CH 168

“Who did you say was here?”

“That….maid, Annie came back.”

Oliva, Viscount Oily’s only younger sister, succeeded in marrying the Count of Denborough and was the greatest contributor to the rise of the reputation of the Viscount. 

Olivia, who cherished the Viscounty as her hometown and place of origin, scoffed.

“Annie? Are you saying that Donovan’s paramour returned to the Viscounty on her own two feet?”

“Yes. She wishes to speak with you madam and asks to be brought into the drawing-room.” 

That was not enough and she dared to ask to talk face to face? 

Olivia was stunned by Hans’ words that her nose had become stuffy and it became hard to breathe.

She tapped her fingertips at the huge oak desk that was favored by her brother, Viscount Oily.

“What an insolent girl.”

She didn’t like Viscount Oily or his son Donovan that much, but she was obsessed with the Viscounty itself. 

‘Although it is a humble Viscounty, it’s a family with a long-established history, but one woman ruined everything.’

Olivia let out a deep sigh and looked at Hans, who was hesitating to speak in front of her.

“If she came here on her own two feet, why haven’t you locked her up yet?”

“That’s…..” 

Hans’ eyes roamed restlessly, filled with fear at Olivia’s harsh tone. 

It was because he didn’t know how to convey the words that were simply his guesses like ‘I thought she was just an ordinary maid but her atmosphere has changed.’ 

“Don’t tell me she came with Dietrich Lagrange?”

It was only possible for the quarrel over the love affair to end with the extermination of a whole family when the other family had greater power.

“Hm? I’m asking if she brought with her the Grand Duke.” 

Olivia’s fingers twitched as she scoured Hans’ eyes, urging him to answer.

‘The order of knights of Lagrange were the ones leading the destruction of the Viscounty.’ 

Lagrange and Oily were so far from each other that they had no contact, so she could only guess one thing. 

‘The maid that Donovan had his eyes on also caught the eyes of the Grand Duke of Lagrange.’

She must be a really beautiful woman, Olivia guessed. 

“N-No. It seems she came on her own.”

“Is that so? Well, that’s as I expected.” 

It was common for the nobles to play with pretty maids for their entertainment, but it generally didn't last long.

Because it wasn’t love, it’s basically just a game.

‘Especially a great noble like the Grand Duke Lagrange, he wouldn’t have a maid by his side for long.’

It was evident that he was already tired of it. 

‘The Grand Duke got easily tired of it and yet that foolish Donovan couldn’t control his emotions!’ 

Olivia chewed on the tip of her finger, thinking that the missing Donovan must have rebelled against the Grand Duke of Lagrange in order to protect his petty pride.

How dare he covet the Grand Duke’s woman? Even though it was just a toy, she must have been enough to challenge the temper of ‘that’ Dietrich Lagrange. 

‘I thought he wouldn’t be able to do anything much since he’s stupid, but I didn’t know he was a fool to this extent!’

Olivia went through the documents about 'Annie' found in Donovan's room and gave a brief order to bring her in.

“Who knows this could be an opportunity.” 

She murmured to herself, looking at Hans’ back who was in a hurry.

‘I don’t know if it’s a forgery or not, but for now, she owes a huge debt to the Viscounty….’

Olivia's husband, the Count of Denborough, was not comparable to the Grand Duke of Lagrange, but he was a relative of the emperor and a well-established figure in the House of the Lords.

Olivia slowly raised the corners of her lips and started drawing blueprints.

Whatever the circumstances, the Grand Duke of Lagrange did not pay a proper price to the Viscounty, took a maid, and turned the Viscounty into a complete mess. 

It was a golden opportunity to transfer the trading volume with other countries that the current Grand Duke of Lagrange held, who unified the North after the war, to the establishment run by her.

Imagining her golden future, Olivia greeted ‘Annie.’ 

“Let her in.” 

────── 〔✿〕──────

The Countess, with an upright impression, was a calmer person than I expected.

‘She looks a bit similar to Countess Devonshire.’

I had a history of transferring all ownership of the river flowing through the northern social circles to Lagrange. So, it was not unfamiliar or difficult for me to face the ladies.

‘It’s not going to end simply by trying to make a good impression.’ 

With my chin raised gracefully as I approached the desk where she was sitting, the documents she was perusing caught my eyes.

With a small sigh, I glanced at the list of enormous debts that had piled up on ‘Annie's’ head.

