CH 35

Clink.

An object the size of a palm slammed into Blanche’s back and dropped on the floor noisily.

Blanche, who was struck by the thing out of nowhere, turned around and looked at the floor.

Mariette confidently declared.

“It’s the key to this castle’s treasury.”

Mariette was trying her best not to tremble.

But Blanche knew Mariette well. She knows that if she doesn’t catch Blanche here, her life will fall even deeper than it is now.

“I stole it from the Count’s office. Don’t you need money? It is not common for a woman to live alone without a father or a brother.”

It was rude for her to meddle in her personal life. It was an awkward attempt at temptation.

Blanche’s white face smiled as if ridiculing her.

“So now you want me to be the Countess instead of you? Did you really think I would?”

Mariette was desperately trying to keep her reason. Her voice trembled as she answered.

“… That’s fine. I wasn’t wishing for that much either.”

Blanche folded her arms.

“What do you want from me?”

“The first night. Play my part with the Count on the first night.”

So that’s what it was. Mariette had come up with a trick more perfect for her than a pigeon’s egg.

Blanche had no intention of accepting such a frivolous deal. But she had to make sure.

She checked the key with her system.

[Key to the treasury in Count Juan’s Castle

The key to the treasury that Mariette handed over. But it’s not the real treasury key.]

Crack Crack.

Blanche gritted her teeth. Out of curiosity, she started acting.

“How do I even know if this is real or not?”

Mariette’s face brightened thinking that she had deceived her sister.

“If you’re in doubt, go downstairs right now. If the door opens, it’s real right? Of course, that’s if you can avoid all the guards!”

Apparently, she didn’t even know that she needed two keys to open the treasury.

A sharp atmosphere revolved around Blanche.

“Are you sure? What if I rob the treasury? I thought you wanted the fortune in this house?”

“The Count is the richest man in the kingdom. Even if you robbed the treasury, how much could you take with those tiny hands?”

Mariette snorted.

Blanche almost laughed involuntarily, but she managed to hold back her laughter.

‘Stupid Mariette. You still don’t understand the situation.’

Just as the moon sets and the sun rises, Blanche will soon have all the money the Count earned from usury.

Because Blanche decided so.

* * *

Soon, the night came again.

Blanche went down to the dungeon disguised as Mariette.

She was tired and more sensitive than usual. To the point where it was hard for her not to kill the guard.

Mariette wasn’t the only reason Blanche felt worse than usual. This afternoon, Blanche was almost taken away by Giacomo.

If Mariette had not pleaded to Giacomo and appealed to the Count with her fake tears, they would have already found out her identity.

Blanche thought.

‘Giacomo has been trying to take me since yesterday and even today, so he must be suspicious of me.’

Standing in front of Ricardo’s cell, Blanche straightened her expression for a moment.

Clank.

Blanche, dressed in an ivory-colored dress that looked like something straight out of a fairy tale, opened the prison door.

Ricardo, who had been sitting on the prison bed, staring only at the door, got up from the bed.

He paused for a moment with a happy smile on his face.

Ricardo exclaimed in an ecstatic voice.

“Blanche… You look pretty today too.”

“I know.”

She nodded and checked Ricardo’s status window.

[Ricardo Giotto LV 15

Age 15 / Male

Health 61/150

Mana 80/80

Fame 41

Morality 120

Stress 72]

Blanche, who checked his Health, smiled faintly.

“You’ve become healthier, Ricardo. That’s a relief. Now, take this.”

Blanche took out a purse from her inventory which she had stolen from Mariette.

3 gold coins and 15 silver coins.

One gold was a little less than a million, and one silver was about 100,000, so it should be more than enough for the travel expenses to Digitalis.

Ricardo tilted his head as he meekly accepted and put them in his pockets.

“What’s this for?”

Blanche ordered him.

“Leave this place first, Ricardo.”

Ricardo’s face clouded like disturbed water.

“Aren’t you leaving with me?”

“I still have work to do. So you go back to Digitalis first.”

Ricardo shook his head as soon as she finished speaking.

“Whatever you have to do, I will wait here. For you, I can survive in this dungeon for a few more days. So let’s go back to Digitalis together. Okay?”

Blanche resolutely cut off his grumbling.

“Quit whining. It’s annoying.”

Ricardo’s breath stopped like a man whose throat was being choked.

Blanche, who was not happy with the final villain’s grumbling, said coldly.

