CH 3.1

“Diana, what do you mean? Are you saying that you are not going to appoint a guardian?”

“This is my problem, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

I was going to ask him to leave as I was done talking, but Count Corcos shook his hand.

“Diana, do you feel sorry for your parents? Is it because the guardian seems to be replacing your parents?”

“….”

“It’s not like that, Diana. Guardianship isn’t like that. As you know, a guardian is–”

“The one who exercises my family’s rights on behalf of me, right? How dare you compare it to my parents?”

Count Corcos and my mother and father? Just thinking about them being compared to each other made my blood boil inside. I cut him from talking any further.

“That’s right, Diana. I see you understand what it means. That’s why you have to hurry to appoint–”

“That’s enough. Whatever you say, I will not change my mind.”

Then Count Corcos shook his head and said,

“Diana, you are still young. It would be hard for you to take care of your family by yourself. You might don’t understand yet, but if you don’t have a guardian, you manage your family’s money properly.”

Count Corcos’ voice, who had been speaking soothingly, slowly became oppressive. His neck turned red, perhaps angry at the unexpected development.

“Why do you care about that, uncle?”

“Diana, it’s because you are my only niece.”

He looked at me with that sneaky eyes while pretending to be worried and friendly.

There was a time when I thought he would love me as much as my parents did because we shared the same blood. And what I received was a terrible betrayal.

‘Even Cassion and Janice, whom I don’t share blood with, are much better.’

“Diana, think about the servants who serve the Irenberg. If you don’t have a legal guardian, you can’t even pay them properly.”

After the head of the family passed away, we could only temporarily manage our money for one year. Even after that period, our spending would be limited to a fixed number.

If I didn’t appoint a guardian after that period, as Count Corcos said, we wouldn’t be able to pay the servants.

‘Irenberg had a particularly long grace period. Although there are only a few months left.’

The average family had to appoint a guardian within one year. While the royal family especially gave six more months to the Irenberg.

What a big family Irenberg was.

It was a reasonable decision considering how significant the incident that caused the couple’s sudden death was.

‘Now, I have six months left.’

I had to do everything I could in the remaining time.

Count Corcos reached out to me as I was lost in thought and didn’t say anything.

He tried to hold my hand on the table. I got goosebumps when I thought my skin was about to be touched by that hypocrite.

‘You’re not even letting me consider anyone beside you to be my guardian, right? You can go to hell.’

“Diana, think of the Irenberg family. It wouldn’t be good for the Irenberg family if you delay the guardian’s designation.”

Although he was annoying and stupid, he knew one thing well about me.

That I loved the Irenberg family so much.

And he took advantage of it very well.

“It’s for the family’s sake.”

Every time I asked what he was doing, Count Corcos gave me that answer like a chant. I was fed up whenever I recalled it.

I wouldn’t be fooled this time. My decision would determine the fate of my family.

I shook my head and said firmly.

“Please don’t try to persuade me. I won’t change my mind.”

Count Corcos bit his lip. He gripped the sofa hand-rest tightly.

“You must be having a hard time, Diana. I will come again next time.”

Count Corcos, who took out his last card but failed to get what he wanted, couldn’t hide his obvious embarrassment.

His lips were tight, yet he managed to promise to come next time with much difficulty.

“Even if you come ten times, you can’t change my mind, uncle. So, you don’t have to come again.”

But when I boldly crushed his promise, Count Corcos made a face.

“You… How far are you going to make fun of me?”

He straightened up, and there was a massive shadow in front of me. He looked down at me like he was trying to intimidate a little kid.

“What do you mean I made fun of you? I just want to think it over.”

Count Corcos’ eyes suddenly changed. Then, he said with a stern look.

“Diana, even though you are sad about the loss of your parents, how long do you think you can leave the family unattended? I have tried to convince the vassals about your situation, but I can’t hold them any longer. You have to understand the reality, too. I guess, what does a 13 years old child know?”

Finally, Count Corcos’ pretentious facade of lecturing me was revealed. His greed was shown.

‘How fake he is.’

I was ashamed of myself for being deceived by him after seeing him lost his temper when I got on his nerve in the past.

I put up with him because I thought he would become more upset. I didn’t want to waste my breath even to say a word. However, the patience that I had exercised no longer exists.

Count Corcos has crossed the line that shouldn’t be crossed.

“My brother and sister-in-law would be happy if I became your guardian.”

I could hold back when he mentioned my family, and I also endured it when he claimed that a guardian wouldn’t replace my parents’ position.

But I couldn’t take it anymore.

‘My mother and father would be happy if you became my guardian?’

That sounded like my parents wanted me to be unhappy instead, wasn’t it?

That’s nonsense!

I clenched my fists and said,

“Uncle, have you ever heard of this story?”

“What story?”

“The story of a family who ruined themselves because they chose the wrong guardian.”

“W-What did you say?”

Count Corcos’ greasy face turned dismayed.

“There has been a talk for some time about someone who brought in a dog that was supposed to protect the house, but it bit its owner’s hand and took over the house. It’s a pretty famous story. Do you not know about it?”

“Diana, did you just–”

“Whatever you had in your imagination, you are right, uncle.”

I raised my head and stared at him with all my might.

Count Corcos wasn’t in the position to defy me anyway. No matter how angry he was, he wouldn’t be able to do anything terrible to me.

Therefore, I could provoke him that much.

Just as I expected, Count Corcos’ brows narrowed. He breathed slowly as he tried to calm his anger.

“Diana, did you hear something from somewhere?”

Instead of arguing with me, his anger faded from his voice. He tried to ask me nicely.

I’ve had enough listening to it.

“Don’t listen to what other people say. You should believe what you have seen and experienced.”

Count Corcos pretended to give me a piece of good advice.

I snorted inside.

‘That’s why I don’t trust you. You’re the bad guy that I have seen, heard, and experienced myself.’

It became unbearably uncomfortable breathing in one room with Count Corcos. It’s time to clean up.