chapter 7
Philios Regalo, who had drunk heavily the previous day, woke up with a pounding headache.
Furrowing his brows deeply, he pressed a hand to his forehead—and once again, that insolent woman’s voice replayed in his mind.
“Recently, I’ve developed an allergy to ugly men. If an ugly man touches me, I get dizzy, short of breath, nauseous… like I’m about to throw up. Ugh.”
“Damn it!”
What a ridiculous woman.
He had barely managed to coax her into an engagement because of her pretty face and immense wealth, and now she wanted to break it off for such an absurd reason? Impossible.
The assets of the Duke of Elemore’s family were more than ten times that of the Regalo family.
“…Well, the Duke and Duchess of Elemore are already dead anyway. No matter how noble she is, she doesn’t have anyone backing her up.”
Etius had suddenly appeared yesterday and interfered, but the two of them didn’t seem to have any real relationship…
“No, wait.”
Philios’s eyes gleamed.
“Right. If I tie those two together and blow things out of proportion as a rumor…”
Prince Etius Clyde and Lady Katrin Elemore were having an affair.
What would happen if that news reached the Emperor?
A smile spread across Philios Regalo’s lips.
First, it would completely shatter the Emperor’s favor toward Elemore.
Wasn’t Etius the biggest thorn in the Emperor’s side?
If Elemore were pushed out from the Emperor’s faction, it would be like an open vault.
“…No matter how arrogant that woman is, she’ll come crawling back to me, begging for forgiveness. She’ll offer as much money as I want and desperately try to return things to how they were.”
She was just a woman who happened to be born lucky, living arrogantly off her lineage.
Unlike him, who possessed artistic talent and refinement, she was nothing more than a rich, ignorant fool.
Just imagining her begging him for forgiveness with the very mouth that had insulted him made his grin stretch wide.
He got out of bed, quickly dressed, stretched, and called for a servant.
First, he needed to find out how much it would cost to bribe a journalist.
But the servant who answered his call came running in, pale-faced, holding a newspaper.
“Y-Young master! There’s an article in today’s paper…”
“Hah. What is it now?”
Annoyed, Philios snatched the newspaper and looked at the front page.
[Shocking Private Life of Viscount Philios Regalo Revealed! His Fiancée, Katrin Elemore, Collapses in Shock!]
“W-What is this?!”
His eyes widened at the shocking headline that took up half the front page.
An anonymous informant, Miss A, revealed Philios Regalo’s disturbing sexual preferences, testifying, “There’s no one in the world who could satisfy his tastes. It’s truly disgusting.”
Another, Miss B, agreed, saying, “In fact, all the works he claimed as his own are copies. He’s hired painters and sculptors under the guise of patronage and presented their works as his own countless times. He’s a disgrace to the art world.”
“H-How dare they fabricate such lies…!”
His face turned bright red.
Sure, his tastes were unusual—but not disgusting.
And those unknown artists’ works… weren’t they practically his, since he funded them?
He couldn’t forgive this slander.
“I’m going to that newspaper office right now—no, another one. Obviously, these people have been bribed by that witch, Katrin Elemore!”
Furious at Katrin for striking first, Philios tried to storm out, but the servant stopped him.
“S-Sir, the other newspapers too…”
Philios grabbed the other papers from the servant’s hands.
[Philios Regalo, a notorious liar—none of his words hold any value.]
[Katrin Elemore, the Poison Rose of Elemore—was her villainous image entirely fabricated by Philios Regalo?]
[Exclusive joint interview with women A, B, C, and D who claim to be lovers of Philios Regalo!]
[Philios Regalo! Truly Ugly!]
“Aaaagh…! No way…!!”
The newspapers slipped one by one from his hands to the floor.
His face turned from red to pale as he clutched his head.
Katrin Elemore had been harsh, but she had never been truly cruel, meticulous, or cunning.
The only reason he had approached her was because he believed he could stand above her.
But now, that certainty was crumbling.
“Philios!”
A furious shout echoed from downstairs.
It was his father, the Marquis Regalo.
“You wretch! What on earth have you been doing outside?!”
“You’re truly impressive, my lady.”
Heros looked at me with pride and admiration.
“Well, in the end, fights are won by the stronger and richer side.”
It was obvious what Philios had been planning—to tie me with Etius and put me in a difficult position.
Before that, I needed to completely crush someone like him so he couldn’t even move.
“To think you bought out all the newspapers and left no room for rebuttal articles… I’m in awe of your thoroughness, my lady.”
Besides, about 80 percent of what was reported was true anyway.
Philios was trash—let’s consider the remaining 20 percent of lies as divine punishment.
“Your ability to eliminate enemies truly befits the rightful heir of the House of Elemore.”
Heros looked at me meaningfully—honestly, even he was a hundred times more handsome than Philios.
“You worked hard too. Running around the newspaper offices all night.”
He lowered his head deeply.
“…It’s nothing. I’m just grateful to be able to serve you. I will continue to obey and follow you like a dog.”
‘Like a dog… that’s a bit much.’
I gave him a vague smile.
‘Anyway, now that I’ve gotten rid of that annoying Philios, I’ll soon have to deal with someone even more troublesome.’
My greedy uncle, Padelmon Elemore—the one who introduced that piece of trash to me.
Since my father’s funeral, he’s been constantly eyeing my inheritance, practically licking his lips.
He had even bribed a judge to place something like a provisional seizure on part of the estate.
He was someone I absolutely had to crush.
By the way… what is Eti up to?
I turned on the watch and selected Etius’s status.
HP: ♥♥♥♥♥♡♡♡♡♡
Still five hearts.
Though he looked more dignified and handsome than anyone else, he was actually on the brink between health and frailty due to everything he had endured.
His hands were rough, unbefitting his status, and he likely hadn’t been eating proper meals for an adult man.
At times like this, what I should do is…
“My lady, the new dress from Pelloir Shop has arrived!”
Right on cue, a maid’s voice called from outside.
Pelloir Shop was currently the most popular dress shop in Oswell.
“Seems rushing them paid off. They arrived exactly on time.”
At Heros’s remark, I nodded.
The first dress I ordered before the duke couple’s funeral was finished in a week, but Katrin kept rejecting it—didn’t like the lace, make it tighter, no, looser…
And so, after seven revisions, the dress that finally met her taste—
…
The door opened, and a mannequin wearing a red dress was brought into the room.
A captivating dress with one shoulder exposed, exuding a strange elegance and beauty.
It was so beautiful it made my jaw drop.
‘Her taste in dresses is amazing… so why was her taste in men such a disaster?’
Thinking of Philios’s flushed face, I reached out and touched the lace.
The fabric and design were top-notch—I loved it.
My first ball since transmigrating, huh?
My heart was beating a little faster.
‘Eti will come too… right?’
“By the way, Heros. About that orphanage business…”
Glancing back at him, I gave a sly smile.
