“Are you telling me to get engaged to His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“That’s right! You certainly understand quickly.”

Sesenia barely held back a laugh at the absurdity. Such a thing had never happened in the past.

No matter how upset her sister was, the Duke never came to Sesenia to complain, let alone curse Elzere in front of Sesenia.

So she thought it was strange, but this was the purpose of his visit.

“Do you want a connection with the imperial family that badly?”

“Yes.”

“If you want it so much, why don’t you tell my elder sister to do it?”

“Your elder sister refused, didn’t she?”

Sesenia, who had intended to wear a mask in front of the Duke all day today, suddenly felt anger well up.

“If my elder sister refuses, do I have to do it unconditionally? Father, am I just a substitute for my elder sister? Was I born to take her place when she refuses something?”

In the past, the Duke would have gotten angry at such words, but instead he smiled awkwardly, as if apologetic to his daughter.

“That’s… that’s…”

“I won’t live like that anymore. I am me. I’m not a replacement for someone else.”

“…I understand. But… I wish you would agree to this. Your elder sister is so adamant… I’m just asking you to consider it.”

It was quite a quick surrender. He had easily given up on Elzere too, making Sesenia wonder why the Duke was suddenly unable to push his two daughters like he used to.

‘Why has he changed so much?’

His past behavior seemed better in comparison. That brazen discrimination and arrogance.

“Then I’ll be going.”

“You said I seem like a different person. But Father, you seem like a different person too.”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yes. You who were always confident in any situation, now seem strangely lacking in confidence.”

“Haha. Is that so? Come to think of it, I’ve been feeling a bit strange lately. Like I shouldn’t push too hard. I guess that’s why I seemed that way.”

‘Did he always talk to elder sister Elzere like this?’

Kindly and gently. Words and a voice she had never heard before. It made Sesenia feel even more disgusted. As if the villain was now pretending to be nice.

“Well, get some rest. Backed into a corner, I said some unnecessary things.”

“Father.”

“Yes?”

Sesenia called out to the Duke as he stood up from the sofa.

“If you want, I’ll take that position.”

“Really? Good. At least if you react this way, I’ll have some face to show His Highness the Crown Prince. Thank you. Thank you.”

Without any hesitation, he quickly accepted Sesenia’s sudden proposal, not doubting her change of heart at all.

“But I have one condition.”

“A condition?”

“Please keep it a secret from my elder sister.”

The Duke’s expression hardened at the unexpected request.

“Why do you want to keep it a secret?”

“My elder sister and I haven’t been getting along well lately. So I just want to give it as a surprise gift. I want to try to get along like we used to.”

It was a lie. But Sesenia realized that the Duke would completely swallow this clumsy lie. That he would do whatever she wanted, even if she said something ridiculous. That’s how desperate the Duke was.

And that marriage to the imperial family was a long-cherished wish for the Bestel ducal family, including himself as the Duke.

“Haha. Well thought out. Yes, family members should get along well. Very well. I’ll keep it a secret as you asked.”

It was a process she would have to go through anyway for her revenge. Even before talking to Elzere, from the moment talks of engagement with the Crown Prince began, Sesenia had decided she would get engaged to him.

After all, her revenge included Helbert, who would become Crown Prince, no, Emperor.

“Yes. Please do.”

“Good. You won’t change your mind, will you?”

“What about my elder sister? Is she really not going to get engaged to His Highness the Crown Prince? I’m worried she might change her mind.”

“No. She said she would never do it even if she died. So you don’t need to worry. Your mind is made up, right?”

“Yes. I should do as you wish, Father. I’ve always been the daughter who did as you wanted. I’ll get engaged to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Good, good. Then at the founding anniversary banquet, you can escort His Highness the Crown Prince…”

Sesenia quickly shook her head.

“No. We agreed to keep it a secret, so it wouldn’t be right to escort him at that event.”

“But…”

“I don’t need an escort. I don’t want to be escorted by anyone.”

The Duke smacked his lips, seeming regretful.

“So please keep it a secret from my elder sister until I say so.”

“Alright.”

“No matter what happens. If you happen to tell her before I want… I don’t think I’ll be able to keep this promise.”

“Are you threatening me?”

The Duke’s face wrinkled as he watched Sesenia become increasingly excessive. As if her true nature was coming out now that she had gotten what she wanted.

“I’m just saying how much I want you to keep it a secret.”

“…Alright. I’ll keep it a secret no matter what happens.”

“Yes.”

