The Villainess Intends to Have It All - Chapter 27

Erina, who arrived at the Kerenik Viscount’s mansion by carriage, was alone in her confusion amidst an atmosphere of excessive hospitality.

“Heila, I certainly…”

“Oh, Erina. I must have forgotten to mention. All the hotels are fully booked due to the Founding Day period, you know?”

The carriage, which Erina had naturally assumed would head to the hotel she had reserved, stopped at the Kerenik Viscount’s mansion in the capital.

Thinking they had arrived at a hotel, Erina got out and was surprised to see the Kerenik mansion, even larger than the Iolles estate, and looked at Heila and Sandeth.

The two seemed completely nonchalant, which made Erina suspicious, and when she asked Heila, she received a glib response.

“Surely if we looked, we could find at least one place.”

“Really, there wasn’t a single place available!”

As Heila’s response rose subtly in tone, making Erina even more suspicious, Sandeth stepped in.

“I understand that the hotels are already at full capacity due to tomorrow’s Founding Day festival and the delegations from various countries.”

Sandeth was a person who had a comprehensive grasp of imperial information, almost as much as the emperor himself.

It wasn’t for nothing that he was called the emperor’s right-hand man.

Even as Sandeth answered with certainty while smiling, Erina still felt oddly strange about it.

As Erina’s eyes narrowed while looking at Sandeth and Heila, Sandeth smiled brightly.

“You must be tired. I’ll give you the room furthest from mine. How about resting at my mansion today?”

“Lord Viscount…”

Sandeth embarrassed Erina by remembering and repeating exactly what she had said during their first meeting.

“I’ll try to find you a place to stay as quickly as possible. How about staying until then?”

Erina was a bit flustered by Sandeth’s offer.

Although it was said that he enjoyed many benefits from being entrusted with the mana stone mine affairs, Sandeth was handling all the work.

Objectively speaking, all Erina had done in this business relationship was discover the mana stone mine.

Of course, that was the biggest contribution, but Sandeth had handled everything from the things that needed attention to all the complex and trivial matters.

Yet Sandeth acted like someone desperate to do more for her.

“But…”

“The child will be tired too.”

Sandeth deliberately mentioned Revil, whom Erina was concerned about, to persuade her to stay at the Kerenik mansion.

In fact, Sandeth’s intention to have Erina stay at the mansion wasn’t solely because he liked her.

Today, he had revealed to all the nobles that Erina was the owner of the mana stone mine.

He couldn’t predict what measures quick-witted individuals might take to approach Erina.

It was barely enough to be wary of strangers and unfamiliar people.

But when Erina said she would go to a hotel where such people were gathered, he felt quite uneasy.

Although Heila would be by her side as a guard, there might certainly be situations where she couldn’t intervene.

For Erina to stay as safely and comfortably as possible, the Kerenik mansion, where his eyes and hands reached the farthest, was the most suitable place.

“Perhaps you’re concerned about people’s gazes?”

Erina found it difficult to deny his words.

Even at today’s banquet, she had to endure strange gazes just for entering as a partner.

Moreover, now that she was facing divorce from Peiron, if she stayed at his mansion, it was clear that other speculations and rumors would circulate.

Seeing Erina hesitating, Sandeth smiled and said,

“During the Founding Day period when hotels are at full capacity, nobles coming up from the provinces often stay at the mansions of nobles they are acquainted with in the capital. Since the Medelia family doesn’t have a mansion in the capital, you needn’t worry too much.”

Somehow, what seemed like an excuse felt like a convincing argument when it came from Sandeth’s mouth.

Then she noticed Revil, who was silently holding her hand.

As Sandeth said, it must have been a tiring day for Revil.

After pondering for a while, Erina greeted Sandeth.

“Then, I’ll be imposing on you for a while.”

Pleased with her answer, Sandeth showed a smile in his eyes and offered his arm to Erina.

Having become somewhat accustomed to being escorted once before, Erina carefully placed her hand on his arm.

Seeing Heila holding Revil’s hand and following behind, Erina entered the Kerenik mansion with Sandeth.

Passing through the large arched main gate, a path lined with well-tended trees came into view.

Erina saw the mansion at the end of the not-so-short path.

The mansion, slightly larger than the Iolles house, was comfortably decorated with warm beige walls, unlike the pure white Iolles mansion.

Unlike the Iolles mansion, which loved to show off with the entire second floor changed to glass walls revealing the corridors clearly, this one had neatly placed windows of appropriate size.

As they reached the entrance of the mansion after passing the white marble-paved path, a middle-aged man was seen standing in front of the wide-open beige door.

“You’ve arrived, Your Excellency.”

“Schmilden.”

“It’s an honor to meet you, I am the butler Schmilden Bercel.”

