TLWFL 05

Chapter 05

“…Are you sure it’s really ready this quickly?”

“If you didn’t trust me, you shouldn’t have come. Didn’t you come because you trust me?”

“Well, that’s…”

“The Muteso landslide is a matter that the political world is watching with interest. There’s even talk that the imperial court will soon dispatch an inspector to Muteso. The Loterua will have to offer compensation for that Muteso landslide.”

Rozelle lightly bit her lip and then released it.

“There are two ways.”

“Two?”

“First, find someone gullible and easy to manipulate and pass the timber off to them. There will definitely be people who can be swayed by a few words. Especially those who have ambitions for the capital.”

“…That’s not what I came here to hear. I came to find a better way. I hope your second method doesn’t disappoint me.”

Oh?

Reston let out a faint exclamation inwardly. He never thought Rozelle would say something like that. Disappoint. Reston crookedly pulled up his lips.

“Second. Use the Muteso timber to rebuild Muteso, which was destroyed by the landslide.”

Rozelle’s eyes widened.

It was truly a proposal from an unexpected category.

“Rebuild Muteso…”

“Fortunately, because the landslide occurred at night, there were no casualties, but I heard that nearby bridges, as well as shops and reservoirs, were damaged. Release the timber for free and use it to rebuild Muteso.”

This was actually one of the things the imperial court had been planning. Instead of buying the Muteso timber at a low price, they would forgive the Loterua and use that timber to rebuild Muteso.

“If you seek forgiveness from His Majesty the Emperor and the people of this nation that way, the Loterua will find a way to survive. In a more moderate and humane way.”

Rozelle would never choose this option. Of course not—releasing the Muteso timber for free. It was practically throwing money away. Besides, the Count of Loterua would never agree to it.

*’Would she choose the difficult path over the easy one?’*

Reston gazed at Rozelle with expectant eyes.

Rozelle answered as if she didn’t even need to think about it.

“It seems like a much better method than what I had been considering. Thank you, Lindberg. There’s a reason people praise Lindberg.”

Rozelle smiled brightly.

Reston blinked his eyes, just subtly enough not to be noticeable. Had he ever seen Rozelle smile so purely and brightly like that?

She was a woman accustomed to calculating and measuring her own life. She was also someone who never showed unconditional favor.

*’Something has changed.’*

Outwardly, she looked the same, but it was as if she had turned over a new leaf.

Reston narrowed his eyes and stared at Rozelle.

“May I ask for one more piece of advice before I pay the fee?”

“My advice is expensive, my lady.”

“I know.”

Rozelle placed another pouch of gold coins on the table. With a very serious expression, Rozelle asked Reston.

“This is about someone I know.”

It’s about Rozelle herself. Reston was confident that there was nothing he didn’t know about Rozelle. He had known her his whole life, after all. What on earth was she about to say?

“…This is about a friend of a friend of mine.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“There’s this guy who thinks marriage is the most expensive transaction in life.”

For a moment, Reston was at a loss for words. Rolling forward and backward, this was undeniably about Reston. Reston pressed his lips tightly together.

Rozelle, completely unaware of Reston’s reaction, continued.

“It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? I think so too. How can someone have such trashy values…”

“Trashy values.”

“Ah. I let my true feelings slip out.”

Rozelle laughed awkwardly.

Reston stared at Rozelle with an incredulous look. That ‘trashy’ view of marriage was something Rozelle herself had agreed with a hundred times over. Rozelle had said on several occasions that she would sell herself for the highest price. And now she was suddenly denouncing Reston as a trashy guy.

Reston let out a hollow laugh.

But Rozelle remained serious.

“…It seems that friend’s friend is really troubled because of that guy. She needs to somehow change that value system.”

“…Why do you want to change it?”

“Well, because she’s a friend…”

“Just because someone is a friend, there’s no reason to interfere in their views on marriage. To meddle in someone else’s thoughts and values, you’d need a more specific reason than that.”

Reston’s eyes darkened.

Rozelle clamped her mouth shut.

*A ‘specific reason’?*

That was because Reston’s reformation was directly connected to Rozelle’s peace of mind. Reston would live a happy married life with Aileen, and Rozelle would manage the Loterua Earldom well—wasn’t that the best possible future?

But since she couldn’t go into such detail…

“Maybe it’s because she’s that interested?”

Interested.

Reston slowly surveyed Rozelle.

Not long ago, Rozelle readily agreed to postpone the announcement of their engagement. He thought Rozelle had changed, but was she still the same?

Reston spoke in a cold tone.

“Is that friend’s friend interested in that guy? As a member of the opposite sex. My advice would differ depending on that.”

Rozelle denied it immediately.

“That’s absolutely not the case. That friend’s friend doesn’t like guys like that. She said her type is a kind, gentle, sweet-talking, milk-like guy.”

This time, Reston was at a loss for words for a different reason.

Reston’s expressionless face slightly crumbled.

Rozelle had certainly changed. Her values, her thoughts, and even her taste in men.

“…Still, I think it’s because she’s a friend that she feels sorry for him.”

Feels sorry…

Reston barely suppressed a wry laugh.

It seemed Rozelle was suddenly feeling sorry for Reston. Reston narrowed his eyes. He didn’t know what had happened to Rozelle, but she had definitely changed.

Reston smiled crookedly.

“Just leave him alone, then.”

“She can’t do that. They’re too close of friends.”

Were we, though.

“Then keep watching over him with sustained interest. Praise him too. They say praise and interest can even change a whale, don’t they?”

“…Is that so?”

Rozelle let out a deep sigh.

*’Possession really isn’t easy.’*

Rozelle paid the fee for the time she had spent and rose from her seat. After Rozelle left, Reston remained alone, staring at the spot where she had been sitting.

“Huh?”

Reston let out the wry laugh he had been holding back.

“What the hell did she eat? Did she eat rat poison or something?”

Reston muttered. In any case, he was truly curious to see what kind of praise the changed Rozelle would give him and how she would show her interest.

—

I got a big harvest from Lindberg.

As expected of the female lead’s information broker, Lindberg. No wonder Aileen frequented him. Feeling much lighter, I returned to the Loterua.

Of course, the Count of Loterua wouldn’t agree to this plan. But there was a way to persuade the Count of Loterua.

As soon as I returned to the Loterua Earldom, I wrote a letter to Reston. The content was that I wanted to meet him because I had something to discuss.

Reston wouldn’t refuse, right?

In the last line, I emphasized several times that we absolutely had to meet.

Hmm.

Is that too much?

I added one more line to the end.

[P.S. This is absolutely not to pressure you about an engagement or marriage, Reston. I promise. I no longer have any interest in you as a member of the opposite sex…]

Is this too far? I revised the sentence.

[I will no longer put excessive burden on you as a member of the opposite sex.]

That should be enough.

I finished the letter and sealed it. I called a maid and sent the letter. Now, since I’m meeting Reston anyway, it would be good if I could also reform the male lead.

Lindberg said praise and interest.

“What kind of praise should I give?”

First, let’s think about Reston’s strengths. He is handsome. Yes, he’s handsome. Tall, too. And he’s capable, wealthy, and has a good title. If I sent him to a matchmaking agency, he’d get special S-class treatment.

But what about his personality?

“Hoo.”

On a grade scale, it’s an F, an F.

Still, since ancient times, they say words can change a person. Let’s try to make the atmosphere light during the meal.

Then I’ll probably see his good points too.

You can do it, Rozelle.