Chapter 60

‘I want to forget everything.’

I don’t know how to look at Rupert’s face from now on.

I hurriedly sat up politely on the bed.

“… I’m sorry.”

To sum up, after the conversation that implied the meaning of ‘You are the exact opposite of my ideal type!’, I flirted with Rupert.

‘What an inconsistency between words and actions!’

I have to help him unite with his true love. But if I act like last night, all the good feelings that have been built up with difficulty until now will be gone.

‘I have to play the role of matchmaker… .’

It was a bitter mistake and a lifelong shame.

“Don’t drink like that again in the future.”

“Yes… .”

It was a reasonable request. I slowly glanced into his eyes.

“Did I say anything else strange?”

“You did.”

“Like what?”

Rupert smiled, raising one corner of his mouth. It’s not a very pleasant smile.

“The statement that pissed me off the most.”

… … did I spit out more bullshit than this?

‘I didn’t say anything about curses or past lives, did I?’

“Well, is that something that can’t be resolved with an apology?”

“Absolutely not.”

He smiled coldly as he approached. It seems that among the words I said yesterday, there was something that seriously offended him.

“I don’t know what it is, but first of all, I’m sorry.”

“I don’t accept it.”

What do you mean?!

“You said you were going to see Michael Berris.”

Why are you talking about Michael all of a sudden?

I nodded in wonder. “Yes- yes, that’s right.”

“I’ll accompany you then. You can’t meet him alone.”

I tilted my head.

“… why?”

What the hell did I say? Did I say something suspicious when I was drunk?

‘If I go with Rupert, the questions I can ask Michael are limited.’

Then things got difficult.

“Oh, I won’t be leaking information about the Ainel family to Michael! I swear!”

I stretched out my little finger right in front of Rupert who gave me an indifferent look.

“You’re so slow, Noel.”

Hey, are you talking to me?! You said you would only allow hand skinship!

I sighed.

“I am slow? It’s the first time I’ve heard of it since I was born.”

“… … .”

We both did a short staring war with a frown.

He was the first to move.

“Anyway, I have no intention of negotiating this. It is forbidden for you to meet him alone.”

“No, you are so mean, at least tell me what I said last night!”

“Think carefully.”

Responding sternly, Rupert quickly left my room.

“… … .”

Feeling a bit helpless, I stared blankly at the door.

***

Two days have passed since I got drunk and got into trouble. Rupert never mentioned that day again.

In the end, I vaguely guessed that the truth must have been fairly serious.

And the price of breaking Goth’s wrist came unexpectedly quickly; my parents’ family, the Opion family, sent us a letter of protest.

Fortunately, I was able to hear the contents of the letter together, perhaps because it was related to me.

“They say they will stop supplying Miracle Herbs to our territory.”

Hearing the aide’s report, Rupert clicked his tongue low.

“If this was going to happen anyway, I’d break all his limbs then.”

“Marquis… … .”

Ordin sighed deeply with a troubled expression.

Listening to the conversation between the two, I lowered my head.

Miracle Herb is a kind of medicinal herb grown in the Opion territory.

The name Miracle Herb was given because the medicine using this herb cures any disease in an instant.

‘It doesn’t really cure any disease, though.’

To put it into modern medicine and use it as an analogy, Miracle Herb is the equivalent of an antibiotic.

The only thing that can be healed instantly with divine power is only for trauma, so antibiotics are essential here as well.

However, Miracle Herb was only produced in a few areas, and the growing process was complicated, so only skilled people could handle it.

70% of the Miracle Herbs supplied to the market belonged to the territory of Opion.

In other words, my parents’ family has been almost exclusively producing Miracle Herbs for generations.

‘Because we haven’t found an alternative to Miracle Herb yet.’

In modern times, it’s like selling antibiotics as a monopoly.

Thanks to Miracle Herb, the Opion family has always been wealthy.

Aristocrats can get sick too, so Miracle Herbs are essential. Knowing this well, my family retaliated by cutting off the supply of Miracle Herbs if there were opponents they did not like.

Because of that, the Opion family has considerable power.

“It’s because of me, I’m sorry.”

My parents are terribly fond of their eldest son. These results had to be predicted.

“You don’t have to apologize. Because I was the one who broke his arm.”

Even with Rupert’s consolation, I felt uncomfortable.

I didn’t want to cause trouble like this because of my parents’ family.

“I will talk to my parents.”

Ordin asked, “Do you think it will work?”

“It’s very likely not,” I answered honestly.

“Still, since you are the only daughter, could you please take care of the situation? Your older brother raised his hand first.”

