Chapter 18: 18

‘She didn’t even frown.’

 

Seeing Arianne’s indifferent expression, Madam Kaien was relieved. She wondered what she should do if Arianne showed any signs of displeasure. Still, Arianne seemed to have a bolder personality than she thought.

 

Even if they weren’t smart, unless they were fools, they would have clearly known what Layla was thinking. Still, Arianne didn’t show off her self-confidence or pride. She must have already finished her calculations.

 

She probably believed that Layla couldn’t threaten her if it was because of her self-confidence. Or if it was because of her pride, she was probably a person who thoroughly managed herself to the point that she didn’t show her emotions on the outside, even if she was furious inside.

 

And as if the calculations… considering all the possibilities for Layla were over, she must have decided not to care about it.

 

Whatever the reason, Madam Kaien really liked Arianne’s attitude. Suppose Arianne was offended by Layla’s behavior and took issue with it. In that case, Madam Kaien might have to send Layla out of the duchy. If she did that, she would have no face to see her best friend again.

 

The best thing was for Layla to come to her senses and behave, but if it didn’t work… The next best thing was for Arianne to make a clear line. Madam Kaien just hoped she didn’t kick Layla out with her own hands.

 

Perhaps not knowing the burning heart of Madam Kaien, Layla continued to lean on Charter.

 

“Duke, have some of this,” said Layla as she took food from her plate and put it in Charter’s place.

 

Did she just~ do it to my fiancé?

 

I looked at Layla with interest, wondering how far she would go.

 

‘Ha. This woman never gets tired.’

 

Charter was thinking about what to do with Layla, who was constantly doing this in front of his fianceé. He wanted to say a word, but he had to endure it because he knew his mother cared about her, so he left her alone. Arianne, staring at Layla from the opposite side, couldn’t care less about it.

 

‘I’m going crazy.’

 

Charter nervously pushed Layla’s food on his plate to one side.

 

Layla pretended not to know even as she watched Charter push the food she had put on his plate. What was important to her now was that she showed how close they were.

 

As she already expected, Charter sat silently as usual, and Layla, with her laid-back figure as if she had always been, trying to see Arianne got heartbroken.

 

‘How about it? We’re close like this. There is no room for you to intervene.’

 

Even before Arianne came here, Layla had often acted like this on the occasion of having a meal with Charter. Charter refused several times, but Layla ignored him and acted as she pleased.

 

Even after repeated rejections, there was no change, so Charter closed his mouth in the end. In fact, it was right to say that he just ignored him because she didn’t listen to him, but Layla mistook it for him to admit her. Although Charter never ate any of the food she offered, she constantly brought food to his plate, to the point that Charter stopped eating at the duchy…

 

My eyes and Layla met. Layla looked as if saying, ‘Look. It was ridiculous for you to hoop something as we were in this relationship.’

 

It’s fun.

 

I smiled at Layla and turned my head toward madam.

 

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to ask you a favor.”

 

“Favor? Feel free to say anything.”

 

Madam was watching Arianne with a calm expression even in this strange situation, so she readily agreed to her words.

 

“May I call you mother from now on?”

 

‘That’s pretty good.’

 

Madam, who understood what Arianne meant, replied with a kind smile.

 

“Of course.”

 

Clink. Layla dropped the fork she was holding.

 

“What is that!”

 

Layla stared at Arianne and Madam Kaien with a red face. In particular, her eyes showed strong resentment as she looked at the madam. Since coming to the duchy, Layla had been rejected several times for calling the madam as a mother. But how could she let Arianne do that so easily! Resentment and anger rose.

 

“Mother?! Nonsense!”

 

Layla couldn’t help but to scream.

 

“Lady Layla, what’s wrong with you? I’m going to marry Charter in the future. Is there a problem with that?”

 

Arianne raised her eyebrows and sarcastically asked what was wrong from Layla’s point of view.

 

“What? Cha… Charter??”

 

Just like calling the madam as mother, Layla was not allowed to call Charter by his name. In the meantime, they endured whatever Layla did but never allowed her to call them like that.

 

‘But… Did you give permission to such a mean girl who didn’t know where she came from?’

 

She couldn’t stand it. Layla was on the verge of exploding.

 

“Let’s call it a day.”

 

Madam Kaien hurried out of her seat. It was only a matter of time before she scolded Layla for what she was doing. On the first day her son’s fiancee came in, she had to prevent Layla from yelling at his fiancee. 

 

I also thought about the face of Madam Kaien, so I had no intention of doing anything bigger.

 

I bowed politely to Madam Kaien and left the dining room.

 

* * *

In front of my door on the second floor, Charter carefully opened his mouth.

 

“What happened a little while ago…”

 

“Are you going to apologize?”

 

As my purple eyes stared straight at him, Charter seemed sweating coldly on his back.

