked towards the chest of drawers.

And I brought out a butterfly-shaped pin and placed it on top of the ornament the girl was holding.

"Here, give her this and tell her to get better soon."

The girl looked up at me with a surprised face.

Then, suppressing her tears, she bowed her head deeply.

That's when it happened. The door opened and the maid Anna carefully entered.

"Countess, the Duke is looking for you."

"Alright?"

...What does that grandfather want now?

On the other hand, I had a good idea of what it was. I looked at the children once.

"Anna, buy lots of the snacks and treats I eat and send them off with these kids. And pack the ornaments they're holding so they're easy to carry."

After a moment's thought, I added one more thing.

"I don't need them anymore."

The children looked at each other, and then the boy first bowed his head deeply, 'Thank you, Countess!' The girl also quickly followed suit.

I nodded and left the reception room.

As I left, I told Anna, who would be staying, to convey my words so that the knights wouldn't bother them, and then left.

* * *

Piacere was a child living in the Lemut territory.

Pina next to her was Piacere's cousin.

The two cousins were also the children who had mustered the courage to give wild berries to Charlize.

Those wild berries became the starting point of trouble, leading them to be practically dragged into this residence.

But now, as they were returning, the children had completely forgotten the memory of being dragged here.

The Countess is pretty, and super pretty, and so kind!

Piacere looked at the box in her arms and blinked.

Her younger sister, Pina, wore a similar expression.

I have to go back and brag about this.

Oppa, me too, me too!

And there were three maids escorting these children to the carriage.

Apart from Anna, these maids had barely seen Charlize up close since her return from her trip.

So, to them, Charlize was still an object of terror.

Holding desserts, treat packages, and toys in their hands, they were busy whispering.

"...It's that, right?"

"Yeah, that's it. That."

One maid nodded with a hardened expression.

'She probably gave them this to shut them up.'

Regardless of what incident Charlize caused this time, she had always used money or goods to silence people.

The maid thought that what she gave to these unknown children was no different from before.

Of course, it was strange that the recipients weren't nobles like before. But it wasn't completely insane.

Because it was widely rumored that Charlize's first method of silencing was money or goods, and the next... was to kill them.

Except for Anna, the maids looked at the children with pity.

'Poor things, they're still so young... They could lose their lives if careless.'

The children, unaware of this, looked very bright. The maids shook their heads and headed towards the carriage.

* * *

My grandfather called me, but instead of going straight to his office, I stopped by my room first before leaving.

Because there was something I needed to bring.

"Have you come?"

When I arrived at the office, my grandfather put down the newspaper he had been reading while sitting on the sofa.

I didn't come alone.

At my gesture, the servants who came in with me carefully placed items on the table. Not just one box, but several piled up.

A question crossed my grandfather's face.

"What is this?"

I smiled brightly.

"What else would it be, Grandfather? It's the interest the Duke of Lemut is paying this month."

With a glance at the servants, they opened the boxes. The piled-up gold coins were revealed.

"I went to the Lemut territory and collected all this month's interest from the Duke. It's four times more than last month's interest, right? We should collect these things when we can."

Then, along with surprise, satisfaction appeared on my grandfather's face.

"...I always worried you were immature, but it seems it was just this old man's concern. Very good. This is how my granddaughter should be."

It was the amount that included the gold coins I received from my fiance and part of the gold coins I borrowed from the tyrant brother.

My fiance had only paid part of the interest, but honestly, how could he suddenly pay four times the interest? So I decided to handle it this way.

"You are Altsbeit."

Hearing him say that, the tyrant brother's words suddenly came to mind.

"Abandon Altsbeit and become an Imperial."

That image faded quickly.

My grandfather's satisfied smile filled my vision.

"The festival celebrating the Goddess's blessing will be held soon. The Imperial Family will also hold a grand banquet as usual. Don't cause any incidents this year, behave yourself. Don't act rashly, do you understand?"

"...Yes. When did I ever cause an incident?"

