Chapter 31

Chapter 30

Villainess? Young-Ae - 4

At my age, most people are already married, or at the very least, engaged. In this world, where one is considered an adult at 17, a 21-year-old noble is right in the prime age for marriage. To be precise, I might even be slightly past that age.

Before I possessed this body, I was young, and after the possession, there was the war. After the war, I had no interest in marriage, so I kept delaying it. The head of the family trusted me so much that he never pressured me to get married.

However, the nobles were not so polite as to leave a prime catch on the marriage market alone. Proposals for marriage flooded our family one after another, and the head of the family, without rejecting any of them, passed them all on to me. Balancing my duties as the head of the inspection department and politely declining these proposals was quite a challenge.

And then, last year, during the New Year's ceremony, when all the nobles of the empire gathered in the capital, an incident occurred.

"This child is my daughter."

After the war, the imperial succession dispute, and the purge of the opposition, the New Year's ceremony was held when the empire was finally able to catch its breath. As a department head, I had to make the rounds, and during this process, I met the Iron Blood Duke. He was accompanied by Margareta.

Upon the Iron Blood Duke's introduction, Margareta bowed her head demurely, and I, somewhat awkwardly, bowed in greeting.

"I was worried about her lack of friends her age, but fortunately, you are around the same age. Could you keep her company while you stay in the capital?"

"Of course, Your Excellency."

Who would refuse the Duke's proposal? I accepted it lightly, thinking it would strengthen my ties with the Iron Blood Duke. But after that, things started to get strange.

Margareta frequently visited the inspection department's reception room and sometimes invited me to the Valenti family's mansion in the capital. Despite the unexpected frequency of our meetings, which left me bewildered, I managed to get through the New Year's ceremony period with the thought that it would only last for a while.

However, Margareta stayed in the capital even after the New Year's ceremony. It was around this time that the Iron Blood Duke brought up the subject of marriage to me. Drenched in cold sweat, I barely managed to decline, and the Iron Blood Duke, frowning, said one thing before leaving.

"Tell it to Margareta yourself."

He meant I should tell the young noblewoman, who had just come of age, that I had no intention of marrying her. Ah, what a cruel person...

But what could I do? If I showed any weakness, he might have me disemboweled on the spot. I tried to calm my trembling heart and, after a few days, finally managed to convey my refusal to Margareta, who had come to the inspection department.

"You'll regret this, Karl Youngshik. There can't be two people like me."

Surprisingly, Margareta neither flew into a rage nor showed any signs of sadness. She simply smiled lightly and left. Her words, "You'll regret this," sounded like a threat, "I'll kill you," and I trembled with fear for a while. Fortunately, I had no further contact with the Iron Blood Duke or Margareta, and I managed to survive.

Reflecting on it now, I can somewhat understand the Iron Blood Duke's sudden proposal. Margareta had to be married eventually, but the age and status of potential suitors were problematic. When I rose to prominence with the support of the royal family, I became a viable option. While not the ideal choice, I was at least a reasonable compromise. He probably didn't expect me to reject the proposal. Looking back, I am grateful that the Iron Blood Duke didn't show his anger.

...Yes, I was really grateful.

- I didn't expect such a firm rejection from a young man.

After a year of no contact, the Iron Blood Duke brought up the old bombshell.

"I was disrespectful to Your Excellency at the time due to my lack of consideration."

- Huh, are you saying you would accept the marriage proposal now?

No, not so suddenly.

Seeing my hesitation, the Iron Blood Duke let out a light snort.

- Giving a second chance to someone who has already missed their opportunity is too generous.

"Yes, that is a fair point."

- If you want to marry Margareta now, you will have to come to my castle and beg on your knees.

"I will keep that in mind..."

I don't understand why accepting the proposal is assumed, but I can't argue with the Duke's threat. I can only nod and bow.

The Iron Blood Duke looked at me silently, but his stern expression made me tremble. Despite being a generation older than the other dukes, he seemed remarkably vigorous, looking like a middle-aged man.

- The patience of the Valenti family is not infinite.

The Iron Blood Duke's low voice cut through me like a dagger.

- If you keep avoiding it, you will be devoured without even realizing it.

"I will keep that in mind."

The Iron Blood Duke let out another snort and ended the call.

I won't be able to sleep tonight. I'll probably have another nightmare about being hanged in front of the Iron Blood Duke's castle.

This time, I dreamed of being led to the guillotine, not just being hanged. At least it wasn't a dream of death, but rather of the moments before death. Still, it's a relief.

"Father really went too far. Even if Karl Youngshik is to your liking, it's impolite to contact him out of the blue."

Margareta's laughter echoed in the room.

The day after the intense, forced video call with the Iron Blood Duke, Margareta dragged me to the vice president's office in the student council. With no other student council members around, I casually mentioned the Iron Blood Duke's call, and she has been laughing ever since. I was under threat, and she's laughing...?

"I don't think I have done anything to win the Duke's favor."

If anything, I have been disliked. But Margareta shook her head and replied.

"How many people do you think the Duke would contact personally?"

It would be rare. The problem is that I feel he is paying attention to me, but in a negative way. Even the top of a hit list is still being paid attention to.

Margareta continued to laugh at my uneasy expression. Indeed, a noblewoman doesn't understand the heart of a fragile civil servant.

