Chapter 5

Despite my attempts to speak to him, Sven seems to be ignoring me. Perhaps Emma has said something to him; he turns his face away, suppressing his anger, as if trying to keep me out of his sight. It’s only the second day, and I’ve already become so disliked.

"Big brother, who is this person?"

"Don’t worry about it. He’s someone you shouldn’t talk to."

"Wow, that’s harsh. We only met yesterday, right? Just talking to me, and it’s that bad?"

"There’s no reason for me to talk to someone like you. This...”

Was he about to say “ugly” or “unattractive”? The boy flinched when he looked at my face again, then turned away with a look of regret. My face must have won the battle.

"Hey, it’s fine if you don’t like me. But I don’t understand why you dislike me. Could you at least tell me the reason?"

"I don’t want to."

Typical of a teenager. It’s impossible to reason with him. He pulled his brother away and left quickly...

"Nico"

"Y-Yes?"

"Do you know why that boy dislikes me?"

The girl shook her head vigorously. I shifted my gaze to the gardener, but he avoided my eyes. A man who seemed to be a soldier was loitering around, but he only glanced at me from a distance and didn’t seem very helpful.

"Well, it’s only the second day, after all."

Perhaps I was too hasty. Generally, it takes three days to get used to a new environment, a week to understand the people, and about a month to fully settle in. A month isn’t too long, but from the old man’s reaction, I feel like I might have to wait a week...

Still, I greeted the people in the mansion and asked around, and I learned about Count Conrad Camille. As I had heard, he is generally well-liked. He doesn’t impose excessive taxes, listens to the voices of his people, and actively addresses issues like animals ravaging the fields. Besides Emma, he also supports doctors and entertainers, with the latter regularly performing in the Conrad domain. In the past, he has invested in various areas, and many nobles still maintain connections with him. Kirsten must have been connected through these ties.

This might seem like normal behavior, but many nobles find it difficult to be so considerate. Especially in the border regions, where the capital’s oversight is limited, even if someone gathers the courage to file a complaint, it often gets suppressed along the way. Many lords satisfy their selfish desires within the bounds of the law, and if a complaint fails, the complainant is ostracized. I learned this from a school friend who had fled from a rural area.

This is a universal problem, common to all worlds. Especially here, where there are no convenient tools like phones or the internet, there’s no easy way to escape. While magic can allow distant communication, such conveniences are not the norm.

In the end, on the second and third days, I only learned about the Conrad domain. The count, being busy, didn’t visit his new wife’s room, and I had a very healthy routine of early to bed and early to rise.

...I found myself with more free time than I expected, and I even began to understand the excitement of the ladies who gossip. To avoid becoming a mental wreck, I needed to find something to do.

On the fourth day, I had almost forgotten about the burn. The bandages were off, and there was no scar left. The nights were peaceful, and Nico came to greet me every morning. I needed to start making connections, so I pretended to be unwell and stayed in bed. Of course, it was a lie, and I sneaked out of the room later to enter a room I had targeted. I read a book and eavesdropped on the servants’ gossip. Staying hidden was unexpectedly hard on my heart, and I didn’t want to do it again. When Nico found me, I had to make a lot of excuses.

On the fifth day, I received a letter from the old man. From its content and the servants’ conversations, I gained some certainty about the situation.

On the sixth day, I heard that Emma was there, so it was time for a “talk.”

“I’m sorry to bother you, but could I have a moment, please?”

Despite the butler and secretary trying to stop me, I didn’t back down. The two were having a serious conversation, but they let me through, and I smiled, saying I had something to discuss.

“This is important. I think you might have an idea of what it’s about.”

At this point, the butler Waitley and the housekeeper Mrs. Henrik’s real skill, “reading the room,” kicked in. The secretaries quickly left, and we were led to a small room suitable for negotiations.

With Camille and Emma sitting opposite me, no one would think I was the Countess of Conrad. However, this seating arrangement was fine. As Mrs. Henrik brought in the tea, Camille spoke.

“So, what is this about?”

“I didn’t come to fight, so please don’t be tense. I’m not angry with Dr. Emma or Sven.”

They must have guessed when I arrived. Both sighed deeply, and Emma looked as if she was praying to the heavens.

“I’m sorry. I knew it was wrong to hide it, but I didn’t know how to bring it up...”

“It’s good that you told us. It was already a public fact.”

“...I’m a commoner.”

“If I had known, I would have been worried about Sven’s safety. ...I’m sorry, that was a mean thing to say.”

“Miss Karen. I am at fault regarding Emma and Sven. She is not my legal wife, but I haven’t hidden her. After so many years, I’ve become complacent. I treated Kirsten as if she already knew.”

“Yes, I understand that you had no ill intentions. This is more about the people who didn’t investigate or inform me."

I smiled wryly, trying to convey that I wasn’t angry.

Let me explain again, just in case. Emma is Camille’s common-law wife, and Sven and his brother... I don’t know about the brother, but at least Sven is Camille’s and Emma’s son.

“Was the old man angry and left because of this?”

“Yes, he should have received a letter about it.”

“Yes, from his reaction, it seems he didn’t know.”

