HYCBV 25

Chapter 25

‘And yet, everything the Duke said to me sounded like he was promoting a no-marriage campaign…’

Don’t get married, focus on your work…

I recalled the last words Kaien had left me with.

‘Problems that can be solved with money are the easiest kind. So don’t waste time fooling around with other men.’

And as he said that, he pressed this into my hand.

This time, I looked at my left hand.

Compared to the pastry box in my right, it was much lighter—but its presence was incomparably heavier.

Because it contained a check worth one hundred thousand gold.

‘How on earth did he know I needed money?’

Well… I had been making it pretty obvious—advances, overtime, acting obsessed with money…

Pipi flapped its wings on my shoulder.

[Benefactor! With this much money, you could do more than hire a contract husband—you could even create an entirely fake identity!]

“Exactly!”

And that wasn’t all.

I could even hire a highly skilled lawyer for the lawsuit I would eventually wage against my uncle over the family estate.

It was that enormous of a sum.

I stared blankly at the check, the number on it feeling unreal.

To hand over such a huge amount so casually…

No matter how rich the Duke was.

‘It must mean… he’s really satisfied with my work as his secretary…’

I couldn’t take my eyes off it.

The number written there felt like recognition of my worth.

It was the first time in my life I had ever felt something like this.

‘Why are you always so slow at everything? Honestly, what are you even good for?’

‘Frill, don’t take this the wrong way, okay? But you are a bit clueless. I’m saying this for your own good—you won’t survive in society if you don’t fix it.’

I had heard things like that my entire life.

I thought I would never be able to adapt anywhere.

‘But… maybe I’m actually doing okay at the Mage Tower.’

Thump. Thump.

Along with excitement, motivation surged within me.

‘I’ll work even harder from now on.’

I’ll support my work properly—and even ride carriages diligently!

I’ll become such a capable secretary that the Duke won’t be able to function without me!

By the time I finished steeling my resolve, the hired carriage had arrived at my house.

The moment I stepped through the front gate, countless eyes turned toward me.

“M-Miss!”

“Lady Freesia! You’re back?”

“Let me take your things!”

The servants, who had paused in surprise upon seeing me, rushed over all at once.

“Would you like to bathe first? Or eat?”

“Shall I massage your feet?”

They were falling over themselves trying to attend to me.

‘What’s gotten into them? Usually they don’t even glance at me whether I come or go.’

They had been polite for a short while after the Kreutz knight visited—but that didn’t last. They had long since returned to looking down on me.

Well… I had a feeling I knew why.

I let out a sigh and looked coldly at them.

“I don’t know what kind of misunderstanding you all have, but the Duke and I are simply employer and employee.”

The servants looked at me, startled.

“There’s no such thing as me being in a secret relationship with the Duke. So stop wasting energy trying to flatter me and just do your usual work.”

With that, I turned sharply and went upstairs.

No one dared to stop me.

‘…Or maybe it would be better to let them flatter me?’

After all, once I reclaim the Violet family, it’ll be my decision whether they stay or go.

Back in my room, I let Pipi out freely.

After being trapped in my pocket the whole time, it bounced excitedly on the table.

[Wow! That firm, commanding presence just now! You were amazing, Benefactor!]

‘Right? I feel like I’m finally learning a bit of charisma.’

Still nowhere near the Duke, though.

Thinking about how Kaien had mercilessly stomped on that bald man made a cold sweat run down my back.

So far, things had been fine—but one mistake and I might end up like that too.

‘Let’s not get stepped on, Freesia!’

I renewed my determination.

‘Anyway, now that I have money, I should go see the lawyer again.’

It was finally time to accelerate my plan to reclaim my family.

* * *

A spacious, luxurious room.

Rustle… rustle…

The only sound filling the quiet space was the turning of pages.

At its center sat the most noble woman in the Empire—

Empress Erzea Asterion.

With her golden hair elegantly styled, she flipped through a book while the attendants secretly stole glances at her.

‘Her Majesty looks so refined as always.’

‘Reading ancient language texts so fluently… truly brilliant.’

Amid their admiring gazes, Erzea thought quietly:

‘…I have no idea what this says.’

She forced herself to read ancient texts for thirty minutes every day for the sake of refinement—but her comprehension hadn’t improved at all.

It was basically just daily eye exercise.

Still, she never let her ignorance show.

‘Royalty must always be someone the people can look up to.’

Someone who gives the people pride simply by existing.

That was what it meant to be royal.

The head maid approached and spoke softly.

“Your Majesty, it is almost six o’clock.”

“Oh? Is it already that time?”

It was time for the program she had personally planned:

“Thrilling Youth Love Operation.”

As she closed her book and nodded, the maids quickly brought in the viewing orb.

Watching it being set up, Erzea thought quietly:

‘Will it fail again this time?’

She hoped not.

This marriage-promotion program had reached its 13th episode, but participation had been steadily declining.

So for this episode, they made a bold decision—

To broadcast it across the entire Empire.

Her aides had been deeply worried.

‘Your Majesty… wouldn’t it be better to just quietly fail among ourselves instead of broadcasting this embarrassing program everywhere…?’

‘Someone please stop her…’

But no one dared to say it aloud.

Though the Empress was sincere about governing, her terrible sense often sabotaged her ideas.

This program was the only one that had survived.

And finally, today was broadcast day.

“Ahem.”

Erzea stared at the orb with undisguised anticipation.

Behind her, the maids exchanged worried glances.

Soon, the program began.

And shortly after—

“Oh my!”

“Ahhh!”

Unrestrained screams echoed through the once-quiet room.

But no one scolded anyone—

Because the Empress herself was the most engrossed, clutching her handkerchief.

“Did you see that last look?! That is NOT how you look at a mere secretary!”

“It’s such a shame we couldn’t hear their conversation! What kind of relationship do they have?!”

“Could they be secretly dating? Maybe she came to the matchmaking event on her own and the Duke came to drag her back!”

“Oh my! That makes sense!”

Erzea almost joined in the gossip, but barely held back, covering her mouth with her fan.

Ahem!

Suppressing her excitement, she asked:

“What is the final viewing rating?”

“Se-seventy… seventy-six percent, Your Majesty!”

The head maid adjusted her glasses, her fingers trembling.

Even gathering the greatest actors and singers across the continent wouldn’t achieve such numbers.

The Empress let out a sharp breath.

‘It worked. My plan… worked!’

Even if no one said it aloud, she could always feel them judging her bizarre ideas.

But this time—

For the first time—

Her idea had succeeded.

And the one who made it possible was obvious.