~Chapter 75~
Armin looked out the window at the setting sun before standing up. It was time for Bella to return home from the garden.
Because he timed it exactly, he locked eyes with Bella as she entered through the main gate.
“Were you waiting for me again today?”
“…I just happened to be here.”
In truth, he had been watching the clock and waiting the whole time. But he thought if he said that, Bella might feel pressured.
“How was your day? Nothing strange happened?”
“Well… actually, an apprentice mage who had drawn a summoning circle came to see me.”
“That bastard—no, that man, why would he come to you?”
“He said he wanted to apologize. And… he said he would give up his apprenticeship and leave the garden.”
“That’s good.”
“…Leaving the garden is good?”
“It means he knows how to take responsibility for his actions. Now that he’s outside, he’ll learn to take care of himself.”
“…Really? I guess you could see it that way.”
Bella nodded with a face that showed she wasn’t entirely convinced.
I shouldn’t tell her that I pressured him out…
Armin always wanted to place anything good he saw directly into Bella’s hands.
But since Bella usually rejected things offered without reason, he knew he needed to prepare the right excuse as well.
One of those things he was preparing was giving Bella a noble title.
The justification: she had slain a monster and saved both the Imperial Palace and the Emperor.
It was a bit forced, but… there were only two royals left, himself included. And he could persuade the Emperor, so it wasn’t an impossible plan.
Truthfully, Armin wanted to give Bella the Rohiltern family’s title.
It was easier to seat her in an existing position than to create a new one.
But Bella, even after learning that the Rohiltern family was still intact, never once brought up wanting the title. It was clear she had no desire to become a countess.
Perhaps that was only natural.
She had suffered too much in the Rohiltern household.
Then yes… if I give her something, it should be something clean, unstained.
“I’ll go change my clothes now.”
“Yes, take your time.”
After Bella left, Armin stood in the hallway, waiting so they could have dinner together. That was when he noticed a maid carrying something.
“What is that?”
“The madam brought this with her.”
The maid answered. Outside of Bella’s hearing, the servants often called her madam.
Armin turned, about to dismiss it as just a report.
This isn’t paper used by the Imperial Palace.
He took the stack of papers and began flipping through it.
Page after page, his brows drew tighter together.
“……”
It was indeed a report. But the contents were nothing more than a collection of his so-called crimes.
Why…?
Where had this even come from? And why had she brought it all the way home?
Could it be… she brought it to show me?
Was she planning to tell him she had learned he was a terrible man, and therefore she wanted to leave?
If Bella says she wants to leave, then I…
He didn’t even notice that he had begun trembling. His breathing grew rough, filling the corridor. His eyes were reddening when—
Click—
“Your Highness?”
The door opened, and Bella peeked out.
Her long hair was damp, sticking to her cheeks. She must have washed while changing clothes.
What was Bella’s mood like earlier when she came home?
With his sharp memory, Armin recalled—she had smiled as she entered. Yes. She hadn’t looked troubled at all.
That meant… the reason she brought these papers probably wasn’t that serious. He needed to ask calmly—yet…
“What is this.”
His voice came out sharp, unable to hide his agitation.
“Ah.”
Bella seemed to recognize the papers immediately. That made his nerves spike even higher.
“Why did you bring this?”
Was it because she wanted to leave him?
If so, what should he do? Should he let her go? But what if he couldn’t bear it?
What do I do…?
“Oh right, I almost forgot.”
Thud.
Bella snatched the papers back and walked into the room.
Armin, startled, rushed in after her.
“?!”
He froze—Bella tossed the papers straight into the fireplace.
“I brought them only to throw away. Someone dumped this trash in my research room.”
But since there was no wastebasket in her private lab…
Grumbling, Bella turned back toward him.
“……”
“Why do you look like that? Was there something strange written in there?”
“You didn’t read it?”
“I glanced at the first few pages, but it was just things I already knew.”
Armin stiffened, wearing an odd expression.
“And it’s not like I’ve stayed with Your Highness all this time without knowing you have a bad temper.”
“……”
“…Hmm, should I pat your head until you calm down?”
Armin almost laughed.
Even if he were given the whole world, he wouldn’t feel happier than in this moment.
“Bella.”
“Yes.”
“Come here.”
He couldn’t even wait—Armin stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.
As her familiar scent and warmth filled him, he realized something.
He never wanted to go back to the time before he knew this feeling.
The words he once told Bella—that if she wished to leave, he would let her go—had now become a lie.
But what of it?
This innocent, fragile prey was brushing his side with her tail, not even knowing what kind of man he was.
Then naturally… he had to think of a way to keep her forever.
Even if it meant blinding her eyes, covering her ears, or breaking her legs.
“Bella.”
“Yes?”
“You forgot to pat my head.”
“……”
Yes. How could he not feel happy like this?
Meanwhile.
The reason Marquis Blansia had given Bella those papers was twofold:
-
To make her fear the Grand Duke.
-
To create conflict between them.
Whether Bella became scared and avoided Armin, or Armin grew angry at Bella, he hoped their bond would collapse.
“…So quiet.”
But there was no noise at all from the Grand Duke’s household.
In fact, Bella showed up at the garden with a perfectly normal face. Their relationship had suffered no harm.
Magic was a study that required not only talent but also intelligence. Marquis Blansia had known Bella wasn’t foolish, but he hadn’t expected her to handle it so wisely without provoking Armin.
It seems this will be more troublesome than I thought.
Finding that the opponent he wanted to destroy was smarter than expected was not a pleasant discovery.
But it didn’t matter.
He was the Chancellor of the Empire. With that kind of power, there were plenty of things he could do—such as digging into someone’s past to uncover weaknesses.
And so, on his desk lay documents about Bella’s background.
As a man who read state reports every day, he quickly skimmed through them.
Adopted by her uncle, raised with abuse… I thought her life wasn’t smooth, but this is quite miserable.
Not that he sympathized with her. He only thought such weaknesses would be useful to exploit.
It was obvious why she had been abused. They wanted to tame her so she wouldn’t try to reclaim what was stolen from her when she grew up.
Come to think of it, the Founding Festival is coming soon.
The Imperial family often hosted events, and some of them traditionally included social banquets. The Founding Festival was one of those.
Normally, a provincial noble would need connections or a stake to attend…
But that much, I can arrange.
He called for his steward.
“Send an invitation.”
“To whom, sir?”
“To the east. The Count of Rohiltern.”
At the same time.
Living just to not die.
The Count of Rohiltern thought no words described his situation better.
Ever since Charlotte was disowned from the family, he had been walking down an endless decline.
Being isolated from eastern society was only natural.
“Sorry, but our club doesn’t think you’re suitable to join us.”
“Should’ve raised your child better, eh?”
Even the Hilton family turned him away. He tried to appeal to Lady Hilton by mentioning his connection to Bella, but it didn’t work.
“I heard everything from my dear friend. You tried to frame her for tax evasion, didn’t you? How could you do such a thing to an innocent young lady? As her father?”
“You’re mistaken, I’m not her father, I’m her uncle—”
“All the more reason you shouldn’t have done it! Weren’t you the one who became count thanks to Bella?”
After that, he sent many letters claiming it was all a misunderstanding, but the Hilton family never replied. They completely ignored him.
Hah, if that wench can succeed in business, then so can I.
Though the Rohilterns weren’t as wealthy as the Hiltons, they weren’t poor either. The Count sold land inherited from past generations to gather funds and start a business.
But the result was a total failure. He had mistakenly thought jewelry trading was as easy as Lady Hilton made it look.
His plan to succeed in business and re-enter eastern society was ruined.
The only thing left is to push into the capital.
