LGYH 03

You said we were going to your house, so why are we going to the Imperial Palace?

Episode 3

Get a grip, Dana Hartwin. You pushover.

Those people don’t think of you as family.

‘I’m the idiot for realizing it so late.’

Dana quickly shook off her thoughts and sighed.

If she suddenly changed her attitude here, all she would do was arouse suspicion.

“Jamie, this is the last time. Please, just make it a success.”

“I told you, didn’t I? Just quietly prepare for your marriage!”

That crazy bastard!

She barely managed to suppress the curse that was about to burst out.

If she got angry here, it was obvious that her parents, who were only strict with her, would punish her.

It was best to get away before she became even angrier.

Dana shook her head at her older brother and left the dining room.

‘See? That girl always ends up doing what I tell her.’

‘I see. Our son is quite clever.’

Her family exchanged glances, pleased that she would obey once again.

Dana always got angry, yet she had no choice but to comply with her family’s requests.

One step, then another, Dana walked away with angry footsteps before suddenly turning around.

It felt unfair to simply leave obediently like this.

‘If possible, I hope you fail spectacularly. Mother, Father. And Older Brother.’

She smiled sweetly and opened her mouth.

“Oh, right, Jamie.”

“What?”

“Since you’re getting an investment anyway, make sure you get as much as possible. Squeeze out everything you can.”

“Well, if you’re going to be the brother of his future wife, what is there that the Viscount wouldn’t do for you?”

You’re actually saying something sensible for once?

Jamie grinned.

Dana, who had always been so rigid and proper, was finally becoming useful.

Dana looked at Jamie coldly before changing her expression.

“So, when are you going to introduce me to Viscount Hembern?”

“At the Imperial Palace ball during the upcoming Founding Festival.”

The Founding Festival…….

It would be her final opportunity to escape this family.

“Viscount Hembern doesn’t like frivolous women. Behave yourself modestly like you do now. Got it?”

With those final words, Jamie picked up his drink again.

He was taking a third wife himself, yet wanted his future bride to be modest.

A mocking laugh escaped Dana.

Dana quietly went upstairs to her room.

Her room was a shabby, tiny space at the very top of the mansion.

She sat down on the creaking bed and thought about her past.

Dana’s life had been nothing but exploitation.

When she was young, she had done all the work in place of the maids, and once she became an adult, she was nothing more than a means of making money.

But why…….

She tilted her head.

“Why did I keep letting them take advantage of me?”

Why had she suddenly made up her mind?

Even to herself, this sudden change felt strange.

Somehow, her mind felt lighter too.

As though she had been freed from a long-standing curse.

“Dana, about the statistics table you made last time…….”

Kira cautiously approached Dana after she arrived at work.

Then she tapped one side of the report.

A yellow note folded in half was attached there.

<How to prevent loans from being taken out in a family member’s name>

This quickly?

Dana’s eyes lit up with emotion.

The day after hearing Jamie’s nonsense, she had gone to Kira.

Kira’s older sister was a capable lawyer, after all.

“Thank you so much, Kira…….”

“My sister says there’s no method more certain than this.”

The two whispered together in the quiet office.

What could it be? A way to escape the mountain of debt her family kept piling up……!

Dana unfolded the neatly folded note.

“…….”

Huh? Is that all……?

Confused, Dana removed the note.

She checked the back, folded it again, and searched for any additional writing.

Kira awkwardly grabbed her fidgeting hands.

“That’s all. But it’s definitely effective.”

“Creating a new family means…….”

“Marriage, Dana. That’s the only way.”

Marriage? MARRIIIIIAAAAGE?

Kira supported the dazed Dana as they went outside.

Dana couldn’t say a word as they walked down the long corridor and reached the fountain in the garden.

After making sure there was no one nearby, Kira called out loudly to Dana.

“Snap out of it! What else can you do when the Imperial Law is like this?”

“That’s true…… damn Imperial Law…….”

A long time ago, monsters that had only lived near the northern border had suddenly descended in large numbers all the way to the capital.

No one knew why.

What was certain was that people’s homes and livelihoods had been completely destroyed.

Eventually, the Hedron Empire began releasing welfare funds and introducing new policies.

One of the most prominent was a low-interest loan policy.

Attracted by the low interest rates, people hurried to the banks.

However, because of the long lines, most of them had to return empty-handed.