Well, from the outside it might look that way. The youngest daughter of a wealthy and powerful count family. It is a sufficient condition to be loved.

‘I don’t want to reveal it too much.’

But I have no choice but to let them know.

“There’s a reason why Goth has such a personality. My parents were the ones who said that only sons could inherit the family.”

“Well, that’s annoying… .”

In this world, the son usually inherits the family. It’s not legally impossible for the daughter, but there’s a perception that it’s not possible.

Count Opion and his wife had very serious thoughts about this

“Perhaps even now, complaints have piled up that I haven’t had any more children since Leah.”

Rupert, who was listening, was dumbfounded.

“What a useless meddling.”

I agree. It’s really pointless meddling.

I shrugged lightly.

“I’m sure they’re worried about when you’re going to kick me out under that pretext. They believe that everyone in the world thinks the way they do.”

Leah is enough for me, but I guess they don’t think so. That must be the reason for the letter they sent recently.

“But I can’t just sit idly by, so I’ll try to meet my mother first.”

“If you are going to your parents’ house, would it be better to have an escort for you? I heard that Sir Goth is a rude man.”

“No, I’m just going to attend a tea party that my mother might be going to.”

“Noel, you don’t have to overdo it.”

“It’s all right.”

He knows I hate my parents’ house. I’m sure he was being considerate. I was grateful for that.

However, even in the Ainel territory, the Miracle Herbs are important. Because there are many injured.

“I don’t want the residents to die because of me.”

He opened his mouth slowly, as if trying to let me know it wasn’t my fault.

“The Opion family raised and lowered the price of Miracle Herbs repeatedly as they pleased. Lately, it has literally skyrocketed.”

Skyrocketing? At that level, the resistance from the surrounding aristocrats would be severe.

‘I’m sure they don’t know that there’s a possibility of sanctions coming in if they go wild.’

Since I got married, I don’t really know the Opion family’s situation.

‘Has there ever been a situation where they needed money so badly that they raised the price of herbs like crazy?’

“It wasn’t a fair deal in the first place. Not only me, but other nobles think the same.”

“Trust in them seems to have bottomed out in the aristocratic society.”

“Yes, everyone is of the opinion that an alternative is needed. I don’t know if it’s possible to make that level of medicine.”

Hearing his last words, I opened my eyes wide.

‘An alternative.’

Rupert seemed to be just saying it, but I unexpectedly thought that might be a good alternative.

***

In any case, it is impossible to immediately develop an alternative to Miracle Herb, but antibiotics are always necessary.

So, the sooner this matter is resolved, the better.

My biological mother, Countess Alex Opion, loved to lead her followers around.

Because of that, she tends to attend most social events. It wasn’t hard to meet her pretend to be a coincidence.

Coincidentally, there is an invitation to the tea party of Count Hoffen. Carla immediately came to mind.

‘She doesn’t rest.’

She used to be a hardworking and genuine girl, but it seems she is still the same after all these years.

I was also curious about her condition, so I decided to go there.

“Thank you for accepting my invitation, Marchioness Ainel.”

I smiled. “I am honored to be invited, Carla.”

Carla Hoffen seems to have decided not to be surprised by my politeness and friendliness anymore.

Rather, she gave me a look that was half intrigued and half inquisitive.

I passed that gaze with a smile and looked around.

Among the attendees, there are more noble ladies in their mid-teens than married ones.

It’s not something out of the ordinary. Because Carla is most popular among young ladies.

Her reputation in society was sharply divided into two.

In the first case, she was ridiculed for being a foolish woman, and in the second, she was admired for being romantic.

The last one is the evaluation of the noble young ladies and lords.

The reason is simple.

It is because she rejected the partner her parents had set her up for and married her beloved lover.

She is the only daughter of Count Karl of Hoffen. The Count wished to betroth his daughter to a suitable match and pass his title to his son-in-law.

But she later had a lover. He is the fourth son of a poor baron family.

The gap between the families was so great that the Count and Countess of Hoffen opposed their relationship, but their daughter’s persistent persuasion finally made them allow it.

That man is now her husband, the Count of Hoffen.

‘Because it’s not common for people to get married despite the opposition from their parents and the gap between families.’

Young ladies and lords who had just made their debut in society saw Carla as the main character of a romantic and enterprising romance. Thanks to that, the couple was popular among them.

On the other hand, the older aristocrats clicked their tongues, saying that it was pitiful to cling to fleeting emotions.

‘As long as she herself is happy, that’s fine.’

As for me, I had no particular thoughts about her marriage.

After looking around for a moment, I picked up a teacup. My mother was nowhere to be seen.