Chapter 29 - 29

In her defense, Charlize was extremely sensitive due to the recent incident at the Imperial Palace.

Having encountered malice directed at her, she was even more wary upon meeting someone whose identity she didn't know.

Charlize realized she had reacted too sensitively, but the bottle had already fallen and shattered.

'Oh my god, what do I do!'

Beautifully colored wine streamed from the broken bottle, soaking the floor.

It even soaked the hem of Ian's trousers and his shoes, leaving her in a situation where she would inevitably be seen as the villain.

What to do? Should I just shamelessly leave? Or apologize sarcastically?

Charlize's mind spun.

Would this man finally reveal his true colors? Would he get angry?

Just as Charlize lifted her head.

The moment their eyes met, a gentle smile crossed Ian's eyes.

"I apologize. It seems the wine was still lacking for the empire's greatest beauty."

"..."

Charlize blinked. Although unintentional, it was a situation clearly where she had done wrong.

But the man politely bowed his head as if it were his fault, before Charlize could even say anything.

With flawless, impeccable etiquette, and even words that shielded Charlize from embarrassment.

To an outsider, his actions would make it seem like he was clearly at fault.

"I will prepare a proper wine next time."

Unknown to her, Charlize's face was showing difficulty and bewilderment. Ian's narrowed eyes easily caught this.

'Oh dear, I shouldn't be curious.'

He was curious.

About the innocent expression momentarily shown by this villainess, whom everyone in the capital clicks their tongues at for being wicked.

About what kind of person this woman, who by all accounts didn't seem as wicked as the rumors, truly is.

Could someone have misunderstood?

"...Would you drink it with me then?"

Charlize pressed her lips tightly together. Her sharp eye corners pointed at him, but perhaps because he had already seen her flustered expression, it didn't look that fierce.

Charlize stood up.

"I've quit red wine."

"Oh dear, but the world is full of wonderful white wines."

"If you're my grandfather's guest, just see to your business and leave."

"The person I wanted to see, even upon the pretense of meeting the Duke, was the Countess, though..."

"..."

Charlize was inwardly flustered.

'What is with this guy?'

How much resentment does he hold against Charlize that he wanted to see me so badly?

He's definitely someone to be wary of.

Her guard shot up again, but she quickly turned away, losing interest.

However, Ian approached, gently and politely, and bowed.

Huh, a man who was polite until the end.

And contrary to her first impression that he seemed like a scholar, his crinkling eyes looked foxy and alluring. Enough to think she might be seduced if she wasn't careful.

Charlize inwardly clicked her tongue and was about to brush past him.

"Countess!"

Her maid, Susan, appeared. But oh my, Susan wasn't alone.

Charlize's eyes widened at the person standing behind Susan.

'My fiance?'

Amazingly, standing behind Susan was a man so tall and handsome he was beyond just being good-looking. It was Charlize's fiance, Askin.

What on earth was that man doing at the Altsbeit residence?

As Charlize was startled, Askin spotted Ian Child standing with Charlize.

'...Why is that guy here?'

His handsome eyebrows twitched slightly.

The Child family had offered Askin cooperation.

And yet that person is at Altsbeit? Could it be that he's trying to play both sides? Or was the goal of that Child family ultimately to use money to control him, just like Altsbeit?

At the same time, Askin saw Ian Child's hand reaching out to Charlize.

Why was it? On the face of that venomous, haughty woman, a subtle difficulty had appeared, and for some reason, that didn't sit well with him.

"So you were expecting an important guest. I greet the Duke of Lemut. Good afternoon, Your Excellency."

Reading the situation quickly, Ian looked at Askin and Charlize once each, realizing it was time for him to leave.

It was a pity, but unavoidable.

"I wish you a good time. Then, I sincerely hope I will see the Countess again next time."

* * *

It's cold. Silence stabs my heart like a dagger.

"..."

I carefully gulped, of course, without showing it.

And then subtly raised my gaze.

'What should I say?'

For five minutes already, Askin hasn't said a word.

For me, just watching this statue-like handsome man is a feast for the eyes, but...

