Chapter 50

“How can she do that with a body like that?”

Huh?

Thinking about it, it was strange. Carl definitely resisted, but for a moment, he was pushed back by force. If his eyes weren’t wrong, it was almost impossible to reach that strength with Vanora’s muscle mass.

“…”

Then…

‘Perhaps… the owner of the missing Io.’

Doubt passed instantly, and Carl’s speculation was like a person with great interest in holy relics. But that speculation vanished from his mind within a few seconds.

‘Ei, no way.’

Carl walked diligently again. He will be late for dinner tonight if he delays more than this.

‘If she had it, she wouldn’t be doing that.’

* * *

The next day.

“Lady Vanora, what—”

“…”

“What’s the matter?”

Carl and I have made our second appointment this year. It was because I sent a letter urgently to Carl Andras, who was staying in the capital’s mansion.

[See you tomorrow.]

A short sentence that seems to show a simple tone.

Carl shook the letter in his hand and made a worried face. He’s sure that what I said last time was our last meeting, so what’s the reason for me suddenly calling him again?

He wondered if something terrible had happened to me in the meantime. However, I tried to avoid his clear eyes and soon opened my chapped lips.

“It was my mistake. I forgot what I had to say when we met because I was so immersed in the duel. Just like a fool.”

“Seeing that you memorized all the books I gave you, Lady Vanora is much smarter than me. It’s okay because sometimes it could happen!”

It’s already snowing in the capital these days, and it’s cold, so asking him to come a long way could annoy him. But Carl didn’t blame me for my mistake.

Is it because I won the duel yesterday? I told him not to object to my actions from now on.

It feels strange because I feel like I gained loyalty by force.

I thought so and barely brought up the main point. However, the main point was not without problems.

“Anyway, Carl… please give me some money.”

“?”

When Carl tilted his head and looked bright at the words, I added with a feeling of prickly heart.

“Ah, a-about the money! I will pay you back. I’m going to call you and give it back!”

But somehow, the flow of the story became even weirder.

“Lady Vanora, are you gambl—”

Carl tried to express his concerns at my subsequent remarks for a moment, but he shut up when he remembered I said not to refute my choice again.

“I-I will lend it to you right away.”

I feel like I’m stealing money from an innocent person right now!

Naturally, Carl’s final answer was yes. But my face darkened because I felt a guilty conscience about this.

“Um, by the way.”

And a little later, Carl, who was watching me, didn’t ask why I wanted to borrow money but brought up another topic.

“I don’t know how much you need, but I don’t have much money. Is that okay?”

“How much exactly do you have?”

“Um, I don’t know. I will have to count to find out.”

Carl looked away for a moment and tried to remember something.

“But no matter how much it is, it may not meet Lady Vanora’s expectations. In fact, my family doesn’t have any money.”

“Why? Your family is marquis. Your mansion was also very glamorous.”

“It was because the mansion is visible to others, but in the first place, our family shouldn’t have accumulated financial resources.”

They can’t build up their wealth?

I tilted my head at Carl’s words. He talked about it even though it is important information about his family.

“The king doesn’t like it if my family, which has the military command, would have enough money too. I heard that the royal family is keeping us in check.”

“!”

“Ah, similar to us, the two dukes are also under similar surveillance. In particular, the Jalier family has soldiers despite the northern environment.”

I was momentarily surprised by what he was saying and then asked cautiously,

“By the way, all these things… can you really talk about it to me?”

“Uh? Is there something I shouldn’t say?”

However, Carl only blinked innocently as if he didn’t know that he had confided in his family situation.

“Did something offend you? I’m sorry if so…”

Let’s not talk about it. Carl doesn’t go anywhere and is not into politics.

His unquestioned attitude to me was trustworthy yet unfortunate.

Anyway, that’s not the point.

“Ahem, if you’re not an extravagant person, you probably have a lot of personal funds from your family.”

“I definitely have some savings.”

“I’d like to borrow it.”

The reason I wanted his money was to invest. I’m trying to take advantage of the spice shortage incident that was revealed at the new year festival some time ago.

In order to enter the upper-class salon that Vasago attends in the future. The basic requirement I have to achieve is to donate at least 10,000 bil to the church.

In this world, money brings more money.

In order to get such a huge amount of wealth, you needed large amounts of money or to own territories. But the money I have now is all the pocket money I have saved up to this age and the small sapphire mine my father gave me for my 16th birthday present. Even the profits from the mines were managed by my family, and if I sell the ownership of it, my family will notice it.

I can’t help it. When I told Aloken about that information, he didn’t even fully trust me…

So I decided to take this opportunity to slowly raise money. The beginning was only a small start, but as the results piled up, it would see the light someday.

“Anyway, give me all the money you have.”

“Ah, yes.”

I spoke somewhat carelessly, preoccupied with the future plans in my head.

“Then, have a good time.”

“Hahaha. Yes! Lady Vanora, stay healthy!”

