Chapter 10…..
Gilbert smiled grimly. His mouth curved in a smile, but his eyes didn’t—there was a fierce edge to it.
He usually seemed indifferent, yet here he was, capable of making such an expression.
“Follow me. We’ll finish this discussion somewhere private.”
After trembling and trailing behind Gilbert, that was the last time Belladonna was seen in the mansion.
“Is this finally settled?”
I’d need to recruit more manpower, but that wasn’t the main concern.
If Zerodines hadn’t warned me, I could have been the one leaving the mansion. Relief or a sense of victory didn’t outweigh my worry.
“I need to stay sharp. Just because I’ve returned in this life doesn’t mean I’ve suddenly grown stronger.”
My knowledge may be ahead, but my body was still that of a fragile child. If I were to find an ally, Zerodines was still the most reliable choice.
“How can I make that guy side with me?”
While pondering this, Gilbert summoned me to his study.
“There’s been a bit of trouble, but don’t sulk. Who’s going to take you if you look so miserable?”
Perhaps worried I might be upset, he teased more than usual. His provocation was so blatant it was almost embarrassing not to get angry, but lost in thought, I answered casually.
“I’ll live single, then.”
“Oh? Look at that. You’ve got men tripping over you—surely there’s at least one who likes you?”
“Then I’ll live with five husbands.”
“Try it if you dare. For your information, the first trial for a son-in-law is to defeat me in a duel; the second, swim across a lava lake; the third, take lightning on bare skin.”
Someone, please stop this reckless father-in-law.
From the fourth trial onward, I stayed silent. Gilbert, perhaps bored, began braiding my hair.
“…Eighteenth, handle my work for me; nineteenth, attend family meetings and endure my father’s nagging…”
Gradually, Gilbert’s voice faltered.
Glancing sideways, Zerodines had his eyes gently closed.
Meditating? If I could ask, I would. “Is there truly no way to make you side with me?”
Probably not. There’s no way to send both the First Prince and Eve Maria simultaneously.
Unless there were a prince who’d play husband only while I seek revenge.
……
……
“Huh?!”
Wait—wasn’t there one such person?
In an instant, my eyes snapped open.
Prince Rosinante, the male lead.
The saint proclaims Rosinante as the world’s savior. The divine kingdom hides him away from the imperial family until he comes of age, installing a double to prevent chaos.
If my memory served, the switch would happen soon.
“He’s not even the real male lead, just a spy—so a brief involvement is fine, right?”
When the spy finds a noblewoman to play the role of the prince’s bride, I can appear before him then.
I’ll live as the spy’s wife, dismantle the First Prince and Eve Maria, and cut ties when the real Rosinante returns.
Since he’s a fake, ending things will be easy.
“I just need to expose his identity.”
Then I’d be a lonely woman who’s lost her husband, left with nothing but the spy reward.
It’s so perfect it makes me tear up.
“You startled me. Why the tears? Did it hurt?”
Gilbert withdrew his hands from my hair. While I’d been lost in thought, he’d finished styling it.
“No, it’s just… suddenly I really want to get married.”
“Sorry, I pulled too hard. Did it mess up your hair?”
His rough hands struggled but weren’t much better than a novice maid’s.
“You can undo it if you don’t like it. I’ll practice and braid it nicely next time.”
Still, I appreciated the effort. I got up and twirled once.
“No, I love it—”
Rumble—!
Of course, my stomach chose that exact moment to sound like thunder.
—It wasn’t the sky splitting open.
Zerodines stopped meditating and snarked.
“Quiet!”
Embarrassed, I squeezed my eyes shut, and Gilbert ruffled my hair.
“I probably kept you too long. Let’s go to the dining hall. Anything you want to eat?”
“Something I want to eat?”
“In times like this, you kids need to eat well. I’ll tell the kitchen.”
“Then I’ll have…”
I inhaled deeply and unloaded a torrent.
“Beef stew, capon magro, pepper-seasoned pork sausages, whole roasted lamb with spicy sauce, seasonal fish dishes, butter-grilled scallops, spiced nut tart, rye bread with marmalade paste, cheese custard with clotted cream, blancmange, motreux, meatball pastries.”
“Are you hosting an emperor’s birthday party? Just say what you can actually eat.”
“This is already a condensed version.”
“You’re just hungry. You won’t be able to eat much anyway.”
“Then… coffee.”
“Pfft!”
But the soft-hearted man eventually allowed mild milk tea.
Meanwhile, around the same time, Wilhelm’s study desk was covered with documents.
Resumes of magical instructors recommended by Kaulen.
Unknown identity, age, history. Levieta’s background check, so sparse it was nearly blank. Yet Wilhelm’s gaze lingered longer on the paper with Levieta’s name.
“Seems fine. Proceed as is.”
After reviewing, Wilhelm pushed the documents toward Seveck.
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“What about the maid who caused trouble in the annex?”
“Well… she apparently fell ill before we could take action.”
“Ill?”
“Yes. Presumably contracted an incurable disease while in contact with a patient. No cure exists, and mortality is extremely high.”
“Not impossible, then.”
“Yes, though even if by chance she survives, the aftereffects are horrific. Skin rots, pus oozes, body tissue such as nose or ears may fall off, and in severe cases, internal organs…”
Seveck wisely cut himself off.
“The report is complete.”
“Ensure the head maid trains the staff properly. Next time, if something untoward happens, I won’t overlook it.”
“I’ll see to it.”
“By the way, Levieta handled things well, right? Explain the situation in detail.”
Seveck gestured skillfully as he explained.
Wilhelm, pleased, was about to delve deeper when he suddenly coughed.
“Your Excellency! Are you alright?”
“…Looks like the illness flared again. Nothing serious.”
“Shouldn’t we cancel your outdoor schedule? It’s cold.”
“Even if it’s nothing.”
Attending to one’s charge is part of a steward’s duty. Seveck, smiling wryly, touched the chessboard.
“Why not play a game? It’s been a while.”
“You’re persistent. You’re no match, yet you talk too much.”
The chessboard, lacking a worthy opponent, bored Wilhelm.
Seveck, the seasoned aide, changed the subject toward something more promising.
“Or should we summon Miss Levieta?”
“How did it come to that?”
“I thought it’d be more enjoyable to hear from the person directly. We also prepared a way for her to move here.”
In a slightly open drawer lay a white horse bridle tied with a ribbon. Wilhelm slammed the drawer shut.
“Fair enough.”
“You don’t need to respond directly to the peasants’ requests. Leaving disputes to your vassals will be a good test of their judgment.”
“You’re cunning. Or is your real aim just to get me to rest?”
“How did you know?”
“Since you fired the maid, maybe swap out the aide as well. Fine, go then.”
Wilhelm waved his hand with a frown.
Ah, Your Excellency, I didn’t expect you’d be this pleased…!
Though his expression seemed severe to outsiders, to Seveck, who had long served him, it simply looked delighted.
Seveck left the room happily.
Yet, for some reason, he returned urgently to the study before reaching the annex.
Knock, knock. He knocked harder than usual.
“The door’s open. You’re earlier than expected.”
“Your Excellency, I have something to report.”
“What is it?”
“It’s about… His arrival—”
It was at that moment Seveck hesitated, trying to explain.
