“Lady Giselle Florette, the madam has issued a command.”
“Huh? What command?”
“She wants to arrange a family dinner to coordinate the wedding date. Don’t tell me you didn’t even notify your family when you decided on such an important matter as marriage?”
“I didn’t, though?” My expression said it all—no plan whatsoever. Isn’t it about time she got used to me?
“…The madam is always keeping an eye on Lady Giselle. So, we must arrange a meeting between the families immediately.”
“Oh, the madam is watching me…”
“You should be afraid.”
“That’s so roman~tic~♡ Giselle is so touched! Really thrilled!” Responding like a bot on auto-pilot, I smiled brightly at Caitlyn’s horrified expression. “Then Giselle will go notify the family now!”
“… It’s embarrassing to say, but as the head maid, there’s something I must mention.”
“Hmm?”
“I assume you’re aware that a dowry is necessary for the union between families.”
The reason someone of the Kalinos Family’s head maid stature would bring up the dowry was obvious. She knows I’m being oppressed, so she assumes I can’t bring a dowry.
I smiled sweetly. “Of course, Giselle knows very well!”
In my past life, I was poor, ignorant, and had all my mana stolen away. Now, I’d saved quite a bit, I was preparing to become a duchess, and I’d severed all ties with the regretful male leads. The original story’s direction had certainly shifted, but its forced progression was still in effect. I’d say about seventy percent of the contrived plot was still left.
Fortunately, the people I’d met directly didn’t seem to misunderstand me. But thinking about people like Caitlyn in front of me, who despised me for no reason from the start, there was still a lot of frustration left.
Still, at this rate, maybe some positive butterfly effects will start showing up. If a god still existed in this world, that is.
“I’ll go home, announce the wedding news, and bring back the dowry. Don’t worry!”
7. The Connection Between Marriage Announcements and Dowries
“The investigation concerning Lady Giselle is complete, and I am here to report.”
Count Florette nodded, his expression tense. “Yes, how did it go?”
“The reactions of the people in the mansion towards Lady Giselle are quite unsettling, and the situation itself is strange. It seems that either Madam Mariposa has been tormenting Lady Giselle severely, or Lady Giselle has been tormenting Madam Mariposa.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. Although it’s not entirely clear, all the servants and maids claim that Lady Giselle has been insulting and defying Madam Mariposa… but something feels off. I think they’re lying. I’d like to investigate further.”
Upon hearing the aide’s words and reviewing the report, Count Florette furrowed his brow.
First, there was an accusation that Giselle had stolen something, but no evidence was found. It was just assumed that Giselle had stolen it. Second, despite being a noble, she was harshly beaten for allegedly stealing someone else’s earrings. Yet everyone only pointed fingers at Giselle. Third, as the daughter of Count Sehera, she was rejected from the academy for lacking mana and was criticized and scorned everywhere for being unreliable. Fourth, when reading about the scandal involving Duke Reshaniel and Marquis Berto, it was difficult to maintain composure. Due to these issues, Giselle seemed to have become a target of open ridicule in social circles. However…
Count Florette recalled Count Sehera and the recent encounter with Giselle. I don’t think Giselle did anything wrong. All these stories seem to originate from Mariposa. The testimonies of the employees are too consistent. When rumors spread among people, it was rare for everyone to provide such consistent accounts as if they had coordinated their stories.
“Alright, you’ve worked hard. You may leave.”
Just as he dismissed the aide and was contemplating the report with a troubled expression, Giselle appeared, peeking through the door.
“Um, I have something to tell you!”
“Hmm?”
“When you returned last time, I mentioned I had some surprising news for you. I’m here to share it now!”
Well, I’ll know more once I have a detailed conversation with Giselle.
Watching Count Florette set down his quill, Giselle’s face lit up with a brilliant smile. That radiant expression struck him with sudden certainty—Giselle had done nothing wrong. Not a single thing.
“Is this something different from editing the book or finding the ledger?” he asked, his voice gentler than usual.
“Yes, but first, I’d like to talk somewhere with more atmosphere. We’ve never had coffee together, have we?”
They found themselves at a small coffee house, the kind of place where steam curled lazily from ceramic cups and conversation flowed like honey. Giselle slid an espresso across the wooden table toward Count Florette, her whisper warm with invitation.
“Do you like coffee?”
“I drink it often. Since I plan to sell spices from my voyages, I tend to experiment—adding them to coffee, tea, whatever I can get my hands on.”
“Ah, selling them at a high price, I imagine.”
Giselle’s nod came naturally, paired with that easy smile of hers. Count Florette found himself mirroring her expression without thinking.
“You seem quite interested in making money. Business ventures.”
“Yes! Giselle wants to earn loads of money too. Giselle has been researching all sorts of things.”
“Good. Become a mage, run a business—do it all.”
His fingers wrapped around the warm coffee cup as a soft smile played at his lips. It really feels like I’m resting. Like I’ve come home. When was the last time I’d felt this way? Not since Count Sehera. Years had passed searching for his late friend’s will and belongings. He hadn’t truly smiled since that unfortunate death, but now—now he felt like he was grinning widely for the first time in ages.
“Oh, by the way, how’s the magic training coming along? I’m looking for a mentor for you, but they say it’s impossible during the academy’s enrollment period. If necessary, why not consider enrolling?”
“That’s almost impossible. They won’t accept me—I’m an adult, not school age.”
Count Florette found himself clenching and unclenching his fists as he studied Giselle’s face. Her smile seemed strangely poignant, like sunlight filtering through storm clouds. I regret trusting Mariposa and neglecting this child.
Why had he been so blinded by his friend’s belongings? Back then, it had felt inexplicable—as if I were possessed by a ghost. The obsession with retrieving those keepsakes, the singular focus on finding the spice island to revive his family—it had consumed him completely. Left him unable to properly care for Giselle.
But surely it wasn’t too late. I must take good care of her now. The realization hit him like a physical blow—he wanted to live with Giselle for a long time. Even if the rumors swirling around her held truth, what fault could she possibly bear?
It feels like I’ve gained a real daughter.
He’d been fixated on that one goal for so long, tunnel vision narrowing his world to a single point. But recently, the fog had lifted from his eyes, and he could see Giselle clearly.
“I don’t want anything,” she said, her tone shifting. “Except for one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“The missing amount in Kima’s ledger—wasn’t there something?”
“Ah, yes. It seemed related to another business, but since it wasn’t recorded properly, it’s hard to pinpoint the exact source.”
“If you find out where those embezzled funds went, give them to me.”
“Well, I don’t know the source of the stolen money… But of course, I can give you that amount.”
“Perfect! If you discover which business Madam Mariposa diverted the funds to, give them to me. That’s a promise, okay?”
Despite the widespread rumors painting her as uncultured, poor, and common, Giselle seemed like someone who had been sharpening a blade in the shadows all along. Waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
“Yes,” Count Florette heard himself say, swept away by the steel beneath her determination. “I promise.”
