Chapter 8 - 8

He had a decent appearance, but he wasn't my fiance.

Because that person has silver hair.

'Ah, is that person my fiance's aide?'

I think his name was Ben. Strangely, my fiance's face is vague, but the moment I saw this man, I instantly remembered him.

The same goes for the tyrant brother. Is it that I need to see a face to clearly remember?

"...I greet the noble Countess."

He looked at me sitting down and Bond, then had an expression as if he half-understood the situation.

After hearing the full explanation from Bond, Aide Ben slightly frowned his stoic face.

"I'm sorry, but the Duke is currently out, so he is not here."

"That's inconvenient."

I tilted my head while still sitting.

Then I smiled, my eyes curving.

"I must see the Duke today."

"...Pardon?"

Though brief, Ben looked flustered.

Seeing his slightly heated eyes, I almost whistled inwardly.

No matter how much he emanated dislike for me, Charlize had the beauty to momentarily enchant even such a man.

"I'll wait here."

"...What is your scheme this time, no, what business do you have?"

"I'm not going to do anything..."

"I cannot allow a guest in the Duke's residence when the Duke himself is absent. I'm truly sorry, but please come back another time. I will definitely convey today's visit to the Duke."

Ben spoke with a hardened expression.

It seemed he was annoyed that he had been flustered.

Looking down at me, he added one more thing.

"I dare say this risking my life. If you stay any longer, the Duke will hate you even more."

I flinched. Actually, Ben had said similar things to Charlize several times, and Charlize would find it amusing and brush it off, but I was different.

'...I can't let him hate me more here. Hmm. No.'

I can't lower my favorability even before I meet him.

I slowly stood up.

"Alright, I see. So you're saying I can't wait inside when the Duke isn't here?"

"That is correct."

"Good. Then I'll wait outside."

"Yes, I underst... Pardon?"

Ben opened his mouth slightly. He's a decent-looking guy, so his blank face isn't bad.

"Surely there wasn't an order that I can't wait outside either?"

"No, not that, but..."

Ben looked perplexed.

His expression seemed to say, 'You're really going to wait outside? That's nonsense.'

You're right, the real Charlize wouldn't do it, but I'm a bit desperate.

I have to stop the broken engagement.

"Then tell the Duke I'm waiting outside when he comes?"

I brushed off my dress without hesitation.

As I nonchalantly dusted off my dress, even the servants who had prostrated themselves and risen were now staring at me with blank faces.

"Thanks for the explanation. And sorry for causing a scene. Lastly... don't go throwing your life around like that. It's too late to regret it if you actually die."

I walked among the stunned people.

Actually, I couldn't tell anyone, but.

'Ah, hangover...'

My head was throbbing slightly from the hangover that wasn't completely cured by the medicine.

No, the violent drunkard tyrant became an alcoholic lightweight! Give me my tolerance back!

* * *

"...That woman came to my residence?"

The Duke of Lemut, Askin, had been very busy since that morning.

Because there was much to review and handle outside.

He had left at a time closer to dawn than morning, and when he returned, Askin received unwelcome news.

"Ahem, yes... She is currently inside the residence."

"Huh? Where?"

Ben, who was reporting, scratched his cheek.

Even the cold Askin was curious at his aide's dramatic expression change, who was usually stoic and rarely flustered.

"...She is in the garden. She said she would wait outside."

"...That woman said she would wait for me outside?"

The business he went out for today was unofficial, so he had left secretly.

Therefore, the route Askin returned through was also a back gate, and Charlize, waiting in the garden, couldn't see him returning.

Of course, Askin also couldn't see Charlize in the front garden of the residence.

"What is she scheming this time?"

"I'm not sure either, Your Excellency..."

Askin slightly furrowed his beautiful brow.

Charlize, that woman, waiting for him outside? That was nonsense.

"Forget it. She's probably just acting on a whim with some scheme."

That woman, claiming she didn't like her skin burning, wouldn't even walk more than three steps, always accompanied by a servant holding a parasol and a knight to carry her.

