Although she was likely around my age, the overwhelming appearance of the Countess made her look at least ten, no, twenty years older.
Clearing my throat, I sat down in the seat that had been prepared.
“Well then, Countess Olsen, thank you for responding so promptly to my sudden letter.”
“Of course, it was a letter from Your Grace the Duchess. What brings you here?”
she replied, showing only the bare minimum of courtesy before getting straight to the point.
Her expression was indifferent, as if everything was a bother to her.
It seemed that after the count’s death, Countess Olsen had been engulfed in a deep sense of helplessness and fatigue.
The poorly maintained mansion was proof of that.
‘In a way, this is better. I don’t need to beat around the bush, and we can get to the point quickly.’
Without any further preamble, I got straight to the point.
“I read in the Aria Gazette that you’ve been in a stalemate with the Marquess of Merry for over a year now?”
The countess’s previously vacant eyes immediately hardened, and her dim, dark green eyes turned sharp in an instant.
“If you’re here to discuss that matter, then I don’t think there’s anything more to say. Please leave.”
Her reaction was sharper than I had expected.
‘She’s kicking me out just for bringing it up?’
I was slightly surprised at her lack of even nominal courtesy, but I didn’t let it throw me off. I narrowed my eyes.
“You can’t just kick me out like this. I’m here to help you.”
“…What?”
The Countess, who had been glaring at me moments ago, furrowed her brows in confusion. I smiled at her.
“You’re not after that mine out of greed, are you?”
Her eyes widened in surprise.
“The large Japanese umbrella pine tree on the hill where the mine begins. You’re trying to protect that tree because it will be cut down if the mine is developed, isn’t that right?”
Although everyone misunderstood, the countess’s real goal was not to monopolize the mine and accumulate wealth.
She actually wanted to prevent anyone from developing the mine.
According to a brief mention in the story, the tree on the hill near the mine was a place of great significance to the Countess, a place she would protect at all costs, even if it meant selling everything she owned.
‘Because she first met the Count of Olsen under that tree.’
As I spoke, the Countess trembled, clasping her hands together in surprise.
“How do you…?”
“Well, does it really matter how I know?”
Sorry, I read the original story. I’d rather you didn’t ask.
As I answered nonchalantly, the Countess’s eyes, which had been swirling with confusion, suddenly narrowed as she bit her lip.
“…I don’t know how you found out, but if that’s the case, then Your Grace should understand even better. I have no intention of giving up this mine. If you’re here to tell me to surrender the mine to protect my reputation…”
“What do you think I just said? I told you I’m here to help.”
Listen to what people are saying.
The Countess finally hesitated.
“…What exactly do you mean by ‘help’?”
I gave her a bright smile.
“I’ll make sure that mine is yours. Absolutely.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
“What are you talking about…?”
Countess Olsen was a strict, principled person. She was also serious and reserved, which meant that she was often misunderstood because she wouldn’t say what needed to be said unless she was dealing with someone she trusted. This case was no different.
‘If you just keep your mouth shut and say, ‘This mine is mine,’ who’s going to understand?’
I glanced at her and asked.
“Let me ask you something. Do you really think you can protect the mine and land by doing what you’re doing now?”
“No one can beat someone who’s determined to stand their ground.”
“Half of the mine belongs to the Olsen family. If I don’t give in, there’s nothing the Marquess can do, no matter how hard they try.”
‘Wow…’
At this point, her stubbornness was more like that of an ox than a bamboo stick.
I swallowed my sigh.
Whether she understood my frustration or not, the Countess continued, her expression resolute.
“His Majesty has even ordered that a portion of the minerals mined from the mine be allocated to our estate. If I just hold out a little longer, I might be able to nullify the agreement entirely…”
“No, you’ll lose it.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’ll lose it,” I interrupted with a sharp smile.
The Countess looked at me in stunned disbelief.
‘Is she naive, or does she have no sense of reality?’
Of course, I’ve read the original story countless times, but even someone who hasn’t read it could tell that this fight was overwhelmingly disadvantageous for the Countess.
‘She’s the only one who doesn’t know. The only one.’
They say that the scariest thing is someone who sticks to their beliefs like this.
I shook my head and leaned forward toward the Countess.
“Do people often tell you that you’re naive?”
“…What? No, not really.”
You didn’t have any friends around you, did you? Just like me.
“Think about it. The Marquess of Merry has a clear reason to develop the mine by opening its entrance. But what reason do you have?”
“That’s…”
“If it were in your hands, the mine wouldn’t be developed anyway. You’re just stubbornly holding out without any real reason, insisting that it can’t be done, that you won’t give in.”
“…”
“So, who do you think is going to side with you? Do you really believe you can win in this situation?”
Are you really that foolish?
I could see from her expression that the Countess understood what I was implying and kept her lips tightly sealed. Of course, unless she was completely stupid, she wouldn’t have anything to say.
In fact, when the noise surrounding this issue drags on, the Emperor, tired of the power struggle, naturally sides with the Marquess of Merry. The Countess, who stubbornly held her ground, ends up losing the mine and has to watch helplessly as the Japanese umbrella pine is cut down.
‘When Diana returned to the country, she brought up this topic to console the Countess, only to lose even more favor.’
I’m convinced that this was the main reason for Diana’s first failed negotiation.
I clenched my fists quietly.
‘I can’t let that happen.’
The Countess of Olsen squeezed her eyes shut, then let out a heavy sigh.
“So, what options do I have? As Your Grace has pointed out, I’m not trying to develop the mine, nor do I have any intention of trading in minerals like the Marquess of Merry.”
She spoke as though there was no alternative but to stubbornly resist.
‘Certainly, from an outsider’s perspective, it might seem that way.’
At this point in time, the Countess, still mourning the loss of her husband, was neglecting the mine she owned.
She had no idea that a few years later, she would become incredibly wealthy because of it.
“Hmm.”
Pretending to consider something, I rolled my eyes before smiling.
“You might not realize it, but you have a knack for business. From what I can see, you’re destined to amass an enormous fortune within three years.”
“…What? What are you talking about?”
The Countess looked at me as if I were spouting nonsense.
‘No matter how far-fetched my words seem, does she really have to look me up and down like that…’
It felt like a slight wound to my pride, but I continued without showing any concern.
“In that sense, let me ask you something. What do you think is the most profitable thing to sell?”
Blinking rapidly, the Countess answered in a daze.
“…Isn’t it selling land?”
Could it be that?
I shook my head and gave a sly smile.
“No, it’s selling sentiment.”
♧♧♧
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