‘It’s fine, she often did that when we were young. It seems she’s picked up something odd, but she’ll stop in time.’

‘…I hope so.’

I wanted to ask why he got so red-faced and angry, but I held back, fearing it might upset him again.

Then, Edmond, climbing the stairs, suddenly stopped as if something occurred to him and looked down at me with a perplexed expression.

‘There’s something I want to ask.’

‘You can ask anything, Count.’

‘In that case, I’ll ask without hesitation.’

Edmond hesitated briefly before speaking.

‘Why, Lady Countess, do you specifically…’

‘Hmm? Specifically what?’

He looked at me intently, then irritably ruffled his hair.

‘…Never mind.’

He then swiftly disappeared, leaving me curious. Even when I pressed Lirien about it, she only talked about how wonderful it would be if the two of us got together.

Afterwards, even as close maids discouraged her and servants including Rail expressed disapproval, Lirien stubbornly insisted we were meant to be.

‘Edmond must have had a hard time with his stubborn sister when he was young.’

I imagined the sophisticated boy being dragged around by an energetic girl, and couldn’t help but laugh.

‘Hmm.’

Not wanting the coachman to hear me, I quickly composed myself and turned towards the window.

The bustling sounds of the square came through the window bathed in the warm May sunlight. The fearsome image of Edmond from the original story had faded, having spent time with the Miffidian siblings and learning he was cold to others but infinitely soft to his own people.

His pure reactions only fueled my playful side.

‘Still, I wonder what he wanted to ask this morning. He seems to have cooled off, though.’

Curious, I stepped out of the carriage when it stopped and brushed a few stray hairs from my neck.

My destination was Rainbutton’s law office, still shabby and old, for a check-up on the asset division case I had entrusted to him.
Entering the building and climbing the stairs, I let out a deep sigh.

‘I should suggest relocating this office with the legal fees.’

Upon reaching the office, I knocked politely and then opened the door, only to pause. Had I come to the wrong place? I double-checked the slightly worn-out sign before focusing back inside.

The scattered papers, a woman sprawled over the sofa with her arms flung out, glasses fallen below her face—it resembled a crime scene.

“Ms. Rainbutton?”

She jolted awake at my call, shaking like she’d been struck by lightning, and abruptly sat up. Papers that had been resting on her stomach fell to the floor. She wiped the drool from her mouth, blinking heavily—it seemed she had nothing much to do.

“Ah, Countess, you’ve arrived?”

“Should I come back later?”

“No, no, not at all. Right this way!”

Ms. Rainbutton hastily cleared the papers off the sofa and guided me to sit. I gingerly perched on the edge of the sofa and asked my question.

Ms. Rainbutton, picking up her glasses from the floor and wiping them on her shirt, sat across from me.

“Should I make some tea?”

“No need, I just want to hear directly about the progress of our case.”

Ms. Rainbutton picked up a document from the console, glanced over it, and began,

“The process is going smoothly without major issues. Your husband’s misconduct has made things easier. Even a slight probe shook out a lot. The assets will soon be seized, and investigators will search his personal office. There will be fines, but are you okay with that?”

“I can handle that.”

Ms. Rainbutton smirked.

“Then I can proceed without hesitation.”

Acknowledging with a grin, she rubbed her forehead, then looked at me with a surprised expression.

“Oh, did the certificate for the will’s authenticity verification come through?”

“Not yet, but I was informed it will be soon. It’s only a matter of time.”

“Well then, congratulations in advance.”

I shrugged my shoulders smugly.

“It’s not over yet, though.”

“Oh, I witnessed a shift in public opinion, though?”

Ms. Rainbutton tilted her head, gesturing towards the window.

“Did you see the carriages lined up on your way here? They’re not just attendees for the party from various regions, but I heard they’re all busy gossiping about your in-laws.”

I chuckled under my breath, glancing down demurely.

What’s all that to me.