CHAPTER~15
“Yes?”
I didn’t know how I was supposed to take it when he asked me to find him a remarriage partner and even listed specific conditions.
…Well, that aside, remarriage?
I mean, it’s been five years since we divorced, so I suppose staying single that long must’ve been difficult.
Besides, the Decart family values harmony between husband and wife more than anything.
They must’ve already been displeased that Frezen Decart hadn’t taken a new wife for several years.
“Unfortunately, our merchant guild does not handle requests related to personal matters, Your Grace.”
I was a little curious what his circumstances were, but it was better to cut things off before I got dragged in.
Frezen had sharp eyes.
He could easily discover my identity.
“Is that so? What a pity.”
I refused him with my most polite business smile, and his expression shifted subtly.
“But money changes things, doesn’t it?”
With those words, Frezen took something from his inner pocket and slid it across the table.
“What is this?”
What he handed me was a document bearing the seal of the Decart family.
More precisely, it was a contract granting access to the family vault.
There was no amount written below, and while I froze for only a moment, I quickly realized what it meant.
“Write down whatever amount you want.
I don’t care if you act greedy.
It’s a transaction, after all.”
“What? But…”
“Then let me give you an advance payment first.
How about 500 million gold?”
Five hundred million gold—my eyes widened at a sum I had never even heard before.
Of course, compared to the wealth and honor accumulated by the Decart family, it was probably nothing more than dust under their fingernails.
But for a declining, humble household like mine, it was the kind of money I could never earn even if I worked manual labor for a hundred years.
It made me realize just how bitterly the weight of wealth tilts the world.
With 500 million gold, I could repair the parts of the estate long overdue for maintenance, and even decorate Mela’s room more nicely.
The room she used now belonged to my older brother, Russ Leella, so it was dark and gloomy.
It had been bothering me for a long time—was this the opportunity falling into my lap?
“Get it together, Evlyen.
You’re dealing with Frezen Decart!”
But in my greed for that golden goose, I had overlooked one thing.
Frezen was not someone who handed out money for free.
And the amount was far too large for a simple request to find a remarriage partner.
“I appreciate the offer, but I must decline it.
Right now, I want to focus on securing Andra fruits.
As you can see, we’re a small guild and short on manpower.”
“…”
Convinced that he had an ulterior motive, I adamantly refused and stood up.
Better to end this transaction quickly before he got anything out of me.
“Then how about this.”
Just as I reached the desk, Frezen’s next words froze me in place.
“It’s not a request but a favor, Count Evlyen Leella.”
Frezen already knew my identity.
* * *
“…”
No wonder I’d been feeling that strange sense of wrongness.
The realization that he had been testing me the whole time irritated me.
I tried to brush it off with exaggerated nonchalance and attempted to smooth over the situation.
“Haha… I’m not sure what you mean, Your Grace.
Of course I know Count Leella well.”
“Well, if you keep pretending ignorance, then I can’t help it.
Let’s discuss the contract another time.”
“Wait! W-wait a moment, Your Grace.
You can’t just leave like that.
Haha…”
I hurriedly grabbed Frezen’s arm as he tried to leave.
“I don’t do business with someone who hides their face.
Feels a bit one-sided, don’t you think?”
That damn Frezen—he was obviously trying to force my mask off.
We’d been talking just fine earlier, which only made my blood boil.
And since he already came convinced of who I was, no amount of excuses could change anything now.
It would only waste time.
So I had no choice but to retreat and take off my mask.
“…”
Frezen’s red eyes wavered faintly.
“…Since when did you know?
That I’m the master of the Karencia Merchant Guild.”
I asked calmly, brushing my hair back, though sweat was gathering on my forehead.
“Hmm… well… let’s sit down and talk first, Evlyen.”
Strangely, the man who had been so confident moments ago now looked flustered.
He even avoided my gaze.
I had no idea how to respond—had I done something wrong?
“…”
His ears were bright red.
Well, I guess even he didn’t expect me to reveal myself so easily.
“Fine.”
I sat back on the sofa.
Oddly enough, revealing my identity felt relieving.
At least I didn’t have to live in constant fear of being found out.
“For the record, I didn’t know from the beginning that you were the guild master.”
“You must have a very talented pigeon that carries information.”
“My bloodline is a bit too noticeable.”
Frezen didn’t deny it—he simply nodded.
It was a reminder of how frighteningly efficient the Decart family’s intelligence network was.
Not that it surprised me.
“So you came in person instead of sending a representative because you already knew?”
“Correct.
I needed a pretext.
A reasonable excuse to come see you.”
“…”
He spoke without a hint of mischief, and that somehow made me avert my eyes with a grumble.
“Then what was all that about remarriage?
Mentioning a five-year-old child and everything—were you just testing me?”
I wasn’t the most perceptive person, but I’d known Frezen long enough to understand his intentions.
The moment I asked, he nodded again.
“Partly that, but I was also genuinely considering it.
The elders of the Decart family are… excessively persistent, as you know.”
“…Yes. I know very well.”
“So I need your help, Evlyen.
A lot of it.”
“Help? Don’t tell me—no.
No, absolutely not.”
“I didn’t even say anything yet.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
I immediately stood up, my entire body radiating refusal.
Right as I tried to firmly reject him, Frezen spoke.
“You need Andra fruits for something, don’t you?
And I need a partner.”
“…Meaning?”
“I’ll entrust Karencia Merchant Guild with exclusive distribution rights to everything involving Andra fruits.
In exchange—”
I swallowed nervously, already knowing what he would say.
My terrible premonition was, as always, correct.
“Become my remarriage partner, Evlyen.”
* * *
It was utterly absurd.
Of all people, being asked to remarry by Frezen?
Even after time passed and everything settled, it still didn’t feel real.
Hubert, who had heard the whole story, asked:
“So… did you accept the offer, my Lady?”
“Of course not.”
“…You said you’d think about it.”
The truth was, the amount was too great to refuse outright.
Money really is the best way to make people pathetic.
Even the strongest resolve wavers in front of wealth.
And who wouldn’t be swayed by full rights over Andra fruits?
I pouted at Hubert.
“It sounds shameful, but you would’ve done the same.
You’re the quickest to cave when money’s involved, Housekeeper.”
“Hoho.
My Lady, please don’t sell my dignity so cheaply.
I know how to keep things… substantial.”
I wasn’t sure “substantial” was the right word to describe someone’s backside, but I let it go.
I kept thinking about it.
Honestly, I regretted not cutting things off immediately.
That way I wouldn’t be agonizing now.
“Ugh.
Seriously—why is he doing this to me?”
My brain felt like it was on fire.
That was when Hubert spoke.
“Surely His Grace didn’t say it without reason.
Could it be that he considers young Lady Mela as his—”
“Are you insane, Hubert?!”
I quickly covered his mouth, terrified someone might overhear.
Hubert struggled.
“Mmmph! My Lady, how are you this strong?
I just meant… doesn’t young Lady Mela resemble him?”
Well, yes.
Unfortunately so.
From hair color to eye color—Mela looked too much like me.
Which was exactly why all this trouble started.
“Ugh, as if things weren’t complicated enough…
Anyway, there’s no way I’m going to the north with Mela—”
Just then, the wooden door creaked open, and a tiny pair of feet appeared.
Mela clung to the doorframe, her eyes welling with tears.
“Aunt Evlyen… sniff…
Did something happen because of Mela?”
