SOWD Chapter 86

Chapter 86

‘Has this woman lost her mind?’

But it was too early to be surprised.

Angela started spewing even more shocking words as she looked Idel up and down.

“There’s quite a buzz about this household’s ‘butler.’ From being a laundry maid to a butler in just a year, reshuffling the servants to suit her taste as soon as she was promoted… Quite resourceful, isn’t she?”

“What did you just say…?”

“I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. To be precise, everyone keeps a lover or two these days, so there’s no need to lie and call her a butler. Even I could overlook my husband having a lover, you know.”

For the first time since facing Angela, Laszlo let out a hollow laugh.

It wasn’t out of amusement but sheer incredulity—nothing about this situation was remotely funny.

“I think there’s been a misunderstanding, so let me clarify. First, this person is not my lover but an exceptionally capable butler. Second, I danced with the butler at the party to avoid being cornered for dancing with another woman. Third, you don’t need to concern yourself with my affairs—now or ever.”

Angela’s face stiffened at his words. But Laszlo, unfazed, put the letter he had been holding back into its envelope and handed it to her.

“I decline Count Bliss’s proposal. No matter how elegantly worded, it doesn’t feel pleasant to be told you’re trying to buy a relationship with money.”

“What? Buy a relationship with money? My grandfather didn’t mean it that way at all!”

“Yes, he did. The Bliss Count’s proposal is a no-loss deal for him. How stupid must he think I am to suggest something like this under the guise of generosity?”

Laszlo clicked his tongue briefly at the end of his sentence. The sound made Angela flinch.

“It’s not like that! My grandfather only wanted to find a useful way to utilize a good warhorse!”

“Then why must I form a close relationship with the Bliss Count family for that to happen? Sending you as a messenger makes it obvious what kind of ‘relationship’ you’re referring to.”

“It’s only natural to seek someone trustworthy to manage important family assets! Who could be more reliable than family?”

Both Bliss Count and Angela believed this logic was self-evident. A man captivated by Angela’s beauty might have eagerly accepted the proposal, but Laszlo wasn’t one of them.

After taking a deep breath to suppress his anger, Laszlo glared at Angela.

“In the end, what the Bliss Count wants is to gain control over Laszlo Chrysos without losing a single horse. How laughable.”

“Th-That’s too harsh, my lord!”

“The one who crossed the line was you. You came here spouting nonsense and insulted not only me but my entire family to my face.”

With that, Laszlo revealed no more emotion.

“Leave. I hope I never have to see you again.”

“What…?”

“Oh, and be sure to relay this to Count Bliss: I will never forget being treated like a fool.”

Having been pampered her entire life, Angela couldn’t handle the hostility now radiating from Laszlo.

Fearing that she might suffer some harm, she hastily stood up to leave.

But just before exiting the drawing room, she turned back and said, “I won’t forget this, either. Never.”

Then, she quickly disappeared.

An uncomfortable tension lingered in the drawing room after Angela left.

“So, to them, I’m still nothing but an uneducated hunting dog who knows how to swing a sword… Even the so-called imperialist Bliss Count acts like that. How much worse must the others be?”

Laszlo’s voice trembled with bitterness as he tried to suppress his anger.

Idel could empathize with his frustration.

If only Laszlo had been born into nobility, the Bliss Count wouldn’t have made such a transparent proposal.

‘They overestimated Angela’s worth and underestimated Count Chrysos too much,’ Idel thought.

She also figured that being mistaken for his lover must have irritated Laszlo even more.

‘How annoying it must be to be constantly misunderstood about a woman you have no interest in. For Count Chrysos, having me around doesn’t bring any benefit.’

Laszlo had thanked her many times for managing the household and supervising Rinia’s transformation, but realistically, the Emperor could have found competent people to do the same.

The thought had crossed her mind countless times: being taken as Laszlo’s “spoils” was her good fortune, but for him, it was nothing but a burden.

 

Of course, voicing such thoughts wasn’t an option, so Idel brought up another topic instead.

“It’s only been a short time since changes began for you and the Chrysos family. Everyone’s just testing the waters. After today, they’ll probably come to their senses.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes. Count Bliss is extremely sensitive to shifts in power. Someone like him wouldn’t have made such a proposal just to provoke you.”

“And yet, he didn’t seem to anticipate how furious I’d get. Is he really that clever?”

“Lady Bliss might have been genuinely unaware, but Count Bliss likely thought there was a 50-50 chance. That’s why, under the guise of an ‘apology,’ he’ll likely try to approach you again soon. The next offer he brings will probably be closer to his true intentions.”

Laszlo found himself appreciating Idel anew for her sharp insight.

‘Being a duchess must not be something just anyone can do. She sees right through people like Count Bliss and their schemes….’

Laszlo realized how invaluable Idel was in compensating for his shortcomings.

Having studied and actively participated in high society to become one of its most admired figures, Idel could interpret noble affairs far more dynamically than Laszlo, who had only memorized their customs by rote. She could foresee outcomes and suggest solutions with striking clarity.

‘No wonder she was considered the perfect bride.’

For men with half a brain, Idel’s beauty might have been enough to captivate them. But for those aiming to become the head of a household, her capabilities as a partner must have been even more alluring.

Even now, Idel was addressing issues Laszlo hadn’t even considered.

“Soon, you’ll find yourself inundated with marriage proposals, my lord. You’d best prepare yourself.”

“Do you really think so? Just because I threw a decent party?”

“The nobility has a knack for identifying promising investments at first glance.”

“Ha…! I feel like a truffle. Are you saying pigs are about to come digging for me?”

At his analogy, Idel could only offer an awkward smile.

“It’s not necessarily a bad thing. From among them, you might find someone who suits you perfectly.”

“How would I know if someone I’ve never met suits me or not?”

“Oh… I meant that you’d have the opportunity to choose a woman who meets your needs, my lord.”

After all, that’s what noble marriages were about.

If you weren’t the head of a family or an heir, like Linia or Ian, you might have the luxury of prioritizing love in a marriage. But for those in positions of responsibility, conditions always came first.

And it was inevitable. In noble society, marriage was like a blueprint for shaping the future growth of a family’s wealth and influence.

Laszlo, however, crossed his arms and frowned, as if dissatisfied. He looked at Idel and spoke with a hint of frustration.

“I’m not going to enter a marriage devoid of affection just to weigh political gains and losses. I don’t want to live that way.”

“But if you don’t, achieving your goals will be much harder. Doesn’t His Majesty the Emperor also expect you to marry someone from a loyal and solid family?”

“Politics is politics, and my life is my life. I don’t want this mansion to become someone’s prison, nor do I want to feel like a stranger in my own home.”

Idel found it difficult to respond to that.

Everyone might wish for what Laszlo described, but reconciling such desires with the realities of noble life was almost impossible.

Achieving political dominance wasn’t something one could do alone. Marriage was often the key to building alliances and strengthening one’s position.

‘I’ve seen more than a few people chase love, get married, and then fall behind in politics….’

And love was rarely everlasting. Couples who married impulsively out of passion often ended up falling apart even faster.

As Idel grew lost in thought, her lips pressed tightly together. Laszlo suddenly asked her a question.

“By the way, why does it feel like you’re urging me to get married? What do you think will happen to you if I do? Would it benefit you somehow?”

His words pierced Idel’s heart like a dagger.