I Reincarnated As A Villainess, But Why Did I Become A Cat Butler Instead? - Chapter 185

Chapter 93.1

Even if I were to leave Blois, the shelter established under Blois’s name would continue to operate because Dimitri promised to do so.

‘Besides, even if I were to step down from the position of Blois’ Duchess, I would still be able to visit the shelter.’

Since the shelter would be treated as an institution operated by Blois, I was supposed to maintain a cooperative relationship as an individual who could provide assistance to the institution at any time.

In that sense, the intention was to set up the shelter using the welfare funds from Blois.

It was actually a plan that Dimitri fleshed out after I told him I wanted to open up a shelter. No matter what happens with our contractual marriage, he mentioned that the shelter was a gift to me and he would continue to allow me to be involved with the shelter in the future, even after the divorce.

I thought I would completely leave Blois after the divorce and not look back, but he was surprisingly generous to me.

‘Once you get to know him, he’s truly a delicate and kind person.’

It was a mystery why someone like this was portrayed so negatively in the novel.

I comforted Baron Placen.

“Don’t worry too much. Everything will turn out fine.”

In addition, the elders wouldn’t dare to rashly mess with us now that they knew Dimitri was watching their actions.

Now was the perfect time to establish the shelter.

̊ · : * ✧ * : · ̊

…That was what I thought.

As soon as the shapeshifters were moved to the shelter, it seemed like the council of elders had convened a meeting as if they had waited for this moment.

Dimitri and I, along with the elders, gathered once again in the assembly hall.

“That welfare fund is a personal fund meant for the Duchess to carry out charitable activities under the name of Blois. It can’t be used in a private manner like this.”

Count Schdental, whose white hair was scattered sparsely around his temples, seemed even more formidable, perhaps due to his appearance, as he sharply represented the council.

I didn’t step back and rebutted his statement.

“It’s not being used for a private matter. This is the charitable work I’m carrying out under the name of Blois.”

Another elder spoke with a determined attitude.

“No one would consider that charity work. Collecting shapeshifters is just the Duchess’s hobby, isn’t it?”

It was unbelievable for them to treat the shapeshifters as mere objects, especially in front of Dimitri.

“Collecting? Even though they may be in the servitude class, slaves aren’t objects. They are beings with the same intelligence as us. Please choose your words carefully.”

“Ha! To say that shapeshifters have the same intelligence as us!”

Count Charlerois sneered as if finding the idea ridiculous. At that moment, Dimitri, who had been observing, stared at him with an emotionless gaze and calmly spoke without even a hint of anger.

“Is the Count trying to forget or pretending to forget the fact that the person overseeing you is a shapeshifter?”

Count Charlerois’s face grew pale under the pressure.

“I, I made a slip of the tongue. How could I say such a thing? I meant to say slaves, not shapeshifters. It’s unthinkable for a slave to be equal to us.”

“A slip of the tongue?”

Dimitri scoffed.

“Aren’t you aware that you are entrusted with an important responsibility, representing the nobles who support Blois? If you’re so frivolous as to speak in such a solemn setting, one can only imagine how you might ridicule me and Blois in public.”

“I-I didn’t mean it like that, I would never…!”

Dimitri seemed unwilling to let go of Count Charlerois. In addition, he probably had no intention of doing so. Right now, it would be most advantageous for us in the current situation to steer the meeting by deflecting the topic of his attack on me in this manner.

The chairman, Count Schdental, seemed to realize that, as he didn’t intervene to protect Count Charlerois and tried to bring the conversation to an end.

“That behavior just now was quite unpleasant even for us who serve Blois, Count Charlerois. Please be more careful.”

Despite the fact that he tried to cover it up appropriately, Dimitri didn’t back down.

“Come to think of it, there have been reports lately about tolls being levied on Blois’ emissaries in the territory of Count Charlerois, causing damages to their business.”

As he finished his words, Count Charlerois anxiously mopped away sweat while his gaze flicked toward Count Schdental. It was truly callous to see Count Schdental, who should have stood by his side, exhibiting indifference, leaving Charlerois to fend for himself.

‘It seems that the harmony among the elders, which has been maintained until now, has become strained due to the slave trader issue.’

Count Charlerois had been adroitly traveling to and from himself within Blois, all while meticulously gauging Dimitri’s reactions. Nonetheless, over the past few days, it had become apparent that Count Schdental had firmly cast him aside.

Seizing this opportune juncture, Dimitri astutely seized upon this rift, biting down on Count Charlerois’s lack of qualities befitting an elder. Unfortunately, no one was willing to come to the aid of Count Charlerois, who was abandoned by the chairman, Count Schdental.

In the end, Count Charlerois was expelled from the meeting.

“Wa-Wait! Give me a chance to explain! Let go of me!”

Given his unwillingness to step out on his own, he was carried and escorted by the obliging knights, his feet dangling as they bore him out for his departure. The sight was too mortifying for the elders who had been close to Count Charlerois.

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