Chapter 4

I laughed blatantly.

“This is really going to be published as a thesis.”

The unexpected answer left Ordin a little dazed.

“Where the hell was the information you got?”

I waited to be asked this question.

At the same time, I gave up my conscience for a moment. This is because I had to sell the name of someone I know.

From now on, what I will say is a lie mixed with truth.

“From Michael, my relative.”

“Oh, the great wizard Michael…”

I responded naturally.

“That’s right, he told me it will be published soon, so everyone will know.”

Michael Veris.

He was the most famous genius wizard in this country.

At the same time, he is my distant relative, brother, and the only person I have been close to since childhood.

Even now, even though I couldn’t see his face often, we were communicating by letter. He also came to my wedding.

“Michael Veris…”

This name worked well for Ordin.

“If this is true, it’s worth checking-“

“Well…”

Rupert cut off his words at the moment.

I’m nervous.

‘Is my persuasion failure?’

He approached me with strides.

“Noel Ainel, I think you have a different intention.”

It was close enough to feel each other’s breath. It is a threatening atmosphere.

I asked back, holding back the urge to back off.

“Why do you think so?”

“Because you are by no means a woman who will do things that will benefit my family.”

“Of course you may have such doubts when you think of what I’ve done so far, but I’m serious this time.”

“People don’t change one morning.”

That’s right, but-

‘This time it was completely different.’

The eyes of Rupert’s approaching fire contain a sense of alertness and hostility.

“So I’ll only ask you once.”

Rupert grabbed my shoulder and asked.

“What kind of trick are you doing this time?”

‘What?’

As I was preparing various persuasions in my head, my brain stopped for a moment at an unexpected question.

“Huh?”

“Who the hell are you having an affair with? Did he make you talk these things in front of me to get money?”

Rupert’s attitude to blame was serious enough to be a joke.

‘What, what?’

The moment I grasped the situation, my head went blank.

An unfamiliar word shook in my ear.

I barely swallowed the swear words.

‘I thought I would be a little suspicious, but it’s not like this.’

The other person didn’t care about my reaction.

“Yeah, seeing that you even mention the name of Michael Veris makes your head turn quite a bit-“

I can’t hear more. I shouted loudly.

“That’s bullshit!”

One of his eyebrows went up.

“Is it bullshit?”

“Yes!”

‘There is also a limit to enduring!’

“If I investigate, the truth will soon be revealed.”

I was sarcastic without losing either.

“Yeah, let’s do some investigation.”

“Okay, do you mean you will keep insisting that way?”

“Sure, you’ve hurt my honor with ridiculous speculation, so I will wait for the moment you will apologize very politely when the truth is revealed!”

Of course, I have been a vicious and wicked woman in the meantime!

That didn’t mean I was having an affair.

Only that fact was clear.

“If your words are true, I am willing to do so.”

“Ha, keep that word carefully!”

He didn’t seem to believe in my claim. There was only a little interest in Rupert’s eyes. I was like a child who was making up a bad thing in his eyes.

He was thinking about something for a moment.

“Then let’s make a contract.”

“A contract?”

“It’s very simple, I’ll lend you money as you ask.”

I wondered if he was just teasing me.

I became suspicious of the change in his attitude.

“And?”

“Instead, I will decide all of the terms and conditions to enter the contract.”

“…What do you want from me specifically for?”

‘Because if it’s something like my neck, I’m in trouble. ‘

“If you ask it, you must be interested to some extent.”

“I want to listen.”

“All right. Ordon.”

Rupert raised his finger in an arrogant gesture.

“Prepare the contract.”

The lazy ridicule that bloomed at him while saying so seemed to be objectively hidden.

* * *

After a while, in front of me, a contract with neat letters was presented.

“I only explain the important conditions.”

Only then I was able to confirm the provisions he put forward.

“First of all, you’ll pay back five times the money you borrowed.”

‘What​!?’

It was absurd from the beginning.

“Five times?”

What kind of money lenders are you?

“If your words were true, there would be enough money in this land, right?”

Rupert’s intention to say that was as easy to read. ‘Can you borrow money even with these ridiculous conditions?’

I sharpened my teeth on that face.

‘Even this damn suspicion hasn’t disappeared!’

But, I responded confidently.

“It’s okay!”

Such a decisive answer was unexpected, and Rupert’s handsome brow has slightly frowned.

“The momentum is very good. Will you be able to maintain that attitude even if you listen to the next condition?”

‘What, are you really trying to kill me if I can’t pay back?’

Concealing my worries, I shrugged my shoulders casually from the outside.

“Well, should I stand with one hand? Or should I bark in front of you?”

Rupert was a little disgusted with this statement.

“You don’t have to. It would be an insult to the honor of the Ainel family if you did something like that in the first place.”

Looks like my joke isn’t funny.

He said,

“If you can’t pay back the money, I’ll move your home to an outbuilding, and I’ll restrict you from going out for anything other than the important things.”

“……”

“Of course, I can’t do any punishment for the employee. Other than that, I will deprive you of all the powers you may exercise within the house.”

‘Surely.’

Somehow I just accepted it.

“To sum up, are you going to turn me the marquis’ submissive wife? Even limiting my freedom?”

“Yes, it’s hard for me too to stand the way you let the honor of my family fall freely.”

In the end, the explanation I gave so far to Rupert didn’t mean anything.

Whether my words are true or false, there is no big damage to him.

Even if it’s a lie, he had a chance to rightfully deprive me of all my powers as an excuse for this.

‘This guy will be more like a villain than the main character.’

It was a condition to guess how much he hated me.

Asked Rupert with a peculiar lazy laugh.

“It will be a live bet for you, will you?”

“……”

‘I really want to hit him at once.’

With all my violent minds, I looked at the contract once more.

Fortunately, there is a provision that gives me a fair share if I make a profit from the investment.

‘All I need is this.’

Even though it’s stupid to sign a contract like this.

“I’ll accept everything. I’ll sign the contract.”

I acted confidently as if I was looking forward to it. I didn’t want to look funny.

“Just include a member of the ‘Raven Knights’, your direct subordinates as I investigated the land.”

“Why?”

“Because their skills are the most reliable.”

This was easy to accept.

“Okay, I’ll do it.”

He responded boldly and signed the signature column.

At the same time, Ordin and Rupert looked at me with eyes that said, even a fool couldn’t save me.

Do you think I’m really hung up on another man?

I snorted inside.

‘Anyway, the funds are definitely safe. But-‘

That doesn’t mean that all my problems have been solved.