Chapter 12
The next morning, the newspaper that Evan received had an article about Laria.
To be precise, it was an article about Laria and Seymour winning a large sum of money at Black Horse. Their backs were shown in a photograph, but the image of Laria, the Countess of Icard, was much larger than that of the commoner Seymour.
“Evan, you have a habit of reading the newspaper at breakfast, huh?”
Laria asked playfully.
“Yeah. I want to know what’s going on in the world.”
“Wow, that’s impressive. Even though you’re still young.”
“I’m not that young.”
Evan replied grumpily and folded the newspaper.
Even though they were only a year apart, Laria always treated him like a child. Being fourteen, he didn’t even know how babies were made, so he didn’t understand why she insisted on acting like an older sister.
“Where are you going, Evan?”
“The library.”
As soon as breakfast ended, Evan gave a curt answer and headed to the library.
He wondered if he should have spoken to Laria more gently, but having never talked with girls his age, every interaction felt awkward.
“What a bother…”
He muttered to himself as he pulled out a thick book.
“Well, I guess it can’t be helped.”
The book’s title was “Various Events of the Empire.”
“I wish we could go on outings like this more often, all together…”
He took out a calendar he had brought and carefully began noting all the remaining events for the year.
A week from now, there would be a flower festival at the nearby Lidhart estate, followed by the Empire’s most prestigious event, the Foundation Day Festival.
‘There was also a royal-hosted tea party, but this isn’t exactly the kind of outing Laria was talking about…’
He wrote down even the minor festivals on the calendar, feeling proud as he left the library.
Everyone in the duke’s household always spoke of the past, when his mother Matilda was around—how wonderful and warm those times had been.
But Laria was the only one in this household who talked about the future. Evan wanted to get along well with her, and he wanted to grant that wish.
Everyone else had been made unhappy because of him, but Laria didn’t seem to be one of them. That alone made her his only companion.
“Well, since she wants to get along, this much is nothing.”
So, he was willing to actively respond to Laria’s suggestion to “let’s get along.”
As he exited the library, he ran into the butler in the hallway.
“Ah, Morand.”
Calling the butler over, he cleared his throat and said,
“I have a favor to ask.”
Evan didn’t care much about what he wore.
Actually, his appearance made anything he wore look good, so he didn’t have particular tastes.
But since people said that matching with Laria in red looked best, he couldn’t refuse. Laria also planned to order a few more…
“Order a few more red cravats.”
“How many?”
“Hmm… about a hundred in different shades of red.”
“Excuse me?”
Evan immediately turned and left, so he didn’t see Morand’s stunned expression.
After visiting the horse racing event, I picked up a new hobby. It was going alone to the sponsors’ area, eating Oklasia fruit, and quietly looking at the checks.
‘This feels so reassuring.’
Indeed, peace of mind came from money.
‘But now that I’m in this world, I want to live better. I want to live more extravagantly…’
You could see how good money was just by staying here a little while—good houses, skilled chefs, luxurious goods, and a life where you didn’t have to lift a finger.
‘I need more.’
The more money I had, the better for executing Plan A.
The problem was that I was fourteen, so moving around myself was difficult.
I rarely left the duke’s estate and had no trustworthy maid.
‘But I can’t do anything just staying here.’
I smirked while looking at the check, but then I saw the Duke of Icard approaching from afar and quickly stood up.
“What are you doing here?”
He had probably come this way during a walk.
“I’m getting some fresh air, Father.”
I quickly hid the check in my dress pocket and smiled sweetly.
“Thinking a bit too.”
“What are you thinking about?”
Of course, I was thinking about money, but I couldn’t say that. So I answered with something else.
“About the horse racing event.”
“Enjoyed it quite a bit, I see.”
“Yes, very much!”
I had won a large sum, after all.
“Did you enjoy the outing that much?”
Since I had enjoyed the outing, I answered immediately.
“Yes. Going with my family was so much fun. We usually spend our days separately in the estate, but this gave us memories together.”
Of course, I didn’t forget to add a little flattery at the end.
“If Your Grace had carefully chosen a horse, your eye would have been sharp, and you would have won, too. It’s a shame.”
Since I had started this act, I would see it through.
“Winning a little money is, of course, easy for me.”
I forced a smile. I was the weakest, and the duke was the strongest. And I was a weak, servile soul in front of the strong.
“Ahahaha! Your wordplay is impressive, Father! Ahahahahaha!”
It seemed the Duke took my exaggerated words rather than Evan’s polite words. Starting this kind of humor in the duke’s household!
“This is so much fun!”
I had reached the peak of flattery by imitating Ordi. My stiff face and unfunny humor made him laugh, though it was hard work.
“Well…”
He crossed his arms and said softly,
“Still, your health isn’t great, so it’s better to stay inside the estate.”
It was the first time the duke directly mentioned “your health isn’t great” in front of me. Until now, he had known but pretended not to.
“That may be true…”
Yes! You’ve noticed correctly! I’m really not well!
I tried to put on a pathetic expression and turned my head slightly.
“But sometimes it gets stifling…”
After letting out a small sigh, I carefully asked,
“So, I was thinking of going into town tomorrow. Would that be alright?”
Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I even needed the duke’s permission to go out.
“I really want to go.”
“Is that so? I have plans tomorrow, so go with Evan.”
…My outing has nothing to do with the duke’s schedule…
But I couldn’t say what I truly thought.
“Well… I’d rather go alone with Evan…”
When I hesitated slightly, his gaze sharpened.
I couldn’t truthfully say, “I’m going to properly pocket money under a false name.”
“I have my reasons, so I want to go alone…”
I hesitated, watching his reaction, and finally said,
“Why?”
A sudden cold voice came, demanding an answer. No matter how close we pretended to be, the duke was a formidable schemer.
Of course, I had already thought of a way to escape. A transmigrator exists above the schemer!
For dramatic effect, I forced my voice to sound more subdued.
“Could I tell you after I return?”
Prepare to fully lift your suspicions later, Father.
