ITMWG 129

Chapter 129…

Do as she pleases.

Upon claiming she would verify Nadia’s proposal, Melissa busily moved about in her own way.

Of course, gathering rumours wasn’t that easy.

If she had money, she would have sought out an informant, and if she had maintained her connections well, she could have pried into the subject through an acquaintance…

Unfortunately, Melissa Vine had neither money nor connections at the moment.

She considered going out and trying her hand at it, but the anxiety that she might never return if she stepped outside the mansion now prevented her from easily taking the plunge.

In the past, she would have comfortably sprawled on the sofa and commanded the servants with a mere wave, but now that the servants who used to work at the mansion had been fired, there was not even a familiar face around, let alone someone who could do her such a favour.

It was truly uncomfortable without the helping hands of the servants who used to call her “Miss” and provide for her needs before she even had a chance to speak.

Should I just steal some jewellery and go meet that man my father mentioned?

Even though she had such thoughts in this desperate situation, the face of the man in the portrait Nadia had shown her flickered before her eyes, clouding her resolve.

Even though she was making a deal to get married to escape this hopeless predicament, she genuinely wanted to get with a capable man if she was going to marry one anyway.

She did not know the face or background of the man her father told her to meet, but Nadia had shown her a portrait along with detailed conditions, which made her lean much more in favour.

After much contemplation, Melissa sent letters to acquaintances she had been close to before the situation worsened, humbling herself deeply and asking for help.

The letters asked if they could simply obtain information about the person Nadia had told her about, asking for nothing else.

All the letters she had sent in the past had been ignored.

This was because she had sent them with a very high-handed attitude, stating, ‘I will give you the honour to help me.’

However, perhaps because she had written this letter with such a servile attitude, replies arrived from several people.

Even though she wrote the letters herself, she was so ashamed that her body trembled uncontrollably, but shouldn’t one be able to humble oneself for a moment for the sake of greater gain?

Melissa read the letters that had flown to her, feeling as though she had devised a brilliant scheme.

Some contained plain information, while others included mockery toward Melissa herself.

Her hands trembled at the letters that scorned her, but she decided to hold back for the time being.

The contents of the letters were all similar. There was little difference from what Nadia had explained.

Since they were all people who had no close relationship with Nadia—in fact, there were hardly any people in this capital who were deeply acquainted with her—the information was trustworthy.

He’s truly…truly a good match?

Her wary heart, the disbelief that had filled her heart began to melt away, and soon she burst into laughter.

“Pfft!”

Just how far does Nadia Vine’s gullibility go!

The giggling turned into boisterous, snickering laughter. She looked as if she were engulfed in madness.

Melissa, who had been laughing for quite a while, gently wiped away the tears welling up in her eyes from laughing so hard and elegantly placed the letter into the envelope.

She had made up her mind.

Naturally, it was a decision that was in her favour.

❈❈❈

“Come out! You have a visit!”

A visit?

Avar’s eyes gleamed as he anxiously awaited news of Melissa in Balstead.

She’s finally here!

He followed the guard out, brimming with anticipation, yet felt a strangely uneasy sensation.

Did Melissa really resolve the matter this quickly?

Avar knew his daughter Melissa well. She wasn’t exactly a bright child.

No matter how diligent she had been, there was no way she could have resolved the matter this fast.

He went to the visiting room with a sense of unease, only to find Melissa waiting for him, looking splendid and immaculate, accompanied by a doctor carrying a medical bag.

Melissa must have remembered that one could meet a prisoner in Balstead if they applied for a visit with a doctor, using a chronic illness as an excuse.

What a clever girl! She didn’t forget that!

Avar approached Melissa warmly, thinking he must have underestimated his daughter all this time.

“Melissa! It looks like things went well…”

“Stop.”

However, Melissa merely frowned and gestured to stop her father from approaching her so happily.

“Stop?”

“Yes. Please stop.”

“How dare you give orders to your own father?”

“To call yourself my father in that state…”

Melissa pouted, undeterred by Avar’s stern rebuke.

It wasn’t the first time she had been so immature and lacked manners, but today her attitude was even more audacious.

“You ill-mannered-…!”

“Keep your mouth shut. Every time you speak, your breath smells so bad it gives me a headache.”

“W-w-what did you say?”

“Ugh. The smell.”

Avar was left speechless by the raw accusations, his mouth gaping open.

At this, Melissa could not hold back and pulled a handkerchief from her pocket to cover her nose.

“I told you, he is truly impossible to reason with.”

Although he was seething with anger at her blatant contempt shown toward her father, he was in a desperate position right now, so he could not yell at her as he usually did.

“…Just tell me if things worked out well. Tell me how it turned out.”

“I am getting married.”

At that short answer, Avar’s face brightened considerably.

“So it was settled this quickly?”

“Yes. He turned out to be a decent person, better than I thought. That girl Nadia is a pushover, you know; she actually found me a good match.”

“…Nadia found you a match?”