Unfortunately, that really became our last conversation before my debutante. It was ugly to wrap up our meeting by talking about money.

* * *

「#1. Guelder House (Morning/Montage)

Vasago wakes up from the bed and gets the morning sun. She gets her hair styled and makeup from the maid. Holding two necklaces, she asked the maid which one suited her. Fully dressed, she looked straight ahead and smiled.

#2. Royal Castle

February 3rd. It’s the day of the debutante. As young nobles who started their social debut gather in the Royal Hall, the last main character of the ceremony appears.

Servant (V.O): The eldest daughter of Duke Guelder, Vasago Guelder, is entering!

When the servant with a good low-pitched voice shouts, the eyes of the people in the hall gather at the entrance.

Naverius: Is that the Vasago you can only hear of? The Duke Guelder’s daughter?

Haures: Close your open mouth. You’re going to drool.」

* * *

Two months later.

The residence of Count Celcius in the capital.

“Welcome back, Lady.”

“Yes, Cecil.”

As the new year began, the nobles who had gone down to the estate to escape the cold returned to the capital one by one.

“In the meantime, the interior of the mansion changed again.”

“It is said to be a trendy style.”

“Orange color and light…”

If so, it meant that the first event announcing the opening of the social season was just around the corner.

“It’s nice to have a lot of bright things in this mansion.”

Rattle, rattle.

I, who was looking at the carriages outside the busy window, soon turned my head.

“Lady Vanora, I will pick up your luggage.”

Vanora Celcius.

After completing the education with godmother, I will also show my face in earnest from this season.

* * *

17. There’s No Frustration

‘I think Lady has changed a bit in those few months.’

Cecil, who took the luggage I carried out when I headed to Countess Maquil’s mansion, thought as she moved it to my room. Apparently, when she first served me, my appearance was as thin and unseemly as a poor commoner. But I, whom she met again today, had changed dramatically.

“…Lady has grown taller.”

“You notice it too.”

In fact, I was not short stature from the beginning. In the past, Seir’s bullying caused me to lack nutrition during my growth period, but I was once an inch taller than my peers. If I ate well and moved well as I am now, the slow growth could be resolved easily.

“I came to the mansion earlier than expected. I will have to fix the dress for my debutante.”

My appearance began to change from the past. I looked more like a different person thanks to correcting my crouching posture. If I had to pick one thing I regret, it is that I was still suffering from insomnia, so there was dark under my eyes, but I didn’t really care about it.

I then took hold of my skirt and moved at a rapid pace. There were more than one or two things to check from now on as the debutante was just around the corner.

And then.

“!”

“…”

A familiar face appeared in front of me, who was moving urgently.

“You’re back.”

When Bael, who was talking to the butler in front of my room, asked first, I answered politely,

“Yes.”

After that, I tried to go straight into my room, and Bael made way with his usual blunt face.

But after that,

“Lady Vanora, wait a minute.”

When Bael disappeared to the first floor, the butler who remained in the hallway came in and delivered a brief message.

“Master has prepared a dress for Lady in advance. I will tell Cecil to get your debutante dress, so try it on.”

“Father was the one who ordered my debutante dress? It wasn’t mother?”

It’s weird.

I’m sure Hanar was the one who ordered my debutante dress ‘last time.’ I tilted my head and followed the butler’s words. Soon afterward, Cecil, my exclusive maid, showed up groaning while carrying a heavy dress.

“I will help Lady change from now on.”

“Yes.”

But the dress that appeared… was a splendid dress with various primary colors to the point of blinding. At a glance, there is no such thing as a stylish corner, and it was better than the cheap dress that Hanar had tailored before my regression.

Which dressing room sold such dress to the Count?

How old does Bael Celcius think about me?

When I saw the design with many frills and ribbons children would like, I couldn’t help laughing.

I didn’t like this kind of thing even when I was young.

Besides, that was not the end of the absurdity.

“L-Lady, this is…”

“Take it off right now.”

“All right.”

The measurements were out of the match. Naturally, I grew a few centimeters tall while I was away from my family. I didn’t think the result would be different even if I stayed still in this mansion. In a way, this could be seen as how Bael’s indifference to me.

Well, he’s not a great person enough to care about his daughter’s growth.

By the way, what should I do with the pre-matched dress that was worn out…

“Lady, then… Shall we make an appointment for the dressing room today?”

In fact, there was already a way out.

“You don’t have to. Countess Maquil has decided to send me clothes to celebrate my social debut.”

My clothes are ready. It’s enough to just put on the accessories I have.

“Come to think of it, did Aloken’s servant ever come to the mansion? We have to set departure time.”

“There has been an appointment for a visit tomorrow afternoon.”

The preparation was perfect, as I finished ensuring the person who would sit next to me.

“My…”

I recalled my first debutante at the age of 16 and my past life, which has been twisted since then. After a long time, I slowly opened my closed eyes.

My second social debut.

It was finally the showdown.