Dawn broke.
After a simple breakfast, how much time had passed?
Serdel was reading a book when a knock came at the door and the maid Siri entered.
“Miss, Count Meiant has arrived.”
Her complexion, as she delivered the message, was quite dark.
With a sharp thud, Serdel closed her book and stood up, raising a finger.
“Just in case I need to say this—you’re not planning to attack him with a fork hidden in your apron pocket, are you?”
Startled.
“H-how did you know about the f-fork?”
Siri was an orphan Serdel had picked up from the slums before the possession.
Perhaps because Serdel had saved her life, her loyalty was such that she would not hesitate to stab even her own throat if it was for her mistress.
‘Well, she used to hide a fork in the exact same way before, so of course I know.’
Though in the past, she never actually managed to stab anyone.
Because she knew what consequences her actions might bring to Serdel.
Instead, when she once clung to Count Meiant’s trouser leg while crying, she had stood behind him, gripping a fork and crying along.
Thinking of that made Serdel click her tongue.
“Tsk. A fork? Really? How uncool. If you’re going to cause trouble, at least hold a proper weapon.”
“A-a-are you alright, m-miss…?”
Her eyes were already reddening again.
“As you can see, I’m perfectly fine. Don’t worry.”
Serdel shrugged and left the bedroom.
As she descended the stairs, she met a young woman with neatly tied dark brown hair.
Sharp eyes.
Cold gaze.
Adis Robesta, the eldest daughter.
Serdel’s older sister in this body.
She was the heir to the count’s house and also the deputy commander of the Imperial Knight Order.
She was additionally famous as a genius knight.
“Long time no see.”
“…Is Father in his office?”
So stiff.
“No. He’s in the reception room. Count Meiant has come with the breakup documents.”
“What…?”
“Would you like to come in if you’re curious?”
Without waiting for a reply, Serdel strode forward and pushed open the reception room doors.
Inside were Kartal, Redan, and Count Meiant.
Their gazes turned toward her.
“Lady Serdel…”
Count Meiant stood up, looking at her with a carefully composed expression.
‘He really thinks he looks sorry.’
“Good to see you again, Count Meiant. I assume you’ve brought the breakup documents you wanted?”
Serdel mocked him with a cold smile.
“I hope there are no problems with the paperwork.”
At that moment, as if sensing things would not go as planned, his face darkened.
“……”
“You were the one who requested the breakup first, correct?”
Kartal asked indifferently while sipping tea served by the head maid.
Even if both were counts, their ages and experience were different.
And he didn’t even bother looking at him, making the atmosphere heavier.
For Count Meiant, it must have been quite tense.
To want both a breakup and to keep business intact.
Even thinking about it again, how selfish.
“May I ask the reason?”
“……”
He couldn’t easily answer.
Of course. Hard to say there’s another woman in a room like this.
Serdel snorted and lifted her teacup.
“Serdel said it yesterday. You broke trust. Which means… it’s a woman, isn’t it?”
“……”
Adis and Redan’s gazes instantly turned cold.
“You don’t deny it. So that’s correct. Hand over the documents you brought.”
Kartal’s expression also hardened.
In the cold silence, Meiant hesitated briefly before carefully handing over an envelope.
“Here is the breakup agreement.”
“And the rest?”
“……”
“You were told to also bring the Elbash Forest development rights, weren’t you?”
“…A breakup is a breakup, and business is business.”
“So you intend to treat them separately?”
Kartal finally looked directly at him.
Bang!
“That’s shameless.”
Unable to hold back any longer, Adis slammed her hand on the table and glared at Meiant as if she would kill him.
“Most noble marriages are arranged. They are already part of business. You’ve already damaged the deal, yet you want to keep the Elbash Forest rights?”
The more she spoke, the more incredulous she became.
“You really thought you could treat the Robesta family lightly? Or mock us? After disgracing us like this, you still want to take the benefits?”
“……”
“Or did you think Serdel is someone you can treat so carelessly?”
Her voice dropped lower.
The murderous pressure in the room intensified.
Redan, who had been silently observing, stepped in.
“Let’s just settle this here. It seems you’re quite attached to the development rights and can’t let them go easily. Dragging this out over a simple document is just troublesome—”
With a gesture, a servant placed paper and a fountain pen on the table.
Redan slid them toward Meiant.
“Write: ‘From the moment of the breakup, I renounce all rights to Elbash Forest development. I will not disclose any related matters externally, and I will promptly finalize all documents and send them to the count’s estate within a few days.’”
“…Are you telling me to write a sworn statement now?”
“You should, if the situation calls for it. You’ve disgraced an entire count family. You shouldn’t be offended by something this small.”
Redan smirked.
Once he started mocking, no one could stop him.
“You know an unilateral engagement break can also lead to compensation claims, right? We’re refraining from that to avoid complications. So behave.”
Gritting his teeth, Meiant finally picked up the pen.
Kartal did not stop Redan.
Adis continued to pressure him.
Even the servants watched silently, their presence oppressive.
Meiant’s gaze turned to Serdel, who calmly sipped her tea.
“Lady…”
“Oh my, what are you waiting for?”
Serdel smiled faintly.
That smile was like a poisonous rose.
“—”
“Do you really need me to continue?”
She leaned forward slightly.
“I know exactly who you love. You wouldn’t want to drag that person into trouble, would you?”
That single line ignited everything.
Though everyone had suspected another woman, hearing it directly confirmed it, and the atmosphere in the room tightened like it was about to explode.
Serdel tapped the paper with her hand.
“Write it quickly. Didn’t I tell you yesterday? Don’t be pathetic.”
Meiant’s eyes wavered violently.
Finally, he picked up the fountain pen.
It had been ten minutes since Count Meiant left, but no one had stood up.
A long silence followed.
Then—
Bang!
Redan slammed the table with his fist.
“You! You knew from the start who the count loved?”
“……”
“If he hadn’t broken off the engagement first, you still would’ve gone through with it? You knew and still planned to marry him? Do you have no pride?”
He raged.
But Serdel didn’t answer.
“Hah! So that’s why you were so calm yesterday? You foolish— you were about to bring shame to the entire count family!”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
Adis cut Redan off, still stern-faced.
“What if the forest development had already started? What would you have done then?”
He would’ve been even more shameless then.
And they would’ve been stuck too, unable to change partners easily.
“Your marriage is not just your own matter. It affects the entire family. If you knew that, you should’ve said something even minor.”
“You’re still the same.”
“…What?”
“I just got out of a breakup today.”
Her tone was calm, but her eyes did not smile at all.
Adis fell silent.
“Shouldn’t family at least ask if I’m okay instead of scolding me?”
Redan’s anger faded as well.
“In any case, it’s resolved now. I’d prefer we not argue over hypotheticals and ruin the mood on a day like this.”
“Pathetically so.”
“I’ll be going now.”
“Are you really alright?”
Adis asked without looking at her.
Serdel looked down at her sister’s head.
“No.”
She had almost said she was fine—but then changed her mind out of spite.
Adis finally looked up.
“I’m not okay.”
“……”
“I said I’m not okay.”
The usually composed, elegant, and stern sister’s brows twisted.
“I’ll be going.”
Without another word, Serdel left the room, refusing to hear anything further.
