TMLO 22

Chapter: 22

After everything that had happened in a single day, the moment my head touched the pillow, I passed out cold.

When I opened my eyes, it was already late afternoon.

“Bella, why didn’t you wake m—”

Ah. Right. This wasn’t Valfruga Castle.

Rubbing my still-heavy eyelids, I forced myself out of bed.

“Ugh…”

I went to the room where Treon and Butcher were staying, but it was empty.

“Where did everyone go?”

Yawning wide enough to split my mouth, I headed downstairs toward the room where we had met the information broker yesterday.

The moment I stepped on the last stair, someone suddenly scooped me up into the air.

“Kyaa!”

“So the sleepy young lady has finally woken up.”

At my scream, he awkwardly adjusted his grip on me.

“Did I scare you? My apologies. My son is always so unresponsive, I suppose I assumed kids your age were all like that. Hahaha!”

“That’s because the Duke’s son is the unusual one.”

Treon appeared behind the man and scolded him flatly.

At the title Duke, I immediately realized who he was.

A massive build, blazing red hair, sun-darkened skin.

Mid-thirties—if he wore sunglasses, he’d look exactly like a wealthy California businessman.

The Southern Conqueror, Duke Summerhild.

The Duke himself came?

I had expected someone from the Summerhild household, but at most one of his retainers. Never in my wildest dreams did I think he’d come in person.

The drowsiness vanished instantly.

“Greetings, Your Grace.”

“Did you sleep well?”

Duke Summerhild looked endlessly amused, grinning from ear to ear.

“…Yes. But Your Grace, aren’t I heavy?”

I was still in his arms.

He was holding me easily with one arm, as stable as if I were sitting on a chair.

Just how strong was he?

I meant please put me down, but the Duke gave a completely different answer.

“Not at all. I’m more surprised you’re this light.”

…Well, that was at least something.

“Your Grace, are you truly that oblivious? She’s clearly asking to be put down.”

Treon reached out to take me.

I leaned toward him, but Treon didn’t set me down either.

“Treon?”

Why aren’t you putting me down?

“You’re not wearing shoes.”

“Oh.”

In my half-asleep state, I must have forgotten them.

Even after all this time since possessing this body, I still wasn’t used to wearing shoes indoors.

Watching Treon adjust his hold on me, Duke Summerhild muttered,

“So small.”

“Yes?”

“Are girls usually this small? Is it really alright for them to be this tiny and fragile?”

“I’m not small.”

I’d been short in my previous life too—it was a quiet insecurity. And this man hit it right on the mark.

At my sulky response, the Duke burst out laughing.

“Haha! My apologies. It’s just that your bold proposal to split the Matek Count’s estate made me imagine someone like Countess Rima—shrewd and slippery. I never imagined you’d be only twelve.”

“T-twelve…?”

I was fifteen this year.

Seeing my reaction, the Duke asked Treon awkwardly,

“Did I mess up again?”

Treon let out a deep sigh.

“My lady is fifteen years old this year.”

“So I was wrong after all.”

Swallowing a groan, the Duke hurried to appease me.

“My fault. When my son was twelve, he’d already grown like a bear. I thought all children were like that.”

Treon joined in.

“That family gets plenty of sun and is known for their height. My lady will continue to grow, so please don’t worry.”

I wasn’t a plant—people didn’t grow just from sunlight.

Being comforted this earnestly only made me too embarrassed to lift my head.

Right. My growth plates aren’t closed yet.

I smiled to show I was fine.

The Duke immediately beamed and said to the retainer behind him,

“Are daughters always this adorable? Say, what if we ask my wife to have one too?”

“Well… knowing Her Grace, wouldn’t she shoot an arrow at you?”

“Is that so? Still, I think she’d agree once she sees this young lady.”

By then, Butcher had brought my shoes and knelt to support my feet while putting them on.

Only after he tied the laces could I finally stand on my own.

My face burned with embarrassment at everything that had happened, but I maintained proper decorum and bowed.

“Thank you for coming all this way. Shall we begin formal negotiations? Duke Summerhild.”

The Duke’s expression changed.

Until now, he had looked at me like a cute child.

Now, he looked at me as an equal business partner.

He returned the greeting with equal formality.

“By all means, Duchess Valfruga.”

