FWRP 18

Chapter 18

Would he take the bait she had casually thrown out?

“…For example?”

There was one thing that would be more than ideal if it were offered as a condition of marriage.

The place where Lady Ernasilla and her husband would die tragically, and which would eventually be shut down because of the deaths.

Until the Leonard Marquessate later bought it at a bargain price, no one had been able to touch the mine.

Looking at the matter only from the outcome, the incident had simply been concluded as an accidental death, so Vanessa had never paid much attention to it…

But, coincidentally, if there was one family that would benefit greatly from the Duke of Chelliago and the Count of Gideon suffering a major setback, she could think of one.

So this was purely Vanessa Sharoz’s own deduction.

Perhaps it was nothing more than a delusion.

“The Margula Mine.”

At Vanessa’s words, Ian’s eyes widened slightly.

Pure surprise.

Seeing that reaction, Vanessa’s spirits gradually lifted.

In her previous life, even when Carlisle heard her talk about things like this, he would dismiss her, saying that her only job as the Marquess of Leonard’s wife was to support her husband, and never listened to her.

That was why, no matter how keen the former Marquess of Leonard’s instincts had been, she had been treated like a broken clock.

She had no ability whatsoever to read the political situation or understand the relationships between the various noble houses.

So she had simply left everything to Mareo.

“The Margula… I see. Even if minerals are discovered, the baroness who owns it would have difficulty asserting her ownership rights now.”

So this is what it feels like to have a conversation with someone who actually understands you.

Compared to things like flower arranging or embroidery, Vanessa found this sort of conversation—deducing the cards someone was hiding—far more enjoyable.

“So they essentially received the maintenance rights to the mine in place of a wedding gift?”

“They intend to resume the mining operations.”

Instead of directly confirming Vanessa’s question, Ian offered another answer in a roundabout way.

“Apparently? Lady Ernasilla said that the Margula Mine had lit up again.”

Ian glanced at Vanessa before the corners of his lips curved faintly upward.

Why the Count of Gideon and the Duke of Chelliago were suddenly trying to swallow up the Margula Mine now, and why, among all the noble families, it was Lady Ernasilla—

It seemed Vanessa had not figured that much out yet.

But setting that aside, Vanessa Sharoz’s deduction was almost entirely correct.

He might have thought, That’s possible.

But she had managed to connect it to the mine.

And when he tossed her one piece of information, she was perceptive enough to catch it and take the reasoning even further.

Apparently, she really did enjoy conversations like this.

“I heard the position of aide to the Crown Prince is vacant. Have you ever considered trying for it?”

At Ian’s words, Vanessa’s hand slipped.

“…You’re joking, right?”

“I only suggested it because I thought it might be good for you to follow in your father’s footsteps.”

“No. How could I…”

“I’ve felt this for a while, but you seem to have more prejudices than I expected.”

“No, what…! That’s completely different from this…!”

“Does being born with a clever mind depend on gender? Then I suppose the first Emperor Lafleiaon Descartes must have been a man. Congratulations. You’ve just correctly guessed the gender of His Majesty the First Emperor, whose gender was shrouded in mystery.”

That mouth of his… Seriously.

“I heard Lady Sharoz is marrying Duke Ruscliff.”

“Actually, my daughter-in-law gave me an invitation this morning. So the rumors must be true? It seems the absence of her mother has affected her greatly.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to call it off while she still can, rather than realize they’re incompatible only after walking down the aisle?”

“Even so, announcing a separation when he merely suggested going to look at dresses is practically the same as being slapped across the face out of nowhere.”

“Do young people these days even marry without love, the way we did? Lady Ragmelda always used to criticize arranged marriages, too…”

“Lady Magrita.”

“That’s all I meant. The idea that affection develops after living together may have worked in our generation. But I was actually surprised to see Lady Sharoz being so cautious.”

The woman addressed as Lady Magrita took a sip of the tea before her and surveyed the gathered ladies.

They say there is no cure for an inferiority complex.

What could she possibly hope to gain by picking on a young lady who was practically the same age as her own children?

Did growing old somehow make people childish instead?

They told you to age gracefully, yet those wrinkles have become downright vicious.

“Still, judging by the article that came out this time, Young Master Leonard can hardly be called the only victim…”

“I’m a little late.”

“Oh my…! Lady, welcome.”

