Chapter 58: Tag (3)
At my mocking question, the man’s face flushed red.
Was he feeling ashamed? If so, then that was a relief.
Feeling shame meant he wasn’t completely a beast.
“Lady, suggesting a game for pleasure to a guest who has come to visit—”
“What are you talking about?”
But the man quickly refuted my words, as if trying to hide his own shame.
It seemed he wasn’t human after all.
I picked up the dagger he had dropped and continued nonchalantly.
“I was just playing a lighthearted game with the people of my household.”
“…What?”
As the man raised an incredulous eyebrow, I used the dagger to cut the rope tied around my wrist.
“I was simply enjoying myself with my people in my home.”
Smiling, I took a step toward him.
Perhaps my smile looked frightening—his face gradually turned pale.
“But then some dare to barge into my home uninvited and interrupt my game.”
I cut my words short and dropped my smile.
I figured a blank expression might be scarier than a smile—and fortunately, it worked not just on him, but on the other nobles as well.
Just when I thought I’d scared them enough, my eyes caught the olive-haired man frantically trying to untie the ribbon on my arm.
Somehow, I had the feeling that letting this go would be a mistake.
“Did you think that without this damn ribbon, you would’ve been the winner?”
I asked as I grasped the white ribbon tied to Edward’s arm.
The olive-haired man visibly flinched at my words.
I hadn’t targeted him specifically. Surely, everyone had thought the same.
A young woman. A marquess’s daughter.
They probably assumed this white ribbon was a leash tied to someone like me.
I smiled brightly, determined to crush that notion.
“Even without something like this—if I declare myself the winner, then even if it’s just a pebble kicked on the ground, that becomes the right answer.”
“That’s—!”
“No one!!”
I raised my voice, cutting off the nobleman who was about to object.
Was it the sense of being dismissed?
Somehow, my emotions surged.
I stared at the noblewoman who tried to refute me, barely holding back my rising anger.
“This means no one in this marquess’s household dares to treat me as just a little girl.”
My clipped words silenced the nobles.
Yes—whether or not Vaizen was in this mansion, no one would treat me as a naïve young girl.
Not even Vaizen would’ve gotten away with it, and I had already stood up to all the broken male leads who tried to trample me.
No one could crush me.
“Akon.”
“Yes, my lady.”
To wrap up this situation, I called Akon.
He stepped forward from somewhere and bowed politely.
“Why are there so many rude guests in my mansion?”
Despite my unusually authoritative tone, Akon calmly replied with an apology.
“I apologize.”
“Send back anyone who wasn’t invited.”
“Understood.”
Normally, Akon would’ve started nagging by now, but this time, he simply acted as a servant obeying his master’s command.
And no one dared to oppose my decision.
Admittedly, what I’d done was risky.
If Odelia returned someday, this could become a problem. Even if not, it might cause trouble at the emperor’s birthday celebration next week.
Still, I didn’t regret it.
On the contrary, it felt liberating.
Word of what happened today would spread quickly. And no one would dare to treat me carelessly again.
Though not entirely without worry, I felt relieved.
As I stretched lightly, feeling refreshed, I spotted Edward among the people leaving.
“Lord Berregamo.”
At my call, Edward turned his head.
He was still struggling with the ribbon on his arm, so I used the dagger to cut it for him.
Come to think of it, I think someone said this knot couldn’t be undone—it had to be cut.
“Thank you, Lady.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. More importantly—have you thought of your wish?”
“Pardon?”
Edward tilted his head in confusion.
“I told you, didn’t I? You’re the winner.”
“…What?!”
After a short silence, Edward flinched in shock.
He must not have believed I was serious.
While Edward was flustered, the other nobles looked as if they wanted to object immediately.
“Even if you only joined the game by coincidence, a winner is still a winner.”
“Y-you’re serious?”
“I said it before. I’d meet anyone regardless of family, status, or position. And your wish.”
When I replied with a smile, Edward pinched his own cheek in disbelief.
“It’s getting late. If you want to talk, send word ahead. As the fiancé of Lady Bella, Lord Berregamo is welcome anytime.”
“Th-thank yo—”
“Well done!!”
A loud, graceless voice interrupted the mood.
