Chapter 7 - 7

"Pardon? Yes, sir? Ah, well, that is..."

When I pointed directly, even though I hadn't said anything, she started trembling.

It seemed like she wanted to say something, wasn't it?

"I'm not trying to pressure you. I was just wondering if you had something to say, so don't mind it."

"...Ah. Well, Countess."

As I spoke calmly, her face showed great surprise, then she spoke with an expression of having mustered courage.

"Before the medicine arrives... would you like to try this first?"

"What is it?"

"It's a hangover remedy. It's a homemade one, but...!"

"Homemade?"

"Yes, yes! My older brother suffers from frequent hangovers, so I made it, and I thought it might help you, j-just in case."

So she made it herself?

I stared blankly at the medicine the maid offered, then opened my mouth.

"Hmm, if this is poison and I collapse, you might die. Are you okay with that?"

"Pardon? I-I'm sorry, Countess! I was being presumptuous! P-poison? That's preposterous!"

"..."

"It's just that... seeing you in pain, Countess, reminded me of my own brother for a moment...! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, please spare my life!"

Ah. Since Charlize had earned so much resentment, I was just testing her...

I felt a little sorry for her unexpected overreaction.

Of course, I didn't completely not expect this kind of reaction when I tested her... but what if it really was poison?

I wanted to check.

"What does your brother do?"

"He is a manager at a trading company that supplies liquor to the Ducal house...! Due to his job, he has to d-drink a lot."

The maid, quick-witted, popped one of the pills into her own mouth in front of me.

She seemed well aware that if she couldn't prove its innocence right now, she might lose her head at a word from Charlize.

It was a desperate act to prove the truth, so there wasn't a moment's hesitation.

'...So this is the extent of Charlize's terror.'

I took the remaining medicine and put it in my mouth.

Oh, this tastes similar to the hangover remedies I had on Earth? How strange.

I asked if it was poison, but my head kept hurting, so I wanted to solve it somehow.

And amazingly, less than a minute after taking it, I felt a bit better.

"Wow, the effect is pretty good. Thank you."

"...Pardon?"

"What's your name?"

Just then, the door opened, and the maid who had gone out returned to announce that the carriage was ready.

The maid who went to get the hangover medicine seemed like she would take longer.

I held the hand of the maid who gave me the medicine and smiled.

"I'll ask your name later. For now, this is a gift."

I took off a bracelet from my wrist and put it on hers.

The maid who received the bracelet, as well as those around her, looked shocked.

Among them, I recognized one with greedy eyes.

Was she the highest-ranking maid?

"Wear it."

I patted the maid sister's shoulder and moved.

"Which way is the carriage?"

"This way, Countess."

Now, shall I go see my fiance's face?

* * *

Askin Lemut. Before arriving at the current residence of my fiance, let me briefly talk about his family...

First, the territory of the Dukedom of Lemut is located at the western end.

However, a few generations ago, the Emperor, commending the achievement of completing the great subjugation of monsters in the west, bestowed a city near the capital as an additional territory.

When the Duke of Lemut came to the capital, he would stay not at his own mansion in the capital, but at his castle in the territory near the capital.

He would probably be there now.

This was also the place I went to.

Due to the location, it didn't take long. About half a day?

"...Ah, ah, no!"

It was good that I boldly arrived at the Lemut Ducal castle, but I hit a snag from the start.

Amazingly, I was blocked from entering at the gate.

'Wow, amazing.'

Actually, I didn't not expect this.

I had already guessed from the fact that although I sent over 30 invitations, they were returned unread.

'That he wouldn't welcome me.'

Moreover, the act of returning them intact.

Someone who knew Charlize would know that her pride would be severely insulted by such an act.

This prideful sister would have definitely been furious.

'Honestly, if it were the real Charlize, would she have raged and even brought soldiers?'

I tried to be polite until the end... I said I was anxiously waiting only for your answer, Mr. Fiance.

Of course, I can't help that the answer didn't come because of this villainess sister's karma.

So I came to find you directly.

"..."

The problem is, I was blocked at the gate.

"Ah, ah, no. Countess..."

I silently stared at the knight blocking the gate.

'A knight refusing entry to someone of Charlize's high rank, and moreover, to his master's fiancee?'

