Chapter 07
Benjamin Peet.
That was the name of the man speaking.
A scumbag desperate to marry Arte.
That was Arte’s assessment of Benjamin.
“Why aren’t you saying anything? Don’t tell me you can’t hear people talking.”
Benjamin’s signature sarcastic tone grated on Arte’s nerves.
How could someone make her feel so awful the instant they appeared? That too was a kind of talent.
Of course I’d run into him here, of all places.
Suppressing a sigh, Arte muttered a soft groan. She wanted nothing more than to turn her back on him without even meeting his eyes. That was how much she didn’t want to deal with him.
But the Peet barony and the Tian countdom had a vicious debtor-creditor relationship. The barony was the lender, and the countdom the borrower.
Baron Peet used the debt as leverage, pulling the strings of Count Tian whenever he could.
Every time something annoyed him, he raised the interest, and even tried to push for Benjamin and Arte’s marriage.
My father’s managed to push him away for now… but we haven’t paid everything back yet. Who knows what could happen later.
It was like a candle flickering in the wind.
Even though most of the estate’s income was going into repaying the debt, the interest kept rising. If they couldn’t sell the land and raise more money, an even worse crisis was sure to come.
“It’s been a while, Young Baron Peet.”
What she really wanted to say was, “Get lost,” and hurl a string of curses.
But as long as the Peets held the reins of money, Arte couldn’t afford to anger Benjamin.
“Young Baron? Come on. I told you to just call me Benjamin, Arte.”
“…It’s been a while, Benjamin.”
“That white dress looks great on you. A wedding dress would suit you even better.”
It was an obvious jab. As always, he was trying to pressure her into marriage.
“How long are you going to keep playing hard to get? Who else would take in some penniless noble lady stuck in this countryside? If you marry me, all your debts go away. Why can’t you get that through your head?”
God, if she could just punch him once.
As Benjamin continued to spew annoying words, even spitting in the process, Arte’s urge to lash out grew dangerously strong.
But she had to hold it in. Her best move was to stay calm, give him a polite brush-off, and get out of his sight as quickly as possible.
“I’m not ready to get married yet. More importantly, I heard you brought something valuable for the charity auction this year…”
“Don’t change the subject. You think I’m playing around right now?”
As if he’d planned it all along, Benjamin abruptly cut her off and stepped in close.
“Next year, your family’s debt will double.”
“What? That’s not in the contract—”
“Read it again. That was the contract. Your father was that desperate for money. He threw himself in like a moth to the flame, just to save you.”
She had promised herself she wouldn’t react, had made the vow over and over again.
But now, the ashes in her heart stirred—there was a spark.
The reason the Countdom had ended up dancing in the palm of the Peet family was none other than Arte herself.
After a carriage accident left her unconscious, an experimental new treatment had been her only hope.
The Count, desperate to save his daughter, poured every possible resource into saving her. He succeeded—but in doing so, he fell into a deep pit of medical debt.
“You think your father can handle it? He’s already teetering on bankruptcy. Get real, Arte. The only way to save your house is to marry me. That’s the only way I’ll wipe out your debt. Got it?”
Benjamin gave her a leering grin.
“We’ll pay back every cent. Fair and square.”
“Hah? You will? With what? Oh, I get it. Planning to sell your body?”
“What did you just say?”
Today, he was more repulsive than usual. And finally, he made her shout.
“I heard that Duke Rocata or whatever came to visit. Flashy guy like that shows up at your house, and you’re going to try and snag him, right? Planning some kind of strip show in front of him?”
“Young Baron Peet!”
“Come on, that should be easy for you. You’ve got a good role model, right? Your sister. What did she do? Some poor noble girl joins a nursing school to ‘learn a trade’? Yeah, right. You think I don’t know what that means? Seducing some officer under the guise of caring for him, then selling herself for a bit of cash…”
The words—which were more like verbal sewage—didn’t reach their conclusion.
Arte slapped him hard across the face.
There was a limit to how much she could tolerate. If he had insulted only her, she might’ve endured it—but bringing up Lisa? That crossed the line.
“Y-You crazy bitch!”
Benjamin clutched his burning cheek, panting with rage.
He looked genuinely stunned, as if he couldn’t believe Arte had just slapped him.
That idiotic expression did bring some satisfaction—but not enough to cool her fury.
She had endured so much for so long, it all boiled over inside her.
But pushing him further could lead to serious consequences. With his temper, who knew what he might do?
Even just that slap would make him grind his teeth and vow revenge.
Arte turned away from Benjamin, forcing down the urge to strike him again.
“Where do you think you’re going?!”
“Kyaa!”
Suddenly, Benjamin grabbed her by the hair and yanked it violently.
Arte screamed and struggled to escape. She thrashed against his grip, but he was a man—she couldn’t easily overpower his strength.
“I won’t let you go! You’re going to pay for this!”
He slammed her to the ground again.
It was her first time experiencing such raw violence. Arte collapsed to the ground, disoriented.
The world spun, and her lips split, the taste of blood filling her mouth. Her cheek throbbed, and pain flared all over her body.
“You stupid bitch. You don’t even know how much I’ve let slide. Let’s see if you still say no to marrying me after this.”
Benjamin’s hand reached toward her chest. Realizing where it was going, the meaning of his words suddenly became horrifyingly clear.
Arte snapped to attention and resisted with all her might.
But his hand clung like a leech. Two buttons at the collar popped off.
In that brief moment, a thousand thoughts raced through her mind.
There was no one around. No one had come, despite all the noise. They were too far from anyone.
Which meant, right now, she had only herself.
She had to escape Benjamin on her own.
“Get the hell away from me!”
“Urgh!”
Arte summoned all her remaining strength and kicked Benjamin in the groin as hard as she could.
He let out a wretched scream and collapsed backward.
“Help! Is anyone there?! Please help me!”
While Benjamin writhed on the ground, Arte turned and ran, desperately calling for help.
She ran and ran. Then, just as she sensed Benjamin stumbling after her with a vengeful scream, a miraculous sight entered her vision.
“…Your Grace?”
It was Dimion. Dimion stood alone beneath the rose vines.
Please don’t let this be a hallucination. Please don’t vanish.
She prayed with every step she took toward him.
“Lady Tian?”
As the distance closed, Dimion recognized her.
Arte instinctively reached out. Her trembling hand touched his arm.
It wasn’t a ghost. The solid feel of his presence proved it.
“Please… help me.”
Her voice cracked and broken from panic, barely audible, pleaded for his help.
Dimion, looking slightly startled, quickly examined her. As his gaze moved, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.
“Ha! I knew this would happen!”
Hearing Benjamin’s voice again made shivers crawl up Arte’s spine.
At the same time, the cold expression Dimion wore reminded her of the conversation they’d had the night before.
She remembered the icy tone with which he’d addressed her—and suddenly, fear gripped her heart.
The Dimion she’d read about in the papers, and the one she’d briefly met, was known as the “Cold-Blooded Duke of Rocata.”
She feared he might turn away, determined to make her pay for the rudeness she’d shown him.
No. If he doesn’t help me now…
Benjamin was out of control. If she didn’t get help now, there was no telling what he might do.
She had to escape Benjamin. She had to get Dimion’s help.
A way to make him help me no matter what…
Now wasn’t the time to hesitate. She had to make sure he couldn’t turn away.
“Please… Pretend I’m Féria, and help me. Please.”
