Chapter 8 Part 1
“My lady, please have at least a snack. You’ve been working all day without eating anything…”
The day after returning from the party, far from resting, I had to spend the entire day busy handling all the work that had piled up while I was away.
“I’m fine. I won’t die.”
“You won’t die from eating either!”
In truth, most of House Laté’s affairs were managed by Mattio, but… he wasn’t particularly competent for a head of household.
So while Mattio was formally in charge, in reality, Fergio and I divided and handled the duties between us.
Mattio had become head of the family after killing his father and brothers, so he had no experience in succession training.
The one fortunate thing was that Fergio, despite his rogue-like temperament, was actually good at his job.
Contrary to his outward appearance that suggested he’d make a mess of everything, he actually had rather sound judgment.
“Damn Fergio. What the hell did he say to Marquis Beffel to get this kind of response? After reviewing the mining site and everything, now he wants to terminate the contract… Wasn’t he supposed to cooperate with the Marquis’s business?”
However, there was just one thing—he lacked the most important talent a noble should possess. That was…
“From what I heard… he said, ‘To think you’d try to negotiate with me with such a stupid mind. I have no intention of investing in someone as empty-headed as you.'”
…’social skills.’
Sadly, he truly didn’t possess even a chick’s tear worth of social grace.
He certainly did his work well, but he acted impulsively so often that more than a few business ventures had fallen through because of it.
“I don’t know what conditions the Marquis proposed, but why would he talk like that? Ah, so that’s why this matter came to me? Good grief.”
Fortunately or unfortunately, until now, the ventures hadn’t been substantial enough to cause major losses, but this time was different!
Recently, a small mining area at the edge of the undeveloped northeastern region was sold at auction.
At the time, whoever anonymously purchased the infertile land with uncertain development prospects was ridiculed as a fool, but not anymore.
As it turned out, an enormous amount of gold was discovered buried deep within the mine that had supposedly been depleted long ago.
After that, development approval came through quickly, and the Seris River—the lifeblood of Pendium—was set to have its waterway run through the middle of the land.
When rumors spread that the auction winner of this immensely valuable land was finally recruiting investors, it was only natural that numerous nobles who had been watching for an opportunity to get a piece of the action rushed in eagerly.
Among them, House Laté had joyously secured the position of first investor, which would yield the highest returns… and now that position had just evaporated.
“That land not only has the mine but also the Seris River flowing through it. We absolutely must secure the first investment… Tsk, Lynn. Fetch Fergio immediately.”
“Um, my lady… the Young Marquis isn’t home at the moment…”
I was hoping to sit him down for a chat, but what? He’s not home?
He creates this mess and then dares to skip out?!
“…I have a strong feeling that if I accidentally kill Fergio today, everything would work out better.”
“My lady, I understand how you feel, but please be patient. The Young Marquis didn’t go out to play—he went to the merchant guild as part of his duties.”
“Sigh… Since I don’t know the full situation, there’s nothing I can do. I’ll summon him through Raphla, so you can go now.”
Normally, Lynn would leave promptly when dismissed.
But for some reason, she was currently unable to move her feet.
She looked like she wanted to say something… but was wondering if she should?
“Speak.”
“What? W-What do you…”
“It looks like it’s about to burst out of your throat. Why keep it inside? Just say it.”
As I prodded her slightly, Lynn’s face darkened even more. What could it possibly be?
Finally, after I stopped my busy hands from shuffling through the documents, Lynn’s closed lips barely opened.
“Um, my lady. Do you perhaps remember the second daughter of Marquis Artine?”
“Marquis Artine? I think I’ve seen him flaunting his wealth at parties a few times. Do I need to know his wife and children too?”
Marquis Artine was among those with excellent business acumen, having personally grown the merchant guild he started in his youth into what is now considered a magnate in the export industry.
Because of this, I had seen his name on the same investor meeting lists several times.
But aside from encountering him at meetings, I felt like I’d heard of him somewhere else… What was it? Strangely familiar.
“Actually, a letter just arrived from the Artine household. You’ll remember when you see this.”
Lynn fumbled in her bosom and pulled out a letter to hand to me.
The brick-colored stationery tied with a silver ribbon looked meticulously prepared at a glance.
[Greetings, Lady Laté. The weather has been so lovely lately—I hope you are keeping well? I should have visited in person to express my gratitude, but due to my poor health, I must apologize for conveying my thanks through this letter…]
After reading the entire verbose and flowery letter, the previously vague pieces of my memory finally clicked into place.
She was the very Lady Artine whose relationship with me had grown distant after I’d thrown cold water on it before my regression.
Considering that hers was the only name that came to mind when thinking of the word “friend,” my interpersonal relationships were truly at a pitiful level.
And now that I’d lost even that, I had absolutely no one I could call a friend.
Looking at it this way, perhaps I wasn’t in a position to criticize Fergio’s social skills either…
“I see why you were hesitant to speak, Lynn.”
The reason Lynn had hesitated was revealed at the end of the letter.
‘Once I’ve recovered, I would like to visit you in person to express my gratitude. Would it be alright if I visited the Marquis’s residence?’
This letter was actually a response to a letter and gift I had sent previously.
I had sent a simple apology letter along with the brooch she had wanted and a new doll from the brand that made the brooch… it seemed she was quite moved by this.
According to the letter, she had taken the doll I sent to the “Ladies’ Secret Doll Society” and received tremendous envy from others.
“What shall we do about the visit? We could rent another venue for the tea party, so it might be fine.”
Though she seemed to be in better spirits, the fact that she wanted to come directly to the Laté residence was still surprising.
She, as a Marquis’s daughter, surely knew that Laté territory was a den of magical beasts.
This feels like her mood has improved a bit too much…?
Surely a delicately raised greenhouse lady wouldn’t want to elegantly sip tea surrounded by terrifying magical beasts?
“What tea party? I’m busy. I don’t have time for children’s games. So, Lynn, just send a polite rejection.”
“Mmm… hmmmm… really?”
Lynn narrowed her eyes into threads as she gazed at me intently.
That black pupil full of disbelief seemed to pierce right through me, giving me an uneasy feeling.
“…What’s with that irreverent look?”
“I’m just disappointed. This might be a golden opportunity for the only friend to enter your barren life, my lady.”
I had never particularly felt the need for friends.
What I needed wasn’t a friend but a proper amount of holy power to live my life—that was all.
From the beginning, for someone like me who was slowly dying as time passed, having a friend wouldn’t be of much help anyway.
“Who’s barren? I’m always moist.”
“Of course, I know there are two handsome gentlemen by your side, my lady, but a same-sex friend has a different quality to the relationship.”
…Who says I have two by my side?
If she meant Hyle and Abel, they absolutely weren’t in that kind of relationship with me, but I couldn’t deny that to uninformed observers, it might appear that way.
A villainess obsessed over by the secondary male lead and the male protagonist—doesn’t that sound like the title of some old romance novel?
But let me tell you, that kind of obsession might be enjoyable to read about, but it’s a real headache when you’re experiencing it.
“Fine, if you insist. Reserve a suitable place and tell her we can meet there.”
“Gasp, are you serious?”
“Yes, having a friend might be useful sometime when I need to create an alibi.”
It wouldn’t hurt to have a friend to create fake appointments with to avoid people I didn’t want to see, like last time.
Moreover, hearing information about Marquis Artine’s merchant guild could be quite useful too.
We still had a day left before meeting the Cardinal, so a brief indulgence should be fine.