Avar frowned, unable to readily comprehend the situation.

She had been told to find and marry the former heir of the Viosques dukedom, so what on earth was all this about?

Melissa touched her neatly trimmed fingernails, paying no attention to Avar’s questioning gaze.

Until recently, when she was trapped here in Balstead, her nails had been a mess.

Now, however, they were neatly groomed, looking like the beautiful and precious hands of a young lady to anyone who saw them.

Melissa absolutely did not want to give up this comfort.

“Father, your plan is too uncertain. We don’t know what kind of person he is, his wealth is unclear, and just how great your ambition is. I find it a bit of a hassle to move for uncertain honour or wealth.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? Do you know how hard I worked to obtain the honour and wealth that you call ‘uncertain’!? Didn’t you, too, become a lady of the Marquis’s family in return?!”

“That’s true. But not now. Look at your current state, Father.”

Melissa let out a deep sigh as if lecturing him as she scrutinised Avar’s appearance.

A filthy, smelly middle-aged man, nothing more and nothing less.

“He is a provincial nobleman, but they say he is quite wealthy. I will be able to live a carefree life, being served for the rest of my life. Since he is the second son, I won’t have to worry about the household affairs either.”

“You-, what-, what do you mean by that…?”

“I don’t think I was as ambitious as you thought, Father. I’m satisfied just being served.”

As Avar stammered, unable to speak, Melissa smiled faintly.

“Are you saying it’s okay to lose everything to that girl Nadia? That you’re going to abandon your father and your household?”

“I don’t know. It’s all a hassle. Rather than keep fighting and losing everything, I’d rather just take this and leave.”

Melissa waved her hand dismissively with a look of disgust and signalled to the doctor.

At that, the doctor—or rather, Blan, who was disguised as a doctor—opened his medical bag, took out a small bottle, and held it out to Avar.

“…What is this?”

It was clearly not a nutritional supplement or a health tonic.

It was Blan, not Melissa, who explained the medicine.

“It is medicine to help you sleep comfortably.”

“Hmph. I don’t need sleeping pills.”

“You will need them. There will be times when you think it is better to die than to rot here for the rest of your life.”

“…!”

Only then did Avar realise that the liquid in the bottle was poison.

Startled, he looked at Melissa, who slyly averted his gaze and cleared her throat.

“That girl’s husband said so. He said he would help me get married only if I gave this medicine to you, Father. You are going to rot and die here for the rest of your life anyway, so couldn’t you accept it for my sake?”

“W-w-w-what?!”

At Melissa’s brazen words, Avar clutched the back of his neck, his blood pressure rising.

He looked as if he were about to collapse at any moment, but Blan didn’t move a muscle.

It was only natural, as if dying right then and there would actually make things easier.

“Anyway, I’ve passed the message. Take it or don’t, it’s up to you.”

As if too lazy to say anything more, Melissa once again waved her hand dismissively, then sprang up and left.

“Melissa!”

Feeling his hopes crumble, Avar cried out Melissa’s name as she left, but she did not look back; instead, she walked away with a cheerful stride.

Blan smiled slightly at Avar, who had slumped to the ground in despair, and patted his shoulder.

“You have a truly wonderful daughter. She resembles you quite a lot, too.”

As Blan left the place with a vial of medicine placed before Avar, who was now completely dazed. But slowly, he let his gaze fall downward.

Death was right before his eyes.

❈❈❈

“It went without a hitch.”

Blan returned to the mansion and secretly sought out Altair.

Altair, who was reading in the study, did not stop what he was doing but kept his eyes fixed on the book as he responded to his report.

“What about the potion?”

“I didn’t check to see if he took it, but since the only hope has been shattered…”

“I see. How about the doctor? He met with the culprit, didn’t he?”

“Ah. The doctor.”

Blan, who had been continuing his report with a composed demeanour, furrowed his brow slightly with a somewhat troubled expression.

“Seeing an enemy right before his eyes, he certainly couldn’t be in his right mind. He appeared to be in a state of turmoil. It will be difficult for him to work for the time being.”

“I suppose so. We will need to find a doctor to look after Nadia temporarily.”

“I will look into it. And as for Melissa Vine’s marriage…”

“I’ll keep my promise.”

Altair smirked and put down the book he had been reading.

“She is a woman who abandoned even her own father for the sake of her future. We must respect that decision. I will make every effort to ensure the marriage is finalised quickly.”

“Yes. Also, rumours are circulating that the Imperial Palace is strangely chaotic. They say the Secretariat, which handles various Imperial family events, is bustling about.”

“Since it is not the time for special events, if there is a reason for the secretary’s office to be busy at this point…”

There was only one. The Emperor kept his promise.

The First Prince is dead.

Altair rose from his seat, having easily found the answer.

“We must prepare black ceremonial coats. The funeral will be held soon.”

“A funeral, then…”

Altair smirked as he watched Blan’s eyes widen.

“I suppose I should mourn that bastard’s death right at the very front.”