“Shouldn’t the Marquis be the one to watch his words?”

I retorted coldly, withdrawing my smile.

Dignity was only for those who showed courtesy.

‘He probably doesn’t even realize what he’s doing wrong. Should I teach him a lesson to bring him to his senses? Should I just eradicate House Brenden while I’m at it?’

With my substantial wealth and the knowledge from the original story, bringing down a noble family wasn’t particularly difficult for me.

I could recite a litany of their numerous misdeeds at a moment’s notice.

It would be even easier using magic.

I had left them alone only to avoid the guillotine ending and soul annihilation ending.

But if they were going to be this blatant, I couldn’t tolerate it.

Unaware that I was weighing my options, Marquis Brenden shouted loudly.

“Do you think His Majesty’s favor will last forever? Instead of kneeling and begging, what nonsense are you spouting?!”

Rude words from a first meeting?

The behavior of disrespectful people is the same in Korea or this world.

Swallowing a sigh, I replied.

“I am the education officer for His Highness the Crown Prince. Please show appropriate respect.”

“Just a gaudy shell obtained with your wanton body!”

I reflexively turned to look at Nikolai.

The color had drained from his face.

It was clear that even his vaunted patience had run out.

Blue veins stood out on the back of his hand gripping the sword hilt.

His bronze-tanned arm twitched in several places, as if manifesting his anger.

The nobles, except for Marquis Brenden, turned pale.

‘Why is he going this far? Is he doing this on purpose? To provoke Nikolai?’

I too wanted to teach a lesson to the one who kept insulting me.

But I had to prevent giving Nikolai a reason to be called a tyrant.

Blocking Nikolai’s path, I said.

“Your Grace. Can you take responsibility for what you just said?”

Marquis Brenden didn’t even realize my actions were protecting him.

“I only spoke the truth, what responsibility should I take?”

“I too am a court official, receiving a salary and fulfilling my duties.”

“You mean you’re not just a lowborn woman indulging in improper behavior without knowing her place?”

Nikolai exuded a murderous aura and an icy chill that could freeze the world simultaneously.

I turned to look at him, trying to prevent the dangerous beast from awakening.

‘Leave it to me. I can handle this.’

Nikolai’s brow was severely furrowed.

I could read his thoughts from his eyes alone.

‘Let me handle it. I’ll kill him cleanly.’

If I didn’t wrap this up quickly, news of the Emperor killing Marquis Brenden would spread throughout the empire.

Even in this situation, I didn’t lose my alluring smile.

“You’re treating me, whom His Highness the Crown Prince calls teacher, like a cheap prostitute.”

“At least you know your place, that’s fortunate!”

“What if I prove that I’m in this position due to my abilities?”

“What can a lowborn who’s lived shamelessly do without His Majesty’s protection!”

Marquis Brenden seemed to have forgotten that Nikolai was present.

Perhaps that Simon fellow had gone whining to his father.

Either way, it didn’t matter.

“I’ll prove my abilities by competing with the former swordsmanship instructor who was dismissed.”

“With my son? Compete? Hahaha!”

“If Sir Simon wins, I’ll resign from my position and leave the imperial palace.”

“That sounds good!”

“What will Your Grace offer?”

Excited by the thought of getting rid of me, Marquis Brenden said.

“I’ll give half, no, all of my fortune!”

“Offering your entire fortune. You seem quite confident.”

“I’ll even stake my life! Because Simon would never lose to the likes of you!”

“Your Grace’s life is of no use to me.”

“What?!”

“I apologize if I offended you. It was merely a merchant’s calculation, please forgive me.”

My apology, of course, only served to further upset Marquis Brenden.

That was my intention in provoking him.

“A lowborn wench dares to insult me? I’ll wring that stiff neck of yours!”

“If Sir Simon wins, you can do as you wish. But if he loses, you’ll have to give me your entire fortune.”

“You think a man of honor would go back on his word?!”

“Since a one-sided contract could be unfair, I’ll also stake my entire fortune. As the heiress of the Emster Trading Company.”

Gasps of shock and amazement could be heard here and there.

The nobles rolled their eyes, reddened with greed.

Marquis Brenden burst into laughter, as if he had already gotten his hands on my fortune.

“Hahaha! Don’t try to back out later, it won’t be fun!”

“I would say the same to you.”

“How dare you…!”

“A bet involving such a large sum requires a trustworthy judge.”

“Who do you propose as the judge?”

As soon as the question was asked, I pointed to Nikolai with both hands.

“I’d like to request His Majesty the Emperor, known for his fairness, to be the judge.”

The heads of the great houses, except for Marquis Brenden, gathered in the salon.

The high-class salon for gentlemen was decorated with dark brown leather sofas, crystal candelabras, and famous paintings.

The family heads, seated around a round oak table, were sipping drinks and sighing deeply.

“I should have stepped up first. It’s such a shame.”

Marquis Pipe, wearing jeweled rings on all ten fingers, tapped the table.

The small and skinny Count Blackfold replied coldly.

“We can’t let Marquis Brenden monopolize the wealth of the Emster Trading Company.”

Though their titles differed, they were on friendly terms, having ruled the empire as members of the four great houses for a long time.

Duke Leman was a man of few words today as well.

“If Marquis Brenden, who already monopolizes usury and gold mines, gets his hands on the Emster Trading Company, he’ll control all the empire’s money.”

