It was clear that the decision to go to Blestidge was an impulsive one.

However, for some reason, a space for her to stay was already prepared in the mansion where Givnen was staying.

“I am Sophia, the head maid.”

A middle-aged woman who looked elderly greeted Riley. Following her, a young maid approached.

“Welcome, young lady. My name is Rachel.”

“Rachel will be the young lady’s dedicated maid from now on. This child here is Rowen, this is Linda, this is……”

Introductions to the servants continued in order.

The number of servants was not large compared to the size of the mansion. I thought there would be at least twenty people employed, but there were only ten people working in this mansion. Even that number included the gardener, chef, gallery manager, librarian, and butler.

Can the household run with just this many people? I wondered briefly, but soon realized how foolish that concern was.

“Most of the housework is handled entirely by magical tools. We mainly do specialized and detailed work that magical tools cannot do.”

“I see.”

Givnen checked his watch.

“I think I need to go to Horizon right away.”

“Go ahead then.”

“Then I’ll take my leave. Mrs. Sophia, please take good care of my wife.”

“Don’t worry and have a good trip, master.”

Givnen left for work, and Sophia and Rachel guided Riley to the room where she would be staying from now on.

“You can use the bedroom with the master, but since the master rarely comes home, this room is prepared for Riley young lady to spend personal time separately.”

A luxurious room.

Even the most splendid and largest room of the Baron and Baroness in the Eadalin barony was no match for this place I just stepped into. Rather, the Baron and Baroness’ room felt shabby in comparison.

The room, as large and spacious as the hall of the barony, truly had everything. A large bed that at least five people could sleep in comfortably, cream-colored sofas, and a large table and chairs where meals could be taken.

On the table were displayed pretty flower pots and cute accessories, and on the small terrace beyond the large window, a table and chairs were prepared for enjoying tea time. On the wall hung a masterpiece painting that looked expensive even to my untrained eye.

“If you open the small door next to it, you’ll find the dressing room. We couldn’t fill all the clothes because the room was prepared in such a hurry. If you need more outfits, I’ll call a designer right away.”

The dressing room was filled with clothes, accessories, and jewels that one couldn’t wear in a lifetime.

“This is enough.”

“Everything in this room belongs to the young lady, so please use it freely.”

“Um, everything…?”

“Yes, if you need anything or are uncomfortable with anything, please call us anytime.”

How could there be any discomfort living in a place like this?

Rachel, who was standing next to me, clenched her fist and said,

“Young lady, I will serve you with all my heart and sincerity!”

Rachel was young, so she was full of enthusiasm.

The friendly attitude, different from the always cold servants of the Eadalin barony, felt awkward but not unpleasant.

“Would you like to rest for a while? Or would you like to tour the mansion right away?”

“I’ll rest for a bit.”

“Understood. Then if you need anything, please ring the bell anytime.”

“Bell?”

“That thing next to the bed is a bell used to call servants. When you shake the bell, it rings throughout the entire mansion.”

“Oh, that’s interesting.”

“There are many interesting things. I’ve been serving the master here since he became independent, but I still can’t get used to it. Every time I turn around, there are new magical tools… But if you adapt one by one, you’ll be able to enjoy the ultimate convenience.”

Mrs. Sophia smiled kindly and turned around.

“Then rest comfortably.”

After Sophia left, Riley threw herself onto the enormously large bed. She hugged the soft pillow tightly and rolled around on the blanket for a long time, thoroughly enjoying her happiness.

‘…It feels like a dream.’

Such a large and soft bed.

Such a large and spacious room. Things I couldn’t even imagine. Things I didn’t even dare to wish for are here. It was just a week ago that I was crouching on a cold floor, tearing at bread crumbs… Can I really accept such excessive things?

The Ryanster family must really be an amazing family.

The main building must be much larger and wider than this mansion, right?

‘Father… is this why you desperately told me to live?’

Come to think of it, all of this is what my father left behind.

Thanks to being friends with ‘Yung’, the former Archmage of Horizon and Givnen Ryanster’s teacher. Thanks to that one letter he left for Yung. It’s fortunate but also perplexing to be enjoying such undeserved luxury.

‘By the way, why did Father hide from me that he was a magician? Father… clearly died in a carriage accident, so why did he leave such a letter to Archmage Yung?’

The letter’s tone was as if he knew he was going to die.

The fact that he once worked at Horizon as a magician, why did he live as a humble mountain keeper in the forest when he was close enough friends with Archmage Yung to stay in touch?

If he was a magician affiliated with Horizon, he must have had a lot of money… Why did he live a life where even putting food on the table every day was a struggle?

‘Come to think of it, I had magical power too. But… why am I not registered as a magician?’