This must have been an order from above, not his own will.

Honestly, since I came uninvited, I had nothing to say, so I just stared blankly...

But for some reason, I just stared...

"G-go, go inside and ask the a-aide!"

I only stared, but the gate opened by itself.

I was flustered but didn't change my expression.

'Great, freebie.'

For now, I decided to take advantage of this windfall.

Actually, I'd prefer to be more polite, but if I'm any more polite, it seems I won't get to meet this man even after a year.

"Your fiance, the Duke of Lemut, has demanded to break off the engagement."

Moreover, according to my maternal grandfather, it's an urgent situation where my fiance is demanding a breakup.

As I entered through the main gate, the Lemut Ducal residence came into view.

'Hmm? The building...'

I was inwardly a little flustered.

While the building was large enough to be grand, it felt very empty overall.

Maybe it was because I had just seen the Altsbeit Ducal residence, the epitome of luxury.

But even if not, the interior was far more modest than a typical noble residence.

'No, I knew he was struggling with debt, but this...'

Charlize's memories related to her fiance were particularly unclear.

So I vaguely thought 'he's a duke, he must live well', but seeing this beyond my expectations, I gulped.

Moreover, the number of servants visible with every step was significantly fewer than at the Altsbeit residence.

Everyone I encountered would not just bow but kneel and tremble.

...It was telling how much Charlize had tyrannized this residence.

'Well, the reason there are no decorative items in this hallway might also be because Charlize broke what little there was.'

I inwardly clicked my tongue.

"C-Countess?"

And then someone greeted me.

It was Robena, the head maid of this residence. A face also in Charlize's memory.

The middle-aged man next to her is Bond, the butler.

"...I greet the noble Countess."

"I came to see the Duke of Lemut."

At my question, Robena and Bond looked momentarily flustered.

Their faces said, 'Why are you calling our master respectfully?'. ...Charlize's pet name for her fiance was 'my dog', how can I say that?

I decided to be shameless.

"I'm sorry, but a visit like this...!"

"I came to see my fiance. What's wrong with that?"

Sorry, for a polite Confucian girl to act rudely to an old grandfather, my insides are crying, but I absolutely must meet my fiance.

Actually, I didn't say it that strongly.

I only tilted my head, but the pupils of Robena and Bond who were looking at me had an earthquake.

No, I only moved my head, why are you trembling like this? ...I'm sorry.

"The Duke has said he will not receive visits from the Countess."

"Is that so. Then ask him once more now."

"Ah, no! I'm sorry, but the Duke's orders are absolute."

I knew that the subordinates of the Duke of Lemut, Askin, were particularly loyal.

In the book, it described only men who would put a knife to their own necks if Lemut told them to die.

Thanks to that, even though pointing a sword at Charlize was like pointing a sword at the Imperial Family or Altsbeit, they helped the female lead kill Charlize.

"Just ask the Duke for me. Isn't that okay?"

When I asked, Robena and Bond, who looked at each other, had another earthquake in their eyes.

Their expressions seemed to say, 'What is it, why is she acting like this?'

Soon, a look of determination, along with suspicion, appeared on Bond's face.

"...I'm sorry, but no. Even if you cut off my fingers, the answer is no."

I stared intently at Bond's face, then plopped down on the floor.

"Then let's do this. I won't get up until you ask the Duke and come back."

"...Pardon?"

"I won't get up."

I looked at each of them once while sitting.

I'm sorry, but I'm going to be difficult just for today. I'm really sorry...

"Just ask for me. That's not difficult, is it?"

"..."

The greatest shock and surprise I'd seen all day crossed Bond's face. Then, for the first time, difficulty appeared on the old butler's face. I could clearly see the question 'Why is she like this?' rising within his fear.

I can't stray too far from Charlize's usual actions, but I can't exactly cut off fingers like the real Charlize would. No, what did she cut? Creepy!

"I'm terribly sorry, but that is not possible...!"

"What is going on?"

I was in the middle of a stubborn episode, and all the servants in this hallway were watching with bewildered and flustered expressions.

A low voice interrupted. It was quite pleasant. Oh, could it be the arrival of my fiance?

'Not him.'

What appeared was a somewhat tall man.