Chapter 28 - 28

* * *

Meanwhile, at the same time.

In the Lemut territory, rumors praising Charlize had been circulating recently.

The rumors created when Charlize helped the flood victims only grew with time and showed no signs of dying down.

They had faltered when Charlize ignored the local specialties prepared by the residents, but the story that she gave gold coins to the children in exchange for their measly wild berries caused the rumors to spread even more widely.

'The noble Countess!'

'The benevolent Countess!'

'The one who will become our territory's mistress!'

Even among farmers, a phenomenon was occurring where the lyrics of work songs were being changed to praise Charlize.

This phenomenon showed signs of spreading explosively around the time the children who had been dragged to the Altsbeit residence, Piacere and Pina, returned home loaded with gifts.

"Stop it immediately."

Askin, the lord of the Lemut territory, pressed his throbbing head and said.

"Stop it by any means possible. The rumors too."

"...Yes, understood."

Askin shuddered at Charlize's cunning, using even children. What was even more unforgivable was...

"Brother, the Countess... I don't think she's a bad person like we thought!"

"I think I've been foolish to harbor ill feelings."

The fact that his kind sister, Aria, had fallen under that woman's spell.

And what was even more unforgivable than that was.

"One year. Just maintain this relationship with me for one year. Then I'll release you."

"Then shall I stake my life right here? If you have a magically bound contract, bring it."

"Think of it as being deceived just this once, and all your worries would be solved, wouldn't they? Even if I am deceiving you, you'll just go through with the breakup, and nothing will change."

Charlize's voice, confusing his mind, and his own image, tempted for just a moment.

Why me? Why did he consider that woman's proposal positively?

Worry tinged Askin's stunningly beautiful face.

Soon, a decision flickered across his face.

"Ben. Prepare the carriage."

* * *

When I returned to the residence, I was quite tired.

Just before the carriage door opened after we arrived, Noah, who had escorted me here, cautiously called out to me.

"...Countess, are you alright?"

If it were you, would you be? Of course, I think it was good I went to the Imperial Palace.

If I hadn't, I might have kept a knight who thought I was a fool by my side forever, never knowing the truth about the hairpin.

But I was tired.

Besides, that knight's punishment hasn't even been decided yet.

Too tired to answer, I just gave him a look that said 'Whether I'm okay or not is none of your business, is it?'

Noah looked somewhat troubled. A handsome man with blue hair looking troubled because of me. My mood lifted slightly.

"His Majesty had a message for you."

"What is it?"

"He asked that you leave the punishment of that knight to him."

"Tell him no."

Why would he punish the bastard who stabbed me in the back?

Given how he was teasing me earlier, a reasonable suspicion arose that he wasn't planning to punish him properly but to annoy me.

At my firmness, Noah smiled awkwardly again and said he understood.

As I was about to get off the carriage, my body floated into the air.

"You look tired. Would it be alright if I escorted you myself?"

The moment I saw Noah lifting me, my hand moved first. As if a habit popped out naturally.

Smack!

"..."

"How presumptuous. How dare you touch me?"

Noah immediately put me down, stepped forward rudely, apologized, and then turned away.

'...What was that?'

I didn't even have the energy to be angry, but Charlize's nature inside my body had suddenly flared up.

As I am, Noah's action of apologizing so naturally and walking away was also very natural.

I brushed my hair back in annoyance.

'That person wasn't a pushover in the book either, was he?'

Is he trying to be nice to me now because the tyrant and I share an important secret?

'Because I'm the only one who can control his madness?'

That makes sense. Taking it roughly that way, I walked, not through the main gate but into the garden.

Though a bit tired, I wanted to get some fresh air.

Sending the maids who followed me back first, I sat in the garden pavilion and closed my eyes slightly.

'Ugh, my hand is really throbbing.'

It was unexpected.

Charlize in the memories was good at slapping people. Did I hurt my hand because I impulsively threw a punch?

'And I even hit Noah who lifted me.'

My throbbing wrist was more bothersome than I thought.

