TMOWM~80

Chapter 80

All of a sudden, I had risen in status to become the young lady of Count Schultz’s household, but I still couldn’t get used to it.

“Milady!!”

Dania screamed at the top of her lungs.

“You mustn’t do things like that anymore!”

“No one does it better than me! Step aside, Dania! I’ll finish cleaning this up quickly.”

“Milady!!”

“Ah, stop calling me that already!”

To be honest, nothing much had changed just because I became the daughter of a count. I was still living in Cattieron. Sir Hilden was a rather indifferent man and had no greed.

He hadn’t even considered buying a proper mansion in the capital.

‘Hahaha! I’ll give you a mansion myself. Do you know how much wealth Rani has earned through her hardships? To celebrate the two of you becoming family, I’ll be the one to buy it!’

Because Tybern was in such high spirits, we were soon going to have a house in the capital.

But I still hadn’t gotten rid of the habits I had when I was a maid. Dania tried to drag me away, while I resisted, and we ended up in a tug-of-war.

Dania wanted me to live like other noble young ladies—spending time on manicures and skincare, wearing fluttery dresses, reading books, and drinking tea.

Honestly, it felt like she enjoyed seeing me struggle.

Just yesterday, I’d given in to her nagging and gone shopping. I had quite a bit saved in my account, but when Tybern heard we were going shopping, he readily handed me his seal of authority.

Thanks to that, Dania was able to buy as many dresses as she wanted.

Even this morning, after much pestering, I ended up wearing one of those dresses.

“You’ll ruin the dress, milady!”

“It won’t get ruined! I told you, these clothes are uncomfortable!”

“In the first place, milady shouldn’t be doing such things anymore. Why don’t you read a book? Take piano lessons? Or maybe learn to dance—it’d suit you so well!”

Dania beamed as she listed the virtues of a noble young lady.

“Stop with that cringey talk already!”

“Come on, you need to adapt to society!”

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?!”

A shadow fell between us.

“Lady Rani.”

Now even Heder had joined in. His expression suggested he, too, was enjoying my reactions. He even looked a little happy—was I really that funny?

“Ahhh, Young Master Heder! Don’t do this!”

“You can’t call me ‘young master’ anymore, Lady Rani.”

“Eek!”

I shook my head furiously and ran away.

This was driving me crazy. If I had known being a noble lady was this embarrassing, I’d never have agreed to it.

Behind me, I could hear Dania and Heder laughing. Those little devils!

At that same time, in the east—

The writhing Corruption Source was steadily growing in size.

It lay deep within a forest no one dared to enter. The Source swelled, gurgling as it released thick fluid. Beneath the viscous slime, something dark red pressed outward. Finally, unable to withstand the pressure, the Source split apart with a sound like a drumbeat.

Thud.

A massive paw crushed the ground.

The first monster to crawl out of the eastern Corruption Source was a werewolf. It rose upright on two legs and let out a long, chilling howl.

Its black-and-red eyes gleamed ominously.

An unavoidable fate was beginning.

News of the Corruption Source and the monsters pouring from it shook the Berveze Empire to its core.

Emergency meetings were held daily, and Aites, who held the largest stake in the east, had several private audiences with the Emperor.

It was the one-on-one audience they had long desired, but there was no joy in it.

Their most lucrative enterprises were being utterly ruined. The monsters from the Source were running rampant, and the costly buildings they had invested in were being trampled into the mud.

Marquis Aites raised his voice in the council chamber.

“We must immediately send northern knights to the east! Send Cattieron, Your Majesty!”

The nobles looked on with pity as Aites cried out in despair.

“Enough!”

The Emperor’s voice thundered.

“If we strip the north of troops, who will defend it? Is there any other region where Corruption Sources appear as frequently as the north? You would have us abandon the north to save the east?!”

“B-but then… who will protect the east?!”

Amid the chaos, Tybern sat with his arms crossed. The Emperor let out a long sigh and turned to him.

“Tell me, Tybern. What would be the wisest course of action?”

“The faster we march, the more lives we save. Cattieron will take the field.”

His tone was calm.

Though he had no fondness for Aites or the eastern lands, the people living there were innocent. And it was Cattieron’s duty to face monsters.

Marquis Aites’s face lit up with relief.

“But we cannot move the northern army. Please, Your Majesty, form a new force.”

“…Will that be enough?”

Tybern thought of Heder, then nodded. In fact, ever since he had learned of the Corruption Source in the east, he had been considering this.

He would go with Heder.

And there, he would reveal Heder’s awakening. It was a suitable opportunity—less conspicuous, yet impactful.

It would also be the perfect chance to teach Heder how to wield his abilities and handle the power he was destined for.

‘Better this than getting him entangled in pointless politics too early.’

Besides, when they returned with achievements under their belt, Heder’s ambiguous position would change. The stigma of being “a maid’s son” would finally fall away.

“I will take my grandson with me. We will need ten thousand troops, Your Majesty.”

“…See to the preparations, then.”

That number was necessary to guard the Sword Master, protect civilians, and cleanse the Source.

The Emperor granted permission without hesitation. Marquis Aites even burst into tears, overcome with relief.

Tybern clicked his tongue at the pathetic display.

Shameless fool.

The meeting soon ended. Cattieron’s march to the east was decided.

The moment I heard of monsters appearing in the east, I’d been preparing myself. Finally, the original story was beginning.

And I, a mere supporting character, was reaching the time of my exit.

Tybern called me in. Heder was already there. When he looked at me, his eyes seemed strangely tender and sorrowful.

“Rani.”

“Yes, Lord Tybern?”

“Heder and I will be going to war.”

I had expected as much. Tybern let out a heavy sigh.

“Rani. I am truly sorry to ask this of you again, but… will you guard this estate? Of course, Herden will also be here, but still…”

“I understand what you mean, Lord Tybern.”

I grinned. I was planning to leave eventually, but until then, I would do my best.

I’d only leave once I turned twenty and received all the inheritance Tybern had promised.

As for Heder, he wouldn’t return for five years.

By then, he would be twenty-one, and I would be twenty-three.

It was a little sad that I wouldn’t get to see him as an adult. That handsome face—there wasn’t much time left to admire it.

A wave of sorrow washed over me.

But such feelings weren’t mine to indulge. Heder had someone destined for him. If I forced myself in, it would only cause pain for us both.

My status had changed, and I had gained much, but I was still only a supporting character.

Heder’s childhood friend.

So stepping aside was the right thing to do.

“Please, both of you, come back safely.”

I smiled as brightly as I could.

“I won’t worry too much.”

That was a lie. Of course I’d worry.

“I’ll be waiting for you to return quickly.”

Another lie. I’d be gone. And they couldn’t return quickly anyway—their fate demanded five years.

This was, in truth, our farewell.

At that moment—

My status window flashed.

[The seal has been lifted.]
[You may now travel to other regions.]

Fate had come for me as well.