‘Because then Elzere will go on a hunger strike. After she suffers greatly, the Duke will say he’s going to engage me to the Crown Prince. If that happens… Elzere will think everything is flowing exactly the same as in the past and feel at ease.’

She waited for that moment when Elzere would feel at ease.

When she thinks her life is going as she wishes, like a ship sailing swiftly with a fair wind, Elzere will finally arrive in hell.

Not the clumsy revenge of now, but a completely red future like the life Sesenia had lived. It will devour everything of hers.

For that, Sesenia showed a bright smile to the Duke she had hated so much.

**

The next day.

Sesenia headed to the Iar Company after a long time. Having only received written reports for the past few days due to being busy, she was a bit surprised when she arrived at the company.

Although only a few days had passed, the company was strangely bustling with people.

All the Hephria cotton had been sold, and all that remained in the company were small display items. Even so, the inside of the company was quite crowded with people trying to buy those items.

“You’ve arrived.”

“There are a lot of customers.”

“It’s because we’re a small company. They’re trying to make connections to bring us to their trading companies somehow.”

“This incident seems to have been quite stimulating.”

“Yes. Because it was a company run by a noble young lady.”

“They probably thought it was just a noblewoman’s hobby.”

“Yes. But attention was focused on the discovery of the unique item called Hephria cotton and the great profit made from it. You don’t need to worry about it for now.”

Sesenia slowly nodded and walked up the stairs at one side of the trading company. Tedel was there. After selling all the Hephria cotton, he stayed in a place located on the second floor of the Iar Company.

“You’ve come, master.”

Tedel welcomed her so enthusiastically it seemed his tail might pop out.

“Did you do well?”

“Yes. I was just waiting for you, master.”

“Um… Tedel.”

“Yes. Did I do something wrong?”

“No. Let’s get ready to go out. I have somewhere to go with you.”

Rohan’s expression, who was following behind Sesenia, hardened.

“I’ll go with you too.”

“No. This time I want to go with just Tedel.”

“You’re leaving Lizbeth behind too?”

“Lizbeth is like my limbs. She’s one with me.”

“That’s somewhat of a relief. I absolutely cannot allow you to go alone with just the two of you, without even Lizbeth.”

“Mm. So it’s okay if we go then?”

“Is that how this conversation is flowing?”

Rohan shook his head with a deep sigh.

“Young lady. I’m absolutely not saying this with any other intention. I’m just saying this as… seeing you like a younger sister, like Lizbeth… All men are beasts.”

“Right. Tedel is a bit beastly.”

“No, that’s not what I mean… I’m saying to be careful. You never know what they might do behind your back while acting innocent in front.”

“Then Rohan should be careful too.”

As if he had been waiting for this, Rohan shook his head left and right.

“No. As I said, I think of you as a younger sister. Family, you know. So there’s nothing to worry about.”

“And Tedel is dangerous?”

“Yes. Of course. Well, now… He’s shed a lot of his slave mentality, but he lived his whole life in prison, didn’t he? You never know how he might change.”

“That’s a discriminatory statement. From someone who’s seen Tedel up close more than anyone.”

Unlike Rohan’s hostility towards Tedel, Tedel sincerely followed Rohan. Perhaps because of this, Tedel lowered his head with quite a gloomy expression.

“That’s understandable. I’m… a slave after all…”

“No. That’s not what I meant… No. You’re not a slave. You’re much better than the men out there. Somehow I feel like I’ve been completely fooled. Young lady.”

“Rohan is kind too, you know. I understand what you mean. You’re telling me to be careful of others, right?”

Only then did Rohan nod.

“Yes. I heard there was a strange guy. A very lecherous and ugly guy. I heard he speaks informally to you at every turn, a really unpleasant fellow.”

“Huh? Who said that?”

“Tedel did. So young lady, you need to be careful of guys like that. Absolutely not. Even if dirt gets in my eyes, absolutely not such a guy. Speaking informally to our precious young lady.”

“That’s right. That guy is absolutely no good, master.”

At times like this, they seemed quite in sync, as Rohan and Tedel simultaneously clenched their fists.

“Alright. Alright. I’ll be careful of such guys, don’t worry.”

“I understand. Anyway… I’m relieved that you’re taking Lizbeth, but… where are you planning to go?”

“The magic tower. There’s something I need to check there.”

“I see. Well then, have a safe trip.”

Rohan looked at Tedel with a somewhat pitiful expression. That look was quite ambiguous.