As I shrugged, my grandfather's voice became stern.

"Rumors are already rife that you were sent on a trip after causing a major incident. Show them that you've changed after this trip."

I let my grandfather's advice in one ear and out the other.

I'm sorry, Grandfather. I've already promised to commit even greater atrocities in exchange for money...

But seeing your satisfied face, he probably won't change my fiance just because I cause a little trouble.

It seems Grandfather genuinely cares for Charlize.

"I'll try."

At my words, my grandfather clicked his tongue, then lowered his gaze and started counting the gold coins himself.

In the book, there were many descriptions of him loving money, and seeing him like this, I could truly feel his fondness for it.

"By the way, I plan to announce the marriage date for you and the Duke of Lemut at this Imperial banquet, so be aware."

"...Marriage?"

At the unexpected news, I was speechless.

How is it that whenever I solve one problem, this grandfather hands me an even bigger pile of crap?

I tried not to let out a groan and tilted my head.

"Has Askin agreed?"

"Do I need that bastard's permission? How could he possibly refuse."

Wow, if Askin had heard that, he'd be furious and scream for a breakup right away.

'Then I'd face another death crisis.'

Cold sweat ran down my back.

"It will have to be that way."

"...Do you think Askin has found a separate way to repay the debt, since he's talking about breaking the engagement?"

"How could such a thing be possible? That bastard will never be able to repay that money."

For some reason, my grandfather spoke with a confident voice.

"As long as he keeps that unnecessary, sickly thing."

At those words, defiance rose within me. Because I thought of Aria's bright smile.

Hiding my tensing hands behind my back, I simply smiled.

"Just behave and try to win that bastard's heart. Use that beauty to captivate him. Tsk, are you planning to chase after him forever, looking pathetic?"

Even as my grandfather continued with his instructions, I just smiled and gave half-hearted answers.

* * *

...When I just need to endure the engagement for a year, what marriage are you talking about?

After leaving the office, I became serious.

My grandfather, insisting until the end that I had enough skill, told me to win my fiance's heart.

He emphasized and insisted, and I said 'okay' superficially, but I had no intention of doing so.

For that man, it's enough to just get a promise that we'll quietly spend one year together.

'Besides, would he even want marriage?'

How stressful is it to have someone you dislike bother you?

It's much better to give up on futile seduction and find a way to secure each other's freedom through conversation with him.

'Since it's come to this, I need to negotiate with my fiance as quickly as possible and get him to stamp the one-year contract!'

Is it your life? It's my life! Marriage, my foot. I was angrily pounding my pillow when I heard unexpected news.

"Countess, a servant has arrived from the Imperial Palace."

The Imperial Palace? I had just been verbally beaten by my grandfather, so it wasn't welcome news.

But when the person who entered as a servant took off his cloak and hat, I was surprised.

I first dismissed all the maids in the room.

"...Sir Noah? Since when were you an Imperial servant?"

"I greet the noble Countess."

It was Noah, the sub-male lead from the original story and the tyrant's aide.

He asked for understanding, saying he had purposely come like this to avoid the Duke of Altsbeit's notice.

I folded my arms and tilted my head.

"His Majesty the Emperor is looking for you."

"...Do I have to go just because my brother calls?"

"He hasn't called you for anything that would harm you."

"And then when I actually go, I suppose my brother will be holding a sword, having gone crazy?"

I replied nastily, as I was already in a bad mood.

Only when I saw Noah's troubled expression did I think 'Oops'. Right, what did this man do wrong?

I got up. I'd probably just keep hitting the pillow if I stayed home anyway.

"Guide me."

Then Noah quickly approached and held out his hand to me. Is he thinking of carrying me like last time?

I was about to reach out, but then tilted my head.

"It's not urgent, is it?"

"Pardon? No, it's not."

"Then I don't need to be carried by you this time."

"Oh..."

Noah nodded and carefully let go of my hand.

"Let's go."