“It’s nice to meet you, young lady. I am Alisa Beriksid.”

The formal household education began ahead of the marriage.

The tutor Ryan brought was Lady Alisa, the mistress of the Beriksid family, who were once nobles but had now fallen to commoner status.

Though she was quite elderly, she had only recently started working as a tutor and was an unknown newcomer in the industry.

Claire had received dedicated training from Mrs. Hilbrin, the most famous etiquette teacher in the territory, but Riley could not.

Even though Riley and Claire’s circumstances had changed immediately, Mrs. Hilbrin, who frequently visited the mansion, refused to become a teacher since she knew Riley’s situation in the Eadalin family.

Moreover, ordinary nobles start education from a young age. Thus, the educational counterparts of many tutors were mostly young children.

Unlike easily controlled children, there were few teachers who wanted to be in charge of educating fully grown adult women.

“Though her experience is short, since she was born a noble, there should be no lack in quality.”

Ryan watched carefully, worried that Riley might get upset that he had found a teacher with no experience.

However, Riley sincerely welcomed Mrs. Beriksid.

“I am Riley Eadalin. Though I am late in learning due to circumstances, I will work hard.”

“Speed in learning does not matter. Only the will to learn is important. If you trust me and follow me faithfully, I will teach you everything I know to the best of my ability.”

After exchanging greetings, Ryan left the two to talk.

“Since time is tight, I plan to teach only what is absolutely necessary.”

“Yes.”

“Court etiquette, foreign languages, writing, and recitation will be taught as basics, and if you wish, I can also teach singing, harp, or dancing. For other things, it would be better to find separate teachers.”

“For now, since we don’t have time, please focus on teaching court etiquette, foreign languages, and dancing.”

Nobles typically know how to play one or two instruments, but there was not enough time to learn an instrument right away.

It would be efficient to prioritize court etiquette and cultivate inner refinement by learning writing and foreign languages.

“As quickly as possible, I look forward to your guidance.”

[This is the timeline separator]

The scandal that shook the capital a month ago was finally conveyed here to Lupla.

“Master, I think you need to see this.”

The head butler Leo urgently handed something to Ryan. Riley, who had come out to drink water, witnessed this scene.

“What is this?”

“It’s a gossip magazine from the capital a month ago.”

“Why are you giving this to me? Don’t tell me our marriage news has been reported?”

Ryan frowned as he took the newspaper.

“What is this, scandal of the century? What kind of ridiculous article is this?”

“It seems the fact that the young lady was engaged to Count Ermeints has leaked.”

“What? We’ve already broken it off, so why is it being reported now?”

“I’m not sure either……”

“Di-Did the Tower Master issue any official statement?”

“……No, from what I’ve gathered, it seems he has maintained a no-response stance.”

“Then it must be that old man Count Ermeints! The engagement was originally conducted in utmost secrecy, so if it didn’t leak through that old man’s mouth, where else could it have leaked from!”

Damn old man, he was already senile but has he really lost his mind now.

Ryan crumpled up the tabloid and threw it on the floor. And this happened to fall at Riley’s feet as she was passing by.

Riley picked up the crumpled tabloid and unfolded it. And she began to read the report.

The identity of the woman who eloped with the Tower Master of Horizon on the day of the reception was revealed to be the daughter of a baron family who was secretly engaged to Count Ermeints, and they enjoyed a secret rendezvous after falling for each other that day.

Riley’s face turned pale.

‘The real trash is not him…… but Count Ermeints.’

As Riley stood there in shock, Claire approached her. Claire snatched the gossip magazine Riley was holding, read it, and then burst out laughing without sensing the mood.

“That’s what you get for not knowing your place! You put the Tower Master in an awkward position because of you!”

“……”

“If you were going to fall for each other, you should have broken off the engagement first. Falling for each other before even breaking off the engagement is adultery! Isn’t that common sense? Thanks to you, the Tower Master of Horizon has been saddled with the dishonor of being the secret lover who stole someone else’s fiancée! It’s all because of you!”

At this, Ryan shouted angrily in place of Riley.

“Claire! Go up to your room right now!”

Startled by his yelling, Claire fled upstairs to the second floor.

“I wonder who she takes after, really.”

Ryan sat down in a chair, rubbing his dry face. He shot a displeased look at Riley.

At this moment, while Riley was worried about Givnen, Ryan expressed concern not for the wellbeing of his daughter Riley, but in a different direction.

“Surely…… they won’t call off the marriage now, will they?”

Ryan cleared his throat, startled after inadvertently revealing his true thoughts.

Even in this situation, he was fretting over whether the hard-won marriage arrangement might fall through. Seeing this, Riley went up to her room, crumpling the newspaper in her hand.

“……I had the same thought for a moment.”

