Chapter 6
After thinking it over for a while, I added,
“Fortunately, the Crown Prince doesn’t know what form our family’s heirloom takes.”
I’d seen it in the original novel.
Just because he was the male lead didn’t mean he knew everything about every treasure.
That was why…
He targeted the people capable of wielding them first.
My sister had been one of those people.
“It’s commonly believed that several generations ago, the Duke of House Arcrux slew a Demon Dragon, so everyone assumes House Arcrux’s power is divine power.”
“When my sister becomes a Holy Knight…”
“That rumor will become even more firmly established.”
“They’ll simply believe she’s borrowing the power of our family’s heirloom.”
“That’s true.”
In the original story, my sister had believed there was no point hiding the heirloom’s true ability and had revealed it to Jackal.
I wasn’t about to make the same mistake.
“So we have at least a rough direction now.”
“Do your best, Your Grace.”
“I will.”
One year.
That was the mandatory period during which the head or heir of every family possessing a Zodiac Treasure had to serve the Imperial heir.
However…
Not everyone remained for the entire year.
If possible…
I’d like to leave early as well.
I did have a plan in mind.
Whether it would actually work…
I still wasn’t certain.
That problem could wait.
Right now…
I needed to begin carrying out my own plan to avoid being imprisoned.
* * *
“And another thing, Rodemin.”
After we’d finished discussing everything…
Rodemin and I sat reviewing documents separately.
He looked up at me.
“I’ve been thinking.”
“Since the contract marriage failed…”
“Perhaps the best way to shake that lunatic off is for me to become a married woman.”
My aide’s expression became rather strange.
Wasn’t I right?
There’s a significant difference between imprisoning an unmarried woman and imprisoning someone else’s wife.
Unfortunately…
Imperial law agreed with me.
“Bring me the list of husbands we compiled for my sister.”
“…You mean it?”
“Yeah.”
“Ninety percent of those candidates were eliminated.”
“What do you intend to do with that list?”
“You really should’ve lowered your standards a little, Your Grace.”
“Quit talking and go get it.”
Who would’ve thought…
The list we’d painstakingly compiled to find a suitable husband for my sister…
Would end up being used for me instead?
Clicking my tongue, I stood up.
It was going to be a long night.
As Rodemin handed me the list, I muttered to myself,
“Let’s see…”
“The best remaining candidate was the eldest son of Marquis Spica…”
“But his family is the problem…”
He was absurdly handsome too.
He would’ve made a good match for my sister.
What a shame.
“Oh, Your Grace.”
“If you’re planning to take a husband who marries into the family…”
“You’ll be drawing up a prenuptial contract, won’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
Rodemin’s eyes suddenly sparkled.
That made me uncomfortable.
“In that case…”
“Shall I lend you that contract marriage novel I recommended before?”
“…No thanks.”
For quite a while…
I didn’t even want to hear the word marriage.
* * *
“Good morning, Your Grace.”
The following day.
After spending my first night in the Imperial Palace, I met Rodemin again.
“…Your Grace.”
“Did you perhaps not sleep at all?”
“I let sleep sleep.”
I had stayed awake the entire night reviewing every detail of my plans.
Still…
I couldn’t appear before the male lead looking exhausted.
That would practically be admitting I was too scared to sleep.
Fortunately…
The maids I’d brought from House Arcrux worked miracles.
Every trace of fatigue disappeared from my face.
“…I wish you good luck.”
“Thanks.”
I almost rubbed my face before stopping.
Instead, I muttered quietly to myself,
“If something doesn’t work…”
“I’ll simply make it work.”
Rodemin looked at me strangely.
As if recalling an old memory, he stroked his chin.
“…I remember hearing those exact words from you when you were sixteen.”
“Hm?”
“That was…”
“When you were searching through ten years’ worth of records to uncover the veteran retainers’ tax fraud.”
“I also remember you saying you were going to smash their skulls.”
“…Seriously?”
“You think I’m going to smash the Crown Prince’s skull?”
When my uncle had temporarily left to subjugate monsters…
I’d taken over managing the territory.
The retainers had treated me like a joke the moment they got the chance.
“I still don’t know exactly what ‘smashing their skulls’ means…”
“But I do remember that, several years later…”
“You succeeded in driving every one of them out.”
…He was right.
After discovering they’d been embezzling taxes ever since my parents’ generation…
I’d quietly gathered evidence and strength until I could remove them.
“If things go wrong…”
“I’ll take you with me when I run away, Rodemin.”
“…Your Grace…”
“That nearly brings tears to my eyes.”
“If possible, I’d appreciate a life where I can simply eat well and relax.”
A short while later…
An attendant arrived to escort us.
As Rodemin and I followed behind…
I organized my thoughts.
No matter whom I’m assigned to work with…
I’ll demonstrate my administrative ability.
Then…
When the opportunity arose…
I’d maneuver my way into the Tax Bureau, which was currently in complete chaos.
After that…
I’d offer Jackal a stable source of revenue.
In exchange…
He’d allow me to resign early.
As for his obsession with our heirloom…
After much thought…
I’d decided to redirect his attention toward another treasure bearer instead.
I felt absolutely no guilt.
After all…
The person I’d be deceiving was a villain.
“…Ah!”
The attendant suddenly stopped in surprise.
“What is it?”
I looked up.
Standing in the corridor…
Was the male lead himself.
…Why is he standing out in the hallway?
The attendant immediately bowed.
“Your Highness.”
“I have escorted the Duke of House Arcrux.”
It looked as though he’d been watching me from quite a distance away.
“Good morning, Duke.”
“Did you rest well last night?”
I politely bowed.
“Yes.”
“Thanks to Your Highness’s consideration, I rested comfortably.”
Like hell I did, you bastard.
“What a pleasant fragrance.”
“…Pardon?”
Caught off guard, I instinctively sniffed at myself.
I couldn’t smell anything.
Jackal merely smiled.
So I decided not to ask.
But seriously…
Why had this lunatic been waiting for me in the hallway?
I carefully glanced around.
The corridor is strangely empty.
“Duke.”
“I received your letter saying you wished to begin work immediately.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Most heirs and family heads in your position rest for three to five days before beginning their duties.”
“I enjoy working.”
“Oh?”
“How surprising.”
“I do as well.”
Only then did I raise my eyes and meet his gaze.
No.
You don’t enjoy working.
You enjoy having other people work like slaves for you.
Just then…
Jackal lightly moistened his lips.
“There are other things I enjoy as well…”
“Would you like to hear about them?”
“…Pardon?”
“As a matter of fact…”
“I also enjoy collecting treasures.”
I could say this with absolute certainty.
This bastard…
He’s looking at me the way someone stares at an unclaimed winning lottery ticket.
The greed shining in his eyes made my spine tingle.
Jackal slowly narrowed his golden eyes.
His smile was breathtakingly beautiful.
And somehow…
Terrifying.
“And…”
“I also enjoy keeping those treasures inside my nest.”
“…I see.”
This lunatic really has found an elegant way to say he enjoys imprisoning people.
“Yes.”
“I like everything that doesn’t make me uncomfortable.”
“People…”
“Objects…”
His eyes grew deeper.
“There are still more things I like.”
“Would you care to hear them?”
