Chapter 3
“If you have nothing more to say, would you kindly go on your way?”
In other words: If you’re done, just leave already!
Calliope gave him a pointed look, but it was useless. Lerazier, who lightly ignored her cue, replied nonchalantly.
“Still, how strange. You’re even speaking formally to me now.”
Calliope clenched her teeth inwardly but didn’t let her smile falter.
It was her long-awaited graduation day. She could tolerate at least one bout of Lerazier’s nonsense.
“Until now, we were fellow students at the academy, but now that I’ve graduated, things are different. As a noble of the Empire, I’m merely showing the proper respect to His Highness the Prince.”
She placed extra emphasis on the words she didn’t like — especially His Highness — making it clear:
I want to curse you out, but I’m holding back because of your ridiculously privileged status, so quit provoking me.
“No need to suddenly act all respectful. Just treat me like you used to.”
“I value my life too much for that.”
“You think I’d harm a promising talent of the Empire over something like that? You’ve got me all wrong.”
Yeah, right.
Calliope snorted internally.
He’s practically handed me the stage. Should I give him a good burn?
She quickly scanned her surroundings.
As expected, the crowd of graduates who’d been nearby had all discreetly distanced themselves.
Watching a fight is fun — but no one wants to get caught in the crossfire.
When will I ever get a chance like this again? Maybe never.
The man in front of her was, status-wise, untouchable. If there was ever a moment to strike, it was now.
Calliope arranged her features into a calm, composed expression.
“If His Highness insists that much…”
She had long mastered the art of poker-facing. Smiling while delivering a verbal slap was her trademark.
“As commanded, I’ll drop the formalities for a moment.”
Calliope reached out and grabbed Lerazier’s hand. Caught off guard, he found himself shaking her hand in confusion.
She seized the opportunity, leaned in close, and whispered into his ear — while discreetly stepping on his foot with her heel.
“It’s been disgusting knowing you. Let’s never see each other again.”
You bastard.
Let’s pause here for a quiz.
Q: How does it feel when a smooth-sailing life suddenly hits an unexpected reef?
A: Pretty damn awful.
And Calliope wasn’t the type to quietly accept an obstacle in her path.
She had three usual ways of dealing with obstacles:
Destroy them, move them out of the way, or — rarely — go around them.
This time, she’d successfully removed one.
And she’d done it with flair — a clean, satisfying blow.
Nothing beats blowing up a roadblock.
Inside the swaying carriage, Calliope let out a soft laugh.
Recalling the dazed look on the man’s face, she giggled and leaned back against the seat.
“I should’ve taken a picture of that face to admire later.”
Ah, so satisfying. It felt like a long-standing weight had finally lifted.
Now, just one thing remained.
To become the Margrave of the Verdhi Territory.
Her eyes sparkled with life as the goal came clearly into view.
She had a reason — a deep, undeniable reason — why she had to become the head of the Verdhi family.
Maybe today Grandfather will bring up the matter of succession.
Given her grandfather Archibald Verdhi’s personality, it was highly likely that he’d already made all the preparations by now.
Calliope worked to suppress her growing excitement.
Returning triumphantly to the estate, Calliope was greeted by rows of lined-up servants.
“Welcome home, young Countess.”
Harold, the elderly butler of House Verdhi, welcomed her with a bow.
“It’s been a while, Harold. Has everyone been well?”
“Yes. Thanks to your concern, everyone is doing fine.”
“Oh please, I didn’t do anything. By the way, where’s Sylvia?”
“My lady…!”
One of the servants among the group raised her hand, eyes shimmering with tears.
When Calliope opened her arms, Sylvia rushed forward and threw herself into her embrace.
“Congratulations on your graduation!”
“Thank you, thank you.”
After a brief but heartfelt reunion with the staff, Calliope headed straight to the head of the household’s office.
She knew her grandfather Archibald Verdhi would be waiting for her.
As she passed through the main hall, climbed the stairs, and crossed the corridor, her steps grew faster.
The anticipation of finally reaching her goal made it nearly impossible to stay calm.
Soon, she arrived at her grandfather’s office.
Now I’ll greet Grandfather, report all I’ve achieved…
He probably already knew everything, but saying it herself would still be immensely satisfying.
With a smile on her face, she opened the door and walked in — then froze in place.
What she saw stopped her in her tracks.
Why are all the extended family members gathered here?
But what came next was even more shocking.
“For Calliope Verdhi to inherit the countship, she must marry a suitable partner within a year.”
“…”
The room fell deathly silent.
“If she fails to do so, the title will be passed to Gilbert Roman.”
A wave of shock swept the room.
Some were stunned by an unexpected stroke of luck, others dumbfounded by a sudden misfortune.
Then, Gilbert stood up abruptly and shouted,
“Oh! My heavens! What is this miracle! Thank you, Father! Thank you so much!”
Calliope stared at her uncle, who was overwhelmed with joy, with a look of disbelief.
Then, calmly but firmly, she asked:
“What kind of nonsense is this?”
At that moment, she still hadn’t fully processed the situation.
Yet her voice, as she questioned her grandfather Archibald, was quieter than usual.
“Uncle left this family more than twenty years ago after inheriting our grandmother’s Baron Roman title.
So why would he be eligible for the countship now? On what grounds?”
“Technically, Gilbert is still my son. That alone gives him qualification.”
Archibald replied with a calm face.
And that was it — Calliope’s fragile patience snapped.
What a sick joke.
“There are only two people in this family who bear the Verdhi name — myself and you, the Count.”
Whenever she addressed Archibald as Count rather than Grandfather, it meant she was truly furious.
She had always believed she would become the Count of Verdhi and had worked tirelessly to earn it.
And now you’re saying it’ll all go to Uncle overnight?
Her hands trembled with anger. There was no way Archibald had forgotten the things her uncle had done.
And yet, it was Archibald, the one who had personally raised and trained her as the successor, who was now throwing this absurdity in her face?
“Have you lost your mind?”
Surely, he must’ve gone senile.
Otherwise, why would he drop this kind of bomb on her graduation day?
“Calliope, aren’t you being too harsh? Your grandfather raised you, and this is how you repay him?”
Gilbert tried to stir the pot with a fake moral lecture, but Calliope didn’t even spare him a glance.
Her focus was solely on Archibald.
“My decision is final, Calliope. Whatever path you choose is yours alone. I won’t interfere.”
To her astonishment, he was dead serious.
Having served him for so long, Calliope could tell — Archibald Verdhi meant every word.
She clenched her fists tightly.
Disappointment, betrayal, anger, frustration — all mixed and churned in her gut.
“I don’t care what your reasoning is. I can’t accept this.”
“I’ve warned you many times, Calliope.
A lone wolf cannot lead House Verdhi.”
It was like a final warning — the closing argument.
Calliope’s eyes narrowed, suddenly understanding something.
So that’s the reason?
Archibald, who always emphasized family, had long wished for his granddaughter to build a stable home.
Having lost her parents at a young age, he believed that more than anything, Calliope needed a family of her own.
The problem? Calliope had zero intention of getting married.
She respected her grandfather deeply — but marriage was a separate issue.
That’s why she’d refused every engagement, constantly ignoring his wishes.
But to give my uncle a chance at succession? That crosses the line.
Calliope instinctively realized — her grandfather had something else in mind.
