CH 9

Raw Provider: Kyesha • Translator: Whee • Proofreader: Liz

“Your Highness’s face is not to my taste.”

At those words, Rudbeckia’s expression changed strangely. After being silent for a moment, he spoke in a very firm tone.

“Well, you’re not my type either.”

Kalmia knew well that she wasn’t an outstanding beauty. She’d seen plenty of beautiful women in the capital throughout her past life. If Rudbeckia had eyes, there was no way he could be attracted to Kalmia’s appearance. But if she were to be honest, her self-esteem was still hurt, even though it was she who called the other “not to taste” first.

Thanks to this, her response to the proposal wasn’t good.

“Then, there’s nothing more to say.”

“But I still have to complete the mission that my father gave me.”

Rudbeckia seemed to have made up his mind. His stubbornness was incomprehensible, so Kalmia leaned back with her arms folded as if to think about it all. Rudbeckia sighed again. The 12-year-old boy’s face was filled with deep fatigue and irritation.

“We both understand that we don’t like each other. So, we’ll keep this engagement until you’re 20 years old. After that, we can get divorced. For a period of time, even without the engagement, there would be a stable relationship between the families.”

Twenty. After hearing those words, Kalmia felt nauseous. Twenty was the very age at which she had succeeded to countess in her original life. The age when her father died and she became a true countess. The age when she made a full-fledged entry into the capital to follow the second prince.

“Why do I have to do such a thing?”

“Do you have someone you love already?”

In an instant, Storoni’s face appeared in Kalmia’s mind. But, she quickly erased the thought. Storoni was not an object of affection. He was an object of obsession. In fact, it would be right to say that there was no object of love in Kalmia’s previous life. Kalmia decided to define her relationship with Storoni in that way. A couple who was obsessed with each other.

But, she didn’t want to admit that she didn’t have a lover.

“Even if I do have someone I love, there is no reason to tell Your Highness.”

If Kalmia were to be honest, she would laugh if a ten-year-old said they had a lover. But, Rudbeckia didn’t laugh. He took her words rather seriously.

“I will ignore your lover, and put all the responsibility on you so that it does not interfere with your marriage after the breakup.”

The more Kalmia listened to him, the more she didn’t understand. Why was he willing to go through such trouble?

Count Phlox was certainly a family renowned for being the king’s mentor, but the Duke of Matari was not so unfortunate that they’d have to weave a reputation through marriage. Rather, the position of Rudbeckia’s fiancée should’ve been reserved for a more valuable family. The nobles of the country would go out of their way to make even the slightest ties with the Matari family.

Because he was such a great duke, Kalmia was able to feel great pleasure when she destroyed Rudbeckia in her last life. This was thanks to the joy of knowing that the opponent, who had not yielded to anyone, fell into her hands.

“The reason you’re doing this is because you have to complete the mission Duke Matari has given you?”

“Yes. It is important to me.”

Perhaps the important thing was not the affiliation with the Phlox family. Kalmia had come to that conclusion. Considering that it was a mission given by the Duke, it could be that what Rudbeckia had in mind was not the ‘engagement to the Phlox family’ but the ‘success’ of it.

Succeeding in completing the mission given by the Duke. The reason why it was so important was probably related to the selection of the successor of the duke family. Considering that Rudbeckia had previously been chosen as the final heir of the dukedom, he must have put all of his effort into it.

“I don’t need a good marriage.”

Kalmia’s stomach twisted when she saw Rudbeckia, who was already eager to fight for succession. He was going to ruin other peoples’ lives to achieve his goals? She couldn’t see it in a good light. You’ve changed your scheduled life, so you’ll have to take responsibility in some way.

Kalmia decided to think simply. If she and Rudbeckia eventually made the same choices as their previous lives, they would be pointing swords at each other, but at least that was not what was going to happen now. Maybe it wouldn’t happen altogether.

Anything else didn’t matter. As of now, she was most regretful of her position as the only heir to the Count. If she couldn’t go back to the life she had, she wanted to recreate a life similar to that. For that, the biggest piece had to be put back in place.

“Then the insufficient alimony…”

“I want to inherit the Count’s successor position.”

Was she mistaken? The moment she uttered those words, Kalmia saw Rudbeckia’s eyes grow cold. It was a fleeting moment, and it was impossible to be certain if it really was, as Rudbeckia had his gaze down. Kalmia, who was looking at the silent Rudbeckia, asked the question again.

“Can you help me with that?”

Rudbeckia did not answer easily. It was unreasonable to intervene in someone else’s position as the heir of another family, even if he was a son of the powerful Matari family. It wasn’t just rude, it could turn the families into enemies. Even if this engagement was made, Count Phlox may be displeased and send a letter of protest to the Duke of Matari right away if Rudbeckia had said a word to Kalmia as her fiancé.

She knew it clearly, but Kalmia pretended not to know and spoke in an ignorant voice.

“I don’t need anything else. But if you can’t…”

Rudbekia’s lips, which had been closed into a tight line, slowly opened.

“Alright.”

“Are you really saying that you can help me become the Count’s successor?”

To Kalmia who asked the question again, Rudbeckia answered with a clear voice.

“If that’s your condition.”

It was unexpected. Kalmia didn’t know that the conditions she had raised would be accepted that easily. Kalmia looked at Rudbeckia with suspicious eyes. If you thought about it, how much did a 12-year-old boy need to use his head? Maybe he didn’t understand Kalmia properly.

“Really?”

“Do you not like it?”

Now, Rudbeckia pushed Kalmia to answer. Really? Are you going to help me become the official heir? You’re going to raise an enemy, who growled like that, with your own hands?

Kalmia, who had almost involuntarily asked the questions in her head, bit her tongue and swallowed her words. The bastard didn’t know her, or their future. she just didn’t know how to accept such nonsense.

“Or, do you need something else?”

Then, how about a Rudbeckia who knows everything?

“This is my only condition.”

“Then, the deal will be concluded.”

Kalmia looked at her hand that was held out in front of her eyes and closed it carefully. As if she had made a deal with the devil, the damp, scorching heat spread through her hands.