* * *

Late in the afternoon, we returned to the Matek estate together with Duke Summerhild.

Despite us never announcing his visit, they somehow knew—welcoming us from the very entrance.

“My goodness! For Your Grace to visit personally!”

Within the Empire, the status of a ducal house was unparalleled.

Long ago, the four heroes who aided the Emperor in defeating the Demon King became the founders of the Four Grand Ducal Houses.

Nearly a thousand years had passed since then, yet the title of Duke existed solely for those four families, who enjoyed absolute power and wealth.

All except our own Valfruga House, that is.

Even so, the discrimination is blatant.

The man who hadn’t even shown his face when we arrived yesterday now hovered beside the Duke, rubbing his hands like a fly.

The reception room we were led into was three times larger than yesterday’s, filled with antique furnishings.

Well-trained servants, richly scented premium tea—

Even the smooth, glossy leather sofa was softer than the bed we’d been assigned.

Maybe they really did give us a spare servant’s room.

“Your Grace, what brings you so suddenly to our humble estate? Had you summoned me, I would have gone to you.”

Count Matek, with his thinly styled mustache, resembled an aging goat.

He fidgeted so badly that it felt like this was the Duke’s home, not his.

Sipping his tea, Duke Summerhild replied leisurely,

“Do I need a reason to visit a Count’s estate?”

The Count waved his hands frantically.

“N-no, of course not! You are always welcome! I merely wondered why someone as busy as yourself would come all the way to such an insignificant territory…”

“The territory is insignificant.”

Despite the blatant insult, Count Matek only smiled.

Not only was Summerhild a Grand Duke, but his house was also Matek’s largest buyer of swords.

“And this young lady is…?”

At last, his gaze fell on me.

“The new Duchess of Valfruga.”

The Duke rested a hand on my shoulder.

At the familiar gesture, Count Matek greeted me enthusiastically.

“Ah! The newly arrived Duchess! It’s an honor to meet you!”

I had no intention of accepting that politely.

I came here to tear this place apart—and I had Duke Summerhild backing me.

Tilting my head, I said,

“I arrived yesterday. I heard Count Matek had an important guest, so I couldn’t see you. I wonder who that guest was.”

The Count’s practiced smile cracked.

But he quickly lowered his head again.

“My apologies. Th-the servants must have made a mistake.”

“That tells me everything about how you treat a Duke.”

So I was beneath notice too?

At the Duke’s pointed remark, the Count panicked.

“N-no! Never! I’ve been busy lately and failed to supervise my staff. They’ve clearly grown lax. I’ll punish them severely so this never happens again! Steward! Find out who did this immediately! Anyone responsible will be expelled from my household!”

He barked orders as if to prove his sincerity.

“To fail even to report to their master. Your management is lacking.”

Even then, Count Matek merely smiled.

“Haha… how could I compare to you, Your Grace? You ascended to the ducal seat at just twenty-two and dramatically increased southern grain production! I should learn from your insight!”

“Really? From where I stand, it seems you trust your own abilities far too much.”

“P-pardon…?”

“Count. I heard a rather interesting story.”

The air around Duke Summerhild shifted instantly—

From relaxed arrogance to a predator locking onto prey.

“A story…?”

“That you’ve been cheating us on the materials used for the swords you sell.”

“W-what?! That’s impossible! We take special care with swords sent to House Summerhild! Who dared spread such nonsense?!”

As expected, the Count jumped in outrage.

“If you permit it, I’ll immediately interrogate those responsible and uncover the truth! I swear I’m innocent, Your Grace!”

Right on cue, I tilted my head and added calmly,

“But someone who lives in your estate said so. That you’ve been secretly substituting materials.”

“Which bastard—! That’s slander! It must be a spy planted by a rival!”

His face turned crimson, trembling with rage.

Then, chaos erupted outside.

“Let go of me!”

“Young Master! You can’t go in—ahh!”

“How dare you block me!”

The person I’d been waiting for arrived perfectly on cue.

Despite the maids’ attempts to stop him, his fury was unstoppable.

The doors burst open.

“Father! Those Valfruga bastards dared—! You—!”

Covered in dust and disheveled, Tickle Matek pointed straight at me.

I smiled brightly and pointed back.

“Perfect timing. He’s the one who said it—
that the Count has been cheating on materials.”