Bobby brought warm tea to Olentia, who was lost in various thoughts.

“My lady, are you really alright? It doesn’t seem like nothing’s wrong.”

Bobby was quite perceptive. No matter how much Olentia said she was fine, Bobby kept asking the same question.

“I wish you wouldn’t hide anything from me. I don’t want to see you suffering alone, my lady.”

“Well, you see. I’m a bit embarrassed and don’t want to talk about it.”

“To think our lady would have something embarrassing. I’m more surprised by that. You usually brush off most things without a care.”

Olentia absently chewed her lip and tucked her long hair behind her ear. She felt nothing but anxiety.

‘Rather than fretting alone like this, wouldn’t it be better to just confide in Bobby?’

“So, about what happened outside today…”

In the end, she easily gave in and shared the story with Bobby. Olentia thought Bobby, who was usually calm, might be quite shocked.

As expected, Bobby nearly dropped the teapot she was holding.

As Bobby’s arms went limp,

“Bobby! Get a hold of yourself!”

Olentia cried out in surprise.

A moment later, Bobby regained strength in her arms and lifted the teapot again. With a pale face, she said,

“T-t-the Grand Duke, you say? Are you alright? Nothing happened, did it?”

Bobby seemed more focused on the fact that Olentia had met Grand Duke Belial than on her encounter with human traffickers.

“What do you mean by ‘something’?”

“Well… like having your energy drained. Or being charmed by His Highness, though that’s impossible. You know, things like that!”

Seeing Bobby, who always appeared wise and practical, rambling like this made Olentia think the Grand Duke’s reputation must be quite severe.

‘If by something, you mean… His Highness kept saying nasty things at every opportunity?’

Olentia bit her tongue, recalling Dimidius whom she had met earlier that day.

“W-well, you see. It was nothing.”

“Pardon?”

“I was just… I mean, when you look at it, he seemed to have helped me. It’s a bit ambiguous though.”

In the end, she had escaped from the human traffickers, so it could be considered a great help. Wasn’t that why she had wanted to know his name?

After learning Dimidius’s identity, the fact that he had helped her became ambiguous.

Isn’t that a bit unfair?

She didn’t want to be so cowardly.

Olentia spoke firmly again.

“He did help me. I’m grateful.”

Bobby let out a sigh of relief.

“Ah… Well, that’s good then. I was worried you might have encountered someone even worse while trying to avoid the human traffickers.”

“Honestly, the rumors might be a bit exaggerated. He didn’t seem like such a bad person.”

“I’m not so sure. The fact that Grand Duke Belial is half-human, half-demon doesn’t change. There are even people who say they’ve seen him kill someone with their own eyes.”

“Kill… someone?”

Olentia’s voice trembled like a candle in the wind. She shuddered at the thought of the Dimidius she had met in broad daylight strangling someone.

His imposing presence due to his large build was already intimidating enough.

Olentia hugged herself and shivered. The thought of having been close to such a person made her feel cold all over.

“Bobby, I think you’re right. I might have been in danger.”

At Olentia’s words, Bobby put down the teapot on the table and clenched her fists.

“I should have been by your side! Anyway, from now on, please make sure to move with a guard knight. I can’t bear the anxiety.”

“You’re right. I’ve been optimistic thinking it would be fine until now. Now that I’ve even hired a lawyer, I should employ my own guard knight.”

“Are you planning to bring mercenaries into the Count’s residence? Will that be allowed?”

“If it’s not allowed, then I’ll have to leave the Count’s residence. I should have done so from the beginning.”

It wasn’t as if she didn’t have money. With Count Sokol’s side continuing to appeal, the legal battle would likely drag on. She couldn’t stay at the Count’s residence indefinitely anyway.

Olentia’s heart swelled at the thought of truly facing a new world. She sipped her rosemary tea and said,

“I hope only joyful days lie ahead. I desperately want to be independent.”

Just as she was starting to relax and rest a bit…

Suddenly, the door burst open, and Countess Kikozellia walked in. Until now, she had rarely come to the annex. Moreover, even when she did come, she always knocked. Why was she acting like this?

Kikozellia, who had deliberately not knocked, stood before Olentia, her lace-heavy dress skirts swirling.

Her face was brighter than usual, as if she was in a good mood. Her large eyes sparkled with curiosity, and her thin lips curled upwards.

‘Why do I feel uneasy?’

Olentia put down her teacup and furrowed her brow.

“What’s the matter? Couldn’t you have knocked before entering?”

