Seraphie still didn’t think highly of Orkis’s temperament. However, she could tell that he was not someone bad enough to be labeled a villain.
…Something’s still off. A sense of discord suddenly surfaced, like a splinter under her nail, and was starting to bother her. Just as Seraphie was about to probe further to confirm her suspicion,
“I would like to apologize for my rudeness.”
Seraphie quickly turned to the side. As she wobbled from sudden dizziness, Orkis hurriedly supported her.
“For what?” Seraphie, barely regaining her composure, asked with surprise.
“For the lottery tickets and betting slips,” Orkis said. “I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions.”
On the day they first met at the Vallidus mansion, Orkis had seen the lottery tickets and betting slips on Seraphie’s desk and suspected she had a gambling addiction.
“It was understandable.” Seraphie chuckled. “Thank you for apologizing.”
After winning the trial, Seraphie felt very generous. She now understood that his nagging was for her own good.
“But you should stop now.”
“…”
“Lotteries and horse racing can easily become addictive. Even if you happened to win this time…”
However, nagging was still nagging.
Such meddling. A look of boredom appeared on Seraphie’s face as she forced herself to listen to the nagging. She only regretted not having the strength to stand up and run away.
“Shall I return your cloak?” Seraphie fluttered the cloak to cut off the nagging, asking with a smile.
Orkis squinted with one eye as his words trailed off. “Take it.” He said, wrapping the cloak even more tightly around himself. If she took it off here, her torn clothes would be revealed again.
“And the handkerchief?”
“That’s…” Orkis hesitated.
The handkerchief was something Orkis quite liked, so he had grown fond of it. However, seeing how well it suited Seraphie, he thought it might be better to leave it with her. The sight of the dark-colored handkerchief wrapped around Seraphie’s pale neck was strangely captivating.
“It suits you well, so keep it.” Orkis turned his gaze away as he spoke. He realized too late that he had been staring at her neck inappropriately.
“I’ll buy you something better.” On the other hand, Seraphie misunderstood his gaze as Orkis being attached to the handkerchief. “I’m about to become the wealthiest person in the Empire, after all.” She giggled.
“Indeed.”
“And Sir Iris?”
“He went to his fiancée.”
After the trial, Carl had gone to find his fiancée, Lunie. From a distance, the two could be seen talking affectionately, almost in an embrace.
“They’ll end up having a child at this rate,” Seraphie mumbled.
Orkis, having unintentionally heard her, squinted again. But this time, he didn’t bother to nag. He was thinking the same thing. They really do get along. It seemed he wasn’t the only one puzzled by the couple’s excessive displays of affection.
Orkis’s fondness for Seraphie had grown considerably. Along with that, his curiosity about her deepened.
Seraphie, whom Orkis had encountered, was one of the most unpredictable people he had ever met. Everyone else might have pitied her, but Orkis simply couldn’t see her that way. She was too strong, too formidable for that. The image of her blue eyes from that first meeting at the Vallidus mansion was etched in his memory like a sharp blade. She’s certainly no ordinary person.
Her voice, unshaken even in front of the emperor, was smooth and confident. She was bold enough to use even her own wounds and father in court to secure victory. Not to mention her extraordinary luck, which could only be explained as a divine blessing. The saying that luck is also a skill seemed made for the trial that had just taken place.
“Countess Vallidus!” At that moment, Carl approached. “Congratulations on your victory.” Only after sharing affection with his fiancée did Carl sincerely congratulate Seraphie on her victory.
“Thank you…” Seraphie felt a pang of guilt at his sincere congratulations. I feel a bit sorry.
Seraphie admitted to herself that she had stubbornly held a grudge against Carl out of misplaced resentment. She had despised the nobles who ignored the Vallidus family’s misfortunes and unfairly directed that anger at Carl. However, Carl had been her greatest help. Without him, none of this would have been possible. If he hadn’t come to the mansion that day with Orkis, Seraphie might have been beaten to death by the former Count Vallidus.
“I’m truly grateful to both of you.” Seraphie slowly stood up and bowed to Orkis and Carl.
“Don’t bow.”
“You’re a countess now.”
Orkis and Carl straightened their postures.
“Congratulations on inheriting the title.”
“May your family prosper endlessly.”
Embarrassed by their formal greetings, Seraphie glanced around, almost on the verge of tears. Their respectful words made all her past hardships feel worth it.
“I’m sure you would have done well without us,” Carl said awkwardly. “It didn’t seem like our testimony was much help.”
“That’s not true.” Seraphie denied it. They had both provided detailed accounts of the former Count Vallidus’s arrest, which greatly strengthened Seraphie’s case. “It was all thanks to you.”
