CHAPTER 07…………………………………………..
For the sake of the family, and above all, for the sake of her precious younger sister.
That was what most people thought when they heard the news of the young heir of Cassius’s rather hasty marriage.
“They must have picked someone suitable from among the daughters of their vassal families,” they assumed.
Considering Cassius’s isolated tendencies, it was better to avoid unnecessary conflicts with other influential noble houses.
After all, it would be troublesome if the future lady of the house prioritized her own family’s interests over Cassius’s.
In short, they viewed it as a political marriage with a hint of romance.
“Absolutely not.”
I could state with certainty:
Leandro chose me solely for the benefit of his family and for Rienna.
Rienna needed the Andala abandoned mine to make Cassius more prosperous.
Once a gemstone mine, it had become increasingly unprofitable over time, leaving it as one of the few remaining assets of House Wallis.
Who would have guessed?
That this worthless property would, in just a few months, become a goose laying golden—or rather, diamond—eggs.
“Who would know? Only I, who read the novel, and Rienna, who has returned to the past.”
Rienna naturally wanted that goose. But there was one problem.
In the Empire, the sale of mines required state approval, especially gemstone mines.
This was a precaution to prevent wealth and power from being concentrated in one family or individual.
Even if one tried to buy it under a false name, would anyone suddenly attempt to acquire a worthless abandoned mine?
Even if it weren’t Cassius, it would look extremely suspicious. If the royal family caught wind of it and intervened, it would be troublesome.
How could the Andala mine naturally end up in Cassius’s possession?
This dilemma was brought to Leandro by my younger sister.
“What if I marry the daughter of Count Wallis?”
The big plan: obtain the Andala mine as part of her dowry. If successful, the marriage veil would also hide the operation from the royal family.
His plan worked perfectly.
When Leandro subtly guided the situation, Count Wallis quickly included the abandoned mine with his daughter.
“It’s useless anyway, doesn’t make money and won’t sell. Better to give it as dowry for appearances.”
“Even the cash-strapped Wallis has to maintain appearances, so he offered the abandoned mine.”
That was the count’s and others’ thinking.
On the evening Leandro returned home after securing the count’s consent, this happened:
“No! You don’t have to marry just for that reason!”
“It’s fine. If we want to continue the line, this is a necessary step eventually.”
“But marrying someone you don’t love…”
“I said it’s fine. I’ve never felt genuine romantic interest in any woman. As long as it benefits our family, marrying anyone is the same.”
“…”
“Haha, from what I’ve heard, Miss Wallis seems nice. Quiet and thoughtful. Even to me, she seemed kind.”
“No! That doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice yourself! We can find another way to get the Andala mine…”
“Rienna.”
“Yes?”
“I’m really okay with this.”
“…Really? You mean it?”
“Yes. Your freedom and happiness are my happiness.”
“Brother…”
“Don’t cry, our princess.”
Wow. Just… wow.
I had only read it in books, but visualizing the scene made my blood boil every time I thought of it.
The author probably wanted to emphasize the touching bond of a brother willing to marry for his sister’s wishes… but not from my perspective.
Marrying me isn’t like going off to die in war, so why is this even tear-worthy?
Do I have to thank him for “selflessly marrying me” or something? These insane people.
When I married, I had deliberately ignored awkward traits to focus on the good aspects of these affectionate characters—but the cost was enormous.
“Calm down. Stay calm.”
I took a deep breath to contain my rising anger.
What I needed now wasn’t passionate rage, but cold, sharpened composure.
Because from here on, I had to straighten out the mistakes of the past.
I glared at the man before me with eyes full of contempt.
“…”
Leandro’s face was as white as a sheet. His pupils darted around without focus.
“How… do you… know…”
Since the mention of the Andala mine, he had been in this state.
Apparently, realizing I knew the true purpose of his marriage plan was a tremendous shock.
He was more agitated than when he first heard about divorce—or when he discovered the truth about the wedding dress.
“How could you possibly…”
In a moment of frustration, I blurted out a fact that no ordinary Idel could have known.
‘That doesn’t mean he’ll realize I’m a transmigrator, though.’
Better not let him suspect anything unnecessarily.
“You confessed while drunk.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Don’t you remember?”
Of course, it was a lie.
Leandro had returned home drunk only a few times after marriage, but he never confessed anything to me.
He would just silently stare at me and head straight to bed.