Lady Ragmelda, who had been passionately defending the Leonard Marquessate until moments ago, greeted the newcomer warmly.

“I heard my son being mentioned. What were you discussing?”

Magrita’s gaze briefly shifted behind her.

Belladonna Leonard.

At her words, Lady Piede, who had just mentioned the Young Master Leonard, visibly flinched.

“W-We were just saying that the young master must be… having a very difficult time emotionally, my lady.”

“…”

“Actually, Lady Belladonna, my daughter Ernasilla is getting married soon… Could I ask you for some advice? There’s something that has been troubling me a little…”

Unlike before, Lady Piede shrank her shoulders and cautiously watched Lady Belladonna’s reaction.

“…Of course, Lady Piede. I’ll make some time for you later.”

Lady Piede’s face immediately brightened.

“Thank you! I only wanted to offer my condolences regarding your son…”

“I don’t think that’s something Lady Piede needs to concern herself with.”

She had been attending these gatherings for less than a year.

‘I’m Belladonna Leonard. Oh…! I was told we’re not supposed to mention our family names here. I’m sorry, Godmother. It’s my first time being invited to a gathering of noble ladies, so I must have been too nervous.’

It had been far too deliberate to be considered a simple mistake, and from that moment on, Magrita had never taken kindly to her.

Belladonna must have noticed that the only person here with a higher title than Magrita was her godmother.

And regardless of whether she liked Belladonna or not, there was something unsettling about the woman, which made Magrita keep her distance from her even more.

“By the way, Lady Belladonna. About that herb you mentioned before. I looked into it, and it really does exist. Thanks to you, my mother-in-law was able to ride a horse again for the first time in ages. She asked me to thank you.”

“Oh my… I only mentioned it on the off chance it might help. I’m glad it did. Still, be careful not to use too much of it together, as it can cause symptoms of poisoning.”

“Thanks to you, my husband was also able to sail safely. I was terribly worried because it kept raining until evening, but just as you said, the next day was bright and clear. Thank you. Oh, and I’ve already spoken to my husband about the fabric. If the contract goes through, I imagine the documents will be sent to your estate.”

“I’m glad the weather turned out well. I hope your husband returns safely. As for the contract, honestly, I wasn’t expecting anything to come of it… Still, thank you for saying so, Lady.”

“Considering how much trouble my husband was having because of the weather, I’m the one who should be thanking you.”

That was precisely the problem.

Belladonna did more than simply scratch exactly where people itched.

She even solved problems that were practically headaches for them.

It was only natural that she would stand out at these gatherings.

Perhaps even more than the godmother herself.

“Lady Belladonna certainly seems to have good instincts.”

At Lady Radmelda’s comment beside her, Belladonna merely smiled quietly.

…Can that really be dismissed as mere ‘instinct’?

Magrita raised the teacup before her lips while stealing another glance at Lady Belladonna.

She was draped in so many expensive ornaments that she looked like a child’s balloons caught on an old, withered tree.

Yet Belladonna herself seemed to think she looked perfectly suited to them.

Who could have known that an herb that grew only in the most remote regions of the North would happen to be needed by the second-highest-ranking woman at this gathering?

What was even more strange was that Belladonna had not even properly listened to the symptoms.

It was as though she already knew that particular herb was the answer.

The weather was the same.

A week ago, on a day when rain had poured down relentlessly.

No one had even imagined that the following day would be sunny.

‘If the rain doesn’t stop, I’ll purchase a ship for you under my name. I’ll also compensate you for any damaged goods.’

That had been closer to certainty than a mere prediction.

As though she had taken a brief glimpse into the future.

There had not been even the slightest hesitation.

Magrita had not been the only one surprised by those words.

After all, even for a marquess, purchasing an entire ship at full price was no small burden.

Everyone present knew, though no one said it aloud, that the Leonard Marquessate was not a family renowned for its enormous wealth.

Yet when Belladonna was asked what she wanted under the assumption of an if, she had casually made a request.

‘In that case, there’s a fabric called “silk.” Would you be able to arrange a supply contract for it with the merchant company I recommend? If possible, of course.’

That was practically the same as saying she intended to build a new bridge along the trade route between empires.

Amusingly, Magrita seemed to be the only one who had realized it.

As she looked toward the owner of the seat of honor, which had remained empty until now, Magrita gave a quiet scoff to herself.

‘At least Lady Sharoz knows how to judge people.’