If I had realized this earlier, I wouldn’t have endured such treatment in the Eadalin family.

Since magical power is money, wouldn’t I have tried to run away from home and figure out how to live, no matter what?

It would have been nice if I had known just a little earlier.

As questions piled up one after another, whether it was because the soft feel of the bed was too comfortable or because there was still some lingering illness, drowsiness overcame me.

Contrary to my worry that I might not be able to sleep comfortably due to the change in bedding, given how sensitive I am, my eyelids grew heavy.

And so Riley fell into a very deep sleep for the first time in a long while.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Count Ermeints is waiting in the reception room.”

“He came quickly, was he in a hurry?”

Givnen smiled pleasantly.

To think the day would come when he would receive Count Ermeints in Horizon’s reception room. It really showed how unpredictable a person’s future can be.

Following Sack’s guidance, Givnen strode towards the reception room with his long legs.

The reception room door opened, and Count Ermeints, sitting there nervously, greeted Givnen.

“Ah, welcome.”

“Have you been waiting long?”

“No… I heard you just returned? I hope I’m not bothering you.”

“You are bothering me, and I know it well, so that’s enough. So, what’s your business?”

Count Ermeints fidgeted with his fingertips and moved his lips.

Humiliation spread across his wrinkled face. Whether it was a story he couldn’t easily open his mouth to tell, or if his pride was hurt and he simply couldn’t bring himself to apologize for his wrongdoing. Whatever it was, from Givnen’s perspective of watching, it was quite entertaining.

Ah, to think that old man could make such an expression.

“…I’m sorry.”

“…”

“I sincerely apologize to you.”

“The apology should be made to my wife-to-be, not me. I think you’ve come to the wrong person.”

“Of, of course. If your wife wants to receive my apology, I’ll do so. But I wonder if she’ll want to see me…”

Now that I hear it, it’s a fair point. Coincidentally, this old man in front of me has hurt Riley Eadalin twice. First at the reception, second during the kidnapping incident.

If he’s to apologize, it would be right to do so to Riley, but I wonder if she would want to receive his face-to-face apology?

“It would be better if you just didn’t show your face to my wife, apology or not.”

“I, I’ll do that.”

Count Ermeints looked around cautiously and then got to the point.

“Is there any way you could quietly cover up this incident?”

“Hmm.”

“I’ll issue a correction article stating that the love affair report was a misunderstanding. I’ll make sure your wife-to-be’s personal information isn’t exposed. I’ll also keep it a secret for life that she and I were in talks for marriage. I swear on my name that I’ll never cause any more noise related to your wife again.”

Well, I’m not sure if he has any honor left to put on the line, even though he was once said to be an honorable gentleman.

“Please, I beg you this earnestly.”

Givnen crossed his legs leisurely and thought. It would be disadvantageous for him to give a definitive answer right now.

He was a businessman before he was a magician. Achieve maximum effect with minimum efficiency. Extract maximum profit with minimum investment. He couldn’t forget those teachings he had heard until his ears were calloused in business classes.

He was planning to inquire about this incident anyway. As it was, he questioned whether Riley’s mental state could withstand having it spread to the press, and it would be troublesome if her personal information was revealed later and became the subject of public gossip.

But when the Count comes begging like this, pleading with his tail between his legs, from Givnen’s standpoint, he can’t help but think of how to exploit this situation to the fullest.

Yeah, what conditions should I set?

Would it be too much to demand that he hand over Eldras, of which he is the owner?

He probably wouldn’t want his son, who is competing for the position of Archmage, to be touched either. Of course, Givnen had no desire to push too hard on this part. He knew it would be a futile demand anyway.

He needs to demand something within reasonable limits that Count Ermeints can compromise on.

Hmm, what would be good?

Givnen, who had been pondering, smirked.

“How about increasing the mana stone royalty from Eldras to 5% of sales?”

“Fi, five percent of sales?”

Count Ermeints grabbed his nape. Even though he was sitting, his body seemed to sway, showing how surprised he was.

“Th, that’s too much.”

The existing mana stone royalty was 3% of sales. Because mana stone processing technology is essential in the production of magical tools, Horizon was paid royalties for that technology, and now he’s saying he’ll raise that amount by 2%. It may just be 2%, but the difference in the amount this 2% brings is considerable.

Count Ermeints broke out in a cold sweat.

“That 2% is the share that would fly away if your attempted murder issue breaks out, isn’t it?”

“…”

“It’s not coercion, it’s a choice. The choice is yours. But didn’t you expect this much? Shouldn’t you consider the damage to my image from the love affair rumor you spread?”

Of course, he hadn’t been affected at all.

‘This snake-like bastard…’

Count Ermeints let out a groan.