According to Susan, who brought him, he didn't come to see Grandfather, but to see me. What wind brought him to see me?

The problem is that for five minutes, every time our eyes met, he frowned, so I ended up clamping my mouth shut too.

First of all, I was very grateful that he came to find me, so I was being very careful, not wanting to ruin this moment.

But, now I wish he'd tell me what he wants.

I casually touched my neck, trying to nonchalantly ease the tension.

"You've been busy with the flood recovery. What brings you here?"

I have to start the conversation since he won't.

Still, I smiled as harmlessly and prettily as I could, trying not to incur his dislike.

But then, to my surprise, his expression soured.

What? What is it? I smiled so nicely...! I felt a little wronged.

"So, you can freely come and go from my territory, but I have to contact you in advance just to see you?"

...When did I ever say that?

I don't know why he's picking a fight, but oh well, let it go. I'll endure it. To his eyes, I'm still that hateful Charlize. The fact that he's even talking to me is something. I endured, though it was unfair.

Right, the fact that he came to see me at all means the path to my beloved coin! The ten billion, is opening up.

Thinking that made me happy. A happy smile naturally appeared.

"If you had the time to come here, the flood recovery must be going well. You're quite capable in that area."

"..."

...What. Why. What. Why are you frowning and glaring again?

He looked like a big, inexplicably angry dog. I want to soothe him, but we don't speak the same language...

We're both human, so why can't we communicate?

"Seeing you helps me decide."

"What decision?"

Instead of answering, Askin brought up something else.

"Did you want to curry favor with me by using even the young children of my territory?"

This time, his words were even harder to understand.

Why is my fiance like this? He speaks human language, so why is it so hard to understand?

I chewed on it and finally understood. Ah, could it be.

'Is he talking about the children I sent back today?'

No, then, does he think I deliberately brought the children, treated them well, and sent them back?

I guess from his perspective, he might think that...

"No."

I made a dumbfounded face.

This is truly unfair. Of course, my escort knights were wrong.

"You've even become a shamelessly good actress now."

"Did you even hear the story from them?"

I retorted without backing down.

"It's true my escorts acted on their own, but have you forgotten I sent them back with arms full of gifts? Actually, I sent them off with things I was going to throw away anyway, so you don't need to be particularly grateful. But it's not something you should be getting upset with me over, is it?"

"..."

After saying that, for a moment, I thought I was playing the villainess role quite well, but at the same time, I wondered if this was okay.

If I keep this up, wouldn't I just be running parallel to my fiance? Then my money and my way home would disappear, so I felt conflicted.

What am I supposed to do? A flustered expression naturally appeared.

Askin, seeing my face, opened his mouth.

"Congratulations. You could now become the empire's greatest actress."

"What?"

Askin made a clapping motion and sneered for the first time.

"Now, if you just break off the engagement with me, that'll be it."

"..."

"Since you've already found another guy, isn't that so?"

What nonsense is this now? What other guy? How can he say that when I've been running to the Lemut territory every day?

At his ridiculous words, I seriously considered whether I should swallow my pride as a villainess for a moment and just cling to him.

"You seem to not know me well yet. The one I chose is you. You, who are on a different level from those ordinary bastards."

The moment these words left my mouth.

I wanted to hear Askin's answer, but I couldn't.

"Heh heh, so you were here?"

Turning my head towards the sound, there was my grandfather, approaching.

Grandfather, a satisfied smile on his face, looked fondly at me and my fiance.

"Oh dear, was I interrupting? You two make a fine couple, so visit often, Duke of Lemut."

"No, you've come at a good time. Duke of Altsbeit, because I also had something to say to you."

Askin stared at me for a very brief moment, for some reason.

Was I mistaken? For the first time, his gaze seemed to waver very subtly.

It disappeared faster than it appeared, in an instant.

"No, I must say this to you, who arranged this engagement."

A firm voice followed. Cold and icy.

"Since you wouldn't respond in writing, I'll tell you directly."

I felt I knew what he was about to say.

A faint pain shot through my heart. Wait, wait a minute!

"As..."

"I formally request a broken engagement with the Dukedom of Altsbeit."