Chapter 6
The lounge was not far from the scene of the incident.
Yet, this only made things worse for her. Through the window of the room converted into a lounge, the remnants of the disastrous event were visible.
Baron Kirhoff stood at the window, hands tucked into his pockets, observing. The sounds of the servants moving in perfect synchronization, clearing the shattered pieces of the display cabinet like a colony of ants, merged with the butler’s groans into a strange, grim symphony.
Mity shrank her shoulders like a child who had spilled juice on a costly carpet, fidgeting only with her fingers.
After a long moment, he closed the window. Mity’s shoulders jumped.
“Now then, where shall we begin?”
The baron’s voice had changed. Unlike the forced gentleness he sometimes displayed, this one carried a cold, unyielding tone that struck painfully against her eardrums. Yet, she thought, in a strange way, this unadorned voice suited him far better.
No. This isn’t the time for such thoughts.
She shook her head lightly to rid herself of such distractions. She had to find a way to navigate this situation.
Should I at least buy some time?
Mity swallowed dryly and tried to distract herself.
“W-what… what do you mean?”
“Playing innocent, are you?”
“I… what do you mean?”
“Do you realize how much the display cabinet you destroyed is worth?”
“…….”
“Even if you sold your dress and all your jewels, you couldn’t buy it. Not even that one cabinet.”
Well, what am I supposed to do about that?
Though she thought this inwardly, she lowered her head obediently, signaling apology.
It didn’t work on Baron Kirhoff.
A vertical crease formed between his brows.
“Don’t pretend to be sorry if your face shows no remorse.”
“…….”
“It’s obvious.”
He added this pointed remark casually.
“Fine, whatever.”
With a laugh of mild derision, he tugged at the tie around his neck, loosening it carelessly.
“Let’s set that aside for now.”
“…….”
“We can settle it later with compensation.”
The baron pointed to the window behind him with his thumb.
Mity squeezed her eyes shut.
Ah, as expected.
There were only two ways she could escape this situation: either an enormous sum of money would fall from the sky, or Baron Kirhoff would show her mercy. Neither seemed likely. Especially the latter—this was a man who sought wealth even by exploiting Minachelty’s influence. Why would he show generosity over his own loss?
Wait… but…
Mity paused, frowning as she mulled over the story she remembered. Something was off. If the tale in her head truly reflected Minachelty’s fate and future, it had already diverged.
She looked out the window over Baron Kirhoff’s shoulder. Outside, the night was dark but calm, peaceful—if not for the noise of cleaning up the debris from the broken wall and shattered treasures.
It still looks fine…
“I’d like it if you could explain exactly what happened.”
“Indeed. What really occurred?”
Mity murmured absently, staring at the tranquil scene outside.
Do I really have to follow the original story?
She slowly shifted her gaze to Baron Kirhoff. He looked displeased at her distraction. Mity, for her part, found him equally bothersome. She wanted time to think this through but he kept interrupting.
“Looking for a way out, are you?”
“Well, I can’t just stay here in trouble, can I?”
“I’ve noticed—you’re quite clever with your replies.”
“Shall I ignore you then?”
At her words, the crease between the baron’s brows deepened. She ignored him, staring out at the calm night sky. The stars twinkled above, and their faint reflections shimmered on the glass, showing both of them dimly.
Is he still paying attention to me?
Mity slowly looked back at him. As expected, he would demand compensation. How much she didn’t know, but in the worst-case scenario, the Sestol family might have to withdraw investments to cover the baron’s claim.
If that happens, could the story return to its original path?
A spark of hope flickered before Mity’s eyes.
“I thought you were just a quiet, timid doll of the Sestol family.”
Then, Baron Kirhoff struck a nerve. Her mind, which had been occupied with thoughts of escape, went blank.
Is he openly challenging me right now?
A crease formed between Mity’s brows.
“You… tried to seduce an innocent woman with nothing but tricks.”
“What did you just say?”
The baron’s eyes sharpened further. She glared back, holding her eyelids tight.
“You approached me with an agenda, didn’t you?”
“Me?”
“Don’t play innocent. You lied to my father and brother, claiming you wanted to recover the mining investment, pretending to be pure and honest while plotting deceit all along.”
Baron Kirhoff’s eyes narrowed gradually.
Mity continued her verbal onslaught.
“If you’re so obsessed with money, baldness will be your fate! Don’t you know women dislike bald men?”
She glanced at his thick hair, speaking with feigned brusqueness.
“You already seem to be losing some hair.”
“Hah!”
The baron laughed abruptly, almost convulsively. Mity’s mind snapped to attention.
What have I just said…
She didn’t even have time to salvage the situation.
But why is he laughing?
Mity clenched her fists, ready to strike and run if needed. Yet the baron laughed, shoulders shaking with mirth.
“Ah, I thought I could win you over.”
He brushed away a tear at the corner of his eye with long fingers.
“Yes. I admit it—I approached you with an agenda. How did you guess?”
His eyes softened, and in that sweet voice, he seemed like a different person entirely.
“I must apologize. I assumed you would be boring, dull. Naive, ignorant, and foolish.”
He tilted his head, delivering scathing words with a smile that somehow grated on the listener’s nerves.
“I did not realize you had such discernment. Was my act too clumsy?”
“Excuse me?”
“Or perhaps someone like me is not your type?”
Mity tilted her head at him in confusion. He gave a sly, enticing smile as their eyes met.
“Strange. I thought there would be no woman in the capital who wouldn’t like me.”
“…What? How obnoxious.”
“Ha! Is that your usual personality?”
Baron Kirhoff laughed again, loudly. Mity could not comprehend what he found so amusing.
She continued to glare at him, keeping her guard up. At this point, it was no longer about taste. Every action he took irritated her.
Who would like an arrogant man who behaves so arrogantly?
Does he think looks are enough?
Mity’s lower lip jutted out.
“Would you like something to drink?”
Baron Kirhoff walked over to a table in the corner, poured two glasses of liquor, and offered one to her. She declined, and he shrugged, setting it back down.
“Have you studied magic?”
“Magic?”
The baron’s gaze returned to her. Calmly observing her feigned ignorance, he tilted the glass to sip from it, then withdrew his hand from his pocket.
“It’s destructive magic. Quite high-level, too.”
In his hand was a small stone, apparently a fragment from the scene of the incident.
When did he pick that up?
Mity’s eyes twitched slightly.
“The magical residue is quite pure. I am not a mage, but I am very interested in magic—almost as much as they are.”
Baron Kirhoff studied the fragment with a fixed gaze.
“Your brother was scouted to the magic tower when he was young, wasn’t he?”
He displayed the stone as if to warn her: don’t even think about fleeing with a petty lie.
“Sit down. I wasn’t lying about wanting to have a proper conversation with you.”
“I don’t want to have that conversation.”
“Then should I send my knights to your home right now?”
He smiled as he spoke, his tone gentle enough to sound casual, but the threat was unmistakable. And he was very capable of carrying it out.
Mity reluctantly lowered herself onto the sofa.
Baron Kirhoff’s lips curled upward again, a look of satisfaction confirming his dominance.
