Chapter 12

That calculating person.

Wasn’t he basically saying he paid on purpose so that there would be another excuse for us to meet again?

I shook my head slightly.

“You’re impossible.”

“Even if that weren’t the case, I honestly don’t want to be treated by a woman I like. To be honest…”

He spoke with a slightly self-deprecating tone.

“It’s true that I’m more desperate and impatient for the time I spend with Asha than Asha is.”

“When you put it that way, it sounds a little strange. I was actually glad that everything worked out smoothly today thanks to you, Karcel.”

I should have realized when he said earlier that he was going to the restroom.

“From now on, you don’t have to do this.”

“I know. But I was a little disappointed that, for now, we’re not in a relationship where we have a reason to meet unless I buy you a meal.”

Karcel maintained his shameless attitude.

“So I tried to create a reason.”

“I’ll let you get away with it just this once.”

First, I would only get information about Marquis Rivandel from the Information Guild. If anything seemed suspicious, I would cut ties with him without hesitation.

He obediently nodded.

“I’m truly lucky that Asha is such a kind person.”

For some reason, I strongly felt like I had been tricked, but in the end, I stood up from my seat.

“Thank you for the meal.”

After all, without Karcel’s help, I wouldn’t have been able to complete the contract so easily.

“Thank you so much… Karcel.”

I gave him my thanks and smiled faintly.

Then Karcel stared at me for a moment with an unreadable expression before finally looking away.

“Why?”

“It’s nothing. May I take you back home? Or do you have somewhere else you need to stop by?”

“No. I think I’ll just go home early today and rest.”

I had finished an important task, and there was an incident happening tomorrow.

It was also an important event for Rinea, and I couldn’t be absent.

‘I’ll have to start moving early in the morning!’

When I left the restaurant with Karcel, a black carriage approached us as if it had recognized him.

Once again, I returned to the count’s estate with his help.

After Karcel got off the carriage first, I took his hand and stepped down as well before saying goodbye.

“Thank you for today. For everything.”

At that, he hesitated, moving his lips a few times before speaking.

“Asha.”

Karcel called my name naturally, as if he had already gotten used to it.

“From now on, I won’t show up in front of your house without reason unless Asha calls for me first.”

“Ah… okay.”

He must have thought I was feeling too burdened.

And honestly, I had been a little overwhelmed.

Although, since everything had turned out well today, the atmosphere had become warm and pleasant.

He looked down at me and continued.

“So I’ll wait.”

Karcel whispered softly to me, who could only stare up at him without saying anything.

“Until the day Asha calls for me first.”

For a moment, his scent brushed past the tip of my nose, and then he stepped away.

Leaving me standing there with my mouth slightly open in surprise, Karcel climbed back into the carriage.

Soon, the coachman stepped down, closed the door, and the carriage slowly disappeared into the distance.

I stood there for a moment, dazed, before hurriedly shaking my head.

Get a grip! This is not the time to be swayed by a man!

“I have to wake up at six tomorrow morning, so I should wash up and sleep quickly.”

Muttering to myself, I forced my gaze away from the direction of Karcel’s carriage and entered the count’s residence.

The next morning at 7 a.m.

As expected, exactly when the clock struck seven, my mother-in-law unlocked my door and entered without permission.

She came in with a maid following behind her and shouted proudly.

“You! The sun is already high in the sky, and you’re still lazily lying around sleep—!”

“Good morning, Mother.”

I smiled at her while already dressed neatly.

I had known she would come.

When May arrived, the social season officially began.

Which meant that both my husband’s family—the Delmore Count and my mother-in-law—would become busy.

And that was exactly why they had allowed me to continue living here.

In the original story, Asha Delmore’s role was closer to that of a nanny.

My mother-in-law was the type of person who believed that teaching a young girl only the bare minimum of etiquette was enough.

But she still had to maintain appearances and participate in social events, so from now on, I would be the one accompanying Rinea and managing her schedule.

‘My mother-in-law cares a lot about what other people think of her.’

The beginning of Rinea’s spring social activities was a tea party hosted by Countess Anexa’s family, who had some connections with the Delmore family.

And in the original novel, an incident involving my mother-in-law and Asha Delmore happened on this very day.

Thanks to the fact that I already knew about it, I didn’t have to suffer any humiliation first thing in the morning.

Still wearing a calm expression, I spoke to my mother-in-law, who was staring down at me in confusion.

“I heard Rinea has an important tea party she must attend today. I’ve prepared everything in advance, so please don’t worry, Mother.”

“What? You… just what are you—!”

Even though my mother-in-law was clearly flustered, I simply smiled brightly.

“The time is 3 p.m. today, right? We just need to go to Countess Anexa’s residence?”

“Y-yes.”

“Then could you leave now? I need to get ready.”

“Uh… yes. Fine.”

As I stood up from the bed with a gentle smile, my mother-in-law flinched and slowly stepped backward.

She was clearly shocked.

This was information I should never have been able to know.

Moreover, all the maids in the count’s residence were loyal followers who only flattered my mother-in-law.

So if I knew this information…

‘She can’t help but suspect that there’s a spy among her own people.’

For someone like my mother-in-law, who needed everything in this household to be under her control, this situation was extremely unsettling.

The maids who realized this exchanged suspicious glances with each other.

I spoke to them once more.

“Mother, after Rinea’s tea party ends today, should you and I attend the dinner party at Baron Muirin’s residence together this evening?”

“…How do you know my schedule?”

“Hmm? Because I always pay so much attention to you, Mother! I’m always keeping an eye on you.”

I curved my eyes into a smile and continued while pretending to be innocent.

“There’s nothing about you that I don’t know.”

When I stared directly at her, my mother-in-law’s confidence completely disappeared.

“You’re really such a strange girl. No wonder people say you devoured your husband!”

I put on an innocent expression and pretended to feel sorry.

“My goodness. How could someone say such a thing to a widow who is grieving because her husband suddenly passed away?”

My mother-in-law slowly stepped backward.

I opened my arms toward her and said,

“Since you said that, I suddenly realized my husband is really gone, and I’m sad. Please hug me.”

“C-crazy! I should leave now.”

“Mother! Hug me!”

At my ridiculous attempt at affection, my mother-in-law abandoned the maid behind her and backed out of the room without even a hint of loyalty.

Seeing their leader flee in horror, the maids hurriedly followed after her.

“That’s a shame.”

Once again, I was left alone in the room, and I clicked my tongue in disappointment.

My mother-in-law was more or less handled, so now I needed to take care of Rinea and head to the tea party.

This was exactly why I had earned money.

I lifted the corners of my lips and grinned.

Finally, it’s time to customize my favorite character!

At 10 a.m., I knocked on Rinea’s door.

Rinea already knew that I would be the one accompanying her to the tea party today.

“Are you dressed, sweetheart? Shall we go now?”

I asked in an unusually cheerful voice, but hesitation flickered from the other side of the door.

This was a child who feared her grandmother’s orders more than anything.

She probably knew that today, she had no choice but to face me.

“Rinea?”

But even if I wanted to give her more time, our schedule was tight today.

After knocking a few more times to hurry her along, Rinea finally opened the door a crack.

The child looked completely intimidated.

I lowered myself to her height and greeted her.

“Hello, Rinea.”

If Rinea had cat ears, they would probably have been pressed flat against her round head, showing exactly how frightened she was.

“I think you need to go with me to the tea party at Countess Anexa’s residence today. Are you all ready?”

“Ah… not yet. I heard it was at three o’clock…”

“We have somewhere to go before that. Let’s go out and eat too! I’ll buy you something delicious.”