Chapter : 41
The next day.
Someone came to see me early in the morning—it was Count Volani.
“I feel quite sorry for visiting at such an early hour. I just couldn’t spare any time during working hours. Please forgive me.”
“It’s fine. You told me in advance that you’d be coming at this time.”
As the maids brought tea and snacks, Count Volani’s gaze wandered to the crystal case by the window.
“What are you raising in there?”
“A caterpillar. Let me see… ah, that one under the cabbage leaf. I named it Plum.”
“Wow… it’s quite plump and healthy-looking.”
Just then, Plum, who had been lazily wriggling under the cabbage leaf, suddenly froze.
Did she think Count Volani was going to eat her?
Plum quickly burrowed into the soil and hid.
I shredded a few fresh cabbage leaves and scattered them over her hiding spot before returning to the table.
‘Come to think of it, even Count Volani doesn’t recognize that Plum is a divine beast.’
Divine beasts are usually born in their adult form, so no one would suspect that a pink caterpillar I suddenly brought home was anything special. The Duke was right about that.
“If the tea or refreshments aren’t to your taste, please let me know, Count. I’ll bring something else.”
“Haha, this fellow eats anything as long as it’s chewable. But these cookies… did you make them yourself, Lady Fiancée?”
“Yes, I did. You’ve had them before, haven’t you?”
“Indeed, thanks to you packing some extra for me. At the time, I was starving and just scarfed them down, barely tasting anything…”
With an eager expression, Count Volani popped a cookie into his mouth.
I was a bit nervous, but thankfully, he smiled and said it was delicious.
“As expected! No wonder Lady Vanessa regained her appetite!”
“You flatter me.”
“Flattery? I’d honestly like to take all of these home with me.”
“Shall I pack some for you? I baked quite a lot yesterday.”
I had baked the same amount as before without thinking, only to later remember the Duke saying Plum needed to go on a diet.
If even Count Volani, seeing Plum for the first time, said she was “plump and well-fed,” then…
She was probably eating too many snacks.
A chubby divine beast? I couldn’t allow Plum to carry that disgrace.
Starting today, snacks would be reduced.
“I’d be very grateful. But let’s keep it a secret from the Duke. If he finds out I came here at dawn to beg cookies off his fiancée, he might beat me to a pulp.”
“Huh?”
I blinked, then burst out laughing, realizing it was a joke.
“Okay, I won’t tell the Duke.”
“Since we’re already keeping secrets, may I ask for one more favor?”
“What is it?”
Count Volani cleared his throat, glanced around nervously, then leaned in and whispered:
“Would you arm wrestle me?”
“Arm wrestle…?”
Out of nowhere?
“I’ve heard the rumors. They say you’ve never lost, even against the burliest of men.”
“Well… that’s true.”
“Count Volani, just what kind of request are you making?”
Alicia, standing behind me, glared at Count Volani with a bright smile.
Then she shot me a fierce look too.
‘Don’t tell me you’re actually considering that ridiculous request?’—her eyes said it all.
“Hmm, I’m fine with it.”
“Lady Fiancée!”
“It’s okay, Alicia. I’ve honestly never lost to anyone.”
I was curious too—just how strong was I?
‘I wouldn’t beat the Knight Commander, but…’
Maybe I could last 10 seconds?
I took Count Volani’s hand across the now-cleared tea table.
Alicia, now acting as an unwilling referee, shouted with a death-glare toward the Count:
“Ready, go!”
Thud!
Less than two seconds after Alicia gave the signal, his hand hit the table.
Because of my hand.
Silence fell heavy in the parlor.
Alicia was the first to break it with a sigh.
“Satisfied now? Let’s stop—”
“W-wait! Wait, wait!”
Count Volani hurriedly raised his left hand to stop her.
He stared at his defeated hand in disbelief, then looked at me and said,
“N-not that I’m refusing to accept defeat… but may I try once more?”
“Of course.”
We released hands and reset our posture. Alicia glanced between us in astonishment.
I knew that reaction well. It’s what people looked like when they realized I wasn’t just being humored.
‘Everyone who’s ever seen me arm wrestle made that face.’
Still, it was surprising.
I knew I was strong, but strong enough to defeat even the Knight Commander?
“Ahem, just to clarify—I was holding back a little, afraid you might get hurt.”
“You don’t have to hold back this time.”
“Understood. I’ll give it my all.”
At Alicia’s cue, Count Volani shouted a battle cry and tensed his arm.
‘Whoa, that’s definitely heavier than before.’
Then I’d have to go all in, too!
Thud!
“My word… I lost, Lady Fiancée.”
“Phew… you were the strongest opponent I’ve ever faced.”
“Hahaha! What an honor!”
After laughing heartily, Count Volani suddenly fell quiet and asked,
“Would it be inappropriate to try with the left hand—”
“Count, that’s enough.”
“Ugh, fine. I surrender, Lady Fiancée.”
Wilting under Alicia’s deadly glare, Count Volani raised both hands in surrender.
Then he stared at my arm with a curious look. I didn’t have bulging muscles like he did, so my strength must have puzzled him.
“Had I not asked, I’d have regretted it forever. Do you train regularly, Lady Fiancée?”
“No. I’ve just been strong since I was little.”
“There are rare cases of people being born naturally strong. Her Majesty the Empress also had an undefeated arm-wrestling record during her knight days.”
“Her Majesty the Empress?”
“Yes. If you had learned swordsmanship, I’m certain you would’ve become a remarkable knight…”
Clicking his tongue in regret, Count Volani then said,
“Anyway, let’s get to the main reason I came.”
“The main reason…”
Right. He didn’t come here just to arm wrestle.
I nodded.
“Please, go ahead.”
Count Volani rose from his chair.
Puzzled, I watched as he suddenly knelt on one knee beside my seat.
“C-Count?”
“I, Victor Volani, swear my undying loyalty to you, Lady Fiancée, from this day until the end of my life.”
“…What?”
I nearly screamed.
No—internally, I already had.
What in the world is happening?!