Despite the rebuke, Kikozellia paid no heed and said to Olentia,

“My lady! Archbishop Werbu has given us a wedding date. Isn’t that wonderful news?”

Olentia stared at Kikozellia with wide eyes.

‘What is she talking about? Surely, surely… they didn’t just get a wedding date because I had no intention of marrying?’

Olentia gripped her skirt tightly and exclaimed,

“Don’t tell me you’ve received a special marriage permit? Without my consent? That can’t be, right?”

She thought there was no way that could happen. Even though Sokol had done despicable things until now, and Countess Kikozellia had acted hypocritically. To force her into marriage.

But seeing Kikozellia’s face continue to flush, it seemed her thoughts were wrong.

A special marriage permit was a traditional method of marriage used when there were circumstances requiring a hasty wedding. Once the permit was received, it was as if they had obtained the Archbishop’s understanding, making it difficult to cancel the marriage.

It had been a mistake to wait and trust Sokol’s words all this time, even delaying the application to terminate the guardianship.

Olentia’s face gradually turned pale. She knew all too well whom Sokol and Countess Kikozellia had in mind as her husband.

It was Marquis Luxus.

The man who came every morning with all sorts of flower bouquets and jewels to propose was the rake of Green Park. He was an alcoholic, famous for changing women every other day.

Not long ago, he had come to the Armenica Count’s residence and grabbed Olentia’s wrist, refusing to let go.

‘What are you doing, Marquis Luxus?’

Olentia had cried out sharply, trying to pull her hand away, but Marquis Luxus merely licked his dry lips. His eyes, as he looked at her, were extremely cloudy.

‘It’s only natural that we should be together. Why are you being so distant?’

‘What are you talking about? I have not the slightest intention of marrying you, Marquis!’

‘It’s a match blessed by heaven, my lady. Even your soft flesh welcomes me.’

Even his way of speaking was utterly cheap.

Olentia felt nauseated as she applied force to her hand.

At that moment, Count Sokol came down the stairs, and Olentia looked to him for help. She thought that if he had any remnants of old affection, he would save her. But Sokol merely laughed heartily and extended his hand to Marquis Luxus.

‘Ha ha! Do you fancy my cousin sister so much, Marquis?’

The last thing she remembered was seeing the two men laughing. She had been so shocked at the time.

Even now, facing Kikozellia, Olentia felt dizzy.

“You’ve finally crossed the line. Is there really a need to go this far? Even though you’re already living well. Do you want to sell and destroy a person?”

As Olentia shouted with a cold face, Kikozellia shrugged.

“Ask others, my lady. Where in the Bonus Empire is there a family that can match the Armenica Count’s family, except for the Belial Grand Duke’s family?”

Countess Kikozellia of Armenica wore a completely different style of dress from the former Countess Malissa. While Malissa had worn clothes made of luxurious and elegant materials like satin, velvet, and silk, she preferred light materials with lavish decorations hanging all over.

Thinking that the attire suited her very well, Olentia said,

“Should it be judged so simply?”

“There’s only the Marquis Luxus’s family, isn’t there? I’ve found the most suitable match for you, my lady. So you should be grateful.”

Having said her piece, Kikozellia left Olentia’s room. Left alone with Bobby, Olentia gritted her teeth.

“Is this even possible, Bobby? Marquis Luxus, of all people. They must have surely discussed this with the Marquis, using my inheritance as bait.”

Bobby’s eyes were also brimming with tears, as if she was upset.

“We, we can’t send you to such a scoundrel, my lady!”

“Of course not. Me marrying Marquis Luxus. It’s horrifying just to think about it.”

“What do you plan to do?”

“First, I need to talk with Brother Sokol. I need to confirm properly whether he applied for this, or what exactly happened.”

Honestly, she thought the special marriage permit application was likely made by Sokol, her guardian. After all, Kikozellia’s opinion would be his opinion. Still, the reason she wanted to confirm properly was to gauge his intentions. She needed to know for certain what his attitude was.

One day earlier.

After buying all the new dresses showcased by the dressmaker, Kikozellia headed to the tulip garden, one of the prides of the Armenica Count’s residence, to have lunch.

Clusters of blooming tulips painted the ground in various colors.

She often dined in the garden with Count Sokol when the weather was good.

Count Sokol was already in the tulip garden. He wore a white vest with a navy frock coat over it. It was a truly intellectual and neat attire.

As the spring breeze blew, Kikozellia’s silky hair, treated with camellia oil, fluttered.

She sat down with a pleased expression and drank an aperitif.