Marquis Pipe downed his drink in one gulp.

Count Blackfold nodded.

“That’s not all. He’ll openly aim for Hartmann’s heart!”

“Rose Empress is known for her lack of dignity and gluttony… We must prevent a empress from coming out of House Brenden.”

Marquis Pipe grumbled.

It was a fitting comment from the father of Emma, who was considered the most virtuous among the empresses from noble families.

Count Blackfold, not wanting to be outdone, added.

“To become empress, one needs wisdom and learning, don’t you think?”

Count Blackfold’s daughter, Cynthia, was a bright woman who enjoyed reading and debates.

Duke Leman, father of Empress Freya who boasted the most outstanding beauty, didn’t add a word.

Unable to stand it any longer, Count Blackfold asked.

“Aren’t you concerned, Duke Leman?”

“I am concerned.”

“If we join forces, we can prevent House Brenden from swallowing up Emster.”

“I meant I’m concerned that Marquis Brenden might lose his entire fortune.”

“What do you mean? The opponent is just a woman with nothing but a pretty face!”

Both Count Blackfold and Marquis Pipe raised their voices.

“Simon is a capable and intelligent young man. Marquis Brenden may not know much else, but he raised a good heir!”

“Even if the competition was sewing or flower arranging, Simon would win. Haha!”

“Do you really see Elizabeth as just a naive young woman who knows nothing?”

Duke Leman looked at Count Blackfold and Marquis Pipe with an expressionless face.

“She’s a woman of great strategy. If she were an ordinary woman, she would have quickly become empress instead of an education officer.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“If she had been enthroned, she would have had difficulty moving freely, having to be mindful of our daughters. She wouldn’t be able to roam the palace freely like she does now.”

“Surely. She couldn’t have thought that far ahead?”

“Elizabeth has already captured the Crown Prince’s heart. It’s in a father’s nature to be drawn to someone his son likes.”

“If what Duke Leman says is true, she’s a terrifyingly intelligent woman.”

“I think there’s a high chance Elizabeth will win this bet. She’s not the type to engage in a fight she can’t win.”

Unable to believe this, Marquis Pipe slammed the table.

“House Brenden may have fallen behind, but they’re still one of the four great houses. They won’t be easily defeated by that lowborn woman!”

“Marquis Pipe. Remember why we went to see His Majesty?”

“Marquis Brenden had an affair, right? We wanted to drive out the evil woman who could cause future problems.”

“Do you think we’ve achieved that goal?”

“Ahem. It’s just been postponed due to the bet. Everything will be settled cleanly when Simon wins.”

“It’s not that simple anymore.”

Duke Leman shook his head heavily.

Marquis Pipe and Count Blackfold just stared blankly at his mouth.

“If things had gone according to the original plan, His Majesty would have been quite troubled. Even if he didn’t expel Elizabeth from the palace, he couldn’t have given her such special treatment openly like now.”

“That’s true, but…”

“The sudden bet has changed the atmosphere. No one can discuss Elizabeth’s status until the outcome is decided. What if, by some chance, Elizabeth wins?”

“That’s impossible!”

“Elizabeth probably calculated that we would be this confident.”

Duke Leman’s voice was calm.

The expressions of Marquis Pipe and Count Blackfold were not.

“If Simon loses, Elizabeth will gain astronomical wealth. At the same time, she’ll become someone the noble families can never oppose again. Don’t you understand what this means?”

“Duke Leman. Aren’t you overestimating that woman?”

“Even if Simon wins, it will be the start of new conflicts. Even now, you’re plotting to check House Brenden and divide his wealth. Starting with the gentlemen here.”

The two men kept their mouths shut at Duke Leman’s cold analysis.

“The more I know about her, the more terrifying she becomes.”

“Then what should we do?”

“Eliminating her would be best, but if we move carelessly, we might end up being the ones eliminated.”

“Haha. I think you’re worrying too much, Duke Leman.”

Said Marquis Pipe, who had been underestimating Elizabeth.

Count Blackfold agreed.

“No matter how cunning she is, she’s just a commoner woman. How could she possibly deal with us, who command thousands, tens of thousands of elite soldiers?”

“Oh my, Count! Watch your words. What if someone hears you?”

Marquis Pipe put a finger to his lips, as if warning against revealing secrets.

Duke Leman replied in a monotone voice.

“Think as you wish. It’s just my personal opinion.”

Count Blackfold and Marquis Pipe exchanged meaningful smiles.

“If we help Simon, even the greedy Marquis Brenden won’t be able to complain.”

“You mean to intervene to ensure Elizabeth’s defeat?”

“Duke Leman, you just watch. You’ll see a hen who broke her neck trying to be too clever.”

The next night, Nikolai visited the Canary Room.

Once again, he came through the window.

Surely Franz didn’t tell him about the dog hole?

“What were you thinking?”

He seemed angry.

I stared at him intently, closing the book I was reading, as he stood with his back to the moonlight.

“Making such a dangerous bet without permission. Are you in your right mind?”

“I was just preventing Your Majesty from becoming a murderer.”

“I didn’t ask you to do that.”

“Not even a word of thanks for preserving the honor of the one who saved your life?”

Nikolai, his thick eyebrows deeply furrowed, turned and replied.