“Ricardo. I can’t come down to this dungeon anymore. And I can’t stop Giacomo anymore either. If you’re smart, I think you know what that means.”

Ricardo asked impatiently.

“Will I get in your way if I stay here?”

“That’s right. You’ll be a distraction.”

He had a strange expression on his face, like someone who accidentally bit his tongue. Blanche let out a low sigh.

“Leave first. Someone in the castle might still remember your face. Giacomo will recognize you right away.”

After a moment, a heavily repressed voice reached her ears.

“Will we meet again?”

“Of course.”

Blanche hugged Ricardo. He was two years younger than her, but already seemed more like a man. Ricardo was already taller than Blanche.

Blanche patted Ricardo on the back like a child.

She didn’t even realize that he stiffened at the sudden physical contact.

After clenching and opening his empty fists repeatedly, Ricardo was able to squeeze out his voice.

“You must come see me again, okay?”

“Don’t worry. I will always be by your side from now on.”

Blanche whispered as she quietly let him go.

‘That way, I can sell you to Anastage.’

Ricardo, who couldn’t have known what she was thinking, turned red with the misunderstanding.

Blanche checked the durability of [Edith’s Lamp], which slowly burned from the floor. There was only 1 use left.

‘After all, I have to get Ricardo out of here as soon as possible. If he sees Giacomo, he might panic again.’

If he met Giacomo without the effect of [Edith’s Lamp], Blanche will be in a lot of trouble.

* * *

The morning was bright. Finally, Mariette’s wedding day came.

On this day, Count Juan generously decorated the castle with roses that were specially ordered from the capital’s magic tower.

The roses he ordered were enough to fill twenty-two carriages, so the guests could smell the thick rose scent even in the middle of winter.

Needless to say, the Count seemed to want to seize the opportunity to enter high society with this marriage. A lot of work went into making Mariette’s wedding dress.

Mariette’s wedding dress was luxurious enough to be worn by the princess of her country. But it was Blanche, not Mariette, who was wearing the dress.

With the help of Mariette, Blanche decorated her short hair with a jewel hairpin, and Mariette cut her long hair, which she was so proud of.

Fortunately, when Count Juan came unannounced, Mariette and Blanche had already finished their makeup.

The eighty-year-old new groom wrinkled his eyes at the beautiful bride.

“Mariette. Why is your hair short?”

Blanche raised her chin and gave strength to her neck. She was imitating Mariette.

“You shouldn’t see the bride before the wedding.”

“Answer the question.”

“Whether my hair is short or long, I am beautiful. Isn’t that enough?”

The Count grumbled.

“It’s not that you aren’t beautiful. I just like your long hair, so let’s grow it again. And don’t ever cut your hair without my permission again.”

“…”

While Mariette looked at him anxiously, Blanche couldn’t hide her laughter.

He was too funny. Of course, Mariette was terrified that he might find out that his bride had been swapped. The Count was already fighting with his new bride.

Blanche found all of this pleasant so she kept her chin up and smiled.

The Count thought that perhaps his eyes were mistaken, so he regarded this as the new bride’s embarrassed smile.

He placed his hands on Blanche’s exposed shoulders. The Count’s hands were as wrinkled and dry as his desires.

“It’s fine if you’ve reflected on your mistakes now. I seemed to have overdone it on such a good day.”

“…”

“Mariette, you don’t have to worry about money anymore. I promise. You can buy anything that will brighten up your beauty in the future. I will not skimp on money on your dresses. Yes. My reputation will shine as bright as you are.”

“That’s good to know.”

Blanche placed one hand on his shoulder. She hinted at the Count blushing.

“Go on, Count. You need to go to the ceremony now. So, won’t you proudly welcome me on the Virgin Road?”

Count Juan put on a look of regret. He scanned Blanche from head to toe. His eyes were clearly thinking about the first night to come.

The Count vanished from the siblings’ view only after he lowered his lips to the back of Blanche’s hand.

Locking the door, Mariette asked Blanche.

“Aren’t you even offended?”

“It’s bearable because he’s not my husband.”

Hmph, Mariette snorted.

“It’s fine. I don’t think the first night would be that terrible.”

Blanche smiled at the conversion.

‘Of course it wouldn’t be terrible. I’m leaving here tonight with my treasure.’

The corner of Mariette’s lips twitched looking irritated, not knowing her sister’s motives.