After greeting Sandeth, Schmilden introduced himself to Erina with a gentle smile.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Sir Bercel. I’ll be in your care during my stay.”

“Please call me Schmilden. I will do my best to serve you during your stay.”

Erina was a bit taken aback by Schmilden’s solemn response, as if he had been given a great mission.

Sandeth, suppressing a laugh at Erina’s attempt to hide her bewilderment, gave a nod to Schmilden.

“I’ll show you inside.”

Erina followed Schmilden, who had entered first with Sandeth, into the mansion.

An enormous and heated controversy was thrown at the Founding Day banquet.

The nobles who left the imperial palace couldn’t pass up such a juicy topic and discreetly gathered with their usual associates.

Even those who weren’t usually interested in social circles were busy trying to join the small gatherings that had suddenly sprung up here and there.

Among them, the nobles who received the most invitations and attention were undoubtedly the members of the Medelia Viscounty.

With Erina Medelia’s name on the mana stone mine and the Emperor recognizing her as Erina Bril Medelia, she was undoubtedly a member of the Medelia family.

It was clear that Erina would divorce and once again become Lady Medelia.

The eyes of numerous nobles couldn’t help but turn towards the Medelia family.

Romdrick, Erina’s uncle, was overwhelmed by the rush of imperial dignitaries who had never even glanced at him before, now coming to greet him.

Born as the second son in the Medelia family, barely receiving a small territory above a powerless baron, he had never been able to surpass his older brother since childhood.

His brother inherited the family, and in everything from their marriages to having children, he could never get ahead of his brother.

Then one day, an opportunity came.

Romdrick couldn’t help but know that this opportunity was his last in life.

He eventually abandoned his thin moral code and seized the Medelia family.

There was his brother’s young daughter left behind, but he easily persuaded her and swallowed everything of the family.

Only when he looked back did he realize that the niece left alone had become a burden he couldn’t discard.

At a time when he was worried about making a strategic marriage due to the social climate, the Iolles Duchess offered an appropriate price.

Romdrick disposed of everything left in Erina’s name, not the family’s, and proceeded with the strategic marriage.

Thinking that they were practically strangers after the marriage, he had never once contacted Erina.

Pleased with resolving the big burden left on the family, he didn’t even bother to think about her.

While others might refer to Medelia as Erina’s family home, Romdrick had never once thought of it that way.

But at this moment, even an opportunist like Romdrick couldn’t fail to realize that he needed to become an affectionate family to Erina.

“For Lady Medelia… oh my. Since there’s already another Lady Medelia, I’m not sure what to call her.”

“Erina is like my own daughter. She’ll be returning home anyway, so I suppose it’s fine to call her that. Haha.”

“I see. You must be delighted, Viscount Medelia.”

“Of course. It’s just that my daughter… ah, I’ve gotten into the habit of calling her my daughter even though she’s my niece, as I’ve practically raised her for so long.”

Surrounded by nobles, Romdrick was busy deceiving them while inwardly calculating.

If he welcomed Erina back into the family and treated her like a daughter, gently persuading her, she would surely follow him just like before.

She had been a child desperately craving love since she was young, so it was certain.

If Erina returned to the Medelia family, his position would be different from before.

Not just different.

Being the only family of Erina, who would become the owner of the mana stone mine, would bring him wealth he could never obtain in a lifetime.

It would also bring him tremendous honor he couldn’t even dream of.

Just imagining it made Romdrick burst into laughter.

There was another person who thought like Romdrick.

“My goodness, Viscountess Medelia. You must be so happy!”

“Indeed! A niece chosen by God to return to her family home. The Medelia family will change now.”

Camille couldn’t believe the situation unfolding.

She was overwhelmed by people she couldn’t even mingle with in social circles constantly calling for her.

But like Romdrick, Camille was also quickly turning her mind even in the midst of the chaos.

Although she had treated Erina like a burden when she stayed at the Medelia mansion, right now she had to act like a deeply loved niece she couldn’t forget.

Despite their relationship being worse than strangers, she had to pretend to be like an affectionate mother and daughter.

Camille was busy packaging Erina as if she were a child raised with affection.

“As someone who raised her like a daughter, I’m happy she’s returning, but… I’m worried about the hurt Erina received from her marriage.”

“Oh my, Viscountess Medelia, you have such a kind heart.”

Camille brilliantly acted the part of an aunt who was concerned about the hardships her niece, raised like a daughter, had endured.

Those who weren’t usually associated with her were momentarily fooled by Camille’s act.

Camille was thrilled by the reactions of these haughty individuals who were surprised and overreacted to her every word.

While relishing the thrilling feeling, Camille thought no differently from Romdrick.

The childlike Erina, who had craved love, would surely fall for it if they extended a hand.

Dealing with the swarming nobles, Romdrick and Camille couldn’t help but know what they needed to do right now.

They had to meet Erina.