The Villainess Who Accidentally Stole Their Hearts - Chapter 22
Chapter 11.2
“I’m not asking you to take responsibility. I’ll take care of myself, so please let me stay by your side.”
“I’ve already told you, I’m more than willing to invest as much as you need.”
“I can’t be satisfied with a relationship bound by money alone. I want to share the same boat with you, my lady.”
“You’re going to build an incredible merchant guild.”
“What’s the point if my dreams have already changed?”
“….”
Repeating the same conversation every day was exhausting.
‘…Maybe I should at least take a look at his profile first.’
Love Hunt Target: Leonard
The target 〈 Leonard 〉 has a rank that is too high to investigate.
‘What?’
Sure, Leonard was a self-made success who was destined to become the owner of a massive merchant guild. But to be so high-level that I couldn’t even investigate him…?
I swallowed nervously.
‘Upgrade.’
Using 2♥s to upgrade the 〈 ♥♡ Forbidden Love Detective Agency 〉 ( •̀ ω •́ )✧
Dududududu—
: ̗̀ ♥ˎˊ: Ta-da! : ̗̀ ♥ˎˊ:
You can now track 〈 Potential 〉 while hunting =͟͟͞͞➳❥
Two hearts?
It only cost one heart for an upgrade last time. Could it be that the cost increases with each upgrade?
‘Still, it feels like I’ve unlocked something amazing…’
However, that wasn’t what I wanted.
Using 4♥s to upgrade the 〈 ♥♡ Forbidden Love Detective Agency 〉 ( •̀ ω •́ )✧
Dududududu—
: ̗̀ ♥ˎˊ: Ta-da! : ̗̀ ♥ˎˊ:
You can now hunt even higher rank targets =͟͟͞͞➳❥
‘Finally!’
I ended up using more ♥ than I had planned.
‘From two to four… don’t tell me the cost doubles every time?!’
I quickly began investigating Leonard.
— Gender: Male
— Age: 25
— Workplace: Periwel Merchant Guild
…
— Talents: Commercial Acumen (B-rank) / Intelligence Gathering1, Diplomacy, Eloquence, Persuasion, Charisma, Judgment, Calculations2
He definitely has a lot of talents, but…
‘Is this really so high-ranked that it can’t even be investigated… wait, what?’
‘Two potentials?!’
Ranks were only given to primary talents, meaning Leonard essentially had two main talents.
‘And they’re both A-rank…’
On top of that, “negotiator’ was listed before ‘commercial acumen.’
‘This… this is an opportunity I can’t pass up.’
“Let me ask you one thing.”
“Ask me anything.”
“How did you get Akitane? That was something the imperial family was involved in…”
“Since it was something the imperial family was involved in, I borrowed their power.”
Leonard’s gentle smile made him seem nothing but sincere.
“It’s the imperial family that’s eager to put Delosif in their debt right now.”
“Of course, the imperial couple would see it as an opportunity. The Emperor wouldn’t want to favor one side and create unnecessary trouble.”
“So, I persuaded Her Majesty the Empress.”
“The Empress?!”
The Empress practically lived in seclusion.
She rarely accepted visitors, and even if someone managed to meet her, it was usually futile.
She always brushed off requests, saying, ‘What use is wealth and glory to an old woman who already has one foot in the grave?’ Everyone could only parrot, ‘What are you saying, Your Majesty?! You’ll live another hundred years!’ before walking away empty-handed.
“How on earth did you manage to persuade the Empress?”
“Though it’s a merchant’s virtue not to reveal trade secrets, I must share them with the one who will become my master.”
‘…Is it just because he’s a merchant? He’s remarkably good at making people feel indebted.’
“I simply helped Her Majesty the Empress with her only hobby.”
“The Empress’s hobby… reading?”
“Yes, I managed to find the rare sequel for her.”
“I heard she doesn’t budge, no matter what kinds of rare ancient manuscripts are offered to her.”
“That’s because they don’t understand Her Majesty’s… refined taste.”
…Refined tastes?
“I gave her Volume 3 of The Temptation of the Ex-Wife.”
“….?!”
The Temptation of the Ex-Wife.
That was the—
‘—scandalous melodrama about affairs and betrayal that went out of print three hundred years ago…!’
It had even been officially listed as forbidden literature at one point!
‘The empress’s ‘refined taste’ is actually trashy melodramatic novels?!’
It seemed my family wasn’t the only one with problems.
…Would this country really be okay like this?
̊ · : * ✧ * : · ̊
Dinner time.
When I arrived at the dining room, I froze in shock.
It was because Zerno and Akain were seated at the table.
‘What’s going on? Both of them usually avoid me and eat in places like the office or the meeting room.’
I froze mid-thought.
‘…Though the idea that they avoid me because they don’t want to see me is something I only heard from Emma and Mikarin.’
Still, it was true that I had been abandoned by my family before my regression. Just as I absentmindedly picked out the greens from my salad, focusing instead on the meat and cheese, Akain decided to speak up.
“You’re appointing Leonard Fabian as your aide?”
“Yes.”
“You’re really going to keep a merchant who only cares about profits by your side?”
‘Why is he picking a fight again?’
“Isn’t Sir Shorrel, who serves as your aide, also from a merchant background?”
“You don’t even handle family matters, so why would you need an aide?”
“I plan to start now.”
“Find someone else with better credentials. I’ll recommend someone for you.”
Saying that, Akain handed me a stack of documents he had apparently prepared in advance. All the candidates were women with exceptional skills and experience, though I had already made up my mind.
“Why do you hate Leonard so much? If it weren’t for him, our family would’ve been forced to ally with one of the imperial family members.”
“…I don’t like the way he smiles.”
I stared at Akain, wondering if he was being serious.
At that moment, Zerno, who had been eating quietly, finally spoke up.
“Nike.”
“Yes.”
“You’re being rather casual in how you address him.”
“…Pardon?”
“I know Leonard Fabian visits you every day with his little schemes, but as the Lady of Delosif, you need to uphold your dignity.”
“….”
“Akain’s recommendations don’t seem bad. All of them are remarkable women.”
It was the first time I’d ever heard Zerno praise someone as remarkable. Did he really distrust my judgment that much?
“Decisions about the people around me are mine to make.”
“….”
“….”
“I’ve already made up my mind. It’s going to be Leonard.”
I set my fork down and rose from my seat.
“I’ll be leaving first. Enjoy the rest of your meal.”
As I walked out of the dining hall, I could faintly hear snippets of their conversation through the closed door.
“She didn’t even finish all her steak… waste… frustrating…”
“…because of that kid… approach… can’t…”
‘What are they even talking about? I just don’t like meat that much.’
I scoffed and continued on my way.
̊ · : * ✧ * : · ̊
Not only was the weather clear and sunny, but the terrine paired with the tea Alice brewed for me was an absolute dream. It was shaping up to be a perfect morning.
So why…
“Oh my, such beautiful flowers!”
“My goodness, you can’t usually see Areca roses in bloom this season!”
“As expected from Lord Cleas!”
The bouquet of flowers in my line of sight shifted slightly, revealing Cleas’s face.
“…Why are you here?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? Being by your side is where I belong.”
Cleas placed a light kiss on the back of my hand.
“I’ve come to escort you. Hurry up and get ready. Watching you prepare is one of my greatest pleasures.”
I pulled my hand back, frowning.
I knew why Cleas had shown up to escort me.
‘Because today is Ulysses’s birthday.’
Which meant—
‘It’s the day the five adulterers all come together.’
¹ [ *정보력: Ability to gather and use information. ] ↩
² [ 계산력: Skill in math or analytical thinking. ] ↩
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