He must have been very upset to learn about the common-law wife and child on the day of the engagement. Hasty engagements can lead to such chaos.

“Now, I need to ask you both a favor. Could you please keep me here as the Countess of Conrad for at least three years... or even one year?”

I don’t want Camille’s children, and I don’t need his wealth. If he wants Sven to be the heir, I would be happy to sign the official documents.

“...When I leave, could you provide me with enough money to get by for a while?”

“Leave?”

Emma was shocked, but I understood her concerns.

“I’ll think of a reason that won’t cause you any trouble.”

“Wait, Miss Karen. I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

She was surprised and candid, but I found it less awkward to be addressed formally by someone like her. Camille, on the other hand, seemed to be thinking deeply. When he looked up, he met my eyes with a public, rather than personal, demeanor.

“To be honest, when I heard you were coming, I had people investigate you.”

“Me?”

A sixteen-year-old girl coming on her own was suspicious, and it would have been strange not to investigate. From his reaction, it seemed he had kept the information to himself.

“...Yes. So, you know about Kirsten’s scandal?”

“It was well-known, but I was unsure if I could share it...”

“It’s fine. In fact, it’s better if Dr. Emma knows. It might affect the future.”

Camille then told Emma what he had learned about me. Kirsten’s wife had lost her memory and forgotten about her middle daughter, who was then kicked out of the house and reduced to a commoner. However, she was brought back home when her sister became the king’s concubine.

“Somehow, the idea of a marriage alliance with me came up...”

“That’s the part I don’t understand.”

The marriage alliance with Camille was a form of harassment from the family. It was originally a proposal for a commoner, but it became a better match due to her sister’s position. This was a misunderstanding, but it had a significant impact on my life.

“I was going to refuse, as Emma is here...”

“...I’m glad you didn’t, really.”

“From your reaction, it seems you had a reason not to accept the son of Rodenwald.”

“To put it bluntly, yes.”

“Hmm.”

“First, I want to make it clear that there’s no fault on the part of Rodenwald. And regarding Kirsten... I don’t hate her. It’s more that the situation was difficult, but I don’t harbor any resentment.”

I had to explain that my decision wasn’t out of rebellion or despair. I explained my situation after being reduced to a commoner, living alone without any support. Camille frowned but listened attentively. The important part was that I had adapted to that life.

“To be honest, I lacked the awareness of being a noble. For me, the life of a commoner wasn’t bad. I had no intention of returning to Kirsten, and if not for my sister, I would have worked and left the country after graduation.”

“Left the country...”

“Yes, otherwise, I would have remained a pitiful girl who was kicked out of her home. The count must have heard some of these rumors, right?”

Camille was silent, so I took it as a yes.

I didn’t need sympathy. What I wanted was the freedom to live as I pleased, without judgment, where I could enjoy beer and roasted meat to my heart’s content.

“So, to put it bluntly, I weighed the count and Rinald against each other.”

“Why?”

“To see which one would give me freedom sooner.”

“Oh... the age difference. Yes, an older person would pass away before a younger one.”

“Yes.”

It was a disrespectful statement, and I could have been immediately dismissed, but I trusted Camille to understand. The atmosphere around him and his close associates became tense, but he remained calm.

Emma looked worried as Camille stroked his beard. I was also tense, but eventually, the old man spoke.

“That’s a rather reckless bet. You should have been more selective and cautious.”

“You’re right.”

I was aware of that, so his words made me feel deflated. Even with the time constraints, my plan was too rash.

“You, she has her reasons...”

“I understand. I won’t say it’s bad, but I can’t praise it, Emma. As adults, we can’t. ...From the letter you received, you used your sister’s name, didn’t you?”

“Yes, it was more reliable that way.”

“At that point, you were still under your parents’ protection. You should have understood that it could have endangered others.”

I did understand... or thought I did. But being reminded by an elder made me feel guilty for using such a risky method. Camille nodded deeply at my nod.

“Hmm. ...Then, it’s fine.”

He took a sip of tea, sighed, and leaned back in his chair.

...Is that all?

I was a bit disappointed, as I had expected a lecture.

“There’s no point in scolding someone who is already reflecting on their actions.”

His public demeanor was gone, and he smiled warmly.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t ignore a young girl who might be in danger. ...It’s fortunate it was us, but if it had been another lord, it might not have gone well. Remember that.”

I nodded firmly.

...In some regions, lords have the right to the virginity of young girls, and they can be quite tyrannical. Camille must have been including such stories in his warning.

“Now, let’s get back to the matter at hand. It seems we need to have a serious talk. ...Ah, Mrs. Henrik.”

The housekeeper stepped forward, and the lord pointed to the table.

“Could you prepare some sweets for us? A sweet break is necessary for a deep conversation.”

The housekeeper bowed and, noticing my gaze, scratched her head, looking embarrassed. She must be very genuine.

“I’m sorry, Miss Karen. After being isolated for so long, I’ve become rather conservative. I’ve neglected our conversation these past six days.”

“I was also cautious. I apologize.”

...Ah, I see.

This man, who can so easily bow to a young person, is likely well-liked by his people.