I turned my head to see Edward’s father, Count Berregamo, with his ridiculous mustache in disarray.
“You’ve made the right choice, Lady! Of course, for a proper talk, it should be with a family like ours!”
Despite my earlier warning, Count Berregamo remained arrogant.
As if this entire situation was thanks to him, I couldn’t help but scoff.
“Well then, shall we go inside and—”
“Akon!”
I cut him off and called Akon.
He approached after sending off a few more guests.
“What about the carriage for Count Berregamo’s family?”
“It’s ready.”
Typical efficient Akon.
Upon hearing his response, I turned to the count with a smile.
“It seems your family’s carriage is waiting, Count.”
“But—”
“Count… Are you not afraid of the Marquess of Snifter?”
Though my tone was icy, the count stood his ground like a stubborn child.
In the end, I had to issue another warning.
I placed my hand on the count’s shoulder, not particularly tall, and whispered in his ear.
“Or is it that you’re not afraid of a mere young girl’s words?”
“What nonsense—!!”
Furious, the count brushed off my hand.
With a loud swat, his rough hand knocked mine away from his shoulder.
At that moment, the knights of our family surrounded us, forming a circle.
Not to turn this into a showdown—but to protect me, and threaten him.
Faced with the intimidating aura of our knights, the count turned pale.
Then, in his fear, he said something he shouldn’t have.
“W-what do you think you’re doing?! I’ve done nothing wrong! It’s all that damn girl’s fault!”
At his outburst, the atmosphere froze.
Not all the nobles had left yet—and they heard every word, saw everything.
Their curious eyes immediately turned to me.
They were likely wondering the same thing.
How would this young, cunning lady get out of this one?
If I crushed the count again like before, it would certainly become a scandal in the social circles.
But if I extended forgiveness, this carriage parade might repeat itself.
Either choice would have consequences.
So, what should I do?
As I bit my lip in frustration, a familiar shadow approached through the fading twilight.
“It’s been half a year.”
Surrounded by ordinary people, his figure looked even more imposing, more dangerous.
“So many people in my mansion…”
No, perhaps he was acting that way on purpose.
Vaizen must’ve heard what the count said.
He walked toward us slowly, like a killer whale closing in on its prey, sending shivers down my spine.
A heavy sigh, like mist, slipped from Vaizen’s lips.
“…Vermin swarming in.”
Perhaps those who visited today had come hoping to test me—but they were all lesser than Vaizen, in both family and status.
So Vaizen’s warning carried serious weight.
And the one most terrified by it was Count Berregamo.
“L-lord Marquess—”
“Not a very satisfying target.”
Looking down at the short, stocky count, Vaizen muttered indifferently.
He looked like he might draw the gun at his waist any second.
It was the same suffocating pressure I felt that day when the maids died in front of me.
But strangely—I didn’t feel the need to stop him this time.
It was threatening, yes. But it didn’t feel like he truly meant it.
“M-my wish!”
As Edward dropped to his knees before me, a faint smile crept onto Vaizen’s lips.
“Please forgive my father’s rudeness… That’s my wish.”
Vaizen twisted his lips into a slight smirk as he pulled out the gun from his waist.
He wasn’t planning to shoot—he hadn’t even unlocked it. But it was threat enough.
“Aagh!”
Startled by the gun pointed at him, the count fell to the ground.
At the same time, Edward bowed deeply.
“Please, Lady! Forgive my father!”
Vaizen gave me a subtle nod.
To others, it might’ve looked like he was urging me to decide—but I saw it differently.
It was a gesture asking, Wasn’t this performance enough?
“Please stand, Lord Berregamo.”
Hope filled Edward’s tearful eyes at my kindness.
I gently brushed Vaizen’s gun aside.
“You shouldn’t waste such a good wish on something like this. I’ll generously overlook it this time.”
“Th-thank you!”
“So make sure to warn your father. To be careful. Very careful.”
Edward, moved by my mercy, bowed repeatedly even as he boarded the carriage.
That was the cleanest way to end the situation.
Had Vaizen not appeared, I would’ve crushed the count myself, annoyance and all.
The nobles who left looked disappointed, as if a fun spectacle had ended too soon.
They would surely gossip once they returned. And honestly, I was already looking forward to it.