While worried about Givnen, there was also a sudden fear of what would happen if the marriage fell through.

The changed treatment now was given solely because of the marriage to ‘Givnen Lianster’. She felt disgusted with herself for having such materialistic thoughts, just like Ryan.

‘……It’s because of me.’

Riley squeezed her eyes shut.

He is guilty of nothing but helping. He just happened to get caught up in this. If it weren’t for him, I would probably be a cold corpse beneath the tower by now.

My benefactor has been embroiled in a filthy scandal and turned into trash overnight.

Of course…… it’s true that I was actually engaged to Count Ermeints, but still…….

‘I was too greedy.’

Givnen clearly gave two options.

Marriage or guardianship.

Although Givnen seemed to prefer the former, it seems I should have chosen the latter. If I had, he wouldn’t have been caught up in this dirty scandal and suffered harm.

Riley took out some paper.

‘If I call off the engagement even now……’

It shouldn’t be a big problem. It’s fine if we become guardian and ward instead.

He said the procedure would be complicated, but it shouldn’t be difficult for him.

Riley pressed the quill pen down hard as she was about to write a letter to Givnen, but then hesitated.

‘……I don’t want to.’

I don’t want to. I don’t want to call off the engagement with him.

Even if it’s selfish, I don’t want to.

‘He was the one who proposed marriage first, not me……’

If this situation is troublesome, the other side will call off the engagement first. There’s no need to do this out of a guilty conscience when they haven’t even expressed intent to call it off yet.

Riley clenched her fist and lowered her head.

She didn’t want to let go of everything she had been given now. Even if it was selfish and materialistic, she couldn’t help it. After making the marriage promise with that man and receiving everything, could she go back to how things were before? Could she adapt?

If he tries to become my guardian instead of my husband, Uncle will probably try to sell me off to any family right away. A son-in-law and a guardian are clearly different after all. From Uncle’s perspective, it’s a choice with no benefit.

If Givnen tries to become my guardian, he will probably show extreme hostility and try to block it.

Riley let out a bitter laugh.

‘……I’m really trash.’

Even in this situation, the selfish heart that puts her own wellbeing first makes her want to throw up.

Though she didn’t think of herself as a good child, she wasn’t able to easily ignore and turn a blind eye to someone else’s difficult situation.

Riley forcefully suppressed her self-loathing and guilt.

But in the end, she did not pick up the quill pen again.

[This is the timeline separator]

The reason a mere rumor could spread throughout the region in an instant was due to the connections built up over a long period of time, one way or another.

Especially Count Ermeints, who was famous for getting caught up in all sorts of rumors due to his perverted tendencies, had no choice but to maintain close relationships with those in the media.

The connections he had built up by pouring money into them exerted their power today.

“Good work. I’ll settle the payment by this evening.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Hahaha, now I feel a bit better.”

“But is this alright……”

“What?”

“Your broken engagement was also exposed, so it may damage your reputation as well.”

“Is it worse than being a thief who stole another man’s woman?”

Actually, a thief who stole another man’s woman and a depraved man trying to marry a young woman who could be his daughter seem about the same to me.

The reporter swallowed his words and forced a smile.

“Then I look forward to working with you in the future as well, sir.”

“Well then, thank you for your hard work.”

“I’ll be going now.”

“Wait, let me ask one more thing.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Is there really talk that that bastard is going to marry that woman?”

“No, of course not. That part was just exaggerated to make the report more sensational.”

Adding false information to the facts to inflate them was one of the common methods used to tarnish someone’s reputation.

“I see, understood.”

Right, what could that bastard possibly lack that he would marry the daughter of an insignificant baron family.

“……I must be getting old too. Look at all these useless thoughts coming to mind.”

The scandal report was likely just about someone he was keeping around briefly to enjoy, like the other women who had been hanging around him.

If so, that wench was out of Givnen’s hands.

“Has Horizon responded?”

“They’ve maintained a no-response stance.”

“They didn’t even issue a statement?”

“No.”

“So they’re saying it’s not even worth responding to.”

“It seems they’re just treating it as a groundless rumor.”

Yes, it didn’t matter if it was dismissed as just a rumor. His reputation had been damaged.

And the real purpose was something else.

“I must pay back the humiliation I suffered from that wench, of course.”

This kind of scandal has no impact on that wench. Of course, it probably won’t have a big impact on Givnen either, but this has made one thing clear.

Seeing how Givnen’s side is maintaining a no-response stance to both the scandal and the affair rumors, it’s certain that to him, that wench was just someone he enjoyed for one night and then discarded. Well, they probably met for the first time that day, so there’s no way it could have developed into a deep relationship.

Then is there any need to leave that wench alone?

