Chapter 40 - 40

Across from me sat Anna and Susan, who had won at rock-paper-scissors.

It seemed like all three would follow, but they said one of the exclusive maids had to guard the residence?

"It's also our duty to inform you of anything that happens at the residence!"

When I asked, this was the answer.

Maybe because I thought of birds earlier, they looked like baby birds trying to look stern, so I stifled a laugh.

Susan, sitting across from me, was holding a large basket.

I glanced at the basket and asked.

"Did you pack everything I told you to?"

"Oh, yes. Countess!"

Susan nodded eagerly.

"I didn't forget a single thing you said."

"Good."

I looked proudly at the pink-tinged basket, then turned my head.

The carriage traveled a familiar road.

The place I arrived was the Lemut territory, which now felt more like home than the Altsbeit residence.

The strange thing was, as soon as I entered the territory, people seemed to crowd around the carriage, but since it was moving, I couldn't be sure.

"Hmm... It seems like there are more people today."

"Susan, you think so too? I felt the same. I wonder if there's an event today."

I wouldn't know.

It seemed I wasn't the only one who felt it; Susan and Anna were also tilting their heads.

Thus, the carriage passed through the village and roads I had helped repair and arrived in front of the castle.

Having visited so often, even the knights guarding the gate felt familiar now.

As I got off the carriage, I could clearly see their usual awkward, stiff expressions.

"I'm here to visit. Where is my fiance?"

"Oh... I greet the Countess! The Duke is..."

"That's enough."

Probably a refusal again today.

Sure enough, even without me asking further, the answer came that entry was impossible.

Well, I fully expected that, but I was still a little disappointed.

No, I thought his heart had softened a bit.

Am I still banned from entry? How long do I have to endure this?

I grumbled inwardly and slightly frowned.

But the strange thing was that the knight guarding the gate seemed restless, as if he had something to say to me.

I knew the knights here feared or avoided me.

That was a negative emotion based on hatred, disgust, and anger.

But the reaction now seemed a bit ambiguous to be solely based on that.

"I will inform the Duke."

"Hmm?"

I widened my eyes slightly.

"...Although the Duke has forbidden entry into the castle, he also said to inform him when the Countess arrives."

The knight bowed his head, then paused for a moment.

Then he approached me and bowed deeply.

"Thank you."

For what? I felt bewildered.

"...Among the residents who received help from the workers the Countess called, is my younger brother. Th-thanks to that, our house was restored quickly, and my sickly child could get through without catching a cold."

The knight spoke quickly, as if rapping, then raised his head, nodded once more, and turned away.

So, I couldn't see his expression.

"Wow, that person seems to know how to be grateful, Countess."

While I paused, Susan answered for me.

"Well, it's natural to express gratitude. The Countess helped them!"

"That's right, I only heard about it from Susan, but you did a really good thing."

Listening to the two maids, who no longer held prejudices against Charlize, I felt strange.

Hmm, I thought changing a reputation would be very difficult...

'Is it okay to see this as a possibility?'

Feeling good for no reason, I was enjoying the gentle breeze when I saw a man approaching in the distance.

He was so tall and large that I couldn't fail to recognize him.

It was my fiance.

He arrived in front of me.

I had a slight hope, but unfortunately, his expression was the same as before.

Half 'what's your scheme', half 'annoying'.

Seeing his expression full of wariness, I almost laughed.

"You've come again."

"Yeah, I've come again."

But maybe because of the knight's greeting or some slight change.

It didn't feel that bad.

"You were so polite in your letter. Can't you show even half of that now?"

I lightly pressed the letter I was holding to my lips.

Askin seemed surprised to see the letter in my hand, then frowned.

It was a flustered expression.
br "Why... did you bring that?"

"It's a love letter you gave me, so I should keep it close."

"A love letter? What nonsense...! Throw it away. Now."

"I don't want to."

Askin instinctively reached out, and I pulled my hand back.

He glared at me for a moment, then stepped back.

His cool scent approached and then receded.

I felt a little regret. I wish he'd get a little more worked up.

"How is a letter exchanged between an engaged couple not a love letter? I'm going to think of it that way."

"...Think what you want. Don't drag me into your delusions."

Hmm? I paused involuntarily.

What did he just call me?

'Wow, just changing the pronoun makes the feeling so different.'

The change from 'you' to 'you' felt subtly strange.

I don't know if that man is even aware of it or doesn't care.

...If I seduce him a bit more, could I get an even better result?

I subtly pointed towards the castle.

"Can I go in?"

"No."

Oh well, it was good while it lasted.

I looked my fiance up and down with a 'I knew it' expression.

'My, even today, his beauty is sparkling.'

He's going to attend the banquet with me wearing matching outfits, isn't he?

Hmm, I felt a sense of duty to definitely thwart the tyrant brother's schemes. No, it grew stronger.

"Aria's health is not good. No outside visitors are allowed."

For some reason, my fiance added an extra phrase, unlike usual.

The reason was understandable.

'Aria's health is still poor...'

"Is she very sick?"

"...Not critical."

Askin stared at me intently, then frowned.

"What did you tell my sister?"

"Huh?"

I asked back, not understanding, but Askin didn't elaborate.

Seeing his extremely resolute expression, I decided to back off myself.

"Well, this letter seems to be written by you, not a ghostwriter. So I'll step back."

"...That's a helpful thing to say, for once. Ghostwriter? What do you mean?"

"Ah, the letter came so suddenly, I thought you might have been kidnapped and forced to write it."

I waved the letter lightly.

And then smiled slyly, narrowing my eyes.

"Next time you get kidnapped, wave a carrot."

I joked, 'If you draw a carrot on the letter, sister will come running, okay?' But this man didn't even respond.

Oh well.

It felt like the 0.1% of inner intimacy I had unknowingly built up through the letter had just evaporated.

I pouted, then straightened up and turned my head.

I looked at Susan and gestured.

"Anyway, I'll step back now. Here, take this."

"I don't need it."

"That's for Aria, not you."

At my gesture, Susan grunted and held out the basket.

Askin didn't take it, so I told her to put it on the ground.

"Aria seemed to like sweets, so I filled it with my favorite, only the finest. Throw it away or whatever. Do as you please."

Then, as if I had said what I needed to, I turned away without regret.

Good. I was worried the letter might be fake. But that doesn't seem to be the case.

My objective was achieved.

'It's a shame I couldn't see Aria, though.'

As if I just remembered, I turned around slightly.

"Oh, I don't care if you throw it away, but I'll ask Aria later if she enjoyed eating it, okay?"

I met eyes with the handsome face that had been staring at me with a strange expression, then turned back sharply.

'Hehe, times like this, I have to leave without looking back.'

That's the only way he'll be even a little curious about me.

* * *

When I first returned to the Altsbeit residence from the Lemut residence, it became chaotic not long after.

Specifically, there was a group of guests who came to see me.

"Who's here?"

"Well... the Baron Cleria's daughter, and..."

My mood soured as soon as I heard the names.

'Isn't that the Tyran Club? The Capital's tyrants.'

It meant that the ones called the 'Ty Gath' for short had come to see me once again.

Didn't I clearly chase them away, even pouring wine on them, the last time I saw them?

I didn't naively think they wouldn't come back, but.

'I thought they'd take longer to come back, though?'

Anyway, I had no intention of meeting that Tyrant Club.

Of course not. I'd already marked the last meeting as the first and last.

They were people who wouldn't be helpful to meet.

"Tell them I'm busy. Very busy."

"Yes, Countess."

Susan bowed politely and left, but.

Not long after, she came back with a pale face.