‘I didn’t expect Donovan to even forge documents.’ 

If the sugar didn’t work, the only answer was the whip. 

The Countess, who had been looking at me with a smile on her eyes while thinking of something, spoke first.

“I’d like to ask what kind of face you had when you asked to see me?” 

From her lips, informal speech came out as if it was natural. 

“I think it’s too late to get an apology. My brother and nephew have already disappeared all because of a maid after all.” 

I nodded calmly at her words. 

I didn't know about the Viscount but Donovan’s probably dead. 

I didn’t think Dietrich would have kept the man alive who put his hands on me. 

‘Well, it’s better that he’s dead.’ 

If a man like that was kept alive, he would only end up tormenting other women.

“I have no plans of apologizing.” 

“What?”

Before the Countess could give me permission to sit down, I immediately sat down in front of the desk and smiled prettily, then proceeded with my business.

“I want to take Lindsay and the head maid out of the estate.”

“Ha?” 

The Countess loudly clicked her tongue, finding my words ridiculous.

“I don’t think you’ve understood the situation. Your name is Annie, isn’t it?”

“Anissa.” 

I firmly shook my head at the Countess and corrected her.

“That’s my name.”

“Anissa? I think I’ve heard that somewhere…..”

“Would Anissa Lagrange sound more familiar?” 

She frowned and scratched her chin, then became pale as she turned to look back at me. 

“Anissa Lagrange? Are you Anissa Lagrange?”

“That’s correct.”

“No, no. I was sure she had red eyes.”

It seemed that she had seen me in high society as a ‘Countess’. 

“Eye color often changes as you grow older.” 

‘Though it will never change to a completely different color like mine.’ 

I grinned and touched the corner of my eye.

“That’s impossible!”

“Anyway, you now know my name, so keep your manners, Countess.”

“How can I believe your…words?” 

When I glared in command as she tried to speak in informal speech with me, the Countess’ words trailed off.

It would be easier to change her mind by moving her aura, but since I was exhausted from fighting with Hella, my ability seldom manifests. 

I had no choice but to lay out information I’ve put together regarding the Count of Denborough. 

‘The class with Damon is useful at times like this.’

“Your husband was the grandson of the previous emperor's maternal nephew.”

“Th-That’s right.”

“Do you think a mere maid would memorize the emperor’s relatives?” 

“But there are ways to know official facts like….that.” 

I shrugged my shoulders, meeting the narrowed eyes of the Countess as if doubting me.

“Denborough’s official emblem is a red bear, but in the correspondence to the Grand Duke, he uses an olive-shaped seal.”

If I remember correctly, the Countess of Denborough was a passionate merchant who ran the establishment herself. 

‘I think she put a lot of effort into making a deal with Lagrange.’

“It must be the seal of the establishment that you run, Olivia.” 

At that time, I was busy looking for routes to import food from other countries, so I couldn't look at her proposal properly.

“How do you know that? That was definitely the letter I sent to the Grand Duke!” 

At my words, the Countess' face finally turned into astonishment.

I lightly shrugged my shoulders as I watched her, who had leapt to her feet. 

“Dietrich doesn’t hide anything from me.” 

“…….”

“In the first place, I managed everything that could make money at Lagrange.”

Dietrich was a born knight so he had no idea how to increase his fortune.

Maybe it’s because we grew up poor in Dahlia. 

‘Thus, even after he became the Grand Duke he always said we didn’t have any money.’

Whenever I set out to raise funds to run away, he always confidently says that we didn’t have money and for a while, I really thought Lagrange was poor. 

“Are you really Anissa Lagrange? I was sure I heard she had died….No, that’s not it, I think I heard she was missing?”

The Countess narrowed her brows with a confused look on her face.

“It was found out that she was not of Lagrange’s lineage and was kicked out….no, is that not it? Why does my head hurt all of a sudden?” 

The Countess groaned in pain and sat down, holding her head.

I wondered how the memories of the people that Vassago manipulated would come back, but it seemed that their memories were congested as if they had heard several rumors all at once.

“Countess, the rumor that I am not actually the Princess of Lagrange is true.” 

I slowly opened my mouth to ease her pain.

“........Then by what authority are you trying to press me for?”

“My real name is Anissa Euclid.” 

The Southern Duchy to whom your husband clings in order to make a good impression.

The family that had turned a blind eye to me all my life. Who could stop me if I want to use their name for once?