It was even famous that she had black curtains in her reception room because she disliked sunlight.

Would a woman who wouldn't even walk on her own two feet wait outside in this weather to see him?

"She'll probably just have some poor maid waiting in her place and insist it's the same as her waiting."

"W-well, that is... Your Excellency."

"What is it?"

Ben answered with a troubled expression.

"She is still sitting in the garden herself..."

"What?"

Ben pointed to a window, saying she'd be visible from there.

Askin's office was on the third floor. Askin strode to the window.

Huh? It was true.

Below, in the garden scenery stretching out refreshingly, Askin found Charlize without difficulty.

That was only natural, as she was the only one with pink hair amidst the green scenery.

Her lavish dress was like a flower blooming among the bushes.

It was definitely her.

Because no one could imitate the hair color considered sacred in this country.

"...What could be her scheme?"

Askin looked at his hated fiancee and soon reached a conclusion.

'She intends to ruin the entire garden.'

Judging by Charlize's past atrocities, everything she touched was ruined.

Whether people or objects. It was just that Askin himself was too strong...

"Aria?"

"She is in her room."

"Then that's fine."
br Askin turned away coldly.

"Whatever she does, just leave her be."

In truth, the garden of the residence was a beloved space of his only sister, but it couldn't be helped.

The moment that villainess's hand touched it, it would surely be ruined in some way.

It was regrettable, but he had to count himself lucky that what was being ruined was not his precious sister.

His only concern was that Aria's building was close to the garden, but given Charlize's character, she would never enter a shabby building.

She believed that seeing shabby things made her own eyes shabby.

Askin gritted his teeth secretly. Anyway, he just had to endure a little longer.

Because the end was near.

"Um, Your Excellency..."

"What is it?"
br "W-well, that woman. Today, she was a bit strange..."

"What about it? Was there ever a time she wasn't strange?"

"..."

Ben looked somewhat troubled. While his master's words were true, recalling her particularly strange, no, different behavior today made Ben feel a very slight, subtle shift in his mood.

"Is it important?"

"...No."

But as his master said, it wasn't important.

"By the way, Your Excellency... The Countess has been waiting for you outside for 3 hours now."

At those words, Askin paused for the first time. But only for a moment, he turned away with a cold expression.

"And, well, she's sitting on a bench and not moving. Should I just leave her be?"

"..."

"Yes, I'll leave her be."

Askin stepped away from the window.

"...You can't give away a dog's bad habits. She must have studied a new way to cause havoc during her trip."

Then he sat down at his desk.

At the same time, Charlize, who was secretly being watched with subtle expressions by the people of the Lemut Ducal residence from different floors...

Tired of waiting, had fallen fast asleep sitting down.

* * *

'Ugh, my stomach hurts... My head hurts...'

Unable to bear the pain, I slightly opened my eyes.

Then I was surprised to see the weather starting to get dark.

'Oh my god, how much time has passed?'

I tried to jump up, but ended up yelling 'Ouch' and lying back down.

I thought I had dozed off sitting up, but somehow I was comfortably lying down on the bench.

I didn't expect to end up like this, but the fluffy shawl made for a very good blanket.

But it wasn't exactly comfortable, so my neck was stiff, my back ached, and my stomach throbbed.

'Oh dear, what is all this...'

I was having a moment of self-reflection.

When you open your eyes in another world, usually your back is warm, your belly is full, huh? Isn't it supposed to be full of happy things? That's how it was in the books I read, so why is it like this for me?

'And yeah, the family is good, but isn't the given goal too hard?'

The journey to reclaim my money is truly arduous. No, it's just the beginning, isn't it?

I didn't think it would be easy.

Let's think of the path to becoming a wealthy unemployed person as long and rough.

"Ugh..."

I barely managed to raise my body and lean back. I patted my chest.

My stomach felt tight. Ugh, damn hangover... I feel like throwing up...

I don't know why my stomach is suddenly churning.