Chapter 6

"My parents were trying to secure our status as nobles and wished for a marriage with an old noble family."

"It was a political marriage to use as a stepping stone, wasn't it?"

"Yes. So, I had no choice but to obey my parents. If I were cut off, I couldn't survive."

If I couldn't be of use, at least marry into a poor noble family and expand your network.

Recover the investment we've made in you, and if you can't, just disappear.

I can't survive without my parents. I can't choose the right path without relying on someone.

It was embarrassing to admit how pitiful I was.

"What terrible parents."

"I'm used to it."

I answered with a bitter smile. In reality, I had little value, and I understood that I should marry into a family despite the past infidelity and the annulment of my engagement.

"Even if you continue to endure for your family, your attitude is admirable."

As I felt guilty and was about to look down, the earl said this to me.

"If I were in your place, I wouldn't have lasted a day before running away."

"You're right."

I thought he was joking or flattering me, but both Mira and the earl nodded seriously.

I was happy, but I couldn't think of myself that way.

In the end, I couldn't endure and ran away from home, and I never wanted to return to them.

But I didn't have the strength to handle things on my own and had to rely on someone.

After thinking about it, I remembered Lord Bradbury, whom Nathan had always been afraid of.

All I could offer was myself.

"If he really is a vampire, maybe I could offer my blood in exchange for his cooperation. Then the earl wouldn't have to go to the trouble of kidnapping maidens, and the maidens wouldn't have to be afraid. Three birds with one stone! I thought it was a great idea at the time..."

"Ha!"

The earl burst out laughing at my words.

Mira tapped his upper arm as if to scold him, but she was also looking down to hide her expression.

It was a plan I came up with while barely sleeping, terrified of being pursued by Nathan.

When I said it out loud, I almost cried at how terrible it was.

But.

A family that bought their title with money.

A family trying to take over the earl's house with money.

A vulgar family that thinks anything can be forgiven with money.

"I thought the rumors about the Villiers family were all true, so I mistakenly believed that rumors in high society were quite accurate."

While I was desperately explaining, Oscar was trying not to laugh.

He seemed more amused by my naive idea than mocking it.

Even if I were beaten and scolded, I couldn't complain, but the earl just seemed to be enjoying himself.

"Believing such insulting rumors about vampires and coming here so rashly, I am truly sorry."

Still, I bowed my head again to apologize.

"There's nothing insulting about it; my husband is the one who enjoys spreading the rumors."

"Huh?"

Mira said this with a look of exasperation.

Not understanding, I looked at Oscar, who leaned back in the sofa with his arms resting on the back.

"I just play with the idle people who come to verify the rumors, even though they have no real purpose."

"Playing so seriously that he even had the exterior of the house painted black to look like a vampire's."

"...Is that so!?"

I was surprised to learn that the reason this house was so dark and ominous was because of that.

Oscar grinned wickedly at my surprise.

"By the way, everyone who works in this house is in on it."

"They're all bored with country life."

"You say that like it's not your fault, but you're the worst of them."

"I'm just following my master's orders."

Mira said this with a composed face, but from the easygoing atmosphere between them, I could tell she was probably enjoying it too.

"Excuse me, but may I ask why you do such things?"

"Why? It's obvious."

The earl laughed, genuinely amused.

"Because it's fun."

The answer was so simple and refreshing that I was left speechless, my mouth hanging open.

"First, I have Mira greet the visitors. If they're scared, we start the operation. I change into this outfit, the other servants hide, and we wait in the darkened hall."

"Just being expressionless is enough to scare people, isn't it?"

"No, you keep talking about me, but I'm scary enough on my own."

As the details of their playful scheme were revealed, I realized I had fallen into their trap every time.

"Of course, I don't always dress like this."

He pointed to the old-fashioned vampire costume from a story illustration.

"If the visit is during the day, we wait until night. Then we do our best to scare them."

"My pale complexion is makeup."

"These dark circles are too. If they're rude, we just send them away, but if they're interesting, we reveal the truth and let them spread the rumor that it's all true in the capital."

"Either way, the rumor that my husband is a vampire spreads."

I was both enlightened and stunned. I was clearly the target this time.

"Tricked and embarrassed, I've been made a fool of..."

I had genuinely believed Oscar was a vampire and offered my blood as a bargaining chip.

Realizing my shallowness, I blushed and hung my head in deep reflection.

"Truly, I am very, very sorry."

"Heh, you're amusing."

"Freya is a kind person."

Mira smiled as Oscar laughed, half in exasperation.

"Alright, since I'm bored, I'll play along."

The earl slapped his knee and said this.

"Huh?"

"Basically, you just need to pretend to be my lover or fiancée to scare away the troublesome men."

"There's no reward for this, though."

"I don't care. I welcome anything that sounds fun."

I wondered if it was okay to get involved in such a troublesome situation for such a reason.

I was worried, but the earl looked genuinely happy, so I couldn't say anything.

"Since that's decided, let's start the strategy meeting."

"Sir, if you don't rest soon, the guests will be troubled. Let's have the meeting tomorrow."

Mira reminded him, and Oscar looked startled.

It was still early for midnight, but I was exhausted, so her suggestion was welcome.

"Sorry, I didn't notice."

He seemed to realize how worn out I was and looked apologetic.

"My lord gets absorbed in his games."

Mira said this with a look of exasperation, and Oscar looked embarrassed.

I understood that he had said Mira was more important than himself, and indeed, there was a relaxed atmosphere between them. It was very different from the servants in my household, who were bound by money. It was strange that Mira, who looked younger than Oscar, spoke to him in a somewhat patronizing way.

"By the way, how old is the earl?"

I suddenly wondered how old he was, though I understood that fifty referred to his father.

"Twenty-eight."

"Y-You don't look it...!"

I couldn't say that I thought he was in his mid-thirties, so I tried to cover it up.

"Haha, you're honest."

But he saw through me and laughed.

"Don't worry. We've always had old faces."

"Lord Oswald also looked very old."

"We're born with old faces and die with them."

Oscar and Mira laughed without any concern.

"Well, let's not get any older. Time to sleep."

Oscar got up from the sofa.

"By the way, do you have a place to stay?"

"I... hadn't thought about it."

I had been so focused on getting here that I hadn't considered what would happen next.

Oscar laughed and said, "You're reckless."

"Mira, show her to a room."

"As you wish."

"Huh!?"

He left the parlor quickly.

Before I could react, Mira pushed me into the bathroom, borrowed a nightgown from a maid with a similar build, and before I knew it, I was being allowed to stay.

"Um, I'm really, really sorry for everything..."

I bowed deeply to Mira as she finished explaining how to use the guest room and was about to leave.

"Freya, please learn to say 'thank you' early on."

Mira smiled gently and said, "I'm strict about such things," then waved and left the room.

I was overwhelmed by a mix of gratitude, embarrassment, and the joy of being treated like a human.

Sliding into the fluffy bed and closing my eyes, I thought:

Maybe this is a convenient dream of an unconscious me, and my real body has already been drained of blood and turned into a lifeless doll.

I laughed a little at the thought.

Even if that were true, the conversation with them was so pleasant that I didn't mind.