He felt like spitting in that smirking face right now, but the face of his son with an uncertain future flickered in his mind. He couldn’t do anything to block his son’s path, if nothing else.

Why did he acquire the magical tower Eldras at such a high price when he’s not even a magician? It was prepared as an asset to pass down to his son who would one day become the Archmage, to his grandson, to future generations.

How much effort did it take to meet a magician wife and have a magician child? Thinking of the babies who died in the effort to create the current siblings, he couldn’t back down here.

“I’ll discuss it with the Archmage of Eldras.”

“Please let me know when it’s decided.”

“This isn’t just a verbal contract, is it?”

“Of course not.”

Givnen called for Sack, who was waiting outside.

“Did you call, Master?”

“Prepare the documents.”

“Understood.”

Count Ermeints collected the documents with a feeling of shedding tears of blood. Givnen stood up, clapping his hands with satisfaction. Then, very gentlemanly, he extended his hand to Count Ermeints for a handshake.

“I’m glad we could communicate well on a business level, sir.”

“…Ahem, I’ll be going now.”

Count Ermeints, not wanting to taste the humiliation of shaking hands with such a young man, stood up. Then he fled the reception room as if escaping. His wobbly, struggling walk looked just like a penguin.

“My wife is a lucky charm.”

“She’s not your wife yet since you’re not married, is she?”

“Don’t you know about common-law marriage?”

“…Ah, yes, well.”

“Things are working out very well.”

Come to think of it, it had been like that since their first meeting.

When I was feeling utterly disgusted, she created an opportunity to make that old man eat crow.

Givnen smiled brightly, thinking of Riley who would be in his sanctuary by now.

“She’s a lucky charm. She’s so lovable it’s killing me.”

[This is the timeline separator]

“What? You’re saying he went back to Horizon?”

“Yes, young lady.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m certain.”

“Damn it!”

For some reason, the central hall was very noisy. The voice was so loud it could have been a general’s. So Riley, who had fallen asleep for a moment, jumped up at the commotion.

She tensed up because the voice disturbing her sweet sleep happened to be that of an unfamiliar woman.

What’s going on? Riley crept out like a little mouse and looked down at the floor below.

“Are you lying? You lied last time too, Mrs. Sophia.”

“It’s true this time, he went to Horizon just a little while ago.”

“Ha, what on earth is this damnable fellow trying to do? After being absent without leave for four days, when asked, they say he went on a business trip? And to a very distant place at that! If he was going to go, he should have gone alone, but he took Sack with him… No, in the first place, what business does someone who’s supposed to be an Archmage have going on trips to other regions? Couldn’t he just send his subordinates? What does that guy think Horizon is? Does he even have any awareness that he’s the owner of Horizon? Horizon is a precious asset of the Ryanster family, so why is he running around and meddling as if it’s his personal property?”

A beautiful woman. With long, straight silver hair cascading down, she was quite a beauty. Moreover, what was unusual was that she was dressed in men’s attire.

Judging by the robe she wore, she was a magician. Usually, female magicians tend to wear robes over dresses, but she was wearing a white shirt and white pants.

“If a screw’s loose, it’s properly loose.”

“Anyway, young lady, since the master is not here, if you have no business, it seems you should go to Horizon.”

“Ha, how annoying. Am I a dog to be made to come and go like this!”

It was then, as the woman was turning around, that her eyes met directly with Riley’s, who had been watching the situation from the top of the stairs. Riley stepped back in surprise.

“Who is that woman?”

A sharp voice, full of hostility.

Riley’s head was spinning. This was clearly… though she didn’t know well, it was clearly a very awkward situation.

“Don’t hide like a little mouse, come out, will you?”

A thunderous voice echoed from below. Indeed, worthy of a general.

Riley, feeling intimidated, cautiously came down the stairs. Then, the silver-haired woman strode over and began examining every inch of Riley’s face and body.

“Why is there another woman besides me in this house?”

Riley froze like a stone. Sophia, who had been watching the tense Riley, smiled and answered.

“Young lady, besides you, there’s also Rachel, Rowen, and Linda here.”

“That’s not what I mean. I’m asking about the identity of that outsider woman.”

“She’s not an outsider, young lady. She’s someone the master brought here.”

“So who is she, I’m asking.”

“He introduced her to us as the person who will become his wife.”

“Wife? Wi~fe?”

The unidentified woman stretched out the word ‘wife’ and laughed as if in disbelief.

At this, Riley was certain that this woman was someone who had been involved in a love affair rumor with Givnen, or had been personally involved with him.

Since he has a colorful dating history… His ex-girlfriend? Or current girlfriend? As she was making various conjectures, the woman grabbed Riley’s shoulder.

“Get out.”

“…Pardon?”

The woman said, pulling Riley along.

“I said get out right now.”