Chapter 10

Irena took just one more helping of the sweets and then left briskly.

I did invite her to stay for dinner, but she declined with a smile.

It seemed she had no interest in our modest family meal, which was a relief for me.

But... I’m exhausted.

In front of Irena, I put on a brave front, but now I don’t even have the energy to stand up.

Slumping in my chair, Alves and Fil returned.

I’m really glad they didn’t run into Irena.

"Lucia! Yurana told me that Irena was here. Why didn’t you call me?"

"...Well, you don’t really like Irena, do you, Brother?"

"That’s true, but...!"

"...Besides, it’s a good thing you weren’t here. I was barely holding it together."

I tried to smile.

But it seemed to come out as a hollow grin.

Alves frowned and turned to Fil. Fil looked at me, then sat down.

"Lucia, I know you’re tired, but can you tell us what you talked about?"

"...You really want to know?"

"I need to hear it for future planning."

Fil spoke gently but firmly.

He looked unusually serious.

Alves also sat down and waited for me to speak.

I sighed heavily and then gave a brief account of my conversation with Irena.

"...Unbelievable."

Alves, with his arms crossed, muttered and fell silent.

I tried to soften Irena’s words a bit, but perhaps Brother guessed the original words almost accurately.

The result was that one word: "Unbelievable."

I felt the same way.

Knowing that I was jilted by Lord Gorman, Irena still came to our house.

The wedding dress that was supposed to be sent from the Ophels family, which was decided when we got engaged, hadn’t even been started.

The sudden cancellation of the engagement, which seemed to be due to Lord Gorman’s whims, had actually been planned for months.

Everything is unbelievable.

But the most unbelievable thing is that the Ophels family seems to be eagerly waiting to make a laughingstock of me.

I may be disliked by Lord Gorman, but did I do something to be hated by the Ophels family?

"...Do they intend to ruin the Laguren Viscount family?"

Alves, who had been staring at the ceiling, muttered.

Startled, I looked at Brother, who uncrossed his arms and tapped his forehead with his fist.

"Thoroughly demeaning Lucia in my absence, then spreading it among the nobility to tarnish my reputation. If the rumor that the Laguren family has incurred the wrath of the Ophels family takes hold, the moneylenders might try to recover the remaining debt. If that happens, we might have to give up everything. Or, we might be destroyed by the bad reputation first."

"...Such a thing..."

Such a thing is simply unbelievable.

I want to laugh it off, but it feels like it could be their true intention.

As I paled, Fil, who had been silent, shook his head.

"Their goal is not to ruin the Laguren Viscount family. The Count of Ophels is more cunning than that. Besides, the Laguren territory is small and in a difficult situation, but it has its value, which the Count of Ophels knows."

What does that mean?

Fil suddenly relaxed his expression and smiled at me.

"The Laguren territory is close to the capital and has a good climate. It’s too small to operate as an independent territory, but it’s a sweet spot to use."

Fil paused and let out a bitter laugh.

"The alliance between a count and a viscount is not new. If they can drive you out, they can install someone with the blood of the viscount as a puppet lord. ...The Count of Ophels probably wants to take over the Laguren territory."

...Take over.

My jilting seems to be part of a much bigger story.

"Oh, so that’s the angle. ...This is bad."

Slumping in his chair, Alves groaned.

"I can’t move. Lucia has to attend that tasteless wedding. But if we do nothing, the Count of Ophels and Gorman will do as they please. I wish I could go with you, at least."

"...I’ll do my best to stand up to them."

"That’s right. Lucia is strong, so you can put up a good fight. But high-ranking nobles are too cunning; you never know what they’ll do. You might be overwhelmed by their combined efforts... Damn, what can we do?"

Brother finally buried his face in his hands.

I, too, had no energy to put on a brave front today.