Perhaps he felt a twinge of guilt, but such minor remorse did nothing to ease my anger.
“You confessed everything. That you married me because your sister needed the Andala mine.”
“No!”
His voice burst out in protest.
His shoulders trembled.
His hands gestured, pleading his innocence.
“I-I did approach her initially for the mine. But the moment I saw you, I was strangely drawn to you. Gradually, my feelings grew…”
And here he was, lying without even putting a drop of saliva on it.
“Then why did your attitude suddenly change after marriage? Why have you neglected me all this time?”
“Th-That is…”
“Don’t give me such transparent lies. Do you take me for a fool?”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Enough. I’m beyond angry—I’m disgusted.”
“Please! Give me a chance to explain!”
As I tried to leave, he grabbed my wrist.
So desperate. I only spat out a single line instead of reproaching him.
“Why? Are you upset you still don’t have the Andala mine?”
Finally, the strength left his hand. I pulled my wrist free and left the alley.
I kept watch just in case he followed, but Leandro stood frozen in place, dazed.
Until he completely disappeared from my sight.
“No one’s taking my mine.”
Back at the lodging, I fortified my resolve while having a late lunch.
This was likely the reason Leandro was so adamantly opposed to divorce—and my point of leverage.
Fortunately, the Andala mine was still the property of Idel Wallis.
Because I had guided Count Wallis to do so.
The Cassius side had wanted the mine handed over directly.
I stopped the count and gave a plausible excuse:
“It’s cheaper tax-wise for me to transfer what my father left me to my husband.”
Not untrue.
“Besides, wouldn’t it be a waste to just give it away? If a new technology allows us to dig deeper in the future…”
The mine still contained gemstones.
The problem was that they were buried so deep underground that extraction costs would exceed profits.
The greedy Count Wallis was easily persuaded and handed it over.
Leandro seemed slightly flustered but couldn’t openly oppose it. He wanted to maintain the impression that this marriage had nothing to do with the mine.
Thus, the conclusion:
“The goose that lays the golden eggs is mine.”
I nibbled on a savory croquette and laughed.
Whenever the mine came up in conversation, I postponed the transfer with various excuses.
Leandro didn’t press too hard either. He probably assumed I belonged to Cassius and let his guard down.
There was still plenty of time before the mine’s secret would be revealed, so he could afford to be lax.
I hadn’t gained money yet, but my heart felt secure.
“Even I have to admit, I’m kind of a genius.”
It was good I’d acted during the wedding dress incident when I felt something off.
Even if I had refused marriage, Count Wallis wouldn’t have cared, so the mine was my kind of insurance.
“In that sense, I want to finalize the divorce as soon as possible.”
The Cassius side would fight to take the mine. It had been part of the dowry, after all—they would demand proper transfer.
If ownership changed hands, retrieving it later after divorce would take exponentially more effort.
Therefore, it was best to divorce first, eliminating any obligation regarding the dowry. The plan was set.
After finishing my meal, I prepared to go out again. To handle the divorce, I had to act quickly.
Some time later…
“This should be the place.”
I wandered through a forested path.
The Wanderer’s Forest, on the outskirts of the territory, became sparsely populated just a short distance from the trails.
caw caw
The ominous caw of crows made me grip my protective amulet tighter.
Don’t be afraid.
With this enchanted amulet, I could face almost any wild animal or intruder without issue.
I hadn’t spent a fortune at the magic shop for nothing.
After exploring the surroundings for about ten minutes…
“Found it!”
Beneath a massive tree, I found my target.
Moss-covered and broken in places, yet unmistakable—a statue of the goddess Miella, revered throughout the Empire.
It is customary to place statues of the goddess in various locations to pray for blessings.
“Hm, over there.”
I muttered to myself and headed down a narrow path indicated by the sword held by the statue.
In the novel “Return and Walk the Flower Path”, this statue serves as a landmark.
In the future, Rienna visits here for a picnic with close maids.
She senses a strange mana wave and, in trying to trace it, loses her way.
At that moment, the stone statue of Miella appears before her.
She follows, entranced, the direction of the goddess’s sword.
I had walked ahead, following the path Rienna would one day take.
Eventually, a clearing appeared, slightly lower in elevation.
My breath caught. A sinister chill seeped through the air.
I stopped at a safe distance, but could still sense it clearly.
In the middle of the clearing…
A man stood before a straw training dummy for swordsmanship.
