“How much should I pay? Is this enough?”
“Then I’ll pay the same amount!”
Dorothy’s friends begged to show her ‘talents’ and offered to pay for it.
The amount each person paid was equivalent to Cecile’s salary for half a month.
“…Should I just imitate Miss Dorothy?”
Cecile needed as much money as possible. For her, it was an easy task to make a fool of herself in front of several people for just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
A year passed. Cecile went to the information guild.
“I want to find someone.”
“Can you describe their features?”
Cecile detailed the appearances of her family members to the information guild staff.
It didn’t matter if any of her family members were still alive. Anyone would do, as long as they were alive.
“Please find one of these people.”
“Hmm, very well. May I ask how much money you have prepared? To let you know in advance, the quality of information can vary depending on the amount you provide.”
“The money…”
Cecile handed over the money she had saved over the past year to the information guild staff.
“This much.”
The staff checked the money Cecile provided and immediately gave her a much friendlier smile.
“Please come back in ten days.”
Cecile returned to the information guild ten days later.
However, the guild did not provide any information. Instead, they returned the money Cecile had paid in advance.
“Why…?”
“They’re all dead.”
“What?”
“Think of it that way. And don’t come back.”
“Wait…!”
The information guild staff dismissed Cecile harshly. Standing dazed in front of the slammed guild door, Cecile was at a loss.
She couldn’t understand what had happened.
Cecile spent time visiting all the information guilds in the capital.
But none of the guilds could provide her with the information she sought.
“I’m sorry. We will return your money.”
“Just take it. We didn’t even touch it.”
“Here is the payment you gave us. Goodbye.”
At the last guild Cecile visited, she even faced someone who was angry with her.
“How dare you ruin the guild I built! Get lost!”
The money pouch struck Cecile and fell to the floor.
Cecile stared blankly at the heavy money pouch lying on the cold wooden floor.
Cecile was brushing her hair in a daze on the third floor of the mansion.
What should she do now?
Should she go to an information guild outside the capital?
But how would she find the location of the guilds outside the capital?
Should she enter a region or village blindly and then ask for directions?
For that, she would need to request a long-term leave…
“Cecile.”
Cecile snapped out of her thoughts. When she turned around, the elderly woman was standing close to her.
Cecile slowly observed the elderly woman’s expression.
Her face was tense. Cecile realized late that the elderly woman was extremely nervous.
“A guest has arrived… will you see them now?”
The ‘guest’ the elderly woman mentioned was waiting for Cecile in the reception room.
As soon as Cecile entered the reception room, she spotted a young man.
The man seated looked to be about three or four years older than Cecile and had dark gray hair with no other colors mixed in.
Moreover, he was a handsome man who would easily attract attention if he walked around the streets.
None of this was particularly important to Cecile, though.
“Please, have a seat.”
Cecile quietly sat opposite the man, looking into his eyes while thinking about the elderly woman.
Why was she so tense?
The answer soon came from the man’s mouth.
“I am Rian Kaiter.”
Cecile blinked twice before realizing the man had introduced himself.
“I am more commonly addressed as Count Kaiter.”
Cecile’s lips parted involuntarily.
A count.
Though Cecile wasn’t very familiar with the aristocratic society, she knew the basics about ‘nobility.’
Cecile swallowed hard.
Why had a count, a high-ranking noble, come to visit her?
She didn’t know yet, but one thing was certain: something heavy had been placed on her shoulders.
Cecile reminded herself that this man could threaten not only her but everyone in the mansion and spoke up.
“Yes, Count. I am Cecile. You probably already know that.”
“Yes.”
“…Why have you come to see me?”
“I’ll keep it simple. I would like Cecile to become my wife.”
Cecile stared at Count Kaiter for a long time before responding.
“Excuse me?”
“Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to be my wife for life. Ten years or so should be appropriate.”
“I don’t understand…”
“My grandfather is old and ill, and he might live for another five to ten years. Recently, he said this.”
“…”
“Whoever brings him the wife he likes the most will inherit all of his wealth.”
Count Kaiter suddenly smiled, as if he found the situation amusing.
It was a cold, calculating smile, but for some reason, Cecile thought it suited him.
“And he even wrote this in his will and had it notarized.”
“…”
“Anyway, the people in the family who are not yet married are in a tough spot. I’m one of those people with a hot foot.”
“I don’t understand. I am not someone who your grandfather would like.”
“My grandfather has already chosen the woman he likes.”
“Yes?”
“You’re good at imitating people.”
“…”
“There’s a woman my grandfather owed his life to three times throughout his life. It’s not an easy feat. Anyway, I need you to imitate that woman in front of him.”
“…Is the woman still alive?”
“Of course.”
Count Kaiter leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other. His previously proper posture now seemed somewhat arrogant, though it didn’t seem like he was intentionally trying to appear that way.
It really suits him, Cecile thought as she observed him.
“How long will it take for you to absorb her manner of speaking, habits, and behavior?”
“Before I answer, I have a question.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“If I accept your proposal, what will I gain?”
“Anything you want.”
“…”
“Would you like me to make it more enticing? As an initial payment, I’ll find your family for you.”
Cecile’s eyes widened, and she unconsciously clenched her fists, wrinkling the skirt of her maid uniform.
“How…”
“I’ve already investigated. It’s a simple task for me. By the way, I also know why you couldn’t get information from the Information Guild.”
Nervous and trembling breaths escaped between Cecile’s lips.
Seeing Cecile, who was silent except for her breathing, Count Kaiter spoke again.
“I’ll ask again. How much time do you need to prepare to impersonate my grandfather’s benefactor before I show you to him?”
“One day.”
“…”
“You only need to let me stay with the benefactor for half a day.”
“Understood.”
Count Kaiter’s posture shifted again. He leaned slightly forward and looked at Cecile.
“Now, call me Rian.”
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Cecile became the hidden daughter of a nobleman who died in an accident and then became Count Kaiter’s wife.
After becoming the Countess, Cecile received several documents from Count Kaiter along with a joking remark about them being a substitute for a dowry.
Cecile took her time to read the contents of the documents carefully.
As a result, she learned quite a few things she hadn’t known before.
