~Chapter 13~
I forced myself to hide my reluctance.
“Did you say… you want me to become a villainess?”
“Yes.”
“May I know the specific reason?”
Well… I could guess why, but if possible, I’d rather avoid it.
Being evil just didn’t sit right with me.
“The rumor of being ruthless spreads better than being weak or kind. It’ll reduce unnecessary trouble.”
“So… you want me to appear formidable?”
“Yes. That’s perfect for avoiding bothersome matters.”
“Hmm…”
“I’m not saying you should go around committing misdeeds. Just… act decisively.”
“Just by acting decisively, I can become a villainess?”
The young marquis shrugged slightly and explained:
“People tend to label women who are assertive and unwavering as villainesses.”
“So… what you mean is that I should stand firm no matter what while carrying out my duties?”
“Exactly. Even if a family of count rank or higher approaches, you must stand your ground. You’re my lover and fiancée, after all.”
That was something I could accept.
He wasn’t asking me to commit evil, just to use the status of his house to defend my position among higher-ranking people.
“Understood.”
“Good. Next, we should arrange your public appearances.”
That would have to fit his schedule.
“I have no other duties beyond the knightly order. If unavoidable matters arise, I’ll inform you.”
“You’re very loyal.”
He smiled, seemingly satisfied.
“In that case, the salon at Count Blueua’s house in a week would be ideal. The lady of the house is well-connected, so many noble young ladies will attend.”
“I see. I’ll prepare accordingly.”
“I’ll handle miscellaneous arrangements on my side. That way, the rumors will spread more effectively.”
A salon… In the game, it was only after the debutante ball three years later that I could even attend.
Mabel hasn’t debuted yet, so seeing my little angel there might be impossible… though she might still be happy just to hear about it. Perhaps I could briefly meet her.
Once I agreed, the young marquis handed me a piece of paper with the address.
“Have your outfit made there. Time is tight, so use ready-made clothes this time. Next time, custom outfits.”
“May I also have my sister’s clothes made?”
“Of course. Don’t worry about the cost. I’ll cover it.”
Unexpected bonus. Awesome—money saved.
Seeing my bright reaction, he chuckled.
“You do like shopping for clothes, don’t you?”
“Yes… I do, actually.”
Being able to dress my little one in pretty clothes without spending a dime? Perfect.
“If you do your duties well, even better opportunities will come.”
“Leave it to me!”
For the first time, I smiled brightly. My patron was the best.
“Not bad.”
Pierre smiled clearly as he recalled the woman who had just left his room: Sonnet Eduque.
Eldest daughter of the Eduque count house, and a peculiar woman who came here aspiring to be a knight.
“She doesn’t seem to intend to cross any boundaries…”
She seemed to prioritize her life as a knight over being a count’s daughter. Although she liked clothes and jewelry, that could be considered a personal hobby.
The candidate had been chosen hastily but was far from bad. Whether she would remain unchanged remained to be seen—but for now, she met the mark.
“Perhaps she truly came to be a knight without selfish motives.”
Pierre shook his head at the thought.
“No, that can’t be. Her loyalty, whether from respect or love, must have some foundation.”
If she were a commoner, money might have motivated her. But for a noble, that rarely happened.
‘Her younger sibling continues cultural education, so she hasn’t completely abandoned her noble status. This must be a personal deviation.’
In truth, Sonnet was working for the duke’s household for her sibling’s sake—but the young marquis didn’t know that.
Noble knights pursued honor above all. He couldn’t imagine a noble who gave up status just for money. His conclusion was reasonable from his perspective.
“Respect over love, then.”
If it were love, emotional compensation would be required. She didn’t act out of love.
Factually, she had no personal motives, though he didn’t know.
“Clearly, she has some regard for me in any case.”
Yet, Sonnet remained unaware. Her motivation was purely monetary. If she had known the full story, she might have withdrawn. Regardless, he was confident.
“The question is whether she will overstep boundaries in the name of emotion.”
Sonnet Eduque’s loyalty to Pierre Edenrosa was unwavering, even to the point of risking her reputation. Once confident of that, the key was ensuring she didn’t cross the line.
After the meeting with the marquis, I immediately sought out Ben.
“Vice-Captain! I need about a week off! It’s for a mission!”
“Hmm? Ah, I’ve heard. You’ve worked hard.”
He seemed aware of the matter. Some trusted individuals had already been informed.
“If any issues arise, let me know. I can handle most matters regarding the knights.”
Ben laughed lightly and stamped my leave request. Officially, I now had one week plus a day of leave. I immediately returned home.
“Mabel! Let’s get your clothes measured!”
“Unnie? You’re already home?”
“Yes. My week-long leave starts now.”
Mabel’s face brightened upon hearing the news.
“Really? So we’ll be together the whole time?”
“Except for two days. There are preparations I need to make.”
“Two days? Why?”
“I’m going to a salon with the young marquis of Edenrosa.”
Mabel’s expression instantly darkened.
“You were the one in that rumor?”
“Rumor?”
“The one about the girl who toppled the princess and defeated the young marquis!”
Oh my…
“Toppled him? Mabel, where did you even hear that—”
“That’s not the point! Is it true?”
Looking at her pleadingly, I couldn’t help but smile at her angelic face. I refocused.
“Yes. It’s true.”
I didn’t want to lie to Mabel, but the young marquis had asked me to keep it secret.
“I’m the marquis’s lover now.”
“What?!”
“We’re even engaged soon. We fell head over heels in just a few days.”
Mabel groaned, somewhere between disbelief and admiration.
“If the butler finds out, he’ll faint…”
“So it’ll stay a secret for now. I’ll reveal it in a week.”
“In a week? At the salon?”
“Yes. At Count Blueua’s salon. If the timing works out, maybe you can even meet me there.”
Mabel’s eyes lit up at the mention of Count Blueua.
“Oh! Our social club members will be presenting their works at the salon! Mine was selected! If you want, you can watch the presentation near the lady or guardian!”
Ah. In the game, Sonnet couldn’t even leave the house before her debutante event. If she had gone to the salon briefly, it would have been summarized as “Social club activity completed.”
“I want to introduce you to my friends and seniors! They’ll all like you!”
“Sure. I’m curious to meet Mabel’s friends too.”
Whether her friends would take kindly to me remained unknown—but I had secured a good match, so perhaps they’d just envy me a little.
“To do that, we need pretty outfits. Shall we go get them measured now?”
“Let’s go!”
We headed to the dress shop together.
A few hours later…
“So, you’re the one? Hmm…”
And so, by speaking it aloud, Mabel finally met my senior.