"If you're afraid of Father's calls, why don't you marry me? That would solve the problem, wouldn't it?"

"That's a bit too much of a joke."

"Hehe, is it?"

She sighed slightly and stood up. Since I had finished all my work for the day, I could leave now. As I stood up, Margareta also rose, perhaps to see me off.

"I'll be going now. Will you come at the same time tomorrow?"

"Yes, I'll come tomorrow."

"Understood."

I wish this exhibition or whatever it is would start and end quickly. It feels like I'm going to work twice a day. I wonder if there's another civil servant like me in the world.

***

As soon as Karl left the vice president's office, I collapsed onto the sofa and covered my face.

"Ah─"

If I looked in a mirror, my face would probably be red. In front of Karl, I struggle to keep my composure, and as soon as the tension eases, I end up like this.

"Such a dense person."

I muttered resentfully to the absent person. Who in the world would joke about marriage, especially to someone who had previously received a marriage proposal? I don't know if he's really dense or just pretending not to notice.

Thinking he's dense is frustrating, but thinking he's pretending hurts my pride. In this impossible situation, my resentment towards Karl only grew. That's why I called Father last night and asked him to tease Karl a bit. Imagining Karl's flustered reaction in front of Father makes me feel better.

I sighed slightly and walked towards the window. While the one who falls in love first is at a disadvantage, this is a tough battle. Still, meeting him at the academy is a stroke of luck.

'I didn't expect to fall for him so quickly.'

I first heard Karl's name two years ago. As the youngest department head in imperial history, it was impossible not to hear his name. He continued to rise with the support of the royal family, and his relationship with the Conqueror Duke seemed close.

From then on, I suspected that if I were to marry, it would be to him. I knew what Father had been considering for my marriage. Karl, who appeared at that time, was a suitable candidate for the Valenti family's son-in-law.

I only met the most promising husband candidate a year later, and it would have been even later without the New Year's ceremony. Out of frustration, I visited him more often and made teasing remarks. Thinking back, it's a bit embarrassing.

After that, I fell for him. Since he was going to be my husband anyway, I tried to get along with him, but I fell for him uncontrollably. It's regrettable that it's a one-sided feeling.

There was no dramatic event or turning point. I gradually developed feelings for Karl as I met him, talked to him, and laughed with him. I ended up falling for him like being drenched in a drizzle. There were many reasons to like Karl, and no particular reason to dislike him. Who else would I marry if not Karl?

"I'm not ready to be with someone yet."

Thinking back to when I fell for Karl, I bit my lip, remembering the moment. I thought he would accept the proposal, but he rejected me in person. I tried to remain calm and indifferent, then fled back to the Duke's castle.

Embarrassed and ashamed, I cried and hit my pillow. Eventually, I calmed down after being comforted by my older brother and sister. Being comforted like a child by siblings with a significant age gap was... an embarrassing memory.

'It's all Karl's fault.'

I'm not to blame. If Karl hadn't rejected me, none of this would have happened.

After the shock of my first heartbreak, I stayed in the Duke's castle, but I had to leave when the academy's opening ceremony approached. At the time, I didn't want to go to the academy, but I didn't want the rumor of the Iron Blood Duke's daughter being rejected by the inspection department head and going into seclusion to spread.

Hearing about the student council at the academy I entered might have been fate. The student council, seen as a stepping stone to a bureaucratic career, was a group I would normally ignore. But now, I had a reason to attach myself to a bureaucrat.

Not ready to be with someone? I'll stick by his side until he is. I'll pass the civil service exam with confidence and join the Ministry of Finance or the Inspection Department.

With Father's recommendation, I could skip the exam, but if the department head rejects it, I might end up in another department. While no one would dare reject the Iron Blood Duke's recommendation, Karl has already rejected the Duke's marriage proposal.

'What good luck.'

But before I even had to take the civil service exam, Karl came to the academy. I was so happy when I heard the news from Father. We are meant to be together. Despite some twists, we met again.

Now, I can approach Karl, who can't run away, step by step and calmly. First, I need to change the way he addresses me. He calls me Margareta but insists on calling himself Karl Youngshik.

Thinking about my struggles, I want to tease him a bit. Yes, I'll make Karl fall for me so deeply that he'll beg me to call him Karl instead of Karl Youngshik. I'll pretend to refuse at first, but when he looks desperate, I'll give in.

I'm amazed at my perfect plan. With Karl at the academy, I won't let him slip away. Karl is as good as mine. The Valenti family always gets what they want. The only question is when.

'Ah, there's Karl.'

As I smiled, I saw Karl leaving the building through the window. I watched his retreating back, covering my mouth with a fan. He might suddenly turn around, so I can't show him my embarrassed smile.

Seeing Karl walking towards the baking club room, I thought of the pink-haired Young-Ae. Karl seemed to care a lot about her, and she seemed to have some affection for him, though not romantic.

'No matter.'

Again, the Valenti family always gets what they want. Karl might wander and push me away for now, but his place is by my side. I can forgive him for straying a bit during the process. I can be that generous.

No matter what happens, in the end, the one who will be smiling is Margareta Valenti.

Author's Note

Margareta (thinks of herself as Chita)

What will the villainess, Young-Ae, who will share Karl's academy life, do next?

Thank you for reading this chapter!