Chapter 9
Until this moment arrived.
Only now did Sertia realize that Duke Elionne was even crazier than she had thought.
His eyes had practically flipped when he saw her signature on the engagement contract. And not just a little.
“You cannot do this, my lady.”
“Move.”
“This is Lord Elionne’s command. I cannot step aside.”
“Hah. I’m just going for a walk, don’t overreact.”
“Even so, I cannot allow it.”
All of Elionne’s knights blocked her path, preventing her from leaving.
Even though anger boiled inside her, Sertia had no choice but to turn back. This was their top priority, after all.
As expected, Sertia had been confined to her room for days. The very thing she had dismissed as unlikely had actually happened.
Until she repented, Duke Elionne had forbidden all outings. To prevent her from escaping using teleportation magic, he had even shackled her ankles with a magic suppression device.
Sighing, Sertia ruffled her hair and lay down on the bed. Her black locks spread across the blanket.
“Anna.”
“Yes, my lady?”
“Look in the mirror. Your expression is terrifying.”
Anna glanced at the mirror and then quickly looked away. Apparently, even she found her own face too grim.
However, she didn’t make any effort to soften her expression. Instead, she smirked with a burning glint in her eyes.
“My lady, you want to go outside, don’t you?”
“Huh? Well, yeah? I have to meet your brother, too.”
The reason was simple: To establish a workshop, she needed a skilled artisan. After much deliberation, she had found the perfect candidate—Anna’s younger brother.
Noeni Sirgito.
Although he was the second son of Baron Sirgito, he had left his noble family along with Anna and lived as a commoner.
He was so talented that even his family had taken great pride in him. However, conflicts arose between him and Baron Sirgito, who wanted Noeni to refine his skills in a “noble” manner. Eventually, Noeni left home and found work in a small workshop, dreaming of his own.
If Sertia’s memory was correct, Noeni would soon quit his job.
She didn’t know the exact reason, but she remembered how Anna had taken a week-long leave for the first time ever. That alone suggested that something serious—something bad—had happened.
So, Sertia had decided to bring Noeni into her plans. His skills were proven from what she had seen and heard in her past life.
If only she wasn’t stuck in confinement.
Just then, a murmur came from somewhere in the room.
Sertia clearly heard it, and there was no way Anna hadn’t. When she looked at her, Anna simply grinned.
“I happened to pick something up… Would you like to see?”
Sertia flinched at Anna’s unusual tone. Anna’s innocent expression looked downright deceitful.
“…What is it?”
Since ignoring her was pointless, Sertia feigned interest.
Without a word, Anna walked to the dressing room and returned with a bundle of blue fluff in her arms.
“Fumi!”
Sertia sprang up, her face filled with surprise. But Fumi remained as composed as ever.
“Hello, Tia.”
“Anna, what is this?”
“Hehe. You know I manage the greenhouse, right?”
“What? You manage the greenhouse too?”
“Oh? You didn’t know?”
Crazy.
Sertia barely held back a curse. She pressed a finger against her slightly furrowed brow and sighed.
“How did you know to bring him to me?”
Fumi interjected.
“I told her… Anna smelled like you, Tia…”
His large, sorrowful eyes glistened as he whimpered.
Sertia hugged him.
“I see. But how did you find this place? It’s dangerous.”
“Not dangerous. A villain brought me here.”
“A villain?”
At her puzzled look, Fumi narrowed his eyes with exaggerated solemnity.
“Yes, a villain. Tia, the villain is very angry.”
Sertia tilted her head, not understanding. Fumi, exasperated, scolded her.
“Dummy. You saw him last time. How do you not know?”
“Wait… Renok?”
“Yeah. I think that’s what you called him.”
For a moment, Sertia was at a loss for words, then let out a breathless chuckle.
‘Renok is angry?’
A chill ran down her spine.
Had he gotten mad because she unintentionally ignored him? What if he decided to cancel the contract?
“Is he very angry?”
“Hmm. A little? Paul cried when he saw the broken desk.”
That didn’t sound like just a little.
Sertia exhaled deeply, feeling as if the ground was caving in beneath her. Before stress killed her, she needed to think positively.
Still…
“Paul?”
“Yeah. He’s the nice friend who feeds me.”
She paused, then spoke again.
“The head butler?”
“You don’t know?”
Right. Why was she even asking?
“Oh, right! He told me to give you this!”
Fumi wriggled out of Sertia’s embrace, hopped into the dressing room, and rummaged through a pile of clothes. Then he returned, carrying a black envelope in his mouth.
Sertia’s suspicion deepened.
She took the envelope without reacting, though she already had a strong guess about the sender.
“My lady, here.”
“Thank you.”
She gestured to Anna in silent gratitude and unfolded the sealed letter.
[Duke Elionne has requested an annulment of the engagement. If refused, he intends to appeal directly to His Majesty the Emperor.]
Sertia fought the urge to unleash a string of curses.
Ridiculous.
Taking the engagement between the Duke of Dicatherion and the Lady of House Elionne all the way to the imperial court? That was beyond arrogant.
But if Duke Elionne truly went to the Emperor to demand an annulment, things would become extremely complicated.
This was not a love marriage. If rumors spread that the Dicatherion and Elionne families were using marriage as a political maneuver, the Emperor would be reluctant to side with Renok. The issue could soon spiral into a full-fledged noble conflict.
Feeling suffocated by the sheer weight of it all, Sertia forced herself to continue reading.
[That being said, this is not a major problem. However, we may need to expedite the engagement ceremony. I would like to discuss this matter in person. Please, do not refuse.]
The letter ended with a note about Fumi’s assistance—and a message saying Renok missed her.
Sertia coughed awkwardly. Anyone reading this would think they were actually in love.
At least Renok knew about her situation. That was a relief.
“Fumi, Renok said you’d help me. Do you know what that means?”
Fumi grinned knowingly.
“Yup. The villain told me to get you out.”
“Where to?”
“Dunno?”
Sertia’s patience thinned as Fumi continued to look delighted by life itself. She wasn’t sure if she could trust him.
But with no better option, she had no choice.
“Anna, would it be rude if we showed up unannounced?”
“To my brother?”
“Yeah.”
“No? A younger brother must always bow when his sister arrives unannounced. He has no right to refuse.”
Sertia found Anna’s words oddly sinister, but she wasn’t about to disagree. Instead, she smirked.
“Alright. Let’s get ready.”
NOTE
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