And Seraphie had come to one clear conclusion. I must use the original story. To survive in this cursed world, she had to make use of the story that depicted it. Until I can return to the world from where I originally came.
Just then, someone from the audience approached.
“That must be my family. They probably want to introduce themselves.”
“Since I received help from Sir Felicia’s family, I’m happy to greet them as well.”
Seraphie’s gaze was fixed on one person in particular. I must get close to her.
The strongest black magician. The future master of the magic tower. My next target…!
Peonia Felicia. If anyone could help her find a way back to the world she originally came from, it might be this person who knew so much about magic.
It was at that moment.
“Mi-Milady…”
A terrified voice grated on Seraphie’s ears unpleasantly.
“I almost forgot.” Seraphie smiled slyly and looked toward the source of the voice. There stood the stableman, sweating profusely with a pale face.
“Mi-Milady…!”
“I’m a Countess now, you fool.” The betrayal she had kept inside burst out in a rough tone. “And you’re fired.” Her wickedness emerged as she announced his dismissal with a smiling face.
* * *
By the time Seraphie returned to the Vallidus mansion, the sun had long set, and the night sky was dark.
Show some consideration for the weak…
Seraphie groaned as she lay sprawled on the carriage seat. In truth, the trial had ended in less than an hour. Considering the month of preparation and contingency planning, it was surprisingly anticlimactic.
What had tired Seraphie the most was dealing with the nobles who came to belatedly introduce themselves after the trial.
Wow, what a bunch of trash.
And they didn’t just come to say hello.
“You’re still young and not in the best of health. I’m worried about whether you’ll manage well.”
“It’s not easy leading a family.”
“Don’t be shy to ask for help. We’re always here for Countess.”
They pretended to care as if they were long-time friends of her parents, but their real intention was to latch onto the young countess. It was disgusting, but Seraphie wasn’t really affected. Compared to her father’s blunt remarks, their petty, transparent behavior was nothing.
“How kind of you.”
So, Seraphie gave it right back to them.
“I’ve known your sincere concerns. Thanks to that, I’ve come this far.”
Where were you when I was getting beaten up?
“I’ll take your advice to heart and seek much help from the duke.”
And with Duke Felicia standing beside her, did they really think she would pay attention to these leeches? Thanks to Seraphie’s polite but pointed threats, the nobles quickly remembered their forgotten appointments and hurried away.
After that, Orkis introduced Seraphie to the Felicia family. Then, she was caught by a palace official, who made her fill out and submit endless paperwork before she could finally receive her title as a countess.
I need to build up my stamina… Considering the tasks ahead of her, she couldn’t afford to be worn out by something like this.
“Are you alright, Master?” Marine, sitting across from her, asked with concern. She was happy about the trial’s outcome but felt bad seeing how exhausted Seraphie was.
“Master, huh…” Seraphie, who had been pleasantly repeating her new title to herself, chuckled. “It has a nice ring to it.”
“You’ll be hearing it every day now.”
“Indeed.”
Marine was genuinely happy, but Seraphie felt the title was a bit heavy. I shouldn’t hear it every day. The title of countess was just a means to find a way back to the world she originally came from. Seraphie had no intention of continuing to live in this world as a countess.
But for today at least.
“Master, we’re home!”
Marine cheerfully announced their arrival. As Seraphie stepped out of the carriage, she looked up at the Vallidus mansion.
“…Was it always this magnificent?”
The mansion, which had been eerie and decrepit just a month ago, had gradually started to resemble a place where people actually lived. Today, it looked more beautiful than even the Imperial Palace.
For today only, Seraphie decided to indulge in her victory. She deserved to praise herself for the first step she had barely taken.
“…Well done.” With an awkward self-compliment, Seraphie patted her head.
“Master!”
Marine, who had opened the mansion door and was waiting inside, shouted. Beyond the wide-open door, the household staff who had been eagerly waiting for Seraphie rushed out.
Seraphie, momentarily surprised by the grand welcome, soon burst out laughing. “Just look at all your faces!”
The butler, maids, servants, and even the cooks—all were smiling through tears.
“You’ve worked hard. You’ve done so well…” The butler, dressed in the tuxedo Seraphie had recently provided, kept repeating the same words like a broken doll. It was a sign of how much he cared for Seraphie and genuinely looked after the Vallidus family.
“Stop crying.” Seraphie patted the butler on the shoulder. “Your gloves are soaked. I’ll have to buy you another pair.”
“You’ve already bought me twenty pairs of gloves, Master. It’s okay to lose one.”
“Oh dear, our butler has become quite the extravagant one.” Seraphie joked. Only then did the butler replace his tears with a smile.
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