Chapter 15: Isn’t This Just a Matter of Returning the Money?
It felt strange. No one had told me who that person was, and even though I had never met him before, I somehow knew.
The person walking toward me was unmistakably Marquis Liberto—the man my so-called parents were trying to marry me off to.
“Marquis Liberto.”
“Huh? Isabella?”
Without realizing it, I had said his name. From the very beginning, he seemed to recognize me, albeit slowly, but he was clearly coming straight toward me.
“Isabella, you don’t look well.”
Shasha, looking concerned, got up and hurriedly brushed my cheek.
“Your face is really cold too.”
“Shasha… if something happens to us… what should we do?”
“The pigeons!”
“Yes, they’re pretty.”
The fact that Marquis Liberto had personally come implied that he might drag me off with him.
It was entirely possible that the Countess might hand me over right then and there. The thought sent a chill down my spine—it would at least satisfy the Countess’s wishes.
“If something happens to me…”
“Don’t worry! Pigeons are smart; they’ll come right away!”
For some reason… I imagined the pigeons marching in formation, holding little swords and dancing. My tension melted at the thought of Shasha’s pigeon knight squad.
Marching diligently, flapping in sync…
“Wait—is it even possible to train pigeons? I should check that sometime.”
The image kept replaying in my mind, and I couldn’t help but smile slightly.
“Thanks, Shasha.”
“Yay! I’m so happy that you said that, Isabella! I feel so energized!”
“I feel stronger too with you here, Shasha. But… the pigeons are already…”
“Huh?”
“Ah, never mind!”
Shasha abruptly clamped her mouth shut. I had the feeling I should ask more, but there was no time to talk—it felt like the situation was escalating quickly.
The Marquis was steadily approaching me. My palms were growing clammy. I tried to act casual, but I was tense.
Still, I felt some relief knowing I had to protect Shasha, which calmed my nerves a little.
Meanwhile, the man who had been some distance away now closed in on us.
“I was told my future wife is here.”
I lifted my head and looked at him properly.
He looked like he could collapse at any moment if not for the golden cane supporting him.
And yet, his gaze swept over me in a way that made my skin crawl. I could see the movement of his eyes more clearly as he looked at me sitting there.
He said nothing, waiting for my response, only smirking slightly.
I, too, remained silent, staring at him. I didn’t even want to speak.
“Creepy.”
Goosebumps ran over my entire body. Maybe from eating too much chicken in my past life, my skin had turned into literal chicken skin.
I had never truly understood the instinct to be wary of someone until now. The voice inside me screaming run, run—that was instinct.
I wanted to ignore him completely or leave the room, but it felt like nothing would change. And if I did that, his irritating gaze would just continue.
Finally, I slowly stood and faced him. He wasn’t much taller than me—maybe even shorter. I hid Shasha behind me and glared at him.
“Future wife? Is there such a person here?”
“Pretending not to know, Isabella Veloci?”
“Pretending not to know? If you mean future wife, then you must have an engagement. Is there anyone here engaged to you?”
I shook my head and shrugged as if I truly knew nothing. At that moment, the Countess, who had been standing behind the Marquis, suddenly stepped forward.
She, who had acted indifferent until now, moved forward with annoyance.
“Isabella! How dare you be so rude in front of Marquis Liberto!”
“Rude? You made me uncomfortable the moment I saw you—do I owe you any courtesy?”
But even after my words, the Marquis did not back down.
“Made you uncomfortable? I was merely looking, my lady.”
“Oh, really? Merely looking, yet your gaze is still lingering on my chest?”
The Marquis behaved exactly like the rumors suggested—obsessed with women and shameless about it.
Even after my rebuke, he seemed unfazed and even smirked with amusement. Goosebumps ran down my spine.
“Is it really a problem if I look at what is mine, my lady?”
And why was he licking his lips…? Ugh. Just the thought of him drooling over a girl younger than his own child made my skin crawl.
I could fry him in oil and it wouldn’t be enough. Goosebumps all over.
“You talk as if I am an object. I am not a thing.”
“Well… I’ve already paid for you. So aren’t you mine?”
“Paid for me? I can return that money…”
I asked hastily, but he shook his head firmly, as if he had anticipated it.
“I’ve bought you, my lady. The dowry I spent is far too much for you to ever repay.”
My expression stiffened. Seeing that I had no words, he slammed his cane on the floor.
“Try to pay back if you can. Even if you work your whole life, you wouldn’t be able to.”
The Marquis licked his lips as he stared at me. I know better than to judge a person by appearances—but he was truly the worst.
So my parents actually tried to marry me off to this… man? How much money did they think justified giving me to someone like this?!
I glared at the Countess standing arrogantly.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“…”
“Ah! Don’t worry. Our family has no intention of returning it, Isabella. So you should have listened to me, haha.”
My teeth clenched.
I had nothing—just a few jewels at most. Even selling them wouldn’t bring much. My parents had clearly planned this, knowing I had no means to fight back.
How could they? The Marquis’s condition was worse than the rumors suggested, yet my so-called family showed no remorse.
“Marquis, isn’t she prettier than I described?”
“Yes. Quite delicious-looking.”
I’m not food! How can he call me delicious? This is insane.
“Though she’s a bit unruly, it will be fun to train her.”
“Of course, fresh and lively is always more enjoyable. Now, shall we go?”
“W-wait!”
“Why? Still more to say? My lady, no matter what you do, the situation won’t change. You must go with me unless you repay all the money I spent. Haha.”
Maybe I could run with Shasha. The old man seems too slow to keep up.
Then—like an angel sent from heaven—a divine voice clearly reached my ears.
“Isn’t this just a matter of returning the money?”
God… you haven’t abandoned me.
The voice was unmistakable. The man I knew well—no, the man I wanted to believe I could rely on.
A cool breeze blew, and with it, a man walked to my side. Everyone present immediately lowered their heads, seemingly aware of his status.
“E-Your Majesty!”
“Y-Your Majesty, what brings you here… You were just here a few days ago, and now you visit again…”
Unlike the Marquis, who bowed quickly, the Countess merely tilted her head and looked flustered.
“Why… am I not welcome here, Countess?”
“N-no, it’s not that… I just… worried about taking up your precious time with something trivial…”
“Truly a citizen who thinks of the Emperor as the heavens. But did you forget what I said? I told you, Isabella will marry me. Do you find my words laughable?”
The Countess had no response, her mouth sealed tight.
Looking at the Emperor, who seemed especially dignified today, I felt a strange sense of relief. My mind, previously focused on escaping, now only held questions.
How did he get here so fast?
Even if Shasha’s pigeon squad was sent, there’s no way they could arrive this quickly. It was as if he had been waiting at the door.
Abnormally fast. I was grateful, but it was almost too fast.
Before I could question it, the Marquis began babbling. Obsessed with women or not, he spoke without hesitation, even before the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, that woman is my property, bought with my money. Even if you say otherwise, I own her.”
“Bought with money?”
“Yes. In fact, the sum is so great that even the Count’s family cannot return her. So she must marry me.”
His words, treating a human as an object, made me increasingly furious.
Then, the Emperor chuckled, his shoulders shaking slightly.
“Then isn’t this just a matter of returning the money?”
“Excuse me?”
“Are you hard of hearing with age, or are you ignoring me? I just said—return the money. Isn’t that all it takes?”
