TLWFL 09

Chapter 09

Yurasel Cheskant.

The iron-blooded woman who, despite losing her husband, son, and daughter-in-law all at once, had led the Cheskant Ducal House to this day. It was written that Yurasel had inherited Cheskant to her grandson in its perfect form.

I gulped.

So she’s like a successful female CEO version in a romance fantasy novel.

I’m a little nervous.

In the novel, Yurasel was evaluated as an intelligent and cynical character. Moreover, since some people called Yurasel a viper, she was definitely not an easy person.

Phew, don’t be nervous.

Patting my left chest, I entered the reception room.

“Grand Duchess Cheskant. Hello, it’s been a while.”

I smiled brightly enough to make the corners of my mouth tense. There’s no spitting on a smiling face. Besides, Rozelle is a perfect beauty. A beauty who looks pretty even when she smiles, and pretty even when she cries!

“…Yes, it’s been a while, Rozelle. Sit down.”

I sat in the chair the Grand Duchess gestured to. Refreshments were already prepared. Following the Grand Duchess’s lead, I sipped my tea and observed her impression.

An overall intellectual aura was strongly radiated. So Reston resembles his grandmother.

“That’s enough tea. Since we’ve met like this, I’d like to settle the engagement between Loterua and Cheskant. Your father is a man who absolutely cannot be reasoned with.”

The straightforwardness is the same too.

“I’ll do as you wish, Grand Duchess.”

The Grand Duchess Yurasel’s eyes widened. She didn’t expect me to give in so easily, did she? Phew, Rozelle. Why did you have a one-sided crush? How hard is that.

“However, I’d prefer it not to be outwardly apparent.”

“What do you mean?”

This is my next strategy.

The Grand Duchess Cheskant dies in a carriage accident. Since I possessed the body before the culprit was revealed in the original, I don’t know who the culprit is, but I do know that the accident was artificial. Reston’s scenes of chasing the culprit were mentioned a few times.

So I plan to stick like glue to the Grand Duchess’s side and watch for any suspicious signs.

There’s not much time left until the accident date… I need to find the culprit before that, but to do that, I need to know more about the Grand Duchess Cheskant.

“How about we do volunteer work together in Muteso? It could set a good example for people. The imperial court would view it favorably too. They wouldn’t interfere with Loterua or Cheskant anymore. At least regarding the Muteso timber issue.”

“…Volunteer work?”

“Yes.”

I nodded. Through this volunteer work, I planned to change the Grand Duchess Cheskant’s radius of activity. At the time of the carriage accident, it was said the Grand Duchess Cheskant was on her way back from attending a social gathering. So all the ladies who attended that gathering were investigated.

But I heard none of them were the culprit.

You never know.

“If you, Grand Duchess Cheskant, take the lead in organizing the volunteer work, many noble ladies will participate. The young ladies too.”

“You’re planning to bring in other nobles to get help with the Muteso matter?”

Strictly speaking, Muteso was part of Loterua’s territory. So the Muteso matter should be resolved with Loterua’s money.

But the task was too big for that. There’s no way the Count of Loterua would spend large sums of money while also handing over the timber. And there’s one more reason I need to bring the nobles in.

To see those people myself and examine their connections with the noble ladies.

There must be someone with a grudge.

“There are many nobles who want to look good to the imperial court, Grand Duchess. Those who can gain profit from this will put up the money, so I think it wouldn’t be a bad thing for them either.”

“…A clever one. I knew you were smart since you were young.”

Lady Yurasel nodded with a light sigh.

“Fine. Let’s do as you say. As Cheskant, I have nothing to lose.”

I’ll make sure you don’t lose your life either. Definitely.

“Thank you, Grand Duchess.”

“…Why Grand Duchess all of a sudden. Call me Grandmother like you used to. Are you protesting because I asked to postpone the engagement?”

“No, Grandmother! I’m absolutely fine! I just thought I came as a representative of the family…”

So she used to call her Grandmother. Feeling flustered, I quickly made an excuse.

“I have absolutely no complaints about that, Grandmother. I even talked it over with Reston.”

“…I see.”

“Yes!”

“I wonder where the girl who used to pester me to let her wear my ring on the engagement day has gone.”

“…Not anymore, Grandmother. Really. In fact, Reston and I have different views on marriage and our ideal types are too different. I’ve decided to support Reston’s future as a friend. I think Reston can meet someone much better than me.”

“Different ideal types?”

“Yes. I like warm, kind, and gentle men. Reston isn’t that type. And I’ve come to like… someone with double eyelids and a strong jawline. Someone with a wild charisma.”

I described the opposite of Reston as much as possible. Reston had artistically sharp jawlines, and rather than wildness, he exuded sophisticated masculinity.

“Wild charisma.”

Lady Yurasel, who had been staring blankly at me, burst into laughter.

Fortunately, the atmosphere doesn’t seem bad. Good, let’s keep this up, Rozelle. A friendly relationship with Cheskant is also beneficial for my peaceful daily life.

Is the Loterua crisis over with this?

—

Lady Yurasel summoned Reston to the dinner table with a very pleased expression. Reston, who had been called home in the middle of work, sat down with an unpleasant look.

“Since when did you become so enthusiastic about my dinner, Grandmother?”

Reston said, grinding his teeth.

In order to push forward with the tourist attraction development project again, there was a mountain of paperwork to process, and the shortage of materials needed to be resolved. If they had to import, the price would triple.

As a result, he had been working overtime day after day, and had to interrupt a meeting and come home because Yurasel said she was ill. Yet Yurasel was waiting for him in the dining room with a flawless face.

“We work to live, so meals are naturally important.”

The Grand Duchess Yurasel smiled faintly.

Reston sighed.

“You must have something to say. Say it quickly. I need to eat hastily and get back. Beizen, prepare some sandwiches. Ah, and if possible, prepare enough for everyone to eat together. There are about 10 people still at the office.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Beizen handed over the dinner service to another servant and headed to the kitchen. Reston rubbed his fingers with a towel, took a bite of an egg, and then—

“Rozelle said you’re not her type.”

Reston raised an eyebrow.

The Grand Duchess Yurasel added with a very amused expression.

“She seems to think you lack wild charisma. Which means you’re lacking in masculine appeal.”

“…*Cough*.”

Reston took a drink of water.

In his entire life, he had never heard such a thing. Truly, it was the first time.

“Rozelle said she likes men with wild charisma. Could it be that she’s found someone else?”

Reston slowly lowered his water glass.

“She might have found a man with more wild charisma than you.”

Reston muttered lowly.

“Nothing of the sort will happen. If you’re going to say useless things, I’ll be leaving.”

Nothing of the sort.

How can he be so sure?

Rozelle’s clear smile came to mind.

Her face as she said she would absolutely never be a ‘romantic burden’ to him. What if that was because she no longer felt ‘romantic attraction’ to Reston? What if she had found a new man with ‘romantic attraction’?

Of course, Rozelle finding another man was a good sign.

But…

…Why does it bother me so much?