As the people of the Empire grew increasingly angry, the loan process was simplified.

As long as there was even one family member whose credit was guaranteed, a person could apply for a loan.

Even with nothing more than a family member’s identification card!

The excited members of the Hartwin Viscountcy borrowed huge sums of money under Dana’s name.

‘My life became even more tangled because of that…….’

Dana rubbed her dry face with her hands before making up her mind.

“Kira, you’re right. If I stay in this lousy family any longer, I won’t even be able to pick up the pieces of myself.”

“Exactly! Since you’re going to get married anyway, just get it over with quickly!”

“Trample them all!”

Kira punched the air enthusiastically.

Kira, did you mean marriage, or did you mean a duel?

Dana stood up and tightly held both of Kira’s hands.

“Thank you for going through all this trouble for me.”

“That’s nothing between friends!”

Sunlight fell upon Kira’s neatly braided orange hair.

She really was such a dependable friend.

Behind the two of them, the clear sound of the fountain flowed peacefully.

Every now and then, small birds flew in and chirped.

What a peaceful scene…….

“Why are you two here!!”

—Or so it would have been, except for that.

The shout of Layton, the head of the Potion Management Division, shattered the peaceful moment between them.

“What is it, Layton?”

Dana knew he was rigid and narrow-minded, but complaining even when they took a short break…….

‘Meanwhile, he takes three whole hours for lunch!’

Dana gave Layton an unimpressed look.

“Paul Damon is coming! The Minister of Magic’s secretary!”

Why is he coming?

The Potion Management Division was at the very bottom of the Department of Magic, sometimes even being called the department’s leftovers.

Layton spoke with an extremely excited expression.

“The Minister must have some important message for us! Maybe a promotion…… or perhaps a promotion…….”

The incompetent Layton had climbed to this position through connections and flattery.

Even so, his desire for a promotion had never diminished.

“Anyway, hurry up! He told everyone to gather!”

Without even having time to be impressed, Dana and Kira hurriedly followed Layton.

Dana’s desk was beside the office door.

She was about to pick up her fountain pen, having decided to work through the paperwork that had piled up while waiting for Paul.

“Oh, h-he’s here!”

A hurried voice echoed loudly.

And what appeared beside her was……

‘What is this butt?’

It was Layton’s butt as he fawned over someone.

At times like this, Dana hated having a desk beside the door.

‘I had to see something disgusting first thing in the morning.’

Dana cautiously stood up, avoiding his backside.

Layton rubbed both his hands together as he approached Paul.

“What brings you all the way here……? Does the Minister have something to say to us……?”

“I’m sorry to interrupt while everyone is working so hard.”

Paul cut Layton off, saying it with a face that looked not even slightly sorry.

“We have a new employee joining the Potion Management Division. I came to introduce him.”

Everyone whispered among themselves at the arrival of a new employee after such a long time.

Then, from behind Paul, a dazzling man appeared.

That brilliant golden hair and even more brilliant beauty……

It was unmistakable.

He was the angel she had seen yesterday.

Because his appearance was not something easily forgotten, Dana immediately recognized Edwin.

The other employees also couldn’t hide their amazement when they saw Edwin.

Kind-hearted Kira even went around closing the gaping mouths of all the employees.

The only one who remained completely calm was Edwin.

His gaze had been fixed on Dana the entire time.

When their eyes met, he even gave her a relaxed, gentle smile.

Paul shook his head as though he had witnessed something he shouldn’t have and introduced the new employee.

“The new employee’s name is Edwin…… Rambert. Please keep an eye on him so that the new employee doesn’t run wild.”

Why does he talk like that?

He sounded like a zookeeper handling a wild beast.

Layton spoke with a dejected expression.

“……Is that all? Recruitment for new employees ended last month…….”

“Ah.”

Paul glanced at Edwin.

He looked too tired to even bother thinking of an excuse.

“This…… friend was unwell and couldn’t come to work until now.”

After saying that, Paul hurriedly left the office.

His footsteps were as frantic as though a ghost were chasing him.

Edwin’s gaze remained fixed solely on Dana.

Embarrassed, Dana gave him an awkward smile.

His eyes widened.

His red eyes burned like flames.

Meanwhile, Dana…….

‘So he’s a frail man.’

That was Dana’s first impression of the new employee, Edwin.

And so, Paul’s excuse gave rise to a misunderstanding in Dana’s mind.