 

“Yes, I apologize.”

 

“For what? Eating another woman’s food in front of your fiancée? Or for keeping your lover in the same house with your fiancée?”

 

I deliberately scolded him in a mean way. It was true that he didn’t correct Layla’s behavior in front of his fiancée, so I already planned to scold him a little.

 

It didn’t matter if Layla and Charter were in love with each other. It was none of my business whether they got engaged or married after the end of our contract. However, continuing his relationship with another woman was a completely different matter as I was openly entering as his fiancée.

 

Charter’s face stiffened at my words.

 

“She wasn’t my lover.”

 

They weren’t?

 

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I stopped teasing him after peeking at the displeasure in Charter’s eyes.

 

“There are eyes on the outside, so let’s talk inside.”

 

I led him to my room.

 

“…so I didn’t respond properly. This is clearly my fault, so I apologize.”

 

If what Charter said was true…

 

What? I thought I was caught between the two. So she was the only one flirting?

 

As Arianne immersed herself in thought without saying a word, Charter became anxious.

 

‘What if she wants to break the contract because she was offended?’

 

The one who regrets it would be himself. To change Arianne’s mind, he could have thrown out Layla immediately. It was just his mother who cared about Layla.

 

While waiting for Arianne’s thought about it, Charter only grabbed the handle of the sofa.

 

“Okay, I understand.”

 

Finally, when Arianne gave a positive answer, Charter could breathe a sigh of relief.

 

“Thank you for your understanding…”

 

“But.”

 

Charter, who thought it was over, hardened again.

 

“I want you to act clearly from now on. Don’t forget that your fiancée is me.”

 

“Yes, of course.”

 

After hearing Charter’s sincere apology, I quickly felt better.

 

“I’m glad your mother seems to like me.”

 

When I brought up the story of madam, Charter responded like a stream of water.

 

“It’s natural. No one will hate you.”

 

I almost burst into laughter at Charter’s words.

 

What is this guy saying? No one will hate me? I know he doesn’t know me, but he really doesn’t know me at all.

 

I laughed in vain at the thought of people around me who were afraid of me or shivering at me. Perhaps the image of me as an angel was deeply embedded in him.

 

I wondered how he would react if he found out the truth, but I didn’t have to show myself…

 

Well, I can let him live in the illusion for a year.

 

Even if I marry him, we won’t have many encounters. Because it was just a contract marriage, I didn’t have any lingering feelings about the duchess’s position. 

 

“Are you complimenting me? Thank you.”

 

As I smiled, a slight smile appeared on Charter’s face. Then Charter opened his mouth as if he remembered something.

 

“Come to think of it, I have something to tell you. An official announcement has not been made yet, but an imperial banquet and hunting competition will be held next week.”

 

I was puzzled. It was because the imperial banquet had just been held a while ago, so there was no occasion for it to be held for the time being.

 

“Sudden banquet and hunting competition… Something is going on, right?”

 

“Yes. I received a sudden letter from the Kelteman Empire that envoys were coming. Since it’s from Kelteman… His Majesty seems to have paid attention.”

 

Kelteman’s envoys?

 

A powerful empire with a warlike temperament characteristic of nomads with vast territories. And that huge enemy approaching just right the border.

 

It’s not strange if they attack us right now, but a group of envoys out of nowhere? What the hell are they up to?

 

The emperor was also suspicious of their intentions, but there was no other way. For now, they had no choice but to treat them as distinguished guests.

 

“I see. Then you’ll be busy from now on.”

 

“Yes. Looks like I have to pay attention to them for the time being. I’m telling you in advance because I might be unable to pay attention to you.”

 

“Don’t worry about me. I’m sorry, there’s nothing I can do for you.”

 

Charter raised his eyebrows as if surprised and said, “Your words alone were helpful enough. Then, I will get out. Get some rest.”

 

“Yes. Good night.”

 

After Charter left, I realized while thinking about the banquet.

 

“I don’t have any banquet dress! I’m not even married yet, so I wouldn’t be able to receive the funds to maintain my dignity. Ha…”

 

Count Bornes sent me out without giving me any money. I didn’t even have money to buy a dress right now.

 

If so, is there only one way?

 

I pulled the string and called Madrenne.

 

“Yes, Lady. Did you call for me?”

 

“Madrenne, do you know any jewelry stores?”

 

Madrenne looked at Arianne with an expression that she didn’t know why her master suddenly asked about it.

 

‘By any chance, did the Duke say she would present her jewelry?’

 

She thought so, but Arianne asked again as she was frustrated.

 

“Do you know any jewelers!”

 

“Ah, I know.”

 

There were several famous jewelers in the town that Madrenne knew, but she had never actually gone there. She waited for the opportunity to follow her master and take a look around.

 

“I need to sell some jewelry,” said Arianne.

 

“Yes. YES???”

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