If she’s just a woman Givnen Lianster spent one night with and then replaced, doesn’t that mean I can do whatever I want with her without having to worry about his reaction?

‘……You said you’d rather die than marry me? You damn bitch. Then you should really die!’

This much is not enough to appease my anger.

This level of revenge may be all for Givnen Lianster, but it’s different for that insignificant woman. If nothing else, I must take that wench’s life. Only then will this pent-up rage in my heart subside a bit.

Count Ermeints struggled to his feet.

“Gather everyone immediately!”

[This is the timeline separator]

Givnen furrowed his brow at Count Ermeints’ suspicious movements, which were relayed after a whole month.

“He booked a teleport to Sobostar?”

Sack nodded and continued his report.

“Yes. He made multiple reservations under different names, but it seems Count Ermeints paid for all the expenses.”

“Wasn’t Sobostar part of Duke Kiev’s territory?”

“Yes, it’s land near the border.”

Count Ermeints is old and has chronic illnesses, making it difficult for him to move around. Even if he uses teleportation, going to a distant land would be quite burdensome.

Yet he’s heading to a territory near the border, accompanied by not just a few, but many people?

“What business does the Count have there?”

“I’m not sure about that…… but it seems they departed 2 hours ago.”

Givnen put down the pen he was holding and leaned back in his chair.

A bad feeling. A very bad hunch.

These hunches were annoyingly accurate. Did I miss something? Givnen tried to think of various possibilities, when suddenly Riley came to mind.

「What is your destination?」

「Sobostar.」

Right. She definitely said Sobostar as the destination when checking in for the teleport.

But the place she lives is clearly…….

“Baron Eadalin doesn’t live in Sobostar.”

“Huh? Oh, yes, but it’s close.”

“Close?”

“Yes, Lupla where Baron Eadalin lives should be near Sobostar.”

Duke Kiev’s territory was originally outside of Givnen’s interest and he had no connections there. All he knew was that Baron Eadalin lived there.

“Wasn’t Baron Eadalin a minor lord there? Why is he in Lupla instead of Sobostar?”

“Duke Kiev’s territory has a rather unique autonomous system where they divide it into districts and have multiple minor lords manage it. The land isn’t that big after all.”

“Is there no teleporter in Lupla?”

“That’s probably the case, as it’s the smallest region in Duke Kiev’s territory. The probability of a teleporter being distributed to such a remote area seems low.”

Then did they go to Lupla via Sobostar?

‘Did Baron Eadalin make some secret contact behind the scenes?’

No, if it was a meeting related to the marriage, there’s no reason for that old man to personally travel all that way.

Besides, the Count must have already heard about the scandal, right? Considering his sexual preference for women with no sexual experience, Count Ermeints has no reason to forcibly pursue marriage with Riley.

Wasn’t he the one who spread the affair rumors himself, making the ‘broken engagement’ a reality?

Moreover, Baron Eadalin also said that Count Ermeints had notified him of the broken engagement.

Then could it be!

‘……Is it revenge?’

It’s not impossible.

He was followed by ominous rumors of being particularly cruel to women. His ex-wives had either become corpses or gone missing. Every single one of them, without exception.

Of course, each time he was released because there was no evidence that he directly killed them or was involved in their disappearances.

Considering his womanizing tendencies that fixate only on young and immature women, it’s not an implausible story.

“I’m going out.”

“Pardon? So suddenly? Where are you going?”

“I need to go meet my wife.”

“……You’re going alone to such a distant place? Let me come with……”

“No, it’s fine. It’s easier to move alone.”

“Or at least, how about mobilizing minimal guards?”

Sack was persistent. It hadn’t been long since the previous Tower Master died.

Naturally, he was concerned for his master’s safety.

That’s the kind of position the Tower Master of Horizon was. A position where one could be killed by unnamed enemies at any time.

“Even the great Archmage Yung was killed by others. I cannot allow you to go alone to such a distant foreign land.”

“You’re stubborn.”

“I can’t help it. It’s my job.”

“Then come along, tell the knights to stand by in advance. Keep Horizon’s teleport open so we can move at any time.”

“Yes, I’ll prepare and follow you.”

It wouldn’t hurt to be cautious in advance.

It would be best if the prediction is wrong, but if by any chance that old man harbors unnecessary ill intentions, something big could happen.

“Well then, shall we go meet my lovely wife?”

He cheerfully walked ahead, leading the way.

Watching his back, Sack sighed as if dumbfounded.

……Is this really the same person who coldly drew the line saying marriage was just business?

His face as he put on his coat looked quite happy. He had drawn the line saying he didn’t want to see her, but for someone who said that, he looked too excited.

No matter how you look at it…….

‘It seems like he wants to see Lady Riley, and is using Count Ermeints as an excuse to rationalize it plausibly……’