I should apply a warm compress when I get back.

'Come to think of it, since opening my eyes in this body, I've had body aches, stomach aches, and even a sprain (presumed). I haven't been enjoying anything, just suffering all sorts of illnesses.'

I opened my eyes and exhaled lazily.

So what. I'll just think of it as a trial on the path to becoming a wealthy bum. I'll be happy when I go back.

Just as I was about to go back, raising my upper body, a shadow fell at my feet.

Slowly looking up, a familiar face was standing there.

"Hello, Countess. I see you again, noble one."

I squinted against the backlight. Soon, his entire face came into view. Reddish-brown hair, pretty emerald eyes, and a distinct beauty mark under his eye.

It was the man I met at Lemut Castle.

Ian Child, was it? The man from the family Grandfather had designated as my potential new fiance if we broke up.

"..."

When I didn't answer, the man again withdrew his hand naturally and bowed politely.

His etiquette was fantastically impeccable.

"I was already hoping to see you once more today, on the glorious occasion of visiting the Altsbeit family."

"Why do you want to see me?"

An incredibly handsome man hitting on Charlize.

Hey there, Ms. Villainess. What karma did you accumulate with this one?

Thinking that this man must be smiling on the outside but grinding his teeth at Charlize on the inside, my own tastes overlap, making me feel both regretful and sad.

Of course, my fiance is the most handsome, but he possesses an overwhelming beauty that shatters my preferences.

I was originally weak to men who smile with their eyes, like this man.

However, I knew that the Duke of Altsbeit didn't create a special escort knight unit for Charlize for nothing.

Thinking this man might suddenly turn and get angry or do something, I was inwardly very tense.

"...I feel a bit wronged. I don't think I've done anything yet to deserve the Countess's wariness."

His words and actions were all suspicious, making my eyes narrow further.

"Oh!"

Ian suddenly turned away, asking me to wait a moment.

I thought he'd given up due to my silence, but he spoke with a servant standing some distance away and then came back carrying something.

Soon, this man showed me what he brought.

Moreover, he even brought a servant carrying a box.

"This is the finest wine from the Adete Kingdom, imported from overseas. It's a top-grade wine that only comes from a region I visited on business a month ago."

When the servant opened the lid of the box, it was filled with the same wine.

Ian's eyes curved gently.

"I heard the Countess enjoys wine. I hope you like it."

"..."

* * *

Charlize felt troubled.

Wine. Since suffering severely from a hangover at the gathering of tyrants, wine had become something she couldn't even stand to look at.

Of course, living as Charlize, there might come a day when she'd have to drink even if she didn't want to, but at least not today.

Moreover, Ian, who suddenly appeared and pushed wine on her as if to curry favor, was far too suspicious.

Ian looked at the silent Charlize, puzzled and slightly anxious.

It was strange.

According to his research, Charlize was a woman so crazy about wine that she not only loved it but even collected it.

So he had deliberately prepared a rare wine, but Charlize showed no interest at all.

He had heard that Charlize would smile sweetly even at people she didn't get along with if wine was involved.

Rather, after answering 'Why?', Charlize's refusal to answer further, from Ian's perspective, could be seen as ignoring him and acting tough, but Ian wasn't particularly displeased.

He was just puzzled.

"Perhaps... you don't like this wine?"

Charlize was still wary, thinking this man could turn at any moment.

Externally, it just seemed like she was looking down on him haughtily.

'What do I do? Not accepting the wine here would also seem strange.'

Given that it's widely known in the capital that Charlize loves wine so much she'd jump at it, if she refuses this wine?

If such a rumor spreads, people might find it strange.

But accepting the wine directly also felt unpleasant.

It feels like the real Charlize's karma somehow. What if he gives me poisoned wine to harm me?

'I can fully understand that this villainess has accumulated enough resentment to warrant poisoning.'

Hesitating inwardly, Charlize reached out.

Ian held out the wine with a pleased expression.

Then, as their fingers accidentally brushed, Charlize was startled and jerked her hand away.